View All Items
(1 - 20 of 65)
Pages
- Title
- The Creation and Validation of a Compromising Scale for Nurses.
- Creator
-
Ng, Matthew, Horan, Kristin, Jex, Steve, Pace, Victoria, Min, Hanyi, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
For reasons such as job context and different interactions, compromising as performed by nurses is likely fundamentally different than compromising performed by other occupations. The following study proposes the creation and validation of a compromising scale for nurses. The first study aims to create the compromising scale for nurses through contemporary methods then test the reliability as well as the factor structure using an exploratory factor analysis on currently employed nurses...
Show moreFor reasons such as job context and different interactions, compromising as performed by nurses is likely fundamentally different than compromising performed by other occupations. The following study proposes the creation and validation of a compromising scale for nurses. The first study aims to create the compromising scale for nurses through contemporary methods then test the reliability as well as the factor structure using an exploratory factor analysis on currently employed nurses recruited through a Qualtrics panel study. The second study then takes the final compromising scale for nurses and conducts a confirmatory factor analysis among a sample of employed nurses participating in a mindfulness intervention to verify the previously discovered factor structure. This study provides a unique approach to conflict resolution instruments and discusses the implications this may have.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007692, ucf:52418
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007692
- Title
- LATTICE VIBRATION STUDY OF SILICA NANOPARTICLE IN SUSPENSION.
- Creator
-
Sachdeva, Parveen, Kumar, Ranganathan, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
In recent years considerable research has been done in the area of "nanofluids". Nanofluids are colloidal suspensions of nanometer size metallic or oxide particles in a base fluid such as water, ethylene glycol. Nanofluids show enhanced heat transfer characteristics compared to the base fluid. The thermal transport properties of nanofluids depend on various parameters e.g. interfacial resistance, Brownian motion of particles, liquid layering at the solid-liquid interface and clustering of...
Show moreIn recent years considerable research has been done in the area of "nanofluids". Nanofluids are colloidal suspensions of nanometer size metallic or oxide particles in a base fluid such as water, ethylene glycol. Nanofluids show enhanced heat transfer characteristics compared to the base fluid. The thermal transport properties of nanofluids depend on various parameters e.g. interfacial resistance, Brownian motion of particles, liquid layering at the solid-liquid interface and clustering of nanoparticles. In this work atomic scale simulation has been used to study possible mechanisms affecting the heat transfer characteristics of nanofluids. Molecular dynamics simulation for a single silica nanoparticle surrounded by water molecules has been performed. Periodic boundary condition has been used in all three directions. The effect of nanoparticle size and temperature of system on the thermal conductivity of nanofluids has been studied. It was found that as the size of nanoparticle decreases thermal conductivity of nanofluid increases. This is partially due to the fact that as the diameter of nanoparticle decreases from micrometer to nanometer its surface area to volume ratio increases by a factor of 103. Since heat transfer between the fluid and the nanoparticle takes place at the surface this enhanced surface area gives higher thermal conductivity for smaller particles. Thermal conductivity enhancement is also due to the accumulation of water molecules near the particle surface and the lattice vibration of the nanoparticle. The phonon transfer through the second layer allows the nanofluid thermal conductivity to increase by 23%-27% compared to the base fluid water for 2% concentration of nanosilica.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001278, ucf:46897
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001278
- Title
- The Development and Validation of the Multicultural Competency Assessment(&)copy; (MCA(&)copy;).
- Creator
-
Mitchell, Michelle, Lambie, Glenn, Bai, Haiyan, Butler, S. Kent, Shillingford-Butler, Ann, Bai, Haiyan, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
A sound and tested multicultural therapeutic approach is an essential component in providing ethical services to all client populations (e.g., Medley, Lipari, Bose, Cribb, Kroutil, (&) McHenry, 2015). Therefore, concepts of multiculturalism have been integrated in ethical codes, guidelines on competence, and standards for training in preparation programs within counseling, psychology, and social work fields (e.g., American Counseling Association Code of Ethics, 2014; American Psychological...
Show moreA sound and tested multicultural therapeutic approach is an essential component in providing ethical services to all client populations (e.g., Medley, Lipari, Bose, Cribb, Kroutil, (&) McHenry, 2015). Therefore, concepts of multiculturalism have been integrated in ethical codes, guidelines on competence, and standards for training in preparation programs within counseling, psychology, and social work fields (e.g., American Counseling Association Code of Ethics, 2014; American Psychological Association Guidelines on Multicultural Education, Training, Research, Practice, and Organizational Change for Psychologists, 2002; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs Standards, 2016; National Association of Social Workers Standards and Indicators for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice, 2015). Despite mandates for therapists to utilize a multicultural perspective, multiculturalism has remained a challenging construct to measure. Thus, the goal of this research was to develop and test the psychometrics features of the Multicultural Competency Assessment(&)copy; (MCA) scores with a national sample of therapists in clinical practice. The MCA and items were constructed employing instrument development best practices (e.g., AERA, APA, (&) NCME, 2014; DeVellis, 2017; Dimitrov, 2012; Haladyna (&) Rodriguez, 2013; Lambie, Blount, (&) Mullen, 2017). The initial 50 item MCA scores were tested with Data1 (N = 407) using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and parallel analysis (PA), resulting in a 25-item MCA with a four-factor structure that accounted for 64.11% of the total variance. Next, the 25-item MCA scores were tested with Data 2 (N = 233) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the results supported the four-factor MCA structural model. The four-factor MCA structure represents (a) Knowledge, Skills, and Interventions (21.86% of the variance); (b) Awareness of Self (19.27% of the variance); (c) Awareness of Client Worldview (11.95% of the variance); and (d) System and Institutional Structures (11.03% of the variance). In addition, the MCA scores yielded sound internal consistency reliability (e.g., .953). Evidence of concurrent validity was supported with a positive correlation between MCA and Multicultural Counseling Self-Efficacy Scale -Racial Diversity Form (MCSE-RD) scores (r = .746; p (<) .001; 55.61% variance explained). Further, a positive correlation was identified between the MCA scores and participants' reported age. The findings from the investigation may be used to: (a) assist researchers in measuring the construct of multicultural competence, (b) aid therapists in evaluating their levels of as multicultural competence, and (c) promote sound curriculum in counselor education programs to promotion trainees' development of multicultural competence. Limitations of the study and areas for future research are presented.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFE0007580, ucf:52563
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007580
- Title
- Theory and Measurement of Perceived Introvert Mistreatment.
