Current Search: Diversity (x)
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Title
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EXAMINING ROUTE DIVERSION AND MULTIPLE RAMP METERING STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING REAL-TIME CRASH RISK ON URBAN FREEWAYS.
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Creator
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Gayah, Vikash, Abdel-Aty, Mohamed, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Recent research at the University of Central Florida addressing crashes on Interstate-4 in Orlando, Florida has led to the creation of new statistical models capable of calculating the crash risk on the freeway (Abdel-Aty et al., 2004; 2005, Pande and Abdel-Aty, 2006). These models yield the rear-end and lane-change crash risk along the freeway in real-time by using static information at various locations along the freeway as well as real-time traffic data that is obtained from the roadway....
Show moreRecent research at the University of Central Florida addressing crashes on Interstate-4 in Orlando, Florida has led to the creation of new statistical models capable of calculating the crash risk on the freeway (Abdel-Aty et al., 2004; 2005, Pande and Abdel-Aty, 2006). These models yield the rear-end and lane-change crash risk along the freeway in real-time by using static information at various locations along the freeway as well as real-time traffic data that is obtained from the roadway. Because these models use the real-time traffic data, they are capable of calculating the respective crash risk values as the traffic flow changes along the freeway. The purpose of this study is to examine the potential of two Intelligent Transportation System strategies for reducing the crash risk along the freeway by changing the traffic flow parameters. The two ITS measures that are examined in this research are route diversion and ramp metering. Route diversion serves to change the traffic flow by keeping some vehicles from entering the freeway at one location and diverting them to another location where they may be more efficiently inserted into the freeway traffic stream. Ramp metering alters the traffic flow by delaying vehicles at the freeway on-ramps and only allowing a certain number of vehicles to enter at a time. The two strategies were tested by simulating a 36.25 mile section of the Interstate-4 network in the PARAMICS micro-simulation software. Various implementations of route diversion and ramp metering were then tested to determine not only the effects of each strategy but also how to best apply them to an urban freeway. Route diversion was found to decrease the overall rear-end and lane-change crash risk along the network at free-flow conditions to low levels of congestion. On average, the two crash risk measures were found to be reduced between the location where vehicles were diverted and the location where they were reinserted back into the network. However, a crash migration phenomenon was observed at higher levels of congestion as the crash risk would be greatly increased at the location where vehicles were reinserted back onto the network. Ramp metering in the downtown area was found to be beneficial during heavy congestion. Both coordinated and uncoordinated metering algorithms showed the potential to significantly decrease the crash risk at a network wide level. When the network is loaded with 100 percent of the vehicles the uncoordinated strategy performed the best at reducing the rear-end and lane-change crash risk values. The coordinated strategy was found to perform the best from a safety and operational perspective at moderate levels of congestion. Ramp metering also showed the potential for crash migration so care must be taken when implementing this strategy to ensure that drivers at certain locations are not put at unnecessary risk. When ramp metering is applied to the entire freeway network both the rear-end and lane-change crash risk is decreased further. ALINEA is found to be the best network-wide strategy at the 100 percent loading case while a combination of Zone and ALINEA provides the best safety results at the 90 percent loading case. It should also be noted that both route diversion and ramp metering were found to increase the overall network travel time. However, the best route diversion and ramp metering strategies were selected to ensure that the operational capabilities of the network were not sacrificed in order to increase the safety along the freeway. This was done by setting the maximum allowable travel time increase at 5% for any of the ITS strategies considered.
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Date Issued
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2006
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Identifier
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CFE0001437, ucf:47054
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001437
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Title
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NURSING LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS: EFFECT ON NURSING JOB SATISFACTION AND RETENTION OF BABY BOOMER AND GENERATION X NURSES.
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Creator
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Swearingen, Sandra, Liberman, Aaron, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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ABSTRACT The purpose of this research is to determine the degree to which a positive experience with nursing leadership increases nurse's job satisfaction. The different values and norms of the generational cohorts result in each cohort perceiving leadership characteristics differently. Factors such as length of exposure to leadership, location, shift worked, clinical versus non-clinical positions and the presence or absence of Servant-Leadership, all have the potential to impact nursing...
Show moreABSTRACT The purpose of this research is to determine the degree to which a positive experience with nursing leadership increases nurse's job satisfaction. The different values and norms of the generational cohorts result in each cohort perceiving leadership characteristics differently. Factors such as length of exposure to leadership, location, shift worked, clinical versus non-clinical positions and the presence or absence of Servant-Leadership, all have the potential to impact nursing satisfaction. Nursing satisfaction, or dissatisfaction impacts retention, further modifying nursing leadership practices. Conflict, Cohort, Servant-Leadership, and Self-Discrepancy theories were utilized to identify the relationships of generations to each other and to the leadership characteristics existing in their organizations. Two Central Florida healthcare organizations were utilized to obtain data regarding leadership characteristics, generational cohort and nursing satisfaction indicators. A total of 440 survey questionnaires were distributed, 182 were returned, a response rate of 41%. Factor Analysis utilizing principal component analysis was performed to reduce the 57 variables contained within questionnaires to one construct that represented a leadership characteristics variable. This variable was utilized to test 3 of the hypotheses. Principal component analysis was utilized to reduce 10 characteristics of Servant-Leadership, to a construct that represented a Servant-Leadership variable. Qualitative data was collected from 25 interviewees and was used to enrich and supplement the quantitative data from the survey questionnaires. Nursing leadership characteristics affect nursing satisfaction as demonstrated by this research. The more positive the perception or experience of nurses in relation to nursing leadership, the more job satisfaction increases. Even though literature states that Generation X employees exhibit less job satisfaction, due to generational specific values and norms, generational cohort did not demonstrate significance in this study. A positive perception of nursing leadership characteristics demonstrated a positive impact on nursing retention within an organization. Nurses who are satisfied with leadership characteristics tend to stay with that organization. The presence of Servant-Leadership characteristics also demonstrated a positive impact on nursing job satisfaction and retention. Leaders that demonstrate Servant-Leadership characteristics engender increased job satisfaction for their employees and increased retention of nurses for their organizations.
