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- Title
- EXAMINING INSTANT MESSAGING IMPACT ON LEARNING USING AN INTEGRATED WORKED-EXAMPLE FORMAT.
- Creator
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Nasah, Angelique, Hirumi, Atsusi, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Instant messaging with Internet-based software is a ubiquitous form of communication in industrialized nations. In fact, many educators are observing that students engage with instant messaging while simultaneously engaged in academic activity. Though this type of multitasking is pervasive, educational researchers have not examined how the practice of instant messaging impacts learning outcomes. This dissertation describes the background, empirical and theoretical foundations, methods and...
Show moreInstant messaging with Internet-based software is a ubiquitous form of communication in industrialized nations. In fact, many educators are observing that students engage with instant messaging while simultaneously engaged in academic activity. Though this type of multitasking is pervasive, educational researchers have not examined how the practice of instant messaging impacts learning outcomes. This dissertation describes the background, empirical and theoretical foundations, methods and results of a study examining the impact of instant messaging activity on learning, where instant messaging and learning are simultaneous activities. The question posed is grounded in the related areas of instant messaging practices, the Generation M profile, Cognitive Load Theory, and integration of instant messaging in K-16 classrooms. This work presents empirical evidence pointing out the necessity of conducting empirical study regarding how instant messaging activity might impact learning. Quantitative methods used to conduct the study are presented including data collection instruments. The results of the study are discussed in broad terms related to Generation M and Cognitive Load Theory. Methodological limitations related to practice opportunities for the research sample as well as the performance measure used are detailed. In addition, implications of the results in relationship to those teaching members of Generation M in K-16 classrooms as well as those designing instruction for this population are discussed. The discussion concludes with recommendations for further research in this area.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002113, ucf:47540
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002113
- Title
- #STORYOFMYLIFE: PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH ATTENTION SEEKING BEHAVIOR ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA USE IN EMERGING ADULTHOOD.
- Creator
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Berryman, Chloe, Negy, Charles, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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The intent of this study was to explore to what extent loneliness, need for belonging, and parent-child relationships relate to time spent communicating via social media. The study also focused on predicting social media integration and vaguebooking, an attention seeking behavior on social media. Results from a sample of 471 college students indicated that need for belonging was related to more time spent communicating with friends online. Parent-child relationship, social anxiety, and...
Show moreThe intent of this study was to explore to what extent loneliness, need for belonging, and parent-child relationships relate to time spent communicating via social media. The study also focused on predicting social media integration and vaguebooking, an attention seeking behavior on social media. Results from a sample of 471 college students indicated that need for belonging was related to more time spent communicating with friends online. Parent-child relationship, social anxiety, and loneliness were not significantly correlated with social media use. Need for belonging predicted social media integration and loneliness predicted vaguebooking. Histrionic symptoms significantly predicted both social media integration and vaguebooking behaviors, indicating that for those with histrionic traits, social media may reinforce attention seeking behaviors.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFH0004706, ucf:45407
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004706
- Title
- Examining the influence of personal and environmental factors on treatment outcomes in opioid dependent medication-assisted treatment patients.
- Creator
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Placide, Vierne, Unruh, Lynn, Atkins, Danielle, Chisholm, Latarsha, Scott, Blake, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Opioid abuse has become a global epidemic and is now a huge public health concern here in the US. Non-medicinal use of opioid prescription drugs is at the forefront of the epidemic and considered the (")gateway(") drug to other illicit opioid use. As opioid prescribing has increased over the last decade in the US, so has opioid-related deaths, surpassing car accidents and suicide as the leading cause of injury-related deaths. Medication assisted treatment (MAT) is fundamental in decreasing...
Show moreOpioid abuse has become a global epidemic and is now a huge public health concern here in the US. Non-medicinal use of opioid prescription drugs is at the forefront of the epidemic and considered the (")gateway(") drug to other illicit opioid use. As opioid prescribing has increased over the last decade in the US, so has opioid-related deaths, surpassing car accidents and suicide as the leading cause of injury-related deaths. Medication assisted treatment (MAT) is fundamental in decreasing opioid abuse overdose and mortality. Therefore, the research study aims to determine if counseling adherence, opioid abstinence, and retention in MATs are influenced by personal characteristics, socio-economic factors, readiness to change, social support, and integrated care. Guided by social cognitive theory, transtheoretical model, and theory of reasoned action, the study will employ a retrospective cohort design utilizing opioid dependent patients from a MAT Program in West Florida. Analysis of three cox regression models indicated for personal factors: an increase in age was associated with patients being more likely to adhere to counseling (p=.001) and retention (p=.034), full-time employment (p=.043) was positively associated with opioid abstinence, whereas part-time employment (p=.037) was positively associated with retention, having insurance (public: p=.000) was positively associated with counseling adherence, opioid abstinence (public: p=.000, private: p=.035) and retention (public: p=.000, private: p=.000). With regards to environmental influences, social support was positively associated with opioid abstinence (p=.022) and integrated care was positively associated with opioid abstinence (p=.027) and retention (p=.000). Examining these factors are necessary to improve treatment adherence and expand MAT programs. Additionally, providing funding is crucial for practitioners to continually create educational intervention strategies to engage patients in treatment, thereby reducing the opioid overdose epidemic. This study extends the literature contributing to understanding personal factors and environmental influences in MATs.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFE0007074, ucf:52018
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007074
- Title
- H(&)#252;ckel Energy of a Graph: Its Evolution From Quantum Chemistry to Mathematics.
