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- Title
- A Power Quality Monitoring System for a 20 kW Ocean Turbine.
- Creator
- Cook, Kevin, Xiros, Nikolaos I., Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis explores an approach for the measurement of the quality of power generated by the Center of Ocean and Energy Technology's prototype ocean turbine. The work includes the development of a system that measures the current and voltage waveforms for all three phases of power created by the induction generator and quantifies power variations and events that occur within the system. These so called "power quality indices" are discussed in detail including the definition of each and how...
Show moreThis thesis explores an approach for the measurement of the quality of power generated by the Center of Ocean and Energy Technology's prototype ocean turbine. The work includes the development of a system that measures the current and voltage waveforms for all three phases of power created by the induction generator and quantifies power variations and events that occur within the system. These so called "power quality indices" are discussed in detail including the definition of each and how they are calculated using LabYiew. The results of various tests demonstrate that this system is accurate and may be implemented in the ocean turbine system to measure the quality of power produced by the turbine. The work then explores a dynamic model of the ocean turbine system that can be used to simulate the response of the turbine to varying conditions.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012514
- Subject Headings
- Marine turbines--Mathematical models, Fluid dynamics, Power electronics, Finite element method
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Facial Expression Computer Interaction System for Children with Asperger's Syndrome.
- Creator
- Amador, Francisco Javier, Huang, Shihong, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
People with Autism Spectrum Disorders, particularly Asperger's Syndrome, have a set of symptoms, such as difficulty processing emotive facial expressions and making less eye contact, that affect the individual's social interactions. The prototype developed is geared to help children with Asperger's Syndrome recognize facial expressions, improve eye contact, and to reinforce connections between facial and verbal components of expressions. This application utilizes a computer generated human...
Show morePeople with Autism Spectrum Disorders, particularly Asperger's Syndrome, have a set of symptoms, such as difficulty processing emotive facial expressions and making less eye contact, that affect the individual's social interactions. The prototype developed is geared to help children with Asperger's Syndrome recognize facial expressions, improve eye contact, and to reinforce connections between facial and verbal components of expressions. This application utilizes a computer generated human head, an avatar, to interact with the children while displaying various emotions and using games to increase the children's eye contact. The unique properties of the avatar utilized allow for a comprehensive coverage of the children's attention spectrum to maximize their learning potential. Knowing that about 17% of Autism Spectrum Disorders belong to the Asperger's Syndrome subclass, the positive impact of this application on their life would be of great importance for their families and the community.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012503
- Subject Headings
- Autism spectrum disorders--Treatment--Technological innovations, Optical pattern recognition, Interpersonal communication in children, Emotions in children, Exceptional children--Psychology, Social skills in children
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Individual Profiling Of Perceived Tinnitus by Developing Tinnitus Analyzer Software.
- Creator
- Chaudhury, Baishali, Pandya, Abhijit S., Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
Tinnitus is a conscious perception of phantom sounds in the absence of external acoustic stimuli, and masking is one of the popular ways to treat it. Due to the variation in the perceived tinnitus sound from patient to patient, the usefulness of masking therapy cannot be generalized. Thus, it is important to first determine the feasibility of masking therapy on a particular patient, by quantifying the tinnitus sound, and then generate an appropriate masking signal. This paper aims to achieve...
Show moreTinnitus is a conscious perception of phantom sounds in the absence of external acoustic stimuli, and masking is one of the popular ways to treat it. Due to the variation in the perceived tinnitus sound from patient to patient, the usefulness of masking therapy cannot be generalized. Thus, it is important to first determine the feasibility of masking therapy on a particular patient, by quantifying the tinnitus sound, and then generate an appropriate masking signal. This paper aims to achieve this kind of individual profiling by developing interactive software - Tinnitus Analyzer, based on clinical approach. The developed software has been proposed to be used in place oftraditional clinical methods and this software (as a part of the future work) will be implemented in the practical scenario involving real tinnitus patients.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012512
- Subject Headings
- Medical care--Technological innovations, Tinnitus--Diagnosis--Aids and devices, Hearing disorders--Diagnosis--Technological innovations, Psychoacoustics--Research
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The Effects of Social Structure on Individual Actions: a Social Cognition and Social Structure Approach.