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Date Issued
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2004
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Identifier
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CFE0000205, ucf:46255
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000205
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Title
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A QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PRESERVICE TEACHERS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE AT-RISK STUDENT.
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Creator
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Quintero, Andrea M, Gresham, Regina Harwood, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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The purpose of this study was to identify preservice teachers' perceptions of the at-risk student and their perceptions toward their educational preparation to effectively teach the at-risk student. A ten-question survey was conducted to gain insight on 15 preservice teachers' perceptions of the at-risk student. The results showed that 100% of the preservice teachers believe at-risk students could learn, but then were dissatisfied with the training that the teacher preparation program at the...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to identify preservice teachers' perceptions of the at-risk student and their perceptions toward their educational preparation to effectively teach the at-risk student. A ten-question survey was conducted to gain insight on 15 preservice teachers' perceptions of the at-risk student. The results showed that 100% of the preservice teachers believe at-risk students could learn, but then were dissatisfied with the training that the teacher preparation program at the university has provided them. These findings suggest the importance of conducting further research on preservice teachers' preparation programs. Preservice teachers' ability to effectively teach the at-risk student can have a lasting impact on these students and their success in the future.
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Date Issued
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2016
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Identifier
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CFH2000142, ucf:45981
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000142
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Title
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Exploring multi-scale variation of fish community diversity in a dynamic coastal estuary.
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Creator
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Troast, Brittany, Cook, Geoffrey, Walters, Linda, Paperno, Richard, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Examining diversity over multiple spatial and temporal scales affords the opportunity to develop a mechanistic understanding of the factors influencing community diversity dynamics, and how these may shift in a changing world. This thesis first examines multi-decadal fish community diversity metrics across a coastal biogeographic transition zone to quantify changes in species assemblages, assess relationships between fish community diversity and the abiotic environment, and capture potential...
Show moreExamining diversity over multiple spatial and temporal scales affords the opportunity to develop a mechanistic understanding of the factors influencing community diversity dynamics, and how these may shift in a changing world. This thesis first examines multi-decadal fish community diversity metrics across a coastal biogeographic transition zone to quantify changes in species assemblages, assess relationships between fish community diversity and the abiotic environment, and capture potential shifts in the location of a putative biogeographic break. Results of this chapter indicate not only a change in fish community composition, but also a shift in the location of the biogeographic transition zone. If these trends continue, a potential 16-62km shift northward by the year 2100 could occur. Understanding the novel species assemblages these shifts could result in is necessary for the future management of this area. Next this thesis examines diversity on a local scale, assessing the response of the fish community to restoration of oyster reefs and coastal wetlands which act as essential fish habitat. Results support the idea that fish community composition at restored oyster reefs is more similar to those of live reefs than dead reefs, however, results of abundance and diversity analyses were equivocal. Living shoreline analyses produced no differences between control and restored sites before or after restoration. Possible explanations for lack of clear trends in the fish community could be explained by the presence of other essential fish habitats in the area, scale of restoration, and length of monitoring. This thesis explores diversity on a multitude of spatial and temporal scales to better understand how fish communities respond to change and generates fundamental knowledge that can improve our ability to conserve and manage coastal communities and better inform the development of ecosystem-based management strategies.
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Date Issued
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2019
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Identifier
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CFE0007905, ucf:52753
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007905
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Title
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Career preparation for interdisciplinary science PhD students: A case study.
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Creator
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Gordon, Sabrina, Hastings, Sally, Pryor, Burt, Katt, James, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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This case study intended to collect and analyze responses from stakeholders of the UCF Modeling and Simulation graduate program regarding the ways in which interdisciplinary (IDS) science PhD students could be prepared for diverse career paths. A mixed methodology study was executed and quantitative survey (N=96) and qualitative interview (N=10) data were collected to address three research questions. Overall, stakeholders for this case study were found to represent the three main career...
Show moreThis case study intended to collect and analyze responses from stakeholders of the UCF Modeling and Simulation graduate program regarding the ways in which interdisciplinary (IDS) science PhD students could be prepared for diverse career paths. A mixed methodology study was executed and quantitative survey (N=96) and qualitative interview (N=10) data were collected to address three research questions. Overall, stakeholders for this case study were found to represent the three main career paths of academia, government, and industry. Survey data were utilized to gauge the level of importance that survey participants perceived for various survey scales and items. The scales that were rated with the highest means were Ethics, Teamwork, and Career Management (M=3.67, SD=.41) and Interdisciplinary Skills (M=3.67, SD=.36), while the lowest mean was reported for the Professional Science Skills scale (M=3.19, SD=.54). Interview data revealed limitations of the historically accepted apprenticeship model to include an emphasis on academia-only career preparation and a lack of standardization regarding highly individualized advisor-student relationships. And finally, survey and interview participants reported that alternative pedagogical methods to prepare IDS science PhD students for diverse career paths should include internships in each career sector, while also presenting the barriers to implementing internships regarding faculty commitments and time available to advise and help students procure such relationships. Study recommendations point to preparing IDS science PhD graduates for diverse career paths by emphasizing math, technical, communication, and interdisciplinary skills using experiential learning opportunities such as internships and an IDS project-based curriculum.
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Date Issued
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2017
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Identifier
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CFE0007285, ucf:52159
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007285
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Title
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Phylogenetic Community Structure of Aquatic Beetle Assemblages in a Multi-Wetland Experiment.
