Digital Commons Network^™

Geospatial Simulations Of Airborne Ice-Penetrating Radar Surveying Reveal Elevation Under-Measurement Bias For Ice-Sheet Bed Topography, Oliver T. Bartlett, Steven J. Palmer, Dustin M. Schroeder, Emma J. Mackie, Timothy T. Barrows, Alastair G. Graham

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Airborne radio-echo sounding (RES) surveys are widely used to measure ice-sheet bed topography. Measuring bed topography as accurately and widely as possible is of critical importance to modelling ice dynamics and hence to constraining better future ice response to climate change. Measurement accuracy of RES surveys is influenced both by the geometry of bed topography and the survey design. Here we develop a novel approach for simulating RES surveys over glaciated terrain, to quantify the sensitivity of derived bed elevation to topographic geometry. Furthermore, we investigate how measurement errors influence the quantification of glacial valley geometry. We find a negative …

Stakeholder Participation In Ipbes: Connecting Local Environmental Work With Global Decision Making, Cornelia B. Krug, Eleanor Sterling, Timothy Cadman, Jonas Geschke, Paula F. Drummond De Castro, Rainer Schliep, Isimemen Osemwegie, Frank E. Muller-Karger, Tek Maraseni

Marine Science Faculty Publications

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services(IPBES) strengthens the science-policy interface by producing scientific assessments on biodiversity and ecosystem services to inform policy. IPBES fosters knowledge exchange across disciplines, between researchers and other knowledge holders, practitioners, societal actors and decision makers working at different geographic scales. A number of avenues for participation of stakeholders across the four functions if IPBES exist. Stakeholders come from diverse backgrounds, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, businesses, and non-governmental organization. They represent multiple sources of information, data, knowledge, and perspectives on biodiversity. Stakeholder engagement in IPBES seeks to 1. communicate, disseminate, and …

Annual Report, Research & Instruction Department, 2019 - 2020, Gary Austin, Theresa G. Burress, Camielle Crampsie

Library Department and Committee Reports

Annual report for the Reference and Instruction Department for the period July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, for the University of South Florida St. Petersburg's Nelson Poynter Memorial Library.

First-Time Characterization Of Viable But Non-Culturable Proteus Mirabilis: Induction And Resuscitation, Reham Wasfi, G. R. Abdellatif, H. M. Elshishtawy, Hossam M. Ashour

USF St. Petersburg Campus Faculty Publications

Pathogenic bacteria can enter into a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state under unfavourable conditions. Proteus mirabilis is responsible for dire clinical consequences including septicaemia, urinary tract infections and pneumonia, but is not a species previously known to enter VBNC state. We suggested that stress-induced P. mirabilis can enter a VBNC state in which it retains virulence. P. mirabilis isolates were incubated in extreme osmotic pressure, starvation, low temperature and low pH to induce a VBNC state. Resuscitation was induced by temperature upshift and inoculation in tryptone soy broth with Tween 20 and brain heart infusion broth. Cellular ultrastructure and gene …

Bioaccumulation And Biomagnification Of Potential Toxic Elements (Ptes): An Avicennia Germinans–Uca Rapax Trophic Transfer Story From Jobos Bay, Puerto Rico, Michael Martinez-Colon, Henry Alegria, Hatice Kubra-Gul, Ashley Huber, Perihan Kurt-Karakus

USF St. Petersburg Campus Faculty Publications

In southern Puerto Rico along the coastline bordering the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, environmental encroachment has exposed mangrove forest to different sources of pollution. Potentially toxic element concentrations from the F1Tess (exchangeable), F4Tess (oxidizable), mangrove leaf litter (MLL), and fiddler crab whole body soft tissue were analyzed to assess the fate and transport of pollutants from the environment and its transition into flora-fauna via trophic transfer. Geo-accumulation factor values suggest the bay has experienced limited to no pollution when combining the concentrations of potentially toxic elements extracted from the F1Tess and F4Tess sediment fractions. These geochemical sedimentary compartments …

Faith In Trump, Moral Foundations, And Social Distancing Defiance During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Amanda Graham, Justin T. Pickett, Cheryl Lero Jonson, Murat Haner, Melissa M. Sloan

Criminology Faculty Publications

Purpose: Over the past several months, the coronavirus has infected more than six million Americans and killed nearly 200,000. Governors have issued stay-at-home orders, and prosecutors have filed criminal charges against individuals for defying those orders. And yet many Americans have still refused to keep their distance from their fellow citizens, even if they had symptoms of infection. The authors explore the underlying causes for those who intend to defy these norms.

