Digital Commons Network^™

Crow's Nest, March 25, 2005, Crow's Nest Staff

Crow's Nest

The March 25, 2005, issue of the Crow's Nest.

Full Issue, Bird Observer

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Fire Regime On Birds In Southweastern Pine Savannas And Native Prairies, R. Todd Engstrom, Peter D. Vickery, Dustin W. Perkins, W. Gregory Shriver

Studies in Avian Biology

No abstract provided.

The Birds Of San Clemente Island, Brian L. Sullivan, Eric L. Kershner

Western Birds

No abstract provided.

Understanding Roi Metrics For Software Test Automation, Naveen Jayachandran

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Software test automation is widely accepted as an efficient software testing technique. However, automation has failed to deliver the expected productivity more often than not. The goal of this research was to find out the reason for these failures by collecting and understanding the metrics that affect software test automation and provide recommendations on how to successfully adopt automation with a positive return on investment (ROI). The metrics of concern were schedule, cost and effectiveness. The research employed an experimental study where subjects worked on individual manual and automated testing projects. The data collected were cross verified and supplemented with …

Characterization Of L-Cysteine Thin Films Via Photoemission Spectroscopy, Roy Gargagliano

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Using photoemission spectroscopy (PES) the interface between the amino acid Lcysteine and a Au substrate was characterized to determine its electronic and chemical structure. L-cysteine was deposited on a Au substrate in several experiments via dipping into solution or via evaporation. The depositions were performed in several steps. Between deposition steps x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) measurements were taken. XPS was used to characterize the chemical interaction at the interface while UPS was used to determine the orbital line-up at the interface and the highest molecular orbital (HOMO) structure of L-cysteine. The results indicate the formation …

Program, Film Noir: The Shadow In The Fog, The Lady In The Bay, 2005, Studio At 620

Program Collection

No abstract provided.

Forum, Volume 29, No. 1, Winter 2005, Florida Humanities Council, Barbara O'Reilley

FORUM: The Magazine of Florida Humanities

Contents: Letter from the Interim Director -- Humanities Alive! -- Honoring Ancient Cultures -- Noble Waters -- Creation Unfolding -- Looking for the Hillsborough River -- It's My River -- Hope for the Sacred River -- Paradise Restored? -- Miami River: Host to History -- The Winds of Change

Assessment Of The Community Healthcare Providers' Ability And Willingness To Respond To A Bioterrorist Attack In Florida, Jeffrey S. Crane

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous findings have demonstrated that the preparedness and infrastructure of the public health system are inadequately developed for a biological and/or chemical terrorism attack. (1-4) Chen et al. reported that those primary care providers that would have to respond to such an attack do not feel prepared to diagnose and manage such an event.(5)

This research was an observational study using e-mail/web based survey to assess the levels of preparedness (PL) and willingness to respond (WTR) to a bioterrorism attack, and identify factors that predict PL and WTR of Florida community healthcare providers. The conceptual framework and questionnaire was designed …

Reconfigurable Wireless Sensor Platform For Training And Research In Networked Embedded Systems, Oscar V. Gonzalez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ever since the University of California, Berkeley released the first commercial Wireless Sensor Network, (WSN), "mote", applications that employ the WSN technology have increased many fold. There are many kinds of prototypes and architectures for WSNs that are being developed by major communication companies. Due to the lack of a common standard for different physical and MAC layer protocols, interoperability among the wireless systems is constrained. Additionally, remote sensing capability, reconfigurability and interoperability have not yet been designed. In the current platforms hardware upgrading has to be performed on-site by replacing the old sensors with new ones. This procedure increases …

The Effects Of Militant Press On Nigeria's Democratic Evolution, Oluwaniran Malaolu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This is an in-depth study of the Nigerian press, the ubiquitous behemoth which called itself the "defender" of Nigeria's national independence and the last "hope" of the common man. It's a bold attempt to critically examine its antecedents, its evolution or development especially the historical, political, technological and socio-economic events that had impacted its growth, its world views and ideologies. It's a thorough assessment of the press' influence on Nigeria's socio-economic and political development, as well as the suitability of its tactics and posturing toward attaining its set goals of economic and political emancipation of Nigerians. Most importantly, this study …

A Heuristic Methodology For Locating Monitoring Stations To Detect Contamination Events In Potable Water Distribution Systems, James R. Chastain Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The requirements to protect public water systems from intentional contamination have expanded in the years following September 11, 2001. The areal extent and non-linear nature of water demand and movement in the distribution system makes efficient location of sampling points difficult. This difficulty is compounded by the fact that contamination conceptually can occur at any point and at any time within the distribution system. Small to mid-sized water systems are especially at a disadvantage in addressing this issue due to limited resources available to them.

