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Title: Reading, writing, and privatization: the narrative that helped change the nation's public schools.
Creator: Meyers, Merrie Elyn., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Sociology
Abstract/Description: The face of North America's public education system is changing. Across the United States, hundreds of thousands of students have migrated away from traditional public school into charter schools. While both are considered public schools, often that is where the similarity ends. Claims and counter claims have been made about the virtues and advantages of a charter school versus the traditional public school. This study, focused on the nation's sixth-largest school system in Broward County,...
Show moreThe face of North America's public education system is changing. Across the United States, hundreds of thousands of students have migrated away from traditional public school into charter schools. While both are considered public schools, often that is where the similarity ends. Claims and counter claims have been made about the virtues and advantages of a charter school versus the traditional public school. This study, focused on the nation's sixth-largest school system in Broward County, Florida, compares comments from stakeholders involved in charter programs to feedback from those still involved in the traditional public system. Three hypotheses are evaluated including: whether traditional schools are not adequately serving the needs of students; whether charter schools are better at serving student needs; or people believe that charter schools are doing a better job at serving the needs of students. Evidence suggests that while each model of education has its advantages and disadvantages, neither clearly provides a ""better" opportunity for students. Conclusions are that consumer perceptions are driving the shift in enrollment. This is attributed to the narrative about "choice" created by charter school advocates that aligns with American ideologies of liberty, freedom and independence. Ultimately, it is argued that the deconstruction of the traditional public education system is part of a larger effort to shift selected rights and privileges out of the public sphere and back into private control. For traditional public schools to regain momentum, they must learn to control the narrative and ultimately public policy and public opinion about our nation's public schools.
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Date Issued: 2013
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3360949
Subject Headings: Charter schools, Evaluation, Public schools, Evaluation, School choice, Evaluation, Academic achievement, Evaluation
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: The impact of satisfaction with care and empowerment on glycemic control among older African American adults with diabetes.
Creator: Johnson, Bridgette M., Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
Abstract/Description: atisfaction with diabetes care, perceived feelings of empowerment to participate in self-care management, and glycemic control in a sample of older African American men and women with diabetes. A descriptive correlational quantitative design was used. The participants in this study were 73 men and women of African descent who were at least 50 years, English speaking, and diagnosed with diabetes for at least one year. The participants were asked to complete three survey instruments: the...
Show moreatisfaction with diabetes care, perceived feelings of empowerment to participate in self-care management, and glycemic control in a sample of older African American men and women with diabetes. A descriptive correlational quantitative design was used. The participants in this study were 73 men and women of African descent who were at least 50 years, English speaking, and diagnosed with diabetes for at least one year. The participants were asked to complete three survey instruments: the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-18 (PSQ-18), which measured how satisfied the participants were with their medical care; the Diabetes Empowerment Scale-Short Form (DES-SF), which measured attitudes towards diabetes and self-management of diabetes; and a demographic form, which collected data on the demographics of each participant. The most recent hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of each participant was obtained from the medical records. The correlations between HbA1c, DES, and the PSQ-18 subscales were exam ined. The study data indicated all correlations were statistically significant and negative with one exception. There was no correlation between HbA1c and time spent, a satisfaction subscale. Approximately half the participants were high school graduates, married, and reported being born in the Caribbean. Most had primary care physicians, but less than half reported attending a diabetes education program. The average BMI was 33.0. The findings of this study indicated older African adults who reported higher satisfaction with the care provided by their health care provider reported feeling more empowered to participate in diabetes self-care and reported lower HbA1c levels, suggesting better glycemic control (R2 = .39; P=<.001)., The implications of this study are that feeling empowered to participate in diabetes self-care management may result in improved glycemic control. Positive diabetes outcomes have been linked in the literature with persons feeling empowered to participate in diabetes self-care. The significance of the findings from this study is that given the relationship between empowerment and glycemic control, nurses should support the empowerment model of diabetes teaching. Diabetes education should provide written materials that are culturally sensitive for African American elders.
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Date Issued: 2012
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3342114
Subject Headings: Outcome assessment (Medical care), Nursing, Quality control, Medical economics, Patient satisfaction, Evaluation, African Americans, Health and hygiene, Sociological aspects
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: System identification methodology for a wave adaptive modular unmanned surface vehicle.
