Digital Commons Network^™

Promoting Cognitive Conflict In Health Care Ethics: Moral Reasoning With Boundary Cases, Julia Bursten, Samantha Finkelstein

Philosophy Faculty Publications

As many college students are at a time of tremendous personal and academic growth, introductory philosophy courses have the potential to equip students with practical critical reasoning skills. Despite this, many introductory courses in this domain emphasize students’ learning about pre-existing dialectics in the abstract, rather than over self-reflection and development of personal philosophical perspectives. In doing so, we may be failing to support the needs of pre-professional students looking to prepare themselves for their careers ahead. In this practitioner paper, we report our efforts as a practicing philosophy instructor (Bursten) and a learning scientist (Finkelstein) to iterate on the …

Rainwater Harvesting In Colorado And The Quandary Of A Taking, Stephen N. Bretsen

Texas A&M Journal of Property Law

Although rainwater harvesting would appear to be a win-win solution to the problem of developing new sources of water, implementing rainwater harvesting in the American West has been fraught with tensions that have pitted rural farmers and other agricultural interests against urban and suburban homeowners. The water law of the western states is based on the prior appropriation doctrine, which creates a “first in time, first in right” system of water rights tied to when a user diverts surface water for beneficial use. Since water rights are property rights, state statutes and regulations that “go too far” in affecting them …

Old Water Becoming New Again: Reuse Of Treated Wastewater Effluent In Texas, Howard S. Slobodin, Hope C. Shelton

Texas A&M Journal of Property Law

The reuse of treated wastewater effluent for municipal supply is not a new idea in Texas, having been contemplated for at least sixty years. However, its importance has grown in recent decades as traditional surface water sources have become fully subscribed. Reuse is recognized as a significant source of future supply for Texas in the 2017 Texas State Water Plan.1 The law related to reuse is, however, still very much a developing subject. Recent administrative actions and judicial decisions have better defined the contours of the entitlements necessary to reuse effluent discharged to state-owned water courses.2 In the midst of …

Gender And The Tournament: Reinventing Antidiscrimination Law In An Age Of Inequality, June Carbone, Nancy Levit, Naomi Cahn

Articles

No abstract provided.

Understanding “Sanctuary Cities”, Linus Chan, Juliet P. Stumpf, Christopher N. Lasch, Ingrid V. Eagly

Articles

No abstract provided.

Preserving The Past For The Future: Archaeological Research At The Burns Site, Emily Slifkin

Burns Site Reporting and Archiving

This document is a student report containing the results of phase 1 survery done at the Burns (8BR85) site.

Uber’S Arbitration Trickery: Mohamed’S Holding, The New Era Of Limiting The Scope Of Administrative Protection And The Vindication Of Rights Doctrine, 51 J. Marshall L. Rev. 439 (2018), Kerby Kniss

UIC Law Review

No abstract provided.

3d Human Face Reconstruction And 2d Appearance Synthesis, Yajie Zhao

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

3D human face reconstruction has been an extensive research for decades due to its wide applications, such as animation, recognition and 3D-driven appearance synthesis. Although commodity depth sensors are widely available in recent years, image based face reconstruction are significantly valuable as images are much easier to access and store.

In this dissertation, we first propose three image-based face reconstruction approaches according to different assumption of inputs.

In the first approach, face geometry is extracted from multiple key frames of a video sequence with different head poses. The camera should be calibrated under this assumption.

As the first approach is …

The Changing Fate Of Thailand's Elephants, But A Future Worth Fighting For: The Interplay Of Culture And Ecology For Conservation, Madeline Zimmerman

Library Map Prize

No abstract provided.