- Creator
-
McCord, Mallory, Joseph, Dana, Dipboye, Robert, Beus, Jeremy, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Perceived introvert mistreatment, or the extent to which an individual perceives he or she is treated unfairly at work because he or she is introverted, is a form of workplace mistreatment that may be associated with numerous negative outcomes for the workers it impacts. Although an understanding of perceived introvert mistreatment may augment current theoretical knowledge of workplace mistreatment, researchers have yet to consider why (or if) this mistreatment exists or the effects it may...
Show morePerceived introvert mistreatment, or the extent to which an individual perceives he or she is treated unfairly at work because he or she is introverted, is a form of workplace mistreatment that may be associated with numerous negative outcomes for the workers it impacts. Although an understanding of perceived introvert mistreatment may augment current theoretical knowledge of workplace mistreatment, researchers have yet to consider why (or if) this mistreatment exists or the effects it may have on the individual. Thus, the purpose of this paper is twofold: first, in an attempt to explain how perceived introvert mistreatment may develop and the impact it may have on the target, I develop a dynamic process model of elements that precede, follow, and compound perceived introvert mistreatment. This model encompasses a) a serial mediation process incorporating the situation, cognitive appraisals, attitudes, behavioral responses, and target outcomes that involve perceived introvert mistreatment, b) a dynamic process in which perceived introvert mistreatment, behavioral disengagement of the target, and negative behavioral reactions from others build upon each other cyclically, and c) target-based antecedents to behavioral disengagement of the mistreatment target. Second, in order to begin testing this theoretical model, I develop and validate a measure of perceived introvert mistreatment in four phases: a) item generation and reduction, b) examination of the reliability and factor structure of the scale, c) estimation of convergent and discriminant validity, and d) analyses of criterion-related validity. The paper concludes with a discussion of directions for future research.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- Identifier
- CFE0006624, ucf:51294
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006624
- Title
- The Coping Assessment for Bereavement and Loss Experiences (CABLE): Development and Validation.
- Creator
-
Crunk, Anne, Robinson, Edward, Bai, Haiyan, Robinson, Sandra, Burke, Laurie, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The loss of a loved one through death is a virtually inescapable part of the human experience and one that can elicit marked psychological and physical distress on the part of the survivor. However, not all individuals who lose a loved one cope with their grief in the same way. Variation in the duration and intensity of grief reactions among mourners is well supported, with 10-15% of the bereaved population experiencing a protracted, debilitating, and sometimes life-threatening grief response...
Show moreThe loss of a loved one through death is a virtually inescapable part of the human experience and one that can elicit marked psychological and physical distress on the part of the survivor. However, not all individuals who lose a loved one cope with their grief in the same way. Variation in the duration and intensity of grief reactions among mourners is well supported, with 10-15% of the bereaved population experiencing a protracted, debilitating, and sometimes life-threatening grief response known as complicated grief (CG). However, most grievers respond to loss with relative resilience, demonstrating an ability to sustain reasonably stable and adaptive levels of functioning while grieving the loss of their loved one. One factor that might distinguish resilient and CG reactions is differences in the cognitive, behavioral, emotional, social, and spiritual strategies they use to cope with their distressing grief symptoms. However, prior to this study, an instrument designed to assess potential constructive strategies for coping with bereavement had yet to be developed, limiting helping professionals and researchers to the use of nonspecific measures that assess coping with life stressors in general, rather than with bereavement, in particular. Therefore, the aim of this study was to construct and validate the Coping Assessment for Bereavement and Loss Experiences, or CABLE, an instrument designed to identify which strategies bereaved individuals currently use to cope with grief following the death of a loved one. The present study followed a mixed-methods approach to instrument development, incorporating both qualitative (i.e., Phase 1) and quantitative (i.e., Phase 2) approaches with two diverse samples of bereaved adults (N = 12 for Phase 1 and N = 918 for Phase 2, respectively). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with the initial item pool (n = 89 items) yielded a six-factor, 30-item structure, which was cross-validated for item selection using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). CFA generated a final six-factor, 28-item model of grief coping. The CABLE demonstrated good internal consistency reliability and provided initial evidence for convergent and discriminant validity with the present sample. Finally, findings from hierarchical multiple regression analyses and one-way analysis of variances (ANOVA) tests shed light on participant demographic and background variables that accounted for small but significant variance in CABLE scores. Limitations of the present study, recommendations for future research, and implications for helping professionals and researchers are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- Identifier
- CFE0006938, ucf:51675
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006938
- Title
- The Helping Professional Wellness Discrepancy Scale (HPWDS): Development and Validation.