Methods: Using national-level data from a March 2020 survey of 989 Americans, the authors explore intentions to defy social distancing norms by testing an interactionist theory of foundation-based …

Postcard, Black History Month 2020 Salute At Studio@620 In St. Petersburg, Florida, Studio At 620

Postcard Collection

A promotional postcard for The Studio@620's Black History Month celebrations in February 2020. The events included poetry readings, art exhibitions, theatrical readings, and dance performances, with highlights such as “Poets on Poets,” “Emerging Artists of Color: A Group Exhibition,” and a staged reading of "Master Harold... and the Boys" by Athol Fugard.

Fostering Preservice And In-Service Ela Teachers’ Digital Practices For Addressing Climate Change, Richard Beach, George Boggs, Jill Castek, James Damico, Alexandra Panos, Renee Spellman, Nance Wilson

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

This report presents research on preservice (PST) and in-service teachers acquiring digital practices for addressing climate change related to knowing how to employ digital practices for studying visual representations of climate change and engaging students in critiquing online information about climate change. Study 1 examined PSTs understanding of climate change through participation in visiting a laboratory involving scientific study of ecological systems to interact with scientists, collect digital artifacts, and create a virtual field trip using these artifacts for instructional purposes. Study 2 involved PSTs and in-service teachers responding critically to the NASA Climate Change website, identifying digital literacies their …

Parent-Led, Stepped-Care Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy For Youth With Autism And Co-Occurring Anxiety: Study Rationale And Method, Ana C. Ramirez, Stacey C. Grebe, Morgan M. Mcneel, Danica L. Limon, Sophie C. Schneider, Leandra N. Berry, Robin P. Goin-Kochel, Sandra L. Cepeda, Robert G. Voigt, Alison Salloum, Eric A. Storch

Social Work Faculty Publications

Anxiety disorders affect up to 50% of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are significantly impairing to the person affected, as well as to their loved ones. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been established as the gold-standard treatment for anxiety disorders among typically developing youth and adults, and demonstrates similar efficacy among youth with high-functioning autism (HFA). Many CBT interventions utilize a “full-package” treatment approach to treat co-occurring anxiety in youth with ASD. However, these service delivery systems are often therapist-intensive, costly, and impractical, thereby compromising full engagement and treatment adherence. This paper describes the design, rationale, and methodology of …

Probabilistic Machine Learning Using Bayesian Inference, Mayank Pandey

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Machine Learning is a branch of AI (Artificial Intelligence) which expands on the idea of a computational system extending its knowledge about set methodical behaviors from the data that is fed to it to essentially develop analytical skills that can help in identifying patterns and making decisions with little to no participation of a real human being. Computer algorithms help in gaining experience to improve the facility over time for use by both consumers and corporations. In today’s technologically advanced world, Machine Learning has given us self-driving cars, speech recognition software, and AI agents like Siri and Google assistant. This …

Calculating Resonance Angle For Surface Plasmon Resonance Activation On Different Metals, Dang Nguyen

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is the technique that has been used in many fields including biomedical science, optic, biosensing, photothermal plasmon and medicine. With the help of Kretschmann configuration, the setup allows to excite the electrons located around the metal which results in electron oscillation, also known as the plasmonic effect. However, SPR requires many factors in order to be activated. This paper approaches and analyzes two crucial features, the incident angle of incoming light and the effect of permittivity that different metals have in order to determine the sufficient value for the plasmon to exist. Different metals including gold, …

Social Media And Mental Health: A Comprehensive Review Of Eating Disorders In Young Men And The Literature Gap, Samantha Bryan

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

Mental Health and Social Media is a literature review of how social networking sites (i.e., Snapchat) and mass media impacts the incidence, risk, and symptoms of eating disorders and disordered eating in men aged 18 to 27. The literature review begins with a general overview and the current literature and research gap. Peer-reviewed articles were searched and entered into an abstract matrix, and 36 were chosen to be in the review. The role of social networking sites (SNS) and mass media in the impact of eating disorder risk, symptoms, and incidence in college-aged men will be explored via the articles, …

