Digital Commons Network^™

Distributed And Decentralized Location Aware Architecture, Sean J. Barbeau, Philip L. Winters, Rafael Perez, Nevine Georggi, Miguel Labrador, Alfredo Perez

USF Patents

Provided is a distributed and decentralized location-aware system. The system includes a number of peers, each in communication with other peers and adapted to communicate PING, PONG, and ALERT messages. Each of the messages has a header that includes location information.

Also provided is a method of communication between two peers in the system. In addition, the present invention includes a method of rendering the system. In the method, a communication link between an electronic map and a number of peers is provided. The location information and the covering distance of each of the peers is obtained and used to …

National Vs. International Schools: Factors Influencing School Choice In Egypt; The Voices Of Parents And Students., Yasmine Alaa Khorshed

Theses and Dissertations

There are many national and international schools in Cairo today, and every year lots of parents make educational choices for their children. Those choices are based on various factors. This research explores the factors that influence parents to select a certain school type and not the other. It is an initial step into school research as an attempt to help educators and administrators understand parents’ and students’ priorities, needs and expectations when choosing a school. The research questions are: (1) What are the most and least important factors that parents consider when choosing a national/ international school for their children? …

Climate Change Affects National Security, Raymond L. S. Wang

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

No abstract provided.

Of Economic Bubbles And Economic Miracles: Notes And Reflections From A Non-Expert, Dennis V. Blanco

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Community Resilience Under Conditions Of An Environmental Disaster: The Case Of The Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill, Naomi W. Lazarus

Doctoral Dissertations

The impact of hazard events on human settlements reflects the complex interaction of social and physical systems that challenge the process of defining and operationalizing risks associated with environmental disasters. The objective of this research is to develop a model that examines the inter-relationships between social capital and livelihoods and to thereby estimate their impacts on levels of hazard risk. Social capital is embedded in social networks and institutional frameworks that determine the quantity and quality of resources and services available to people. The proposed hazard risk location model (HRLM) re-specifies hazard risk as a function of the hazard, exposure, …

Constructing Grammar Instruction In The Omani Elt System: A Critical Literacy Perspective, Ali Al-Issa

The Qualitative Report

Debate in the literature has been ongoing about whether to teach English language grammar explicitly, implicitly or integrate both approaches to achieve optimal learning. This research paper, hence, discusses this issue from an ideological perspective with a particular reference to the Omani English language teaching (ELT) education system. The paper triangulates data from various semi-structured interviews made with different agents involved in the Omani ELT education system, the pertinent literature, The Philosophy and Guidelines for the Omani English Language School Curriculum, which I will herewith refer to as the National English Language Policy/Plan (NELP), other policy texts and the English …

Baseline Survey For Street Dogs In Guam, John D. Boone

Stray and Feral Animal Populations Collection

As is the case for many inhabited islands in Pacific region, dogs are common, including freeroaming street dogs that may be owned or unowned. Reproduction among dogs is largely unchecked, and many owned dogs do not receive adequate levels of basic care in the home or veterinary care when needed. For all of these reasons, Humane Society International (HSI) is exploring options for improving the management of street dog populations and promoting better treatment and care of all dogs on Guam and on the nearby islands of Rota and Saipan. One of the initial steps in this process was to …

Terrain Referenced Navigation Using Sift Features In Lidar Range-Based Data, Matthew T. Leines

Theses and Dissertations

The use of GNSS in aiding navigation has become widespread in aircraft. The long term accuracy of INS are enhanced by frequent updates of the highly precise position estimations GNSS provide. Unfortunately, operational environments exist where constant signal or the requisite number of satellites are unavailable, significantly degraded, or intentionally denied. This thesis describes a novel algorithm that uses scanning LiDAR range data, computer vision features, and a reference database to generate aircraft position estimations to update drifting INS estimates. The algorithm uses a single calibrated scanning LiDAR to sample the range and angle to the ground as an aircraft …

Predicted Changes In Climatic Niche And Climate Refugia Of Conservation Priority Salamander Species In The Northeastern United States, William B. Sutton, Kyle Barrett, Allison T. Moody, Cynthia S. Loftin, Phillip G. Demaynadier, Priya Nanjappa

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Global climate change represents one of the most extensive and pervasive threats to wildlife populations. Amphibians, specifically salamanders, are particularly susceptible to the effects of changing climates due to their restrictive physiological requirements and low vagility; however, little is known about which landscapes and species are vulnerable to climate change. Our study objectives included, (1) evaluating species-specific predictions (based on 2050 climate projections) and vulnerabilities to climate change and (2) using collective species responses to identify areas of climate refugia for conservation priority salamanders in the northeastern United States. All evaluated salamander species were projected to lose a portion of …

Oklahoman Quotes Houser On New Model 2011 Tornado, Ohio University College Of Arts & Sciences

All Forum Articles

No abstract provided.