Creator: Mask, Janine L., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
Abstract/Description: The design, implementation, and testing of an experimental setup intended to evaluate the dynamic maneuvering performance of the Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel (WAM-V) class USV12, a 3.7 meter unmanned surface vehicle (USV) is described. A comprehensive sensor package was designed, fabricated and assembled to record the vehicle's dynamic response to various control inputs. All subsystems were fabricated and installed on a test vehicle, GUSS, and full system, open-loop maneuvering tests were...
Show moreThe design, implementation, and testing of an experimental setup intended to evaluate the dynamic maneuvering performance of the Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel (WAM-V) class USV12, a 3.7 meter unmanned surface vehicle (USV) is described. A comprehensive sensor package was designed, fabricated and assembled to record the vehicle's dynamic response to various control inputs. All subsystems were fabricated and installed on a test vehicle, GUSS, and full system, open-loop maneuvering tests were conducted to show validity of data collection technique. Simulations were performed using model parameters found in the literature to create a "simulated experimental" data set, upon which system identification techniques were used to rediscover a suitable model with similar parameterization. Combined, the sensor package and the method for creating this model support future work in the design of automatic control, navigation, and guidance systems for the WAM-V USV12.
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Date Issued: 2011
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3332720
Subject Headings: Oceanographic instruments, Evaluation, Wave motion, Theory of, Inertial navigation systems, Adaptive signal processing
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Statistical broadcast protocol design for VANET.
Creator: Slavik, Michael J., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Abstract/Description: This work presents the development of the Statistical Location-Assisted Broadcast (SLAB) protocol, a multi-hop wireless broadcast protocol designed for vehicular ad-hoc networking (VANET). Vehicular networking is an important emerging application of wireless communications. Data dissemination applications using VANET promote the ability for vehicles to share information with each other and the wide-area network with the goal of improving navigation, fuel consumption, public safety, and...
Show moreThis work presents the development of the Statistical Location-Assisted Broadcast (SLAB) protocol, a multi-hop wireless broadcast protocol designed for vehicular ad-hoc networking (VANET). Vehicular networking is an important emerging application of wireless communications. Data dissemination applications using VANET promote the ability for vehicles to share information with each other and the wide-area network with the goal of improving navigation, fuel consumption, public safety, and entertainment. A critical component of these data dissemination schemes is the multi-hop wireless broadcast protocol. Multi-hop broadcast protocols for these schemes must reliably deliver broadcast packets to vehicles in a geographically bounded region while consuming as little wireless bandwidth as possible. This work contains substantial research results related to development of multi-hop broadcast protocols for VANET, culminating in the design of SLAB. Many preliminary research and development efforts have been required to arrive at SLAB. First, a high-level wireless broadcast simulation tool called WiBDAT is developed. Next, a manual optimization procedure is proposed to create efficient threshold functions for statistical broadcast protocols. This procedure is then employed to design the Distribution-Adaptive Distance with Channel Quality (DADCQ) broadcast protocol, a preliminary cousin of SLAB. DADCQ is highly adaptive to node density, node spatial distribution pattern, and wireless channel quality in realistic VANET scenarios. However, the manual design process used to create DADCQ has a few deficiencies. In response to these problems, an automated design procedure is created that uses a black-box global optimization algorithm to search for efficient threshold functions that are evaluated using WiBDAT. SLAB is finally designed using this procedure., Expansive simulation results are presented comparing the performance of SLAB to two well-published VANET broadcast protocols, p -persistence and Advanced Adaptive Gossip (AAG), and to DADCQ. The four protocols are evaluated under varying node density and speed on five different road topologies with varying wireless channel fading conditions. The results demonstrate that unlike p-persistence and AAG, SLAB performs well across a very broad range of environmental conditions. Compared to its cousin protocol DADCQ, SLAB achieves similar reachability while using around 30% less wireless bandwidth, highlighting the improvement in the automated design methodology over the manual design.
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Date Issued: 2011
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3172947
Subject Headings: Vehicular ad-hoc networks (Computer networks), Design and construction, Vehicular ad-hoc networks (Computer networks), Technological innovations, Wireless communication systems, Technological innovations, Wireless communication systems, Security measures, Mobile communication systems, Evaluation
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Minimization of overall person delay at light rail transit crossings on congested urban arterials.