Antimicrobial Textiles For Long Duration Space Flight, Keerthi Jagadeesan

Major Papers by TMD Master of Science Students

The review that follows was performed with the objective of contributing to the development, methodology and evaluation analysis of developing antimicrobial textiles for long duration space flight (LDSF) of which there has been little study. This is of much importance as the study of microbiomes in space travel is still limited and there are no mechanisms available for efficiently washing clothes during space travel. The current launch costs for space travel are high (approx. $10,000 per pound) so the weight of clothes needs to be carefully allocated for at least three years of travel to mars. This study is a …

Water Availability Influences Arthropod Water Demand, Hydration And Community Composition On Urban Trees, Kevin E. Mccluney, Thomas George, Steven D. Frank

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The drive for animals to regulate their water content can have significant consequences for food webs in xeric ecosystems. But the importance of animal water balance (gains vs losses) for mesic food webs has not been explored. Impervious surfaces in cities absorb and re-radiate solar radiation, raising local temperatures. Higher temperatures lead to greater rates of organismal water loss. Thus, urbanization of mesic regions may lead to greater likelihood of desiccation, with consequences for food webs. We tested the effects of animal water balance on a mesic urban food web by supplementing animal-available water (but not plant) within trees in …

Agricultural Intensification In The Midwest: Impacts On Regional Surface Humidity, Andrew Hill

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

An overwhelming majority of anthropogenic climate change studies have placed emphasis on biogeochemical agents, chiefly carbon dioxide emissions, which operate on a global scale. Fewer studies focus on biophysical factors such as land use/ land cover which operate on a regional or local scale. The impact from biophysical factors will continue to be reinforced with a growing human population and expanding resource demands. Of these factors, agricultural land use represents one of the largest, most extensive, and vital land use allocations.

The U.S. Midwest, dominated by rain-fed corn and soybean agriculture, is a key agricultural region which is lacking in …

A Synthesis Of Mobile Ticketing Applications Used By Commuter Railroads In The United States, Jonathan Mesoraca, Candace Brakewood

Journal of Public Transportation

Since 2012, many major commuter railroads have deployed mobile ticketing applications (or “apps”) that allow passengers to pay fares directly using their smartphones. In light of this rapid technological change, this research aims to provide a synthesis of the current state of mobile ticketing in the United States. The 14 largest commuter railroads that have launched mobile ticketing apps are compared in four different areas: (1) the ticket validation process; (2) ticket types offered in the mobile app; (3) additional features in the app; and (4) the process for transferring to other modes using the app. The results reveal that …

E.A.I. Anxiety: Technopanic And Post-Human Potential, Zachary Mandell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Robots have been a part of the imagination of Western culture for centuries. The possibility for automation and artificial life has inspired the curiosity of thinkers like Leonardo Da Vinci who once designed a mechanical knight. It wasn't until the 19th century that automated machinery has become realized. The confrontation between human and automation has inspired a fear, referred to as "technopanic", that has been exacerbated in tandem with the evolution of technology. This thesis seeks to discover the historical precedence for these fears. I explore three modes of knowledge (Philosophy, Economics, and Film Theory) to examine the agendas behind …

Exploring A Three-Dimensional Narrative Medium: The Theme Park As "De Sprookjessprokkelaar," The Gatherer And Teller Of Stories, Carissa Baker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the pervasiveness of storytelling in theme parks and establishes the theme park as a distinct narrative medium. It traces the characteristics of theme park storytelling, how it has changed over time, and what makes the medium unique. This was accomplished using a mixed methods approach drawing data from interviews with creative professionals, archival research, fieldwork, and an analysis of more than eight hundred narrative attractions. The survey of narrative attractions revealed the most common narrative expressions to be dark rides and stage shows. Source material tends to be cultural tales (legends, fairy tales) or intellectual properties (generally …

Leviathan: Ontogeny Of Salvation, Faren L. Lejeune

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Wrought from clay and hardened by fire, the narrative sculptures which comprise this body of work are dualistic symbols of life’s brutality and nobility. The philosophical import of the opus is manifested through the convergence of material, process, and form—to instantiate truth and initiate analysis. In my interdisciplinary research, I have come to understand leviathan as an exceptional, universalizing symbol of life's duality and the locus of Man's potential for honorable distinction. I invoke the name in order to instigate reflection upon the concept of the world serpent as a symbolic representation of existential nuance.

