Digital Commons Network^™

Chasing Zebras: Rediscovering Identity After Illness, Erin Parke

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This autoethnographic study focuses on changing identity after experiencing a rare disease. The purpose of this study was to examine the ways in which identity shifts during an after a rare illness. Three research questions guided this study: How and in what ways has my identity as a teacher shifted as a result of my experience with major illness? How and in what ways have other aspects of my identity shifted as a result of my illness? How can the writing of my autoethnography influence the healing process and my understanding of identity?

The participant/researcher of this study was hospitalized …

Designing The Haptic Interface For Morse Code, Michael Walker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Two siblings have a muscular degenerative condition that has rendered them mostly blind, deaf and paraplegic. Currently, the siblings receive communication by close range sign language several feet in front of their vision. Due to the degenerative nature of their condition, it is believed that the siblings will eventually become completely blind and unable to communicate in this fashion. There are no augmented communication devices on the market that allow communication reception for individuals who cannot see, hear or possess hand dexterity (such as braille reading). To help the siblings communicate, the proposed communication device will transmit Morse code information …

Why Consumers Disclose Their Tourism Experiences On Tourism Social Networking Sites: Multiple Theoretical Perspectives, Junshu Zhang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Tourism social networking sites (SNSs) are websites that provide users with templates for describing their travel experiences and an infrastructure to share such travel posts with a network of like-minded individuals. Tourism SNSs represent an important advertising channel for the tourism industry, as they may assist travelers in selecting destinations and planning vacations on the basis of other travelers’ experiences, which may further stimulate travel and generate income for the tourism industry (Yazdanifard & Yee, 2014). User-generated content (UGC) in the form of travel posts is the core offering and key success factor of tourism SNSs. Travel posts constitute a …

Cardiovascular Regulation By Kvβ1.1 Subunit, Jared Tur

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Heterologous expression systems such as COS-7 cells have demonstrated the profound effects of KCNAB1-3 or Kvβ1-3 proteins on voltage gated potassium channels (Kv) channels. Indeed, in the presence of these β-subunits transiently expressed Kv channels are often modulated in multiple ways. Kv channel membrane expression is often increased in the presence of β-subunits. In addition, non-inactivating Kv currents suddenly become fast-inactivating and fast-inactivating channels become even faster. While much research has demonstrated the profound effects the β-subunits in particular the Kvβ1 subunit have on transiently expressed Kv currents little to date is known of the physiological role it may play. …

Contextual Factors And The Syndemic Of Alcohol Use And Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex With Men, Humberto López Castillo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Since the early 1990s with the AIDS pandemic, there has been an increasing interest on the importance of risky sexual behaviors, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). An important antecedent for these behaviors is alcohol use. Studies consistently show an increased frequency of both alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors in MSM populations. However, to date, there has not been a precise estimate of the effect size in these diverse populations and a consistent way to measure it. More so, the importance of context is often cited as a source of variability, but is rarely measured in …

How Mature Capitalism Turns Pollution Into Diamonds: Malagnogenesis And The Reverse-Engineering Of Harm Into Risk, Kevin P. Martyn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, there has been a great deal of debate about the pervasiveness and persistence of neoliberal thinking. In the context of the post-2008 ‘great recession’ the resilience of neoliberalism is particularly confounding. To begin to unravel the ways in which neoliberalism is situated relative to risk, this study identifies an increasingly important neoliberal knowledge practice: malagnogenesis. Malagnogenesis is proposed herein as the production of ignorance that normalizes harm for and amongst marginalized populations. To shed light on the phenomena of malagnogenesis, this study investigated the history of leaded gasoline in the U.S. To that end, I …

Negotiating The Delta: Dr. T.R.M. Howard In Mound Bayou, Mississippi, William Jackson Southerland

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines the racially segregationist practices and the integrationist, inclusionist formation of African American leader Dr. T.R.M. Howard during his tenure as a surgeon and entrepreneur in the all-black Mississippi Delta community of Mound Bayou, 1942-1956. The paper analytically investigates the careful racial negotiations that were required of Howard as he advanced a separatist but egalitarian economic and social plan for Delta blacks. This separatist plan, it is argued, is grounded in the racial pragmatism of the Seventh-day Adventist church which provided a bibliocentric, Tuskegee-inspired education to Howard from youth through medical school and beyond. Howard’s adherence to Adventist …

Examining Content Validity Of The Nurse Competence Scale In The United States, Jessica B. Shearer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nursing competence is a necessity as it affects public health, safety and welfare; however there are very few reliable and valid tools that measure nursing competence. The Nurse Competence Scale has been used in many different countries outside of the United States and is based on Benner’s Novice to Expert theory. The purpose of this study was to examine the content validity of the Nurse Competence Scale using a mixed methods approach. Descriptive statistics were used to report results of the frequency of use scale and the critical to practice scale. Nursing faculty indicate Prioritizing My Activities Flexibility According to …

