Digital Commons Network^™

Biocaster: Detecting Public Health Rumors With A Web-Based Text Mining System, Nigel Collier, Son Doan, Ai Kawazoe, Reiko Matsuda Goodwin, Mike Conway, Yoshio Tateno, Quoc-Hung Ngo, Dinh Dien, Asanee Kawtrakul, Koichi Takeuchi, Mika Shigematsu, Kiyosu Taniguchi

Publications and Research

Summary: BioCaster is an ontology-based text mining system for detecting and tracking the distribution of infectious disease outbreaks from linguistic signals on the Web. The system continuously analyzes documents reported from over 1700 RSS feeds, classifies them for topical relevance and plots them onto a Google map using geocoded information. The background knowledge for bridging the gap between Layman's terms and formal-coding systems is contained in the freely available BioCaster ontology which includes information in eight languages focused on the epidemiological role of pathogens as well as geographical locations with their latitudes/longitudes. The system consists of four main stages: topic …

The Portland Spectator, December 2008, Portland State University. Student Publications Board

Portland Spectator

Editor: Sarah J. Christensen

Articles in this issue include: Romeo Sosa: The success story of a Guatemalan activist; Resouces for you! Fitness writer shares the secrets of the Stott Center; Vulgarity in TV and film: Keith Moore shows his disdain Hollywood’s use of vulgarity and violence; Dis-unity in our parties: Our writer looks at the power of failure; and Oregon's smoking ban: What this really means for your rights.

A Groundwork For The Theory Of Notation, Len O. Olsen

Open Access Dissertations

This work is a philosophical investigation of signs. It offers a definition of the term ?sign? and develops three different systems for talking precisely about signs and their properties. The system of object display lines is developed in the first chapter; the ostension notation and the box notation are developed in the second chapter; and the contemporary associationist definition of a sign is developed in the third chapter. These systems, in conjunction with the definition, are proffered as a philosophical foundation for the theory of notation. The first chapter of this work develops the distinction between i) mere objects (non-signs), …

A Groundwork For The Theory Of Notation, Len O. Olsen

Open Access Dissertations

This work is a philosophical investigation of signs. It offers a definition of the term “sign” and develops three different systems for talking precisely about signs and their properties. The system of object display lines is developed in the first chapter; the ostension notation and the box notation are developed in the second chapter; and the contemporary associationist definition of a sign is developed in the third chapter. These systems, in conjunction with the definition, are proffered as a philosophical foundation for the theory of notation. The first chapter of this work develops the distinction between i) mere objects (non-signs), …

Commencement Convocation Program, Sarasota - Manatee Campus, December 14, 2008, University Of South Florida

USF Graduation and Convocation Programs

Outstanding Professor Award - Michael Sheldon, James Curran, and Thomas Pencek; USF Sarasota-Manatee Distinguished Citizen Award

Commencement Convocation Program, St. Petersburg Campus, December 14, 2008, University Of South Florida St. Petersburg

USF St. Petersburg Graduations and Commencements

King O'Neal Award: Clarisse Barbier, Jennifer Dion Fox; Outstanding Graduate: Jessica Morgan; Regional Chancellor's Award for Civic Leadership: Andrew H. Hines, Jr.

Commencement Convocation Program, Usf, Graduate, December 13, 2008, University Of South Florida

USF Graduation and Convocation Programs

No abstract provided.

Commencement Convocation Exercises - December 2008, Prairie View A&M University

Commencement and Convocation Exercises

No abstract provided.

A Case Study Examining Teachers' Beliefs Toward In-Grade Retention In A K-2 School, Charles Edward Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods case study was to examine teachers’ beliefs toward in-grade retention in a K-2 school. This study focused on how teachers acquire beliefs regarding grade retention, and their knowledge of research regarding the effectiveness of retention. Witmer, Hoffman and Nottis (2004) contend that teacher beliefs toward grade retention may not be based on research, but on peer influence, past practice, or administrative policy. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to examine teacher beliefs in a K- 2 school. Quantitative data were collected through the Teacher Opinion Survey (TOS) and Personal Experiences and Retention Practices (PERP). A …

Adult Texting In Context : Exploring Norms For Mature Users Of Text-Messaging Technologies., Angela M. Barlow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An online survey exploring the patterns of adult text-message use was completed by 150 traditional college age young adults ages 18-24 and 171 adults ages 25-68. Because youth traditionally are among the first group to adopt new communication technologies, much research has been conducted among the adolescent and young adult population regarding the prevalence and importance of text-messaging; however, a research deficit exists regarding adult textmessage use. Data gathered from this survey were categorized and analyzed for emergent content regarding the use of text-messaging, what roll texting plays in adult's communication patterns, the sociological impact of text-messaging on survey respondents, …