- Creator
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Zimmerman, Steven, Mohapatra, Ram, Song, Zixia, Brigham, Robert, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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The energy of a graph began with German physicist, Erich H(&)#252;ckel's 1931 paper, QuantenttheoretischeBeitr(&)#228;ge zum Benzolproblem. His work developed a method for computing thebinding energy of the ?-electrons for a certain class of organic molecules. The vertices of thegraph represented the carbon atoms while the single edge between each pair of distinct verticesrepresented the hydrogen bonds between the carbon atoms. In turn, the chemical graphswere represented by an n (&)#215; n...
Show moreThe energy of a graph began with German physicist, Erich H(&)#252;ckel's 1931 paper, QuantenttheoretischeBeitr(&)#228;ge zum Benzolproblem. His work developed a method for computing thebinding energy of the ?-electrons for a certain class of organic molecules. The vertices of thegraph represented the carbon atoms while the single edge between each pair of distinct verticesrepresented the hydrogen bonds between the carbon atoms. In turn, the chemical graphswere represented by an n (&)#215; n matrix used in solving Schr(&)#246;dinger's eigenvalue/eigenvectorequation. The sum of the absolute values of these graph eigenvalues represented the total?-electron energy. The criteria for constructing these chemical graphs and the chemical interpretationsof all the quantities involved made up the H(&)#252;ckel Molecular Orbital theoryor HMO theory. In this paper, we will show how the chemical interpretation of H(&)#252;ckel'sgraph energy evolved to a mathematical interpretation of graph energy that Ivan Gutmanprovided for us in his famous 1978 definition of the energy of a graph. Next, we will presentCharles Coulson's 1940 theorem that expresses the energy of a graph as a contour integraland prove some of its corollaries. These corollaries allow us to order the energies of acyclicand bipartite graphs by the coefficients of their characteristic polynomial. Following Coulson'stheorem and its corollaries we will look at McClelland's first theorem on the boundsfor the energy of a graph. In the corollaries that follow McClelland's 1971 theorem, we willprove the corollaries that show a direct variation between the energy of a graph and thenumber of its vertices and edges. Finally, we will see how this relationship led to Gutman'sconjecture that the complete graph on n vertices has maximal energy. Although this wasdisproved by Chris Godsil in 1981, we will provide an independent counterexample with thehelp of the software, Maple 13.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0004184, ucf:49027
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004184
- Title
- MASS CONSERVATION ANALYSIS FOR THE LOWER ST. JOHNS RIVER USING CONTINUOUS AND DISCONTINUOUS GALERKIN FINITE ELEMENT METHODS.
- Creator
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Thomas, Lillie, Hagen, Scott, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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This thesis provides a mass conservation analysis of the Lower St. Johns River for the purpose of providing basis for future salinity transport modeling. The analysis provides an assessment of the continuous (CG) and discontinuous (DG) Galerkin finite element methods with respect to their mass conservation properties. The following thesis also presents a rigorous literature review pertaining to salinity transport in the Lower St. Johns River, from which this effort generates the data used to...
Show moreThis thesis provides a mass conservation analysis of the Lower St. Johns River for the purpose of providing basis for future salinity transport modeling. The analysis provides an assessment of the continuous (CG) and discontinuous (DG) Galerkin finite element methods with respect to their mass conservation properties. The following thesis also presents a rigorous literature review pertaining to salinity transport in the Lower St. Johns River, from which this effort generates the data used to initialize and validate numerical simulations. Two research questions are posed and studied in this thesis: can a DG-based modeling approach produce mass conservative numerical solutions; and what are the flow interactions between the river and the marshes within the coastal region of the Lower St. Johns River? Reviewing the available data provides an initial perspective of the ecosystem. For this, salinity data are obtained and assembled for three modeling scenarios. Each scenario, High Extreme, Most Variable, and Low Extreme, is 30 days long (taken from year 1999) and represents a unique salinity regime in the Lower St. Johns River. Time-series of salinity data is collected at four stations in the lower and middle reaches of the Lower St. Johns River, which provides a vantage point for assessing longitudinal variation of salinity. As an aside, precipitation and evaporation data is presented for seven stations along the entire St. Johns River, which provides added insight into salinity transport in the river. A mass conservation analysis is conducted for the Lower St. Johns River. The analysis utilizes a segmentation of the Lower St. Johns River, which divides the domain into sections based on physical characteristics. Mass errors are then calculated for the CG and DG finite element methods to determine mass conservative abilities. Also, the flow interactions (i.e., volume exchange) between the river and marshes are evaluated through the use of tidal prisms. The CG- and DG- finite element methods are then tested in tidal simulation performance, which the results are then compared to observed tides and tidal currents at four stations within the lower portion of the Lower St. Johns River. Since the results show that the DG model outperforms the CG model, the DG model is used in the tidally driven salinity transport simulations. Using four stations within the lower and middle part of the Lower St. Johns River, simulated and observed water levels and salinity concentrations are compared.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0003736, ucf:48797
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003736
- Title
- Integrating the macroscopic and microscopic traffic safety analysis using hierarchical models.
- Creator
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Cai, Qing, Abdel-Aty, Mohamed, Eluru, Naveen, Hasan, Samiul, Lee, JaeYoung, Yan, Xin, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Crash frequency analysis is a crucial tool to investigate traffic safety problems. With the objective of revealing hazardous factors which would affect crash occurrence, crash frequency analysis has been undertaken at the macroscopic and microscopic levels. At the macroscopic level, crashes from a spatial aggregation (such as traffic analysis zone or county) are considered to quantify the impacts of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, transportation demand and network attributes so...
