Digital Commons Network^™

Resilience In Uncertainty: An Examination Of A Moroccan Centre Serving Unwed Mothers, Dana Louise Goodlett

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Utilizing a gender-based violence approach, this study investigated service delivery realities for a Moroccan women’s centre serving unwed mothers and their babies. Primary research methods included participant observation and semi-structured interviews (n=20) with unwed mothers and centre staff. This study aimed to determine what factors lead mothers to seek assistance, types of assistance offered, and challenges and future opportunities for services. Findings indicate a lack of social support to mothers, lack of social and economic support for the centre and reduced service capacity, and the use of deceit in interactions between mothers and staff rooted in cultural notions of shame. …

Conversion Of Landfill Gas To Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels: Design And Feasibility Study, Ryan Alexander Kent

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper will discuss the conversion of gas produced from biomass into liquid fuel through the combination of naturally occurring processes, which occur in landfills and anaerobic digesters, and a gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility. Landfills and anaerobic digesters produce gases (LFG) that can be converted into syngas via a Tri-reforming process and then synthesized into man-made hydrocarbon mixtures using Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Further processing allows for the separation into liquid hydrocarbon fuels such as diesel and gasoline, as well as other middle distillate fuels. Conversion of landfill gas into liquid fuels increases their energy density, ease of storage, and open market potential …

A Study On The Effect Of Non – Asthmatic Atopy On Pregnancy Outcomes, Ayesha Johnson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Objectives – To measure the effect of non – asthmatic atopy (NAA) on the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes; low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA) and preterm birth (PTB), among primiparous women 19 – 25 years of age.

Methods – Vital Statistics records from births occurring between 2004 and 2014, from approximately 60,000 primiparous women in South Carolina, aged 19 to 25 years, were linked to their Medicaid records. Maternal records were examined to determine if they had a previous diagnosis of NAA. Women with a diagnosis of NAA were frequency matched with a ratio of 1:4 …

Financial Literacy Continuing Professional Education Cognitive Needs Assessment For Florida Small Business Owners, Pearl Dahmen Para

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess the financial literacy continuing profession education cognitive needs of Florida small business owners through exploring their profile. To determine the financial literacy profile, an instrument containing 18 tested knowledge and 5 self-assessed knowledge questions was created. Using a panel of experts, the instrument was developed from previously tested financial literacy questions from several sources.

Data were collected from clients of the West Central Region of the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of South Florida. The online survey completed by participants included demographic questions to provide data to profile small …

An Assessment Of Elementary School Children’S Diet And Physical Activity Levels, Karen Tamara Serrano Arce

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With prevalence rates of obesity among children and adolescents steadily rising, childhood obesity and overweight has become a public health concern. Publically funded elementary schools are in a unique position to provide children with opportunities regarding the promotion of physical activity and healthy nutritional behaviors. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to conduct exploratory research to investigate the dietary habits of elementary school students enrolled in four Hillsborough County Out-of-School Time (HOST) care programs. Methods: The study utilized a quantitative, non-experimental study design. The instruments that were used in this research included a new questionnaire that was titled “All …

Effects Of Stability Balls On Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Patricia A. Krombach

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Children with ASD often display behavior problems that can lead to daily academic and social disruptions. Many teachers and therapists have sought to create classroom interventions that improve the length of time a child stays seated and focused on the required task. This has led to the introduction of stability balls as an alternative seating method for children, both on the autism spectrum and with other needs. This study used a multiple baseline design and duration data to evaluate the effects of stability ball seating on attending and in-seat behavior for children with ASD who received ABA therapy in their …

Effects Of Delay To Reinforcement On Selections For High-Tech And Low-Tech Leisure Items, Yuram Kim

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many children are exposed to excessively technology. Such use of technology may lead to health issues including obesity, attention deficits, and sleep disorders. Research has shown that parameters of reinforcement, such as quality and delay, may influence how children allocate their preferences. One way to drive preference away from high-tech toys may be to arrange delays to reinforcement following such selections and immediate reinforcement for an alternative response. In Experiment 1, four subjects who preferred high-tech leisure items over low-tech leisure items were identified through the pair-stimulus preference assessments. The results of Experiment 2 indicated that all subjects were sensitive …

The Effect Of Exercise Order On Body Fat Loss During Concurrent Training, Tonya Lee Davis-Miller

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While the benefits of both cardiovascular exercise and resistance training have been well documented, there is a lack of evidence for the order of exercise that is most effective when both are done in the same day. This study was designed to look at two groups of participants performing both resistance (R) and cardiovascular (C) training in the same day to determine if their order, resistance before cardiovascular (R-C) or cardiovascular before resistance (C-R), matter with regard to changes in body composition, maximal strength, and maximal aerobic capacity. The participants were 17 women between the ages of 30 and 55 …