- Creator
-
Blount, Ashley, Lambie, Glenn, Young, Mark, Taylor, Dalena, Ricard, Richard, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Wellness is an integral component of the helping professions (Myers (&) Sweeney, 2005; Witmer, 1985). Specifically, wellness is included in ethical codes, suggestions for practice, and codes of conduct throughout counseling, psychology, and social work fields (see American Counseling Association Code of Ethics, 2014; American Psychological Association Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, 2010; National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, 1996). Even so, wellness...
Show moreWellness is an integral component of the helping professions (Myers (&) Sweeney, 2005; Witmer, 1985). Specifically, wellness is included in ethical codes, suggestions for practice, and codes of conduct throughout counseling, psychology, and social work fields (see American Counseling Association Code of Ethics, 2014; American Psychological Association Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, 2010; National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, 1996). Even so, wellness in helping professionals is a difficult construct to measure. Thus, the purpose of the research investigation was to develop the Helping Professional Wellness Discrepancy Scale (HPWDS) and examine the psychometric features of the HPWDS in a sample of helping professionals and helping professionals-in-training. A correlational research design was employed for this investigation (Gall, Gall, (&) Borg, 2007). Specifically, the researcher examined: (a) the factor structure of the HPWDS with a sample of helping professionals; (b) the internal consistency reliability of the HPWDS; (c) the relationship between HPWDS scores and Counseling Burnout Inventory (CBI) scores; (d) the relationships between helping professionals' HPWDS scores and their reported demographic data; and (e) the relationship between HPWDS factor scores and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale-X1 (MCSDS-X1). The research questions were examined using: (a) Factor Analysis (FA), (b) Cronbach's alpha, (c) Spearman Rho correlation, (d) Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and (e) internal replication analysis. A review of the literature is provided, discussing theoretical and empirical support for all the items on the initial model of the HPWDS (n = 92) as well as for all the items included on the final HPWDS exploratory model (n = 22). The researcher investigated helping professionals' perceived levels of wellness, aspirational levels of wellness, and the discrepancy between perceived and aspirational levels of wellness. The data was collected via online, mail out, and face-to-face administration to increase methodological rigor. The sample size for the investigation was 657, with 88 coming from Face-to-Face sampling, 87 from mail out sampling, and 484 from online/email sampling. Data analysis resulted in a five-factor exploratory HPWDS model that accounted for 69.169% of the total variance. Model communalities were considered acceptable with only three communalities below the recommended .5 value. Factor 1 represented Professional (&) Personal Development Activities and accounted for 32.605% of the variance, Factor 2 represented Religion/Spirituality and accounts for 13.151% of the variance, Factor 3 represented Leisure Activities and accounted for 9.443% of the variance, Factor 4 represented Burnout and accounted for 7.198% of the variance, and Factor 5 represented Helping Professional Optimism and accounted for 6.773% of the variance. In addition to a literature review, the research methodology and research results are provided. Results of the research investigation are discussed and areas for future research, limitations of the study, and implications for the helping professions are presented. Some implications of the findings include: (a) a theoretically and methodologically sound instrument for assessing wellness discrepancies in helping professionals is important; (b) helping professionals should be aware of both the personal and professional activities they are engaging in to increase their knowledge and self-efficacy, as well as their leisure activity engagement; (c) it is advantageous for researchers to use the scale development procedures, rigorous sampling methodologies, and FA guidelines outlined throughout Chapters 3 and 4 when developing new assessments for evaluating helping professionals; and (d) a five factor wellness assessment allowing helping professionals to evaluate themselves in Professional (&) Personal Development Activities, Religion/Spirituality, Helping Professional Optimism, Leisure Activities, and Burnout arenas is integral in assessing wellness discrepancies in helping professionals.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0006026, ucf:51017
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006026
- Title
- MEASURING OPTICAL TURBULENCE PARAMETERS WITH A THREE-APERTURE RECEIVER.
- Creator
-
Wayne, David, Phillips, Ronald, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This thesis discusses methods to measure several atmospheric parameters related to turbulence. Techniques used by two different scintillometers based on weak turbulence theory are discussed along with a method to estimate the inner scale developed by Hill. The theory and minimization algorithm used to infer the atmospheric parameters are discussed. The main focus is on the analysis and collection of experimental data with a three-aperture receiver system. Intensity fluctuations from a CW...