This paper proposes a heuristic methodology to identify strategic locations within the system that can …

Which Road To Reconciliation? Justice In The Wake Of Human Rights Atrocities, Philip Norris

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

One question looms in the wake of genocide. Which road to reconciliation? In this thesis, I examine the concept of reconciliation in both a theoretical and applied manner. By exploring three modem cases of genocide and the reconciliatory methods used in each, I have reached the following conclusion: Though gacaca (pronounced ga-CHA-cha), an informal, traditional, tribal form of justice and truth telling, is not a perfect solution to the problems presented by genocidal conflicts, its concept of blending retributive measures and restorative practices can provide a stable platform to promote reconciliation in future post genocidal cases.

Radical Religious Groups And Government Policy: A Critical Evaluation, Tori Chambers Lockler

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Religion, many times, is one of the phenomena that is misunderstood and often rejected due to apprehension. There is an expected "norm" within our culture for religion and those that fall outside that "norm" are typically criticized for their beliefs. Within Christianity there are a number of extremist groups that follow millennial doctrines and believe they are living in the end times. These organizations tend to view the government as oppressive, disrespectful, immoral and corrupt. Because of this when an incident occurs with one of these millennial groups and the government steps in to control the situation, the way it …

Frames In The U.S. Print Media Coverage Of The Kashmir Conflict, Durga, Ray

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the frames used by the U.S. print media -- The New York Times, The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times -- in their coverage of the Kashmir conflict and the parties involved in it from 1989 to 2003. It divided the 15-year period of coverage into four phases -- 1989-1990, 1991-1998, 1999-2001, and 2002-2003 -- and focused on the coverage of seven subjects. It then identified sources and keywords from 180 news reports and placed them into categories from which it isolated thematic clusters or frames.

The study found that in the first two phases, …

Design Of A Chemical Agent Detector Based On Polymer Coated Surface Acoustic Wave (Saw) Resonator Technology, Lane Leslie Manoosingh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents the design of a unique prototype chemical agent detector which utilizes an array of polymer coated SAW resonators as the sensor elements. The design's particular embodiment is that of a testing platform for evaluating the utility of constructing a portable chemical agent detector, utilizing commercially available SAW resonators. It involves the consolidation of the sub-systems comprising a large laboratory development system, into a portable enclosure.

A combination of design techniques, utilized to achieve an overall balance between the physical dimensions of the system and its detection performance, comprises the unique nature of the overall design of this …

From Just War To Just Peace: Re-Visioning Just War Theory From A Feminist Perspective, Naomi Malone

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper studies the history of just war theory and critiques it from various feminist perspectives. Using a definition of war as inseparable from the system within which it is embedded, the paper contends that just war theory has been incorporated into the realist paradigm that predominates current political thought, making it susceptible to manipulation. Most importantly, this usurpation has shifted just war theory's focus from jus ad bellum to jus in bello considerations, seriously weakening its deterrent effects on war. The paper proposes its replacement with a just peace theory, discussing several existing frameworks and explaining the important part …

An Analysis Of Print Media Reporting Of Established Religions And New Religious Movements, Lonnie F. Griffin Iii

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reports findings from a content analysis of 720 newspaper articles and 3,052 newspaper article cases focused on the issue of print media bias. Sunday editions of three major newspapers were drawn from the six-year period 1998-2003 for analysis. Prior research has uncovered print media bias in reporting of religious groups, and this thesis examines the substance of those claims pertaining to both established religions and new religious movements. Research findings show that established religions and their members are typically described in favorable or neutral terms, while new religious movements and their members are consistently described with pejorative terms. …

Level Of Demoralization As A Predictor Of Stage Of Change In Patients With Gastrointestinal And Colorectal Cancer, Cheryl Anne Cockram

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Demoralization is a concept that evolved out of the study of individuals under stress. It is defined as the combination of distress and subjective incompetence in the presence of inadequate social bonds. When patients with alcohol abuse problems are diagnosed with cancer they may become demoralized and be unable to summons adequate resources to address issues associated with changing their addictive behavior. The Stage of Change Model (SOC), one of the primary approaches in addiction therapy, is used to guide individuals through the process of behavioral change.