Image-Based 3d Morphometric Analysis Of The Clavicle Intramedullary (Im) Canal, Jazmine Aira

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Midshaft clavicle fractures are very common. Current treatment of choice involves internal fixation with superior or anterior clavicle plating, however their clinical success and patient satisfaction are slowly decreasing. The design of intramedullary (IM) devices is on the rise, but data describing the IM canal parameters is lacking. The aim of this study is to quantify morphometry of the clavicle and its IM canal, and to evaluate the effect of gender and anatomical side. This study used 3-dimensional (3D) image-based models with novel and automated methods of standardization, normalization and bone cross-section evaluation. The data obtained in this thesis presents …

Comparison Of Urinary Pahs Among Firefighters And Asphalt Pavers, Theodore Aquino

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Firefighters and asphalt pavers are exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during various work activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate urinary PAH levels and compare these bio-monitoring levels among firefighters, asphalt pavers, and non-occupationally exposed individuals. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) urinary PAH levels were used for non-occupationally exposed controls. When compared to the NIST standard for smokers and non-smokers, firefighters demonstrated statistically significant differences in urinary concentration differences for the following metabolites: 2-OH-fluorene, 3-OH-fluorene and 1-OH-pyrene, which were lower in firefighters than the NIST mean for smokers. 1-OH-phenanthrene, 2-OH-phenanthrene and 3-OH-phenanthrene were higher …

Assessment Of The Role Of Poly (Adp-Ribose) Polymerase In Drug-Induced Cardiomyopathy, Alexis I. Brinkerhoff

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Drug-induced cardiotoxicity has resulted in a thorough evaluation of patient doses, treatments, and rehabilitation. One of the most commonly prescribed chemotherapeutic agents is cyclophosphamide. The active metabolite, acrolein, is one of the most potent inducers of cardiomyopathy. In this study, research was conducted on the H9c2 (2-1) cardiomyocyte cell line derived from the embryonic myocardium of rattus norvegicus to assess its competency for evaluation of the change in poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activity. The application of this model to study the effects of acrolein on PARP activation was chosen as an ideal determinant of cell damage produced by nitrogen mustards. …

Risk Factors Associated With Non-Compliance With The Respiratory Protection Program Among Firefighters, Brandon Dawkins

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Non-compliance with respiratory protection programs among firefighters may put them at increased risk of injury and illness from occupational exposures during fire extinguishing activities. This research aims to characterize respiratory protection practices among Florida firefighters. This information will allow better understanding of factors that are associated with non-compliance with respiratory protection guidelines.

Methods: Survey questionnaire was used to characterize Florida fire departments in this cross sectional study. Four hundred and seventy-seven surveys were administered to Florida firefighters both in person and electronically to collect information regarding firefighter knowledge and participation in their respective respiratory protection programs during the past …

Assessment Of Acrolein-Induced Toxicity Using In-Vitro Modeling To Evaluate The Role Of Parp Inhibitors In Reducing Cytotoxicity, Kristina Marie Harand

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Acrolein is an electrophilic α, β-unsaturated aldehyde. Additionally, acrolein is a metabolite of the antineoplastic alkylating agent cyclophosphamide and is implicated in off-target effects, including to bladder hemorrhagic cystitis and cyclophosphamide-induced cardiotoxicity, both of which have led to serious secondary iatrogenic injury during and following chemotherapy. At low concentrations acrolein inhibits cell proliferation without inducing apoptosis, while at high concentrations may result in secondary apoptosis promotion. This investigation assessed the role of the enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in acrolein induced toxicity using the established toxicological H9c2 (2-1) cardiomyoblast in vitro model. H9c2 (2-1) cells were plated in 24-well plates …

“Even Five Years Ago This Would Have Been Impossible:” Health Care Providers’ Perspectives On Trans* Health Care, Richard S. Henry

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Trans* studies and issues have recently increased in coverage by the media and popular press. With recent changes in the DSM-5 (APA, 2000; APA 2013) and insurance law (HHS, 2014), trans* healthcare has been under increasing scrutiny. While a small number of studies (Bradford, Reisener, Honnold, & Xavier, 2013; Grant et al., 2011; Rounds, McGrath, & Walsh, 2013; Tanner et al., 2014) have documented discrimination and lack of cultural competencies from the perspective of trans* patients, little research exists that examines the training, support, and decision-making processes of medical professionals who treat trans* patients (Snelgrove et al., 2012, p. 2). …

Water Metering In Rural, Piped, Community-Managed Water Systems In The Developing World, Simona Platukyte

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the early 1990s, the United Nations (UN) recognized water as a finite resource to the entire ecosystem with an economic value that should be developed and managed based on the participatory approach using the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) strategy. Many studies on water management practices have thus emerged in the developing world. Of particular interest to this work is the management of water through metering, price-setting, and rule enforcement in the rural setting in piped, community-owned water systems. There is very little published information regarding metering, enforcement experiments, and experiences in these systems. This is because metering and …