Show moreThis thesis discusses methods to measure several atmospheric parameters related to turbulence. Techniques used by two different scintillometers based on weak turbulence theory are discussed along with a method to estimate the inner scale developed by Hill. The theory and minimization algorithm used to infer the atmospheric parameters are discussed. The main focus is on the analysis and collection of experimental data with a three-aperture receiver system. Intensity fluctuations from a CW laser source are collected over a 1km path with three different receiving apertures. The scintillation index is found for each receiving aperture and recently developed theory for all regimes of optical turbulence is used to infer three atmospheric parameters, Cn2, l0, and L0. The transverse wind speed is also calculated from the experimental data using a cross-correlation technique. Parallel to the three-aperture data collection is a commercial scintillometer unit which reports Cn2 and crosswind speed. There is also a weather station positioned at the receiver side which provides point measurements for temperature and wind speed. The Cn2 measurement obtained from the commercial scintillometer is used to infer l0, L0, and the scintillation index. Those values are then compared to the inferred atmospheric parameters from the experimental data. Hill's method is used as an estimate to l0 based upon path-averaged wind speed and is compared to the inferred l0 values. The optimal aperture sizes required for three-aperture data collection are presented. In closing, the technique for measuring crosswind speed is discussed along with the ideal aperture size and separation distance for data collection. Suggestions are offered for future experimentation.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001393, ucf:46974
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001393
- Title
- Multifunctional, Multimaterial Particle Fabrication Via an In-Fiber Fluid Instability.
- Creator
-
Kaufman, Joshua, Abouraddy, Ayman, Schoenfeld, Winston, Christodoulides, Demetrios, Seal, Sudipta, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Spherical micro- and nano-particles have found widespread use in many various applications from paint to cosmetics to medicine. Due to the multiplicity of desired particle material(s), structure, size range, and functionality, many approaches exist for generating such particles. Bottom-up methods such as chemical synthesis have a high yield and work with a wide range of materials; however, these processes typically lead to large polydispersity and cannot produce structured particles. Top-down...
Show moreSpherical micro- and nano-particles have found widespread use in many various applications from paint to cosmetics to medicine. Due to the multiplicity of desired particle material(s), structure, size range, and functionality, many approaches exist for generating such particles. Bottom-up methods such as chemical synthesis have a high yield and work with a wide range of materials; however, these processes typically lead to large polydispersity and cannot produce structured particles. Top-down approaches such as microfluidics overcome the polydispersity issue and may produce a few different structures in particles, but at lower rates and only at the micro-scale. A method that can efficiently produce uniformly-sized, structured particles out of a variety of materials and at both the micro- and nano-scales does not yet exist.Over the past few years, I have developed an in-fiber particle fabrication method that relies on a surface tension-driven fluid instability, the Plateau-Rayleigh capillary instability (PRI). Thermal treatment of a multimaterial core/cladding fiber induces the PRI, causing the initially intact core to break up into a periodic array of uniformly-sized spherical particles. During this time, I have demonstrated that this method can produce particles from both polymers and glasses, in a multiplicity of structures, and from diameters of over 1 mm down to 20 nm. Furthermore, by using a stack-and-draw method, a high density of cores may be incorporated into a single fiber, making the in-fiber PRI approach a highly scalable process. Finally, I have shown that it is possible to add dopants to the particles to give them functionality. By structuring the particles, it is thus possible to fabricate multi-functional particles whose functionalities may be allocated arbitrarily throughout the volume of the particles.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFE0005357, ucf:50479
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005357
- Title
- THE SPIRITUAL COMPETENCY SCALE: A COMPARISON TO THE ASERVIC SPIRITUAL COMPETENCIES.
- Creator
-
Robertson, Linda, Young, Mark, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Spiritual and religious beliefs are significant aspects of a person‟s worldview and have been well established within many disciplines as a resource for physical and mental health. Therefore, they are relevant topics for counselors. The governing bodies of the counseling profession support the discussion of these beliefs in counseling. To meet the ethical mandates for competency in this area, the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC) produced...
Show moreSpiritual and religious beliefs are significant aspects of a person‟s worldview and have been well established within many disciplines as a resource for physical and mental health. Therefore, they are relevant topics for counselors. The governing bodies of the counseling profession support the discussion of these beliefs in counseling. To meet the ethical mandates for competency in this area, the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC) produced the Spiritual Competencies. Despite these efforts, spiritual and religious material continues to be neglected in counselor training programs. In the absence of a formal measure of spiritual competency, curricular recommendations have been based more on speculation about what should be taught than on empirical evidence of students‟ deficits in spiritual competency. A further concern is that there is no existing measure to empirically evaluate the efficacy of this type of training. The purpose of this study was to meet these needs through the development of the Spiritual Competency Scale (SCS). The pilot instrument was administered to 100 participants at a southeastern secular university. The final study included 602 participants from 25 secular and religiously-based universities in 17 states across the nation. All participants were master‟s level students who were enrolled in mental health, community, school, marriage and family, and pastoral counseling tracks. The items were drawn from the literature and address each of ASERVIC‟s nine Spiritual Competencies. Content validity was establishing through item-competency consensus by an expert panel. A 6 factor oblique model was extracted through exploratory factor analysis and an item analysis supported the revised instrument. The pilot instrument yielded favorable test-retest reliability (i.e., .903) and internal consistency coefficients (i.e., .932). Cronbach‟s alpha for the 28-item revised instrument (i.e., .896) and for each of the resultant factors (i.e., from .720 to .828) was also satisfactory. There was no evidence of socially desirable response sets in either administration. The discriminant validity of the SCS was supported by this finding and through a contrasted groups approach. Students from religiously-based schools had significantly higher scores than their secular counterparts. There were also differences in scores based on a variety of demographic variables. The findings of this study support the use of the SCS to inform curriculum development, as a measure of training outcomes, and as a tool for the certification of spiritually competent counselors. Recommendations are made for future analysis of the psychometric properties of the SCS and the limitations of the study are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002422, ucf:47740
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002422
- Title
- ASSESSING MALE BODY IMAGE: DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF THE APPEARANCE INVENTORY FOR MEN (AIM).
