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Title: Perceived readiness to transition to adult health care for youth with cystic fibrosis and congruence with their caregivers' views.
Creator: Lapp, Valerie, Chase, Susan, Aroian, Karen, Weiss, Josie, Yan, Xin, Robinson, Patricia, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Youth with cystic fibrosis must gradually assume considerable self-care management skills in order to optimize longevity and quality of life, and healthcare providers and caregivers play a role in youth gradually assuming these skills. The purpose of this study was to determine how youth with cystic fibrosis perceive their self-care management skills required for transition to adult healthcare, the relationship between age and skill acquisition, youth and caregiver congruence on perceived...
Show moreYouth with cystic fibrosis must gradually assume considerable self-care management skills in order to optimize longevity and quality of life, and healthcare providers and caregivers play a role in youth gradually assuming these skills. The purpose of this study was to determine how youth with cystic fibrosis perceive their self-care management skills required for transition to adult healthcare, the relationship between age and skill acquisition, youth and caregiver congruence on perceived transition readiness, and frequency of transition discussion with provider. In this descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional design, 58 youth ages 14-22 rated their skill ability in managing cystic fibrosis using the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) during visits to the cystic fibrosis clinic. Using an adapted version of the questionnaire, the TRAQ-C, 52 caregivers also rated youth readiness to transition to determine congruence in self-care management ability. Five simple regressions were calculated to determine age effects for the self-care management skills. Independent t-tests were used to compare mean scores of youth and caregiver perceptions of self-care management skills. Age predicted youth perception of readiness for self-care management skills. Youth scored significantly higher than their caregivers did in perception of self-care skill management. Study findings suggest that preparation for transition to adult care should begin at an earlier age to prepare youth to assume self-care. Including transition discussion with youth and caregiver assessments using questionnaires such as the TRAQ and TRAQ-C may guide learning of skills and timing of transition to adult health care.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006133, ucf:51185
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006133

Title: THE NATURE OF TURBULENCE IN A NARROW APEX ANGLE ISOSCELES TRIANGULAR DUCT.
Creator: Krishnan, Vaidyanathan, Kapat, Jayanta, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: An experimental investigation was performed to ascertain the nature of turbulence in a narrow apex angle isosceles triangular duct. The study involved the design and construction of a low noise, low turbulence wind tunnel that had an isosceles triangular test section with an apex angle of 11.5°. Experiments involved the measurement of velocity fluctuations using hot wire anemometry and wall pressure fluctuations using a condenser microphone. Measurement of the velocity fluctuations...
Show moreAn experimental investigation was performed to ascertain the nature of turbulence in a narrow apex angle isosceles triangular duct. The study involved the design and construction of a low noise, low turbulence wind tunnel that had an isosceles triangular test section with an apex angle of 11.5°. Experiments involved the measurement of velocity fluctuations using hot wire anemometry and wall pressure fluctuations using a condenser microphone. Measurement of the velocity fluctuations reconfirms the coexistence of laminar and turbulent regions at a given cross section for a range of Reynolds numbers. The laminar region is concentrated closer to the apex while the turbulent region is found closer to the base. The point of transition is a function of the Reynolds number and moves closer to the apex as the flow rate is increased. Moreover, it was found in this investigation that traditional scaling of the turbulent statistical quantities do not hold good in this geometry. Although velocity fluctuations showed distinctive flow regimes, no such distinction could be seen in the dynamic wall pressure data. The nature of the dynamic wall pressure was uniform throughout the entire cross section suggesting that wall pressure fluctuations, unlike the velocity fluctuations, are able to travel from the base to the apex, without being damped. This implies that the relationship between the velocity and the pressure fluctuations applicable in the other systems does not hold well in a narrow apex angle isosceles triangular duct. Further, the typical scaling relationships applied to wall pressure spectra of other geometries doesn't apply in this scenario and the ratio of the RMS pressure fluctuation to the mean shear is much higher compared to a flat plate or pipe flow situation.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001955, ucf:47471
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001955

