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Title: Optimization of storm water management practices and processes.
Creator: Calabrese, Mark Michael, Wanielista, Martin P., Engineering
Abstract / Description: University of Central Florida College of Engineering Thesis; In recent years, stormwater has been found to be a major source of pollution to receiving waters. Major research efforts have been directed in this area, primarily as a result of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and Public law 92-500, the 1972 Amendments to the act. Yet, a need remains for more data in the field of stormwater management. Such needs include cost-performance data and planning methodologies to optimally select...
Show moreUniversity of Central Florida College of Engineering Thesis; In recent years, stormwater has been found to be a major source of pollution to receiving waters. Major research efforts have been directed in this area, primarily as a result of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and Public law 92-500, the 1972 Amendments to the act. Yet, a need remains for more data in the field of stormwater management. Such needs include cost-performance data and planning methodologies to optimally select best management practices (BMP's). The research culminating in this report addresses these needs. A computer program, "MANAGE", has been written to generate cost/efficiency curves, and uses these curves to optimally select a combination of management practices. The program was written in FORTRAN language and was run on the IBM 360/370 computer system. It can analyze up to 3 management practices per subwatershed and up to 20 subwatersheds in a given watershed. The optimization routine of the program utilizes a piece-wise linear approximation method in its analysis.
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Date Issued: 1979
Identifier: CFR0003496, ucf:53020
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFR0003496

Title: ELIZABETH TUDOR: RECONCILING FEMININITY AND AUTHORITY.
Creator: Rohrs, Mark, Pugh, Tison, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Elizabeth Tudor succeeded to England's throne during a time when misogynist societal ideology questioned the authority of a female monarch. Religious opposition to a woman ruler was based on biblical precedent, which reflected the general attitude that women were inferior to men. Elizabeth's dilemma was reconciling her femininity with her sovereignty, most notably concerning her justification for power, the issue of marriage and succession, and the conflict over the execution of Mary, Queen...
Show moreElizabeth Tudor succeeded to England's throne during a time when misogynist societal ideology questioned the authority of a female monarch. Religious opposition to a woman ruler was based on biblical precedent, which reflected the general attitude that women were inferior to men. Elizabeth's dilemma was reconciling her femininity with her sovereignty, most notably concerning her justification for power, the issue of marriage and succession, and the conflict over the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. The speeches Elizabeth presented to Parliament illuminate her successful solidification of her authority from a feminine gendered position. She established and reinforced her status through figurative language that presented her femininity as favorable to ruling England, ultimately transcending her womanhood to become an incarnation of the state. Elizabeth's speeches reflect her brilliance at fashioning herself through divine and reciprocal imagery, which subsequently redefined English society, elevating her to the head of a male-dominated hierarchy. By establishing her position as second to God, Elizabeth relegated all men to a status beneath hers. Elizabeth's solution to the perceived liability of her gender was to recreate herself through divine imagery that appropriated God's authority as her own. She reinforced her power through a reciprocal relationship with Parliament, evoking the imagery of motherhood to redefine the monarchy as an exchange rather than an absolute rule.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000349, ucf:46288
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000349

Title: ELECTRICAL CAPACITANCE VOLUME TOMOGRAPHY OF HIGH CONTRAST DIELECTRICS USING A CUBOID GEOMETRY.
Creator: Nurge, Mark, Schelling, Patrick, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: An Electrical Capacitance Volume Tomography system has been created for use with a new image reconstruction algorithm capable of imaging high contrast dielectric distributions. The electrode geometry consists of two 4 x 4 parallel planes of copper conductors connected through custom built switch electronics to a commercially available capacitance to digital converter. Typical electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) systems rely solely on mutual capacitance readings to reconstruct images of...
Show moreAn Electrical Capacitance Volume Tomography system has been created for use with a new image reconstruction algorithm capable of imaging high contrast dielectric distributions. The electrode geometry consists of two 4 x 4 parallel planes of copper conductors connected through custom built switch electronics to a commercially available capacitance to digital converter. Typical electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) systems rely solely on mutual capacitance readings to reconstruct images of dielectric distributions. This dissertation presents a method of reconstructing images of high contrast dielectric materials using only the self capacitance measurements. By constraining the unknown dielectric material to one of two values, the inverse problem is no longer ill-determined. Resolution becomes limited only by the accuracy and resolution of the measurement circuitry. Images were reconstructed using this method with both synthetic and real data acquired using an aluminum structure inserted at different positions within the sensing region. Comparisons with standard two dimensional ECT systems highlight the capabilities and limitations of the electronics and reconstruction algorithm.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001591, ucf:47119
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001591