Show moreCrash frequency analysis is a crucial tool to investigate traffic safety problems. With the objective of revealing hazardous factors which would affect crash occurrence, crash frequency analysis has been undertaken at the macroscopic and microscopic levels. At the macroscopic level, crashes from a spatial aggregation (such as traffic analysis zone or county) are considered to quantify the impacts of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, transportation demand and network attributes so as to provide countermeasures from a planning perspective. On the other hand, the microscopic crashes on a segment or intersection are analyzed to identify the influence of geometric design, lighting and traffic flow characteristics with the objective of offering engineering solutions (such as installing sidewalk and bike lane, adding lighting). Although numerous traffic safety studies have been conducted, still there are critical limitations at both levels. In this dissertation, several methodologies have been proposed to alleviate several limitations in the macro- and micro-level safety research. Then, an innovative method has been suggested to analyze crashes at the two levels, simultaneously. At the macro-level, the viability of dual-state models (i.e., zero-inflated and hurdle models) were explored for traffic analysis zone based pedestrian and bicycle crash analysis. Additionally, spatial spillover effects were explored in the models by employing exogenous variables from neighboring zones. Both conventional single-state model (i.e., negative binomial) and dual-state models such as zero-inflated negative binomial and hurdle negative binomial models with and without spatial effects were developed. The model comparison results for pedestrian and bicycle crashes revealed that the models that considered observed spatial effects perform better than the models that did not consider the observed spatial effects. Across the models with spatial spillover effects, the dual-state models especially zero-inflated negative binomial model offered better performance compared to single-state models. Moreover, the model results clearly highlighted the importance of various traffic, roadway, and sociodemographic characteristics of the TAZ as well as neighboring TAZs on pedestrian and bicycle crash frequency. Then, the modifiable areal unit problem for macro-level crash analysis was discussed. Macro-level traffic safety analysis has been undertaken at different spatial configurations. However, clear guidelines for the appropriate zonal system selection for safety analysis are unavailable. In this study, a comparative analysis was conducted to determine the optimal zonal system for macroscopic crash modeling considering census tracts (CTs), traffic analysis zones (TAZs), and a newly developed traffic-related zone system labeled traffic analysis districts (TADs). Poisson lognormal models for three crash types (i.e., total, severe, and non-motorized mode crashes) were developed based on the three zonal systems without and with consideration of spatial autocorrelation. The study proposed a method to compare the modeling performance of the three types of geographic units at different spatial configuration through a grid based framework. Specifically, the study region was partitioned to grids of various sizes and the model prediction accuracy of the various macro models was considered within these grids of various sizes. These model comparison results for all crash types indicated that the models based on TADs consistently offer a better performance compared to the others. Besides, the models considering spatial autocorrelation outperformed the ones that do not consider it. Finally, based on the modeling results, it is recommended to adopt TADs for transportation safety planning.After determining the optimal traffic safety analysis zonal system, further analysis was conducted for non-motorist crashes (pedestrian and bicycle crashes). This study contributed to the literature on pedestrian and bicyclist safety by building on the conventional count regression models to explore exogenous factors affecting pedestrian and bicyclist crashes at the macroscopic level. In the traditional count models, effects of exogenous factors on non-motorist crashes were investigated directly. However, the vulnerable road users' crashes are collisions between vehicles and non-motorists. Thus, the exogenous factors can affect the non-motorist crashes through the non-motorists and vehicle drivers. To accommodate for the potentially different impact of exogenous factors we converted the non-motorist crash counts as the product of total crash counts and proportion of non-motorist crashes and formulated a joint model of the negative binomial (NB) model and the logit model to deal with the two parts, respectively. The formulated joint model was estimated using non-motorist crash data based on the Traffic Analysis Districts (TADs) in Florida. Meanwhile, the traditional NB model was also estimated and compared with the joint model. The results indicated that the joint model provides better data fit and could identify more significant variables. Subsequently, a novel joint screening method was suggested based on the proposed model to identify hot zones for non-motorist crashes. The hot zones of non-motorist crashes were identified and divided into three types: hot zones with more dangerous driving environment only, hot zones with more hazardous walking and cycling conditions only, and hot zones with both. At the microscopic level, crash modeling analysis was conducted for road facilities. This study, first, explored the potential macro-level effects which are always excluded or omitted in the previous studies. A Bayesian hierarchical model was proposed to analyze crashes on segments and intersection incorporating the macro-level data, which included both explanatory variables and total crashes of all segments and intersections. Besides, a joint modeling structure was adopted to consider the potentially spatial autocorrelation between segments and their connected intersections. The proposed model was compared with three other models: a model considering micro-level factors only, one hierarchical model considering macro-level effects with random terms only, and one hierarchical model considering macro-level effects with explanatory variables. The results indicated that models considering macro-level effects outperformed the model having micro-level factors only, which supports the idea to consider macro-level effects for micro-level crash analysis. Besides, the micro-level models were even further enhanced by the proposed model. Finally, significant spatial correlation could be found between segments and their adjacent intersections, supporting the employment of the joint modeling structure to analyze crashes at various types of road facilities. In addition to the separated analysis at either the macro- or micro-level, an integrated approach has been proposed to examine traffic safety problems at the two levels, simultaneously. If conducted in the same study area, the macro- and micro-level crash analyses should investigate the same crashes but aggregating the crashes at different levels. Hence, the crash counts at the two levels should be correlated and integrating macro- and micro-level crash frequency analyses in one modeling structure might have the ability to better explain crash occurrence by realizing the effects of both macro- and micro-level factors. This study proposed a Bayesian integrated spatial crash frequency model, which linked the crash counts of macro- and micro-levels based on the spatial interaction. In addition, the proposed model considered the spatial autocorrelation of different types of road facilities (i.e., segments and intersections) at the micro-level with a joint modeling structure. Two independent non-integrated models for macro- and micro-levels were also estimated separately and compared with the integrated model. The results indicated that the integrated model can provide better model performance for estimating macro- and micro-level crash counts, which validates the concept of integrating the models for the two levels. Also, the integrated model provides more valuable insights about the crash occurrence at the two levels by revealing both macro- and micro-level factors. Subsequently, a novel hotspot identification method was suggested, which enables us to detect hotspots for both macro- and micro-levels with comprehensive information from the two levels. It is expected that the proposed integrated model and hotspot identification method can help practitioners implement more reasonable transportation safety plans and more effective engineering treatments to proactively enhance safety.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- Identifier
- CFE0006724, ucf:51891
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006724
- Title
- Silicon photonic devices for optical delay lines and mid infrared applications.