Gynecomastia: Psychological Correlates And A Test Of The Tripartite Influence Model Of Body Image, Daniel Luis Ordaz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Gynecomastia is the proliferation of breast tissue in men. The purpose of this study was to compare psychological functioning across three groups of participants: treatment seeking men with gynecomastia, non treatment seeking men with gynecomastia, and men without gynecomastia. Though very little research has been done with this population, some research suggests poor psychological outcomes of gynecomastia. MANCOVA was used to test differences in psychological functioning across the three groups, and multiple regression was used to predict quality of life from psychological variables. Significant differences emerged between groups, with men with gynecomastia reporting worse psychological functioning. Additionally, no theoretical model …

Lava Flow Hazard Assessment For The Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, And Pocatello, Idaho, U.S.A., Elisabeth Gallant

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study presents a probabilistic lava flow hazard assessment for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the cities of Idaho Falls and Pocatello, Idaho. The impetus of this work is to estimate the conditional probability that a lava flow on the eastern Snake River Plain (ESRP) will impact the areas of interest given the formation of a new volcanic vent in the region. A list of 288 eruptive events, derived from a previously published inventory of 506 surface and 32 buried vents, was created to reduce the biasing of spatial density maps towards eruptions with multiple dependent vents. Conditional probabilities …

The Relationship Between The Utilization Of Student Support Services And Overall Satisfaction In Medical School, Suzette S. Sookdeo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the utilization of student support services and overall satisfaction in medical school. Utilization of services, and overall satisfaction were analyzed by gender, race/ethnicity, and medical specialty choice. In addition, the study identified the most utilized support service, and explored whether utilization of services and overall satisfaction were correlated with academic performance.

Two medical schools in the state of Florida were used for the study, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine (USF MCOM), and Florida State University College of Medicine (FSU CoM). Separate anonymous, three-part, on-line surveys were …

Design And Development Of Peptidomimetic Ligands For Targeting Radiopharmaceuticals, Imaging Probes, And Immunotherapeutics In Oncologic Disease, Michael Lawrence Doligalski

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed world. While much has been learned about these diseases in the last few decades, one of the main barriers to widespread advancement is the heterogeneity of cancer biology. A growing body of evidence supports the idea that certain protein receptors are overexpressed on the surface of tumor cells as compared to normal tissues. These extracellular biomarkers provide a unique opportunity to selectively target the tumor with both imaging and therapeutic modalities. The research in this dissertation focuses on targeting proteins on the tumor cell surface with peptidomimetic ligands. …

The Role Of Partial Surface Charge Compensation In The Properties Of Ferroelectric And Antiferroelectric Thin Films, Elena Glazkova

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ferroelectric and antiferroelectric ultrathin films have attracted a lot of attention recently due to their remarkable properties and their potential to allow for device miniaturization in numerous applications. However, when the ferroelectric films are scaled down, it brings about an unavoidable depolarizing field. A partial surface charge compensation allows to control the residual depolarizing field and manipulate the properties of ultrathin ferroelectric films. In this dissertation we take advantage of atomistic first-principles-based simulations to expand our understanding of the role of the partial surface charge compensation in the properties of ferroelectric and antiferroelectric ultrathin films.

The application of our computational …

Racial And Ethnic Differences In Low-Risk Cesarean Deliveries In Florida, Yuri Combo Vanda Sebastiao

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background and Significance: Cesarean delivery rates increased by more than 50% between 1996 and 2011 in the United States. The large increase in rates for the procedure was generally not associated with significant improvements in obstetric outcomes, raising concern about quality and prompting recommendations for prevention. Primary cesareans provide the best opportunity to reduce overall cesarean rates, and the group of first-time mothers considered low-risk for cesarean (known as nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex, NTSV) constitutes the focus of prevention efforts. Studies increasingly report racial and ethnic differences in NTSV cesareans, which remain after controlling for health factors. However, the reasons …

Investigation Of Future Flow Reducer Sizes In Houses Added To An Existing Gravity Flow Water System To Ensure Its Sustainability, Michelle Roy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Goal 6 of the United Nations Development Program’s new Sustainable Development Goals aims to ensure availability of clean water and sustainable management practices to all by the year 2030. Peace Corps Panama partners with communities in order to help provide sustainable water solutions to communities in need. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Volunteers spend at least two years living in a community to identify and implement solutions to water problems and train local water committees on how to maintain their improved systems. A common solution for unequal distribution of flow in the distribution network of a gravity flow water system …