Title: Artificial Neuron using MoS2/Graphene Threshold Switching Memristor.
Creator: Kalita, Hirokjyoti, Roy, Tania, Sundaram, Kalpathy, Yuan, Jiann-Shiun, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: With the ever-increasing demand for low power electronics, neuromorphic computing has garnered huge interest in recent times. Implementing neuromorphic computing in hardware will be a severe boost for applications involving complex processes such as pattern recognition. Artificial neurons form a critical part in neuromorphic circuits, and have been realized with complex complementary metal(-)oxide(-)semiconductor (CMOS) circuitry in the past. Recently, insulator-to-metal-transition (IMT)...
Show moreWith the ever-increasing demand for low power electronics, neuromorphic computing has garnered huge interest in recent times. Implementing neuromorphic computing in hardware will be a severe boost for applications involving complex processes such as pattern recognition. Artificial neurons form a critical part in neuromorphic circuits, and have been realized with complex complementary metal(-)oxide(-)semiconductor (CMOS) circuitry in the past. Recently, insulator-to-metal-transition (IMT) materials have been used to realize artificial neurons. Although memristors have been implemented to realize synaptic behavior, not much work has been reported regarding the neuronal response achieved with these devices. In this work, we study the IMT in 1T-TaS2 and the volatile threshold switching behavior in vertical-MoS2 (v-MoS2) and graphene van der Waals heterojunction system. The v-MoS2/graphene threshold switching memristor (TSM) is used to produce the integrate-and-fire response of a neuron. We use large area chemical vapor deposited (CVD) graphene and MoS2, enabling large scale realization of these devices. These devices can emulate the most vital properties of a neuron, including the all or nothing spiking, the threshold driven spiking of the action potential, the post-firing refractory period of a neuron and strength modulated frequency response. These results show that the developed artificial neuron can play a crucial role in neuromorphic computing.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007203, ucf:52291
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007203

Title: DFT STUDY OF GEOMETRY AND ENERGETICS OF TRANSITION METAL SYSTEMS.
Creator: Goel, Satyender, MASUNOV, ARTEM, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This dissertation focuses on computational study of the geometry and energetics small molecules and nanoclusters involving transition metals (TM). These clusters may be used for various industrial applications including catalysis and photonics. Specifically, in this work we have studied hydrides and carbides of 3d-transition metal systems (Sc through Cu), small nickel and gold clusters. Qualitatively correct description of the bond dissociation is ensured by allowing the spatial and spin...
Show moreThis dissertation focuses on computational study of the geometry and energetics small molecules and nanoclusters involving transition metals (TM). These clusters may be used for various industrial applications including catalysis and photonics. Specifically, in this work we have studied hydrides and carbides of 3d-transition metal systems (Sc through Cu), small nickel and gold clusters. Qualitatively correct description of the bond dissociation is ensured by allowing the spatial and spin symmetry to break. We have tested applicability of new exchange-correlation functional and alternative theoretical descriptions (spin-contamination correction in broken symmetry DFT and ensemble Kohn-Sham (EKS)) as well. We studies TM hydrides and carbides systems to understand the importance of underlying phenomenon of bond breaking in catalytic processes. We have tested several exchange-correlation functionals including explicit dependence on kinetic energy density for the description of hydrides (both neutral and cationic) and carbides formed by 3d-transition metals. We find M05-2x and BMK dissociation energies are in better agreement with experiment (where available) than those obtained with high level wavefunction theory methods, published previously. This agreement with experiment deteriorates quickly for other functionals when the fraction of the Hartree-Fock exchange in DFT functional is decreased. Higher fraction of HF exchange is also essential in EKS formalism, but it does not help when spin-adapted unrestricted approach is employed. We analyze the electron spin densities using Natural Bond Orbital population analysis and find that simple description of 3d electrons as non-bonding in character is rarely correct. Unrestricted formalism results in appreciable spin-contamination for some of the systems at equilibrium, which motivated us to investigate it further in details. In order to correct the spin contamination effect on the energies, we propose a new scheme to correct for spin contamination arising in broken-symmetry DFT approach. Unlike conventional schemes, our spin correction is introduced for each spin-polarized electron pair individually and therefore is expected to yield more accurate energy values. We derive an expression to extract the energy of the pure singlet state from the energy of the broken-symmetry DFT description of the low spin state and the energies of the high spin states (pentuplet and two spin-contaminated triplets in the case of two spin-polarized electron pairs). We validate our spin-contamination correction approach by a simple example of H2 and applied to more complex MnH system. Ensemble KS formalism is also applied to investigate the dissociation of C2 molecule. We find that high fraction of HF exchange is essential to reproduce the results of EKS treatment with exact exchange-correlation functional. We analyze the geometry and energetics of small nickel clusters (Ni2-Ni5) for several lowest energy isomers. We also study all possible spin states of small nickel cluster isomers and report observed trends in energetics. Finally we determine the geometry and energetics of ten lowest energy isomers of four small gold clusters (Au2, Au4, Au6, and Au8). We have also investigated the influence of cluster geometry, ligation, solvation and relativistic effects on electronic structure of these gold clusters. The effect of one-by-one ligand attachment in vacuum and solvent environment is also studied. Performance of five DFT functionals are tested as well; Local Spin Density Approximation (SVWN5), Generalized Gradient Approximation (PBE), kinetic energy density-dependent functional (TPSS), hybrid DFT (B3LYP), and CAM-B3LYP which accounts for long-range exchange effects believed to be important in the analysis of metal bonding in gold complexes and clusters. Our results exhibit the ligand induced stability enhancement of otherwise less stable isomers of Au4, Au6 and Au8. Ligands are found to play a crucial role in determining the 2D to 3D transition realized in small gold clusters. In order to select an appropriate theory level to use in this study, we investigate the effect of attachment of four different ligands (NH3, NMe3, PH3, PMe3) on cluster geometry and energetics of Au2 and Au4 in vacuum and in solution. Our results benchmark the applicability of DFT functional model and polarization functions in the basis set for calculations of ligated gold cluster systems. We employ five different basis sets with increasing amount of polarization and diffuse functions; LANL2DZ, LANL2DZ-P, def2-SVP, def2-TZVP, and def2-QZVP. We obtain NMe3 = NH3 < PH3 < PMe3 order of ligand binding energies and observe shallow potential energy surfaces in all molecules. Our results suggest appropriate quantum-chemical methodologies to model small noble metal clusters in realistic ligand environment to provide reliable theoretical analysis in order to complement experiments.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003293, ucf:48498
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003293

