In survival analysis, data on the time until a specific criterion event (or "endpoint") occurs are analyzed, often with regard to the effects of various predictors. In the classic applications, the criterion event is in some sense a terminal event, e.g., death of a person or failure of a machine or machine component. In these situations, the analysis requires assumptions only about the distribution of waiting times until the criterion event occurs and the nature of the effects of the predictors on that distribution. Suppose that the criterion event isn't a terminal event that can only occur once, but is a repeatable event. The sequence of events forms a stochastic {it point process}. Further suppose that only some of the events are detected (observed); the detected events form a thinned point process. Any failure time model based on the data will be based not on the time until the first occurrence, but on the time until the first detected occurrence of the event. The implications of estimating survival regression models from such incomplete data will be analyzed. It will be shown that the effect of thinning on regression parameters depends on the combination of the type of regression model, the type of point process that generates the events, and the thinning mechanism. For some combinations, the effect of a predictor will be the same for time to the first event and the time to the first detected event. For other combinations, the regression effect will be changed as a result of the incomplete detection. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Statistics in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester, 2013. / September 27, 2013. / Regression Models, Survival Analysis, Thinned Point Processes / Includes bibliographical references. / Fred G. Huffer, Professor Directing Dissertation; Warren Nichols, University Representative; Dan McGee, Committee Member; Debajyoti Sinha, Committee Member.

Recently, so called "antihero" TV shows such as Dexter, Revenge, or The Walking Dead seem to find great reception among audiences. Traditional crime dramas are enjoyed based on the moral approval of the protagonist and the empathetic feeling for the hero to win over the immoral, harm deserving villain. That formula, however, does not account for the immoral actions antiheroes perform, who despite their morally inappropriate actions are still greatly liked and identified with, and narratives featuring them are greatly enjoyed. Raney (2004) argued that viewers are cognitive misers and instead of morally scrutinizing the character's actions before building a disposition towards them, they rely on narrative schemas. Through repeated exposure to a certain kind of narrative (i.e., traditional hero narrative or non-traditional antihero narrative), specific story schemas are formed that provide the viewer with a set of rules how to interpret the unfolding events and preformed attitudes about the protagonists, which consequently eliminate cognitively taxing scrutinizing of the characters actions, leaving cognitive energy to fully immerse into the story. Story schemas become specifically important for antihero narratives, where viewers encounter moral transgressions they would likely not approve when encountered in real life (e.g., Dexter murdering criminals). This dissertation project attempted to empirically investigate several related issues: (1) the existence of a specific hero and antihero narrative schema; and (2) how much the context--real-world vs. fictional--matters for the evaluation of morally complex characters (i.e., antiheroes) and their morally ambiguous actions. Two independent studies, with altogether three different treatments, were conducted employing reaction-time measurement to investigate these questions. Participants were exposed to either a hero or antihero narrative and then had to read an either fictional-framed or realistically framed antihero story. Results support the existence of two different narrative schemas that impact moral judgment making, supporting Raney's (2004) proposition about the relevance of schemas for the processing of narratives. Additionally, results indicate that the context in which the moral evaluation is made (inside or outside the narrative context) affects the evaluation of an antihero, connecting the context with schema activation. Inside the narrative context (or more generally speaking "from a fictional perspective") the antihero is evaluated more positively than outside the narrative context (from a realism perspective), based on the activated schema. Furthermore, the findings lead to the argument that the activation of a hero schema primes the viewer to evaluate protagonists and their actions based on the ethical principle of deontology (i.e., in a rule-based manner). This is in comparison to the activation of an antihero schema that primes the viewer to evaluate protagonists and their actions from a consequentialist standpoint (i.e., in a deliberate manner). The findings of this dissertation are relevant for our understanding of how we process media narratives and specifically media characters that violate our moral standards. Furthermore, the results about the context-dependent approval of an antihero lead to the argument that we evaluate moral transgressions in fiction and reality differently. The conceptualization of a fictional moral lens and a real-world moral lens is introduced and discussed in relation to the limited-effects perspective of media. Lastly, assuming that antihero narratives appeal to a specific group of people, exposure over a long period of time could reinforce their way of moral judgment making (i.e., focusing on the consequences of a certain situation (consequentialism), rather than strictly following rules (deontology)), which could affect a persons' ethical decision making in various fields. Several implications of the results as well as limitations are discussed. / A Dissertation submitted to the School of Communication in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester, 2013. / October 14, 2013. / Antihero, Deontology, Morality, Moral Judgment, Moral Schemas, Utilitarianism / Includes bibliographical references. / Arthur Raney, Professor Directing Dissertation; David McNaughton, University Representative; Laura Arpan, Committee Member; Juliann Cortese, Committee Member.

