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The Effects Of Food Insecurity On Mental Wellbeing In Monteverde Costa Rica, Robert Eugene Cowherd

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The rapid expansion of ecotourism in the Monteverde zone of Costa Rica has increased the incidence in food insecurity in the area. Changes in food preferences and availability have led to a more homogenized diet that is increasingly delocalized and reliant on processed foods. Additionally, there has been a rapid economic shift away from agricultural and dairy farming to an economy more reliant on tourism. This NSF supported study builds upon data from a longitudinal investigation (#BNS 0753017) examining the nutritional effects of this rapid economic transition. Using a mixed methods approach, a culturally appropriate scale of stress was developed …

Environmental Change And Place-Based Identities: Sponge Fishing In Tarpon Springs, Florida, Michael Suver

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

As the environmental consequences of urbanization and climate change become apparent in coastal communities, it has become important to understand how residents of these communities experience and approach their changing environments. This becomes especially significant in places where nature-based livelihoods constitute a major part of the economy. This thesis focuses on the city of Tarpon Springs, located along the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, where sea sponge fishing is an important contributor to the local economy while also being central to place-based tourist and ethnic identities. It seeks to understand how environmental changes in the sea sponge economy will …

Egyptian Body Size: A Regional And Worldwide Comparison, Michelle H. Raxter

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Human body size and limb proportions can provide important information about adaptation, population movements, and health disparities. This study investigated changes in body size and limb proportions of adult Egyptians temporally and geographically in relation to climatological, sociopolitical and economic developments. It was predicted that Egyptian groups that experienced more environmental stress would be shorter and exhibit less sexual dimorphism. It was also predicted that Egyptians would be intermediate between higher and lower latitude populations in body form and limb length ratios. The main skeletal sample consisted of 492 males and 528 females, all adults from the Predynastic and Dynastic …

Computational Discovery Of Phenotype Related Biochemical Processes For Engineering, Andrea M. Rocha

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Application of bioengineering technologies for enhanced biological hydrogen production is a promising approach that may play a vital role in sustainable energy. Due to the ability of several naturally occurring microorganisms to generate hydrogen through varying metabolic processes, biological hydrogen has become an attractive alternative energy and fuel source.

One area of particular interest is the production of biological hydrogen in organically-rich engineered systems, such as those associated with waste treatment. Despite the potential for high energy yields, hydrogen yields generated by bacteria in waste systems are often limited due to a focus on microbial utilization of organic material towards …

The Design And Synthesis Of Functionalized Porphyrins And Their Applications In Group Transfer Reactions, Medicine, And Materials, Kimberly Bliss Fields

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Porphyrins and their analogs are a class of chemically and biologically important compounds that have found a variety of applications in different fields such as catalysis, medicine, and materials. The physical, chemical, and biological dependence of the peripheral substituents of porphyrins on their properties has prompted great effort towards the synthesis of new porphyrins with different electronic, steric, and conformational environments. To this end, porphyrins have been prepared using a modular approach from bromo- and triflate synthons. These synthons underwent palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling with chiral amines, amides, alcohols, and boronic esters to create products that were tested for biological activity.

Metalloporphyrins …

Passages, Volume 10, No. 3, Fall 2010, Joe Mitchell

Texas Cave Management Association

Contents: TCMA Wins NSS Conservation Award -- Deep and Punkin Paid Off -- View from the Palit -- A Tribute to Carl Ponebshek: 1924 - 2009 -- CARL -- Whirlpool Cave Preserve -- A Profile of Carl Ponebshek -- TCMA Volunteer Opportunities Abound -- Top Ten "Rewards" of Being President of TCMA -- Volunteer Appreciation! -- TCMA Officers and Board - 2009 -- Support TCMA Get a T-Shirt!

Gold Nanoparticles And Their Polymer Composites: Synthesis Characterization And Applications, Nidhi Joshi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Gold nanoparticles are excellent candidates for all the biomedical applications due to their size and shape dependent optical and physiological properties. In this study, gold nanoparticles were synthesized chemically for bio-application. It was observed that the size and shape of gold nanoparticles depend strongly on the concentration of chemical solution, type of reducing agent used in the reaction, temperature of the solution and stabilizing agent for reaction. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been used extensively to determine the size and shape of the gold nanoparticles. Optical properties of the size and shape selected nanoparticles were studied using UV-vis spectrophotometer in …

The Effects Of Learning-Styles Information On The Achievement Of Community College Developmental Math Students, Kevin A. Hoeffner

