American Studies Commons^™

Enhancing Virus Surveillance Through Metagenomics: Water Quality And Public Health Applications, Karyna Rosario-Cora

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Monitoring viruses circulating in the human population and the environment is critical for protecting public and ecosystem health. The goal of this dissertation was to incorporate a viral metagenomic approach into virus surveillance efforts (both clinical and water quality control programs) to enhance traditional virus detection methods.

Clinical surveillance programs are designed to identify and monitor etiological agents that cause disease. However, the ability to identify viruses may be compromised when novel or unsuspected viruses are causing infection since traditional virus detection methods target specific known pathogens. Here we describe the successful application of viral metagenomics in a clinical setting …

Ernest Hemingway’S Mistresses And Wives: Exploring Their Impact On His Female Characters, Stephen E. Henrichon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

“Conflicted” succinctly describes Ernest Hemingway. He had a strong desire to make his parents proud of him but this was in constant conflict with his need to tell a story, warts and all. Of particular importance is his relationship with his mother and the crippling effect it has on his relationships with women. Hemingway’s life becomes a series of dysfunctional relationships that fail to meet his needs, leaving him perpetually searching for the right woman. Kert posits that Hemingway’s contempt for women is related to his inability to make the transition from lover to husband, fueled by Hemingway’s belief that …

Rethinking Ethical Naturalism: The Implications Of Developmental Systems Theory, Jared J.. Kinggard

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Biological research has the capacity to inform ethical discussions. There are numerous questions about the nature of sexual orientation, intelligence, gender identity, etc., and many of these questions are commonly approached with the benefit of implicit or explicit biological commitments. The answers to these sorts of questions can have a powerful impact on social, ethical, and political positions. In this project I examine the prospect of naturalizing ethics under the umbrella of developmental systems theory (DST). If one is committed to DST, then those ideas involved in DST that steer biological research will also have implications for ethics. There has …

Puerperal Fever In Britain: Failed Models Of Disease Causation, Jessica Wells

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Britain, a bacterial infection which we now

know to be caused primarily by a streptococcus, was killing women in childbirth at an

alarming rate. The disease, called puerperal, or childbed, fever, was being transmitted

primarily from doctor to patient by a doctor’s unwashed hands and filthy, contaminated

clothing and linens. Despite this evident and, in retrospect, obvious vector, the doctors of

this period never discovered how to prevent their patients from dying a gruesome and

painful death. Many physicians wrote extensive accounts of the illness but often ended

their works in despair, unable to find the …

Carbon Nanotube Enhanced Maldi Ms: Increasing Sensitivity Through Sample Concentration, Joshua Schumacher

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) is a technique used in mass spectrometry for the ionization of biomolecules. A matrix solution is mixed with the analyte molecules to be investigated, and then spotted onto a specialized MALDI plate. The solvents evaporate leaving only the re-crystallized matrix with analyte dispersed throughout the crystals. Sample ionization is accomplished with a laser in the MALDI instrument. The spot diameter of the target is usually several orders of magnitude larger than the diameter of the laser, making it necessary to perform multiple laser investigations to accurately evaluate the analyte in the target spot.

Experiments were performed …

Evaluation Of Oncology Nurses' Knowledge, Practice Behaviors, And Confidence Specific To Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy, Rebecca Denise Mcallister

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) remains one of the most serious and challenging symptoms oncology nurses encounter in caring for patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy. CIPN is under-addressed, under-reported, and symptoms are minimized by healthcare providers, which adversely affect patient quality of life, physical function, and emotional well-being. There is an absence of research examining nurses’ knowledge and practice behaviors related to CIPN. The purpose of this study was to explore oncology nurses knowledge, practice behaviors, confidence, and the relationship between education, experience, and knowledge specific to CIPN.

Data was collected at Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Chapter meetings throughout central and …

Topics In Random Knots And R-Matrices From Frobenius Algebras, Enver Karadayi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, we study two areas of interest in knot theory: Random knots in the unit cube, and the Yang-Baxter solutions constructed from Frobenius algebras.