- Creator
-
Khan, Saeed, Fathpour, Sasan, Likamwa, Patrick, Gong, Xun, Delfyett, Peter, Schoenfeld, Winston, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Silicon photonics has been a rapidly growing subfield of integrated optics and optoelectronic in the last decade and is currently considered a mature technology. The main thrust behind the growth is its compatibility with the mature and low-cost microelectronic integrated circuits fabrication process. In recent years, several active and passive photonic devices and circuits have been demonstrated on silicon. Optical delay lines are among important silicon photonic devices, which are essential...
Show moreSilicon photonics has been a rapidly growing subfield of integrated optics and optoelectronic in the last decade and is currently considered a mature technology. The main thrust behind the growth is its compatibility with the mature and low-cost microelectronic integrated circuits fabrication process. In recent years, several active and passive photonic devices and circuits have been demonstrated on silicon. Optical delay lines are among important silicon photonic devices, which are essential for a variety of photonic system applications including optical beam-forming for controlling phased-array antennas, optical communication and networking systems and optical coherence tomography. In this thesis, several types of delay lines based on apodized grating waveguides are proposed and demonstrated. Simulation and experimental results suggest that these novel devices can provide high optical delay and tunability at very high bit rate. While most of silicon photonics research has focused in the near-infrared wavelengths, extending the operating wavelength range of the technology into in the 3(-)5 (&)#181;m, or the mid-wave infrared regime, is a more recent field of research. A key challenge has been that the standard silicon-on-insulator waveguides are not suitable for the mid-infrared, since the material loss of the buried oxide layer becomes substantially high. Here, the silicon-on-sapphire waveguide technology, which can extend silicon's operating wavelength range up to 4.4 (&)#181;m, is investigated. Furthermore, silicon-on-nitride waveguides, boasting a wide transparent range of 1.2(-)6.7 ?m, are demonstrated and characterized for the first time at both mid-infrared (3.39 ?m) and near-infrared (1.55 ?m) wavelengths.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFE0005014, ucf:49996
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005014
- Title
- PREPARING ELEMENTARY TEACHERS TO TEACH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: A COMPARISON OF PROGRAM STRUCTURES & ELEMENTS ACROSS TEACHER PREPARATION INSTITUTIONS.
- Creator
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Close, Jessica, Williams, Karri, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Students with disabilities have the right to the least restrictive environment (IDEA, 2004). Elementary teachers are teaching more of these students in the inclusive classroom because of this right. Elementary teachers are willing to take on this responsibility, but most feel they are not prepared to do so. In order to address this concern, elementary teacher preparation at the institution level must be addressed. This is a descriptive thesis which identifies and compares methods that...
Show moreStudents with disabilities have the right to the least restrictive environment (IDEA, 2004). Elementary teachers are teaching more of these students in the inclusive classroom because of this right. Elementary teachers are willing to take on this responsibility, but most feel they are not prepared to do so. In order to address this concern, elementary teacher preparation at the institution level must be addressed. This is a descriptive thesis which identifies and compares methods that different institutions across the country use to prepare teachers to teach students with disabilities. Institutions chosen for this thesis were recognized by either the U.S. News and World Report (2010) or the Report of the Blue Ribbon Panel (2010) for effective preparation of preservice elementary teachers. This thesis addresses the University of Central Florida with the aforementioned institutions. A continuum with three main types of structures was used to identify programs ranging from "discrete" meeting minimum requirements, to completely "merged" programs between special education and elementary education. While "merged" results in dual certification and the most effective preparation according to Blanton and Pugach (2007), it is most often offered as a choice and not as a requirement. Through analysis of program requirements of elementary education and special education programs, course descriptions, and syllabi, this investigator concluded that there were inconsistencies across teacher preparation programs. Institutions are distributed widely across the continuum. If elementary teachers are required to teach to all students, then teacher preparation programs should address all students thoroughly. The investigator's hope is that the evidence presented and the suggestions made in this thesis will incite changes in institutions that are preparing elementary teachers to teach students with disabilities.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFH0004072, ucf:44781
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004072
- Title
- INTEGRATED INP PHOTONIC SWITCHES.
- Creator
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May-Arrioja, Daniel, LiKamWa, Patrick, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Photonic switches are becoming key components in advanced optical networks because of the large variety of applications that they can perform. One of the key advantages of photonic switches is that they redirect or convert light without having to make any optical to electronic conversions and vice versa, thus allowing networking functions to be lowered into the optical layer. InP-based switches are particularly attractive because of their small size, low electrical power consumption, and...