- Creator
-
Agliata, Daniel, Dunn, Stacey, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Despite evidence suggesting that appearance dissatisfaction among men is on the rise, a void in appropriate forms of body image assessment for males remains. The current study reviews the literature on male body image, identifying the shortcomings and limitations of prior research, and introduces a psychometrically sound, male-specific body image assessment. An initial item-generation study was used to poll 253 males to inquire about their concerns, emotions, behaviors, and related body image...
Show moreDespite evidence suggesting that appearance dissatisfaction among men is on the rise, a void in appropriate forms of body image assessment for males remains. The current study reviews the literature on male body image, identifying the shortcomings and limitations of prior research, and introduces a psychometrically sound, male-specific body image assessment. An initial item-generation study was used to poll 253 males to inquire about their concerns, emotions, behaviors, and related body image topics to be sorted and synthesized into items for scale inclusion. The newly developed Appearance Inventory for Men (AIM) was then administered to 330 males and submitted to exploratory factor analyses, revealing a relatively stable three-factor structure. Weight-Focus (WF), Muscle Focus (MF), and Appearance Motivation (AM) factors emerged, all with good internal consistency and convergent, discriminant, and construct validity. Two additional psychometrically sound subscales were included in the final AIM that assess body area satisfaction for men (Key Attributes of Muscularity; KAM) and the common Strategies for Appearance Management (SAM). Future research and clinical implications are discussed, as are the directions for continued validation of this unique, yet much needed male-specific body image assessment tool.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000564, ucf:46430
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000564
- Title
- PLANNING AND SCHEDULING FOR LARGE-SCALEDISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS.
- Creator
-
Yu, Han, Marinescu, Dan, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Many applications require computing resources well beyond those available on any single system. Simulations of atomic and subatomic systems with application to material science, computations related to study of natural sciences, and computer-aided design are examples of applications that can benefit from the resource-rich environment provided by a large collection of autonomous systems interconnected by high-speed networks. To transform such a collection of systems into a user's virtual...
Show moreMany applications require computing resources well beyond those available on any single system. Simulations of atomic and subatomic systems with application to material science, computations related to study of natural sciences, and computer-aided design are examples of applications that can benefit from the resource-rich environment provided by a large collection of autonomous systems interconnected by high-speed networks. To transform such a collection of systems into a user's virtual machine, we have to develop new algorithms for coordination, planning, scheduling, resource discovery, and other functions that can be automated. Then we can develop societal services based upon these algorithms, which hide the complexity of the computing system for users. In this dissertation, we address the problem of planning and scheduling for large-scale distributed systems. We discuss a model of the system, analyze the need for planning, scheduling, and plan switching to cope with a dynamically changing environment, present algorithms for the three functions, report the simulation results to study the performance of the algorithms, and introduce an architecture for an intelligent large-scale distributed system.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000781, ucf:46595
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000781
- Title
- COORDINATION, MATCHMAKING, AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR LARGE-SCALE DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS.
- Creator
-
Bai, Xin, Marinescu, Dan, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
While existing grid environments cater to specific needs of a particular user community, we need to go beyond them and consider general-purpose large-scale distributed systems consisting of large collections of heterogeneous computers and communication systems shared by a large user population with very diverse requirements. Coordination, matchmaking, and resource allocation are among the essential functions of large-scale distributed systems. Although deterministic approaches for...
Show moreWhile existing grid environments cater to specific needs of a particular user community, we need to go beyond them and consider general-purpose large-scale distributed systems consisting of large collections of heterogeneous computers and communication systems shared by a large user population with very diverse requirements. Coordination, matchmaking, and resource allocation are among the essential functions of large-scale distributed systems. Although deterministic approaches for coordination, matchmaking, and resource allocation have been well studied, they are not suitable for large-scale distributed systems due to the large-scale, the autonomy, and the dynamics of the systems. We have to seek for nondeterministic solutions for large-scale distributed systems. In this dissertation we describe our work on a coordination service, a matchmaking service, and a macro-economic resource allocation model for large-scale distributed systems. The coordination service coordinates the execution of complex tasks in a dynamic environment, the matchmaking service supports finding the appropriate resources for users, and the macro-economic resource allocation model allows a broker to mediate resource providers who want to maximize their revenues and resource consumers who want to get the best resources at the lowest possible price, with some global objectives, e.g., to maximize the resource utilization of the system.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001172, ucf:46845
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001172
- Title
- ANALYSIS OF COMPLEXITY AND COUPLING METRICS OF SUBSYSTEMS IN LARGE SCALE SOFTWARE SYSTEMS.
- Creator
-
Ramakrishnan, Harish, Eaglin, Ronald, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Dealing with the complexity of large-scale systems can be a challenge for even the most experienced software architects and developers. Large-scale software systems can contain millions of elements, which interact to achieve the system functionality. Managing and representing the complexity involved in the interaction of these elements is a difficult task. We propose an approach for analyzing the reusability, maintainability and complexity of such a complex large-scale software system....
