Digital Commons Network^™

Capturing Resilience In Context: Development And Validation Of A Situational Judgment Test Of Resilience, Yuejia Teng

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The current study developed a 40-item situational judgment test (SJT) to measure resilience in context. Undergraduate samples were used in the study and situational stems of the SJT consisted of both daily stressors and major life crises; each response alternative was designed to reflect one of five resilience-related factors. A crowd-sourcing method was utilized to create scoring keys for the SJT. The Resilience SJT demonstrated good psychometric properties, and showed evidence of construct and criterion-related validity. The SJT scores moderately correlated with scores from two resilience Likert scales, a hardiness scale as well as a negative affect scale. Compared to …

Mechanism Elucidation And Inhibitor Discovery Against Serine And Metallo-Beta-Lactamases Involved In Bacterial Antibiotic Resistance, Orville A. Pemberton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The emergence and proliferation of Gram-negative bacteria expressing β-lactamases is a significant threat to human health. β-Lactamases are enzymes that degrade the β-lactam antibiotics (e.g., penicillins, cephalosporins, monobactams, and carbapenems) that we use to treat a diverse range of bacterial infections. Specifically, β-lactamases catalyze a hydrolysis reaction where the β-lactam ring common to all β-lactam antibiotics and responsible for their antibacterial activity, is opened, leaving an inactive drug. There are two groups of β-lactamases: serine enzymes that use an active site serine residue for β-lactam hydrolysis and metalloenzymes that use either one or two zinc ions for catalysis. Serine enzymes …

Disorder Levels Of C-Myb Transactivation Domain Regulate Its Binding Affinity To The Kix Domain Of Creb Binding Protein, Anusha Poosapati

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) do not form stable tertiary structures like their ordered partners. They exist as heterogeneous ensembles that fluctuate over a time scale. Intrinsically disordered regions and proteins are found across different phyla and exert crucial biological functions. They exhibit transient secondary structures in their free state and become folded upon binding to their protein partners via a mechanism called coupled folding and binding. Some IDPs form alpha helices when bound to their protein partners. We observed a set of cancer associated IDPs where the helical binding segments of IDPs are flanked by prolines on both the sides. …

Enhancement Of Two Passive Decentralized Biological Nitrogen Removal Systems, Justine L. Stocks

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research evaluates two different Biological Nitrogen Removal (BNR) systems for enhanced nitrogen removal in decentralized wastewater treatment. The first study evaluated the performance of Hybrid Adsorption and Biological Treatment Systems (HABiTS) at the pilot scale with and without stage 1 effluent recirculation. HABiTS is a system developed at the bench scale in our laboratory and was designed for enhanced BNR under transient loading conditions. It consists of two stages; an ion exchange (IX) onto clinoptilolite media coupled with biological nitrification in the aerobic nitrification stage 1 and a Tire-Sulfur Adsorption Denitrification (T-SHAD) system in the anoxic denitrification stage 2. …

Cyber Deterrence Against Cyberwar Between The United States And China: A Power Transition Theory Perspective, Yavuz Akdag

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the last three decades, states and societies have increasingly been connected to each other through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as satellites and the Internet, thus expanding the sphere of influence of cyberspace. While offering numerous economic and security benefits, this increased global connectivity also poses various security challenges and threats at the national and international level. In particular, the threat of cyberwar has become one of the top national security issues in both the United States and China, as reflected in an increasing number of cyber disputes between the two nations recently. In the wake of this …

Diagnostic Divisions Of Eating Disorders: A Critical Analysis, Channah A. Leff

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis is to critically examine the diagnostic divisions of eating disorders as proposed within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). I focus on Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED), although there were several new categories issued in 2013. Using person-centered ethnographic interviews, focus groups, participant observation, and autoethnography, I collected qualitative data to highlight how disordered eaters perceive themselves and their behaviors in relation to their diagnoses. I recruited participants in Boston, MA from Eating Disorders Anonymous (EDA), a decentralized network of support groups …

Packaging Of Genetic Material By Gene Transfer Agents (Gtas) Produced By Marine Roseobacter Species And Their Effect On Stimulating Bacterial Growth, Shahd Bader Aljandal

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Horizontal gene transfer is one of the most important mechanisms for prokaryotic genome innovation and evolution. Gene Transfer Agents (GTAs) are phage-like particles that package small fragments of the genome of a GTA-producing bacterial cell. GTA chromosomal gene clusters usually contain 15-conserved open reading frames (ORFs) and are present in most of the sequenced marine alpha-proteobacteria genomes. Some marine strains have been shown to produce GTA particles that were biologically active in marine environment.