- Creator
- Knoche, Harry "Trip", Castrogiovanni, Gary J., Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
This study examines the effects of epistemic motives and individual social structure (strength of social ties) on individual actions. lt has been suggested that the informal structure of relations that develops within firms affects the actions of individuals e effects of both epistemic motives and social structure are considered. The findings of this study suggest that information about the epistemic motives of employees can provide insight into the fonnation of the individual social...
Show moreThis study examines the effects of epistemic motives and individual social structure (strength of social ties) on individual actions. lt has been suggested that the informal structure of relations that develops within firms affects the actions of individuals e effects of both epistemic motives and social structure are considered. The findings of this study suggest that information about the epistemic motives of employees can provide insight into the fonnation of the individual social structures and the intrinsic desire of employees to take interdependent or independent actions. The effects of epistemic motives and individual social structure on individual actions, the organizing process and the formulation and implementation of strategies are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000309
- Subject Headings
- Motivation (Psychology)--Social aspects, Social networks--Psychological aspects, Social capital (Sociology), Managerial economics, Economics--Moral and ethical aspects
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Raise it Overhead.
- Creator
- Amato, Alison, Scroggins, Mark, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
This is a collection of poetry that deals with contradiction, generation, and degeneration. It also confronts ideals embedded in culture and society that have become points of emotional conflict for many. This collection often focuses on successfully communicating feelings and ideas through the brevity of language. However. at some points it is necessary to set aside the practice of brevity and lengthen the works in order go beyond restrictive bounda ries and enter a realm of continuation,...
Show moreThis is a collection of poetry that deals with contradiction, generation, and degeneration. It also confronts ideals embedded in culture and society that have become points of emotional conflict for many. This collection often focuses on successfully communicating feelings and ideas through the brevity of language. However. at some points it is necessary to set aside the practice of brevity and lengthen the works in order go beyond restrictive bounda ries and enter a realm of continuation, control, and repetition. Many of the poems begin without beginnings and end without resolutions both allowing the reader to draw from it personal points of reference as well as conclusions. An anatomical theme can be found throughout this collection, allowing these poems to become living things while lending a sense of mysticism. Collectively, these poems try to achieve a relationship of familiarity with the reader while still having come from a personal space.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000887
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Effects of POSS Fiber Sizing on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of CarbonNinyl Ester Composites.
- Creator
- Powell, Felicia M., Mahfuz, Hassan, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
- Abstract/Description
-
The degradation of polymer composites in moist environments is a limiting factor in the advancement of composite technology. The key to mitigate this degradation is to maintain the integrity of the fiber/matrix (F/M) interface. In this study, the F/M interface of carbon/vinyl ester composites has been modified by treating the carbon fiber with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS). Two POSS systems, namely octaisobutyl and trisilanolphenyl, have been investigated. A set of chemical and...
Show moreThe degradation of polymer composites in moist environments is a limiting factor in the advancement of composite technology. The key to mitigate this degradation is to maintain the integrity of the fiber/matrix (F/M) interface. In this study, the F/M interface of carbon/vinyl ester composites has been modified by treating the carbon fiber with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS). Two POSS systems, namely octaisobutyl and trisilanolphenyl, have been investigated. A set of chemical and mechanical procedures has been developed to coat carbon fibers with POSS, and fabricate layered composites using vinyl ester resin. lnterlaminar shear, transverse tension, and low velocity impact tests on composites have indicated around 10-38% improvement in mechanical properties with respect to control samples. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) tests have also shown significant improvement in glass transition temperature (T9). Hygrothermal tests, under various environments, have demonstrated that POSS reduces water absorption by 20-30%.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012540
- Subject Headings
- Surface chemistry, Composite materials--Biodegradation, Carbon compounds--Testing, Thermodynamics, Fibrous compounds--Testing
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Hungry and Other Stories.
- Creator
- Sheffield, Mary, Bucak, Ayse Papatya, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
This is a collection of short stories that deal with elements of identity, the fantastic, fragmentation, poetry, the media, politics, and myriad other themes. The stories are connected by an interwoven thread of self-discovery and awareness. These stories present an image and then rework it, giving greater or varied details about whatever is being describing in the hope of achieving a more visceral story, a more true experience of writing and reading, and a better understanding of the...
