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Title: MAN VS BEAST: THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOUNDARY IN J. K. ROWLING'S HARRY POTTER SERIES.
Creator: Auz, Jessica, Pugh, Tison, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In her series of seven novels, Rowling constructs a society and a framework of characterization that allows her to explore the human-animal boundary in a variety of ways. She connects her novels to the ideology of the classical and medieval periods while still acknowledging the ways that the relationship between humans and animals has changed over the years by showcasing the influence of modern popular culture on her characterization of the human-animal boundary. Through her descriptions of...
Show moreIn her series of seven novels, Rowling constructs a society and a framework of characterization that allows her to explore the human-animal boundary in a variety of ways. She connects her novels to the ideology of the classical and medieval periods while still acknowledging the ways that the relationship between humans and animals has changed over the years by showcasing the influence of modern popular culture on her characterization of the human-animal boundary. Through her descriptions of werewolves, Patronuses, Animagi, and Harry Potter's and Lord Voldemort's abilities to speak Parseltongue, Rowling uses classical, medieval, and modern animal symbolism to showcase her characters' personalities. These human-animal frameworks associate particular imagery with each character, and this imagery highlights the core of the character. By using this symbolism to showcase her characters' deepest characteristics, Rowling also delineates her heroes and villains through their relationships with the boundary between humans and animals. This thesis analyzes the ways that Rowling's fusion of classical, medieval, and modern animal symbolism contributes to Rowling's characterization of heroes and villains throughout the series. By examining the instances where characters engage the human-animal boundary, this thesis constructs an argument that highlights the fluidity of the human-animal boundary through examples from the series and analysis of Rowling's characters.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFH0003833, ucf:44717
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0003833

Title: TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTERS: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES THEORY ON DEPRESSION.
Creator: Gentry, Brian, Rivera, Fernando, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Researchers studying the affects of resource loss following a technological disaster have exclusively investigated the acute period directly after the event occurred. This study applied Hobfoll's (1988, 1989) Conservation of Resources model in order to examine the long term effects of resource loss on depression in Cordova, Alaska a decade after the Exxon Valdez Oil spill. Results suggest that resource loss was a more prominent predictor for depression than demographics, involvement in...
Show moreResearchers studying the affects of resource loss following a technological disaster have exclusively investigated the acute period directly after the event occurred. This study applied Hobfoll's (1988, 1989) Conservation of Resources model in order to examine the long term effects of resource loss on depression in Cordova, Alaska a decade after the Exxon Valdez Oil spill. Results suggest that resource loss was a more prominent predictor for depression than demographics, involvement in the on-going litigation, or commercial fishing jobs. The research concludes that certain aspects of resource loss are critical in the development of depression after a technological disaster, and in understanding how to address depression in the community.
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Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: CFE0002337, ucf:47779
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002337

Title: When There's No Home to Prepare: Understanding Natural Hazards Vulnerability Among the Homeless in Central Florida.
Creator: Settembrino, Marc, Rivera, Fernando, Wright, James, Koontz, Amanda, Kapucu, Naim, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The current study explores the social construction of natural hazards vulnerability by examining the perceptions of emergency management personnel, homeless service providers and homeless men living in Central Florida. The matrix of vulnerability is proposed as a framework for studying disaster vulnerability, wherein vulnerability is viewed as a complex process consisting of social and physical risk, human agency and time. Using the matrix as a guiding framework, this study examines the risks...
Show moreThe current study explores the social construction of natural hazards vulnerability by examining the perceptions of emergency management personnel, homeless service providers and homeless men living in Central Florida. The matrix of vulnerability is proposed as a framework for studying disaster vulnerability, wherein vulnerability is viewed as a complex process consisting of social and physical risk, human agency and time. Using the matrix as a guiding framework, this study examines the risks that natural hazards present to the homeless living in Central Florida and the strategies used by the homeless to manage these risks. This study argues that because the homeless experience increased exposure to natural hazards coupled with potential chronic medical conditions, economic hardship, and social stigma, they are more vulnerable to natural hazards than the general population. However, this study finds that homeless men in Central Florida utilize a variety of strategies that help them manage their risks to severe and inclement weather in Central Florida.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004936, ucf:49618
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004936