Show moreDealing with the complexity of large-scale systems can be a challenge for even the most experienced software architects and developers. Large-scale software systems can contain millions of elements, which interact to achieve the system functionality. Managing and representing the complexity involved in the interaction of these elements is a difficult task. We propose an approach for analyzing the reusability, maintainability and complexity of such a complex large-scale software system. Reducing the dependencies between the subsystems increase the reusability and decrease the efforts needed to maintain the system thus reducing the complexity of the system. Coupling is an attribute that summarizes the degree of interdependence or connectivity among subsystems and within subsystems. When used in conjunction with measures of other attributes, coupling can contribute to an assessment or prediction of software quality. We developed a set of metrics for measuring the coupling at the subsystems level in a large-scale software system as a part of this work. These metrics do not take into account the complexity internal to a subsystem and considers a subsystem as a single entity. Such a dependency metric gives an opportunity to predict the cost and effort needed to maintain the system and also to predict the reusability of the system parts. It also predicts the complexity of the system. More the dependency, higher is the cost to maintain and reuse the software. Also the complexity and cost of the system will be high if the coupling is high. We built a large-scale system and implemented these research ideas and analyzed how these measures help in minimizing the complexity and system cost. We also proved that these coupling measures help in re-factoring of the system design.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001031, ucf:46818
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001031
- Title
- PRODUCING A MEASURE FOR ASSESSING MOTIVATING CAREER INFLUENCESFOR COUNSELORS-IN-TRAINING.
- Creator
-
Kuch, Tyson, Sivo, Stephen, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The purpose of this study was to describe an appropriate protocol for developing a psychometrically sound instrument to assess perceived influences motivating graduate students to enter the counseling profession. The self-report, 124-item inventory was administered to a sample of 347 graduate students pursuing counseling as a profession. All participants responded to the inventory anonymously. A factor analysis from responses grouped scale items into six different factors, and helped condense...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to describe an appropriate protocol for developing a psychometrically sound instrument to assess perceived influences motivating graduate students to enter the counseling profession. The self-report, 124-item inventory was administered to a sample of 347 graduate students pursuing counseling as a profession. All participants responded to the inventory anonymously. A factor analysis from responses grouped scale items into six different factors, and helped condense the scale into a shorter, more psychometrically sound instrument by identifying those items with low or ambiguous factor loadings, suitable for removal. A factor analysis also identified those items most relevant for interpretation, ultimately yielding six major factors, operationalized by a variety of statements regarding various influences most consistent with students' decisions to pursue a career in the field of counseling. The literature review for this study proposes a model with four "hypotheses" of altruism upon which scale items were based. These theories identified possible motivating influences for prosocial behavior- further generalized to one's the decision to enter the helping-oriented career of counseling. This study may benefit the profession by adding to the research base on scale construction and career choice as well as offering a new inventory suitable for use with future research.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002334, ucf:47781
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002334
- Title
- Development and Validation of a Scale to Measure Misconceptions About Educational Psychology Among Pre-Service Teachers.
- Creator
-
McAfee, Morgan, Boote, David, Hayes, Grant, Vitale, Thomas, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Misconceptions are widespread or commonly held beliefs explicitly contradicted by empirical evidence. When teachers harbor misconceptions or unjustified beliefs about teaching, learning, and human motivation, the potential pedagogical consequences are profound, and these inaccurate beliefs may be instilled into future students through ineffective teaching strategies and gross misinterpretations of learning science. While existing research has examined misconceptions about general psychology...
Show moreMisconceptions are widespread or commonly held beliefs explicitly contradicted by empirical evidence. When teachers harbor misconceptions or unjustified beliefs about teaching, learning, and human motivation, the potential pedagogical consequences are profound, and these inaccurate beliefs may be instilled into future students through ineffective teaching strategies and gross misinterpretations of learning science. While existing research has examined misconceptions about general psychology and neuroscience among various populations, no prior work has evaluated pre-service teachers' misconceptions about topics of educational psychology, comprising inaccurate beliefs about teaching, learning, and human motivation. The purpose of this research is to describe the development and validation of a scale to measure misconceptions about educational psychology among pre-service teachers. Employing an experimental 2 (scale: true/false, six-point Likert-type) x 2 (valence: positive, mixed) x 2 (order: true/false presented first, Likert-type presented first) factorial, repeated measures design, a randomized experiment was performed to systematically evaluate the conditions under which the proposed scale for misconceptions of educational psychology performed best. As expected, the Likert-type scale was more sensitive to detecting misconceptions relative to the true/false scale. However, contrary to extant research on the valence effect, mixed-valence scales outperformed the positively-valenced scales across conditions indicating that misconceptions are best measured with a Likert-type response format using a heterogeneous mix of positively- and negatively-valenced items rather than a homogeneous set of positively-valenced items. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFE0007051, ucf:51969
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007051
- Title
- Employee Perceptions of Diversity Management in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry: Scale Development and Model Testing.
- Creator
-
Mistry, Trishna, Okumus, Fevzi, Torres Areizaga, Edwin, Orlowski, Marissa, Madera, Juan, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The purpose of this dissertation is to create a holistic diversity management measurement scale and to analyze the impact of diversity management on employees' attitudes and behavior in the hospitality and tourism industry. Effective diversity management can have a multitude of positive outcomes in the hospitality and tourism industry. However, there is little research conducted regarding the direct and indirect impacts of diversity management on the attitudes and behavior of hospitality and...