Title: TWO BLADES COME TOGETHER: STORIES.
Creator: Pursell, Mark, Leiby, Jeanne, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This collection of seven short stories details the emotional triumphs and complications of characters whose lives are altered by issues of sexuality and disconnection. An adolescent girl feels her father slipping away from her and, in turn, willfully destroys the imaginary world of the boy she babysits; a speech therapist struggles to make headway with a young patient while finding himself unable to communicate with his ex-lover; a gay poet cheats on his boyfriend in a desperate attempt to...
Show moreThis collection of seven short stories details the emotional triumphs and complications of characters whose lives are altered by issues of sexuality and disconnection. An adolescent girl feels her father slipping away from her and, in turn, willfully destroys the imaginary world of the boy she babysits; a speech therapist struggles to make headway with a young patient while finding himself unable to communicate with his ex-lover; a gay poet cheats on his boyfriend in a desperate attempt to fuel his failing art. The dramatis personae of Two Blades Come Together is comprised of individuals who struggle towards grace and happiness but are thwarted by their inability to fit neatly into the lives of those they love. Several of the stories approach these issues through the framework of contemporary myth, exploring how fairy tales and the supernatural act upon the characters' relationships and the way they perceive their situations. The heroines of "Proof of Snow" and "The Pill Woman" are both affected by the unseen; one suffers under the strange influence of her brother even after his death, while the other must make a decision to uphold her fairy-tale world or dismantle it. In these stories, the tangibility of the supernatural is elusive and unproven, but the altered perceptions of the protagonists and their actions because of it are extremely real, with extremely real consequences. The collection also explores and tests the boundaries between poetry and fiction, pushing always towards language that is aesthetic and musical while not sacrificing the momentum and architecture of prose. Two Blades Come Together incorporates linguistic ideas from poets as varied as contemporary surrealists Laura Kasischke and Mary Ruefle to the grounded wryness of Tony Hoagland and Lynda Hull, weaving poetic language with narrative, hybridizing the qualities of fiction and poetry in an attempt to create a unique, musical vision of short fiction that is both functional and artful.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001976, ucf:47438
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001976

Title: ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY IN THE GLOBAL CAPITALIST SYSTEM: A WORLD-SYSTEMS APPROACH AND STUDY OF PANAMA.
Creator: Freeman, Mark, Jacques, Peter, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The current global capitalist system is at odds with environmental protection and the protection of indigenous people that are directly linked to the land on which they live. In environmental security literature, many have argued that, theoretically and functionally, it is possible to link national security with environmental security. However possible this may be on paper, in practice, the global capitalist system prevents this from becoming a reality. Using a world-systems approach, this...
Show moreThe current global capitalist system is at odds with environmental protection and the protection of indigenous people that are directly linked to the land on which they live. In environmental security literature, many have argued that, theoretically and functionally, it is possible to link national security with environmental security. However possible this may be on paper, in practice, the global capitalist system prevents this from becoming a reality. Using a world-systems approach, this thesis will show that core countries seeking to expand capital by tapping into new markets, locating new sources of raw materials and even forming strategic military partnerships in periphery countries unavoidably degrade the natural environment and thus, adversely affect the lives and health of indigenous people. It is also the argument in this paper that the primary purpose of strategic military partnerships with periphery states, such as those formed in Panama and Colombia, are primarily meant to protect economic interests, thus perpetuating the capitalist cycle. The end result is that, while it is theoretically possible, through a different theoretical lens, to bridge the definitional and theoretical gulf between national security and environmental security, the reality of the system subverts this endeavor, and will continue to do so under its current configuration.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001981, ucf:47425
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001981

Title: PLANT CITY, FLORIDA, 1885-1940: A STUDY IN SOUTHERN URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
Creator: Kerlin, Mark, Leckie, Shirley, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study investigates the development of Plant City, Florida as a railroad town developing on the Southwest Florida frontier from 1885-1940. The study chronicles the town's origins and economic, political, and social development in relationship to the broader historical theories of southern urban development, specifically those put forward in David Goldfield's pioneering work, Cotton Fields and Skyscrapers: Southern City and Region 1607-1980. Goldfield contended that southern cities...
Show moreThis study investigates the development of Plant City, Florida as a railroad town developing on the Southwest Florida frontier from 1885-1940. The study chronicles the town's origins and economic, political, and social development in relationship to the broader historical theories of southern urban development, specifically those put forward in David Goldfield's pioneering work, Cotton Fields and Skyscrapers: Southern City and Region 1607-1980. Goldfield contended that southern cities developed differently than their northern counterparts because they were not economically, politically, philosophically and culturally separated from their rural surroundings. Instead, they displayed and retained the positive and negative attributes of southern society and culture, including a commitment to maintaining a biracial society until the 1960s, an affinity for rural lifestyles and values among urban residents, and an economic dependence on outside markets and capital. Since Goldfield derived his findings from research that centered on the cotton producing regions of the Old South, this study sought to determine whether the tenets of his thesis applied to the urbanization process in the frontier areas of Florida, a region often considered an anomaly to the greater South. In the end analysis it was determined that Goldfield's theory generally fits Plant City with some exceptions derived from regional differences found in Florida.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000617, ucf:46503
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000617