Title: Identification of Novel Antimalarial Scaffolds From Marine Natural Products.
Creator: Roberts, Bracken, Chakrabarti, Debopam, Jewett, Travis, Self, William, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Malaria, the disease caused by Plasmodium sp., claims the lives of over 1 million people every year, with Plasmodium falciparum causing the highest morbidity. Rapidly acquiring drug resistance is threatening to exhaust our antimalarial drug arsenal and already requires the utilization of combination drug therapy in most cases. The global need for novel antimalarial chemical scaffolds has never been greater.Screening of natural product libraries is known to have higher hit rates than synthetic...
Show moreMalaria, the disease caused by Plasmodium sp., claims the lives of over 1 million people every year, with Plasmodium falciparum causing the highest morbidity. Rapidly acquiring drug resistance is threatening to exhaust our antimalarial drug arsenal and already requires the utilization of combination drug therapy in most cases. The global need for novel antimalarial chemical scaffolds has never been greater.Screening of natural product libraries is known to have higher hit rates than synthetic chemical libraries. This elevated hit rate is somewhat attributed to the greater biodiversity available in natural products. Marine life is the most biodiverse system on the planet, containing 34 of the 36 known phyla of life, and is expected to be a rich source of novel chemotypes. In collaboration with the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Ft. Pierce we have screened a library of over 2,800 marine macroorganism peak fractions against Plasmodium falciparum using the SYBR green I fluorescence-based assay. In this screening process we have identified six compounds from five novel chemical scaffolds all of which have low micromolar to submicromolar IC50 values and excellent selectivity indices. Additionally, one of these chemical scaffolds, the bis(indolyl)imidazole, was selected for further in vitro pharmacological and structure-activity relationship (SAR) profiling, key steps in the challenging process of identifying a new antimalarial drug lead compound.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004792, ucf:49748
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004792

Title: Nature Records Itself: Concepts of Truth and Representation in Nature Film and Nature Television Shows.
Creator: Rosalle, Rashaad, Peters, Philip, Adams, JoAnne, Dierdorff, Brooks, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: With the advent of nature photography and film came new ways to understand and interpret the natural world. Prior to the 1910s these formats involved a more scientific and objective approach to recording nature. This aesthetic was abandoned in favor for narrative recreations and Hollywood structure after the 1930s. It is my belief that the dominant use of anthropomorphization, manipulations of setting and animal life, and rugged explorer motifs, all have lead to a loss of a more contemplative...
Show moreWith the advent of nature photography and film came new ways to understand and interpret the natural world. Prior to the 1910s these formats involved a more scientific and objective approach to recording nature. This aesthetic was abandoned in favor for narrative recreations and Hollywood structure after the 1930s. It is my belief that the dominant use of anthropomorphization, manipulations of setting and animal life, and rugged explorer motifs, all have lead to a loss of a more contemplative and meditative appreciation of nature within the Nature television and film format. It is my goal to explore through a series of videos how one can more naturally represent a setting through the use of perspective and compositional framing, matching the natural rhythms of a setting through editing and motion, and being conscious of the viewers sense of placement in a space. I intend to visually demonstrate how a more organic, situated, and less Hollywood-style of interpreting nature can lead to a deeper and more meaningful appreciation of it.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006490, ucf:51393
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006490