Title: Unicondylar Knee Arthroplasty in the Inpatient vs Outpatient Setting: Impact on Process Time, Quality Outcomes, and Patient Satisfaction.
Creator: Zeini, Ibrahim, Ramirez, Bernardo, Noblin, Alice, Liu, Albert Xinliang, Sivo, Stephen, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The implications of rising healthcare expenditures are of great concern nationally and internationally. Performing procedures in the outpatient setting can be one solution to this crisis. However, there is a lack of research on systematic approaches for transitioning procedures to the outpatient setting. Unicondylar knee arthroplasty (UKA) presents an opportunity, as it is already in the early stages of transitioning to the outpatient setting. The key step in facilitating an effective...
Show moreThe implications of rising healthcare expenditures are of great concern nationally and internationally. Performing procedures in the outpatient setting can be one solution to this crisis. However, there is a lack of research on systematic approaches for transitioning procedures to the outpatient setting. Unicondylar knee arthroplasty (UKA) presents an opportunity, as it is already in the early stages of transitioning to the outpatient setting. The key step in facilitating an effective transition to the outpatient setting is comparing outpatient UKAs with inpatient UKAs with a focus on process time, quality outcomes, and patient satisfaction. This study retrospectively compares 400 UKA patients in the outpatient setting with 675 UKA patients in the inpatient setting. The primary analytical tools for this study are Ordinary Least Squares Regression, Logistic Regression, and Ordinal Regression adjusting for comorbidity, social history, demographics, and surgery related characteristics. Outpatient UKAs outperformed inpatient UKAs across 11 of 18 variables analyzed. Process Time will be less for outpatient UKAs in all phases with the exception of Surgery Breakdown Time. The risk-adjusted quality outcomes of UKAs in the outpatient setting were better across Non-Surgery Related Complications, Follow-Up Pain, and Follow-Up Functional Range of Motion Limitation. Patient Satisfaction was higher for outpatient UKAs. There was a lack of consistent and appropriate information to conduct a substantial statistical analysis of the costs. These findings point towards outpatient UKAs being a viable option in the future. This research serves as a platform to launch a system-wide effort of transitioning procedures to the outpatient setting across different specialties.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0006427, ucf:51489
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006427