Title: A MEASURE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL RISK PREFERENCE AND OPTIMISM USING FIELD EXPERIMENTS.
Creator: Schneider, Mark, Elston, Julie, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Previous studies have underscored the economic importance of the role of the entrepreneur, and empirical studies testing the nature of the entrepreneur are notably lacking. This study directly addresses this issue by examining newly gathered field data which captures the decision making and risk behaviors for a group of high-technology entrepreneurs. Two decision making tasks were used to elicit risk aversion measures and to test for any 'joy of winning' or judgmental errors, possibly in the...
Show morePrevious studies have underscored the economic importance of the role of the entrepreneur, and empirical studies testing the nature of the entrepreneur are notably lacking. This study directly addresses this issue by examining newly gathered field data which captures the decision making and risk behaviors for a group of high-technology entrepreneurs. Two decision making tasks were used to elicit risk aversion measures and to test for any 'joy of winning' or judgmental errors, possibly in the form of over optimistic behavior. These elicitations were made with the use of multiple price formats and winner's curse experiments. 62 responses were collected from subjects at the 2004 national Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) conference in Atlanta, March 2004. From these 62 responses a subject pool of 33 entrepreneurs and 29 non-entrepreneurs were identified. Statistical methods were employed to assign risk aversion measures and identify any 'joy of winning' or judgmental errors for the entrepreneur (treatment) group compared with the non-entrepreneur (control) group. Findings show that entrepreneurs exhibit less risk aversion, but show no statistically meaningful difference in judgmental errors compared to their non-entrepreneur counterparts. However, there is evidence to support the claim that both entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs exhibit a 'joy of winning', and that the size of the effect is larger for entrepreneurs.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000549, ucf:46426
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000549

Title: ATMOSPHERIC MERCURY DEPOSITION IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
Creator: Fulkerson, Mark, Nnadi, Fidelia, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Atmospheric mercury deposition, known to be a major source of mercury to aquatic and terrestrial environments, was studied at an urban site in Orlando, FL. Precipitation sampling was conducted from September 2003 to May 2006 at a Mercury Deposition Network site located on the University of Central Florida campus. Weekly rainfall and mercury wet deposition data were gathered from this site, which provided the framework of data for this study. Historical mercury wet deposition data from several...
Show moreAtmospheric mercury deposition, known to be a major source of mercury to aquatic and terrestrial environments, was studied at an urban site in Orlando, FL. Precipitation sampling was conducted from September 2003 to May 2006 at a Mercury Deposition Network site located on the University of Central Florida campus. Weekly rainfall and mercury wet deposition data were gathered from this site, which provided the framework of data for this study. Historical mercury wet deposition data from several sites in Florida were used to develop a regression model to predict mercury deposition at any location in Florida. Stormwater runoff from a 2-acre impervious surface at this study area was monitored during the spring and summer of 2005. Runoff water quality was analyzed to characterize mercury dry deposition. Atmospheric monitoring was also conducted during this period to study the interaction of atmospheric constituents on wet and dry deposition patterns. Spatial and seasonal trends for the entire state suggest 80% of Florida's rainfall and mercury deposition occur during the wet season. A strong linear correlation was established between rainfall depth and mercury deposition (R2 = 0.8). Prediction equations for the entire state, for both wet and dry seasons, were strongly correlated with measured data. The results of two unique methods to quantify dry deposition were similar at this site during this study period. Runoff monitored at this site contained significant levels of mercury, primarily in particulate form (58%). The vast majority of particulate mercury was flushed from the surface during storm events, while significant dissolved fractions remained. Runoff mercury concentrations were consistently higher than rainfall mercury, suggesting dry deposition accounted for 22% of total mercury in runoff. Atmospheric monitoring at this location showed gaseous elemental mercury was the dominant form (99.5%) followed by reactive gaseous mercury (0.3%) and particulate mercury (0.2%). Comparison of the contributions of wet and dry deposition suggested 80% of total mercury deposition was wet deposited during this study, while dry deposition accounted for the remaining 20%. Statistical correlations revealed rainfall scavenging of reactive gaseous mercury was the main factor controlling dry deposition.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0000959, ucf:46729
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000959

