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Investigating Marine Resources In The Gulf Of Mexico At Multiple Spatial And Temporal Scales Of Inquiry, Joshua Paul Kilborn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The work in this dissertation represents an attempt to investigate multiple temporal and spatial scales of inquiry relating to the variability of marine resources throughout the Gulf of Mexico large marine ecosystem (Gulf LME). This effort was undertaken over two spatial extents within the greater Gulf LME using two different time-series of fisheries monitoring data. Case studies demonstrating simple frameworks and best practices are presented with the aim of aiding researchers seeking to reduce errors and biases in scientific decision making. Two of the studies focused on three years of groundfish survey data collected across the West Florida Shelf (WFS), …

Role Of Heat Shock Transcription Factor 1 In Ovarian Cancer Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition And Drug Sensitivity, Chase David Powell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The heat shock response (HSR) is a robust cellular reaction to mitigate protein damage from heat and other challenges to the proteome. This protective molecular program in humans is controlled by heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1). Activation of HSF1 leads to the induction of an array of cytoprotective genes, many of which code for chaperones. These chaperones, known as heat shock proteins (HSPs), are responsible for maintaining the functional integrity of the proteome. HSPs achieve this by promoting proper folding and assembly of nascent proteins, refolding denatured proteins, and processing for degradation proteins and aggregates which cannot be returned …

Music Ensemble Participation: Personality Traits And Music Experience, Tracy A. Torrance

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The personality of musicians, artists, and other creative persons is of considerable interest to researchers and educators who seek to identify traits associated with musical behaviors. Personality traits can influence music behaviors such as instrument choice, ensemble choice, practice habits, and musical experience, which may contribute to continued music participation. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationships between personality type, music ensemble section, instrument choice (vocal or instrumental), and musical experience in college students and individuals who choose to continue participation after college. Few studies have concentrated on personality characteristics of ensemble members at the collegiate level …

Investigations Into The Non-Mevalonate Isoprenoid Biosynthesis Pathway's First Two Enzymes Utilizing Hybrid Qm/Mm Techniques, Justin K. White

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Molecular drug design begins with the identication of a problem to solve. This work identies the growing resistance among human pathogens to current treatments. Once the problem is identied and understood, solutions must be proposed. This one is straight forward, we need new antimicrobial drugs. More specically, we need to identify novel targets to inhibit. A large portion of antibiotics focus on disruption of macromolecular production while only a few target metabolic systems. Finally, you need to propose solutions based on the information gathered. In order to avoid existing resistance, it is important to avoid the macromolecular route and focus …

18f-Fdg Pet/Ctct-Based Radiomics For The Prediction Of Radiochemotherapy Treatment Outcomes Of Cervical Cancer, Badereldeen Abdulmajeed Altazi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cervical cancer remains the third most commonly diagnosed gynecological malignancy in the United States and throughout the world despite being potentially preventable. Patients diagnosed with cervical cancer may develop local recurrence in the cervix and surrounding structures (vaginal apex, parametrial, or paracervical), regional recurrence in pelvic lymph nodes, distant metastasis, or a combination of all. The management of such treatment outcomes has not been subject to rigorous investigation. Therefore, there is a need for studies and clinical trials that focus on decision making to support the choice of the best treatment modality that leads to the minimal number of adverse …

Resolving Chronological And Temperature Constraints On Antarctic Deglacial Evolution Through Improved Dating Methodology, Cristina Subt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In order to determine the timing of Antarctic ice sheet retreat and advance during the Late Quaternary, various tools are used to measure the age of marginal marine sediments. Carbonate 14C dating is a well-established approach, but requires foraminiferal microfossils, shells or other carbonate materials that are rare in most Antarctic regions, and may also suffer from vital effects, which can result in variability of up to 500 years in living organisms. Bulk acid insoluble organic (AIO) 14C dates are frequently as an alternative, but this approach works best where high productivity and sedimentation rates reign, and not too well …

Bayesian Inference On Quantile Regression-Based Mixed-Effects Joint Models For Longitudinal-Survival Data From Aids Studies, Hanze Zhang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In HIV/AIDS studies, viral load (the number of copies of HIV-1 RNA) and CD4 cell counts are important biomarkers of the severity of viral infection, disease progression, and treatment evaluation. Recently, joint models, which have the capability on the bias reduction and estimates' efficiency improvement, have been developed to assess the longitudinal process, survival process, and the relationship between them simultaneously. However, the majority of the joint models are based on mean regression, which concentrates only on the mean effect of outcome variable conditional on certain covariates. In fact, in HIV/AIDS research, the mean effect may not always be of …

Compact And Wideband Mmic Phase Shifters Using Tunable Active Inductor Loaded All-Pass Networks, David M. Zaiden

