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- Title
- CHILDHOOD CAT BITES AND DISORGANIZED SYMPTOMS OF SCHIZOTYPY IN ADULTHOOD.
- Creator
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Kolpakova, Jenya, Bedwell, Jeffrey, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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During recent years of schizophrenia research, many etiologies have been emphasized, some of them implicating infectious and autoimmune diseases. Many different infectious agents have been examined, but the root seems to stem from the secondary autoimmune deregulation, which can be caused by different infectious agents. Among the effects that autoimmune deregulation has on the body, one prominent effect is on the brain, resulting in either severe or mild encephalitis. The mild encephalitis...
Show moreDuring recent years of schizophrenia research, many etiologies have been emphasized, some of them implicating infectious and autoimmune diseases. Many different infectious agents have been examined, but the root seems to stem from the secondary autoimmune deregulation, which can be caused by different infectious agents. Among the effects that autoimmune deregulation has on the body, one prominent effect is on the brain, resulting in either severe or mild encephalitis. The mild encephalitis that has been implicated as one of the causes of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders has been associated with different pathogens, many of which can be transmitted by the household cat. Thus in the present research we have used the schizotypy personality construct model as an analog for schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and the relationship between current schizotypy and childhood household cat interactions were examined. An online questionnaire was completed by 356 undergraduate students and assessed the current schizotypy using the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire Brief Revised (SPQ-BR), as well as questions about cat ownership and cat bites (puncturing skin) prior to age 13. While no significant relationship was found between childhood cat ownership and current schizotypy, individuals endorsing a cat bite prior to age 13 (N = 66) reported a significantly higher level of current overall schizotypy, which was largely driven by the Disorganized factor of the SPQ-BR.. This relationship should be explored further by examining the antibodies and sera of individuals with the schizophrenia spectrum disorder.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFH0004374, ucf:45024
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004374
- Title
- IDENTIFICATION OF FABRICS LIKELY TO COLLECT AND DISPERSE FEL D 1.
- Creator
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Jones, Mary, von Kalm, Laurence, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Individuals sensitive to domestic cat allergen Fel d 1 experience a variety of symptoms including eye irritation, respiratory irritation, asthma, and severe respiratory distress. Fel d 1 is a protein produced in the saliva and on the skin of domestic cats. Previous studies have demonstrated that Fel d 1 adheres to clothing, upholstery, and human hair and has been found in non-cat environments in levels high enough to cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. In a general sense, two...
Show moreIndividuals sensitive to domestic cat allergen Fel d 1 experience a variety of symptoms including eye irritation, respiratory irritation, asthma, and severe respiratory distress. Fel d 1 is a protein produced in the saliva and on the skin of domestic cats. Previous studies have demonstrated that Fel d 1 adheres to clothing, upholstery, and human hair and has been found in non-cat environments in levels high enough to cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. In a general sense, two very different approaches have been adopted to study Fel d 1. One area of the literature focuses on the molecular biology of Fel d 1 and its functions at the cellular level. These studies hold long-term promise for an effective clinical response to this persistent allergen. An entirely separate literature focuses on immediate practical solutions that remove Fel d 1 from the domestic environment. Within this literature there has been minimal emphasis on the possibility that different fabrics may have different affinities for Fel d 1. Therefore, the affinity of Fel d 1 for different fabrics is the focus of this study. The findings from this study will be of use in reducing allergic reactions in sensitive individuals through the choice of appropriate fabrics in clothing and upholstery. Forty domestic household cats were chosen for this study. Each cat was rubbed, in a manner similar to petting, with an assembled fabric square based on a Latin-square design. Each Latin-square design consisted of a 6x6 fabric grid and included the fabrics silk dupioni, wool suiting, cotton denim, cotton damask, polyester suede and polyester knit. The random organization of the fabrics into the grid removed bias for the location of fabrics within the square during Fel d 1 collection. After rubbing, the Latin-square fabric block was disassembled and Fel d 1 was extracted from each fabric type and analyzed via quantitative ELISA. The results were statistically analyzed with a univariate ANOVA. Fabrics significantly differ (p<0.001) in Fel d 1 retention and fall into three groups. Silk dupioni collected the least amount of Fel d 1. Wool suiting, cotton denim and cotton damask were intermediate in Fel d 1 collection, while polyester suede and polyester knit collected the highest amounts of Fel d 1. Samples were also collected for a time study to determine if Fel d 1 bound on fabric degrades, or otherwise diminishes, over time. 14 weeks (approximately 3 months) after collection, Fel d 1 was extracted from fabrics and quantified by ELISA. A paired T-test was used to evaluate changes in Fel d 1 levels on specific fabrics over the 14 week period. When compared to extractions performed immediately after exposure, the amount of Fel d 1 released from specific fabrics after 14 weeks was significantly reduced. From these studies I conclude that an individual allergic to Fel d 1 may be able to limit their allergen exposure by selecting fabrics less likely to collect the allergen for their environment. Natural fibers (silk, wool, and cotton) collected less Fel d 1 than polyester fabrics, suggesting that natural fibers are recommended over fabrics containing polyester for persons allergic to cats.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0003963, ucf:48710
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003963
- Title
- EFFICIENT CONE BEAM RECONSTRUCTION FOR THE DISTORTED CIRCLE AND LINE TRAJECTORY.