Title: A CHORUS LINE: DOES IT ABIDE BY RULES ESTABLISHED BY ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION FOR THE AUDITION PROCESS?.
Creator: Hardin, Mark, Weaver, Earl, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: I have been cast as "Bobby" in A Chorus Line at Orlando Broadway Dinner Theatre in Orlando. I will use this opportunity as my thesis role. As part of my thesis defense, I will combine an analysis of the character of "Bobby" in A Chorus Line with an assessment of Actors' Equity Association's audition policies from 1970 to the present, and investigate whether the audition held in the show abides by the policies established by AEA for Broadway calls. "Bobby" has an interesting arc of development...
Show moreI have been cast as "Bobby" in A Chorus Line at Orlando Broadway Dinner Theatre in Orlando. I will use this opportunity as my thesis role. As part of my thesis defense, I will combine an analysis of the character of "Bobby" in A Chorus Line with an assessment of Actors' Equity Association's audition policies from 1970 to the present, and investigate whether the audition held in the show abides by the policies established by AEA for Broadway calls. "Bobby" has an interesting arc of development as he actually gives the director what he (the director) does not want, yet is still cast in the fictitious Broadway show. Why he would choose to stray from the director's instructions is an interesting question and demanding study. To facilitate my research on the character (aside from script and score analysis), I will interview Thommie Walsh (about for whom the role was written and the original "Bobby" on Broadway) as well as other men who have played the role to get insights into the character that will enhance my performance. Mr. Walsh will also elaborate on his real-life relationship with Michael Bennett and how that compares and contrasts with the relationship between "Bobby" and "Zach." I also will interview as many of the original cast members as possible (namely Baayork Lee) to get contributing memories and anecdotal evidence from the original production. A Chorus Line captures the one element all performers experience – the audition. The audition process has changed over the years, and I will focus on the development of protocol from the early 1970's (when A Chorus Line takes place) to the present. I will explore the manner in which the process has evolved and what A Chorus Line's contribution was (if any) to that process. This show has become so much a part of the musical theatre vernacular that historical exploration of procedures would also clarify how this work was structured. Were actors subjected to that intense style of audition on a huge stage in the early 1970s? Are they still today? My research will trace the history and rules governing auditions, performers and staff as delineated by Actors' Equity Association. I will also include a comparison of Equity to the variety of non-Equity auditions. Other sources will include rulebooks from AEA and interviews with dancers (past and present), AEA staff and Patrick Quinn, President of AEA.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0000927, ucf:46753
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000927

Title: THE MIND OF A SADOMASOCIST:A THEATRICAL ROLE ANALYSIS OF ORIN SCRIVELLO D.D.S.
Creator: Catlett, Mark, Weaver, Earl, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Mark Catlett will portray the role of Orin Scrivello D.D.S., as well as various other "cameo" roles, at Seaside Music Theater in Daytona Beach, Florida from January 13- February 13 2005. The role of Orin Scrivello will provide me with several acting challenges as well as multiple subjects and themes to research. The most challenging aspect of creating, developing and embodying the character of Orin will be his sadomasochistic nature and his blatant abuse towards Audrey. Sadomasochism is...
Show moreMark Catlett will portray the role of Orin Scrivello D.D.S., as well as various other "cameo" roles, at Seaside Music Theater in Daytona Beach, Florida from January 13- February 13 2005. The role of Orin Scrivello will provide me with several acting challenges as well as multiple subjects and themes to research. The most challenging aspect of creating, developing and embodying the character of Orin will be his sadomasochistic nature and his blatant abuse towards Audrey. Sadomasochism is defined as "the deriving of sexual gratification, from being physically or emotionally abused". It is also defined as "a willingness or tendency to subject oneself to unpleasant or trying experiences". The psychology of sadomasochism is completely foreign to my life experience and will have to be deeply explored to fully realize the inner workings of Orin's behavior. To supplement the exploration of the psychology of sadomasochism, research will be completed on the following topics: • Sadomasochism in regards to the lead characters of Little Shop of Horrors. • The history of Little Shop of Horrors from its roots in the cult horror film of 1960, followed by the 1983 Off-Broadway production, segueing into the 1986 re-make film version, and culminating in the 2003 official Broadway production. Portrayal of Orin Scrivello D.D.S. also demands the creation of several other characters in the second act of the show. This will require me to develop several different characters ranging from the sadomasochistic dentist, to an ambitious entrepreneur, to even dressing in drag to portray a female florist customer. This will give me an opportunity to show versatility as well as research several different character personalities and dramatic structures. These characters come in and out of the florist shop very quickly, so the challenge will be to both perform a quick change of costume and also be able to completely switch characterizations within minutes. These characters should be different enough that the audience does not immediately realize it is the same actor playing all of these roles.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000733, ucf:46611
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000733