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the design of monolithically integrated phase shifters at S- and L- frequency bands using a commercially available GaAs process from Triquint. The focus of the design is to operate over a wide bandwidth with full 360° phase shift capability, 50 Ω input/output impedance match and low RMS phase and gain errors. The first version of the design is based on passive all-pass phase shifters integrated with wideband amplifiers to compensate for insertion loss. This design uses a 4-bit system to achieve the required phase shift and each bit consists of 3 sections of all-pass filters designed at …

Evaluation Of A Microsphere-Based Immunoassay (Mia) In Measuring Diagnostic And Prognostic Markers Of Dengue Virus Infection, Jason H. Ambrose

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Infections with dengue viruses (DENV) constitute both a global problem as well as locally in Florida. DENV comprise four distinct serotypes of single-stranded RNA viruses and belong to the family Flaviviridae. DENV are among the most medically important arboviruses in the world and cases may currently exceed 400 million per annum. Additionally, dengue established its first recorded endemic transmission cycle in the state of Florida in over a half century, first within the Florida Keys during 2009-10 followed by an unrelated outbreak in Martin County in 2013. The clinical profile of DENV infections ranges from a mild febrile illness …

Ecological Epigenetics Of Avian Range Expansions, Holly J. Kilvitis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In light of human-mediated environmental change, a fundamental goal for biologists is to determine which phenotypic characteristics enable some individuals, populations or species to be more adept at coping with such change, while rendering others more vulnerable. Studying ongoing range expansions provide a unique opportunity to address this question by allowing documentation of how novel environments shape phenotypic variation on ecological timescales. At range-edges, individuals are exposed to strong selective pressures and population genetic challenges (e.g. bottlenecks and/or founder effects), which make genetic adaptation difficult. Nevertheless, certain species, such as the house sparrow (Passer domesticus), seem to thrive in their …

Design, Synthesis, Applications Of Polymers And Dendrimers, Alekhya Nimmagadda

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

WHO has reported that antibiotic resistance is the third major cause of human death all over the globe. Recent study, has focused on the development of new antibacterial resistance drugs. Herein, we tried to synthesis a series of polymers that can mimic the HDPs. HDPs can target the bacterial cell membrane and they have less chances to develop bacterial resistance. We synthesized the amphiphilic polycarbonates that are highly selective to Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug resistant pathogens. The membrane disruption activity of these polymers was proved by fluorescence and TEM studies and the drug resistance study showed that the polymers don’t …

Ambient Ozone And Cadmium As Risk Factors For Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, Rema Ramakrishnan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) results from a defect in the diaphragm through which abdominal contents enter the thorax displacing the heart and the lungs. This causes lung hypoplasia and varying degrees of pulmonary hypertension resulting in high rates of morbidity and mortality. Though CDH has a prevalence rate of 2.61 per 10,000 live births it is an expensive birth defect with an estimated annual cost of nearly $250 million for all CDH survivors. Maternal exposure to air pollutants have not been studied as risk factors for CDH in humans. Ambient ozone has been found to be risk factors for certain …

Contributions Of Appetitive And Aversive Motivational Systems To Decision-Making, Heather E. Soder

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Optimal decision-making entails outcome evaluation, comparing received costs and benefits with predicted costs and benefits. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a brain area with major connections to the appetitive and aversive motivation systems, may provide the neural substrate of this evaluation process. One way to measure the relative contribution of these systems on decision-making is to measure individual differences in risk-taking behaviors. For individuals who make risky choices, this evaluation step may be biased: some show a preference for immediate, short-term rewards (increased appetitive system), while devaluing the long-term consequences of their choices (decreased aversive system). However, most studies supporting …

Design And Synthesis Of Cpg-Lytic Peptide Conjugate, Brachytherapy Beads And A Combinatorial Library Of Primary Amines Used As Potential Therapeutics In The Treatment Of Cancers, Josanne-Dee Woodroffe

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cancer remains one of the most feared diseases affecting the modern world. Second to heart disease, it is the largest cause of deaths, affecting one in three persons. Cancer cells are formed when normal, healthy cells become damage, losing their normal regulatory mechanism that control cell growth. There are many different types and progression of these cancer cells that determine the type of treatment a patient receives. The primary focus of this dissertation is to propose three studies of anticancer agents. In Chapter one, a CpG-lytic peptide conjugate was designed to target receptors on the cell membrane to concentrate the …

Collaboration With Families: Perceptions Of Special Education Preservice Teachers And Teacher Preparation, Mehmet Emin Ozturk

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the integration of family involvement in the courses and field experiences in an undergraduate special education program. This study also explored preservice teachers’ perceptions about what they learned in their program and the perceptions, and understandings of pre-service teachers regarding collaboration with families based on their past experiences with their families. This study used qualitative research methods to answer questions about perceptions of pre-service teachers’ perceptions of collaborating with families and the extent to which their perceptions are influenced by their own family backgrounds as well as their perceptions about what they …