Introduction. Medically prescribed very-low calorie diet (VLCD) systems have shown efficacy in producing clinically significant weight-loss in obese patients. This loss in bodyweight (BW), however, cannot be solely accounted for by reduced adiposity, but also significant deficits in lean tissue. With respect to these frequently reported weight-loss patterns for lean body mass (LBM), the potential for optimum weight-loss as well as sustainable weight-maintenance is adversely affected on a number of levels. Lowered resting metabolic rate (RMR), neuromuscular impediments, and poor physical function have been reported to occur as a result of reduced LBM. Any of these factors taken together with a dramatic loss of lean tissue would be a condition that is conducive to impeded fat reduction, weight-regain, and relapses of prior health complications. Therefore, the main objective of this single-center clinical study was to evaluate the efficacy by which periodized resistance training enhances morphometric, metabolic, and functional outcomes for obese patients undergoing a 12-week medically supervised hypocaloric treatment. Methods. The target population was obese patients of the Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare (TMH) Bariatric Center prescribed to undergo a 12-week proprietary VLCD treatment (Optifast®). A two-pronged experimental approach was applied through the following specific aims: 1) to determine the longitudinal responses for various clinical and weight-loss parameters in patients who have fully completed the 12-week VLCD program at the TMH Bariatric Center; and 2) to determine the effects of periodized resistance training on body composition, RMR, neuromuscular function, and biochemical responses in obese participants undergoing 12 weeks of a protein-supplemented Optifast® treatment. For Specific Aim 1, data for anthropometric measures, body composition (via BIA), and lipid/ metabolic profiles were acquired before and after the 12-week VLCD treatment in male (n=16) and female (n=16) patients. Gender- and age-dependent responses were examined for each variable over time. For Specific Aim 2, male and female participants were placed in one of two groups for 12 weeks: 1) Standard Treatment Control (CON) (n=4) or 2) Periodized Resistance Training (RT) (n=4). All participants consumed 1120 kcals/day by way of Optifast® products and whey protein supplementation. Both groups underwent a pedometer-based walking program; however only RT performed periodized resistance training 3 days/week for 12 weeks. Body composition (via DXA), RMR (via indirect calorimetry) and neuromuscular function (via isokinetic and isotonic tests) were measured at pre-, mid-, and post-intervention. Serum free fatty acid (FFA), free glycerol, beta-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), IGF-1 binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), and cortisol were analyzed (via ELISA) were analyzed for samples obtained at pre, mid, and post. Results. Specific Aim 1: Patients lost 22.5 kg of BW, 16.6 kg of fat mass (FMBIA), and 5.6 kg of fat free mass (FFM= BW-FMBIA) (p<0.05). The decline in FM and FFM composed 73% and 27%, respectively, of the total weight-loss. Males lost more BW than females solely due to a larger reduction in FM (p<0.05). No gender-differences were found for relative weight-loss composition. BW-loss was similar between age-groups; however the younger patients (<57yrs) lost more FM and less FFM than the older age-cohort (≥57yrs) (p<0.05). Relative weight-loss composition was significantly different between age-groups (Young: 81% FM and 19% FFM vs. Old: 65% FM and 35% FFM). Specific Aim 2: Total body mass (TBM) and FM decreased (p<0.05) pre to post in CON (-20.4 kg BW; -15.3 kg FM) and RT (-14.6 kg BW; -13.4 kg FM) with no group differences. There was a group by time interaction for LBM (LBM=TBM-FM-bone mineral content) as CON lost 5.0 kg from pre to post (p<0.05) while RT showed no significant changes. Relative