Title: A SURVEY OF PROGRESSIVE AND AFFIRMATIVE EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE SYSTEMS IN FLORIDA'S HOSPITALS.
Creator: Johnson, Mark, Fottler, Myron, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Conflict between managers and employees is inevitable in any organization, whether public or private. Often, the source of the conflict is employee non-compliance. Managers are responsible for disciplining those employees whose performance or conduct is sub-standard or inappropriate. Therefore, the ability to effectively address employee non-compliance is an essential skill for all managers. Most employee discipline systems fall into one of three categories: traditional, progressive, and...
Show moreConflict between managers and employees is inevitable in any organization, whether public or private. Often, the source of the conflict is employee non-compliance. Managers are responsible for disciplining those employees whose performance or conduct is sub-standard or inappropriate. Therefore, the ability to effectively address employee non-compliance is an essential skill for all managers. Most employee discipline systems fall into one of three categories: traditional, progressive, and affirmative. Traditional systems were prevalent in the late-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. An autocratic, demanding manager would mete out punishment to non-compliant employees both as an action against the employee and as a warning to other employees. Employees were often terminated for their first offense. With the advent of labor unionism and fair labor practices in the first half of the twentieth century, organizational leaders were required to develop more progressive employee discipline systems which protected employee "due process" and which allowed time and opportunity for improvement by the non-compliant employee. Progressive employee discipline systems are the most prevalent discipline systems in America's workforce today. These systems entail three or four steps, with each successive step usually resulting in more severe penalties for the same offense or more severe offenses. Progressive employee discipline allows the employee an opportunity to respond to non-compliance issues and to try to improve it to the extent required to maintain their position. A new employee discipline system, affirmative discipline, has gained adherents in the private sector primarily. Affirmative employee discipline systems do not use punishment to correct employee non-compliance but instead, ask managers to "coach" and "counsel" the non-compliant employee to better behavior and performance. Rehabilitating the employee's non-compliance is the primary goal of affirmative systems. The emphasis is not only upon the non-compliant employee, but on rehabilitating the "marriage" of non-compliant employee and direct supervisor. Little evidence exists to determine the extent to which progressive and affirmative employee discipline systems are being utilized in the modern organization. No evidence exists that indicates the prevalence of these systems in Florida's healthcare institutions. A survey-based analysis of the use of progressive and affirmative employee discipline systems in Florida's hospitals resulted in respondents indicating frequent utilization of formal progressive employee discipline systems. Designed in three or four steps, these progressive systems allow the employee to improve his/her behavior. Two common tools in progressive systems, the verbal warning and the performance counseling statement, are utilized frequently based upon those respondents surveyed. The use of affirmative employee discipline systems, on the other hand, is relatively rare. The use of written behavior contracts to elicit improved employee compliance is also quite rare. The vast majority of respondents appear to be unfamiliar with the use of written behavior contracts to elicit improved employee compliance.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000738, ucf:46580
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000738

Title: WHILE AMERICA SLEPT.
Creator: Fischer, Mark, Dolan, Christopher, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study briefly examined the terrorist attacks that occurred between the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993 and the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon that occurred on September 11, 2001. Specifically, this study examines the reactions of the public and press to the attacks on the military barracks in Riyadh, the bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Zambia and Kenya, and the attack on the U.S.S Cole in Yemen. This study examines the effect public opinion had on...
Show moreThis study briefly examined the terrorist attacks that occurred between the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993 and the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon that occurred on September 11, 2001. Specifically, this study examines the reactions of the public and press to the attacks on the military barracks in Riyadh, the bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Zambia and Kenya, and the attack on the U.S.S Cole in Yemen. This study examines the effect public opinion had on the President and Congress and their reactions to the public pressure. The primary purpose of this thesis is to briefly examine the reactions of Presidents and Congress to the attacks on Americans at home and abroad, and that effect on their efforts to prevent further attacks on the United States. Did the President use his office to activate and motivate public officials and the public to the dangers of terrorist attacks? Was the public effective in persuading Congress to enact legislation to increase funding for terrorist prevention? And, how effective was the press in its role to educate and define the issues surrounding terrorist attacks on Americans.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0001293, ucf:46879
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001293