Title: ACTIVATION AND EXPANSION OF NATURAL KILLER CELLS FOR CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY WITH EX21 EXOSOMES.
Creator: Khederzadeh, Sara, Copik, Alicja, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In the field of cancer immunotherapy, NK cells are recognized for their ability to provide a form of innate immunity against tumor cells. However, the average abundance of NK cells in the blood can be as low as 5% of the total lymphocyte population. As a result, it has been a focus to find novel therapies to expand NK cells in vitro while subsequently enhancing the cytotoxicity of these cells. Previously-defined methods include the minimal expansion of NK cells with high levels of cytokines...
Show moreIn the field of cancer immunotherapy, NK cells are recognized for their ability to provide a form of innate immunity against tumor cells. However, the average abundance of NK cells in the blood can be as low as 5% of the total lymphocyte population. As a result, it has been a focus to find novel therapies to expand NK cells in vitro while subsequently enhancing the cytotoxicity of these cells. Previously-defined methods include the minimal expansion of NK cells with high levels of cytokines such as IL-2 and IL-15, as well as co-culturing NK cells with feeder cell populations that are genetically modified to express NK-stimulating factors. Another method involves the use of artificially-derived plasma membrane nanoparticles (PM21) that express membrane-bound IL-21 (mb21) to successfully expand NK cells by a factor of 103 in 14 days. Exosomes, which are cell-derived vesicles naturally secreted by cancer cells, may reveal a novel way to expand NK cells and enhance their cytotoxicity by taking advantage of the exchange of genetic information within the tumor microenvironment. To test this hypothesis, NK cells have been cultured with varying concentrations of exosomes derived from modified K562-mb21-41BBl (a chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line) and shown to achieve 200-fold expansion of NK cells from other PBMCs in 14 days, a growth comparable to that of PM-21 particles. In vitro assays as well as co-culturing with various tumor cell lines will determine the cytotoxicity of these expanded cells. Potentially, exosomes may be applied as an in vivo therapy for NK cell expansion.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFH2000262, ucf:45963
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000262

Title: THE NEW GIRL.
Creator: Meredith, Angela Marie, Stap, Don, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The New Girl is a collection of poems in which the poet assumes a direct, unfeigned voice. These rhythmic poems cover the deeply personal to the universal and social. The body is presented as a record of experiences both good and bad. Feminist issues pertainingto marriage, work, and sexuality are explored. Whether the poem is about a personal relationship or some aspect of society, it is likely to be multi-dimensional and suggest a duality. Overall, the poems are rooted in the spiritual and...
Show moreThe New Girl is a collection of poems in which the poet assumes a direct, unfeigned voice. These rhythmic poems cover the deeply personal to the universal and social. The body is presented as a record of experiences both good and bad. Feminist issues pertainingto marriage, work, and sexuality are explored. Whether the poem is about a personal relationship or some aspect of society, it is likely to be multi-dimensional and suggest a duality. Overall, the poems are rooted in the spiritual and attempt to relate, with holistic honesty, a sense of reverence for the impure parts of life.
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000035, ucf:46107
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000035

Title: CRYSTAL HEALING PRACTICES IN THE WESTERN WORLD AND BEYOND.
Creator: Carlos, Kristine D, Matejowsky, Ty, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Humans have been using crystals for various healing and ritual reasons for centuries. Both geographically and culturally, a diverse range of groups have turned to crystals and gemstones to address diverse needs over the millennia. While the oldest legends of crystal magic date back to the mythical ancient continent of Atlantis whose people allegedly used crystals for telepathic communication (Raphael 1985), it is believed that the crystal customs continued to perpetuate in Egypt, South...
Show moreHumans have been using crystals for various healing and ritual reasons for centuries. Both geographically and culturally, a diverse range of groups have turned to crystals and gemstones to address diverse needs over the millennia. While the oldest legends of crystal magic date back to the mythical ancient continent of Atlantis whose people allegedly used crystals for telepathic communication (Raphael 1985), it is believed that the crystal customs continued to perpetuate in Egypt, South America, and Tibet over subsequent centuries. Over recent decades, a renewed interest in crystals and gemstones has emerged in various New Age and mainstream contexts. In this thesis, I consider the 'explanations' for crystal and spiritual healing in the following interest areas: Great Britain, Indian Hinduism, and among various Native American groups.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFH2000283, ucf:45883
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000283

