Digital Commons Network^™

A Phenotypic Characterization Of Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia Clinical Isolates, Sara Dj Daniels

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus is a human pathogen of serious concern because of its ability to cause serious and wide-ranging disease. Of particular concern is the ability of S. aureus to cause bacteremia (SAB), allowing the bacteria to disseminate and spread to various organs. This study addressed this issue through the phenotypic characterization of two methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates taken from patients with sustained complicated bacteremia at Tampa General Hospital, referred to as SA1097 and SA1098. A battery of phenotypic tests was conducted on these strains, including a growth curve, hemolysis and proteolysis screenings, cytotoxicity assays using human neutrophils, blood …

Integrating Risk And Vulnerability: Exploring A Unified Model For Supply Chain Resiliency, William G. Cook

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The world has entered an era of retreating globalization, mounting geo-political tensions, rising protectionism, and increasing focus on the fragility of complex supply chains. The negative impacts of supply chain disruptions have been increasingly documented since the turn of the century. Given the global scale of recent disruptions, supply chain resiliency has become a national imperative. The Global Financial Crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, and other major disruptive events demonstrate the active role of government in mitigating damage, the enduring effects of regulation, and the resultant re-evaluation of supply chain strategies by the private and public sectors. In this environment, supply …

Expert Consensus In A Politically-Charged Environment: Motivated Reasoning In Information Processing, Austin L. Katz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the abundance of information online, what drives news consumption? It has been theorized that there are two distinct conflicting motivations which operate simultaneously when consumers encounter new information: the motivation to reach accurate conclusions and the directional motivation to reach conclusions that are consistent with a person’s preexisting beliefs or predispositions (e.g., Kunda 1990). This experiment tests situations in which both motivations are simultaneously made salient in the context of reading headlines to decide what news to read and how accurate the news is likely to be.

A new fact-check manipulation was used to draw attention to the accuracy …

Thriving Or Surviving In Virtual Sales: The Connection Between Virtual Work And Job Satisfaction Amongst Salespeople In The Pharmaceutical Industry, Amit Garg

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The post COVID 19 sales environment for salespeople in pharmaceuticals has shifted to becoming hybridized within a continuum of face-to-face and virtual interactions, when engaging with health care professionals. This dissertation reports on a study investigating the relationship of virtual work with job satisfaction and burnout. There were two questions that were addressed in this study to understand the impact virtual work has had on overall job satisfaction and burnout. First, what is the relationship of virtuality to job satisfaction and burnout in the pharmaceutical sales environment? Second, which facets of job satisfaction and burnout are most strongly related to …

Performance Comparison Of Two Binary Diagnostic Tests With Incomplete Data, Meng Wang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Diagnostic tests are medical examinations essential for patient care, as they help detect the presence of diseases and rule out certain conditions. However, diagnostic tests can make errors, and misdiagnoses resulting from these errors can potentially lead to treatment delays or inappropriate treatments. Therefore, comprehensively evaluating the performance of the diagnostic tests and ensuring test accuracy is a fundamental priority in diagnostic studies. When a new diagnostic test is developed, it is customary to compare it with an existing test in a paired study. However, incomplete test results commonly occur in practice. The maximum likelihood-based method can be used to …

Revision Strategies And Academic Socialization Of Multilingual Graduate Students, Sean E. Farrell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests that revision is a complex practice guided by a variety of factors; however, the nature of the relationship between these factors and the revisions themselves, along with how the revision process contributes to academic socialization, remains understudied. A more comprehensive understanding of revision can lead to a deeper understanding of the support that will be most effective for multilingual graduate students. This study thus aims to determine (1) what revision strategies multilingual graduate students use, (2) what factors mediate these strategies, and (3) the extent to which these revisions index a shift in academic socialization. To answer these …

Exploring Saudi Arabian Teachers' Perceptions Of Smartboard Instruction For Students With Communication Disorders, Mohammed Alqahtani

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Using smartboards with students with communication needs in the classroom is one way to apply technology in educational settings. Research has shown the benefits of using the smartboard with students with disabilities (SWDs) and second-language learners. There is still a need to understand further teachers’ perceptions towards using the smartboard in their classrooms with students with communication needs. Therefore, I conducted an exploratory qualitative study to explore Saudi teachers' perceptions regarding the use of smartboards with students with communication needs in the classroom. I collected data via in-depth interviews, smartboard screen recordings, and audio recordings of teachers’ lessons taught using …

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastronomy Tube For Optimized Gastric Sumping, Justin Robert Daggett