A Literature Review Of Wipe Sampling Methods For Pesticides In Published Exposure Measurement Studies In The United States, Christopher Michael Low

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Pesticides in the United States are frequently used to control pests in many settings from residential homes to agricultural crops. Most pesticides, when used in accordance with their manufacturer's label are relatively safe, and will naturally degrade once exposed to the environment, however, these natural degradative processes can be hindered when introduced indoors. Furthermore, it has been shown that pesticides can easily bond to surface dislodgeable residues (SDRs) commonly known as dust. There are various methods that can be used to characterize the presence and exposure of pesticides indoors. Wipe sampling is one of the important methods commonly used to …

Self-Directed Learning Readiness Among Undergraduate Students At Saudi Electronic University In Saudi Arabia, Mousa Sulaiman Alfaifi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of self-directed learning readiness among undergraduate students at Saudi Electronic University in Saudi Arabia. This study also investigated whether there were relationships between the level of self-directed learning readiness and selected demographic variables such as gender, college, and age in the sample of undergraduate students in Saudi Arabia. This research utilized a quantitative design.

The Self-directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS), which was developed by Guglielmino, was utilized to measure the level of self-directed learning readiness among undergraduate students at Saudi Electronic University on the Riyadh campus. A total of 203 …

Hope, Expectation, Math Anxiety, And Achievement In College Algebra Students: Examining An Instructional Strategy Using Multi-Level Modeling, Kathleen A. Gibson-Dee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

American students no longer lead the world in quantitative skills. This decline in mathematical ability has potentially significant negative national and personal consequences. Math anxiety, low self-efficacy in relation to math, and a sense of hopelessness about math are all possible barriers to being successful in learning and using math, not only in school but ultimately in many aspects of adult life. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between hope, expectation, math anxiety (positive and negative affect related components), and students’ final course scores in College Algebra within the context of an instructional strategy intended to …

The Effect Of Seasonality On Pulmonary Function Tests, Nicholas James Cotter

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Lung spirometry data from three working-class industry populations were analyzed using logistic and linear regression to see if seasonality adversely affected test outcomes. Populations included emergency responders, general industry, and shipwrights. The data was organized into allergy and non-allergy seasons using NOAA meteorological data and regression and logistic analysis was run on these separate populations to test for demographic and seasonal effects on lung spirometry test outcomes. The American Thoracic Society gold standard was as a point for determining impaired lung function (FEV₁/FVC > 0.80). It was found that seasonality imparted a slight linear effect on the predictive values …

Sleep Disruption Among Cancer Patients Following Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Ashley M. Nelson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Sleep disruption is one of the most commonly reported quality of life concerns among cancer patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Despite the high percentage of patients reporting sleep concerns, relatively little research has characterized sleep problems or explored relationships with psychological factors. In addition, no studies have used actigraph technology to characterize sleep issues among transplant recipients.

Method: Autologous HSCT recipients who were 6 to 18 months post-transplant were invited to participate. Patients completed self-report measures of cancer-related distress, fear of cancer recurrence, dysfunctional cognitions about sleep, and maladaptive sleep behaviors upon enrollment, wore an …

Reactivity And Recovery Among Oif/Oef/Ond Combat Veterans: Do Those With Subthreshold Ptsd Differ From Veterans With And Without Ptsd?, Paula Castro-Chapman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study expanded the current literature by assessing PTSD in relation to reactivity and recovery from negative emotional arousal among OEF/OIF/OND Veterans. Cardiac impedance was employed during a speech task and a trauma imagery procedure. Those in the PTSD-S group displayed lower SBP and higher TPR reactivity relative to the PTSD- and PTSD+ groups; lower CO reactivity relative to the PTSD+ group; and more CO recovery than those in the PTSD+ group to the trauma task. For speech task, Veterans in the PTSD-S group exhibited lower HR reactivity for both speech preparation and delivery than those in the PTSD- group. …

Regulation Of Nachrs And Stemness By Nicotine And E-Cigarettes In Nsclc, Courtney Schaal

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in both men and women, nationally and internationally and kills more people each year than breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined. Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is the most common histological subtype of lung cancer, and accounts for 85% of all cases. Cigarette smoking is the single greatest risk factor for lung cancer, and is correlated with 80-90% of all lung cancer deaths. Nicotine, the addictive component of tobacco smoke, is not a carcinogen and cannot initiate tumors itself; however, it is known to act as a tumor promoter, by enhancing …

Emotional Self-Regulation: Voices And Perspectives Of Teachers Within Diverse Socio-Cultural Contexts, Anna Paula Peixoto Da Silva

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Given the importance of emotional self-regulation to a child’s ability to develop social competence and prosocial behavior, and the significant role early childhood teachers play in supporting young children’s emotional self-regulation, it is important to explore the concept from the perspective of teachers, or from the socio-cultural context through which they (i.e., teachers) make sense of the world.