Experimental Studies Of Simultaneous Nitrification Denitrification And Phosphorus Removal At Falkenburg Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ann Elizabeth Sager

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The discharge of point- and non-point source pollutants into surface waters resulting from industrial and/or municipal activities is a major focus of environmental regulation in the United States. As a result, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program was established in 1972 in an effort to regulate discharges from industrial or municipal sources, including wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). To further protect Florida water quality, in 1978, State legislation enacted the Grizzle-Figg Act for Tampa Bay, which requires advanced wastewater treatment for any discharge into sensitive water bodies. A common use of wastewater effluent in the Tampa Bay area …

The Effect Of Physical Activity On Youths’ Cognitive, Academic, And Behavioral Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis Of Single Case Design Studies, Brett Allyn Stone

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A third of youth in the United States are currently classified as overweight, which is impacted by the low rates of youth that meet daily physical activity recommendations. Engaging in physical activity contributes to healthy body weight and physical fitness, both of which have positive health consequences. Participating in physical activity not only aids in positive health outcomes, but research indicates that it also has a positive relationship with and effect on youths’ cognitive, academic, and behavioral outcomes. The majority of researchers conducting meta-analyses examining the effect of physical activity on youths’ cognitive, academic, and behavioral outcomes have excluded single-case …

Concerns Of Water Scarcity And Water Quality Among Two Andean Communities In Peru, Kelsey Anne Anderson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis sought to explore the perceptions and experiences of Andean women regarding water quality, water scarcity, and health among two communities in Carhuaz province of Ancash, Peru. Household surveys (n=25), semi-structured interviews (n=10), unstructured interviews (n=2), and participant observation were conducted with local women to investigate their concerns and perceptions of water and health. An additional two unstructured interviews were conducted with a local water authority and doctor in order gain another perspective on the issues of water security and health.

The pressure of a changing climate and of a problematic water governance system in Andean Peru create an …

"But Our Hands Are Tied": Assessing School Gardening Efforts At Title I Elementary Schools In Pinellas County, Florida, Alexandra Grace Lancey

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research was designed to understand current school gardening efforts in Pinellas County, Florida. School gardens have become an important aspect of experiential learning and nutrition education in schools throughout the United States. Many not-for-profit organizations have attempted to increase the prevalence and efficacy of school garden programs as a means of providing educational opportunities and working to curb diet-related health issues in children. Most of these organizations are seen as apolitical in nature, because they access mainly private sector funding sources and volunteer support. This provides flexibility for these social projects, but also takes pressure off of the state …

Constructing The West: The Hired Hand And Mccabe & Mrs. Miller And The Challenge Of Public Space, Eric Ward Ross

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Western has been an important and iconic part of American culture since the opening of the frontier. However, very few scholars have looked closely at the way the genre constructs the past through public and private spaces like frontier towns and settlements.

The 1971 films, The Hired Hand and McCabe & Mrs. Miller are two texts that revitalized, and in the process revised, the Western genre in the early 1970s. My paper examines the ways in which conflicts between public and private spaces in the films reflect the social and cultural conflicts in America at the time. Both films …

Using The Teaching Tools For Young Children With Challenging Behavior (Ttyc) In Kindergarten Classrooms, Katherine Theresa Cameron

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the process and outcomes of using the Teaching Tools for Young Children with Challenging Behavior (TTYC) with two kindergarten classroom teachers and two high functioning children with autism spectrum disorders engaging in moderate problem behavior during daily classroom routines. The focus was to evaluate the extent to which the kindergarten teachers could adequately use the TTYC toolkit with minimal behavioral consultation in the assessment and intervention process and to examine its impact on student behavior. A multiple baseline design across routines was used for each child to evaluate the child outcomes. The …

An Examination Of The Distribution Of Diabetes Mellitus Among Tb Patients With Pulmonary Tuberculosis And Drug Resistant Tuberculosis In The State Of Florida, Usa., Mandzisi Mbongeni Mkhontfo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) is considered a disease of the past but it remains a major cause of mortality among immune compromised patients and continues to be a significant threat to public health globally. Notably, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has increased over the years. The biological link of TB and DM has been reported in numerous literature with DM attributed to three folds increase in the risk of TB and linked to Drug Resistant TB, especially amongst aged diabetic patients. The aim of the study was to examine the distribution of DM among TB patients and explore …

West Florida Shelf Connectivity: An Exploratory Study, Amanda Sue Reinert

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This Thesis explores the connectiveness of the West Florida Shelf’s various areas of economic and ecological importance by considering five case studies of varying dynamic forcing influences and time. The advection of water about the shelf moves nutrients and has a direct impact on the shelf’s ecology and the determination of whether or not the shelf will be oligotrophic at any given time or location. The case studies are analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively after quasi-isopycnal particle trajectory calculations are completed for each. The findings support a combination of local and deep-ocean forcing being ideal for the maximum advection and …