Sol-Gel Niobia-Based Sorbents For The Enrichment Of Organophosphorus Compounds By Capillary Microextraction Online Coupled To High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Sheshanka Kesani

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sample preparation is a key step in chemical analysis, and includes isolation of target analytes, removal of interferences, preconcentration, and/or modification of target analytes (if needed). Sample preparation is also the most time-consuming and error-prone step in the whole analytical process. Traditional sample preparation techniques involve hazardous solvents. Considering the environmental and health safety, it is desirable to reduce or eliminate organic solvents in sample preparation. Solid phase microextraction (SPME) was introduced as a solvent free sample preparation technique. Capillary microextraction (CME) is one of the formats of SPME that can be easily coupled to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). …

The Role Of Sgs1 And Exo1 In The Maintenance Of Genome Stability., Lillian Campos-Doerfler

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Genome instability is a hallmark of human cancers. Patients with Bloom’s syndrome, a rare chromosome breakage syndrome caused by inactivation of the RecQ helicase BLM, result in phenotypes associated with accelerated aging and develop cancer at a very young age. Patients with Bloom’s syndrome exhibit hyper-recombination, but the role of BLM and increased genomic instability is not fully characterized. Sgs1, the only member of the RecQ family of DNA helicases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is known to act both in early and late stages of homology-dependent repair of DNA damage. Exo1, a 5′–3′ exonuclease, first discovered to play a role …

Statistical Analysis And Modeling Of Stomach Cancer Data, Chao Gao

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study is to address some important questions associated with stomach cancer patients using the data from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program of the United States. To better understand the behavior of stomach cancer, we first perform parametric analysis for each patient group (white male, white female, African American male, African American female, other male and female) to identify the probability distribution function which can best characterize the behavior of the malignant stomach tumor sizes. We evaluate the effects of patients’ age, gender and race on the malignant stomach tumor sizes by developing quantile …

The Suffering South: 1878 Yellow Fever Narratives And Post-Reconstruction Southern Identity, Jessica Wells

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Suffering South offers a cultural history of a yellow fever epidemic that swept through the Mississippi Valley in 1878. It argues that the yellow fever narratives created during this epidemic constituted a discursive attempt by Southerners to renegotiate Southern identity and social hierarchy following the Civil War and Reconstruction. White Southerners, in particular, used the epidemic as an occasion to foster a return to a more traditional foundation of white supremacy and patriarchy as the basis for Southern identity and belonging. The narratives written by these Southerners, in which they described their experiences with yellow fever and the effects …

Education And Health Impacts Of An Affirmative Action Policy On Minorities In India, Robin Dhakal

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Article 334 of the Constitution of India (1950) stipulates that certain electoral districts in each state should be reserved for minority groups, namely the “Scheduled Caste”(SC) and the Scheduled Tribe”(ST), through the reservation of seats in the states' legislative assemblies. Even though the original article stated that the reservation policy would be in place for just twenty years, it has been amended several times and is still in effect. This dissertation examines the impact of the policy on the education and health outcomes of the SC population. Variations in seat quotas are generated by the timing of elections in different …

Synthesis, Characterization, And Application Of Molybdenum Oxide Nanomaterials, Michael S. Mccrory

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nanostructured molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃) was synthesized and used as a precursor in a comparative study, along with commercial MoO₃, to synthesize molybdenum dioxide (MoO₂) nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed the particles to be approximately 30-50 nm in diameter. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed MoO₃ was fully reduced to MoO₂ in all cases. Time dependent experiments showed that within two hours no traces of MoO₃ are present. All of the experiments showed the materials were excellent absorbent materials, as well as photocatalysts. Both MoO₂ materials performed almost exactly the same, …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Its Association With Cognitive Impairment In Non- Patient Older Population, Mohini D. Dutt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explores cognitive impairment and its correlation to early- life adverse experiences in non-patient population between the ages of 50 to 65. This developmental approach and observational study design explores cognition in pre-clinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Using a standardized neuropsychological instrument, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and clinically administered questionnaire, the ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences), I hypothesized that participants with high ACE scores will inversely have low MoCA scores.