This two phase study examined the relationship between demoralization and stage of change. …

Personality And Motivational Characteristics Of The Successful Mentor, Lizzette Lima

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between mentor characteristics (i.e., motivational tendencies, personality traits), mentoring provided, and protégé outcomes. A motivational approach was taken, in the sense that motives to mentor, as well as personality characteristics of the mentor, were considered in regard to their ability to predict the type of mentoring provided and outcomes for the protégé. Specifically, the potential relationships between personality traits (Intrinsic Motivation, Learning Goal Orientation, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Machiavellianism) and mentor motives, as well as the provision of career and psychosocial mentoring, were examined. In addition, the current study examined …

A Simple Treatise On The Origins Of Cracker Kung Fu Or Mai Violence, Mark Joseph Runge

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

My project tells the origins of the Cracker Kung-Fu system through personal narrative and government documents. The personal combat methods of the system are shown and described. The Tire Iron Form, or set of movements, is shown in its entirety, and each martial application is shown.

The Role Of Operational Research In Counterterrorism, Randy Borum, Robert Fein, Bryan Vossekuil, Michael Gelles, Scott Shumate

Mental Health Law & Policy Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

First Nations Perspectives On The Grasslands Of The Interior Of British Columbia, Michael D. Blackstock, Rhonda Mcallister

Journal of Ecological Anthropology

Although the First Nations Elders from the interior of southern British Columbia, Canada, recall times when grass was “belly-high to a horse,” today they worry about the deteriorated state of the grasslands. Using ethnographic and historical research methods, this paper documents recognized First Nations experts’ historical memory of the grasslands. Based on the ethnographic accounts, this paper also attempts to reconstruct the effects of colonization on the grassland ecology and First Nations culture. Secondary sources such as early settlers’ accounts and current grassland ecology research are used to augment the testimony of the experts. Two eras are described: 1) Pre-contact …

The Weekly Challenger, November 20, 2003, The Weekly Challenger, Et Al

Weekly Challenger Newspaper Collection

The November 20, 2003, issue of The Weekly Challenger.

Ocean Observer Study: A Proposed National Asset To Augment The Future U. S. Operational Satellite System, John D. Cunningham, Don P. Chambers, Curtiss O. Davis, Andrew Gerber, Rosalind Hetz, James P. Mcguire, William Pichel

Marine Science Faculty Publications

The next generation of U.S. polar orbiting environmental satellites, are now under development. These satellites, jointly developed by the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Commerce (DOC), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), will be known as the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). It is expected that the first of these satellites will be launched in 2010. NPOESS has been designed to meet the operational needs of the U.S. civilian meteorological, environmental, climatic, and space environmental remote sensing programs, and the Global Military Space and Geophysical Environmental remote sensing programs. This system, however, did not …

Embracing Pedagogical Pluralism: An Educator's Case For (At Least Public) School Choice, David J. Ferrero

Education Policy Analysis Archives (EPAA)

… Three objections to a conception of school choice grounded in a notion of reasonable pluralism among educational doctrines are addressed: 1) that it would undermine educators' efforts to secure status for themselves as professionals by admitting that “best practices” in education offer rough guidance at best; 2) that it would leave parents and students vulnerable to quackery; 3) that it abandons the common school tradition and its aspirations. ...

Education Policy Analysis Archives 11/30 , Arizona State University, University Of South Florida

College of Education Publications

Embracing pedagogical pluralism : an educator, Äôs case for (at least public) school choice / David J. Ferrero.

Bioterrorism Syndromic Surveillance: A Dual-Use Approach With Direct Application To The Detection Of Infectious Disease Outbreaks, Kristin Broome Uhde

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The threat of bioterrorism forces the public health infrastructure to focus attention on overall issues related to challenges posed by emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. There is a crucial need to strengthen existing surveillance systems and to validate real-time approaches to surveillance that can provide timely alerts of epidemics whether they occur naturally or through a bioterrorism attack. The purpose of this study is to implement and evaluate a bioterrorism syndromic surveillance system called BioDefend™, to determine if the system could detect a potential epidemic/bioterrorism attack within 24-36 hours, more rapidly than it would be identified by routine health surveillance. …

Teacher Learning In Context: The Special Case Of Rural High School Teachers, Jay Paredes Scribner

Education Policy Analysis Archives (EPAA)

… This article examines one overlooked context in the discourse about teacher learning and work—rural high schools. The study focuses on 20 teachers across 3 case study schools and conceptualizes the relationship between teacher learning and work according to three contexts: the core, intermediate and peripheral contexts. ...

Education Policy Analysis Archives 11/12 , Arizona State University, University Of South Florida

College of Education Publications

Teacher learning in context : the special case of rural high school teachers / Jay Paredes Scribner.