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Creator
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Kelly, Sandor, Jenkins, David, Parkinson, Christopher, Crampton, William, Song, Hojun, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Phylogenetic Community Structure (PCS) metrics are becoming more common in community ecology. PCS metrics estimate the phylogenetic relatedness among members of an ecological community or assemblage. If ecological traits are conserved, then phylogenetic clustering (i.e., taxa are more closely related than expected by chance) indicates habitat filtering as the key process in community assembly. On the other hand, a pattern of phylogenetic overdispersion (i.e., taxa are more distantly related...
Show morePhylogenetic Community Structure (PCS) metrics are becoming more common in community ecology. PCS metrics estimate the phylogenetic relatedness among members of an ecological community or assemblage. If ecological traits are conserved, then phylogenetic clustering (i.e., taxa are more closely related than expected by chance) indicates habitat filtering as the key process in community assembly. On the other hand, a pattern of phylogenetic overdispersion (i.e., taxa are more distantly related than expected by chance) suggests competition is dominant. Most studies to date have used PCS of unmanipulated ecosystems, but the value of PCS metrics will be best revealed in experiments. This project used PCS for aquatic beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages in experimentally manipulated seasonal wetlands on a cattle ranch in south-central Florida, and compared PCS metrics to standard ecological metrics. Wetlands were experimentally treated with all combinations of pasture management, fencing to exclude cattle, and controlled burning during 2006-2009. Beetle assemblages in fenced wetlands were significantly more overdispersed compared to non-fenced wetlands, suggesting that this treatment decreases habitat filtering, causing competition to become the dominant process in community formation. There was also a significant pasture x fence x burn interaction effect, with assemblages in wetlands differing in PCS depending on what combination of the three treatments were applied. Phylogenetic Diversity (PD (-) a measure of branch length of a community or assemblage on a phylogenetic tree) was highly correlated with genera richness (number of genera), and these metrics along with the expected number of genera (D (-) an ecological diversity index) found significant differences among burn treatments and a pasture x burn interaction. The results of this study indicate that PCS metrics complement classical ecological methods and should be widely applied.
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Date Issued
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2012
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Identifier
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CFE0004394, ucf:49388
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004394
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Title
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A Mixed-Methods Approach to Examining the Memphis Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Model: An exploratory study of program effectiveness and institutionalization processes.
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Creator
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Magers, Megan, Potter, Roberto, Rosky, Jeffrey, Adams, Kenneth, Lin, Hefang, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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The present study utilized a mixed-methods strategy to examine the effectiveness, diffusion, and institutionalization of the Memphis Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model. To evaluate the effectiveness of the training component of the CIT model, a panel research design was employed in which a sample of 179 law enforcement officers and 100 correctional officers in nine Florida counties were surveyed on the first day of training (pretest), the last day of training (posttest), and one month...
Show moreThe present study utilized a mixed-methods strategy to examine the effectiveness, diffusion, and institutionalization of the Memphis Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model. To evaluate the effectiveness of the training component of the CIT model, a panel research design was employed in which a sample of 179 law enforcement officers and 100 correctional officers in nine Florida counties were surveyed on the first day of training (pretest), the last day of training (posttest), and one month following their completion of CIT training (follow-up). These surveys measured the extent to which CIT training achieved several officer-level objectives, including increased knowledge of mental illness and the mental health referral process, improved self-efficacy when responding to mental health crises, and enhanced perceptions of verbal de-escalation skills, mental health services in the community, and the mental health referral process. The results of these surveys revealed officers experienced a statistically significant increase on every measure of training effectiveness between the pretest and posttest data collection points. However, a significant decline was found among the 117 officers that responded to the follow-up survey on the measures associated with self-efficacy and perceptions of verbal de-escalation, which points to a measurable decay in the effectiveness of the training in the intermediate timeframe with regard to these two measures. To examine the extent to which the diffusion of the CIT model resembles a social movement in the field of criminal justice and to explore the impact of CIT institutionalization on the organizational structure of criminal justice agencies, an online survey was distributed to 33 representatives of law enforcement and correctional agencies known to participate in the CIT program in the nine Florida counties in which officers were surveyed. The results of this survey indicate interagency communication and external pressure from mental health providers and advocates largely contribute to the decision of criminal justice agencies to adopt the CIT model. In addition, the findings of this survey suggest criminal justice agencies modify their organizational structure in a number of different ways to internalize and institutionalize the CIT model. By coupling a training program evaluation with an assessment of diffusion and institutionalization, this study makes a unique contribution to organizational and evidence-based literature.
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Date Issued
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2013
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Identifier
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CFE0004884, ucf:49671
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004884
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Title
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PROJECT CHILDî AND NON-PROJECT CHILDî SCHOOL PERFORMANCE ON FCATî READING, MATHEMATICS AND WRITING.
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Creator
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Chappell, Julie, Hartle, Lynn, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Project CHILDî (Changing How Instruction for Learning is Delivered) provides an avenue for educational change using a triangulated approach. Using data from the Florida Department of Education, this research studies the Project CHILDî learning approach on preparing students for success on portions of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCATî) using results from fifteen charter schools in the state of Florida,...
Show moreProject CHILDî (Changing How Instruction for Learning is Delivered) provides an avenue for educational change using a triangulated approach. Using data from the Florida Department of Education, this research studies the Project CHILDî learning approach on preparing students for success on portions of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCATî) using results from fifteen charter schools in the state of Florida, seven participating in Project CHILDî and eight non-participating charter schools for the 2008-2009 school-year. Dispersion statistics such as range and standard deviation as well as independent t tests are computed to compare the percentage of students in grades three to five scoring levels 3 and higher on the reading and mathematics portions, and fourth grade students scoring a 3.5 or higher on the writing assessment of the FCATî. Project CHILDî schools had smaller ranges and standard deviations in the majority of the comparisons. Descriptively, this suggests that students in the Project CHILDî schools are performing closer to the school average. There were no statistically significance differences between the Project CHILDî schools and non-Project CHILDî schools for grade level comparisons, nor on any grade level aggregate outcomes (i.e., grades 3-5 school FCATî reading, mathematics, or writing mean). However moderate effect sizes were seen for reading in grade four and writing assessments in grade four. The non-statistically significant findings were likely due to low power, and the moderate effect sizes suggest evidence of practical significance.