USF Patents

An improved percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube that allows continuous suctioning/sumping without occlusion of the tube by the gastric wall. The PEG tube includes a hollow drainage tubing coupled to a ventilated bell cap. The bell cap can be open or closed to the external environment is ventilated via apertures, crenellations and grooves, and hemispherical arches. The PEG tube minimizes, or completely eliminates, the need for a user thereof to frequently flush the tube, thus also curtailing intermittent suctioning and allowing for longer periods of uninterrupted drainage. Furthermore, the PEG tubes of the current invention reduce clogging of the tube …

System And Method For Joint Radar-Sensing And Communication Waveform Utilizing Unique Word Ofdm (Uw-Ofdm), Huseyin Arslan, Mehmet Mert Sahin

USF Patents

A system and method utilizing a novel waveform structure based on unique word (UW)-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is proposed for the applications of joint radar-sensing and communication (JRC). A predetermined chirp sequence is used as the UW in the waveform. The predetermined chirp sequence is used to perform radar functionality, which also increases power efficiency of linear power amplifier that is critical for radar applications.

Perceived Workplace Obstacles And Compensatory Strategies Used By School Psychologists With Disabilities, Gary E. Schaffer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite efforts to recruit and retain school psychologists from diverse backgrounds, there has been little focus on school psychologists with disabilities. This oversight is concerning given that school psychologists deliver extensive support to students with disabilities yet simultaneously remain largely absent from diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The current study sought to learn about school psychologists with disabilities by providing much-needed demographic information on this population while also focusing on their workplace experiences. Two-hundred-fifty-five participants were asked about their perceptions regarding the systemic challenges they encountered, personal challenges they faced, reasons they disclosed or did not disclose their disability, and …

Essays On Information Technology In Healthcare, Gleb Zavadskiy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Information technologies (IT) and information systems (IS) have profound significance across various sectors of society, including healthcare, business, education, government, and beyond. First, IT facilitates instant communication globally through email, messaging apps, video conferencing, and social media, revolutionizing how individuals and organizations interact, collaborate, and share information (Hacker et al. 2020; Tang and Hew 2020).

Secondly, the Internet and digital libraries provide worldwide access to vast amounts of information, what makes knowledge and education available to everyone, empowering individuals to learn and stay informed on diverse topics (Haleem et al. 2022). Another aspect of IT systems in various industries is …

The Association Between Oral Microbiome, Oral Inflammation, Periodontal Disease, And Systemic Metabolism In Individuals With/Without Type 1 Diabetes, Mianli Xiao

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the associations between oral microbiomes, periodontal disease (PD), and systemic metabolism in individuals with and without Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Data were obtained from 208 participants (99 with T1D, 109 non-diabetic) in the Coronary Artery Calcification in Type 1 Diabetes (CACTI) pilot study and 283 participants from the Oral Microbiome ancillary cohort study. Both studies included the collection of saliva or subgingival plaque samples. Microbial DNA was extracted, and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Machine learning models, including Random Forest (RF) and Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP), were applied …

The Pilling Process: Significance Quest, Self-Verification, And Fusion In Online Incel Forums, Gregory J. Rousis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Incels (short for “involuntary celibates) are an online community of men who blame women for their reputed sexual and romantic failures. The misogyny of their worldview, called the blackpill, has inspired multiple instances of real-world violence against women. Alarmingly, we know little about the temporal processes whereby an incel goes from joining an online community to becoming deeply aligned (i.e., “fused”) with the group. This project sought to address this by scraping incels’ most popular web forum and using text analysis to identify psychological mechanisms that could be responsible for incels’ fusion. The resulting dataset consisted of 1,097,841 unique discussion …

Computer Networking With Security Features, Mohamed Rahouti, Kaiqi Xiong

USF Patents

Described herein relates to a system and method for the prevention of a malicious attack on a computing resource. In embodiments, the system may comprise the following, including but not limited to: (1) at least one processor; and (2) computer memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations including: (a) observing traffic flow of a network; (b) altering a SYN threshold value based on the observing of the traffic flow of the network; (c) comparing a metric of SYN messages submitted to the network; and (d) based …

Superhydrophobic Covalent Organic Framework Materials, Shengqian Ma, Qi Sun

USF Patents

A variety of superhyrdophobic porous materials are provided including a covalent organic framework having a plurality of perfluoroalkyl or perfluorheteroalkyl moieties covalently attached thereto. The materials can include a polymeric foam matrix made of a three-dimensional network of polymer fibers, and the covalent organic framework can be made encasing at least a portion of the polymer fibers. The covalent organic framework can be intertwined within the polymeric foam matrix such that the covalent organic framework encasing the portion of the polymer fibers is stable to mechanical compression of the polymeric foam matrix. Surfaces and other articles are provided including the …

Unravelling The Impact Of Blood Metabolites, And Lifestyle Factors On Periodontal Disease Using Mendelian Randomization, Rhea Charles