GTA particles range in size, morphology and the amount of host DNA they package. To date, the characteristics of GTAs are largely based on observations of …

Reef Fish Biodiversity In The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Megan E. Hepner

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The biological diversity of reef-fish in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) from 1999 – 2016 was evaluated in terms of abundance, biomass, species richness, evenness, Shannon diversity, Simpson diversity, and functional diversity, using observations collected by multiple agencies and institutions under the Reef Visual Census (RVC) program. To compare the different diversity indices species richness, Shannon diversity, Simpson diversity, and functional diversity were converted into effective number of species. I examined the seven indices by no-take marine zones, in seven benthic habitat strata, and across the three-distinct geographic subregions in the Florida Keys domain (Upper, Middle, and Lower …

Calibration-Free Spectrophotometric Measurements Of Carbonate Saturation States In Seawater, Erin E. Cuyler

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work describes efforts to improve methodologies and instrumentation for investigation of the marine CO₂ system. In the first section of my thesis, a method was developed that provides simple, calibration-free measurements of seawater carbonate saturation states (Ω_spec) based solely on the use of a laboratory spectrophotometer. Measurements of pH are made in paired optical cells, one with and one without added nitric acid. The amount of added nitric acid is determined through the direct proportionality between nitrate concentration and UV absorbance. After an initial calibration, the method is calibration-free and requires no volumetric or gravimetric analyses …

Measuring Trust In Post-Communist States: Making The Case For Particularized Trust., Nicole M. Ford

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While the literature on democracy and its relationship to trust provides little consensus regarding the role of trust, researchers have emphasized the importance of generalized trust over particularized in relation to democracy. This research marks a departure from this consensus, and exposes the neglected role of personal relationships in fostering successful democracy.

One of the key measurements of democracy in a country is social trust. There are three forms of trust: generalized, particularized and institutional. Previously, the measurement of social trust focused on the importance of generalized trust, that is, trust in those we do not know (Putnam, 1993; Fukuyama, …

The Role Of Elites In The Formation Of National Identities: The Case Of Montenegro, Muhammed F. Erdem

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to answer two interlinked central questions with respect to Montenegrins’ divide over statehood and identity: Why and how Montenegrins, whom were once called ‘the purest and the best of Serbs’, sought to end their century-long common state experience with Serbia and instead establish their own nation-state in 2006, and what explains the rise of Montenegrin national identity and its transformation into nationalism? In attempting to answer these questions, it traces the historical development of Montenegrin national thought dating back to the early 20^th century when Montenegro was annexed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. …

Framing Genetically-Modified Foods Communication In China: A Content Analysis Of News Coverage Of People’S Daily And Southern Metropolis, Linqi Lu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Grounded in framing theory, this thesis presents a qualitative content analysis of newspaper coverage of genetically modified foods by two Chinese newspapers- People’s Daily and Southern Metropolis, in 2000-2017. The political, economic, public opinion and legal implications involved have made the reports of genetically modified (GM) foods present different framing, themes, and positions between People’s Daily and Southern Metropolis. This study aims to examine the various frames used in the coverage of GM foods in two major Chinese newspapers that operate within different media frameworks.

Results of the content analysis illustrated that significant differences existed in the newspapers in …

Thermodynamic And Kinetic Aspects Of Hen Egg White Lysozyme Amyloid Assembly, Tatiana Miti

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Deposition of protein fibers with a characteristic cross-β sheet structure is the molecular marker associated with human disorders ranging from Alzheimer's disease to type II diabetes and spongiform encephalopathy. Given the large number of non-disease related proteins and peptides that have been shown to form amyloid fibrils in vitro, it has been suggested that amyloid fibril formation represents a generic protein phase transition. In the last two decades it has become clear that the same protein/peptide can assemble into distinct morphologically and structurally amyloid aggregates depending on the solution conditions. Moreover, recent studies have shown that the early stage, oligomeric …

Genetic Identification And Population Characteristics Of Deep-Sea Cephalopod Species In The Gulf Of Mexico And Northwestern Atlantic Ocean, Amanda Sosnowski

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nearly all deep-sea cephalopod life history studies have been completed by examination of specimens collected in the wild. Much of this work is like piecing together a puzzle; knowledge of the life history of many species remains fragmented and hence, taxonomically and phylogenetically confused. Molecular approaches and sequencing technologies are powerful tools for deciphering wild-type cephalopod life history and population dynamics. Use of molecular markers offers additional certainty for identifying specimens damaged during deep-sea collections and can elucidate often cryptic, intra- and interspecific diversity. The research presented in this study assessed broad genetic patterns of biodiversity in deep-sea cephalopods from …

Exploring The Facilitators And Barriers Of Cognitive Engagement Among Ninth Grade Students In Accelerated Curricula, Kai Zhuang Shum