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Date Issued
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2010
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Identifier
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CFE0003355, ucf:48444
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003355
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Title
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CHARACTERIZING THE VERTICAL STRUCTURE AND STRUCTURAL DIVERSITY OF FLORIDA OAK SCRUB VEGETATION USING DISCRETE-RETURN LIDAR.
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Creator
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Angelo, James, Weishampel, John, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Vertical structure, the top-to-bottom arrangement of aboveground vegetation, is an important component of forest and shrubland ecosystems. For many decades, ecologists have used foliage height profiles and other measures of vertical structure to identify discrete stages in post-disturbance succession and to quantify the heterogeneity of vegetation. Such studies have, however, required resource-intensive field surveys and have been limited to relatively small spatial extents (e.g.,
Show moreVertical structure, the top-to-bottom arrangement of aboveground vegetation, is an important component of forest and shrubland ecosystems. For many decades, ecologists have used foliage height profiles and other measures of vertical structure to identify discrete stages in post-disturbance succession and to quantify the heterogeneity of vegetation. Such studies have, however, required resource-intensive field surveys and have been limited to relatively small spatial extents (e.g., <15 ha). Light detection and ranging (lidar) is an active remote sensing technology with enormous potential to characterize the three-dimensional structure of vegetation over broad spatial scales. In this study, discrete-return lidar data were used to create vertical profiles for over 500 vegetation patches on approximately 1000 ha of an oak scrub landscape in the Kennedy Space Center/Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge area on the east-central coast of Florida. Nonparametric multivariate analysis of variance (NPMANOVA) tests detected significant differences among the profiles belonging to the four predominant land use/land cover (LULC) types in the study area. For the dominant LULC category (Herbaceous upland non-forested), pairwise NPMANOVA comparisons indicated that there were significant differences between vertical profiles for some of the distinct time since fire (TSF) values. Measures of vertical structural diversity (VSD) were calculated from the vertical profiles and then null, linear, and quadratic models relating VSD to TSF were compared via an Akaike information criterion (AIC) model selection procedure. As predicted by the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, the quadratic model was the best model for the Herbaceous upland non-forested LULC category, but it explained less than 3% of the total variation in VSD. When fire frequency was considered in conjunction with TSF for this LULC category, however, the model that was quadratic in both predictor variables was the best model among the candidates and explained over 6% of the total variation in VSD. These results support the Extended Keystone Hypothesis, which predicts that disturbance generates discrete structural patterns across landscapes, and the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, since the VSD of the predominant LULC category was maximized at intermediate levels of fire disturbance (i.e., intermediate values of TSF and/or fire frequency). In addition to demonstrating the ability of discrete-return lidar to characterize the vertical structure of vegetation at the landscape scale, this research has potential management implications. Using the techniques developed in this study, practitioners can compare the vertical structure of managed ecosystems to reference natural systems to evaluate the efficacy of managed disturbance regimes.
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Date Issued
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2010
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Identifier
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CFE0003254, ucf:48520
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003254
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Title
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Practicing Teachers' Beliefs Regarding Racially, Culturally, Ethnically, And Linguistically Diverse (RCELD) Students In A Title I Secondary-School Environment.
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Creator
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Sabino, Lisa, Gill, Michele, Kaplan, Jeffrey, Boote, David, Lue, Martha, Oldham, Lucile, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Based on school-level data that included disparities in discipline rates, Title I status, teacher attrition, and teachers' statements, I designed a dissertation in practice to understand practicing teachers' personal and professional diversity beliefs regarding racially, culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse (RCELD) students in a Title I, secondary-school setting. Four hypotheses concerning type of secondary degree, years of experience, subjects taught, and racial or ethnic...
Show moreBased on school-level data that included disparities in discipline rates, Title I status, teacher attrition, and teachers' statements, I designed a dissertation in practice to understand practicing teachers' personal and professional diversity beliefs regarding racially, culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse (RCELD) students in a Title I, secondary-school setting. Four hypotheses concerning type of secondary degree, years of experience, subjects taught, and racial or ethnic background were tested. Pohan and Aguilar's (2001a) Teachers' Belief Survey was administered to 59% of the GHS staff in order to measure the personal and professional beliefs of practicing teachers. I used descriptive and parametric tests to analyze the survey's data. Based on the parametric and non-parametric tests no statistically significant differences were found for the four hypotheses tested. Although no statistically significant differences were noted in the data, this dissertation in practice starts a conversation about diversity issues at GHS. The initial school-level data were indicative of a problem of practice at GHS, and practicing teachers did self-report high levels of diversity beliefs. I recommend that further research build upon this study and include a qualitative component. I conclude that further research is necessary in order to investigate why practicing teachers' self-report diversity beliefs were high, yet school-level data indicated discriminatory practices.
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Date Issued
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2016
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Identifier
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CFE0006174, ucf:51123
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006174
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Title
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Afro-Caribbean Parental Influence: Family Chronicles of the Educational Journey From Child to Medical Student.
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Creator
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Grant, Carlene, Cintron Delgado, Rosa, Owens, J. Thomas, Munyon, Matthew, Meehan, Kevin, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Many ethnic groups in the United States have struggled for the opportunity to be identified as an individual group. In academia, these students are often aggregated into a larger category, with little acknowledgment for the difference in their cultural heritage. Along with these cultural differences, Afro-Caribbean parents and their children are met with other challenges in the pursuit of lifelong goals (Sowell, 1978). The decision to become a medical doctor is one that can often not be made...