Title: The Early Postpartum Experience of Previously Infertile Mothers.
Creator: Ladores, Sigrid, Aroian, Karen, Chase, Susan, Norris, Anne, Renk, Kimberly, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The lived experiences of previously infertile mothers in the early postpartum period have not been previously studied. The purpose of the research was to explore the experiences of previously infertile mothers during their early postpartum period.Colaizzi's (1978) approach to descriptive phenomenological inquiry was used to analyze the interview data obtained from twelve first-time, previously infertile mothers. These new mothers, aged 27 to 43 years, were interviewed twice. The first...
Show moreThe lived experiences of previously infertile mothers in the early postpartum period have not been previously studied. The purpose of the research was to explore the experiences of previously infertile mothers during their early postpartum period.Colaizzi's (1978) approach to descriptive phenomenological inquiry was used to analyze the interview data obtained from twelve first-time, previously infertile mothers. These new mothers, aged 27 to 43 years, were interviewed twice. The first interview focused on eliciting descriptions of new motherhood in the early postpartum period after overcoming infertility. The second interview validated the interpretations from the first interview and provided additional information and reflection. Two main themes emerged that described the early postpartum experience of first-time, previously infertile mothers: 1) Lingering Identity as Infertile; and 2) Gratitude for the Gift of Motherhood. Participants reported that their lingering identity as infertile and immense gratitude for the gift of motherhood propelled them to establish unrealistic expectations to be the perfect mother. When they were unable to live up to being the perfect mother, they censored their feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and shame. Findings from this study sensitize healthcare providers to the difficulties faced by previously infertile women during their transition to motherhood.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0005365, ucf:50489
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005365

Title: THEORETICAL AND NUMERICAL STUDIES OF PHASE TRANSITIONS AND ERROR THRESHOLDS IN TOPOLOGICAL QUANTUM MEMORIES.
Creator: Jouzdani, Pejman, Mucciolo, Eduardo, Chang, Zenghu, Leuenberger, Michael, Abouraddy, Ayman, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This dissertation is the collection of a progressive research on the topic of topological quantum computation and information with the focus on the error threshold of the well-known models such as the unpaired Majorana, the toric code, and the planar code.We study the basics of quantum computation and quantum information, and in particular quantum error correction. Quantum error correction provides a tool for enhancing the quantum computation fidelity in the noisy environment of a real world....
Show moreThis dissertation is the collection of a progressive research on the topic of topological quantum computation and information with the focus on the error threshold of the well-known models such as the unpaired Majorana, the toric code, and the planar code.We study the basics of quantum computation and quantum information, and in particular quantum error correction. Quantum error correction provides a tool for enhancing the quantum computation fidelity in the noisy environment of a real world. We begin with a brief introduction to stabilizer codes. The stabilizer formalism of the theory of quantum error correction gives a well-defined description of quantum codes that is used throughout this dissertation. Then, we turn our attention to a quite new subject, namely, topological quantum codes. Topological quantum codes take advantage of the topological characteristics of a physical many-body system. The physical many-body systems studied in the context of topological quantum codes are of two essential natures: they either have intrinsic interaction that self-corrects errors, or are actively corrected to be maintainedin a desired quantum state. Examples of the former are the toric code and the unpaired Majorana, while an example for the latter is the surface code.A brief introduction and history of topological phenomena in condensed matter is provided. The unpaired Majorana and the Kitaev toy model are briefly explained. Later we introduce a spin model that maps onto the Kitaev toy model through a sequence of transformations. We show how this model is robust and tolerates local perturbations. The research on this topic, at the time of writing this dissertation, is still incomplete and only preliminary results are represented.As another example of passive error correcting codes with intrinsic Hamiltonian, the toric code is introduced. We also analyze the dynamics of the errors in the toric code known as anyons. We show numerically how the addition of disorder to the physical system underlying the toric code slows down the dynamics of the anyons. We go further and numerically analyze the presence of time-dependent noise and the consequent delocalization of localized errors.The main portion of this dissertation is dedicated to the surface code. We study the surface code coupled to a non-interacting bosonic bath. We show how the interaction between the code and the bosonic bath can effectively induce correlated errors. These correlated errors may be corrected up to some extend. The extension beyond which quantum error correction seems impossible is the error threshold of the code. This threshold is analyzed by mapping the effective correlated error model onto a statistical model. We then study the phase transition in the statistical model. The analysis is in two parts. First, we carry out derivation of the effective correlated model, its mapping onto a statistical model, and perform an exact numerical analysis. Second, we employ a Monte Carlo method to extend the numerical analysis to large system size.We also tackle the problem of surface code with correlated and single-qubit errors by an exact mapping onto a two-dimensional Ising model with boundary fields. We show how the phase transition point in one model, the Ising model, coincides with the intrinsic error threshold of the other model, the surface code.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005512, ucf:50314
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005512