Product Formulation And Consumer Acceptability Of Processed Cheese Made With Different Types Of Cocoas And Chocolates & Product Formulation And Quantitative Descriptive Analysis Of Aged Cheddar Cheese With Different Types Of Chocolate Inclusions, Vishal Kumar Royyala

Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this research were to compare different types of cocoa and chocolates in the formulation of processed chocolate cheese and aged Cheddar cheese, and to evaluate sensory, physical, chemical and quality parameters of each. Four different varieties of chocolates were utilized along with other ingredients to prepare processed chocolate cheeses and were tested for consumer acceptability for their basic and critical attributes. Chocolate chips of four different types and proportions were incorporated into Cheddar cheese curd, ripened for 105 days, and a trained panel evaluated the sensory parameters. Results indicated that processed chocolate cheese made with Bordeaux chocolate …

Hierarchical Geographical Identifiers As An Indexing Technique For Geographic Information Retrieval, John Christopher Lakey

Theses and Dissertations

Location plays an ever increasing role in modern web-based applications. Many of these applications leverage off-the-shelf search engine technology to provide interactive access to large collections of data. Unfortunately, these commodity search engines do not provide special support for location-based indexing and retrieval. Many applications overcome this constraint by applying geographic bounding boxes in conjunction with range queries. We propose an alternative technique based on geographic identifiers and suggest it will yield faster query evaluation and provide higher search precision. Our experiment compared the two approaches by executing thousands of unique queries on a dataset with 1.8 million records. Based …

On The Green Vol. 37 No. 46 December 12, 2008, Gallaudet University

2001-2010

On the Green is an internal publication of Gallaudet College, which later became Gallaudet University. It notified employees of updates around the campus and in the broader community, including new construction and the establishment of new academic programs. Running until 2010, it was supplanted by various forms of online mass communications across multiple audiences.

Soundings 2008-12, N/A N/A

Soundings

No abstract provided.

Naturalism In The Philosophies Of Dewey And Zhuangzi: The Live Creature And The Crooked Tree, Christopher C. Kirby

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation will compare the concept of nature as it appears in the philosophies of the American pragmatist John Dewey and the Chinese daoist Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) and will defend two central claims. The first of these is that Dewey and Zhuangzi share a view of nature that is non-reductive, philosophically liberal, and more comprehensive than the accounts recurrent in much of the Western tradition. This alternate conception of nature is non-reductive in the way that it avoids the physically mechanistic outlook underwriting much of contemporary Anglo-American thought. It is philosophically liberal in that it accepts a more generous and …

Sharing The Power Of Words And Changing Lives Through College-Level Instruction In Grammar And Mechanics, Carol Ann Tillema

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Intrigued by the English language and its far-reaching applications worldwide as a standard means of communication, I begin my disquisition with a focus on the meaning and derivation of grammar and its place in the trivium of ancient and modern study. I stress the need to reemphasize college-level instruction in grammar and mechanics as a complement to rhetoric and logic by studying and teaching editing, which involves semantics, syntax, phonology, morphology, conventions, mechanics (spelling, punctuation and format), in writing centers and classrooms. Noting growing nationwide illiteracy, I research the pedagogies and writing of experts in the field of rhetoric and …

December Agenda, Wku Graduate Council

Graduate School

Meeting agenda.

Meeting Minutes, Wku Graduate Council

Graduate School

Meeting minutes.

Vol.36 N.26 December 11th 2008, Brown Publishing Company

Black Voice News

No abstract provided.

The Current Volume 19 : Issue 14, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Alestle - Vol. 67 No. 30 - 12/09/2008, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

The Alestle

Vol. 67 No. 30

Nowhere To Hide: Finding Plagiarized Documents Based On Sentence Similarity, Nathaniel Gustafson, Yiu-Kai D. Ng, Maria Soledad Pera

Faculty Publications

Plagiarism is a serious problem that infringes copyrighted documents/materials, which is an unethical practice and decreases the economic incentive received by authors (owners) of the original copies. Unfortunately, plagiarism is getting worse due to the increasing number of online publications on the Web, which facilitates locating and paraphrasing information. In solving this problem, we propose a novel plagiarism-detection method, called SimPaD, which (i) establishes the degree of resemblance between any two documents D1 and D2 based on their sentence-to-sentence similarity computed by using pre-defined word-correlation factors, and (ii) generates a graphical view of sentences that are similar (or the same) …