weight-loss composition differed between groups (CON: 75% FM and 25% FFM vs. RT: 90% FM and 10% LBM) (p<0.05). There was a group by time interaction for RMR as CON experienced a 350.7 kcal/day decrease from pre to post (p<0.05) while RT exhibited no changes. RT demonstrated greater improvements in all measures of contractile kinetics and isotonic strength when compared to CON (p<0.05). At post-treatment, there was a significant group difference for overall change in serum FFA (CON: -40.3% vs. RT: +41.5%), glycerol (CON: -30.9% vs. RT: +30.8%) and β-HB (CON: -31.2% vs. RT: +36.6%). IGF-1 decreased (p<0.05) from pre to post for CON (-45.2%) and RT (-33.7 %), with no group differences. IGFBP-3 increased significantly from pre to post in RT (+18.9%) but not in CON. IGF-1 to IGFBP-3 ratio decreased (p<0.05) from pre to post with no group differences. Cortisol levels remained unchanged for both groups. Conclusion. Specific Aim 1 confirms the need to restructure current VLCD-based programs towards outcomes more conducive for long-term weight- and health-management. This led to Specific Aim 2 in which the outcomes showed resistance training to be advantageous for weight-loss composition through preserving LBM without compromising overall weight- or fat-loss. These changes corresponded to positive adaptations for energy metabolism and muscular function. Our findings offer compelling support for the clinical integration of periodized resistance training in obesity therapeutics utilizing VLCDs with promising implications for chronic weight-management. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester, 2013. / November 1, 2013. / Diet, Exercise, Nutrition, Obesity, Resistance Training, Weight-loss / Includes bibliographical references. / Jeong-Su Kim, Professor Directing Dissertation; Cathy W. Levenson, University Representative; Bahram H. Arjmandi, Committee Member; Michael J. Ormsbee, Committee Member; Carla M. Prado, Committee Member.

The Florida Department of transportation most commonly uses prestressed concrete piles as foundation in bridges. It has been observed since past few years that the piles installed in aggressive marine environments are subjected to corrosion which generates a need to retrofit them. Although many solutions have been applied to address this issue, these solutions have seem to be ineffective in long term and hence use of advanced materials in piles, to avoid degradation due to corrosion, is necessarry. The ACI and AASHTO equations used to determine the bond properties of a prestressing strand, need to be satisfied by this material, to render this material's suitability as replacement to steel strands. 5--24 in. square prestressed concrete piles which included 3--40 ft. piles and 2--100ft. piles, were cast using 0.6in. diameter carbon fiber composite cables manufactured by Tokyo Rope Mfg. Co. to asses the performance of CFCC as reinforcement. A different anchoring system was used to anchor the CFCC to the abutment in order to prestress the strands. Transfer length was monitored on each pile end and compared to the ACI and AASHTO equations to evaluate the bond characteristics of the CFCC. In addition to that, development length tests and flexural tests were performed at the Marcus. H. Ansley research laboratory to further judge the bond properties of the CFCC with concrete. The results of these tests show if the performance of CFCC is comparable to steel and also describe the technique used to prestress these strands. The 2--100 ft. piles were cast to be driven on site to monitor the static resistance of the piles and would be long term monitored to asses the performance of CFCC against corrosion. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Fall Semester, 2013. / Novemeber 6, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references. / Michelle Rambo-Roddenberry, Professor Directing Thesis; Primus Mtenga, Committee Member; Sungmoon Jung, Committee Member; Lisa Spainhour, Committee Member.