Title: DETERMINATION OF SELECTIVITY AND POTENTIAL FOR DRUG RESISTANCE OF NOVEL ANTIMALARIAL COMPOUNDS FROM NATURE-INSPIRED SYNTHETIC LIBRARIES.
Creator: Keasler, Eric, Keasler, Eric, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: As malaria, caused by Plasmodium spp., continues to afflict millions of people worldwide, there is a dire need for the discovery of novel, inexpensive antimalarial drugs. Although there are effective drugs on the market, the consistent development of drug resistant species has decreased their efficacy, further emphasizing that novel therapeutic measures are urgently needed. Natural products provide the most diverse reservoir for the discovery of unique chemical scaffolds with the potential to...
Show moreAs malaria, caused by Plasmodium spp., continues to afflict millions of people worldwide, there is a dire need for the discovery of novel, inexpensive antimalarial drugs. Although there are effective drugs on the market, the consistent development of drug resistant species has decreased their efficacy, further emphasizing that novel therapeutic measures are urgently needed. Natural products provide the most diverse reservoir for the discovery of unique chemical scaffolds with the potential to effectively combat malarial infections, but, due to their complex structures, they often pose extreme challenges to medicinal chemists during pharmacokinetic optimization. In our laboratory we have performed unbiased, cell-based assays of numerous synthetic compounds from chemical libraries enriched with nature-like elements. This screening has led to the discovery of many original chemical scaffolds with promising antimalarial properties. In an attempt to further characterize these scaffolds, the most promising compounds were assayed in order to determine their cytotoxic effects on mammalian cells. In addition, the development of a drug resistant parasite line of Plasmodium falciparum to the most promising compound was done in order to determine the relative probability for parasite resistance development.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFH0004223, ucf:44900
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004223

Title: Life, Death, and Awakening: As Seen in Reflections of Nature.
Creator: Parks, Diane, Poindexter, Carla, Kim, Joo, Kovach, Keith, Price, Mark, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: My objective, in undertaking this three year MFA degree has been to create and produce metaphorical paintings which communicate my deepest feelings about my personal experiences of life, death, and nature using various types of landscapes as subject matter. My goal has been to explore many processes of painting, using a range of color palettes to suggest and inspire emotional responses from viewers that are similar to my own. Ultimately my intention has been to share feelings of empathy...
Show moreMy objective, in undertaking this three year MFA degree has been to create and produce metaphorical paintings which communicate my deepest feelings about my personal experiences of life, death, and nature using various types of landscapes as subject matter. My goal has been to explore many processes of painting, using a range of color palettes to suggest and inspire emotional responses from viewers that are similar to my own. Ultimately my intention has been to share feelings of empathy between myself and a viewer through the art I've produced. This thesis body of work chronicles my three year journey.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007072, ucf:52002
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007072