Title: DEBATING THEIR BELIEFS TO VICTORY: HOW THE BELIEFS OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TRANSFORM THE RHETORIC USED IN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES.
Creator: Marks, Aubrey, Pollock, Philip, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: As presidential candidates rhetorically articulate their beliefs during presidential debates, they reveal a lot about their underlying ideological beliefs. These beliefs were examined through the lens of an established methodology called the Operational Code, which uses a program to decipher a candidate's beliefs through what they say in debate transcripts. In this study, the belief trends of the Operational Codes of all presidential candidates from 1976-2012 were examined through a...
Show moreAs presidential candidates rhetorically articulate their beliefs during presidential debates, they reveal a lot about their underlying ideological beliefs. These beliefs were examined through the lens of an established methodology called the Operational Code, which uses a program to decipher a candidate's beliefs through what they say in debate transcripts. In this study, the belief trends of the Operational Codes of all presidential candidates from 1976-2012 were examined through a rhetorical lens, and it was found that rhetoric was indeed the driving force for the apparent changes in Operational Code beliefs. These changes were examined on a greater level of detail through four case studies, which illustrated the changes in Operational Code beliefs and rhetoric of Ronald Reagan, the incumbent presidential candidates, the 2004 election, and lastly, with the independent presidential candidates.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004554, ucf:45160
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004554

Title: INCREASED LEVELS OF ANXIETY REVEALING CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL PHOBIA ELUCIDATED BY SMART PHONE USE.
Creator: Richardson , Mark, Beidel, Deborah, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Students at the University of Central Florida completed two self-report inventories: the SPAI-23, (Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory - 23) and MPPUS (Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale) to determine if there is a relationship between social phobia and problematic mobile phone use. Fifty one students (N = 51) completed both surveys and the results indicated that there was a small but positive relationship between problematic cell phone use and social phobia symptoms, r=.28, p=.05. The results...
Show moreStudents at the University of Central Florida completed two self-report inventories: the SPAI-23, (Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory - 23) and MPPUS (Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale) to determine if there is a relationship between social phobia and problematic mobile phone use. Fifty one students (N = 51) completed both surveys and the results indicated that there was a small but positive relationship between problematic cell phone use and social phobia symptoms, r=.28, p=.05. The results are discussed in terms of how social phobia might increase problematic phone use.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFH0004241, ucf:44931
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004241

Title: BRAVE NEW WORLD RELOADED: ADVOCATING FOR BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL SEARCH PROTECTIONS TO APPLY TO CELL PHONES FROM EAVESDROPPING AND TRACKING BY THE GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE ENTITIES.
Creator: Berrios-Ayala, Mark, Milon, Abby, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Imagine a world where someone's personal information is constantly compromised, where federal government entities AKA Big Brother always knows what anyone is Googling, who an individual is texting, and their emoticons on Twitter. Government entities have been doing this for years; they never cared if they were breaking the law or their moral compass of human dignity. Every day the Federal government blatantly siphons data with programs from the original ECHELON to the new series like PRISM...
Show moreImagine a world where someone's personal information is constantly compromised, where federal government entities AKA Big Brother always knows what anyone is Googling, who an individual is texting, and their emoticons on Twitter. Government entities have been doing this for years; they never cared if they were breaking the law or their moral compass of human dignity. Every day the Federal government blatantly siphons data with programs from the original ECHELON to the new series like PRISM and Xkeyscore so they can keep their tabs on issues that are none of their business; namely, the personal lives of millions. Our allies are taking note; some are learning our bad habits, from Government Communications Headquarters' (GCHQ) mass shadowing sharing plan to America's Russian inspiration, SORM. Some countries are following the United States' poster child pose of a Brave New World like order of global events. Others like Germany are showing their resolve in their disdain for the rise of tyranny. Soon, these new found surveillance troubles will test the resolve of the American Constitution and its nation's strong love and tradition of liberty. Courts are currently at work to resolve how current concepts of liberty and privacy apply to the current conditions facing the privacy of society. It remains to be determined how liberty will be affected as well; liberty for the United States of America, for the European Union, the Russian Federation and for the people of the World in regards to the extent of privacy in today's blurred privacy expectations.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004537, ucf:45187
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004537

Title: THE MAYA ORIGIN OF A MEXICAN GOD: THE ICONOGRAPHIC PRIMACY OF TEZCATLIPOCA AT CHICHÉN ITZÁ, YUCATAN OVER TULA, HIDALGO; AND ITS POSSIBLE DERIVATION FROM GOD K – K'AWIL.
Creator: Sullivan, Mark, Chase, Arlen, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Two long-held views in Mesoamerican research, the Mexican origin of the god Tezcatlipoca and the insinuation of Toltec iconography into the artistic format of Chichén Itzá, Yucatan, Mexico, emanating from Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico conditioned this research. Considering Tezcatlipoca to be a Mexican god imparts both a foreign origin for and the preexistence of that god in Central Mexico prior to its manifestation in the sculptural repertoire of Chichén Itzá, a Maya city....
Show moreTwo long-held views in Mesoamerican research, the Mexican origin of the god Tezcatlipoca and the insinuation of Toltec iconography into the artistic format of Chichén Itzá, Yucatan, Mexico, emanating from Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico conditioned this research. Considering Tezcatlipoca to be a Mexican god imparts both a foreign origin for and the preexistence of that god in Central Mexico prior to its manifestation in the sculptural repertoire of Chichén Itzá, a Maya city. However, this thesis demonstrates that no conclusive evidence of a Mexican origin for Tezcatlipoca exists. This work rejects the near dogmatic assumption of that god's Mexican pedigree, and asserts the iconographic primacy of Tezcatlipoca imagery at the Maya city of Chichén Itzá, Yucatan over the Toltec city of Tula, Hidalgo. It also suggests the possible derivation of Tezcatlipoca from the Maya God K –K'awil.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002906, ucf:48000
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002906