Creator: Mitrovic, Nikola, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Abstract/Description: This study describes analytical model as one innovative way to simulate Light Rail Transit (LRT) operations and calculate vehicular, transit and person delays at LRT crossings through Microsoft Excel. Analytical model emulates LRT trajectories from field and use these trajectories to clearly define train and car phases through Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) logic, which is part of analytical model. Simulation of train trajectories and calculations of delays were done for different LRT...
Show moreThis study describes analytical model as one innovative way to simulate Light Rail Transit (LRT) operations and calculate vehicular, transit and person delays at LRT crossings through Microsoft Excel. Analytical model emulates LRT trajectories from field and use these trajectories to clearly define train and car phases through Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) logic, which is part of analytical model. Simulation of train trajectories and calculations of delays were done for different LRT strategies and estimated roadway condition, Testing and validation of analytical model were performed in one case study in Salt Lake City (UT). Results show that analytical model is capable of emulating LRT trajectories and estimating delay at isolated LRT crossing. However, analytical model is not capable of simulating different train strategies at two or more LRT crossings, at the same time. Finally, extracted strategy provides savings from $100.000 to $200.000 in study area, on annual basis for projected year.
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Date Issued: 2011
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3171724
Subject Headings: Railroads, Local and light, Evaluation, Railroad crossings, Evaluation, Street-railroads, Evaluation, Roads, Interchanges and intersections, Traffic congestion, Causes
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A low-cost, high rate motion measurement system for an unmanned surface vehicle with underwater navigation and oceanographic applications.
Creator: Gelin, Chrystel., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
Abstract/Description: Standard GPS receivers are unable to provide the rate or precision required when used on a small vessel such as an Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). To overcome this, the thesis presents a low cost high rate motion measurement system for an USV with underwater and oceanographic purposes. The work integrates an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), a GPS receiver, a flux-gate compass, a tilt sensor and develops a software package, using real time data fusion methods, for an USV to aid in the...
Show moreStandard GPS receivers are unable to provide the rate or precision required when used on a small vessel such as an Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). To overcome this, the thesis presents a low cost high rate motion measurement system for an USV with underwater and oceanographic purposes. The work integrates an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), a GPS receiver, a flux-gate compass, a tilt sensor and develops a software package, using real time data fusion methods, for an USV to aid in the navigation and control as well as controlling an onboard Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP).While ADCPs non-intrusively measure water flow, they suffer from the inability to discriminate between motions in the water column and self-motion. Thus, the vessel motion contamination needs to be removed to analyze the data and the system developed in this thesis provides the motion measurements and processing to accomplish this task.
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Date Issued: 2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/2709690
Subject Headings: Oceanographic instruments, Evaluation, Underwater navigation, Adaptive signal processing, Inertial navigation systems, Wave motion, Theory of
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Technoeconomic aspects of next-generation telecommunications including the Internet service.
Creator: Tourinho Sardenberg, Renata Cristina., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Abstract/Description: This research is concerned with the technoeconomic aspects of modern and next-generation telecommunications including the Internet service. The goal of this study thereof is tailored to address the following: (i) Reviewing the technoeconomic considerations prevailing in telecommunication (telco) systems and their implicating futures; (ii) studying relevant considerations by depicting the modern/next-generation telecommunications as a digital ecosystem viewed in terms of underlying complex...
Show moreThis research is concerned with the technoeconomic aspects of modern and next-generation telecommunications including the Internet service. The goal of this study thereof is tailored to address the following: (i) Reviewing the technoeconomic considerations prevailing in telecommunication (telco) systems and their implicating futures; (ii) studying relevant considerations by depicting the modern/next-generation telecommunications as a digital ecosystem viewed in terms of underlying complex system evolution (akin to biological systems); (iii) pursuant to the digital ecosystem concept, co-evolution modeling of competitive business structures in the technoeconomics of telco services using dichotomous (flip-flop) states as seen in prey-predator evolution; (iv) specific to Internet pricing economics, deducing the profile of consumer surplus versus pricing model under DiffServ QoS architecture pertinent to dynamic- , smart- and static-markets; (v) developing and exemplifying decision-making pursuits in telco business under non-competitive and competitive markets (via gametheoretic approach); (vi) and modeling forecasting issues in telco services addressed in terms of a simplified ARIMA-based time-series approach, (which includes seasonal and non-seasonal data plus goodness-fit estimations in time- and frequency-domains). Commensurate with the topics indicated above, necessary analytical derivations/models are proposed and computational exercises are performed (with MatLabTM R2006b and other software as needed). Extensive data gathered from open literature are used thereof and, ad hoc model verifications are performed. Lastly, results are discussed, inferences are made and open-questions for further research are identified.