Discussing Issues Of Information Technology In Country Development, Rami Al-Gharaibeh, William Acar, Andrew G. Kotulic, Thomas J. Froehlich

Communications of the IIMA

The development of countries with laggard economies is becoming a global concern. The harmful complications of poverty and illiteracy are beginning to show up outside those countries in violent forms. The precautions against this migration of harm are splitting the world apart at the same time as technology may become able to bring it together. Over the last few years, information technology (IT) has grown very fast and is still spreading into all aspects of life in developed countries. The recent research in those countries is bringing more evidence that IT is a leveraging tool for business and not a …

39 Social Justice Books And Movies To Keep Your Brain Warm Over Winter Break!, The Surge Team

SURGE

A hodgepodge of books and movies, some serious, some funny that engage issues of social justice in a variety of ways. If you read or watch one, let us know what you think in the comments! [excerpt]

Commensality, Sustainability, And Restaurant Clustering In A Suburban Community, Lenore L. Newman

Suburban Sustainability

A study of a restaurant cluster on the suburban fringe of Vancouver, Canada demonstrates how commensality can play a role in the creation of more sustainable suburban environments sustainability by fostering a walkable suburban environment that encourages commensal behavior. With sixty restaurants within a few blocks of each other, the historic village of Steveston serves as an important site of social relations within the larger suburban community. Such a cluster supports the argument that commensality is an important component of the dining experience, and that the ability to eat together is a source of social capital to surrounding residents. The …

Fall Commencement [Program], December 20, 2014, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Commencement Programs

The program of the commencement ceremonies, including a list of institutional leadership, a list of the departments by college, awards given at the ceremonies, and a list of undergraduate and graduate degree candidates.

When Convenience Is Inconvenient: ‘Healthy’ Family Foodways And The Persistent Intersectionalities Of Gender And Class, Julie M. Parsons

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This article draws on findings from an auto/biographical study about relationships with food to demonstrate how everyday foodways continue to be influenced by the intersectionalities of gender and class. Following Bourdieu [1984. Distinction, a social critique of the judgement of taste. London: Routledge] how ‘foodies’ use food and foodways (the production, preparation, serving and eating of food) as a material and cultural display of capital (Johnston, J., & Baumann, S. 2010. Foodies, democracy and distinction in the gourmet kitchen. London: Routledge) or even ‘culinary capital’ (Naccarato, P., & LeBesco, K. 2012. Culinary capital. London: Berg) has been demonstrated. There has …

Book Reviews Volume 2(Ii)

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

No abstract provided.

The Ceremony Of Tasua And Ashura As A Tourism Attractions In Iran (Case Study: Taft City), Amir Reza Khavarian, Mohammad Zare, Reza Mostofiolmamaleki Dr

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Today, tourism as a global and social phenomenon has special implication of its own. The mechanism behind the phenomenon intertwines and takes different forms in different times and places and completely different effects on the human beings (de freitas, 2003:47). There are many types of tourism. One of the most important tourism forms is religious tourism. Religious tourism is a combination of travel and religion. Most writers are taking into account religious tourism as a part of cultural tourism. Of course, both are quite different, but these two are tied together, and religion is a part of culture. Religious Cultural …

Religious Tourism And Tv Serials: The Case Of Two Italian Papal Birthplaces, Lorenzo Bagnoli, Rita Capurro

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

In this paper the authors examine two of Italy’s lesser religious tourism destinations: Sotto il Monte and Concesio, small towns in northern Italy which have the distinction of being the birthplaces of Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI. In 2002 and 2008 respectively, two of the country’s national television networks broadcast during prime time short television serials dedicated to the two popes. Despite being very successful with the viewing public, the serials proved to have little impact in terms of tourism, as demonstrated by comprehensive tourist surveys and in-depth conversations with the parties concerned. The aim of the present …

‘Resurrecting Harry Clarke’: Breathing Life Into Stained Glass Tourism In Ireland, Tony Kiely

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Internationally, the exponential demand for ‘cultural/heritage’ tourism is increasingly being viewed by tourism stakeholders as an opportunity for value adding revenue generation, wherein both specialist and ‘media programmed’ tourists can seek out designated cultural attractions to satisfy their respective quests for authentic, and/or emotionally charged experiences. Indeed, this international ‘demand’ re-alignment is exemplified in the growth of churches and cathedrals who openly promote their artistic content as ‘must see attractions’. However, despite such utilitarian attractiveness, one wonders if the counter-influences of indifference, protectionism, or fear of heritage commodification, might act to scupper an opportunity to re-envision Harry Clarke’s iconic stained …

Volunteers: Their Role In The Management Of The Visitor And Pilgrimage Experience, Peter Wiltshier

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper examines the key conditions and parameters for management under which volunteers perform a valuable service to visitors in the context of sacred or secular visits to specific key sites. The paper considers consumers as visitors for sacred and secular purposes; it is situated at the CathedralchurchofAll SaintsinDerby,England. It is based on the premise that satisfied consumers will spread the word of how well expectations were exceeded by perceptions. It is further based on the premise that resources provided for tour guiding, visitor support and explanation and information provision by volunteers are exceptionally well located and an integral part …

Sacral Landscape And Its Influence On The Tourism Space Development In The Region (Based On The Example Of Western Pomerania Region Nw Poland), Tomasz Duda