Show moreMany ethnic groups in the United States have struggled for the opportunity to be identified as an individual group. In academia, these students are often aggregated into a larger category, with little acknowledgment for the difference in their cultural heritage. Along with these cultural differences, Afro-Caribbean parents and their children are met with other challenges in the pursuit of lifelong goals (Sowell, 1978). The decision to become a medical doctor is one that can often not be made alone. Using the framework of Cultural Ecological Theory and Social Construction (Ogbu 1990, 1992; Berger (&) Luckman, 1991) this study was conducted to determine whether Afro-Caribbean parents influence their children to become medical doctors. The research results in this qualitative study identified major themes, among others, to include: (1) collaborative efforts in pursuit of dreams and goals, (2) surpassing parental achievements and (3) the ability to cope with negative experiences. Afro-Caribbean parents, students, faculty and administrators in higher education can gain from the findings of this study, an awareness of the importance of trusted relationships and early exposure to health careers.
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Date Issued
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2016
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Identifier
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CFE0006110, ucf:51198
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006110
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Title
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The Intricate Relationship between Measures of Vocabulary Size and Lexical Diversity as Evidenced in Non-Native and Native Speaker Academic Compositions.
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Creator
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Gonzalez, Melanie, Folse, Keith, Bai, Haiyan, Mihai, Florin, Webb, Stuart, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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The present study, a quantitative lexical analysis, examines the extent to which vocabulary size and lexical diversity contribute to writing scores on advanced non-native speakers' and native speakers' academic compositions. The data consists of essays composed by 104 adult non-native English learners enrolled in advanced second language writing courses and 68 native speaking university students in a first-year composition course. The lexical diversity of the sample essays is quantified by...
Show moreThe present study, a quantitative lexical analysis, examines the extent to which vocabulary size and lexical diversity contribute to writing scores on advanced non-native speakers' and native speakers' academic compositions. The data consists of essays composed by 104 adult non-native English learners enrolled in advanced second language writing courses and 68 native speaking university students in a first-year composition course. The lexical diversity of the sample essays is quantified by both the Measure of Textual Lexical Diversity (MTLD) and the voc-D while vocabulary size is measured by CELEX word frequency means, three instruments that are available in the computational linguistics program Coh-Metrix 3.0. Writing scores are provided by three independent raters' evaluations according to the TOEFL iBT Independent Writing Rubric.Results from a binary logistic regression reveal that lexical diversity has a significantly greater impact on writing score than vocabulary size (p (<) .01). Nevertheless, a series of MANOVAs indicate that vocabulary size initially facilitates writing scores at the lower proficiency levels, but it is an essay's lexical diversity that promotes it to the higher score levels. Additional findings from the MANOVAs demonstrate that native speakers' profiles of lexical diversity and size are significantly different from their non-native peers (p (<) .001). The lexical profiles also differed significantly among the individual score levels of the TOEFL iBT rubric (p (<) .05). A final outcome from a Pearson's product moment correlation analysis shows that vocabulary size has only a moderate relationship to lexical diversity, suggesting that variation of mid-range vocabulary may be more important to writing proficiency than the use of more sophisticated terms that occur less frequently in natural language.Implications for practice suggest that it is not enough to simply teach vocabulary words in the L2 composition classroom, but also to guide learners in how to employ these words in a varied manner within their writing. Furthermore, the results of this study indicate that teachers should spend more time on helping students use medium frequency words along with synonyms of a similar frequency rather than teaching students infrequent vocabulary, which may appear to sound more advanced.
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Date Issued
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2013
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Identifier
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CFE0004852, ucf:49693
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004852
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Title
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A Grounded Theory Study of the Experiences of Gender and Sexually Diverse High School Students: Balancing School Ethos.
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Creator
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Huff, Frankie, Olan, Elsie, Kaplan, Jeffrey, Hopp, Carolyn, Brenckle, Martha, Daniels, Terri, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Anti-bullying campaigns and legislation are on the rise, and school districts are fighting in favor of and against various forms of support for gay and sexually diverse (GSD) students, creating very distinct experienced ethoses in their prospective schools. At times, these ethoses stand in direct opposition of the aspirational ethoses of those same schools. The purpose of this grounded theory study is to understand how schools interact with the educational policies in place to create a...
Show moreAnti-bullying campaigns and legislation are on the rise, and school districts are fighting in favor of and against various forms of support for gay and sexually diverse (GSD) students, creating very distinct experienced ethoses in their prospective schools. At times, these ethoses stand in direct opposition of the aspirational ethoses of those same schools. The purpose of this grounded theory study is to understand how schools interact with the educational policies in place to create a balanced ethos. This study uses Charmaz's (2014) constructivist approach to grounded theory methods to answer the following questions: How, if at all, does the aspirational ethos balance with the experienced ethos in high schools for GSD students, and, how, if at all, are schools creating positive high school ethoses for GSD students? Two themes emerged from this study. The first theme, don't ask, don't tell, showed that GSD students are often expected to be silent about themselves and their issues. The second theme, policy is just a beginning, revealed that inclusive policy alone is not enough, administration must interact with these policies and GSD students. The findings of this study indicate that for schools to provide a balanced aspirational and experienced ethos for GSD students, these students must be included in the policies, actions, and interactions of the high school. Schools create a positive ethos for GSD students when the balance is achieved. This study has practical and theoretical implications for anti-oppressive educational practices and discourse regarding GSD students. ?
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Date Issued
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2015
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Identifier
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CFE0005809, ucf:50023
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005809
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Title
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NOT REALLY BOLLYWOOD:A HISTORY OF POPULAR HINDI FILMS, SONGS, AND DANCE WITH PEDAGOGICAL APPLICATIONS FOR UNDERSTANDING INDIAN HISTORY AND CULTURE.