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Date Issued: 2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/1930492
Subject Headings: Computer networks, Management, Telecommunication, Traffic, Management, Intranets (Computer networks), Evaluation, Network performance (Telecommunication), High performance computing, Engineering economy
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Test platform development for measuring surface effect ship response to wave loads.
Creator: Kouvaras, Nicholas, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
Abstract/Description: The goal of this thesis is to develop a test platform for measuring surface effect ship (SES) response to wave loads. The platform is designed and built incorporating a self-propelled vehicle with data acquisition and navigation capabilities. Theoretical analysis is performed, various hardware and electronic parts are designed and built and software applications developed. Wave tank experiments are conducted for test platform evaluation and determination of vehicle response to a range of wave...
Show moreThe goal of this thesis is to develop a test platform for measuring surface effect ship (SES) response to wave loads. The platform is designed and built incorporating a self-propelled vehicle with data acquisition and navigation capabilities. Theoretical analysis is performed, various hardware and electronic parts are designed and built and software applications developed. Wave tank experiments are conducted for test platform evaluation and determination of vehicle response to a range of wave conditions. Furthermore, a three-dimensional model of the AIRCAT scale model SES is created. The theoretical analysis shows that the scale effects in some cases are great, so resonance phenomena cannot be observed. The experimental results clearly show that the heave, pitch and aircushion excess pressure fluctuations increase as the air-blower input level increases. The bow skirt arrangement needs improvements and further experimentation is necessary in order to draw conclusions about the wave loads applied on the skirt.
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Date Issued: 2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/1927307
Subject Headings: Mobile offshore structures, Design and construction, Wave motion, Theory of, Inertial navigation systems, Oceanographic instruments, Evaluation
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Credibility and the Internet: can credibility levels indicate news medium choice?.
Creator: Herring, Katrina., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Political Science
Abstract/Description: The Internet has revolutionized the way in which people are entertained, communicate and collect information. As people increase their ability to connect with the outside world from inside their homes, they hold the power to become their own gatekeepers filtering information as they see fit. Many question whether this will weaken the power of the traditional media sources that are often seen as elitist and potentially biased. This researcher hypothesized that people who cite high credibility...
Show moreThe Internet has revolutionized the way in which people are entertained, communicate and collect information. As people increase their ability to connect with the outside world from inside their homes, they hold the power to become their own gatekeepers filtering information as they see fit. Many question whether this will weaken the power of the traditional media sources that are often seen as elitist and potentially biased. This researcher hypothesized that people who cite high credibility ratings of news media channels are more likely to use traditional media channels such as television and newspapers and people who cite low credibility ratings of news media channels are more likely to use alternate media channels such as the Internet. While the researcher was unable to reject the null hypothesis, a pattern of general mistrust of traditional news media was revealed when nearly three-fourths of respondents gave traditional media channels a "not-credible" rating.
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Date Issued: 2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/1927304
Subject Headings: Electronic information resources, Evaluation, Information behavior, Mass media, Social aspects, Mass media and technology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Traffic congestion detection using VANET.
Creator: Padron, Francisco M., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Abstract/Description: We propose a distributed, collaborative traffic congestion detection and dissemination system using VANET that makes efficient use of the communication channel, maintains location privacy, and provides drivers with real-time information on traffic congestions over long distances. The system uses vehicles themselves, equipped with simple inexpensive devices, as gatherers and distributors of information without the need for costly road infrastructure such as sensors, cameras or external...
Show moreWe propose a distributed, collaborative traffic congestion detection and dissemination system using VANET that makes efficient use of the communication channel, maintains location privacy, and provides drivers with real-time information on traffic congestions over long distances. The system uses vehicles themselves, equipped with simple inexpensive devices, as gatherers and distributors of information without the need for costly road infrastructure such as sensors, cameras or external communication equipment. Additionally, we present a flexible simulation and visualization framework we designed and developed to validate our system by showing its effectiveness in multiple scenarios and to aid in the research and development of this and future VANET applications.