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: An Investigation of the Academic Impact of the Freshman Transition Course at One Urban Central Florida High School.
Creator: Flynn, Timothy, Taylor, Rosemarye, Baldwin, Lee, Doherty, Walter, Bradshaw, Leigh, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The purpose of this research was to identify the extent to which a high school freshman transition program aligned with research based recommendations and to determine the extent to which the intervention impacted persistence to the tenth grade, on-track-to-graduation status, and academic success. Documents relevant to the program were collected and analyzed for research based themes. Students in the program at the target school were compared to students in a similar high school and a...
Show moreThe purpose of this research was to identify the extent to which a high school freshman transition program aligned with research based recommendations and to determine the extent to which the intervention impacted persistence to the tenth grade, on-track-to-graduation status, and academic success. Documents relevant to the program were collected and analyzed for research based themes. Students in the program at the target school were compared to students in a similar high school and a historical cohort of students who attended the target school. The impact of the course was statistically significant for persistence to the tenth grade, on-track to graduation status, and academic success; however ANOVA found statistical significance favored Algebra 1 EOC and not FCAT Reading. Effect size statistics revealed little to no effect among Freshman Experience and the dependent variables. These findings will help school-level and district administrators design research-based transition interventions which encourage academic success and graduation.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006684, ucf:51902
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006684

Title: Ultra-Efficient Cascaded Buck-Boost Converter.
Creator: Ashok Pise, Anirudh, Batarseh, Issa, Mikhael, Wasfy, Sun, Wei, Kutkut, Nasser, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This thesis presents various techniques to achieve ultra-high-efficiency for Cascaded-Buck-Boost converter. A rigorous loss model with component non linearity is developed and validated experimentally. An adaptive-switching-frequency control is discussed to optimize weighted efficiency. Some soft-switching techniques are discussed. A low-profile planar-nanocrystalline inductor is developed and various design aspects of core and copper design are discussed. Finite-element-method is used to...
Show moreThis thesis presents various techniques to achieve ultra-high-efficiency for Cascaded-Buck-Boost converter. A rigorous loss model with component non linearity is developed and validated experimentally. An adaptive-switching-frequency control is discussed to optimize weighted efficiency. Some soft-switching techniques are discussed. A low-profile planar-nanocrystalline inductor is developed and various design aspects of core and copper design are discussed. Finite-element-method is used to examine and visualize the inductor design. By implementing the above, a peak efficiency of over 99.2 % is achieved with a power density of 6 kW/L and a maximum profile height of 7 mm is reported. This converter finds many applications because of its versatility: allowing bidirectional power flow and the ability to step-up or step-down voltages in either direction.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0007277, ucf:52181
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007277

Title: More Guns, Less Butter, and Officers at the Table: Understanding the Nexus between the Military's Integration into Politics and Resource Allocation in Democracies and Non-Democracies.
Creator: Ben Hammou, Salah, Powell, Jonathan, Boutton, Andrew, Mirilovic, Nikola, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The civilianization of government is often seen as a necessary prerequisite for successful democratization and healthy civil-military relations. This thesis explores the impact of integrating the military into political decision-making on the distribution of (")guns(") and (")butter(") (-) military spending and social spending - across dictatorships and democracies. Whereas a general consensus suggests that autocracies allocate greater goods to the military and fewer goods to the general...
Show moreThe civilianization of government is often seen as a necessary prerequisite for successful democratization and healthy civil-military relations. This thesis explores the impact of integrating the military into political decision-making on the distribution of (")guns(") and (")butter(") (-) military spending and social spending - across dictatorships and democracies. Whereas a general consensus suggests that autocracies allocate greater goods to the military and fewer goods to the general public relative to democracies, an understudied variable is the military's integration into politics in both democracies and autocracies. Given that military elites have greater incentives relative to civilian elites to prioritize military spending over social spending, I expect that integrating officers into politics should yield greater military outlays and fewer social outlays relative to more civilianized regimes, democratic or otherwise.Drawing on a number of theories concerning contentious civil-military relations, I frame this process of integration and its subsequent consequence as part of a broader means to ameliorate commitment issues between leaders and the armed forces. Specifically, I view power-sharing with military elites as a potential tool democrats and dictators may use to ensure the loyalty of the armed forces and mitigate the threat of defection or a coup d'etat. I test my arguments using data on the proportion of national cabinet positions held by military officers across 138 countries between 1964-2008. Offering some support for my expectations, this thesis highlights the necessity of fine-tuned data to explore civil-military processes and reasserts that the military may influence politics across multiple regime settings and outside of overtly ruling the country..
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007784, ucf:52367
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007784