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Four out of five Americans will require some postsecondary education. Therefore, a majority of population will return to a community college for retraining and personal growth (McCabe, 2003). Since the turn of this century, many studies have been conducted to examine the success and challenges of the relatively new community college system. One of the most significant challenges is the large percentage of the U.S. population requiring remedial coursework. Fifty-five percent of students entering Florida's postsecondary system require remediation. Of this large remedial population, only 51% will complete their preparatory classes. Students who do complete classes take an average of …

Toward An Applied Anthropology Of Gis: Spatial Analysis Of Adolescent Childbearing In Hillsborough And Pinellas Counties, Florida, Kathleen I. Maes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work investigates births to white, African American and Hispanic adolescents in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties, Florida, from 1992 to 1997 in two age groups - 13 to 17 year-olds and 18 to 19 year-olds - using spatial statistical techniques along with key informant interviews to provide insights into the utility of the research findings. The research developed a method for estimating the adolescent population in inter-census years, which was used to determine denominators for calculating teen birth rates. It also developed a composite deprivation index using socioeconomic indicators at the census block group level. The index provided context for …

Properties Of Carbon Nanotubes Under External Factors: Adsorption, Mechanical Deformations, Defects, And External Electric Fields, Yaroslav Shtogun

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Carbon nanotubes have unique electronic, optical, mechanical, and transport properties which make them an important element of nanoscience and nanotechnology. However, successful application and integration of carbon nanotubes into new nanodevices requires fundamental understanding of their property changes under the influence of many external factors. This dissertation presents qualitative and quantitative theoretical understanding of property changes, while carbon nanotubes are exposed to the deformations, defects, external electric fields, and adsorption. Adsorption mechanisms due to Van der Waals dispersion forces are analyzed first for the interactions of graphitic materials and biological molecules with carbon nanotubes. In particular, the calculations are performed …

Local And Traditional Knowledge And The Historical Ecologyof Pacific Herring In Alaska, Thomas F. Thornton, Madonna L. Moss, Virginia L. Butler, Jamie Hebert, Fritz Funk

Journal of Ecological Anthropology

No abstract provided.

Non-Calanoid Copepods At The Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series Study (Bats) Station: Community Structure And Ecology, 1995-1999, Hussain Ali Al-Mutairi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Zooplankton were sampled on a monthly basis at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site from January 1995 to December 1999. Samples were collected using a 1-m², 200 µm mesh net. The net sampled the water column in an oblique manner from the surface to a mean depth of 200 m. One day and one night tow from each cruise was examined microscopically to determine the community structure of the non-calanoid copepods. In addition, a three year set of nighttime samples were examined taken by 0.5-m², 20 and 35 µm mesh nets (1995-1996 and 1997, respectively) towed obliquely to 150 …

Deterioration Of Carbonate Rocks Used For Archeological Monuments In Tauric Chersonesos (Crimea), Alexander V. Mosyagin, Irina V. Knauf, Marina S. Zelenskaya

Studia UBB Geologia

The paper presents the mineralogy and petrography of the Proconesian marble and Chersonesian limestone, used as building materials from Antiquity to the medieval times in the Tauric Chersonesos, Crimea. The deterioration process, due to the modern time’s pollution and the climatic factors, is represented by forming of mainly gypsum-rich patina. The ubiquitous presence of micromycetes favors the stone decay.

National Cave And Karst Research Institute 2007-2008 Annual Report Nckri Annual Report, 2007-2008, National Cave And Karst Research Institute

KIP Articles

Contents: Executive Report -- NCKRI Projects -- Student Activities -- Outreach -- Organizational Structure -- Board Activities -- Board of Directors -- NCKRI Staff -- Staff Publications -- 2007-2008 Budget -- Strategic Plans.

Passages, Volume 10, No. 2, Summer 2009, Joe Mitchell

Texas Cave Management Association

Contents: TCMA: Cavers Protecting Caves -- View from the Palit -- Deep & Punkin Caves: Two Texas Classics -- TCMA -- Ezell's Cave: Home of the Blind Monster -- Godwin Ranch: Habitat for Endangered Species -- Rolling Oaks: A Small Preserve Protecting Small Creatures -- Robber Baron: History, Mystery, and Restoration -- Deep and Punkin Cave Survey Update -- LIDAR Mapping the Devil's Sinkhole -- Linda Palit: Highlights from a Lifetime of Caving -- LIDAR -- A Geology Field Trip to Deep & Punkin Caves -- RBC -- Whirlpool Preserve -- Lost Oasis Preserve -- TCMA Supports the 15th ICS …