Title: CHARACTERIZATION OF AN INLINE ROW IMPINGEMENT CHANNEL FOR TURBINE BLADE COOLING APPLICATIONS.
Creator: Ricklick, Mark, Kapat, Jayanta, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Gas turbines have become an intricate part of today's society. Besides powering practically all 200,000+ passenger aircraft in use today, they are also a predominate form of power generation when coupled with a generator. The fact that they are highly efficient, and capable of large power to weight ratios, makes gas turbines an ideal solution for many power requirement issues faced today. Designers have even been able to develop small, micro-turbines capable of producing efficient...
Show moreGas turbines have become an intricate part of today's society. Besides powering practically all 200,000+ passenger aircraft in use today, they are also a predominate form of power generation when coupled with a generator. The fact that they are highly efficient, and capable of large power to weight ratios, makes gas turbines an ideal solution for many power requirement issues faced today. Designers have even been able to develop small, micro-turbines capable of producing efficient portable power. Part of the turbine's success is the fact that their efficiency levels have continuously risen since their introduction in the early 1800's. Along with improvements in our understanding and designs of the aerodynamic components of the turbine, as well as improvements in the areas of material design and combustion control, advances in component cooling techniques have predominantly contributed to this success. This is the result of a simple thermodynamic concept; as the turbine inlet temperature is increased, the overall efficiency of the machine increases as well. Designers have exploited this fact to the extent that modern gas turbines produce rotor inlet temperatures beyond the melting point of the sophisticated materials used within them. This has only been possible through the use of sophisticated cooling techniques, particularly in the 1st stage vanes and blades. Some of the cooling techniques employed today have been internal cooling channels enhanced with various features, film and showerhead cooling, as well as internal impingement cooling scenarios. Impingement cooling has proven to be one of the most capable heat removal processes, and the combination of this cooling feature with that of channel flow, as is done in impingement channel cooling, creates a scenario that has understandably received a great deal of attention in recent years. This study has investigated several of the unpublished characteristics of these impingement channels, including the channel height effects on the performance of the channel side walls, effects of bulk temperature increase on heat transfer coefficients, circumferential heat variation effects, and effects on the uniformity of the heat transfer distribution. The main objectives of this dissertation are to explore the various previously unstudied characteristics of impingement channels, in order to sufficiently predict their performance in a wide range of applications. The potential exists, therefore, for a designer to develop a blade with cooling characteristics specifically tailored to the expected component thermal loads. Temperature sensitive paint (TSP) is one of several non-intrusive optical temperature measurements techniques that have gained a significant amount of popularity in the last decade. By employing the use of TSP, we have the ability to provide very accurate (less than 1 degree Celsius uncertainty), high resolution full-field temperature measurements. This has allowed us to investigate the local heat transfer characteristics of the various channel surfaces under a variety of steady state testing conditions. The comparison of thermal performance and uniformity for each impingement channel configuration then highlights the benefits and disadvantages of various configurations. Through these investigations, it has been shown that the channel side walls provide heat transfer coefficients comparable to those found on the target surface, especially at small impingement heights. Although the side walls suffer from highly non-uniform performance near the start of the channel, the profiles become very uniform as the cross flow develops and becomes a dominating contributor to the heat transfer coefficient. Increases in channel height result in increased non-uniformity in the streamwise direction and decreased heat transfer levels. Bulk temperature increases have also been shown to be an important consideration when investigating surfaces dominated by cross flow heat transfer effects, as enhancements up to 80% in some areas may be computed. Considerations of these bulk temperature changes also allow the determination of the point at which the flow transitions from an impingement dominated regime to one that is dominated by cross flow effects. Finally, circumferential heat variations have proven to have negligible effects on the calculated heat transfer coefficient, with the observed differences in heat transfer coefficient being contributed to the unaccounted variations in channel bulk temperature.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002955, ucf:47948
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002955