Title: A comparison of sixth-grade English language arts and mathematics achievement between middle schools and K-8 schools.
Creator: Asplen, Brennan, Johnson, Jerry, Doherty, Walter, Ortiz, Enrique, Shope, Shane, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The purpose of this study was to compare the academic achievement of sixth grade students enrolled in a traditional middle school model versus those enrolled in a K-8 school model by analyzing English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics scores. Developmental Scale Score (DSS) data from the 2017 Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) were collected from three K-8 schools and three middle schools in one high-performing Florida school district. Results from an independent samples t-test revealed...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to compare the academic achievement of sixth grade students enrolled in a traditional middle school model versus those enrolled in a K-8 school model by analyzing English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics scores. Developmental Scale Score (DSS) data from the 2017 Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) were collected from three K-8 schools and three middle schools in one high-performing Florida school district. Results from an independent samples t-test revealed that middle school student scores were slightly higher in overall ELA and mathematics proficiency, but the differences were not substantive. Cross-tabulation was utilized to compute the proportion of students making learning gains in ELA and mathematics. The results were nearly identical among the middle school students and the K-8 students relative to ELA; however, the proportion of students making learning gains in mathematics was substantially higher among the K-8 students. To investigate equity in the distribution of achievement, a comparison was made between Middle School and K-8 bi-serial correlation coefficients measuring the strength and direction of the relationship between student achievement and socioeconomic status (SES). Results suggested that the negative influence of low-SES on academic achievement in ELA and mathematics was notably stronger among students enrolled in the middle school model. While making school construction decisions, policy makers will be informed through these findings as to which type of grade span configuration is most likely to positively impact student achievement.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007599, ucf:52550
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007599

Title: The Lived Experiences of First-Year, First Semester Honors College Students Placed on Academic Probation.
Creator: Robinson, Mary-Margaret, Boote, David, Malaret, Stacey, Vitale, Thomas, Cox, Dr. Thomas, Wang, Alvin, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study was conducted to examine the experiences of first-year, traditional aged Honors College students who were placed on academic probation at the conclusion of the first semester and how they perceive their current circumstances, reasons for their inability to meet the honors requirements, and future academic pursuits. A comprehensive literature review was performed, specifically in the areas of first-year college students, retention, Honors Colleges and Honors Programs, high achievers...
Show moreThis study was conducted to examine the experiences of first-year, traditional aged Honors College students who were placed on academic probation at the conclusion of the first semester and how they perceive their current circumstances, reasons for their inability to meet the honors requirements, and future academic pursuits. A comprehensive literature review was performed, specifically in the areas of first-year college students, retention, Honors Colleges and Honors Programs, high achievers, honors students in trouble, help-seeking behaviors, and academic probation at the collegiate level. A phenomenological research design was employed where participants met with the investigator one-on-one for a semi-structured interview. Ten students participated in the study; six were first-year students on honors probation, and four were in academic good standing following the end of the first semester. Participants described several common experiences, including: difficulty with the high school to college transition, planning and organizational challenges, overconfidence in academic abilities, and poor attendance and class participation. Based on these findings, several recommendations are made.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005877, ucf:50870
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005877

Title: An Ethnographic Study of the Culture of Twelfth Grade Upward Bound Students in the Midwest.
Creator: Dambo, Neffisatu, Butler, S. Kent, Boote, David, Hagedorn, W. Bryce, Butler, Malcolm, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The purpose of this study was to better understand the culture of an Upward Bound College Preparatory Program in the Midwest and how it interacted with the culture of 12th-grade UB participants. In particular, the study examined how UB and the cultures that 12th graders belonged influenced students' decisions, progression, and adult transitions. UB serves at-promise high school students who are highly susceptible to academic, career, financial, and psychological challenges during their 12th...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to better understand the culture of an Upward Bound College Preparatory Program in the Midwest and how it interacted with the culture of 12th-grade UB participants. In particular, the study examined how UB and the cultures that 12th graders belonged influenced students' decisions, progression, and adult transitions. UB serves at-promise high school students who are highly susceptible to academic, career, financial, and psychological challenges during their 12th-grade progression and transition. Therefore, the researcher conducted an ethnographic study that included observations, documents, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups with (N = 70) participants in the Midwest. Participants included (n = 14) active 12th-grade UB primary participants, (n = 7) non-active 12th grade UB secondary participants, and (n = 49) adult tertiary participants. During this juncture in their lives, 12th-grade UB participants typically have fewer supports, while facing challenges and social stratification associated with their cultural and demographic statuses. Findings illustrated that UB's 12th-grade culture disregarded developmentally appropriate curriculum, mentor support, and a balanced level of structured guidance. In turn, these cultural interactions also influenced 12th-grade UB participants' decisions to engage in school activities, participate in UB program activities, engage in college going behaviors, and choose a particular college. Gaining a better understanding of the 12th-grade culture in this UB program provides several insights on how to improve the program's services. Recommendations include more culturally relevant interventions, comprehensive school counseling programs, and the development of 12th-grade UB curriculums that address the holistic (i.e., academic, personal, socioemotional) needs of 12th-grade UB students.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006289, ucf:51580
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006289