Show moreThe purpose of this dissertation is to create a holistic diversity management measurement scale and to analyze the impact of diversity management on employees' attitudes and behavior in the hospitality and tourism industry. Effective diversity management can have a multitude of positive outcomes in the hospitality and tourism industry. However, there is little research conducted regarding the direct and indirect impacts of diversity management on the attitudes and behavior of hospitality and tourism industry employees. This dissertation used a mixed-method approach to create a measurement scale to evaluate diversity management practices for the hospitality and tourism field. The first study of this dissertation included a scale development process using a qualitative and then a quantitative phase. Literature review and semi-structured interviews were conducted for developing the items for the diversity management scale. These items were then refined to finalize the diversity management measurement scale through a quantitative phase using exploratory factor analyses. The impact of diversity management on hospitality and tourism industry employees' job performance, service innovation behavior, and engagement were analyzed through a quantitative study using this measurement instrument. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized research model. The present research is the first of its kind in the hospitality and tourism field. The measurement scale developed in this study will expand the boundaries of diversity management research in the hospitality and tourism industry. This current research further establishes a link between diversity management and positive employee-related outcomes in the hospitality and tourism industry. The assessment of these relationships should extend the literature and open new models of academic research with additional organizational outcomes. Leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry can gain vital insight regarding the importance of effective diversity management through the study results.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007688, ucf:52468
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007688
- Title
- The Relativistic Harmonic Oscillator and the Generalization of Lewis' Invariant.
- Creator
-
Reinhart, Daniel, Shivamoggi, Bhimsen, Kokoouline, Viatcheslav, Dove, Adrienne, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
In this thesis, we determine an asymptotic solution for the one dimensional relativistic harmonicoscillator using multiple scale analysis and relate the resulting invariant to Lewis' invariant. Wethen generalize the equations leading to Lewis' invariant so they are relativistically correct. Nextwe attempt to find an asymptotic solution for the general equations by making simplifying assumptionson the parameter characterizing the adiabatic nature of the system. The first term inthe series for...
Show moreIn this thesis, we determine an asymptotic solution for the one dimensional relativistic harmonicoscillator using multiple scale analysis and relate the resulting invariant to Lewis' invariant. Wethen generalize the equations leading to Lewis' invariant so they are relativistically correct. Nextwe attempt to find an asymptotic solution for the general equations by making simplifying assumptionson the parameter characterizing the adiabatic nature of the system. The first term inthe series for Lewis' invariant corresponds to the adiabatic invariant for systems whose frequencyvaries slowly. For the relativistic case we find a new conserved quantity and seek to explore itsinterpretation.iii
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007712, ucf:52434
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007712
- Title
- VARIATIONAL EMBEDDED SOLITONS, AND TRAVELING WAVETRAINS GENERATED BY GENERALIZED HOPF BIFURCATIONS, IN SOME NLPDE SYSTEMS.
- Creator
-
Smith, Todd, Choudhury, Roy, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
In this Ph.D. thesis, we study regular and embedded solitons and generalized and degenerate Hopf bifurcations. These two areas of work are seperate and independent from each other. First, variational methods are employed to generate families of both regular and embedded solitary wave solutions for a generalized Pochhammer PDE and a generalized microstructure PDE that are currently of great interest. The technique for obtaining the embedded solitons incorporates several recent generalizations...
Show moreIn this Ph.D. thesis, we study regular and embedded solitons and generalized and degenerate Hopf bifurcations. These two areas of work are seperate and independent from each other. First, variational methods are employed to generate families of both regular and embedded solitary wave solutions for a generalized Pochhammer PDE and a generalized microstructure PDE that are currently of great interest. The technique for obtaining the embedded solitons incorporates several recent generalizations of the usual variational technique and is thus topical in itself. One unusual feature of the solitary waves derived here is that we are able to obtain them in analytical form (within the family of the trial functions). Thus, the residual is calculated, showing the accuracy of the resulting solitary waves. Given the importance of solitary wave solutions in wave dynamics and information propagation in nonlinear PDEs, as well as the fact that only the parameter regimes for the existence of solitary waves had previously been analyzed for the microstructure PDE considered here, the results obtained here are both new and timely. Second, we consider generalized and degenerate Hopf bifurcations in three different models: i. a predator-prey model with general predator death rate and prey birth rate terms, ii. a laser-diode system, and iii. traveling-wave solutions of twospecies predator-prey/reaction-diusion equations with arbitrary nonlinear/reaction terms. For speci c choices of the nonlinear terms, the quasi-periodic orbit in the post-bifurcation regime is constructed for each system using the method of multiple scales, and its stability is analyzed via the corresponding normal form obtained by reducing the system down to the center manifold. The resulting predictions for the post-bifurcation dynamics provide an organizing framework for the variety of possible behaviors. These predictions are veri ed and supplemented by numerical simulations, including the computation of power spectra, autocorrelation functions, and fractal dimensions as appropriate for the periodic and quasiperiodic attractors, attractors at in nity, as well as bounded chaotic attractors obtained in various cases. The dynamics obtained in the three systems is contrasted and explained on the basis of the bifurcations occurring in each. For instance, while the two predator-prey models yield a variety of behaviors in the post-bifurcation regime, the laser-diode evinces extremely stable quasiperiodic solutions over a wide range of parameters, which is very desirable for robust operation of the system in oscillator mode.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0003634, ucf:48887
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003634
- Title
- Harmony Oriented Architecture.