Bursting The Filter Bubble: Information Literacy And Questions Of Valuation, Navigation, And Control In A Digital Landscape, Komysha Hassan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The evolution of social media platforms and other public forums in the digital realm has created an explosion of user-generated content and data as a component of the already content-saturated digital landscape. The distributed, horizontal nature of the internet as a platform makes it difficult to ascertain value and differentiate between texts of varying validity, bias, and purpose. In addition, the internet is not an inanimate interface. As Pariser (2011) argues, content aggregators, such as Google, actively filter, personalize, and therefore limit each individual's access to information, in both range and type. This has created a crisis of information valuation …

Marsilio Ficino's Astral Psychology: The Inner Cosmos Of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese On The Astronomical Ceiling Fresco Of Sala Del Mappamondo At Caprarola, Renata R. Nagy

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis intends to explore the relationship between the Neoplatonist doctrines of the Renaissance philosopher, Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499), and astrological images in the Renaissance. The astrological ceiling fresco located in the Room of Maps in the Villa Farnese at Caprarola is in the center of the argument, which I analyze based on the metaphysical works of Ficino, the Platonic Theology (1482) and the Three Books on Life (1492). Authors have examined the fresco decoration and Ficinian philosophy individually, but never together. This study is the first to recognize Ficino's influence on Renaissance astrological images in its entirety.The present work synthesizes …

A Holistic Approach To Conquering Depression, Michael Deja

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the efficacy of an herbal approach for the treatment of depression. This study will include multiple different systems of traditional herbal medicine as well as modern scientific data to support their effectiveness. An analysis of different herbs and their bioactivity, chemical composition, as well as their historic uses will be used to support the herbal approach to treating depression. In all probability these herbal medicines should be effective in treating clinical depression, as they have been used for thousands of years to restore balance to both mind and body.

Paying For Environmental Services: Comparing Progress In Costa Rica And Florida, Haley A. Burnaman

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

With the world facing an uncertain environmental future, many governments are deploying alternative conservation strategies to mitigate the worst effects of environmental degradation. Particularly important to human survival is the conservation of land and water resources. Efficient use of land and water can provide people the resources they need for survival while reducing the loss of biodiversity, pollution, human health risks, and carbon emissions that could accelerate climate change. Traditional conservation strategies include buying and preserving land by public or private organizations, establishment of flora and fauna rehabilitation facilities, and the rationing of natural goods. With environmental crises becoming increasingly …

The Biologicalization Of Morality: Morality As Instinct, Kelly Lynn O'Neil

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

No abstract provided.

Arguing About The Constitution: The Topics In Constitutional Interpretation, Jack M. Balkin

Constitutional Commentary, Vols 1–36 (1984–2022)

No abstract provided.

The Consumption And Sales Pattern Of Ugly Apples In South Korea, Hyun Jong Lee

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

Approximately half of all wasted food is fruits and vegetables. One major cause of food waste is abnormal aesthetics; even if it is just as delicious as its normal counterpart. Food with a non-standard appearance (hereafter called ugly food) can be expelled by the markets. To reduce such waste, ugly food campaigns, which were developed in Europe and spread throughout the world, advocate for the consumption of ugly food. To study the problem of ugly food waste, this thesis examines ugly apples, since apples are the most common, representative, and readily accessible fruit. The objective of this thesis is to …

Spatial And Temporal Levels Of Microplastics In Tampa Bay Surface Waters, Laurinda Kinsley Mceachern

USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)