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Creator
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Nayee, Sanjana, Kaplan, Jeffrey, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Contemporary fascination with 'Bollywood' proliferates much of reality TV dance shows, media blurbs and other communicative outlets. These avenues homogenize India as 'Bollywood', while social and political outlets place Indians and people of South Asian descent into fitted stereotypes that are ridiculed and largely distorted. The intent of this thesis was to explore how the growing international intrigues of popular Hindi films exist beyond 'Bollywood'. This study is especially important...
Show moreContemporary fascination with 'Bollywood' proliferates much of reality TV dance shows, media blurbs and other communicative outlets. These avenues homogenize India as 'Bollywood', while social and political outlets place Indians and people of South Asian descent into fitted stereotypes that are ridiculed and largely distorted. The intent of this thesis was to explore how the growing international intrigues of popular Hindi films exist beyond 'Bollywood'. This study is especially important because current U.S. demographics are undergoing a 'browning' effect yet a comprehensive method for understanding South Asian peoples and their cultures have been isolated to terrorist 'breeders', the model minority or as products primed for consumption. This thesis discusses the history of popular Hindi popular cinema, its changing methods of songs and dance and includes options of pedagogical applications within secondary level classrooms. In short, this thesis is an effort to highlight the similarities present amongst the differences that are consciously and unconsciously created or implicitly believed by the general population when attempting to decipher the many different components that exist across South Asian cultures, ethnicities, traditions, histories and identities.
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Date Issued
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2012
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Identifier
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CFH0004309, ucf:45055
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004309
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Title
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Streamflow prediction in ungauged basins located within data-scarce regions.
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Creator
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Alipour, Mohammadhossein, Kibler, Kelly, Wang, Dingbao, Mayo, Talea, Emrich, Christopher, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Preservation and or restoration of riverine ecosystem requires quantification of alterations inflicted by water resources development projects. Long records of streamflow data are the first piece of information required in order to enable this analysis. Ungauged catchments located within data-scarce regions lack long records of streamflow data. In this dissertation, a multi-objective framework named Streamflow Prediction under Extreme Data-scarcity (SPED) is proposed for streamflow prediction...
Show morePreservation and or restoration of riverine ecosystem requires quantification of alterations inflicted by water resources development projects. Long records of streamflow data are the first piece of information required in order to enable this analysis. Ungauged catchments located within data-scarce regions lack long records of streamflow data. In this dissertation, a multi-objective framework named Streamflow Prediction under Extreme Data-scarcity (SPED) is proposed for streamflow prediction in ungauged catchments located within large-scale regions of minimal hydrometeorologic observation. Multi-objective nature of SPED allows for balancing runoff efficiency with selection of parameter values that resemble catchment physical characteristics. Uncertain and low-resolution information are incorporated in SPED as soft data along with sparse observations. SPED application in two catchments in southwestern China indicates high runoff efficiency for predictions and good estimation of soil moisture capacity in the catchments. SPED is then slightly modified and tested more comprehensively by application to six catchments with diverse hydroclimatic conditions. SPED performance proves satisfactory where traditional flow prediction approaches fail. SPED also proves comparable or even better than data-intensive approaches. Utility of SPED versus a simpler catchment similarity model for the study of flow regime alteration is pursued next by streamflow prediction in 32 rivers in southwestern China. The results indicate that diversion adversely alters the flow regime of the rivers while direction and pattern of change remain the same regardless of the flow prediction method of choice. However, the results based on SPED consistently indicate more substantial alterations to the flow regime of the rivers after diversion. Finally, the value added by a limited number of streamflow observations to improvement of predictions in an ungauged catchment located within a data-scarce region is studied. The large number of test scenarios indicate that there may be very few near-universal schemes to improve flow predictions in such catchments.
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Date Issued
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2019
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Identifier
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CFE0007426, ucf:52713
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007426
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Title
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CONNECTIONLESS APPROACH A LOCALIZED SCHEME TO MOBILE AD HOC NETWORKS.
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Creator
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Ho, Yao, Hua, Kien, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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According to a Gartner Group (www.gartner.com) report in September 2008, the worldwide telecommunications market is on pace to reach $2 trillion in 2008. Gartner predicts that by 2012, the ratio of mobile to fixed connections will exceed 4-to-1. The North American mobile data market grew to 141.1 million connections in 2007, with a compound annual growth rate of 41.7 percent. It is believed that a large portion will be ad hoc and multi-hop connections, which will open many opportunities for...