Synthesis Of Small Molecule Inhibitors Targeting Signal Transduction Pathways, Divya Ramamoorthy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The main aim of the study described in this thesis is the development of small molecules as inhibitors targeting signal transduction pathways, thereby treating cancer. We attempted to synthesize compounds based on the hits obtained from high throughput screening of the Chemdiv diversity set compounds. Chapter One is a general introduction to cancer, history of chemotherapeutic drugs and an introduction to signal transduction pathways. The following two chapters briefly introduce the biological targets in the authors study. Chapter Two describes the role of B-cell lymphoma type xL (Bcl-xL), in apoptosis and the development of drugs targeting Bcl-xL. Examples of Bcl-xL …

Optimization And Characterization Of Lab-On-A-Chip Elements: Microfluidic Chambers And Microneedles, Puneet Khanna

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this work, MEMS based fabrication is used to engineer multifaceted enhancements to microfluidic systems such as lab-on-a-chip devices. Two specific elements of microfluidic systems are the focus of this study: microfluidic chambers and microneedles. Microfluidic chambers, which are back-end passive elements, via proposed material and structural modifications, are shown to exhibit reduced non-specific DNA binding and enable increased cell lysis efficiency. Microneedles, which are front-end interfacing elements, have been fabricated in silicon and in silicon dioxide varieties. The geometry of silicon microneedles has been varied via DRIE processing to yield sharpened tips. Sharpening of microneedle tips provides reduced skin …

Determination Of Decay Rates And Differential Survival Of Escherichia Coli And Enterococcus Spp. Strains Under Hydrodynamically Active Conditions Using Box-Pcr Typing, Phoebe West Koch

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Indicator organisms (IOs) such as Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. are used to predict the presence of pathogens in waters. Determining the relationships between environmental factors, IOs, and pathogens is a key to assessing water quality and ensuring public health, yet certain strains of E. coli and Enterococcus spp. survive for long periods in natural waters. Molecular subtyping, using repetitive extragenic palindromic DNA sequences (BOX-PCR), has been used to discriminate among environmental E. coli and Enterococcus spp. isolates. The reproducibility of BOX-PCR patterns varies with DNA purification methods; therefore, it is important to develop a standardized, rapid, high throughput DNA …

Passages, Volume 9, No. 2, Fall 2008, Joe Mitchell

Texas Cave Management Association

Contents: Open House to Mark Robber Baron Project Completion -- View from the Palit -- TCMA's Austin Preserves: Lost Oasis -- TCMA's Austin Preserves: Whirlpool -- TCMA's Austin Preserves: Village of Western Oaks -- Robber Baron Preserve - An Urban Cave Restoration Story -- Restoration -- LIDAR Project Update -- New 'Loo and Porch with a View at Deep & Punkin -- Robber Baron -- Robber Baron Volunteers

Comparison Of Fruit Removal In Tropical Tree Species Between Forest And Urban Areas – Monteverde, Costa Rica, May 2008, Dominic Derenge

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Tropical frugivorous birds are facing the effects of increased human land development. The conversion of forests to road and buildings interrupts the interaction forest trees and their frugivorous dispersers. This study uses the tree/frugivore mutualism to asses the effect proximity to human influences has upon a forest health. Measurements of the removal rates of Citharexylum costaricensis (Verbenaceae) fruits in a fragment near to the forest displayed significantly higher removal rates than in the urban fragment (Paired T-Test, T=0.996 df=15, p = 0.043, n =16). Separate trials with Solanum rugosum (Solanaceae) fruit displayed the same trend (Paired T-Tests, T = 0.695, …

National Cave And Karst Research Institute 2007-2008 Annual Report, National Cave And Karst Research Institute

KIP Articles

No abstract provided.

Summary Of Land Ownership And Existing Habitat Protection For Populations, Lawrence J. Niles, Humphrey P. Sitters, Amanda D. Dey, Philip W. Atkinson, Allan J. Baker, Karen A. Bennett, Roberto Carmona, Kathleen E. Clark, Nigel A. Clark, Carmen Espoz, Patricia M. González, Brian A. Harrington, Daniel E. Hernández, Kevin S. Kalasz, Richard G. Lathrop, Ricardo N. Matus, Clive D. T. Minton, R. I. Morrison, Mark K. Peck, William Pitts, Robert A. Robinson, Inês L. Serrano

Studies in Avian Biology

No abstract provided.

Habitat, Lawrence J. Niles, Humphrey P. Sitters, Amanda D. Dey, Philip W. Atkinson, Allan J. Baker, Karen A. Bennett, Roberto Carmona, Kathleen E. Clark, Nigel A. Clark, Carmen Espoz, Patricia M. González, Brian A. Harrington, Daniel E. Hernández, Kevin S. Kalasz, Richard G. Lathrop, Ricardo N. Matus, Clive D. T. Minton, R. I. Morrison, Mark K. Peck, William Pitts, Robert A. Robinson, Inês L. Serrano

Studies in Avian Biology

No abstract provided.