Title: Secondary and Postsecondary Calculus Instructors' Expectations of Student Knowledge of Functions: A Multiple-case Study.
Creator: Avila, Cheryl, Ortiz, Enrique, Dixon, Juli, Hynes, Michael, Andreasen, Janet, Mohapatra, Ram, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This multiple-case study examines the explicit and implicit assumptions of six veteran calculus instructors from three types of educational institutions, comparing and contrasting their views on the iteration of conceptual understanding and procedural fluency of pre-calculus topics. There were three components to the research data recording process. The first component was a written survey, the second component was a (")think-aloud(") activity of the instructors analyzing the results of a...
Show moreThis multiple-case study examines the explicit and implicit assumptions of six veteran calculus instructors from three types of educational institutions, comparing and contrasting their views on the iteration of conceptual understanding and procedural fluency of pre-calculus topics. There were three components to the research data recording process. The first component was a written survey, the second component was a (")think-aloud(") activity of the instructors analyzing the results of a function diagnostic instrument administered to a calculus class, and for the third component, the instructors responded to two quotations. As a result of this activity, themes were found between and among instructors at the three types of educational institutions related to their expectations of their incoming students' prior knowledge of pre-calculus topics related to functions. Differences between instructors of the three types of educational institutions included two identifiable areas: (1) the teachers' expectations of their incoming students and (2) the methods for planning instruction. In spite of these differences, the veteran instructors were in agreement with other studies' findings that an iterative approach to conceptual understanding and procedural fluency are necessary for student understanding of pre-calculus concepts.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004809, ucf:49758
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004809

Title: A Comparison of Sixth Grade Student Achievement in Reading and Mathematics at School Transition Year.
Creator: Roseboom, Julie, Taylor, Rosemarye, Doherty, Walter, Bai, Haiyan, Beattie, Karen, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study contributed information for consideration as school districts determine grade span configuration as part of school design. The problem addressed was the extent to which student achievement may be impacted by the transition from one school to another from fifth to sixth grade in Florida public schools in order to provide data to school policy makers and school district administrators and add to the body of knowledge on the grade level configuration that contributed the most to...
Show moreThis study contributed information for consideration as school districts determine grade span configuration as part of school design. The problem addressed was the extent to which student achievement may be impacted by the transition from one school to another from fifth to sixth grade in Florida public schools in order to provide data to school policy makers and school district administrators and add to the body of knowledge on the grade level configuration that contributed the most to student achievement in sixth grade. This was a causal-comparative study using quantitative data to analyze student scores at the school level for reading and mathematics on the 2014 Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT) 2.0 assessment to explore the difference in achievement for sixth grade students with no school transition compared to those who had school transitions during middle school. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to examine if a difference existed in the dependent variables of sixth-grade reading and mathematics achievement as measured by school mean developmental scale scores and the school percentage of students making learning gains on the FCAT 2.0 between schools with sixth grade as the transition year and without sixth grade as the transition year. The analyses were controlled for the covariates of the school percentages of socio-economic status as determined by free and reduced lunch rate, English Learner status, and exceptional student education status. Findings signified that schools with no school transition between fifth and sixth grade in Florida public schools had higher sixth-grade mean scores in reading and mathematics as measured by school mean developmental scale scores and in reading as measured by the percentage of school learning gains. This study offers insight into what grade configuration is more likely to positively impact student achievement during the middle grades and supports students remaining in an elementary setting with fewer transitions during the middle grades to most benefit reading and mathematics achievement. Findings are useful to school boards, superintendents, and school district administrators interested in educational policy development and research on transition especially when restructuring school grade configurations and building new school sites.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0006545, ucf:51347
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006545