Show moreAccording to a Gartner Group (www.gartner.com) report in September 2008, the worldwide telecommunications market is on pace to reach $2 trillion in 2008. Gartner predicts that by 2012, the ratio of mobile to fixed connections will exceed 4-to-1. The North American mobile data market grew to 141.1 million connections in 2007, with a compound annual growth rate of 41.7 percent. It is believed that a large portion will be ad hoc and multi-hop connections, which will open many opportunities for Mobile Ad hoc NETwork (MANET) applications and Wireless Mesh Network (WMN) applications. A MANET is a self-organizing multi-hop wireless network where all nodes participate in the routing and data forwarding process. Such a network can be easily deployed in situations where no base station is available, and a network must be build spontaneously. In applications such as battlefield communications, national crises, disaster recovery, and sensor deployment, a wired network is not available and ad hoc networks provide the only feasible means of communications and information access. Ad hoc networks have also become commonplace for gaming, conferencing, electronic classrooms, and particularly vehicle-to-vehicle communications. A Wireless mash network (WMN) is collection of mesh clients and mesh nodes (routers), with mesh nodes forming the backbone of the network and providing connection to the Internet and other network. Their rapid deployment and ease of maintenance are suitable for on-demand network such as disaster recovery, homeland security, convention centers, hard-to-wire buildings and unfriendly terrains. One important problem with MANET is the routing protocol that needs to work well not just with a small network, but also sustain efficiency and scalability as the network gets expanded and the application transmits data in greater volume. In such an environment, mobility, channel error, and congestion are the main causes for packet loss. Due to mobility of mobile hosts, addressing frequent and unpredictable topology changes is fundamental to MANET research. Two general approaches have been considered: connection-oriented approach and connectionless-oriented approach. In the former, the emphasis is on how to reconnect quickly with low overhead when a broken link occurs. Examples of this approach includes , , , , , , , , , and . In contrast, connectionless-oriented approach focuses on minimizing the occurrence of broken links. We proposed one such scheme called Connectionless Approach (CLA) and . In CLA, the network area is divided into non-overlapping grid cells, each serving as a virtual router. Any physical router (i.e., mobile host), currently inside a virtual router, can help forward the data packet to the next virtual router along the virtual link. This process is repeated until the packet reaches its final destination. Since a virtual link is based on virtual routers which do not move, it is much more robust than physical links used in the connection-oriented techniques. Simulation results in our previous works and , based on GloMoSim , indicate that CLA performs significantly better than connection-oriented techniques (i.e., AODV, DSR, LAR, GRID, TMNR, and GPSR). The contribution of this work consists of investigating and developing new Connectionless-Oriented Approach for Mobile Ad Hoc Network. Two of the greatest impacts of this research are as follows. First, the new approach is targeted towards robustly support high mobility and large scale environment which has been adapted for vehicle-to-vehicle environment in . Second, the detailed simulations which compare eight representative routing protocols, namely AODV, DSR, LAR, GRID, TMNR, GPSR, CBF, and CLA, under high-mobility environments. As many important emergent applications of the technology involved high-mobility nodes, very little is known about the existing routing methods perform relative to each other in high-mobility environments. The simulation results provide insight into ad hoc routing protocols and offer guidelines for mobile ad hoc network applications. Next, we enhanced and extend the connectionless-oriented approach. The current connectionless-oriented approach, however, may suffer from packet drops since traffic congestion is not considered in the packet forwarding policy. We address this weakness by considering the connectionless-oriented approach with a collision avoidance routing technique. After that, we investigate techniques to enforce collaboration among mobile devices in supporting the virtual router functionality. Many works have been published to combat such problem - misbehaving nodes are detected and a routing algorithm is employed to avoid and penalize misbehaving nodes. These techniques, however, cannot be applied to the connectionless-oriented approach since any node in the general direction towards the destination node can potentially help forward the data packets. To address the security and cooperation issues for connectionless-oriented approach, we introduce a cooperation enforcement technique called 3CE (3-Counter Enforcement). In addition, wireless mesh networks have become increasingly popular in recent years. Wireless mash network (WMNs) are collection of mesh clients and mesh nodes (routers), with mesh nodes forming the backbone of the network and providing connection to the Internet and other network. We propose a paradigm that combines virtual routers and mesh nodes to create a hybrid network call VR-Mesh Network. This hybrid network can reduce number of mesh node needed without decrease the performance of the network.
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Date Issued
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2009
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Identifier
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CFE0002742, ucf:48146
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002742
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Title
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ADDRESSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND DISPROPORTIONALITY THROUGH THE USE OF CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING PRACTICES.
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Creator
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Griner, Angela, Lue Stewart, Martha, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Culturally responsive teaching practices in schools and classrooms have been shown to be an effective means of addressing the achievement gap, as well as the disproportionate representation of racially, culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse students in programs serving students with special needs. While there has been a recent influx in research discussing these issues, teachers and school staff lack clear examples and tools for best practices that will aid them in addressing the...
Show moreCulturally responsive teaching practices in schools and classrooms have been shown to be an effective means of addressing the achievement gap, as well as the disproportionate representation of racially, culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse students in programs serving students with special needs. While there has been a recent influx in research discussing these issues, teachers and school staff lack clear examples and tools for best practices that will aid them in addressing the achievement gap and disproportionality effectively within their schools. Conducted in three phases, this research provides a framework for developing, implementing, and evaluating a culturally responsive tool for schools and school staff in order to impact beliefs and practices related to culturally responsive teaching, leading to the enhanced learning outcomes of all students.
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Date Issued
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2011
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Identifier
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CFE0003880, ucf:48759
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003880
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Title
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SUPPORTING HISPANIC MOTHERS WITH PRESCHOOL CHILDREN WITH SPEECH AND/ OR LANGUAGE DELAYS VIA DIALOGIC READING AND COACHING WITHIN THE HOME.
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Creator
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Dopson, Natalie, Cross, Lee, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Young children who are Hispanic, from low-income homes and have developmental delays are at a disadvantage for not having the basic early literacy foundation to become successful readers later in school (Ballantyne, Sanderman, D'Emilio, & McLaughlin, 2008; Hammer, Farkas, & Maczuga, 2010; Ezell & Justice 2005; McCardle, Scarborough, & Catts, 2001). These challenges can be addressed in several ways. Early intervention including parent education and collaboration along with shared book reading...