Past And Current Conservation And Habitat Management Activities Undertaken To Benefit Species, Lawrence J. Niles, Humphrey P. Sitters, Amanda D. Dey, Philip W. Atkinson, Allan J. Baker, Karen A. Bennett, Roberto Carmona, Kathleen E. Clark, Nigel A. Clark, Carmen Espoz, Patricia M. González, Brian A. Harrington, Daniel E. Hernández, Kevin S. Kalasz, Richard G. Lathrop, Ricardo N. Matus, Clive D. T. Minton, R. I. Morrison, Mark K. Peck, William Pitts, Robert A. Robinson, Inês L. Serrano

Studies in Avian Biology

No abstract provided.

Relationship Between Floral Advertisement And Pollinia Removal In Oerstedella Exasperata (Orchidaceae), December 2007, Mary Snayd

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

The purpose of this study was to examine how the floral displays and morphology of Oerstedella exasperata affect reproductive success. This species of orchid is typified by extreme variability in both inflorescence and floral characteristics. In particular there is a wide distribution regarding the degree of symmetry observed in the labellum. The degrees of symmetry are characterized by variations within the fringe symmetry and bilateral symmetry. Furthermore, the surface area of the labellum varies greatly within a population. These remarkably diverse phenotypic morphologies and the summation of the floral traits can enhance or reduce the reproductive success of particular species. …

The Impact Of Host Rock Geochemistry On Bacterial Community Structure In Oligotrophic Cave Environments, Hazel A. Barton, Nicholas M. Taylor, Michael P. Kreate

KIP Articles

Despite extremely starved conditions, caves contain surprisingly diverse microbial communities. Our research is geared toward understanding what ecosystems drivers are responsible for this high diversity. To asses the effect of rock fabric and mineralogy, we carried out a comparative geomicrobiology study within Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico, USA. Samples were collected from two different geologic locations within the cave: WF1 in the Massive Member of the Capitan Formation and sF88 in the calcareous siltstones of the Yates Formation. We examined the organic content at each location using liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy and analyzed microbial community structure using molecular phylogenetic analyses. In …

The Bioinorganic Chemistry Of Copper-Containing Systems: From Type-3 Systems Pertinent To Alzheimer’S Disease To Mononuclear Hydrolysis Involved In Biological Development, Giordano Faustini Zimmerer Da Silva

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Although transition metals are essential for life, misregulation of redox-active metal uptake, delivery, storage, and excretion has been linked with a series of neurodegenerative disorders. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is considered an epidemic and is the most widespread of all forms of dementia. Copper ions found in large concentrations localized in amyloid-ß plaques in the brain of AD patients have been linked with the generation of reactive oxygen species which are suspected to be the culprits leading to neuronal cell death. Herein a series of mechanistic and spectroscopic studies elucidate the chemistry about the metal-centered oxidation of biomolecules, including catecholamine neurotransmitters …

Glyconanobiotics: Novel Carbohydrated Nanoparticle Polymers, Thotaha Wijayahewage Sampath Chrysantha Abeylath

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Carbohydrates on the cell surface conjugates to proteins and lipids and participates in biological processes as glycoconjugates. Carbohydrate functionalized nanoparticles (glyconanoparticles) constitute a good bio-mimetic model of carbohydrate presentation at the cell surface and are currently centered on many glycobiological and biomedical applications. The most of the applications have been reported using gold glyconanoparticles. A brief review of gold glyconanoparticles and some of their applications will be discussed in Chapter I. Although metallic, semiconductor and magnetic glyconanoparticles have been reported, no polyacrylate glyconanoparticles have yet to be described.

Chapter II describes the first preparation of carbohydrate functionalized polymer nanoparticles by …

A Role For The Cytoskeleton In Heart Looping, Kersti K. Linask, Michael Vanauker

Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Over the past 10 years, key genes involved in specification of left-right laterality pathways in the embryo have been defined. The read-out for misexpression of laterality genes is usually the direction of heart looping. The question of how dextral looping direction occurred mechanistically and how the heart tube bends remains unknown. It is becoming clear from our experiments and those of others that left-right differences in cell proliferation in the second heart field (anterior heart field) drives the dextral direction. Evidence is accumulating that the cytoskeleton is at the center of laterality, and the bending and rotational forces associated with …

Optional Enhanced Measures For The Protection Of Water Quality In The Edwards Aquifer (Revised)

KIP Data Sets and Technical Reports

Open Access Edwards Aquifer Authority Collection