Title: Discovery and characterization of novel antimicrobials against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Creator: Rodrigues Felix, Carolina, Rohde, Kyle, Jewett, Mollie, Self, William, Phanstiel, Otto, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Tuberculosis disease is currently a global health emergency, causing the most deaths worldwide due a single infectious agent. Eradication of TB is hampered by lack of an effective vaccine and poor treatment options. During infection, host-derived cues such as hypoxia and starvation induce Mycobacterium tuberculosis to halt replication and become dormant, which leads to tolerance to front-line antibiotics used in the TB treatment. This dormant phenotype causes delayed clearance of M....
Show moreTuberculosis disease is currently a global health emergency, causing the most deaths worldwide due a single infectious agent. Eradication of TB is hampered by lack of an effective vaccine and poor treatment options. During infection, host-derived cues such as hypoxia and starvation induce Mycobacterium tuberculosis to halt replication and become dormant, which leads to tolerance to front-line antibiotics used in the TB treatment. This dormant phenotype causes delayed clearance of M. tuberculosis, therefore a long treatment time is required for stable cure without relapse. Poor patient compliance increases the emergence of drug resistant strains, posing yet another challenge for the eradication of TB. There is dire need for novel compounds targeting not only drug-resistant, but also dormant bacteria so as to effectively eliminate drug-resistant strains and also shorten treatment time. This requires compounds with novel modes of action and novel drug screening approaches which focus on dormant M. tuberculosis. In the current work a method was optimized which induces the dormant phenotype of M. tuberculosis in vitro allowing large scale screening of compounds against these tolerant bacteria. The high chemical diversity of marine natural products was explored to increase the chances of finding novel compounds with novel mechanisms of action. Additionally, gold-complexed scaffolds were examined for their putative ability to inhibit topoisomerase 1, which is a highly conserved and essential protein of mycobacteria, not currently targeted in classical treatment regimens. Several marine natural products were identified with selective bactericidal activity against dormant bacteria, emphasizing the powerful tool that was developed for drug screening. Moreover, the gold-complexes were also bactericidal against not only replicating and dormant bacilli, but also mycobacteria resistant to front-line TB drugs. Compounds characterized in this study represent a promising starting point for the development of novel TB therapeutics and discovery of new conditionally essential pathways of dormant bacteria.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0007294, ucf:52172
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007294

Title: Exogenous Shocks and Political Unrest.
Creator: Nurmanova, Didara, Tezcur, Gunes Murat, Ash, Konstantin, Wilson, Bruce, Alpanda, Sami, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This dissertation explores the role of exogenous shocks such as economic shocks and natural disasters in producing political unrest in the form of anti-government protests and ethnic riots. It is integrated by three articles, each covering a different topic. The first article argues that economic shocks play a crucial role in protest mobilization in rentier states conditional on weaker repressive capacity or higher taxation. Empirically, it conducts a cross-national study of high-resource...
Show moreThis dissertation explores the role of exogenous shocks such as economic shocks and natural disasters in producing political unrest in the form of anti-government protests and ethnic riots. It is integrated by three articles, each covering a different topic. The first article argues that economic shocks play a crucial role in protest mobilization in rentier states conditional on weaker repressive capacity or higher taxation. Empirically, it conducts a cross-national study of high-resource dependent states in the period of 1995-2014. The second article contends that there is a variation in a degree to which a country's regions are exposed to economic shocks. A higher regional exposure to economic shocks is argued to increase the likelihood of regional anti-government protest at in competitive autocracies. The argument is tested in a subnational analysis of Russia using original dataset of regional anti-government protest and regional economic data in the period of 2007-2015. The third article develops a theory of natural disasters and ethnic riots. It argues that climate-induced meteorological disasters increase chances of ethnic riots because of declined state capacity that creates uncertainty about enforcement of existing ethnic contracts, and feelings of uncertainty result in strong group categorization, stereotyping and polarization. The argument is tested in a subnational study of Hindu-Muslim riots in Indian states in the period of 1951-2015. The results of the studies in this dissertation offer three key findings: (1) higher resource rents lower protest likelihood in autocratic rentier states with higher repressive capacity; (2) regional unemployment is a strong predictor of anti-government protest; (3) natural disasters in the form of precipitation and temperature anomalies increase chances of ethnic riots. The findings suggest a conclusion that exogenous shocks are important predictors of anti-government protest and ethnic riots.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007510, ucf:52644
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007510