Show morePhotonic switches are becoming key components in advanced optical networks because of the large variety of applications that they can perform. One of the key advantages of photonic switches is that they redirect or convert light without having to make any optical to electronic conversions and vice versa, thus allowing networking functions to be lowered into the optical layer. InP-based switches are particularly attractive because of their small size, low electrical power consumption, and compatibility with integration of laser sources, photo-detectors, and electronic components. In this dissertation the development of integrated InP photonic switches using an area-selective zinc diffusion process has been investigated. The zinc diffusion process is implemented using a semi-sealed open-tube diffusion technique. The process has proven to be highly controllable and reproducible by carefully monitoring of the diffusion parameters. Using this technique, isolated p-n junctions exhibiting good I-V characteristics and breakdown voltages greater than 10 V can be selectively defined across a semiconductor wafer. A series of Mach-Zehnder interferometric (MZI) switches/modulators have been designed and fabricated. Monolithic integration of 1x2 and 2x2 MZI switches has been demonstrated. The diffusion process circumvents the need for isolation trenches, and hence optical losses can be significantly reduced. An efficient optical beam steering device based on InGaAsP multiple quantum wells is also demonstrated. The degree of lateral current spreading is easily regulated by controlling the zinc depth, allowing optimization of the injected currents. Beam steering over a 21 microns lateral distance with electrical current values as low as 12.5 mA are demonstrated. Using this principle, a reconfigurable 1x3 switch has been implemented with crosstalk levels better than -17 dB over a 50 nm wavelength range. At these low electrical current levels, uncooled and d.c. bias operation is made feasible. The use of multimode interference (MMI) structures as active devices have also been investigated. These devices operate by selective refractive index perturbation on very specific areas within the MMI structure, and this is again realized using zinc diffusion. Several variants such as a compact MMI modulator that is as short as 350 µm, a robust 2x2 photonic switch and a tunable MMI coupler have been demonstrated.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001368, ucf:47007
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001368
- Title
- EVALUATING COMPETITION BETWEEN VERBAL AND IMPLICIT SYSTEMS WITH FUNCTIONAL NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY.
- Creator
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Schiebel, Troy A, Bohil, Corey, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
In category learning, explicit processes function through the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and implicit processes function through the basal ganglia. Research suggested that these two systems compete with each other. The goal of this study was to shed light on this theory. 15 undergraduate subjects took part in an event-related experiment that required them to categorize computer-generated line-stimuli, which varied in length and/or angle depending on condition. Subjects participated in an...
Show moreIn category learning, explicit processes function through the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and implicit processes function through the basal ganglia. Research suggested that these two systems compete with each other. The goal of this study was to shed light on this theory. 15 undergraduate subjects took part in an event-related experiment that required them to categorize computer-generated line-stimuli, which varied in length and/or angle depending on condition. Subjects participated in an explicit "rule-based" (RB) condition and an implicit "information-integration" (II) condition while connected to a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) apparatus, which measured the hemodynamic response (HR) in their PFC. Each condition contained 2 blocks. We hypothesized that the competition between explicit and implicit systems (COVIS) would be demonstrated if, by block 2, task-accuracy was approximately equal across conditions with PFC activity being comparatively higher in the II condition. This would indicate that subjects could learn the categorization task in both conditions but were only able to decipher an explicit rule in the RB condition; their PFC would struggle to do so in the II condition, resulting in perpetually high activation. In accordance with predictions, results revealed no difference in accuracy across conditions with significant difference in channel activation. There were channel trends (p<.1) which showed PFC activation decrease in the RB condition and increase in the II condition by block 2. While these results support our predictions, they are largely nonsignificant, which could be attributed to the event-related design. Future research should utilize a larger samples size for improved statistical power.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- Identifier
- CFH2000086, ucf:45502
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000086
- Title
- A CORRELATIONAL STUDY ABOUT COACHING AND TEACHERS' ATTITUDES, PERCEPTIONS, AND PRACTICES IN READING INSTRUCTION.
- Creator
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Conway, Joan, Zygouris-Coe, Vicky, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The purpose of this study was to explore elementary teachers' self-reporting of: a) work with a reading coach and b) attitudes, perceptions, and practices in teaching reading. The five point ratings and open-ended responses on the survey were the sources of data. Surveys were returned by 85% of teachers in five elementary schools in Collier County, Florida. Correlations of survey items were analyzed on the basis of the aggregated data and the following subgroups: certification, years of...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to explore elementary teachers' self-reporting of: a) work with a reading coach and b) attitudes, perceptions, and practices in teaching reading. The five point ratings and open-ended responses on the survey were the sources of data. Surveys were returned by 85% of teachers in five elementary schools in Collier County, Florida. Correlations of survey items were analyzed on the basis of the aggregated data and the following subgroups: certification, years of experience, school demographics, and grade levels. The survey in this study was excerpted and adapted from a survey, which was tested for validity and reliability, used with teachers in a research study, and published by the National Staff Development Council (NSDC) in Evaluating professional development: An approach to verifying program impact on teachers and students (Shaha, Lewis, O'Donnell, & Brown, 2004). Permission to use the survey was granted by Performance Learning Systems, Inc. and the National Staff Development Council (see Acknowledgements). The primary question for this study was: Are teachers' self-reports of their attitudes, perceptions, and instructional practices on the Reading Instruction Survey correlated with the amount of coaching they indicated they had received? Secondary questions pertained to how the results changed for the subgroups. The literature review contained information about resources and research in reading that led to the provision of reading coaches. High-stakes for the improvement of reading instruction from federal, state, and local levels provided a rationale for the study. The results of this study indicated that coaching made a difference for these teachers. The aggregated and disaggregated data revealed small to large, significant correlations to coaching. The items with the greatest number and magnitude of correlations to coaching were isolated skills instruction and intervention plans. The evidence of positive relationships of attitudes, perceptions, and practices to work with a coach is an important finding. The limited correlations of skilled, balanced, and integrated strategies led to questions about the content of the coaching. Further research is needed to determine whether the content of the professional development offered by coaches is comprehensive enough to impact reading proficiency levels of all students.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001357, ucf:46970
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001357
- Title
- ...AND THEN, CLAIRE: AN INDIE-ROCK MONOLOGUE; INTEGRATING THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC SCENE INTO AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE.