Show moreThis is a collection of short stories that deal with elements of identity, the fantastic, fragmentation, poetry, the media, politics, and myriad other themes. The stories are connected by an interwoven thread of self-discovery and awareness. These stories present an image and then rework it, giving greater or varied details about whatever is being describing in the hope of achieving a more visceral story, a more true experience of writing and reading, and a better understanding of the emotions that underlie the story. These stories also try to capture and communicate the idea that our experience is a common one, across time and cultures, and the idea that many, many more writers than I could ever read in my lifetime have written about this experience.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000963
- Subject Headings
- Symbolism in literature, Short stories, American--Collections, Conduct of life
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The Light That Calls Them Back.
- Creator
- Fedden, Victoria, Mitchell, Susan, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
"The Light That Calls Them Back" is a collection of 23 poems completed during my three years of graduate studies. The poems in this collection are memory based and rely on the use of metaphor to convey emotion. These writings were compiled to demonstrate a range of poetic styles and subject matter. Most importantly, each poem in some way deals with the poet's relationship to different places and the memories (often hazy or inaccurate) associated with certain settings. Additional themes...
Show more"The Light That Calls Them Back" is a collection of 23 poems completed during my three years of graduate studies. The poems in this collection are memory based and rely on the use of metaphor to convey emotion. These writings were compiled to demonstrate a range of poetic styles and subject matter. Most importantly, each poem in some way deals with the poet's relationship to different places and the memories (often hazy or inaccurate) associated with certain settings. Additional themes present throughout these works are the loss that comes with both death and abandonment and the relationship among visual art and images and poetry. The voice in these poems represents the poet in different stages of life. Many of the poems appear to deal with mystical or fantastical elements. These represent the poet's imagination and belief in the unexplained. Some are meant to be taken literally, while others become metaphors or evidence of the poet's desire to escape the ordinary world.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000914
- Subject Headings
- Poetry--Collections., Symbolism in literature., Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.), Poetry--Themes, motives.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Work ln Progress.
- Creator
- Robinson, Nick R., Bradley, William, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
Consistent with Vivian Gornick's "idea of self," Work In Progress is, in many ways, a classic coming-of-age story in which the boy, Nicky, along his life-journey, struggles to discover who he is. If Work In Progress is unusual, it is in the degree and the detail that it delves into its major themes, which I discuss below. Second, Work in Progress is unusual in the number of purposeful stylistic variations employed across the project's books. Nicky's story is told in seven books, each of which...
Show moreConsistent with Vivian Gornick's "idea of self," Work In Progress is, in many ways, a classic coming-of-age story in which the boy, Nicky, along his life-journey, struggles to discover who he is. If Work In Progress is unusual, it is in the degree and the detail that it delves into its major themes, which I discuss below. Second, Work in Progress is unusual in the number of purposeful stylistic variations employed across the project's books. Nicky's story is told in seven books, each of which is a standalone, personal essay. Through the books the reader is provided an episodic snapshot of Nicky's life. Each of the snapshots facilitate a particular view of Nicky, each is a jigsaw-puzzle-piece that, when snapped together with the other puzzle pieces, form a single, holistic image of the boy and his search for self I provide an overview of each of the seven books below. I am also endeavoring to write Work in Progress on three levels: The first level is the compelling, personal level that draws the reader to the individual, Nicky, and the group of supporting characters. The story has to be compelling enough to pull the reader through the various stylistic iterations of each of the different books. Second, through the exploration of the major themes of institutionalization, abuse, religion, and racism (including the offshoots: race-based self-hatred and the discrimination within races that Alice Walker cans colorism), I attempt to raise the story up to another level, a level of universal applicability. Specifically, I want the everyday reader, the reader who has not suffered these circumstances to know them through the reading experience, and, consequently, to relate to and with Nicky. Toward this end, I use every narrative tool and technique at my disposal including utilizing reflection in the form of stream of consciousness and dreams, for example, to put the reader into the experience instead of telling the reader what the protagonist is thinking. I also maximize the use of scene, imagery, metaphor, and dialogue, to show the reader, and to allow the reader to come to their own conclusions.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000958
- Subject Headings
- Symbolism in literature, Self in literature
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Bullet.