Title: If a Virtual Tree Falls in a Simulated Forest, is the Sound Restorative? An Examination of the Role of Level of Immersion in the Restorative Capacity of Virtual Nature Environments.
Creator: Michaelis, Jessica, Smither, Janan, Mcconnell, Daniel, Beidel, Deborah, Harris, Paul, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Stress and cognitive fatigue have become a pervasive problem, especially in Western society. Stress and cognitive fatigue can have deleterious effects not only on performance, but also on one's physical and mental health. This dissertation presents a study in which the aim is to investigate the effects of virtual nature on stress reduction and cognitive restoration. Specifically, this study assessed the effects of Immersion (Non-immersive, Semi-immersive, Fully-immersive) and Exploration ...
Show moreStress and cognitive fatigue have become a pervasive problem, especially in Western society. Stress and cognitive fatigue can have deleterious effects not only on performance, but also on one's physical and mental health. This dissertation presents a study in which the aim is to investigate the effects of virtual nature on stress reduction and cognitive restoration. Specifically, this study assessed the effects of Immersion (Non-immersive, Semi-immersive, Fully-immersive) and Exploration (Passive vs Active) on stress reduction and cognitive restoration. Additionally, restoration from the most effective virtual nature environment was compared to that of taking an active coloring break. Eighty-three university students with normal color vision, depth perception and good visual acuity participated in this study. The overall findings of the study suggest that virtual nature is able to reduce stress and anxiety, generally the more immersive and interactive the better. Moreover, though both the those in the passive VR nature condition and those in the coloring condition reported a reduction in stress, only those in the passive VR nature condition exhibited the physiological changes indicative of stress reduction.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007687, ucf:52516
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007687

Title: PAINTING THE SUBLIME LANDSCAPE AND LEARNING TO SEE NATURE ALONG THE WAY.
Creator: Browne, Deborah, Congdon, Kristin, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: My thesis is one artist's response to the question of the relevance of landscape painting today, focusing on the communication of the idea of environmental stewardship. The process of studying nature and transferring that vision to canvas promotes greater understanding of the beauty and complexity of elements that comprise ecosystems. The artist possesses a creative impulse finding satisfaction in making artwork that expresses a love of nature as part of a larger worldview. If done well,...
Show moreMy thesis is one artist's response to the question of the relevance of landscape painting today, focusing on the communication of the idea of environmental stewardship. The process of studying nature and transferring that vision to canvas promotes greater understanding of the beauty and complexity of elements that comprise ecosystems. The artist possesses a creative impulse finding satisfaction in making artwork that expresses a love of nature as part of a larger worldview. If done well, the persuasive power of such art may be enormous. Comprised of oil paintings and written work, this thesis establishes a way of approaching both landscape painting and the natural environment. Literature pertaining to the contributions of landscape artist Frederic Church, varying aesthetic theories, nature writings, and selected contemporary artists are discussed. The focus then turns to particular landscape elements, introducing the artwork created for the thesis. The thesis concludes with the artist's purpose statement.
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Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: CFE0002020, ucf:47620
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002020

Title: THE FLATS OF PARADISE.
Creator: Baker, Pamela, Bartkevicius, Jocelyn, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The Flats of Paradise is a collection of personal essays exploring the interconnectivity between humans, land, identity, and belonging. Through the perspective of my experience as a nurse, these essays probe the friction created when borders rub up against each and the comforts gained through connections both spiritual and physical. "Avoiding the Stepladder," for example, examines a near lightning strike on a mountain in relation to the potential pain caused by the human need for touch. "The...
Show moreThe Flats of Paradise is a collection of personal essays exploring the interconnectivity between humans, land, identity, and belonging. Through the perspective of my experience as a nurse, these essays probe the friction created when borders rub up against each and the comforts gained through connections both spiritual and physical. "Avoiding the Stepladder," for example, examines a near lightning strike on a mountain in relation to the potential pain caused by the human need for touch. "The Dust Trail," a meditation upon various traditions for disposing of the placenta (burning vs. burying), also looks at the problem of finding home when relationships with the land are broken. Other essays in the collection juxtapose memories of people and nature to reflect upon the artificial constructs people erect that separate them from each other and from the land. In "When Nothing Takes Notice," for example, explores similarities between a father's love of the sound of crickets and a child's long wait in line to register for swimming lessons. These and other essays record the search for a sense of place, while also exploring the nature of memory, change, death, and a restless refusal to settle.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002582, ucf:48256
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002582