This study used an exploratory case study methodology to explore the understandings of emotional self-regulation among three Head Start teachers working with varying socio-cultural contexts and to identify the socio-cultural perspectives that influenced their ability to effectively apply their understandings.

Findings indicate …

Teaching Students With Down Syndrome: Mothers' Perspectives On The Most Appropriate Educational Environments For Their Children, Stacey Mulrenin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the perspectives that mothers of children with Down syndrome (Ds) hold regarding the most appropriate educational environments for their children. Environments for students with Ds may be classified as inclusive (fully included within a general education classroom with complete access to the general curriculum and typical peers), integrated (self-contained within a general education school, with some interaction with typical peers), or segregated (separate school for students with intellectual disabilities, or InD). A qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews and a follow-up focus group was used to gather thick, rich descriptions of mothers’ perspectives of these different types …

Branding Implications Of Co-Created Social Responsibility, Alexander J. Kull

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

One of the most profound transformations of the marketing discipline in recent history has been driven by the democratization of power relations and value creation between brands and consumers. This dissertation explores the branding implications of this fundamental shift by investigating whether and how the type and degree of control shared by brands affect consumer empowerment perceptions and, in turn, consumer–brand relationships, as well as whether and how these effects might be moderated by the size and diversity of the choice set and by the image valence of the brand that shares control with consumers.

The present research examines such …

Moderation Analysis Of Bowel Function Among Nutrients And Physical Function Or Depression, As Well As Whether Bowel Function Is Related To Cognition In Older Adults, Jessie Alwerdt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As we age, the risk for gut issues, such as smooth muscle tone, may be an underlying indirect or direct cause or risk factor for many age-related issues, such as frailty. Consequences of decreased motility and depleted epithelial barrier may result in nutrient deficiencies that may increase the risk for malnutrition (Brownie, 2006). Further, there is increasing evidence that there is a gut-brain-axis relationship that may influence cognition and mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. While there are relationships established, the interconnections of these factors have yet to be fully understood.

This dissertation examined several relationships specific to …

Access And Barriers To Services For Dependent And Non-Dependent Commercially Sexually Exploited Children In Florida, Brianna O'Steen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

“Human trafficking” has become part of the everyday lexicon in the United States and globally over the last fifteen years. The issue has made its way into political platforms, scholarly work, church congregations, and international aid agendas. Florida is currently recognized as third in the nation for number of cases of human trafficking. This thesis employs ethnographic interviews and observations to understand one portion of Florida’s human trafficking problem referred to as domestic minor sex trafficking. This type of trafficking affects mostly teenage girls from marginalized populations, such as those that have experienced the child welfare system, homelessness, and impoverished …

An Information And Communication Technologies For Development (Ict4d) Decision Framework For Building An Information Economy In Developing Countries: The Case Of Palestine, Hasan Nuseibeh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Building a thriving information economy is a goal for many developing countries. This research helps identify the factors (inhibitors and motivators) that can be used to leverage the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in a developing country to build a sustainable information economy that benefits other sectors of the economy. This is done by studying the current literature on this topic and then synthesizing the theoretical models to create a unified decision framework to help developing countries set their path to building a sustainable information economy.

Drawing on past literature and extant theory, a novel ICT4D decision framework is …

The Blurred Lines Of Hpv And Cervical Cancer Knowledge: Exploring The Social And Cultural Factors Of Identity, Gender, And Sexuality In Caribbean Immigrant Women, Maisha Standifer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores how the sociocultural experiences of migration and acquisition of health knowledge influence the beliefs and behaviors related to human papillomavirus (HPV) risks and cervical cancer prevention among women who have emigrated from English-speaking Caribbean nations and now live in the Tampa Bay metropolitan area. Genital human papillomavirus is very common, and cervical cancer is the most common HPV-associated cancer. Additionally, all cervical cancers are caused by the HPV infection. More women of color, including Black and Hispanic women, are diagnosed with cervical cancer and at a later stage of the disease than women of other races or …

Antimalarial Exoerythrocytic Stage Drug Discovery And Resistance Studies, Lynn Dong Blake

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Malaria is a devastating global health issue that affects approximately 200 million people yearly and over half a million deaths are caused by this parasitic protozoan disease. Most commercially available drugs only target the blood stage form of the parasite, but the only way to ensure proper elimination is to treat the exoerythrocytic stages of the parasite development cycle. There is a demand for the discovery of new liver stage antimalarial compounds as there are only two current FDA approved drugs for the treatment of liver stage parasites, one of which fails to eliminate dormant forms and the other inducing …