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Explaining Churn: Mass Society, Social Capital, & Community Churn, Delores Edelen Jan 2004

Explaining Churn: Mass Society, Social Capital, & Community Churn, Delores Edelen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Population churn--the population turnover experienced by a community--can have differential effects on a community. Mass society theory suggests that because the churn rate experienced by communities can contribute to their uprooting, fragmentation, and isolation, churn is a potent threat to the stability of our modern day communities. Social capital theory, to the contrary, suggests otherwise. Social capital theory suggests that churn can have positive effects on communities by bringing new migrants with valuable human capital skills and experiences to communities. These migrants bring to their new communities the potential for creating new jobs, spurring economic development, and for initiating housing …

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An Analysis And Comparison Of School Culture With Academic Achievement, Joan Quiambao Jan 2004

An Analysis And Comparison Of School Culture With Academic Achievement, Joan Quiambao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was developed to generate data about the overall culture of selected central Florida middle schools in Osceola County. It was designed to enhance the existing body of knowledge on collaboration, collegiality and self-efficacy, as related to the academic achievement of students with specific learning disabilities. This study focused on two research questions: (a) to determine how well the three key areas of school culture (collaboration, collegiality and teacher efficacy) predict the placement of middle school students with specific learning disabilities in general education or special education (resource and separate class)settings and (b) to determine what relationships (if any) …

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A Comparative Static Analysis For Invasive Species Management Under Risk Neutral Preferences, Pamela Safford Jan 2004

A Comparative Static Analysis For Invasive Species Management Under Risk Neutral Preferences, Pamela Safford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the optimal ex-ante mix of self-protection and self-insurance technologies employed to reduce the risk of biological invaders in the presence of exogenous variables within the probability and damage functions. This is accomplished by using a theoretical endogenous risk model that extends previously developed frameworks. This thesis contributes to the previous work in two ways. (1) Employing a general framework with simultaneous decision making over self-protection and self-insurance, this thesis analyzes how each parameter including income, the costs of each activity, an exogenous factor that affects only the probability of an invasion, and a separate exogenous factor that …

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Conformal Tracking For Virtual Environments, Larry Dennis Davis Jr. Jan 2004

Conformal Tracking For Virtual Environments, Larry Dennis Davis Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A virtual environment is a set of surroundings that appears to exist to a user through sensory stimuli provided by a computer. By virtual environment, we mean to include environments supporting the full range from VR to pure reality. A necessity for virtual environments is knowledge of the location of objects in the environment. This is referred to as the tracking problem, which points to the need for accurate and precise tracking in virtual environments. Marker-based tracking is a technique which employs fiduciary marks to determine the pose of a tracked object. A collection of markers arranged in a rigid …

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Inverse Boundary Element/Genetic Algorithm Method For Reconstruction O, Mahmood Silieti Jan 2004

Inverse Boundary Element/Genetic Algorithm Method For Reconstruction O, Mahmood Silieti

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A methodology is formulated for the solution of the inverse problem concerned with the reconstruction of multi-dimensional heat fluxes for film cooling applications. The motivation for this study is the characterization of complex thermal conditions in industrial applications such as those encountered in film cooled turbomachinery components. The heat conduction problem in the metal endwall/shroud is solved using the boundary element method (bem), and the inverse problem is solved using a genetic algorithm (ga). Thermal conditions are overspecified at exposed surfaces amenable to measurement, while the temperature and surface heat flux distributions are unknown at the film cooling hole/slot walls. …

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A Balanced Scorecard Template For Florida Incubators, Julio Agustin Lujambio Jan 2004

A Balanced Scorecard Template For Florida Incubators, Julio Agustin Lujambio

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Incubators are organizations that have become a key factor to the success of new ventures. One study jointly sponsored by the University of Michigan, Ohio University, the National Business Incubation Association, and the Southern Technology Council found that 87% of the firms that went through an incubator program remain in business and 84% remain in their community. Clearly properly run incubators can provide much benefit. However there is littleconsensus on goals and best practices for managing the incubators themselves. Recently an approach to integrating strategy and practice called the balanced scorecard (BSC) has emerged asa popular tool in many public …