- Creator
- Pumphrey, Christopher J., Schwartz, Jason, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
Bullet is a collection of short stories that fictionalizes the last days of twentieth century world authors. Inspired heavily by the biographies of each writer, the stories depict the spiraling psyches of each suicide. Each narrator is carefully crafted out of the real life of each author though, first and foremost, each story is fiction. By the end, Bullet is a contemplation of both life and death from the perspective of the greatest minds of the last one hundred years. Only now, in the new...
Show moreBullet is a collection of short stories that fictionalizes the last days of twentieth century world authors. Inspired heavily by the biographies of each writer, the stories depict the spiraling psyches of each suicide. Each narrator is carefully crafted out of the real life of each author though, first and foremost, each story is fiction. By the end, Bullet is a contemplation of both life and death from the perspective of the greatest minds of the last one hundred years. Only now, in the new millennium, can the twentieth century be definitively sketched. Bullet is one of the first pieces of writing to do so.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000952
- Subject Headings
- Short stories, American, Symbolism in literature, Death--Fiction, Suicide--Fiction
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- 1,8-Naphthridine Based Receptors for Selective Monosaccharide Binding in Aqueous Media.
- Creator
- Addo-Mensah, Alfred Kwesi, Cudic, Predrag, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
In this dissertation the synthesis, characterization, and binding properties of carbohydrate receptors 34-38 was described. Macrocyclic receptor 34 and macrobicyclic receptor 35 bind monosaccharides in aqueous media through combination of hydrophobic, electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions. The dissociation constants (Kd) for the complexes between 1 ,8-naphthyridine receptors 34, and 35 with a variety of neutral and negatively charged monosaccharides in aqueous media were determined...
Show moreIn this dissertation the synthesis, characterization, and binding properties of carbohydrate receptors 34-38 was described. Macrocyclic receptor 34 and macrobicyclic receptor 35 bind monosaccharides in aqueous media through combination of hydrophobic, electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions. The dissociation constants (Kd) for the complexes between 1 ,8-naphthyridine receptors 34, and 35 with a variety of neutral and negatively charged monosaccharides in aqueous media were determined by fluorimetric and UV /vis titration. The observed values are in the range from ~0.3 to >10 mM, within the Kd range reported for lectin/monosaccharide complexes. However, among monosaccharide substrates tested receptor 34 showed the strongest affinity for sialic acid (Kd = ~0 . 3 mM), a monosaccharide that plays many important roles in a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes. Macrocyclic receptor 34 recognizes not only sialic acid in solution, but also binds selectively in vitro to human cancer cell surface carbohydrate antigens containing terminal sialic acid moieties. In addition, besides their binding selectivity, receptors 34 and 35 display also the ability to discriminate between closely related monosaccharide substrates by opposite variation of the fluorescence emission intensity. Structure-binding relationship study of receptor 34 revealed that H-bonding donor/acceptor pattern and presence of positive charge on receptor's side arms are crucial for selective monosaccharide binding in aqueous media.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000844
- Subject Headings
- Monosaccharides--Synthesis, Sensory receptors--Testing, Organic compounds--Synthesis, Electrochemical analysis
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Reading, Writing, and Language: The Neo-Slave Novel and the Changing Definition of Literacy.
- Creator
- Segal, Pamela H., Dagbovie-Mullins, Sika A., Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
After examining the neo-slave genre it becomes evident that the definition of the genre provided by AshrafRushdy is incomplete, because it does not include an important component of the narrative, literacy. By adding to Rushdy's definition, the narrative's dimensions change and the discussion of the genre is given a new perspective. Many neo-slave narratives' discussions of literacy correspond to the time of publication, not the time period or setting of the novels. Therefore, by interpreting...
Show moreAfter examining the neo-slave genre it becomes evident that the definition of the genre provided by AshrafRushdy is incomplete, because it does not include an important component of the narrative, literacy. By adding to Rushdy's definition, the narrative's dimensions change and the discussion of the genre is given a new perspective. Many neo-slave narratives' discussions of literacy correspond to the time of publication, not the time period or setting of the novels. Therefore, by interpreting the development of literacy alongside the neo-slave narrative, one is able to consider the significance of this connection. By examining three novels within the neo-slave genre, Ishmael Reed's Flight to Canada (1976), Shirley Ann Williams's Dessa Rose (1986) and Toni Morrison's Beloved (1987), I contend that Ashraf Rushdy' s definition of the narrative appears too limited. The cultural perspective and use of literacy within the neo-slave novel allows for further examination of this important component.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000961
- Subject Headings
- Slavery in literature, Influence (Literary, artistic, etc), American prose literature--African American authors--Criticism and interpretation, Reed, Ishmael,--1938---Flight to Canada--Criticism and interpretation, Williams, Shirley Ann--Dessa Rose--Criticism and interpretation, Morrison, Toni--Beloved--Criticism and interpretation
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Energy Efficient Cluster-Based Target Tracking Strategy.