Title: GOING NATURAL: AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND THEIR HAIR.
Creator: Dennis, Brittney, Gay, David, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The study seeks to gain a better understanding of the term "going natural" in regards to women with natural African American hair. The study also seeks to understand natural hair and reclaiming a positive perspective of acceptance and natural appearance. The study will give light to what it is to have natural hair in present day and calls upon the experience of the Black woman on her journey with her hair and her past.
Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFH0004278, ucf:44964
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004278

Title: OIL, POLITICS OF THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND THE PERSIAN GULF.
Creator: Parks, Jacob, Sadri, Houman, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study investigated the effect the price of oil has on enabling political establishments to maintain their presence within the business environment. The study consists of three different case studies with each of the states (Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates) being chosen based upon their level of state involvement within the business community. Each case study investigated whether the price of oil had any effect on influencing the amount of political involvement within the...
Show moreThis study investigated the effect the price of oil has on enabling political establishments to maintain their presence within the business environment. The study consists of three different case studies with each of the states (Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates) being chosen based upon their level of state involvement within the business community. Each case study investigated whether the price of oil had any effect on influencing the amount of political involvement within the business community, property rights or trade freedom. The findings for all three case studies suggest that the price of oil has little to no effect on determining the amount of influence the state possesses within the business environment. Based on the results of this investigation, recommendations were made to improve the United States relationship with each country. Additional analysis and recommendations were made concerning the future economic impact of Iraq relying solely on oil as its revenue source.
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Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: CFE0002390, ucf:47758
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002390

Title: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE AUTOIGNITION OF POWER GENERATION GAS TURBINE FUEL BLENDS USING A DESIGN OF EXPERIMENTS APPROACH.
Creator: de Vries, Jaap, Petersen, Eric, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Natural gas has grown in popularity as a fuel for power generation gas turbines. However, changes in fuel composition are a topic of concern since fuel variability can have a great impact on the reliability and performance of the burner design. In particular, autoignition of the premixed fuel and air prior to entering the main burner is a potential concern when using exotic fuel blends. To obtain much-needed data in this area, autoignition experiments for a wide range of likely fuel blends...
Show moreNatural gas has grown in popularity as a fuel for power generation gas turbines. However, changes in fuel composition are a topic of concern since fuel variability can have a great impact on the reliability and performance of the burner design. In particular, autoignition of the premixed fuel and air prior to entering the main burner is a potential concern when using exotic fuel blends. To obtain much-needed data in this area, autoignition experiments for a wide range of likely fuel blends containing CH4 mixed with combinations of C2H6, C3H8, C4H10, C5H12, and H2 were performed in a high-pressure shock tube. However, testing every possible fuel blend combination and interaction was not feasible within a reasonable time and cost. Therefore, to predict the surface response over the complete mixture domain, a special experimental design was developed to significantly reduce the amount of 'trials' needed from 243 to only 41 using the Box-Behnkin factorial design methodology. Kinetics modeling was used to obtain numerical results for this matrix of fuel blends, setting the conditions at a temperature of 800 K and pressure of 17 atm. A further and successful attempt was made to reduce the 41-test matrix to a 21-test matrix. This was done using special mixture experimental techniques. The kinetics model was used to compare the smaller matrix to the expected results of the larger one. The new 21-test matrix produced a numerical correlation that agreed well with the results from the 41-test matrix, indicating that the smaller matrix would provide the same statistical information as the larger one with acceptable precision. iii After the experimental matrix was developed using the design of experiments approach, the physical experiments were performed in the shock tube. Long test times were created by "tailoring" the shock tube using a novel driver gas mixture, obtaining test times of 10 millisecond or more, which made experiments at low temperatures possible. Large discrepancies were found between the predicted results by numerical models and the actual experimental results. The main conclusion from the experiments is that the methane-based mixtures in this study enter a regime with a negative temperature coefficient when plotted in Arhennius form. This means that these mixtures are far more likely to ignite under conditions frequently encountered in a premixer, potentially creating hazardous situations. The experimental results were correlated as a function of the different species. It was found that the effect of higher-order hydrocarbon addition to methane is not as profound as seen at higher temperatures (>1100 K). However, the ignition delay time could still be reduced by a factor two or more. It is therefore evident that potential autoignition could occur within the premixer, given the conditions as stated in this study.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000817, ucf:46684
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000817