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Affordances In The Design Of Virtual Environments, David Charles Gross Jan 2004

Affordances In The Design Of Virtual Environments, David Charles Gross

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human-computer interaction design principles largely focus on static representations and have yet to fully incorporate theories of perception appropriate for the dynamic multimodal interactions inherent to virtual environment (VE) interaction. Theories of direct perception, in particular affordance theory, may prove particularly relevant to enhancing VE interaction design. The present research constructs a conceptual model of how affordances are realized in the natural world and how lack of sensory stimuli may lead to realization failures in virtual environments. Implications of the model were empirically investigated by examining three affordances: passability, catchability, and flyability. The experimental design involved four factors for each …

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Speaking Freely In A Time Of War, Barry J. Mauer Jan 2004

Speaking Freely In A Time Of War, Barry J. Mauer

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Anti-speech advocates have made several arguments aimed at critics of the Iraq War. Many of these anti-speech arguments are enthymemes. If the purpose of these rhetors is to deceive others into accepting a weak claim, then enthymemes are ideal forms because they hide the weakest parts of the argument. By exposing their hidden premises, the parts that are implicit but left unstated, I demonstrate that the anti-speech arguments used against critics of the war are not sound. This essay examines the logos, ethos, and pathos in these anti-speech arguments.

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The Once And Future Queen: Examining The Importance Of Feminist Readings Of Wace's Roman De Brut, Susan Dressel Jan 2004

The Once And Future Queen: Examining The Importance Of Feminist Readings Of Wace's Roman De Brut, Susan Dressel

HIM 1990-2015

Few scholars seem to think of the twelfth century as an era during which the humanitarian leaps and bounds made in regards to women are exemplary and inspiring. The strictures of the Catholic Church dominated the feudalistic society, and women were encouraged to be chaste, silent and obedient. However, it was during this century that Eleanor of Aquitaine was born. An exemplary ruler, she also was a patron of the arts, and Master Wace, a writer and translator of Arthurian legend, dedicated his Roman de Brut to her. As a queen with revolutionary ideas about female agency, Eleanor's patronage provided …

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Possible Use Of P20 Antigen In Serodiagnosis Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Shinchieh Yang Jan 2004

Possible Use Of P20 Antigen In Serodiagnosis Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Shinchieh Yang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Crohn's disease (CD) is an idiopathic, chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorder, which is most commonly involved terminal ileum and colon. The incidence and prevalence of CD has dramatically increased during the last 50 years; however, the etiology and mechanism of this disorder remain unveiled. Besides genetic susceptibility, recent integrated researches investigated the role of environmental triggers such as microflora, measles viruses and mycobacteria in the pathogenesis of CD. The association between M. avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP) and CD has been heightened because of clinical resemblance to Johne's disease (JD), a granulomatous enteritis in ruminants caused by MAP. Isolation of MAP from …

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Land Use Effects On Lake Water Quality In Central Florida, Jonathan Seiler Jan 2004

Land Use Effects On Lake Water Quality In Central Florida, Jonathan Seiler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Land use affects the water quality of lakes. Different land use types yield different effects due to varying amounts and constituents of runoff. In this study, the effects of surrounding land use on the water quality of 50 lakes in Seminole County, Florida was assessed. Using GIS, I placed buffers of 100 and 500 m around each lake. The percentages of land use type were calculated within these buffers for 1990 and 1995. An ordination of lakes was done using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) to determine if the surrounding land use patterns were adequate to describe the trophic status of …

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Tacky Treasures: Vintage Florida Souvenirs, Exhibit Brochure, Linda Black, Deb Ebster, Tim Bottorff Jan 2004

Tacky Treasures: Vintage Florida Souvenirs, Exhibit Brochure, Linda Black, Deb Ebster, Tim Bottorff

Rosen Library Exhibits

No abstract provided.