- Creator
-
Martin, Kyle, Hua, Kien, Wu, Annie, Heinrich, Mark, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This thesis presents Harmony Oriented Architecture: a novel architectural paradigm that applies the principles of Harmony Oriented Programming to the architecture of scalable and evolvable distributed systems. It is motivated by research on Ultra Large Scale systems that has revealed inherent limitations in human ability to design large-scale software systems that can only be overcome through radical alternatives to traditional object-oriented software engineering practice that simplifies the...
Show moreThis thesis presents Harmony Oriented Architecture: a novel architectural paradigm that applies the principles of Harmony Oriented Programming to the architecture of scalable and evolvable distributed systems. It is motivated by research on Ultra Large Scale systems that has revealed inherent limitations in human ability to design large-scale software systems that can only be overcome through radical alternatives to traditional object-oriented software engineering practice that simplifies the construction of highly scalable and evolvable system.HOP eschews encapsulation and information hiding, the core principles of object- oriented design, in favor of exposure and information sharing through a spatial abstraction. This helps to avoid the brittle interface dependencies that impede the evolution of object-oriented software. HOA extends these concepts to distributed systems resulting in an architecture in which application components are represented by objects in a spatial database and executed in strict isolation using an embedded application server. Application components store their state entirely in the database and interact solely by diffusing data into a space for proximate components to observe. This architecture provides a high degree of decoupling, isolation, and state exposure allowing highly scalable and evolvable applications to be built.A proof-of-concept prototype of a non-distributed HOA middleware platform supporting JavaScript application components is implemented and evaluated. Results show remarkably good performance considering that little effort was made to optimize the implementation.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0004480, ucf:49298
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004480
- Title
- Real Estate Investment Trust Performance, Efficiency and Internationalization.
- Creator
-
Harris, Joshua, Anderson, Randy, Schnitzlein, Charles, Turnbull, Geoffrey, Rottke, Nico, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are firms that own and manage income producing commercial real estate for the benefit of their shareholders. The three studies in this dissertation explore topics relating to best practices of REIT management and portfolio composition. Managers and investors can use the findings herein to aide in analyzing a REIT's performance and determining optimal investment policies. Utilizing REIT from SNL Real Estate and CRSP, the first two studies examine the role...
Show moreReal Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are firms that own and manage income producing commercial real estate for the benefit of their shareholders. The three studies in this dissertation explore topics relating to best practices of REIT management and portfolio composition. Managers and investors can use the findings herein to aide in analyzing a REIT's performance and determining optimal investment policies. Utilizing REIT from SNL Real Estate and CRSP, the first two studies examine the role of international diversification upon performance, technical efficiency, and scale efficiency. The third study utilizes REIT data to examine technical and scale efficiency over a 21 year window and investigates characteristics of the REITs that affect the levels of efficiency. CHAPTER 1 (-) PROFITABILITY OF REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST INTERNATIONALIZATIONReal Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in the United States have grown extremely fast in terms of assets and market capitalization since the early 1990's. As with many industries, U.S. REITs began acquiring foreign properties as their size grew and they needed to seek new investment opportunities. This paper investigates the role of holding foreign assets upon the total return of U.S. based REITs from 1995 through 2010. We find that holding foreign properties in associated with negative relative performance when risk, size, and other common market factors are controlled for. Interestingly, the source of the negative performance is not related to the two largest areas for foreign investment, Europe and Canada. Instead, the negative performance is detected when a REIT begins acquiring properties in other global regions such as Latin America and Asia/Pacific. This paper has broad ramifications for REIT investors and managers alike.CHAPTER 2 (-) EFFECT OF INTERNATIONAL DIVERSIFICATION BY U.S. REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS ON COST EFFICIENCY AND SCALEAs U.S. based Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) have increased their degree and type of holdings overseas, there has yet to a study that has investigated such activity on the REIT's measures of cost efficiency and scale. Using data from 2010, Data Envelopment Analysis techniques are used to estimate measures of technical and scale efficiency that are then regressed against measures of international diversification and other controls to measure the impact of this global expansion. It is determined that REITs with foreign holdings are significantly larger than domestic REITs and are correspondingly 96% of foreign investing REITs are operating at decreasing returns to scale. Further almost every measure of foreign diversification is negative and significantly impacting scale efficiency. However, simply being a REIT with foreign holdings did positively and significantly associate with higher levels of technical efficiencies. Thus REITs that expand globally may have some advantages in operational efficiency but lose considerably in terms of scale efficiency by increasing their size as they move cross-border. ?CHAPTER 3 (-) THE EVOLUTION OF TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMIES OF SCALE OF REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTSData Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is used to measure technical and scale efficiency of 21 years of Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) data. This is the longest, most complete dataset ever analyzed in the REIT efficiency literature and as such makes a significant contribution as prior efficiency studies' data windows end in the early 2000's at latest. Overall, REITs appear to continue to operate at decreasing returns to scale despite rapid growth in total assets. Further, there is some evidence of improving technical efficiency overtime; however the finding is not strong. In summation, it appears that REITs have not improved on a relative basis despite the rapid growth, a finding that suggests a potential of a high degree of firm competition in the REIT industry. Finally, firm characteristics such as debt utilization, management and advisory structure, and property type specialization are tested for their impact upon technical and scale efficiency.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004383, ucf:49399
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004383