- Creator
- AL-Ghanem, Waleed Khalid, Mahgoub, Imad, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
This research proposes a cluster-based target tracking strategy for one moving object using wireless sensor networks. The sensor field is organized in 3 hierarchal levels. 1-bit message is sent when a node detects the target. Otherwise the node stays silent. Since in wireless sensor network nodes have limited computational resources, limited storage resources, and limited battery, the code for predicting the target position should be simple, and fast to execute. The algorithm proposed in this...
Show moreThis research proposes a cluster-based target tracking strategy for one moving object using wireless sensor networks. The sensor field is organized in 3 hierarchal levels. 1-bit message is sent when a node detects the target. Otherwise the node stays silent. Since in wireless sensor network nodes have limited computational resources, limited storage resources, and limited battery, the code for predicting the target position should be simple, and fast to execute. The algorithm proposed in this research is simple, fast, and utilizes all available detection data for estimating the location of the target while conserving energy. lbis has the potential of increasing the network life time. A simulation program is developed to study the impact of the field size and density on the overall performance of the strategy. Simulation results show that the strategy saves energy while estimating the location of the target with an acceptable error margin.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012501
- Subject Headings
- Wireless communication systems--Technological innovations, Sensor networks--Security measures, High performance computing, Adaptive signal processing, Target acquisition, Expert systems (Computer science)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Nature's Place in Zora Neale Hurston's "John Redding Goes to Sea," "Magnolia Flower," and "Sweat".
- Creator
- Redman, F. Russell, Stover, Johnnie, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
Zora Neale Hurston is recognized as an important American literary figure, but the majority of her fiction is overshadowed by the critical attention given to her most popular novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. Just as her short stories remain relatively ignored by critics, little is written about her thoughts regarding nature and the human relationship with the natural environment. This thesis draws upon the recent growth of ecocriticism and ecofeminist literary criticism in an attempt to...
Show moreZora Neale Hurston is recognized as an important American literary figure, but the majority of her fiction is overshadowed by the critical attention given to her most popular novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. Just as her short stories remain relatively ignored by critics, little is written about her thoughts regarding nature and the human relationship with the natural environment. This thesis draws upon the recent growth of ecocriticism and ecofeminist literary criticism in an attempt to interpret Hurston's environmental thought as manifested in three of her early short stories, "John Redding Goes to Sea," "Magnolia Flower," and "Sweat." In this study, I show that even in her early short stories, Hurston's fiction is ripe with imagery and narrative that blend the natural with the cultural while effectively illustrating and engaging the interconnectedness between social inequality and environmental degradation in the South.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000953
- Subject Headings
- Hurston, Zora Neale--John Redding goes to sea--Criticism and interpretation, Hurston, Zora Neale--Magnolia flower to sea--Criticism and interpretation, Hurston, Zora Neale--Sweat--Criticism and interpretation, Nature in literature, Human ecology in literature
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Proto-Feminism, gender, and Genre: Moderata Fonte and Maria de Zayas Sotomayor's Silent Alliance.
- Creator
- Sardu Castangia, Luisanna, Ruthenberg, Myriam Swennen, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
In their comparative study of Medieval and Renaissance European women writers, Pamela Benson and Victoria Kirkham, exploring the relationship between Italian women writers and their English and French counterparts, assumed a "dynamic interaction" existed. Despite the absence of Spanish women writers in that collection when observing the themes and writing strategies ofModerata Fonte and Maria de Zayas Sotomayor, one can observe a number of similarities that points toward a dynamic interaction...