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Periodontal disease remains a global public health concern. Despite the availability of preventive and therapeutic strategies, the multifactorial nature of periodontitis complicates its understanding and management. Periodontal disease is associated with an increased risk of chronic conditions, including ischemic heart disease (IHD), gestational hypertension, respiratory diseases such as COPD and bronchitis, and various cancers, including kidney and pancreatic cancers. Moreover, individuals with diabetes, autoimmune diseases like lupus and Crohn’s disease, and osteoporosis are more likely to develop periodontitis. The ambiguity in the direction of causality between periodontal disease and its associated conditions poses challenges for effective treatment. Mendelian randomization offers …

Perceptions Of Rural America: Exploring College Students' Views And Career Priorities Post-Graduation, Tom Hall

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The problems facing rural America are wide ranging and multilayered. Perceptions can often be reality for those unfamiliar with rural life, which can pose a hurdle for businesses to overcome. With an in-depth literature review and research study, this dissertation aims to provide context and understanding to the problems and misconceptions of rural America. Without context, it is easy to interpret rural America as a dying, outdated part of the country, but the reality is far more complex. A research study was conducted that surveyed 400 actively enrolled college students from schools in 19 American states on three things: 1) …

Transition Aged Youth Substance Use At Electric Dance Music Events In The Tampa Bay Area: A Qualitative Study Of Awareness And Prevention, Danielle Vinciguerra

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The study investigates substance use among Transitional Aged Youth (TAY), particularly focusing on Electronic Dance Music (EDM) events in the Tampa Bay area. TAY, defined as individuals aged 18-29, experience significant psychological, biological, and developmental changes, which can lead to increased vulnerability to substance use. The study examines the prevalence and patterns of substance use, specifically ketamine and cocaine, among TAY at EDM events. Exploratory qualitative data collection method was utilized for the study. Applying Social Learning Theory as a framework, the research explores the beliefs, attitudes, experiences, and community influences that contribute to substance use within this demographic. Data …

Empowering Entrepreneurial Evolution: A Beyond Founder Strategic Approach To Small Business Growth, D. Jared Knisley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Growing a business beyond its founder’s capacities and talents presents a challenging undertaking. When a founder is no longer involved or motivated to grow the business, firm decline is a likely outcome. Small businesses often have a deep and, at times, hindering reliance on their early founders for development. Therefore, a continuous engaging plan to advance entrepreneurial success is needed to grow a small business.

My research objective aims to find methods and designs, through academic literature and practitioner interviews, that transition leadership responsibilities and increase team empowerment within a small business, enabling these firms to continue growing as the …

Integrating Multiple Biodiversity Metrics To Assess Diatom Diversity And Diatom/Macrophyte Host Specificity In Four Florida Benchmark Lakes, Alana Jade Bronk

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Biodiversity is declining across all natural environments, however, freshwater systems are thought to be among the most threatened. Quantifying and understanding trends in freshwater biodiversity has become more urgent as rapid biodiversity loss continues. To provide a robust ecological assessment, more than one bioindicator should be used, along with multiple biodiversity metrics. Macrophytes and diatoms are important components of aquatic systems, especially in shallow lakes. The relationship between macrophytes and epiphytic diatoms, though, is not clearly understood, and has not been well-studied, particularly in Florida, which has the largest abundance of natural freshwater lakes in the southeastern U.S This study …

Tongue-In-Cheek Dictionary Of Birding Terms, Eirik A. T. Blom

Maryland Birdlife

No abstract provided.

Osprey (Pandion Haliaetus) Nest Success In Central Chesapeake Bay During 1975-1980, Jan G. Reese

Maryland Birdlife

No abstract provided.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus Leucocephalus) Mortalities In Maryland, 1988–2017, Glenn D. Therres

Maryland Birdlife

No abstract provided.

First Record Of Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper (Calidris Acuminata) In Maryland, Matthew D. Hafner

Maryland Birdlife

No abstract provided.

First Record Of Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus Bonariensis) In Maryland, Joshua S. Heiser

Maryland Birdlife

No abstract provided.

Back Matter, Maryland Birdlife

Maryland Birdlife

No abstract provided.

Peer Reviewers – 2017 And 2018, Mark S. Johnson

Maryland Birdlife

No abstract provided.

Pelagic Bird Species Chronologies And Distributions For Chesapeake Bay And Its Tributaries, Jan G. Reese, Jeffery D. Sullivan

Maryland Birdlife

No abstract provided.

Maryland Pelagic Records From The Royal Navy Birdwatching Society, Phillip C. Davis

Maryland Birdlife

No abstract provided.

Atlantic Seabirds: Ocean City, Maryland Pelagic Trips, 1991–1992, Eugene J. Scarpulla

Maryland Birdlife

No abstract provided.