The study of random knots can be thought of as a model of DNA strings situated in confinement. A random knot with n vertices is a polygonal loop formed by selecting n distinct points in the unit cube, for a positive integer n, and connecting these points by straight line segments successively, such that the last point selected is joined with the first one. We present a step by step description of our algorithm …

Understanding The Interaction Between Blood Flow And An Applied Magnetic Field, Francy L. Sinatra

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hemodynamic monitoring is extremely important in the accurate measurement of vital parameters. Current methods are highly invasive or noncontinuous, and require direct access to the patient’s skin. This study intends to explore the modulated magnetic signature of blood method (MMSB) to attain blood flow information. This method uses an applied magnetic field to magnetize the iron in the red blood cells and measures the disturbance to the field with a magnetic sensor [1]. Exploration will be done by experimentally studying in-vitro, as well as simulating in COMSOL the alteration of magnetic fields induced by the flow of a magnetic solution. …

Examination Of The Effect Of Child Abuse Case Characteristics On The Time A Caseworker Devotes To A Case, Christopher J. Card

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study used an explanatory research model that determined the effect on caseworker time and therefore workload caused by specific characteristics of cases assigned after the child abuse investigation is complete. The purpose of this study was to explain the relationship between child protection case characteristics and the time an assigned caseworker devotes to a case. With this knowledge an informed methodology to assess the current workload of a caseworker could be used to assure that the caseworker is able to successfully complete the tasks required for each child assigned. Further, the knowledge of the amount of time spent on …

An Experimental Study Of Distance Sensitivity Oracles, Vincent Troy Williams

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The paper \A Nearly Optimal Oracle for Avoiding Failed Vertices and Edges" by

Aaron Bernstein and David Karger lays out a nearly optimal algorithm for nding the

shortest distances and paths between vertices with any given single failure in constant

time without reconstructing the oracle. Using their paper as a guideline, we have

implemented their algorithm in C++ and recorded each step in this thesis. Each step

has its own pseudo-code and its own analysis to prove that the entire oracle construction

stays within the stated running time and total space bounds, from the authors. The

effciency of the algorithm …

A Study Of Omnidirectional Quad-Screw-Drive Configurations For All-Terrain Locomotion, Jon T. Freeberg

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Double-screw vehicles have been developed to operate in soft, wet terrains such as marsh, snow, and water. Their exceptional performance in soft and wet terrains is at the expense of performance on rigid terrains such as pavement. Furthermore, turning can be difficult because the method of turning varies depending on the terrain. Therefore, in this study, several different quad-screw-configurations were proposed and tested to improve upon double-screw vehicles.

A test-bed was developed which could easily be converted into each quad-screw-configuration for testing on a variety of surfaces (grass, dirt, sand, clay, marsh, snow, gravel, pavement, and water). In addition, a …

Rehabilitation Of Precast Deck Panel Bridges, Atiq H. Alvi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

USF completed a research study in 2005, which prioritized the replacement of 85 deteriorating composite precast deck panel bridges. This thesis re-evaluates the original recommendations in the wake of failures of two of these bridges in 2007. Since funding will not allow all identified bridges to be replaced, it was necessary to determine the most effective repair methods. To assess USF’s recommendations, a forensic study was undertaken in which the most current inspection and work program documents on the two failed bridges were reviewed and FDOT personnel interviewed. The best repair procedures were determined by reviewing repair plans, specifications, reports …

Visualizando La Conciencia Mestiza: The Relation Of Gloria Anzaldúa’S Mestiza Consciousness To Mexican American Performance And Poster Art, Maria Cristina Serrano

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores Gloria Anzaldúa’s notion of

mestiza consciousness and its

relation to Mexican American performance and poster art. It examines how the traditional

conceptions of

mestizo identity were redefined by Anzaldúa’s Borderlands/La Frontera

in an attempt to eradicate oppression through a change of consciousness. Anzaldua’s

conceptions are then applied to Guillermo Gomez-Peña’s performance art discussing the

intricacies and complexities of his performances as examples of

mestiza consciousness.