The Endurance Of The Trojan Cycle, Antonio D. Fazzalari

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

Humankind is a story driven species in that we rationalize the proceedings of the world around us by authoring tales. These fictions are often appealing contortions of the factual events they sought to capture. The Trojan Cycle is no exception to this contortion. The ancient Greek epic poems which composed the Trojan Cycle were based on both bardic tradition of the Bronze Age Aegean, and the desires of the ancient audience of the poets. When we observe the tale of foremost significance amongst those of the Trojan Cycle, Homer's Iliad, we see that it is, as is the case …

Environmental Education At Florida Zoos, Aquariums, And Animal-Based Theme Parks In A National Context: A Comparative Analysis, Rachelle Pontes

USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)

Our society faces escalating environmental challenges with catastrophic implications. Environmental education (EE) is essential for creating an informed and active citizenry prepared to address urgent ecological problems. With a reach of over 195 million visitors annually, and diverse visitor demographics, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos, aquariums, and animal-based theme parks are uniquely positioned to be critical centers of non-formal environmental education. This research investigates adult EE programming at zoos, aquariums, and animal-based theme parks in Florida, and provides a comparison of their focus and trajectory against EE programs in flagship zoos, aquariums, and animal-based theme parks …

#Ad: How Influencers Disclose Advertisements On Instagram, Tamiracle A. Williams

USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires social media influencers to disclose any financial or material relationship they have with a brand. This study represents a content analysis of 150 sponsored posts to examine how Instagram influencers disclose this relationship. Findings show that 37% of Instagram influencers use the word “ad” to disclose commercial relations on posts. Further, results indicate that disclosure hashtags are the most popular type and location used by Instagram influencers to disclose a relationship with a brand.

A Framework For Quantifying Diasporic Media Markets: Exploring The Cabo Verdean U.S. Diaspora, Luke Daniel Cross

USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)

Immigrant populations within the United States are a burgeoning interest for communication studies, but few resources exist for gauging the media resources available to these populations. This study aims to explore the literature on migrant media consumption and expatriate voting in order to develop an analytical model of media markets surrounding diasporic populations. The goal of this study was to identify relevant tools and data, to code them as variables, and to apply them to the Cabo Verdean diaspora within the U.S. in order to test the strengths and weaknesses of existing resources for analyzing diasporic media markets.

Adult Environmental Education: Active Vs. Passive Learning Pedagogy, Kelly Mckenna

USF St. Petersburg campus Master's Theses (Graduate)

From wildfires to coral bleaching, the global effects of climate change are difficult to ignore. Unfortunately, the number of environmental education (EE) programs that target adults in the United States is lacking. Adults have the biggest impact on the environment and the greatest ability to make positive environmental changes and therefore, the need to expand environmental education for adults is imperative. In order to contribute to improved environmental quality, adults need to be exposed to environmental problems and to be taught ways to reduce their environmental impacts. Existing research highlights the difficulties when attempting to include adults in environmental education …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Hiv Treatment And Research: A Call To Action, Tiffany Chenneville, Kemesha Gabbidon, Patricia Hanson, Cashea Holyfield

USF St. Petersburg Campus Faculty Publications

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is far reaching, with devastating effects on individuals, communities, and societies across the world. People with chronic health conditions may be at greater risk of contracting or experiencing complications from COVID-19. In addition to illness or death for those who contract the virus, the physical distancing required to flatten the curve of new cases is having a negative impact on the economy, the effects of which intersect with mental health and other existing health concerns, thus affecting marginalized communities. Given that HIV also has a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, COVID-19 is affecting people …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Hiv Treatment And Research: A Call To Action, Tiffany Chenneville, Kemesha Gabbidon, Patricia Hanson, Cashea Holyfield

USF St. Petersburg Campus Faculty Publications

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is far reaching, with devastating effects on individuals, communities, and societies across the world. People with chronic health conditions may be at greater risk of contracting or experiencing complications from COVID-19. In addition to illness or death for those who contract the virus, the physical distancing required to flatten the curve of new cases is having a negative impact on the economy, the effects of which intersect with mental health and other existing health concerns, thus affecting marginalized communities. Given that HIV also has a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, COVID-19 is affecting people …