People And Pride: A Qualitative Study Of Place Attachment And Professional Placemakers, Wenonah Machdelena Venter

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Place is a setting for everyday life. Through processes of meaning making that are rooted in experience and interaction, places become meaningful and structure much of everyday life. Place is simultaneously a physical construction that gives it material form. Place is an object that is envisioned, designed, organized, redesigned, and reorganized. Often, the (re)creation of places is entrusted to professional placemakers, a population with decision making power over processes of physical construction. This research broadly identifies professional placemakers as a population whose professional work can affect change onto the built environment. The literature of place attachment provides strong testimony to …

In Vitro And In Vivo Antioxidant Capacity Of Synthetic And Natural Polyphenolic Compounds Identified From Strawberry And Fruit Juices, Marvin Abountiolas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Strawberries can be considered a functional food because their consumption has been associated with several health benefits. They are important sources of bioactive compounds, such as vitamins and polyphenolic compounds, with recognized antioxidant capacity (AOC). However, strawberry overall quality and bioactive content are greatly affected by environmental conditions during pre- and post-harvest and, little is known about the stability of its bioactive compounds, specifically ascorbic acid (AA) and polyphenolics compounds. Furthermore, additional research that addresses the impact of polyphenolic compounds on in vitro and in vivo models is needed to understand the mechanisms behind their potential health benefits. Therefore, the …

Developing Little England: Public Health, Popular Protest, And Colonial Policy In Barbados, 1918-1940, Brittany J. Merritt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation analyzes struggles over the development of Barbadian health and sanitation during the period between the world wars. In doing so, it examines how the British Empire tried to use development policies to maintain its power overseas during the interwar years. During this period, British policymakers sought to improve health and sanitation to pacify restive Barbadian laborers influenced by transnational pan-African and socialist ideas following the First World War. However, white Barbadian elites, influenced by ideas of eugenics and population control, opposed metropolitan efforts to develop health and sanitation in the colony. Rather than repairing the colonial relationship, British …

Multiple Case Study Of Factors Associated With Enrollment Of Women With Persistent Or Recurrent Ovarian Cancer In Clinical Trials In Central Florida, Judith Ann Ebbert

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Study Purpose: Ovarian cancer, the most lethal gynecologic cancer, has had a relatively stable mortality rate since 1975, despite a decrease in mortality for all gynecologic cancers combined. Standard-of-care advances are needed to reduce ovarian cancer morbidity and mortality. Advances must, however, undergo a long, rigorously controlled research process that can take more than ten years before becoming available to the public. Further, few women with persistent or recurrent ovarian cancer are offered or enrolled in the clinical trials that do exist at select sites throughout the nation. The purpose of this multiple-case study is to identify necessary and/or sufficient …

Characterization Of Bacterial Diversity In Cold-Water Anthothelidae Corals, Stephanie Nichole Lawler

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cold-water corals, similar to tropical corals, contain a diverse and complex microbial landscape. Comprised of vital microscopic organisms (i.e. bacteria, viruses, archaea), the coral microbiome is a driving factor in the proliferation and survival of the coral host. Bacteria provide essential biological functions within coral holobionts, facilitating increased nutrient utilization and production of antimicrobial compounds. To date, few cold-water octocoral species have been analyzed to explore the diversity and abundance of their microbial associates. For this study, 23 samples of the family Anthothelidae were collected from Norfolk (n = 12) and Baltimore Canyons (n = 11) from the western Atlantic …

Investigating Alternative Subsistence Strategies Among The Homeless Near Tampa, Florida, Matthew Peter Rooney

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Modern homelessness is one of the most pressing social and political problems of our time. Several hundred thousand people experience homelessness in the United States each year, and the U.S. Department of Housing, which attempts to count those people, has admitted that their statistics are conservative estimates at best. A recent archaeological study (Zimmerman et al 2010) examining material culture associated with homeless communities in Indianapolis has suggested that those who are considered chronically homeless have generally abandoned wage labor and are instead pursuing urban foraging as a subsistence strategy. In order to better understand the structures of homeless communities, …

Modeling The Extent Of Virus Removal In Waste Stabilization Ponds To Support Reuse Of Wastewater, Kelly James Vannoy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) are one of the most prevalent types of domestic wastewater treatment technologies employed worldwide, and global stressors such as urbanization, population growth, climate change, and water scarcity have increased the demand for reusing treated wastewater. The safe reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture can ease water scarcity, aid in food production, and reduce environmental degradation from the discharge of wastewater effluent to surface waters. The ability to predict virus concentrations in wastewater effluent is an important criterion for determining whether wastewater is suitable for discharge to the environment or for reuse in agriculture. However, many uncertainties …