Title: HOW THE BODY MOVES THE MIND: EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF PERSPECTIVE OF PHYSICAL SENSATION ON EMBODIED STATES AND PERCEPTION.
Creator: Satoski, Kathryn G, Chin, Matthew, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The purpose of this thesis is to explore how surface engagement through touch affects perception of stimuli and mood. Researchers have found psychological, physiological and cognitive benefits associated with exposure to and interaction with nature. Stress Reduction Theory with Psychoevolutionary framework, and Attention Restoration Theory are often used to explain and interpret results. However, studies that focus on individuals with negative perspectives of nature find a positive affective...
Show moreThe purpose of this thesis is to explore how surface engagement through touch affects perception of stimuli and mood. Researchers have found psychological, physiological and cognitive benefits associated with exposure to and interaction with nature. Stress Reduction Theory with Psychoevolutionary framework, and Attention Restoration Theory are often used to explain and interpret results. However, studies that focus on individuals with negative perspectives of nature find a positive affective response to nature is not universal. Rather, individuals respond differently based on their own experience with nature. Childhood exposure and culture have been found to influence attitudes towards nature. Theories of embodied cognition emphasize the importance of previously learned associations and embodied states have been found to influence judgment, experience of emotions, and physiological states. To assess whether an individual's attitude towards nature influences the embodiment of a positive or negative state, participants were randomly assigned to come into physical contact with one of four surfaces with their feet: grass, fake grass, dirt and cement. Individuals affective, cognitive and physical relationship with nature was measured with the Nature Relatedness Scale. Change in perception of neutral stimuli and mood before and after surface exposure were measured. Results suggested surfaces influenced mood in different ways, however the effects on perception were unclear. A participant's perspective of nature did not seem to influence mood change depending on surface type. Future research is needed to assess whether the shift in mood was based on metaphors of language, priming from surface texture, or a result of complex interaction between bodily sensations and cognition.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFH2000487, ucf:45769
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000487

Title: A MARXIAN CONCEPT OF HUMAN NATURE IN DEFENSE OF ALIENATION: A REVOLUTIONARY EXEGESIS OF A REVOLUTIONARY PHILOSOPHY.
Creator: Byron, Christopher, Jones, Donald, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Two long-standing and erroneous claims have plagued Marxism for the past century. First, Marx held no static view of human-nature. Second, Marx's theory of alienation was the naïve view of a young Marx, which was jettisoned in his wiser adult years. Both views are demonstrable false. Moreover, the validity of his theory of human nature, and alienation, are contingent upon the acceptance of each other. One cannot fully comprehend his view of alienation without understanding his view of human...
Show moreTwo long-standing and erroneous claims have plagued Marxism for the past century. First, Marx held no static view of human-nature. Second, Marx's theory of alienation was the naïve view of a young Marx, which was jettisoned in his wiser adult years. Both views are demonstrable false. Moreover, the validity of his theory of human nature, and alienation, are contingent upon the acceptance of each other. One cannot fully comprehend his view of alienation without understanding his view of human nature, and vice versa. Upon demonstrating Marx's theory of human nature, and defending it as a crucial bedrock for the theory of alienation, mainstream rejections of each will be considered, and critiqued. The constant misunderstanding of Marx's theory of human nature comes in his unique theory of essence. He is an essentialist, with a fluid conception of man's essence. One's historical essence is an ensemble of socio-historical reflections, dialectically interplaying off a historically transcending essentialism.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFH0004149, ucf:44831
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004149

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