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A Rhetoric Of Technology: The Discourse In U.S. Army Manuals And Handbooks, Sherry Ann Steward Jan 2004

A Rhetoric Of Technology: The Discourse In U.S. Army Manuals And Handbooks, Sherry Ann Steward

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the historical technical publications of the United States Army from 1775-2004. Historical research in Army technical communication reveals the persuasive characteristics of its technical publications. Elements of narrative, storytelling, and anthropomorphism are techniques writers used to help deliver information to readers. Research also reveals the design techniques writers adopted to unite the situated literacies of the troops. Analyses of print, comic, and digital media expose the increasing visualization of information since the eighteenth century. The results of such historical research can be applied to new media designs. Automating processes captured in paper-based technical manuals and adding intelligent …

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"I'D Much Rather Write You Instead": The Letters Of Marjorie K. Rawlings To Bertram C. Cooper, Brent E. Kinser Jan 2004

"I'D Much Rather Write You Instead": The Letters Of Marjorie K. Rawlings To Bertram C. Cooper, Brent E. Kinser

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

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Volume Xiii (2004) Jan 2004

Volume Xiii (2004)

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature

No abstract provided.

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Water Quality Variations During Nitrification In Drinking Water Distribution Systems, David W. Webb Jan 2004

Water Quality Variations During Nitrification In Drinking Water Distribution Systems, David W. Webb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis documents the relationship among the major water quality parameters during a nitrification episode. Nitrification unexpectedly occurred in a chloraminated pilot drinking water distribution system practicing with a 4.0 mg/L as Cl2 residual dosed at 4.5:1 Cl2:NH3-N. Surface, ground and sea water were treated and disinfected with monochloramines to produce finished water quality similar to regional utility water quality. PVC, galvanized, unlined cast iron and lined iron pipes were harvested from regional distribution systems and used to build eighteen pilot distribution systems (PDSs). The PDSs were operated at a 5-day hydraulic residence time (HRT) and ambient temperatures. As seasonal …

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Exposure Matters: Examining The Physical And Psychological Health Impacts Of Toxic Contamination Using Gis And Survey Data, Christine A. Bevc Jan 2004

Exposure Matters: Examining The Physical And Psychological Health Impacts Of Toxic Contamination Using Gis And Survey Data, Christine A. Bevc

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the grassroots environmental movement brought national attention to the issues related to inequities in environmental quality. Previous research addressing these environmental inequities has progressively increased and advanced methodologically. However, the arguments and focus have been primarily limited to examining the socio-demographics in an ongoing debate of race and class. This thesis extends past the methodological stalemate focusing on the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) using survey data in an environmental justice case study of a community in south Florida. This approach examines the social, health and environmental impacts of a Superfund site …

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Application Of Absorptive Treatments On Traffic Noise Barriers In Florida, Chin Boon Chua Jan 2004

Application Of Absorptive Treatments On Traffic Noise Barriers In Florida, Chin Boon Chua

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, the parallel barrier analysis feature in the Federal Highway Administration Traffic Noise Model (FHWA TNM), which is based on RAYVERB was used to explore the effects of multiple reflections due to single and parallel barriers and the use of absorptive treatment. Database was developed from the data collected from previous research efforts was used to generate a best fit equation model that can be used as a predetermining tool to determine the magnitude of parallel barrier insertion loss. The best fit equation model was then used to test against measured/model result and TNM prediction results for its …

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An Investigation Into The Apparent Over-Representation Of Blacks In Educable Mentally Handicapped Programs In K-12 Schools Within The 67 Florida Public School Districts, Arlene H. Thomson Jan 2004

An Investigation Into The Apparent Over-Representation Of Blacks In Educable Mentally Handicapped Programs In K-12 Schools Within The 67 Florida Public School Districts, Arlene H. Thomson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Placement into educable mentally handicapped (EMH) programs is necessary for some students in order to allow them the opportunity to receive an education appropriate for their special needs. Nonetheless, identification as EMH is often perceived as negative and demeaning. Decades of research have substantiated the over-representation of black students into certain categories of special education, including EMH, in comparison to white and Hispanic students. This disparity has raised questions within schools, academe and research communities, and legislative and governing bodies as to the causes, compelling factors, and related variables impacting the phenomenon. This study investigated the apparent over-representation of blacks …

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An Investigation Of The Proficiency Level Of High School Students With Autism And Mental Retardation Within Community-Based Job Settings: The Relationship Between The Use Of A Hand-Held Computer Compared To Staff Modeling For Accurate Novel Job Skill Acquisition And Student Learning, Kimberly Gen Spence-Cochran Jan 2004