Show moreIn their comparative study of Medieval and Renaissance European women writers, Pamela Benson and Victoria Kirkham, exploring the relationship between Italian women writers and their English and French counterparts, assumed a "dynamic interaction" existed. Despite the absence of Spanish women writers in that collection when observing the themes and writing strategies ofModerata Fonte and Maria de Zayas Sotomayor, one can observe a number of similarities that points toward a dynamic interaction and moreover, to the transmission of proto-feminist ideas along "memory chains".
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000960
- Subject Headings
- Fonte, Moderata,--1555-1592--Criticism and interpretation, Zayas y Sotomayor, María de,--1590-1650--Criticism and interpretation, Spanish literature--Classical period, 1500-1700--Criticism and interpretation, Feminism in literature
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Pakistan at a Crossroads: Musharraf, the War on Terror, and the Possibilities for a Sustainable Democracy.
- Creator
- Porges, Lori Ann, Rabil, Robert, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
This study examines Pakistan's modem history, focusing on the role the military has played in the country's politics and its impact on the prospects for democracy. It attempts to understand the motives behind the military 's frequent coup d 'etats and its rationale for keeping and yielding power. More specifically, this study investigates President Pervez Musharrars policies and initiatives, including electoral and constitutional changes, with the objective of identifying obstacles to a...
Show moreThis study examines Pakistan's modem history, focusing on the role the military has played in the country's politics and its impact on the prospects for democracy. It attempts to understand the motives behind the military 's frequent coup d 'etats and its rationale for keeping and yielding power. More specifically, this study investigates President Pervez Musharrars policies and initiatives, including electoral and constitutional changes, with the objective of identifying obstacles to a peaceful transition to democracy. In this respect, it probes and assesses the role played by the United States in Pakistan's domestic and foreign policies in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Finally, this study seeks to investigate the interplay of roles played by Islamic extremists, secular groups and the military in hopes of assessing the prospects of a sustainable democracy in Pakistan.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000951
- Subject Headings
- War on Terrorism, 2001---Participation, Pakistani, Musharraf, Pervez, Pakistan--Politics and government--1988-, Sustainable development--Political aspects--Pakistan, Geopolitics--Asia, Central
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Tennessee Williams's Guilt Inspired 'Savior' Doubles.
- Creator
- Colegrove, Isaac H., Low, Jennifer A., Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis documents Thomas Lanier (Tennessee) Williams's treatment of brother/sister relationships in literary works written between 1939 and 1950. Though Williams began by exploiting his troubled relationship with his sister Rose in "The Long Goodbye" and "The Purification," two one-act plays, he revised his treatment of siblings in The Glass Menagerie and the short story "The Resemblance between a Violin Case and a Coffin." These works do not merely reveal the writer's transparent guilt...
Show moreThis thesis documents Thomas Lanier (Tennessee) Williams's treatment of brother/sister relationships in literary works written between 1939 and 1950. Though Williams began by exploiting his troubled relationship with his sister Rose in "The Long Goodbye" and "The Purification," two one-act plays, he revised his treatment of siblings in The Glass Menagerie and the short story "The Resemblance between a Violin Case and a Coffin." These works do not merely reveal the writer's transparent guilt and shame at having neglected his sister at moments when he could have helped her, nor do they serve simply to over-write his torrid depictions of similar relationships in the earlier plays. I contend that Williams's intense guilt inspired the creation of literary doubles in both The Glass Menagerie and "The Resemblance Between a Violin Case and a Coffin," not only to undo in symbolic terms the ways he had previously characterized Rose and her relationship with him and, more importantly, to express his wish that he had done more to help Rose avert her tragic fate.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000906
- Subject Headings
- Williams, Tennessee,--1911-1983--Criticism and interpretation., Brothers and sisters in literature., Doubles in literature., Split self in literature.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Reclaiming the Goddess: Contemporary American Women Writers' Negotiation of Religious Patriarchy.
- Creator
- Dowbnia, Renee, Xu, Wenying, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
Ecofeminist theory exposes the androcentric monopoly of meaning-making and its resulting oppression of women, people of color, and the earth. Because women have been marginalized in historical and religious discourses, these theorists emphasize the need for women to develop an alternative, inclusive worldview that rejects binary, hierarchical thought. Like feminist theorists, Contemporary American women writers have also tackled the patriarchal oppression of Christianity and the omission of...