- Creator
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Konate, Souleymane, Katsevich, Alexander, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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We propose an exact filtered backprojection algorithm for inversion of the cone beam data in the case when the trajectory is composed of a distorted circle and a line segment. The length of the scan is determined by the region of interest , and it is independent of the size of the object. With few geometric restrictions on the curve, we show that we have an exact reconstruction. Numerical experiments demonstrate good image quality.
- Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002530, ucf:47669
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002530
- Title
- EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF ANIMAL SHELTERS: AN APPLICATION OF DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS.
- Creator
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Heyde, Brandy, Reilly, Charles, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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The focus of this thesis is the application of data envelopment analysis to understand and evaluate the performance of diverse animal welfare organizations across the United States. The results include identification of the most efficient animal welfare organizations, at least among those that post statistics on their operations, and a discussion of various partnerships that may improve the performance of the more inefficient organizations. The Humane Society of the United States estimates...
Show moreThe focus of this thesis is the application of data envelopment analysis to understand and evaluate the performance of diverse animal welfare organizations across the United States. The results include identification of the most efficient animal welfare organizations, at least among those that post statistics on their operations, and a discussion of various partnerships that may improve the performance of the more inefficient organizations. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that there are 4000 - 6000 independently-run animal shelters across the United States, with an estimated 6-8 million companion animals entering them each year. Unfortunately, more than half of these animals are euthanized. The methods shared in this research illustrate how data envelopment analysis may help shelters improve these statistics through evaluation and cooperation. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is based on the principle that the efficiency of an organization depends on its ability to transform its inputs into the desired outputs. The result of a DEA model is a single measure that summarizes the relative efficiency of each decision making unit (DMU) when compared with similar organizations. The DEA linear program defines an efficiency frontier with the most efficient animal shelters that are put into the model that "envelops" the other DMUs. Individual efficiency scores are calculated by determining how close each DMU is to reaching the frontier. The results shared in this research focus on the performance of 15 animal shelters. Lack of standardized data regarding individual animal shelter performance limited the ability to review a larger number of shelters and provide more robust results. Various programs are in place within the United States to improve the collection and availability of individual shelter performance. Specifically, the Asilomar Accords provide a strong framework for doing this and could significantly reduce euthanasia of companion animals if more shelters would adopt the practice of collecting and reporting their data in this format. It is demonstrated in this research that combining performance data with financial data within the data envelopment analysis technique can be powerful in helping shelters identify how to better deliver results. The addition of data from other organizations will make the results even more robust and useful for each shelter involved.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002101, ucf:47557
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002101
- Title
- A mathematical model for feral cat ecology with application to disease.
- Creator
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Sharpe, Jeff, Nevai, A, Shuai, Zhisheng, Qi, Yuanwei, Quintana-Ascencio, Pedro, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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We formulate and analyze a mathematical model for feral cats living in an isolated colony. The model contains compartments for kittens, adult females and adult males. Kittens are born at a rate proportional to the population of adult females and mature at equal rates into adult females and adult males. Adults compete with each other in a manner analogous to Lotka-Volterra competition. This competition comes in four forms, classified by gender. Native house cats, and their effects are also...
Show moreWe formulate and analyze a mathematical model for feral cats living in an isolated colony. The model contains compartments for kittens, adult females and adult males. Kittens are born at a rate proportional to the population of adult females and mature at equal rates into adult females and adult males. Adults compete with each other in a manner analogous to Lotka-Volterra competition. This competition comes in four forms, classified by gender. Native house cats, and their effects are also considered, including additional competition and abandonment into the feral population. Control measures are also modeled in the form of per-capita removal rates. We compute the net reproduction number (R_0) for the colony and consider its influence. In the absence of abandonment, if R_0(>)1, the population always persists at a positive equilibrium and if R_0 (<)= 1, the population always tends toward local extinction. This work will be referred to as the core model.The model is then expanded to include a set of colonies (patches) such as those in the core model (this time neglecting the effect of abandonment). Adult females and kittens remain in their native patch while adult males spend a fixed proportion of their time in each patch. Adult females experience competition from both the adult females living in the same patch as well as the visiting adult males. The proportion of adult males in patch j suffer competition from both adult females resident to that patch as well the proportion of adult males also in the patch. We formulate a net reproduction number for each patch (a patch reproduction number) R_j. If R_j(>)1 for at least one patch, then the collective population always persists at some nontrivial (but possibly semitrivial) steady state. We consider the number of possible steady states and their properties. This work will be referred to as the patch model.Finally, the core model is expanded to include the introduction of the feline leukemia virus. Since this disease has many modes of transmission, each of which depends on the host's gender and life-stage, we regard this as a model disease. A basic reproduction number R_0 for the disease is defined and analyzed. Vaccination terms are included and their role in disease propagation is analyzed. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given under which the disease-free equilibrium is stable.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- Identifier
- CFE0006502, ucf:51389
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006502