Antimicrobial And Antibiofilm Activities Of Probiotic Lactobacilli On Antibiotic-Resistant Proteus Mirabilis, Mona Shaaban, Ola A. Abd El-Rahman, Bashair Al-Qaidi, Hossam M. Ashour

USF St. Petersburg Campus Faculty Publications

The emergence of biofilm-forming, multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Proteus mirabilis infections is a serious threat that necessitates non-antibiotic therapies. Antibiotic susceptibility and biofilm-forming activity of P. mirabilis isolates from urine samples were assessed by disc diffusion and crystal violet assays, respectively. Antimicrobial activities of probiotic Lactobacilli were evaluated by agar diffusion. Antibiofilm and anti-adherence activities were evaluated by crystal violet assays. While most P. mirabilis isolates were antibiotic-resistant to varying degrees, isolate P14 was MDR (resistant to ceftazidime, cefotaxime, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, imipenem, ciprofloxacin, and amikacin) and formed strong biofilms. Cultures and cell-free supernatants of Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus reuteri exhibited antimicrobial and …

Yersinia Outer Membrane Vesicles As Potential Vaccine Candidates In Protecting Against Plague, Andrey A. Byvalov, Ilya V. Konyshev, Vladimir N. Uversky, Svetlana V. Dentovskaya, Andrey P. Anisimov

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

Despite the relatively low incidence of plague, its etiological agent, Yersinia pestis, is an exceptional epidemic danger due to the high infectivity and mortality of this infectious disease. Reports on the isolation of drug-resistant Y. pestis strains indicate the advisability of using asymmetric responses, such as phage therapy and vaccine prophylaxis in the fight against this problem. The current relatively effective live plague vaccine is not approved for use in most countries because of its ability to cause heavy local and system reactions and even a generalized infectious process in people with a repressed immune status or metabolic disorders, as …

Yersinia Pestis Plasminogen Activator, Florent Sebbane, Vladimir N. Uversky, Andrey P. Anisimov

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

The Gram-negative bacterium Yersinia pestis causes plague, a fatal flea-borne anthropozoonosis, which can progress to aerosol-transmitted pneumonia. Y. pestis overcomes the innate immunity of its host thanks to many pathogenicity factors, including plasminogen activator, Pla. This factor is a broad-spectrum outer membrane protease also acting as adhesin and invasin. Y. pestis uses Pla adhesion and proteolytic capacity to manipulate the fibrinolytic cascade and immune system to produce bacteremia necessary for pathogen transmission via fleabite or aerosols. Because of microevolution, Y. pestis invasiveness has increased significantly after a single amino-acid substitution (I259T) in Pla of one of the oldest Y. pestis …

Linear Relationships Between Partition Coefficients Of Different Organic Compounds And Proteins In Aqueous Two-Phase Systems Of Various Polymer And Ionic Compositions, Nuno R. Da Silva, Luisa A. Ferreira, Pedro P. Madeira, José A. Teixeira, Vladimir N. Uversky, Boris Y. Zaslavsky

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

Analysis of the partition coefficients of small organic compounds and proteins in different aqueous two-phase systems under widely varied ionic compositions shows that logarithms of partition coefficients for any three compounds or proteins or two organic compounds and one protein are linearly interrelated, although for protein(s) there are ionic compositions when the linear fit does not hold. It is suggested that the established interrelationships are due to cooperativity of different types of solute–solvent interactions in aqueous media. This assumption is confirmed by analysis of distribution coefficients of various drugs in octanol-buffer systems with varied ionic compositions of the buffer. Analysis …

The Pathophysiological Significance Of Fibulin-3, Imogen Livingstone, Vladimir N. Uversky, Dominic Furniss, Akira Wiberg

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

Fibulin-3 (also known as EGF-containing fibulin extracellular matrix protein 1 (EFEMP1)) is a secreted extracellular matrix glycoprotein, encoded by the EFEMP1 gene that belongs to the eight-membered fibulin protein family. It has emerged as a functionally unique member of this family, with a diverse array of pathophysiological associations predominantly centered on its role as a modulator of extracellular matrix (ECM) biology. Fibulin-3 is widely expressed in the human body, especially in elastic-fibre-rich tissues and ocular structures, and interacts with enzymatic ECM regulators, including tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3). A point mutation in EFEMP1 causes an inherited early-onset form of macular …

Collagen Xii Is A Regulator Of Corneal Stroma Structure And Function, Mei Sun, Nabeel Zafrullah, Floriane Devaux, Chinda Hemmavanh, Sheila Adams, Noel M. Ziebarth, Manuel Koch, David E. Birk, Edgar M. Espana

Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the roles of collagen XII in the regulation of stromal hierarchical organization, keratocyte organization, and corneal mechanics.