Today - December 8, 2008, Loma Linda University

TODAY

Inside this issue:

-- Loma Linda University Medical Center plastic surgeon gains national recognition
-- Spiritual care workshop planned for LLU students, faculty
-- BALL, BHPSA, BSA hold 25th annual spiritual retreat
-- Campus community internal newsletter available online
-- Center for Spiritual Life & Wholeness begins new television program on LLBN
-- Medical help wanted by Scheer Memorial Hospital in Nepal
-- Savannah Edwards receives philanthropy award
-- Compassion Alive: ‘La Escuelita’ gets a facelift
-- GIS Day 2008
-- INNERWEAVE: The Wholeness Story
-- Whirlwind of activities hits Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital
-- East Campus celebrates grand …

Teaching Happiness: The Role Of Positive Psychology In The Classroom, Jennifer M. Gilpin

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

Happiness can be defined in various ways, and characterizing traits that reflect sustained happiness in an individual can be a daunting task. For the purpose of this paper, I propose that contentment regarding the past, satisfaction in the present, optimism about the future, as well as cultivating individual strengths and virtues will result in sustained happiness. Using findings from and relating to the field of positive psychology, I will suggest that these qualities can be fostered in students and will benefit students individually and ultimately society as a whole.

Achieving Cultural Competence Through The Use Of Community Health Workers: Open Cities Health Center's Approach, Dorii Gbolo

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to identify objectives necessary for incorporating a Community Health Worker (CHW) program within an urban Federally Qualified Community Clinic setting, for the purpose of enhancing the culturally specific care provided by the clinic. CHWs offer our current fragmented and complex health care system an opportunity to improve the health of underserved populations in our country. The use of CHWs dates back to the 1960's as an attempt to expand health care to the underserved residing in poor communities.

If one is poor, an immigrant, or just different from the norms of our society receiving …

The Impact Of A Character Education Based Interactive Discipline Program On At-Risk Student Behavior In An Alternative School, Michael G. Hylen

Dissertations

Student problem behavior is incompatible with academic achievement and positive interpersonal relationships. It has become necessary for schools to develop codes of conduct to address inappropriate student behavior. But, current school disciplinary policies are ineffective instruments for effecting positive change in student problem behavior (Goodman, 2006). In response to this problem, public school districts are developing a wide variety of approaches to dealing with the needs of problem behavior students. One approach has been the development of alternative high school programs - school district initiatives specifically designed to meet the needs of students lacking success in the traditional high school …

A Population Genetic Study Of Middle Eastern Populations Using Dys 458 Microvariants And Cohen Modal Haplotypes, Enass Nabeel Tinah

Theses and Dissertations

A comprehensive population study in the Middle East was conducted using different genetic markers in order to establish a wider genetic profile of the Middle Eastern populations. The main goal of this study was to analyze DNA from samples collected from different locations, and produce genetic motifs and patterns that could be used to identify and distinguish the target populations. This information will allow us to analyze the ancestry of these populations, their interactions through time and space, and the effects these interactions have on the populations' structure. We have collected around 1300 individual samples from different populations in the …

The Ability Of Children With Language Impairment To Understand Emotion Conveyed By Prosody In A Narrative Passage, Chelsea Celeste Voorhees

Theses and Dissertations

Several recent studies indicate that children with Language Impairment (LI) have difficulty recognizing and inferring meaning from emotional prosody. The present study is a replication investigating the ability of children with LI to recognize emotion conveyed by prosody in an orally presented narrative passage. Twenty-two children with LI and twenty-two age matched peers ranging from age 7;0 to 10;11 (M= 9.11, SD= 2.54) were selected to participate. Participants listened to recordings of a seven sentence passage read by actors to express happiness, anger, sadness, and fear. The children's task was to identify which emotion the speaker portrayed. Scores obtained from …

Value Conflicts In Psychotherapy: Psychology Graduates' Perspectives, Shannon Vincent Wilde

Theses and Dissertations

Although psychotherapy has been viewed historically as value-neutral, developments over the last half-century have led to the generally accepted position that values are inescapable in therapy. However, many questions remain as to how values should be managed in psychotherapy in order to protect client autonomy. These issues are of particular concern to training programs, which bear the responsibility of instructing new psychologists in ethical values management and of helping trainees manage personal values when those values are in conflict with those of their clients or with the values of the field in general. One aspect that has not previously been …

December 4, 2008, University Of North Dakota

University Senate Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the December 4, 2008, meeting of the University Senate. 29 pages