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Date Issued: 2009
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/186684
Subject Headings: Vehicular ad-hoc networks (Computer networks), Traffic congestion, Mathematical models, Mobile communication systems, Evaluation, Traffic congestion, Prevention
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Design & performance of a wind and solar-powered autonomous surface vehicle.
Creator: Rynne, Patrick Forde., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
Abstract/Description: The primary objective of this research is the development a wind and solar-powered autonomous surface vehicle (WASP) for oceanographic measurements. This thesis presents the general design scheme, detailed aerodynamic and hydrodynamic aspects, sailing performance theory, and dynamic performance validation measurements obtained from a series of experiments. The WASP consists of a 4.2 meter long sailboat hull, a low-Reynolds number composite wing, a 2000 Watt-hour battery reservoir, a system of...
Show moreThe primary objective of this research is the development a wind and solar-powered autonomous surface vehicle (WASP) for oceanographic measurements. This thesis presents the general design scheme, detailed aerodynamic and hydrodynamic aspects, sailing performance theory, and dynamic performance validation measurements obtained from a series of experiments. The WASP consists of a 4.2 meter long sailboat hull, a low-Reynolds number composite wing, a 2000 Watt-hour battery reservoir, a system of control actuators, a control system running on an embedded microprocessor, a suite of oceanographic sensors, and power regeneration from solar energy. The vehicle has a maximum speed of five knots and weighs approximately 350 kilograms. Results from four oceanographic missions that were conducted in the Port Everglades Intracoastal Waterway in Dania Beach [sic] Florida are presented. Water temperature, salinity and oxidation-reduction measurements recorded during these missions are also discussed. The combination of a mono-hull and solid wing in an autonomous system is a viable design for a long-range ocean observation platform. The results of four near-shore ocean observation missions illustrate the initial capabilities of the design. Future work aimed to further reduce both the mass of the wing design and the power requirements of the system will increase performance in all operating conditions and should be considered. Furthermore, the progression of the legal framework related to ocean vehicles must be pursued with respect to unmanned autonomous systems.
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Date Issued: 2008
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/166455
Subject Headings: Hydrographic surveying, Instruments, Evaluation, Aids to navigation, Equipment and supplies, Testing, Sailboats, Design and construction, Robots, Control systems, Oceanographic instruments, Evaluation
Format: Document (PDF)

Oceanographic instruments (4)	+ -
Design and construction (3)	+ -
Inertial navigation systems (3)	+ -
Wave motion, Theory of (3)	+ -
Adaptive signal processing (2)	+ -

Mobile communication systems (2)	+ -
Traffic congestion (2)	+ -
Vehicular ad-hoc networks (Computer networks) (2)	+ -
Academic achievement (1)	+ -
African Americans (1)	+ -
Aids to navigation (1)	+ -
Causes (1)	+ -
Charter schools (1)	+ -
Computer networks (1)	+ -
Control systems (1)	+ -
Electronic information resources (1)	+ -
Engineering economy (1)	+ -
Equipment and supplies (1)	+ -
Health and hygiene (1)	+ -
High performance computing (1)	+ -
Hydrographic surveying (1)	+ -
Information behavior (1)	+ -
Instruments (1)	+ -
Interchanges and intersections (1)	+ -
Intranets (Computer networks) (1)	+ -
Management (1)	+ -
Mass media (1)	+ -
Mass media and technology (1)	+ -
Mathematical models (1)	+ -

Broward County (1)	+ -
Florida (1)	+ -
United States (1)	+ -

College of Engineering and Computer Science (8)	+ -
Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering (4)	+ -
Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (3)	+ -
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters (2)	+ -
Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing (1)	+ -

Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering (1)	+ -
Department of Political Science (1)	+ -
Department of Sociology (1)	+ -
Gelin, Chrystel. (1)	+ -
Herring, Katrina. (1)	+ -
Johnson, Bridgette M. (1)	+ -
Kouvaras, Nicholas (1)	+ -
Mask, Janine L. (1)	+ -
Meyers, Merrie Elyn. (1)	+ -
Mitrovic, Nikola (1)	+ -
Padron, Francisco M. (1)	+ -
Rynne, Patrick Forde. (1)	+ -
Slavik, Michael J. (1)	+ -
Tourinho Sardenberg, Renata Cristina. (1)	+ -

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