An Investigation Of The Proficiency Level Of High School Students With Autism And Mental Retardation Within Community-Based Job Settings: The Relationship Between The Use Of A Hand-Held Computer Compared To Staff Modeling For Accurate Novel Job Skill Acquisition And Student Learning, Kimberly Gen Spence-Cochran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects and efficacy of two vocational instructional interventions - a Hand-Held Computer intervention versus a Staff Model intervention - as vocational instructional tools for high school students with autism and mental retardation. Specifically, the study analyzed the effects of these two treatments on the completion of authentic novel job tasks within a local department store. This research indicated the provision of specific technology as an instructional model positively influenced participants' ability to: accurately complete tasks, exercise increased independence during task completion, reduce problematic behavior during task completion, and lower necessary staff prompts during task completion. The …

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Instructional Practices In Athletic Training Education Programs: 'What, Nancy Cummings Jan 2004

Instructional Practices In Athletic Training Education Programs: 'What, Nancy Cummings

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to understand effective and ineffective instructional practices in clinical settings and to identify problem-solving strategies used by students and instructors. Three research questions were addressed: where in the undergraduate athletic training education program do students learn, or fail to learn, particular skills; "what instructional methods are of most worth" in teaching these skills, as perceived by the students; and what are the problem-solving strategies used by novice, experienced non-expert, and expert athletic trainers when confronted with novel situations. The subjects were nine students ("novices") and ten Approved Clinical Instructors (ACI's) from three programs in the Southeast United …

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Effective School Characteristics And Student Achievement Correlates As, James Doran Jan 2004

Effective School Characteristics And Student Achievement Correlates As, James Doran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between effective school characteristics and norm referenced standardized test scores in American-style international schools. In contrast to schools in traditional effective schools research, international schools typically have middle to high SES families, and display average to above average achievement. Eleven effective school characteristics were identified and correlated with standardized test scores for grades 4, 6, and 8 and high school SAT scores. Data was gathered from an online teacher questionnaire designed for this study. All eleven characteristics were present in high performing international schools while frequent analysis of student progress, …

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Degradation Of Halogenated Aliphatic Compounds In Sequential Anaerobic, Scott Hoxworth Jan 2004

Degradation Of Halogenated Aliphatic Compounds In Sequential Anaerobic, Scott Hoxworth

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to utilize an alternating anaerobic/aerobic sequence to biologically transform perchloroethylene to non-hazardous end products such as ethylene, CO2 and H2 using a single microbial consortia in a methanogenic and/or a homoacetogenic environment followed by a aerobic methanotrophic environment. Reductive dechlorination of PCE and TCE to cDCE and VC in an anaerobic environment is typically carried out by methanogens, sulfidogens, or homoacetogens but often (e.g. in-situ) leads to an accumulation of daughter compounds (cDCE, VC) which are more toxic than their parent compounds (PCE, TCE). Furthermore, PCE is resistant to degradation in aerobic environments while …

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Evaluation Of Immunogenicity Of Transgenic Chloroplast Derived Protect, Vijay Koya Jan 2004

Evaluation Of Immunogenicity Of Transgenic Chloroplast Derived Protect, Vijay Koya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Anthrax, a fatal bacterial infection is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a gram-positive, spore forming, capsulated, rod shaped organism. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists anthrax as Category A biological agent due to its severity of impact on human health, high mortality rate, acuteness of the disease and potential for delivery as a biological weapon. The currently available human vaccine in the United States (AVA anthrax vaccine adsorbed) is prepared from Alum adsorbed formalin treated supernatant culture of toxigenic, non-encapsulated strain of Bacillus anthracis with the principle component being protective antigen (PA83). Evaluation of anthrax vaccine given to nearly 400,000 US …

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Cellular Immune Response And Gene Expression Profiling In Crohn's Dise, Claudia Romero Jan 2004

Cellular Immune Response And Gene Expression Profiling In Crohn's Dise, Claudia Romero