- Creator
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Bahr, Mickey, Chicurel, Steven, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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For more than fifty years, the Independent (indie) Music Scene has existed as an evolving business model, allowing indie artists to develop a wealth of progressive musical ideas while creating a sustainable audience base. American Musical Theatre has an already-established rich history of adapting styles to fit concurrent trends in popular music while maintaining the story as the core of a show. While some indie artists (The Lisps, The Mountain Goats, Stephin Merritt, and Stew) and some...
Show moreFor more than fifty years, the Independent (indie) Music Scene has existed as an evolving business model, allowing indie artists to develop a wealth of progressive musical ideas while creating a sustainable audience base. American Musical Theatre has an already-established rich history of adapting styles to fit concurrent trends in popular music while maintaining the story as the core of a show. While some indie artists (The Lisps, The Mountain Goats, Stephin Merritt, and Stew) and some musical theatre composers (David Yazbek, Doug Crossley, and Michael Friedman) have created crossover works, there is currently an overall dearth of musical theatre pieces infused with the indie style and a lack of indie albums with an actable musical theatre storyline. The intent of this thesis is to prove that although American Musical Theatre and the Independent Music Scene are two vastly different art forms, they can be combined to create a viable and unique form that appeals to both audiences. The indie-rock monologue ...and then, Claire was composed, recorded, and performed to test the viability of this thesis. In addition to presenting research on the history of American Musical Theatre and the Independent Music Scene, an analysis of the already-successful artists mentioned above is presented to provide context for ...and then, Claire. This context along with the original indie-rock monologue proves successful combinations of American Musical Theatre and the Independent Music Scene as well as the potential for more attempts in the future.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFH0004202, ucf:44970
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004202
- Title
- AN EXAMINATION OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY IN SECONDARY ONLINE ENGLISH EDUCATION.
- Creator
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Middleton, Marissa, Wegmann, Susan, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Online schooling is the newest form of education and it is quickly gaining popularity. However, this educational format also comes with one of the challenges that has always been present in schools, which is academic dishonesty. In the English Language Arts content area, academic dishonesty is most often manifested as plagiarism, however, cheating on online quizzes or exams still exists. Although this issue has always been present in English classes, it is becoming more of a concern because...
Show moreOnline schooling is the newest form of education and it is quickly gaining popularity. However, this educational format also comes with one of the challenges that has always been present in schools, which is academic dishonesty. In the English Language Arts content area, academic dishonesty is most often manifested as plagiarism, however, cheating on online quizzes or exams still exists. Although this issue has always been present in English classes, it is becoming more of a concern because of the vast number of technological resources available to students including websites with pre-written papers and the various methods students can now use to instantly communicate with each other. This study combines and synthesizes a literature review and a survey of secondary online English educators at Florida Virtual School to give their perspective on aspects of cheating and plagiarism in online English education including a comparison between online and face to face academic dishonesty, reasons students cheat or plagiarize in online education and attitudes toward academic dishonesty, how students cheat and plagiarize in online classes, how teachers detect academic dishonesty in their online classes, consequences and policies of academic dishonesty in online education, and preventing academic dishonesty in online education. The overall new finding, from comparing both the literature review and the FLVS survey results, was that academic dishonesty in online education is not vastly different from academic dishonesty in face to face classrooms; therefore, academic dishonesty in the online environment is not as much of a mystery as commonly perceived. The survey did, however, expand the knowledge about online academic dishonesty at the secondary level, and specifically in the English Language Arts content area.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFH0004158, ucf:44859
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004158
- Title
- The Artistry of Accessibility: Creating Theatre with and for Students on the Autism Spectrum.
- Creator
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Brunow, Sara, Listengarten, Julia, Ingram, Kate, Niess, Christopher, Kovac, Kim, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Theatre is a place where all can come together and have an experience regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or ability. As a theatre maker and teaching artist, how do I create inclusion and augment social awareness by designing and implementing theatrical experiences for a specific audience? In this personal exploration of inclusive theatre practices (Sensory Friendly Theatre, Inclusive Arts Integration, and Multi-Sensory Theatre) I will examine my experience of creating and adapting...
Show moreTheatre is a place where all can come together and have an experience regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or ability. As a theatre maker and teaching artist, how do I create inclusion and augment social awareness by designing and implementing theatrical experiences for a specific audience? In this personal exploration of inclusive theatre practices (Sensory Friendly Theatre, Inclusive Arts Integration, and Multi-Sensory Theatre) I will examine my experience of creating and adapting theatre with and for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. My process has a three-pronged approach: adapting an established production using a Sensory Friendly model; adapting an arts integration facilitation in an inclusive elementary classroom; and collaboratively creating a sensory-based theatrical experience with other artists and students with cognitive disabilities. Through these experiences, I strive to uncover how developing theatre for this specific audience has challenged me to grow as an artist and activist.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0006027, ucf:51003
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006027
- Title
- Characterization of a Spiking Neuron Model via a Linear Approach.
- Creator
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Jabalameli, Amirhossein, Behal, Aman, Hickman, James, Haralambous, Michael, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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In the past decade, characterizing spiking neuron models has been extensively researched as anessential issue in computational neuroscience. In this thesis, we examine the estimation problemof two different neuron models. In Chapter 2, We propose a modified Izhikevich model withan adaptive threshold. In our two-stage estimation approach, a linear least squares method anda linear model of the threshold are derived to predict the location of neuronal spikes. However,desired results are not...