Methods: The temporal and spatial expression of collagen XII at postnatal days 4, 10, 30, 90, and 150 were evaluated in wild-type (WT) mice. The role of collagen XII in hierarchical organization was analyzed by measuring fibril diameter and density, as well as stromal lamellar structure, within ultrastructural micrographs obtained from WT and collagen XII-deficient mice (Col12a1–/–). Keratocyte morphology and networks were assessed using actin staining with phalloidin and in vivo confocal …

West Florida Shelf Pipeline Serves As Sea Turtle Benthic Habitat Based On In Situ Towed Camera Observations, Heather A. Broadbent, Sarah E. Grasty, Robert F. Hardy, Margaret M. Lamont, Kristen M. Hart, Chad Lembke, Jennifer L. Brizzolara, Steven Murawski

Marine Science Faculty Publications

The use of marine offshore benthic habitats by sea turtles is poorly characterized due to the difficulty of obtaining in situ data. Understanding benthic habitat use that is important to the species’ reproduction, foraging, and migrations is critical for guiding management decisions. A towed camera-based assessment survey system (C-BASS) equipped with environmental sensors was used to characterize and assess benthic habitats on the West Florida Shelf (WFS) from 2014 to 2018. During these cruises, sea turtles were opportunistically observed during the surveys, and critical in situ data such as spatiotemporal information, species identification, habitat use, behavior, and environmental data were …

An Exploration Of Wind Energy, Bianca De Haan

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

Wind energy is renewable energy extrapolated from the wind that has the potential to revolutionize our power supply in the near future as fossil fuels become outdated. Wind turbines capture the energy as the wind spins the blades of the turbine, transforming wind energy into mechanical energy and then into electrical energy through a generator. One of the techniques utilized to understand wind energy is to manipulate various variables in the formula for wind power. These variables such as the power coefficient, wind velocity, number and length of blades are explored to find its optimal value. The variable of turbine …

Hyperelastic Bone Involving The Washer Method, Kristin Jones

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The research conducted focuses on 3D printing and its application in medical equipment. A recent breakthrough in modern material science was made with the creation of hyperelastic bone. This exploration looks at how hyperelastic bone is created, the cost comparison to older tools, and the possible design for hyperelastic bone. Detailed calculations and descriptions are also included to explain the reasoning behind the work conducted.

Faith In Trump, Moral Foundations, And Social Distancing Defiance During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Amanda Graham, Francis T. Cullen, Justin T. Pickett, Cheryl Lero Jonson, Murat Haner, Melissa M. Sloan

All publications

Purpose: Over the past several months, the coronavirus has infected more than six million Americans and killed nearly 200,000. Governors have issued stay-at-home orders, and prosecutors have filed criminal charges against individuals for defying those orders. And yet many Americans have still refused to keep their distance from their fellow citizens, even if they had symptoms of infection. The authors explore the underlying causes for those who intend to defy these norms.

Methods: Using national-level data from a March 2020 survey of 989 Americans, the authors explore intentions to defy social distancing norms by testing an interactionist theory of foundation-based …

Using A Rapid Assessment Methodology To Identify And Address Immediate Needs Among Low-Income Households With Children During Covid-19, Shreela V. Sharma, Amier Haidar, Jacqueline Noyola, Jacqueline Tien, Melinda Rushing, Brittni M. Naylor, Ru-Jye Chuang, Christine Markham

All publications

Objective: Brighter Bites is a school-based health promotion program that delivers fresh produce and nutrition education to low-income children and families. Due to COVID-19-related school closures, states were under "shelter in place" orders, and Brighter Bites administered a rapid assessment survey to identify social needs among their families. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the methodology used to identify those with greatest social needs during this time ("high risk"), and to describe the response of Brighter Bites to these "high risk" families.

Methods: The rapid assessment survey was collected in April 2020 across Houston, Dallas, Washington DC, and …