Show moreYoung children who are Hispanic, from low-income homes and have developmental delays are at a disadvantage for not having the basic early literacy foundation to become successful readers later in school (Ballantyne, Sanderman, D'Emilio, & McLaughlin, 2008; Hammer, Farkas, & Maczuga, 2010; Ezell & Justice 2005; McCardle, Scarborough, & Catts, 2001). These challenges can be addressed in several ways. Early intervention including parent education and collaboration along with shared book reading are considered best practices and critical to improving child outcomes (NELP, 2008). In addition, children who have a solid foundation in early literacy skills including vocabulary development in their native language will later transfer to the development of vocabulary in English (Ballantyne et al., 2008). Yet, research on shared book reading practices within the home of Hispanics is minimal (Hammer and Miccio, 2006). It is necessary to expand the literature on how to adapt best practices to meet the needs of Hispanic families who are economically disadvantaged. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of parent training and coaching of dialogic reading strategies in Spanish on mothers' implementation of the strategies and total vocabulary expressed by the child during shared book reading within the home environment. In addition, the researcher explored parent receptiveness towards shared book reading strategies. The research design for the study was a single-subject multiple baseline across three mother-child dyad participants. The independent variable was the intervention which consisted of parent training video on dialogic reading, parent handouts, and researcher coaching. The dependent variables were the mother's implementation of dialogic reading strategies and the children's total expressed words during shared book reading. The mother-child dyads, originally from Mexico, lived in settled migrant community in central Florida. The three children regularly attended a local federally funded preschool and received services for speech and/or language. The results indicated that the mothers' implementation of dialogic reading increased after training and coaching and the children's expressed total vocabulary words also increased. Dyad's interests in the selected books, mother responsiveness during shared book reading, and duration of shared book reading may have impacted some of the variability in the results. Furthermore, mothers were unaware of the dialogic reading strategies prior to the intervention and reported positive feedback and a desire to learn more ways to help their children at home. Implications for research and practice include the need for parent education to support caretakers of young children with speech and/or language delays, involvement of parents in the intervention planning process including coaching options, adaptation of intervention to expand upon parent's funds of knowledge, complexity of code-switching and language differences, and greater collaboration between school and home.
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Date Issued
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2011
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Identifier
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CFE0003961, ucf:48713
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003961
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Title
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Quality Diversity: Harnessing Evolution to Generate a Diversity of High-Performing Solutions.
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Creator
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Pugh, Justin, Stanley, Kenneth, Wu, Annie, Sukthankar, Gita, Garibay, Ivan, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Evolution in nature has designed countless solutions to innumerable interconnected problems, giving birth to the impressive array of complex modern life observed today. Inspired by this success, the practice of evolutionary computation (EC) abstracts evolution artificially as a search operator to find solutions to problems of interest primarily through the adaptive mechanism of survival of the fittest, where stronger candidates are pursued at the expense of weaker ones until a solution of...
Show moreEvolution in nature has designed countless solutions to innumerable interconnected problems, giving birth to the impressive array of complex modern life observed today. Inspired by this success, the practice of evolutionary computation (EC) abstracts evolution artificially as a search operator to find solutions to problems of interest primarily through the adaptive mechanism of survival of the fittest, where stronger candidates are pursued at the expense of weaker ones until a solution of satisfying quality emerges. At the same time, research in open-ended evolution (OEE) draws different lessons from nature, seeking to identify and recreate processes that lead to the type of perpetual innovation and indefinitely increasing complexity observed in natural evolution. New algorithms in EC such as MAP-Elites and Novelty Search with Local Competition harness the toolkit of evolution for a related purpose: finding as many types of good solutions as possible (rather than merely the single best solution). With the field in its infancy, no empirical studies previously existed comparing these so-called quality diversity (QD) algorithms. This dissertation (1) contains the first extensive and methodical effort to compare different approaches to QD (including both existing published approaches as well as some new methods presented for the first time here) and to understand how they operate to help inform better approaches in the future.It also (2) introduces a new technique for encoding neural networks for evolution with indirect encoding that contain multiple sensory or output modalities.Further, it (3) explores the idea that QD can act as an engine of open-ended discovery by introducing an expressive platform called Voxelbuild where QD algorithms continually evolve robots that stack blocks in new ways. A culminating experiment (4) is presented that investigates evolution in Voxelbuild over a very long timescale. This research thus stands to advance the OEE community's desire to create and understand open-ended systems while also laying the groundwork for QD to realize its potential within EC as a means to automatically generate an endless progression of new content in real-world applications.
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Date Issued
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2019
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Identifier
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CFE0007513, ucf:52638
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007513
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Title
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The Role of Virtual Avatars in Supporting Middle School Students from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds on Science in After School Programs.
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Creator
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Gallegos, Benjamin, Dieker, Lisa, Vasquez, Eleazar, Marino, Matthew, Hughes, Charles, University of Central Florida
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Abstract / Description
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Students who receive additional educational supports in afterschool programs were the focus of the investigation. This study was conducted to measure what effects a TeachLivE avatar, a mixed-reality virtual environment, used in combination with a video game, had on the activation of prior knowledge in science for students in rural middle school. The delivery of the biology science lessons on cell structures and processes were delivered using the video game, Cell Command. The TeachLivE adult...
Show moreStudents who receive additional educational supports in afterschool programs were the focus of the investigation. This study was conducted to measure what effects a TeachLivE avatar, a mixed-reality virtual environment, used in combination with a video game, had on the activation of prior knowledge in science for students in rural middle school. The delivery of the biology science lessons on cell structures and processes were delivered using the video game, Cell Command. The TeachLivE adult avatar was customized as a biologist who spoke to students in the treatment group about science concepts prior to playing the science video game. Unexpected attrition rates and low numbers of participants in the targeted area of research providing consent affected the original research design to conduct the research study. Therefore, a pivot was made from the original research design. The initial target population was students with a learning disability who were culturally and linguistically diverse from low socioeconomic backgrounds in rural communities. By the end of the study, only one student with a learning disability consented and completed the study, with attrition rates in the original school approaching 90% due to various factors, which are discussed. Descriptive statistics were used to measure the effects between students in the control group who only played the Cell Command video game, compared to students in the treatment condition who played the Cell Command science video game, and had four, five minute conversations with a TeachLivE avatar. The analysis indicated varied differences between the treatment and control conditions. The analysis of a STEM-CIS survey, that measures career interests, sum means were included in the descriptive analysis along with the unique challenges presented in conducting research in a rural Title I school.
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Date Issued
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2016
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Identifier
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CFE0006304, ucf:51606
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006304
Pages