Show moreIn the past decade, characterizing spiking neuron models has been extensively researched as anessential issue in computational neuroscience. In this thesis, we examine the estimation problemof two different neuron models. In Chapter 2, We propose a modified Izhikevich model withan adaptive threshold. In our two-stage estimation approach, a linear least squares method anda linear model of the threshold are derived to predict the location of neuronal spikes. However,desired results are not obtained and the predicted model is unsuccessful in duplicating the spikelocations. Chapter 3 is focused on the parameter estimation problem of a multi-timescale adaptivethreshold (MAT) neuronal model. Using the dynamics of a non-resetting leaky integrator equippedwith an adaptive threshold, a constrained iterative linear least squares method is implemented tofit the model to the reference data. Through manipulation of the system dynamics, the thresholdvoltage can be obtained as a realizable model that is linear in the unknown parameters. This linearlyparametrized realizable model is then utilized inside a prediction error based framework to identifythe threshold parameters with the purpose of predicting single neuron precise firing times. Thisestimation scheme is evaluated using both synthetic data obtained from an exact model as well asthe experimental data obtained from in vitro rat somatosensory cortical neurons. Results show theability of this approach to fit the MAT model to different types of reference data.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0005958, ucf:50803
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005958
- Title
- On the security of NoSQL cloud database services.
- Creator
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Ahmadian, Mohammad, Marinescu, Dan, Wocjan, Pawel, Heinrich, Mark, Brennan, Joseph, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Processing a vast volume of data generated by web, mobile and Internet-enabled devices, necessitates a scalable and flexible data management system. Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) is a new cloud computing paradigm, promising a cost-effective and scalable, fully-managed database functionality meeting the requirements of online data processing. Although DBaaS offers many benefits it also introduces new threats and vulnerabilities. While many traditional data processing threats remain, DBaaS...
Show moreProcessing a vast volume of data generated by web, mobile and Internet-enabled devices, necessitates a scalable and flexible data management system. Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) is a new cloud computing paradigm, promising a cost-effective and scalable, fully-managed database functionality meeting the requirements of online data processing. Although DBaaS offers many benefits it also introduces new threats and vulnerabilities. While many traditional data processing threats remain, DBaaS introduces new challenges such as confidentiality violation and information leakage in the presence of privileged malicious insiders and adds new dimension to the data security. We address the problem of building a secure DBaaS for a public cloud infrastructure where, the Cloud Service Provider (CSP) is not completely trusted by the data owner. We present a high level description of several architectures combining modern cryptographic primitives for achieving this goal. A novel searchable security scheme is proposed to leverage secure query processing in presence of a malicious cloud insider without disclosing sensitive information. A holistic database security scheme comprised of data confidentiality and information leakage prevention is proposed in this dissertation. The main contributions of our work are:(i) A searchable security scheme for non-relational databases of the cloud DBaaS; (ii) Leakage minimization in the untrusted cloud.The analysis of experiments that employ a set of established cryptographic techniques to protect databases and minimize information leakage, proves that the performance of the proposed solution is bounded by communication cost rather than by the cryptographic computational effort.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- Identifier
- CFE0006848, ucf:51777
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006848
- Title
- Integrated Data Fusion and Mining (IDFM) Technique for Monitoring Water Quality in Large and Small Lakes.
- Creator
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Vannah, Benjamin, Chang, Ni-bin, Wanielista, Martin, Wang, Dingbao, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Monitoring water quality on a near-real-time basis to address water resources management and public health concerns in coupled natural systems and the built environment is by no means an easy task. Furthermore, this emerging societal challenge will continue to grow, due to the ever-increasing anthropogenic impacts upon surface waters. For example, urban growth and agricultural operations have led to an influx of nutrients into surface waters stimulating harmful algal bloom formation, and...
Show moreMonitoring water quality on a near-real-time basis to address water resources management and public health concerns in coupled natural systems and the built environment is by no means an easy task. Furthermore, this emerging societal challenge will continue to grow, due to the ever-increasing anthropogenic impacts upon surface waters. For example, urban growth and agricultural operations have led to an influx of nutrients into surface waters stimulating harmful algal bloom formation, and stormwater runoff from urban areas contributes to the accumulation of total organic carbon (TOC) in surface waters. TOC in surface waters is a known precursor of disinfection byproducts in drinking water treatment, and microcystin is a potent hepatotoxin produced by the bacteria Microcystis, which can form expansive algal blooms in eutrophied lakes. Due to the ecological impacts and human health hazards posed by TOC and microcystin, it is imperative that municipal decision makers and water treatment plant operators are equipped with a rapid and economical means to track and measure these substances.Remote sensing is an emergent solution for monitoring and measuring changes to the earth's environment. This technology allows for large regions anywhere on the globe to be observed on a frequent basis. This study demonstrates the prototype of a near-real-time early warning system using Integrated Data Fusion and Mining (IDFM) techniques with the aid of both multispectral (Landsat and MODIS) and hyperspectral (MERIS) satellite sensors to determine spatiotemporal distributions of TOC and microcystin. Landsat satellite imageries have high spatial resolution, but such application suffers from a long overpass interval of 16 days. On the other hand, free coarse resolution sensors with daily revisit times, such as MODIS, are incapable of providing detailed water quality information because of low spatial resolution. This issue can be resolved by using data or sensor fusion techniques, an instrumental part of IDFM, in which the high spatial resolution of Landsat and the high temporal resolution of MODIS imageries are fused and analyzed by a suite of regression models to optimally produce synthetic images with both high spatial and temporal resolutions. The same techniques are applied to the hyperspectral sensor MERIS with the aid of the MODIS ocean color bands to generate fused images with enhanced spatial, temporal, and spectral properties. The performance of the data mining models derived using fused hyperspectral and fused multispectral data are quantified using four statistical indices. The second task compared traditional two-band models against more powerful data mining models for TOC and microcystin prediction. The use of IDFM is illustrated for monitoring microcystin concentrations in Lake Erie (large lake), and it is applied for TOC monitoring in Harsha Lake (small lake). Analysis confirmed that data mining methods excelled beyond two-band models at accurately estimating TOC and microcystin concentrations in lakes, and the more detailed spectral reflectance data offered by hyperspectral sensors produced a noticeable increase in accuracy for the retrieval of water quality parameters.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFE0005066, ucf:49979
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005066
- Title
- The Continuing Anglican Metamorphosis: Introducing the Adapted Integrated Model.