Title: APPEARANCE-DRIVEN MATERIAL DESIGN.
Creator: Colbert, Mark, Hughes, Charles, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In the computer graphics production environment, artists often must tweak specific lighting and material parameters to match a mind's eye vision of the appearance of a 3D scene. However, the interaction between a material and a lighting environment is often too complex to cognitively predict without visualization. Therefore, artists operate in a design cycle, where they tweak the parameters, wait for a visualization, and repeat, seeking to obtain a desired look. We propose the use of...
Show moreIn the computer graphics production environment, artists often must tweak specific lighting and material parameters to match a mind's eye vision of the appearance of a 3D scene. However, the interaction between a material and a lighting environment is often too complex to cognitively predict without visualization. Therefore, artists operate in a design cycle, where they tweak the parameters, wait for a visualization, and repeat, seeking to obtain a desired look. We propose the use of appearance-driven material design. Here, artists directly design the appearance of reflected light for a specific view, surface point, and time. In this thesis, we discuss several methods for appearance-driven design with homogeneous materials, spatially-varying materials, and appearance-matching materials, where each uses a unique modeling and optimization paradigm. Moreover, we present a novel treatment of the illumination integral using sampling theory that can utilize the computational power of the graphics processing unit (GPU) to provide real-time visualization of the appearance of various materials illuminated by complex environment lighting. As a system, the modeling, optimization and rendering steps all operate on arbitrary geometry and in detailed lighting environments, while still providing instant feedback to the designer. Thus, our approach allows materials to play an active role in the process of set design and story-telling, a capability that was, until now, difficult to achieve due to the unavailability of interactive tools appropriate for artists.
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Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: CFE0002217, ucf:47913
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002217

Title: THE EFFECTS OF COMPUTER-ASSISTED REPEATED READINGS ON THE READING PERFORMANCE OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH MILD INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.
Creator: Cerasale, Mark, Martin, Suzanne, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 has mandated that all public school students will be reading at grade level by the 2013-2014 school year. Florida has embarked on an agenda to ensure that the kindergarten through high school student population is reading at or above grade level by 2014. Many of Florida's low-performing student population, including middle school students with high incidence disabilities, are reading below grade level. Using a multiple baseline across subjects design,...
Show moreThe No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 has mandated that all public school students will be reading at grade level by the 2013-2014 school year. Florida has embarked on an agenda to ensure that the kindergarten through high school student population is reading at or above grade level by 2014. Many of Florida's low-performing student population, including middle school students with high incidence disabilities, are reading below grade level. Using a multiple baseline across subjects design, this study examined the impact of computer-assisted repeated readings on the reading performance of three middle school students with mild intellectual disabilities over the course of 67 days. Results showed an improvement in reading fluency rate using instructional level text. The study was evaluated using quality indicators of single-subject research in special education. Future research is advocated to replicate this study across different grades and exceptionalities.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002855, ucf:48055
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002855

Title: CHANGES TO OPERATIONAL, FINANCIAL, AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS DURING MAYORAL TAKEOVERS.
Creator: Shanoff, Mark, Bozeman, William, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The focus of this research was to examine the effects of mayoral control on operational and financial structures within school systems. Furthermore, this study focused on the public perception and political implications of the mayorÃ‚Â's position on local education. The four systems chosen for this study were: Boston, Chicago, District of Columbia, and New York City. All four systems were total control districts, which allowed for each mayor to appoint a majority to the...
Show moreThe focus of this research was to examine the effects of mayoral control on operational and financial structures within school systems. Furthermore, this study focused on the public perception and political implications of the mayorÃ‚Â's position on local education. The four systems chosen for this study were: Boston, Chicago, District of Columbia, and New York City. All four systems were total control districts, which allowed for each mayor to appoint a majority to the school board and appoint a superintendent or chancellor to oversee the day to day operations of the school district. This study focused on operational and financial structures, which make up a sizable portion of the larger organizational structure. These indicators often drive how services and expenditures eventually affect the core business of these school systems. From an operational perspective, this study was focused on expenditures, both in aggregate form and for instructional related services, pre and post takeover. From a financial perspective, this study focused on changes to revenue sources, return on investment, interest on school debt, and capital outlay. From a political perspective, this study examined the data from the various State of the City addresses over the last four years in each of the four cities, along with polling data available for New York City and the District of Columbia. This study was concluded with a summary of findings, and implications for future research, policy, and practitioners. The research showed that New York City and Boston generally outperformed the District of Columbia and Chicago in the operational and financial metrics used in the study. Furthermore, the number of years a city had been under mayoral control and operational and financial indicators had no significant relationship. It was recommended that future researchers should continue to study the benefit of benchmarking metrics of organizational performance to ensure mayors are held accountable for the reforms they espouse during election cycles. Ultimately, mayorsÃ‚Â' success in managing their school systems will be based on where they prioritize. This research offered a cross section of metrics by which mayors can benchmark their effectiveness as they change operational, financial, and organizational structures to bring about better, overall organizational performance from their school system.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003469, ucf:48957
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003469

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