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Formed through the centuries, cultural landscape of the region includes not only the material realm in the form of numerous historical buildings, monuments and other evidences of local society’s development, but also significant immaterial realm, which manifests itself in the form of spiritual heritage, faith, tradition, customs and language. Interesting, often unique in terms of religious and historical point of view, religious buildings, as well as traditional pilgrimage routes and local shrines are now undeniable qualities, shaping the touristic space of the region. The study of the tourism movement and a detailed valuation analysis of sacred objects showed that the …

A Cross-Cultural Comparison Of Weekend–Trips In Religious Tourism: Insights From Two Cultures, Two Countries (India And Italy), Kiran A. Shinde, Katia Rizello

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper explains peculiarities, significance, and universality of weekend-trips as significant form of religious tourism using a comparative analysis of this phenomenon in two pilgrimage sites from two different cultures (and countries), namely, Vrindavan in India and the Shrine of Santimissi Medici in Italy. The findings derived from a case-study approach and visitors’ survey method confirm that religious tourism falls under the more general category of leisure and that visitors who flock to these places on weekends do not coincide either with general models proposed in the extant literature, nor can they be assimilated to the conventional categories of pilgrims …

The Museumification Of Rumi’S Tomb: Deconstructing Sacred Space At The Mevlana Museum, Rose Aslan

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Tourists and pilgrims from across Turkey and around the world flock to the tomb of Jalal al-Din Rumi (d. 1273), one of the greatest poets and Sufi masters in Islam. Since 1925, the Turkish government has relentlessly struggled to control Islamic influences in society and to channel people’s devotion to the memory of Kemal Ataturk (d. 1938) and his secular ideology. This article argues that by restructuring the layout and presentation of the tomb complex of Rumi, and putting the sacred space through the process of museumification, the Turkish state has attempted to regulate the place in order to control …

Winter Commencement: December 19, 2014, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Winter Commencement program from December 19, 2014.

Minelaying And The Impediment Of Passage Rights, Wolff Heintschel Von Heinegg

International Law Studies

Since their first extensive use in the 1904–05 Russo-Japanese War naval mines have continued to pose a considerable threat to innocent shipping. States reacted by adopting the 1907 Hague Convention VIII, which has been the only international instrument on the matter to date. In view of the fact that more than 80 percent of imports and exports are shipped by sea, freedom of navigation and, in particular, transit and archipelagic sea lanes passage rights must be preserved to the greatest extent possible. The present article deals with the question of whether international rules and principles provide effective protection of international …

Sustainable Packaging Design Visually Explained Guidebook Prototype, Sara Almudhaf

Theses

As the fields of graphic and packaging design continue to evolve, it is important to keep their applications sustainable and green. Unaware graphic and packaging designers need to have an easy-to-comprehend source of information about sustainability. Developing an educational information graphics guidebook prototype has potential to serve as a unique tool for understanding the need for sustainable packaging design. The purpose of it is to eases the understanding of a complex system and enables users to discover relationships and connections among design, economy, environment, and society.

This prototype project involved designing a comprehensive sustainability symbol set where no satisfactory symbol …

Water Resources Sb 213, Georgia State University Law Review

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act provides the Director of the Environmental Protection Division with flexibility in determining when and how to declare a drought and how to proceed in case of a drought. The Act no longer requires the Director to determine a drought status by a certain date or to conduct irrigation reduction auctions. The Act codifies the Director’s ability to implement augmentation projects and limit the ability of those with withdrawal permits to withdraw the augmented water for irrigation. The Act also creates irrigation efficiency requirements and sets forth a schedule requiring all irrigation systems to achieve eighty percent efficiency by …

Two Hundred Years On: A Reexamination Of The Acquisition Of Australia, Nii Lante Wallace-Bruce

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

The Bittersweet Taste Of Rice. Sloping Land Conversion And The Shifting Livelihoods Of The Drung In Northwest Yunnan (China), Stéphane Gros

HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies

Economic development and environmental protection have often proved to be conflicting driving forces behind change in northwest Yunnan province, China. In 2003, the Sloping Land Conversion Program brought an end to traditional shifting cultivation in the Dulong valley—part of the Gaoligong Mountain Nature Reserve, Gongshan County— and is now threatening Drung people’s livelihood and culture while further increasing villagers’ dependence on state subsidies. This paper addresses the implementation of this program and the difficulties encountered by locals in relation to environmental protection and economic development issues. It describes the specificities of swidden cultivation and explores aspects of human-environment relatedness in …

Precarity And Possibility: On Being Young And Indigenous In Sikkim, India, Mabel D. Gergan

HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies

In the last decade the Indian Power Ministry began an aggressive campaign for hydropower development in its ten Himalayan states. Twenty-nine of these dams were commissioned for construction in the small Eastern Himalayan state of Sikkim. In June 2007 Dzongu a protected reserve of the indigenous Lepchas in North Sikkim became the center of controversy when reserve youth went on a hunger strike against seven dams planned within the reserve. Their protests garnered enough national and international attention to cancel four of the seven dams. However within the reserve there was very little support for the activists who were seen …