This treatise examines the life and solo vocal works of composer Margaret Allison Bonds (1913-1972). It includes a biographical outline of Bonds's family background, education, and students. Her accomplishments as a concert pianist, composer, and music educator in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles are also described. The second half offers an overview of Bonds's solo vocal compositions. There is one chapter devoted to each of the three styles of song that she composed in her career: African-American spirituals, jazz/popular songs, and art songs. In addition, the treatise explores Bonds's relationship with the poets of the Harlem Renaissance, and her forays into the musical theatre genre. Musical excerpts and descriptions of many of Bonds's published and unpublished solo vocal works are included. This document will be of benefit to singers, pianists, coaches, and musicologists interested in finding new repertoire with a distinctly American sound, as well as those who are seeking songs composed by American female composers, African-American composers, or art songs that include musical elements drawn from the spiritual or jazz. Over half of Bonds's solo vocal works incorporated the poetry of Langston Hughes. The chapter entitled "The Art Songs: Poets of the Harlem Renaissance" is dedicated to the art song settings of Langston Hughes's poems and also includes one art song setting of a Countée Cullen poem. The chapter entitled "The Art Songs" features settings of texts by Robert Frost, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Margaret Bonds, Marjorie May, Janice Lovoos, and Edmund Penney. Appendix A of this document includes a list of Bonds's solo vocal works. It includes publication information, poet, and dates of composition. Appendix B includes seven digital photographs, including images of Margaret Bonds, Langston Hughes, William Levi Dawson, Florence Beatrice Price, Leonard Harper, Charlotte Holloman, McHenry Boatwright, and Maya Angelou. Many of Margaret Bonds's songs were never published and are located in archival libraries and remain unknown. One purpose of this document is to expose these lesser known pieces to a larger audience, hopefully giving them a deserved place as a significant contribution to the American art song repertoire. / A Treatise submitted to the College of Music in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Music. / Fall Semester, 2013. / September 20, 2013. / Art Songs, Jazz Songs, Langston Hughes, Margaret Bonds, Musical Theatre Songs, Spirituals / Includes bibliographical references. / Wanda Brister Rachwal, Professor Directing Treatise; Matthew Shaftel, University Representative; Timothy Hoekman, Committee Member; Marcía Porter, Committee Member.

This study examined relationships among sad affective states, individual differences, and sad/serious drama preference. Specifically, it was predicted that self-rumination and self-reflection as individual traits would be positively or negatively associated with the preference for sad/serious dramas, and these relationships would be moderated by current affective states. Also, it was proposed that two sources of sad affective states (i.e., news and memory) would moderate the relationships between these individual traits and drama preference for individuals in a sad affective state. Lastly, the study attempted to explore the effects of sad affective states caused by two sources of the sadness on the preference for sad/serious drama. The study revealed that self-reflection (but not self-rumination) had significant positive associations with preferences for one sad (My Sister's Keeper, at σ ≤ .10) and one serious dramas (Hotel Rwandan, at σ ≤ .05) among participants in a sad affective state. However, this pattern was not observed among those in a neutral affective state. Moreover, when the source of sadness was taken into account, it was found that self-reflection was significantly and positively associated with preference for the serious drama (Hotel Rwanda) among sad participants who read a sad news story but not among those who recalled their own sad events. The Chi-square tests between comedy/action and drama choices and high and low self-reflection groups in a sad mood condition also supported the positive association between self-reflection and drama preference. For the final choice of a movie to eventually watch at the end of the research session, the high self-reflection group in the sad mood condition was more likely to select dramas and less likely to select comedy/action movies than the low self-reflection group. Such significant different patterns in movie selection (particularly, drama choices) were not observed in the neutral mood condition. To a less extent, the high and low self-rumination groups showed similar patterns of movie selection, particularly regarding the avoidance of comedy by the high self-rumination group in the sad mood condition. The study also showed that the sad mood and source conditions did not have any significant impact on the preference for either sad or serious dramas overall. However, with regard to comedy preference, mood-congruent film preference appeared. Participants in the sad mood condition were less likely to prefer comedies than those in the neutral mood condition. Self-reflection and self-rumination were also found to predict decreased preference for a comedy (The Hangover) in the sad news condition. In terms of affective and cognitive characteristics of self-reflection and self-rumination, some possible reasons and meanings of the study findings are discussed in relation to mood management theory, including mood congruent film preference among sad high reflectors (i.e., preference for sad and serious dramas and avoidance of comedy) and sad high ruminators (i.e., avoidance of comedy), and sad participants in general. / A Dissertation submitted to the School of Communication in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester, 2013. / November 7, 2013. / Film Preference, Individual Differences, Mood Management, Rumination and Reflection, Sadness, Selective Exposure / Includes bibliographical references. / Arthur A. Raney, Professor Directing Dissertation; Betsy Becker, University Representative; Laura M. Arpan, Committee Member; Ulla Sypher, Committee Member.