My goal was to use a multiple linear regression model with 3 covariates and 1 predictor of interest (ACEs). At 80% power, a sample size of 40 was calculated as …

The Control Of Water Contaminants Assisted By Natural Materials, Wen Zhao

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Natural materials can be used to remove water contaminants by applying proper physical, chemical, and biological water treatment processes. This study involves using natural materials, as they are considered to be more environmentally benign and cost-effective than synthetic materials. This dissertation concentrates on monitoring five major water quality parameters—ammonia, fluoride, turbidity, pH, and fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) —in two major applications where clean water is needed. The focus is on meeting the water quality requirements for each contaminant. The overall objective of this study is to control the levels of ammonia in aquaculture wastewater, and adjust fluoride, turbidity, pH, and …

The Ecology Of Antibiotic Resistance: Sources And Persistence Of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci And Antibiotic Resistant Genes In Aquatic Environments, Suzanne M. Young

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The growing crisis of antibiotic resistance is a major threat to ecosystems and human health. Infections caused by known and emerging antibiotic resistant pathogens are on the rise globally, with approximately 700,000 deaths per year caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria (1). In the United States, infections from antibiotic resistant bacteria cause more than 2 million illnesses and 23,000 deaths (2). Antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes are released into aquatic ecosystems through hospital waste, residential sewer lines and animal agricultural waste streams. Animal agriculture accounts for approximately 70% of antibiotic use in the United States (3). In agricultural ecosystems, …

Learning To Predict Clinical Outcomes From Soft Tissue Sarcoma Mri, Hamidreza Farhidzadeh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Soft Tissue Sarcomas (STS) are among the most dangerous diseases, with a 50% mortality rate in the USA in 2016. Heterogeneous responses to the treatments of the same sub-type of STS as well as intra-tumor heterogeneity make the study of biopsies imprecise. Radiologists make efforts to find non-invasive approaches to gather useful and important information regarding characteristics and behaviors of STS tumors, such as aggressiveness and recurrence. Quantitative image analysis is an approach to integrate information extracted using data science, such as data mining and machine learning with biological an clinical data to assist radiologists in making the best recommendation …

How Did I Get Here? Testing The Translation Of The Morris Water Maze And The Influence Of Hemoglobin A1c On Spatial Navigation Performance, Colleen Pappas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Changes in cognitive status occur with aging and significant attention has been placed on developing interventions to possibly delay cognitive decline and identifying risk factors that exacerbate cognitive deficits. One issue that arises when studying interventions is that they do not always effectively translate from animal models to human subjects. When testing potentially modifiable risk factors related to cognitive impairment, more sensitive metrics could help in identifying targets for intervention at earlier time-points. Therefore, the aims of the current dissertation were twofold. The first study examined the ability to translate between species using a common behavioral paradigm, the Morris water …

Influence Of Leadership, Peer Status, And Social Goals On Overt And Relational Aggression During Early Adolescence, Casey Schick

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Peer relationships are highly salient during early adolescence, especially during the first year of middle school. As a result, coolness (a facet of peer status) is prioritized and increasingly associated with aggression. Recent research indicates the relationship between peer status (coolness) and aggression is moderated by social goals (popularity, dominance, intimacy) and gender. Leadership among peers is also salient during early adolescence, although it is understudied in comparison to peer status (coolness). Leadership is worth additional investigation, as youth leaders are considered interpersonally competent and possess the social skills necessary to influence peer behavior. Research is needed to examine the …

Bioleaching Potential Of Filamentous Fungi To Mobilize Lithium And Cobalt From Spent Rechargeable Li-Ion Batteries, Aldo Lobos

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Demand for lithium (Li) and cobalt (Co) is on the rise, due in part to their increased use in rechargeable Li-ion batteries (RLIB). Current recycling processes that utilize chemical leaching efficiently recover in Li and Co from the cathode material in spent batteries; however, these processes are costly and emit hazardous waste into the environment. Therefore, a more sustainable process for recycling Li and Co is needed, and bioleaching may provide a solution. Fungal bioleaching has been shown in previous studies to effectively mobilize metals (Pb, Al, Mn, Cu, and Zn) from mine tailings, electronic scrap, and spent batteries with …

The Ability Of The U.S. Army Heat Strain Decision Aid (Hsda) To Predict A Limiting Heat Stress Exposure, Katelynn E. Glisson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Working below the threshold limit value (TLV) for heat stress is not always feasible. When work above the TLV is required, an exposure method is needed that can help protect workers from time limiting heat stress by calculating a safe time for work at certain heat exposures. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the USARIEM Heat Strain Decision Aid (HSDA) can be used to predict time limiting heat stress exposure in an occupational setting.

Twelve adults participated in time limited heat stress exposures. A range of heat stress conditions were designed using three different ensembles and five …

Predicting Hand Surface Area From A Two-Dimensional Hand Tracing, Myles O'Mara

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent occupational health studies have focused on dermal exposure at the hands, but have been unable to accurately express dose without knowing the HSA. There is no standard method to calculate HSA, though some researchers have derived HSA formulas based on dimensions from a Taiwanese population. This research paper describes a shortcut method to estimate the hand surface area (HSA) of a human hand from a two-dimensional hand tracing, and repeated a Taiwanese HSA study in order to explore the viability of its HSA formula in an American university population. A sample of nine adult men and nine adult women, …