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite the chronic debate in the etiology of crohn's disease (cd), a debilitating inflammatory bowel disease (ibd) closely related to ulcerative colitis (uc), an emerging interest in a possible mycobacterial role has been marked. Granuloma and pathologic manifestations in cd resemble aspects found in tuberculosis, leprosy and paratuberculosis. The latter, a chronic enteritis in cattle, goat, sheep and primates, which is similar to human enteritis, also known as cd, is caused by a fastidious, slow growing mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (map). Due to the similarities between cd and paratuberculosis, a mycobacterial cause in cd has been proposed. Recent discovery of …

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Characterization Of A Novel Interactor/Substrate For The Pro-Apoptotic Serine Protease Omi/Htra2, Valerie Anne Stratico Jan 2004

Characterization Of A Novel Interactor/Substrate For The Pro-Apoptotic Serine Protease Omi/Htra2, Valerie Anne Stratico

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

OmiHtrA2 is a highly conserved mammalian serine protease that belongs to the HtrA family of proteins. Omi shares homology with the bacterially expressed heat shock protease HtrA, which functions as a protease at higher temperatures and a chaperone at lower temperatures. Additionally, Omi shares sequence similarity with the mammalian homologs L56/HtrA1 and PRSP/HtrA3. Omi was first isolated as an interacting protein of Mxi2, an alternatively spliced form of the p38 stress-activated kinase, using a modified yeast two-hybrid system. Omi localizes in the mitochondria and in response to apoptotic stimuli the mature form of this protein translocates to the cytoplasm. In …

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The Speech Situation Checklist: A Normative And Comparative Investigat, Susha Verghese Jan 2004

The Speech Situation Checklist: A Normative And Comparative Investigat, Susha Verghese

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studies conducted over the past decades have identified the presence of a greater amount of negative emotional reaction and speech disruption in particular speech situations among children who stutter, compared to those who do not (Brutten & Vanryckeghem, 2003b; Knudson, 1939; Meyers, 1986; Trotter, 1983). Laboratory investigations have been utilized to describe the particular situations that elicit the greatest or least amount of speech concern and fluency failures. More recently, in order to deal with the limitation of laboratory research, the use of self-report tests have gained popularity as a means of exploring the extent of negative emotional reaction and …

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Factors Associated With Retention Rates In Career And Technical Educat, Jo Ann Whiteman Jan 2004

Factors Associated With Retention Rates In Career And Technical Educat, Jo Ann Whiteman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is a recognized state and national shortage of Career and Technical (CTE) teachers; in certain school districts or by subject area, it is defined as a "Critical Shortage". At the same time, both statewide and nationally, the number of teacher preparation programs for Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers has decreased. To alleviate the shortage and increase access many Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher preparation programs use the web. This study examined retention rates in courses from Fall 1997 through Fall 2003 within web-based courses in a CTE teacher preparation program at the University of Central Florida to …

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The New Man And The New Lad: Hegemonic Masculinities In Men's Lifestyle Magazines, Ashley Michelle Elmore Jan 2004

The New Man And The New Lad: Hegemonic Masculinities In Men's Lifestyle Magazines, Ashley Michelle Elmore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Men are bombarded with contradictory masculine imagery in the media. The perfect man must be aggressive but not violent, sensitive but not emotional, healthy, active and smart without being an idealist, overachiever or too bookish. Heterocentric male focused lifestyle magazines rival women’s magazines in number and availability. Some men look to these images as a tool by which to gauge their masculinity and learn their social role performance. This inquiry includes a content analysis of four major men's lifestyle magazines over a 12-month period in which four new masculinities: certitude, irony, new sexism and double voicing were critiqued. Elements of …

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The United Nations Fund For Population Activities: Changing The Direction Of The Total Fertility Rate In Developing Nations, Michaela Fazecas Jan 2004

The United Nations Fund For Population Activities: Changing The Direction Of The Total Fertility Rate In Developing Nations, Michaela Fazecas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis builds on previous United Nations’ research investigating factors affecting the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in six (6) states: Burkina Faso, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, the Philippines, and Uganda. The present research, however, provides a broader assessment of the TFR and the potential causes of its decline by examining countries across nine (9) regions of the world – sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific Islands, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, and the former Soviet Socialist Republics of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The present analyses are also conducted over …

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