Journey to the West (2013) is a composition written for the Electronic Chamber Orchestra (EChO) at Florida State University and orchestral accompaniment. EChO is a completely electronic ensemble that consists of an electric string quintet, two electronic wind insturments (EWI), Malletkat and Yamaha DTX (Percussion MIDI Controllers) and a MIDI Keyboard whose sounds are processed and produced by computers in real-time and amplified in a hexaphonic surround sound system. All of this process can be automated by a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), a software computer application for manipulating and sequencing audio and midi data, and controlled my a mixing engineer with various MIDI Controllers. The purpose of this work was to include EChO in an acoustical setting with a live orchestra and have a wealth of compositional and acoustical possibilities with the extension created by EChO. The work is based on the epic Chinese novel of the same name, or 西遊記 in Chinese, written by Wu Cheng'en in the 16th century. It is composed in three movements each with significant characters and themes being represented in musical form and aided by artist drawings played in synchronization with music as it continues. Each movement has specific character themes that follow them throughout their journey. The themes are intended to sound like traditional folk songs of China but to my knowledge have no actual basis in any that exist. The first movement depicts the first 13 chapters from the story. The chapter tells the background of Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King in English translations. , in the setting of the scene EChO is able to replicate sounds that are reminiscent of ancient China. The second movement, Tripitaka (The Monk), depicts the background story of the main character of the same name. Moving away from the first movement's primarily pentatonic mode, the second movement extends into other diatonic modes to give a more tonal support to the monk's serene character. This movement also has an octatonic section, to portray his father's brutal murder, which occurred before he was born. The last movement, The Journey, is a collage of many different characters throughout the novel. It depicts the entire journey from the moment after Sun Wukong and Tripitaka meet. They encounter friendly and evil demons along their way to India. When reaching India they eventually finish their journey at the Temple of the Thunderclap and reach enlightenment. EChO is integral to allowing the soundscape to move between different worlds of water, air, and other transcended landscapes throughout the Journey to the West. / A Thesis submitted to the College of Music in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Music. / Spring Semester, 2013. / April 11, 2013. / Composition, EChO, Electro-Acoustic, Electronic, Music, Orchestra / Includes bibliographical references. / Mark Wingate, Professor Directing Thesis; Ladislav Kubik, Committee Member; Clifton Callender, Committee Member.

The study of baryon resonances offers a deeper understanding of the strong interaction, since the dynamics and relevant degrees of freedom hidden within them are reflected by the properties of the excited states of baryons. Higher-lying excited states at and above 1.7 GeV/c2 are generally predicted to have strong couplings to the reaction γp → pπ⁺π⁻ via πΔ or ρN intermediate states. Double-ion photo-production is, therefore, important for investigating properties of high-mass resonances. The excited states of the nucleon are usually found as broadly overlapping resonances, which may decay into a multitude of final states involving measons and baryons. Polarization observables make it possible to isolate single resonances from these other interference terms. The CLAS g9a (FROST) experiment, as part of the N⋆ spectroscopy program at the Jefferson Laboratory, has accumulated photoproduction data using circularly-polarized photons incident on a longitudinally-polarized butanol target in the photon energy range 0.3 to 2.4 GeV. This document summarizes how the beam-helicity asymmetry I⊙, the target asymmetry P[subscript]z, and the helicity difference P[subscript ⊙z] for the reaction γ[over rightarrow]p[over rightarrow] → pπ⁺π⁻ are extract from the g9a dataset. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Physics in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2013. / July 1, 2013. / baryons, mesons, photoproduction, spectroscopy / Includes bibliographical references. / Volker Crede, Professor Directing Thesis; Tomasz Plewa, University Representative; Paul Eugenio, Committee Member; Simon Capstick, Committee Member; Todd Adams, Committee Member.