Show moreEcofeminist theory exposes the androcentric monopoly of meaning-making and its resulting oppression of women, people of color, and the earth. Because women have been marginalized in historical and religious discourses, these theorists emphasize the need for women to develop an alternative, inclusive worldview that rejects binary, hierarchical thought. Like feminist theorists, Contemporary American women writers have also tackled the patriarchal oppression of Christianity and the omission of women's historical contributions in their fiction. In their works, authors like Toni Morrison, Linda Hogan, and Julia Alvarez have reimagined women's history by fictionalizing historical events. Despite racial differences, all three authors similarly detail the oppressive nature of the patriarchal worldview, reject binary thought, and utilize goddess figures as catalysts for awakening female consciousness. By detailing the characters' shift in consciousness, these novels act as a form of consciousnessraising for their readers, and can therefore be considered activist texts.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000912
- Subject Headings
- Feminist literary criticism., Women and literature., American literature--Women authors--Criticism and interpretation., Patriarchy--Religious aspects--Christianity., Feminism--Religious aspects--Christianity.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Paleoclimate of the Late Oligocene Arctic Ocean: Molluscan Isotopic and Biotic Evidence.
- Creator
- Port, Rebecca B., Oleinik, Anton E., Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
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Molluscan isotopic and biotic evidence was used to determine the paleotemperature of the Late Oligocene Arctic Ocean during an important period of climate change. Mollusks were collected from the Nuwok Member type section on the Arctic coast of Alaska. A systematic analysis was conducted to determine the position of Late Oligocene Arctic mollusks within a context of marine Cenozoic evolution and diversification. Oxygen stable isotope ratios of five fossil genera were used to calculate...
Show moreMolluscan isotopic and biotic evidence was used to determine the paleotemperature of the Late Oligocene Arctic Ocean during an important period of climate change. Mollusks were collected from the Nuwok Member type section on the Arctic coast of Alaska. A systematic analysis was conducted to determine the position of Late Oligocene Arctic mollusks within a context of marine Cenozoic evolution and diversification. Oxygen stable isotope ratios of five fossil genera were used to calculate paleotemperatures and analyze growth histories. Taxa were selected to check for compatibility of results between fossil genera from the same environment. Oxygen stable isotope ratios of four recent high-latitude genera were analyzed for comparative purposes. Isotopically derived paleotemperatures represent the first documented quantitative temperatures for the Late Oligocene Arctic Ocean. Isotopic and systematic results give great insight into the extent and degree of Arctic cooling by the Late Oligocene and the origin of modem Arctic mollusks.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000811
- Subject Headings
- Marine animals, Fossil--Arctic Ocean, Geology--Alaska, Deep-sea temperature--Mathematical models, Geology, Stratigraphic--Oligocene, Paleogeography--Alaska
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Frankenstein, Science Fiction, and the Poetry of Science.
- Creator
- Davis, Peter, Faraci, Mary, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
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While Frankenstein has recently received criticism weighted heavily in politics, gender, and feminist studies, what gets overlooked in these discussions is that Mary Shelley's novel remains a story about science--not about empirical science, necessarily, but about abstract science. As science fiction, Frankenstein incorporates fictional science to posit truths about the human experience. Shelley's metaphor for the novel, ''my hideous progeny," reminds readers to respect the uncertain elements...
Show moreWhile Frankenstein has recently received criticism weighted heavily in politics, gender, and feminist studies, what gets overlooked in these discussions is that Mary Shelley's novel remains a story about science--not about empirical science, necessarily, but about abstract science. As science fiction, Frankenstein incorporates fictional science to posit truths about the human experience. Shelley's metaphor for the novel, ''my hideous progeny," reminds readers to respect the uncertain elements in invention in the arts and sciences. The problem for Frankenstein that I address has to do with an uncertainty of the terms, "science'' and "science fiction ,'' which results in further uncertainty when discussing the novel's genre and meaning. This essay defines "science," "science fiction," and other important tenns relevant to a critical discussion of the novel. This essay further argues that readers should not overlook the poetry of science in Frankenstein.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000908
- Subject Headings
- Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft,--1797-1851.--Frankenstein--Criticism and interpretation., Frankenstein (Fictitious character)--Criticism and interpretation., Science fiction, English--History and criticism--Theory, etc.
- Format
- Document (PDF)