This thesis finally analyzes various Mexican American posters in relation to both

Anzaldúa and Gomez-Peña’s art works. It demonstrates that the similarities in the artist’s

treatment of hybridity illustrate a progressive change …

Characterization Of The Role Of Nicotine And Delta 9-Thc In Modulation Of Neuroinflammation, Jared C. Ehrhart

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Neuroinflammation is a major driving force in the progression of neurodegenerative disorders. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, as well as cannabinoid CB2 receptors, have been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory properties when activated. These effects are shown, in vivo, to be a result of stimulation of α7 nAChRs and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. Microglia cells, an immune cell in the brain, are shown to express both of these receptor subtypes. The studies detailed herein, investigated the ability of two compounds, nicotine and Δ9-THC, in modulation of inflammatory processes. Stimulation of these receptors on microglia using nicotine and Δ9-THC blocked the activation of these …

Consumable Process Development For Chemical Mechanical Planarization Of Bit Patterned Media For Magnetic Storage Fabrication, Joseph T. Bonivel Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the superparamagnetic limit is reached, the magnetic storage industry looks to circumvent the barrier by implementing patterned media (PM) as a viable means to store and access data. Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is a semiconductor fabrication technique used to planarize surfaces and is investigated as a method to ensure that the PM is polished to surface roughness parameters that allow the magnetic read/write head to move seamlessly across the PM. Results from this research have implications in feasibility studies of utilizing CMP as the main planarization technique for PM fabrication. Benchmark data on the output parameters of the CMP …

Capillary Self-Assembly And Its Application To Thermoelectric Coolers, James K. Tuckerman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The thermoelectric effect was discovered well over a century ago, yet performance has not shown improvement until recent years. Prior work has shown that the thermoelectric effect can be enhanced by the use of microscale pieces of thermoelectric material. Conventional assembly techniques are inadequate to deal with parts of this size, making it necessary to find a suitable alternative before these devices can be made economically. Capillary self-assembly is a promising alternative to conventional techniques. This method employs the use of preparing substrates with areas of favorable surface tension to place and align parts. Still, many obstacles have to be …

Geochemical Modeling Of Co2 Sequestration In Dolomitic Limestone Aquifers, Mark W. Thomas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO

2) in a deep, saline aquifer is being proposed for a power-generating facility in Florida as a method to mitigate contribution to global climate change from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The proposed repository is a brine-saturated, dolomitic-limestone aquifer with anhydrite inclusions contained within the Cedar Keys/Lawson formations of Central Florida. Thermodynamic modeling is used to investigate the geochemical equilibrium reactions for the minerals calcite, dolomite, and gypsum with 28 aqueous species for the purpose of determining the sensitivity of mineral precipitation and dissolution to the temperature and pressure of the aquifer and the salinity …

The Use Of Proteomic Techniques To Study The Physiology And Virulence Of Staphylococcus Aureus, Frances Rivera

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus

is a bacterial pathogen that is believed to be the most common agent of human infectious disease, causing conditions ranging from common skin lesions to life-threatening illnesses. S. aureus has also shown a remarkable ability to develop resistance to antimicrobial treatment, making infections difficult to treat. In the post-genomic era, proteomic studies analyzing the protein complement of a genome in a particular organism at any given time, have gained real significance. This result is largely due to dynamic changes in protein expression profiles which can lead wide alterations in physiology and behavior. For proteomics, it is necessary to …

The Monitoring And Evaluation Of Geothermal Systems, Whitney E. Maynard

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the heightened importance of green engineering in today’s society, harnessing the Earth’s internal energy has become ever more important. Specifically, the use of geothermal heat pumps as a means of heating and cooling homes and municipal buildings is on the rise. However, due to the high cost of installation and limited amount of research conducted, geothermal systems in the State of Florida have yet to meet their potential as an alternative heating and cooling source. With Florida’s relatively constant ground temperature of 72°F, an above average temperature gradient for both heating and cooling of indoor areas is provided. To …

Does Patient Dementia Limit The Use Of Cardiac Catheterization In St-Elevated Myocardial Infarction?, Marianne Chanti-Ketterl

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Regardless of age or mental capacity, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the first line of treatment for ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study evaluates the disparities in the use of diagnostic cardiac catheterization and PCI in STEMI patients with dementia. A retrospective analysis was performed of Florida‟s comprehensive inpatient surveillance system for the years 2006-2007 with admission diagnosis of STEMI. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify disparities in the use of intervention among all STEMI patients. A total of 8,331 STEMI patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 77% were catheterized and of these 67% received PCI. A total …