This study focused on collecting microplastics in Tampa Bay estuarine surface waters in order to identify temporal and spatial differences. While there have been many studies of microplastic contamination in the marine environment over the past decade, quantifying microplastics in urban estuaries is constrained. This study provides an understanding of the abundance, distribution, and composition of microplastics at twenty sites in Tampa Bay as well as four ancillary tributary stations. The objectives of the study were to identify how surrounding land use type, freshwater sources, seasonal changes in precipitation, and wastewater treatment plant discharge affect microplastic concentrations. Water samples were …

Determining Potential Uptake Pathways Of Persistent Organic Pollutants And Heavy Metals In Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Puerto Rico, Ashley Huber

USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)

Fiddler Crab (U. rapax) tissue, mangrove tissue and sediment from crab burrows were collected in Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Puerto Rico, to quantitate Persistent Organic Pollutants (OCs, PCBs, PBDEs) and selected heavy metals (cadmium, barium, mercury, lead, vanadium, chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic and selenium). Once quantified, the concentrations were applied to a bioconcentration factor equation to determine potential uptake pathways of the target analytes. Bioconcentration factors determined that fiddler crabs were the most efficient at concentrating OC pesticides, while mangroves were the most efficient at concentrating PCBs and heavy metals.

Equivalence Of Kaige And Quinta In The Dodekapropheton, James W. Barker

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

The essay divides into four parts. First, I give examples of lesser and greater extents of kaige’s revision of the OG. Second, I discuss Justin Martyr’s use of kaige for the Minor Prophets. Sometimes Justin quoted kaige verbatim, but at other times he conflated it with the OG. Third, I reexamine the relationship between kaige and Quinta. Based on the extant evidence from Justin, Origen, and Jerome, one can reasonably conclude that kaige and Quinta were the same in the Dodekapropheton. The prevailing counterargument contends that kaige influenced Quinta no more than kaige also influenced Justin, the Coptic versions, Codex …

Insights Into Key Gene Regulatory Networks In Borrelia Burgdorferi, William Kenneth Arnold

Theses and Dissertations--Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

Gene regulatory networks are composed of interconnected regulatory nodes created by regulatory factors of multiple types. All organisms finely tune gene expression in order to adapt to and survive within their current niche. Obligate parasitic bacteria are under extreme pressure to quickly and appropriately adapt their gene regulatory programs in order to survive within their given host. Borrelia burgdorferi is one such organism and persists in nature by alternating between two hosts; Ixodes spp. ticks and small vertebrate animals. These two hosts represent drastically different environments; requiring a unique gene regulatory program to survive and transmit between them. Microbiologists have …

Peirce’S Concept Of Signs And Kindergarten Literacy., Cynthia B. Leung

USF St. Petersburg Campus Faculty Publications

This article focuses on Peirce’s writings about his concept of triadic sign relationships and applies his theory to analyses of multimodal literacy events in a kindergarten classroom where the author was a participant observer. Examples are provided to explain Peirce’s descriptions of the elements of sign relationships – object, representamen, and interpretant. Peirce’s theories are used to understand how the kindergarten children and their teacher make meaning from the children’s multimodal writing productions. Possible objects and interpretants of the children’s multimodal writings are explored. Figures of the children’s drawings/writings and diagrams of relationships among sign elements in the kindergarten classroom …

Debris, Diatoms, And Dolphins: Tracking Child Engagement At A Public Science Festival, Kaya Van Beynen, Theresa G. Burress

USF St. Petersburg Campus Faculty Publications

Visitors to public science festivals have a tremendous amount of free choice to decide how to navigate through the festival, as well as when, where, and how long to stop at an exhibit. This study examines how elementary-aged children individually or collaboratively engaged with festival exhibits at a public science festival in St. Petersburg, Florida. Although many exhibit activities are designed to appeal to children, no research has been done with regard to child engagement with one-day, outdoor science festivals, such as this one. Engagement can be measured by unobtrusive observation of the behavior and interactions of children. Factors that …

Fishhooks And Tripwire: A Particularized Implementation Of The Right To Roam To The Appalachian Trail, Katherine J. Moore

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.