The secondary injury cascades in the acute phase of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are often the most devastating to patient outcome. These cascades include the neurobiological and neurochemical changes subsequent to the mechanical trauma inflicted whether direct, or indirect. Major secondary events include edema and inflammation, both leading to increased cell damage, demyelination, and cell death. Such secondary cascades alter blood flow, concentrations of ions, metabolism, and structural integrity ultimately leading to deteriorating patient outcome days after the injury rather than immediately. Many studies examine individual aspects of the secondary mechanisms to find potential biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets for TBI. However, no effort has proven successful at identifying a single biomarker of diagnostic or therapeutic application in part due to the heterogeneity of the condition – there remains a significant void in details about the secondary mechanisms of TBI that are still not understood. Ultimately the goal of this research is to better characterize the heterogeneous nature of TBI to allow for identification and inhibition of cell damage and death by inhibiting these secondary mechanisms. The kallikrein (human: KLK; rodent: Klk) family of serine proteases is one potential target that has not been examined with respect to TBI. Among the 15 known kallikreins (numbered 1–15), KLK6 is the most abundant in the brain and is associated with numerous aspects of the secondary TBI cascade. My primary goal is to identify a blood biomarker for diagnosing TBI and for tracking the efficacy of future drugs that prevent demyelination and cell death. To assist in this goal, the first aim of this study focused on analysis of the level of Klk6 in rodent brain and blood in three models of rat brain injury: mild (closed head), moderate (2.0 mm depth of impact), and severe (3.0 mm depth of impact). Protein assays determined levels of Klk6 at 3 and 24 h post–mild injury and 3, 6, 9, 24, 72, and 96 h post-moderate and severe injury and in sham and craniotomy-only operates. Comparison of Klk6 levels over time and across grades of injury severity are presented with respect to known substrates of Klk6 and to well-studied biomarkers of inflammatory demyelination characteristic of TBI to include: myelin basic protein (MBP) and tumor necrosis factor–α (TNFα). Immunohistochemistry determined the extent of corresponding pathology. These data supports Klk6 as a potentially important new physiological biomarker of TBI worthy of additional future study. The second aim of this study focused on analysis of the effect of neurosteroid treatment on Klk6 levels in brain and blood after severe TBI and the corresponding levels of inflammatory demyelination. Here, the indirect effect of allopregnanolone (ALLO) – an existing treatment of TBI in rodent studies which is known to increase the levels of free serpin in the brain – on Klk6 is described with respect to pathological implications. Protein assays determined reduced levels of Klk6 overall and specifically at 3, 6, and 9 h, but not at 24 h post–severe injury as compared to untreated. Immunohistochemistry determined corresponding alterations in pathology as a result of treatment with ALLO and suggest demyelination and inflammation are not significantly altered within 9 h of treatment with ALLO despite a reduction in the overall levels of Klk6. Additional studies beyond this time point are not warranted at this time due to the reductions in Klk6 by 24 h in untreated controls. However, further studies are warranted to examine the specific mechanism by which the Klk6 is reduced. Overall, the results support the hypothesis that Klk6 is involved in the secondary mechanisms of TBI and serum levels are a discrete diagnostic biomarker in rodents. Furthermore, treatment of injured rodents with ALLO decreases Klk6 acutely. However, reductions in Klk6 within 24 h were not paired with comparable improvements in inflammation or demyelination suggesting that the improvements require more than 24 h whether due to a delayed increase in serpins or by delayed remyelination potentially due to sustained inflammation. Therefore, although Klk6 appears to be a promising diagnostic biomarker, it does not appear to be a promising acute therapeutic biomarker of secondary pathology recovery. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Biomedical Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2013. / May 13, 2013. / concussion, cortical impact, demyelination, inflammation, neurosteroids, protease / Includes bibliographical references. / Michael Blaber, Professor Directing Dissertation; Richard L. Hyson, University Representative; Cathy Levenson, Committee Member; Richard Nowakowski, Committee Member; Jacob VanLandingham, Committee Member.

Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) often consume alcohol when attempting to cope with their negative affective states. However, it is not definitively known what accounts for the association between BPD symptoms and alcohol use. Based upon prior research and Linehan's biosocial theory of behavioral dysregulation, the investigators examined if the construct of rumination helped to explain why those with BPD symptoms use alcohol as a means of emotion regulation. Using a behavioral measure of alcohol consumption as well as an experimental rumination induction, the association between active rumination and one's level of alcohol use in a non-clinical sample (N = 56) was examined. The results indicated that, although BPD symptoms positively correlated with placebo consumption amounts, this association did not appear to be accounted for by rumination. The present investigation's findings thus suggest that the construct of rumination may not underlie the relationship between BPD symptomatology and alcohol use. Additional research utilizing clinical samples, psychophysiological measures, and/or ecological momentary assessment designs is warranted to further elucidate rumination's potential impact on alcohol consumption, as well as other forms of behavioral dysregulation commonly seen in those with BPD. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Psychology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2013. / November 16, 2012. / Alcohol Use, Borderline Personality Disorder, Rumination / Includes bibliographical references. / Jeanette Taylor, Professor Directing Dissertation; Karen Randolph, University Representative; Joyce Carbonell, Committee Member; Janet Kistner, Committee Member; Ashby Plant, Committee Member.