Title: Multi-transit echo suppression for passive wireless surface acoustic wave sensors using 3rd harmonic unidirectional transducers and Walsh-Hadamard-like reflectors.
Creator: Rodriguez Cordoves, Luis, Malocha, Donald, Weeks, Arthur, Abdolvand, Reza, Moharam, Jim, Youngquist, Robert, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: A passive wireless surface acoustic wave sensor of a delay-line type is composed of an antenna, a transducer that converts the EM signal into a surface acoustic wave, and a set of acoustic reflectors that reflect the incoming signal back out through the antenna. A cavity forms between the transducer and the reflectors, trapping energy and causing multiple unwanted echoes. The work in this dissertation aims to reduce the unwanted echoes so that only the main transit signal is left(-)the signal...
Show moreA passive wireless surface acoustic wave sensor of a delay-line type is composed of an antenna, a transducer that converts the EM signal into a surface acoustic wave, and a set of acoustic reflectors that reflect the incoming signal back out through the antenna. A cavity forms between the transducer and the reflectors, trapping energy and causing multiple unwanted echoes. The work in this dissertation aims to reduce the unwanted echoes so that only the main transit signal is left(-)the signal of interest with sensor information.The contributions of this dissertation include reflective delay-line device response in the form of an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter. This may be used in the future to subtract out unwanted echoes via post-processing. However, this dissertation will use a physical approach to echo suppression by using a unidirectional transducer. Thus a unidirectional transducer is used and also optimized for 3rd harmonic operation. Both the directionality and the coupling of the 3rd harmonic optimized SPUDT are improved over a standard electrode width controlled (EWC) SPUDT. New type of reflectors for the reflective delay-line device are also presented. These use BPSK type coding, similar to that of the Walsh-Hadamard codes. Two types are presented, variable reflectivity and variable chip-lengths. The COM model is used to simulate devices and compare the predicted echo suppression level to that of fabricated devices. Finally, a device is mounted on a tunable antenna and the echo is suppressed on a wireless operating device.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006912, ucf:51697
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006912

transition (7)	+ -
Transition (5)	+ -
high school (3)	+ -
Democratization (2)	+ -
Political Economy (2)	+ -

graduation (2)	+ -
high school transition (2)	+ -
phenomenological study (2)	+ -
transition programs (2)	+ -
2D materials (1)	+ -
3rd harmonic GUDT (1)	+ -
3rd harmonic SPUDT (1)	+ -
AM-BPSK (1)	+ -
Adolescents (1)	+ -
Adult Transition Theory (1)	+ -
Alternative Transportation (1)	+ -
Ambulatory Surgery (1)	+ -
At-Promise (1)	+ -
At-Risk (1)	+ -
At-risk (1)	+ -
Attitudes (1)	+ -
BPSK (1)	+ -
Berry-phase interference (1)	+ -
Bus Rapid Transit (1)	+ -
CDMA (1)	+ -
Cascaded Buck Boost Converter (1)	+ -
Central Asia (1)	+ -
Change Management (1)	+ -
Civil-Military Relations (1)	+ -
Co-existence of laminar and turbulent flow (1)	+ -

ETD Collection (52)	+ -
Honors Collection (5)	+ -

University of Central Florida (57)	+ -
Doherty, Walter (6)	+ -
Hopp, Carolyn (5)	+ -
Taylor, Rosemarye (5)	+ -
Boote, David (4)	+ -

Baldwin, Gordon (3)	+ -
Cox, Dr. Thomas (3)	+ -
Hahs-Vaughn, Debbie (3)	+ -
Kapat, Jayanta (3)	+ -
Martin, Suzanne (3)	+ -
Al-Deek, Haitham (2)	+ -
Aroian, Karen (2)	+ -
Chase, Susan (2)	+ -
Eluru, Naveen (2)	+ -
Leuenberger, Michael (2)	+ -
ME Jungblut, Bernadette (2)	+ -
Norris, Anne (2)	+ -
Ortiz, Enrique (2)	+ -
Owens, J. Thomas (2)	+ -
Tatari, Omer (2)	+ -
Uddin, Nizam (2)	+ -
Whiteman, JoAnn (2)	+ -
Zhang, Shaojie (2)	+ -
Abdel-Aty, Mohamed (1)	+ -
Abdolvand, Reza (1)	+ -
Abouraddy, Ayman (1)	+ -
Ahmed, Kareem (1)	+ -
Ajayi, Richard (1)	+ -
Alomari, Ahmad (1)	+ -
An, Linan (1)	+ -

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