- Creator
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L'Hommedieu, John, Gay, David, Grauerholz, Elizabeth, Carter, Shannon, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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The purpose of this thesis is to develop and test the Advanced Integrated Model, a typological model in the tradition of Weber's interpretive sociology, as an asset in explaining recent transformations in American Episcopal-Anglican organizations. The study includes an assessment of the church-sect tradition in the sociology of religion and a summary overview of Weber's interpretive sociology with special emphasis on the nature and construction of ideal-types and their use in analysis. To...
Show moreThe purpose of this thesis is to develop and test the Advanced Integrated Model, a typological model in the tradition of Weber's interpretive sociology, as an asset in explaining recent transformations in American Episcopal-Anglican organizations. The study includes an assessment of the church-sect tradition in the sociology of religion and a summary overview of Weber's interpretive sociology with special emphasis on the nature and construction of ideal-types and their use in analysis. To illustrate the effectiveness of the model a number of institutional rivalries confronting contemporary Episcopal-Anglican organizations are identified and shown to be explainable only from a sociological perspective and not simply as (")in house(") institutional problems. The present work sheds light on parent-child conflicts in religious organizations and reopens discussion about the theoretical value of ideal-types in general, and church-sect typologies in particular, when utilized from a comparative-historical perspective.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004565, ucf:49209
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004565
- Title
- SYNTHESIZING THE MUSIC INTEGRATION RESEARCH TO EXPLORE FIVE COMMON THEMES IN INTERMEDIATE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS.
- Creator
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Harkins, Alexandria, Roberts, Sherron, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Much scientific research has been conducted to examine the effects of music on the brain and abilities of people. The results have shown a positive correlation between music used in various ways and the abilities and skills of people, especially children. However, the use of music in the general intermediate classroom is lacking. After reviewing scientific research to provide a foundation for the study and synthesizing the five Music Integration Practices, two teachers were interviewed and...
Show moreMuch scientific research has been conducted to examine the effects of music on the brain and abilities of people. The results have shown a positive correlation between music used in various ways and the abilities and skills of people, especially children. However, the use of music in the general intermediate classroom is lacking. After reviewing scientific research to provide a foundation for the study and synthesizing the five Music Integration Practices, two teachers were interviewed and observed on their use of music in their general intermediate classrooms. The interviews, observation checklists, and anecdotal notes taken by the researcher provide music activities and rationales for the use of music in the classroom, as explained by the participating teachers.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFH0004695, ucf:45244
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004695
- Title
- A Holistic Analysis of the Long-Term Challenges (&) Potential Benefits of the Green Roof, Solar PV Roofing, and GRIPV Roofing Markets in Orlando, Florida.
- Creator
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Kelly, Carolina, Tatari, Omer, Oloufa, Amr, Mayo, Talea, Zheng, Qipeng, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Green roofs and roof-mounted solar PV arrays have a wide range of environmental and economic benefits, including significantly longer roof lifetimes, reductions in urban runoff, mitigation of the urban heat island (UHI) effect, reduced electricity demand and energy dependence, and/or reduced emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other harmful pollutants from the electricity generation sector. Consequently, green roofs and solar panels have both become increasingly popular worldwide, and...
Show moreGreen roofs and roof-mounted solar PV arrays have a wide range of environmental and economic benefits, including significantly longer roof lifetimes, reductions in urban runoff, mitigation of the urban heat island (UHI) effect, reduced electricity demand and energy dependence, and/or reduced emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other harmful pollutants from the electricity generation sector. Consequently, green roofs and solar panels have both become increasingly popular worldwide, and promising new research has emerged for their potential combination in Green Roof Integrated Photovoltaic (GRIPV) roofing applications. However, due to policy resistance, these alternatives still have marginal market shares in the U.S., while GRIPV research and development is still severely limited today. As a result, these options are not yet sufficiently widespread in the United States as to realize their full potential, particularly due to a variety of policy resistance effects with respect to each specific alternative. The steps in the System Dynamics (SD) methodology to be used in this study are summarized as follows. First, based on a comprehensive review of relevant literature, a causal loop diagram (CLD) will be drawn to provide a conceptual illustration of the modeled system. Second, based on the feedback relationships observed in this CLD, a stock-flow diagram (SFD) will be developed to form a quantitative model. Third, the modeled SFD will be tested thoroughly to ensure its structural and behavioral validity with respect to the modeled system in reality using whatever real world data is available. Fourth, different policy scenarios will be simulated within the model to evaluate their long-term effectiveness. Fifth, uncertainty analyses will be performed to evaluate the inherent uncertainties associated with the analyses in this study. Finally, the results observed for the analyses in this study and possible future research steps will be discussed and compared as appropriate.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFE0007406, ucf:52741
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007406