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cognitive engagement has been linked to positive outcomes such as academic achievement (Eccles & Wang, 2012). However, students’ level of cognitive engagement tend to decline as students move into middle childhood and adolescence (Archambault, Janosz, Morizot, & Pagani, 2009; Wang & Eccles, 2012a; Wiley & Hodgen, 2012). In addition, two out of three high school students nationwide reported feeling bored at school because the academic tasks are not interesting or relevant (Yazzie-Mintz, 2006). In regard to this matter, researchers have examined factors that relate to cognitive engagement. Most of the existing research is quantitative in nature and only involves students …

Response To Nitrogen And Salinity Conditions In Rhizophora Mangle Seedlings Varies By Site Of Origin, Kristen L. Langanke

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many coastal plant species thrive across a range of environmental conditions, often displaying dramatic phenotypic variation in response to environmental variation. We characterized the response of the critical foundation species Rhizophora mangle L. to full factorial combinations of salt and nitrogen (N). We used seedlings collected from five populations and measured traits related to salt tolerance and N amendment. The response to increasing salt included significant plasticity in succulence, leaf mass area (LMA), and root to shoot ratio (R:S). Seedlings also showed overall reduced maximum photosynthetic rate in response to N amendment, but this response depended on the level of …

Grid-Based Rfid Indoor Localization Using Tag Read Count And Received Signal Strength Measurements, Nanda Gopal Jeevarathnam

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Passive ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) systems have gained immense popularity in recent years for their wide-scale industrial applications in inventory tracking and management. In this study, we explore the potential of passive RFID systems for indoor localization by developing a grid-based experimental framework using two standard and easily measurable performance metrics: received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and tag read count (TRC). We create scenarios imitating real life challenges such as placing metal objects and other RFID tags in two different read fields (symmetric and asymmetric) to analyze their impacts on location accuracy. We study the prediction potential …

Sol-Gel Germania- And Tantala-Based Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Sorbents For Capillary Microextraction Coupled To High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Minhphuong Tran

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Microextraction is a preconcentration technique where the volume of the extracting phase is relatively small compared to the sample volume and where the extraction of analytes is non- exhaustive. One such technique is capillary microextraction where a sol-gel coating serves as the extracting phase. Sol-gel coated capillaries provide superior chemical stability in part due to highly stable surface-bonded coatings located within the fused silica capillaries that have protection from the outer polyimide layer. In this research, sol-gel sorbents developed on the inner surface of the fused-silica capillary provide thermal and solvent stability and can be effectively coupled to on-line hyphenation …

Measuring Up: Standardized Testing And The Making Of Postwar American Identities, 1940-2001, Keegan J. Shepherd

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Standardized testing is a defining feature of contemporary American society. It not only governs how people are channeled through their schooling; it amplifies existing social disparities. Nonetheless, standardized testing endures, namely because it has served as a vital tool for the post-1945 American state. The postwar state prioritized, on the one hand, the cultivation of intellects resilient enough to sustain American geopolitical supremacy through scientific discovery and technological innovation and, on the other hand, the maintenance of an obedient population that would not disrupt existing social hierarchies. Standardized testing helped the postwar state solve this mind-body dilemma. As a function …

Stable Isotopes In The Eye Lenses Of Doryteuthis Plei: Exploring Natal Origins And Migratory Patterns In The Eastern Gulf Of Mexico, Brenna A. Meath

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Stable isotope analysis is an emerging tool to examine trophic pathways and migratory patterns of marine organisms. Squid are widely distributed in coastal and deep water regions of the Gulf of Mexico. Stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen found within cephalopod tissues can provide information on both trophic level and habitat of their food sources. More recently, ontogenetic changes in stable isotope ratios within squid eye lenses have been documented. Concentric layers of crystallin proteins are added to the lens as the squid ages; the center of the lens contains the oldest layer and the youngest layers are on …

Cell Division Regulation In Staphylococcus Aureus, Catherine M. Spanoudis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cell division is a fundamental biological process that occurs in all kingdoms of life. Our understanding of cell division in bacteria stems from studies in the rod-shaped model organisms: Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis. The molecular underpinnings of cell division regulation in non-rod-shaped bacteria remain to be studied in detail. Rod-shaped bacteria possess many positive and negative regulatory proteins that are essential to the proper placement of the division septa and ultimately the production of two identical daughter cells, many of which are absent in cocci. Given that essential cell division proteins are attractive antibacterial drug targets, it …

Validation Of Chimeric Viruses In Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test In Arboviral Disease Diagnostics, Jasmine Boykin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) is a confirmatory diagnostic assay that is used to confirm a variety of diseases. The performance of PRNT requires the use of infectious wild type viruses, which increases the risk of laboratory acquired infections. For instance, eastern equine encephalitis (EEEV) is a highly virulent pathogen used in PRNT that can result in potentially fatal neurological diseases among humans and equines. Therefore, arboviral PRNT must be performed in Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) containment facilities and may require select agent approved scientists, like in the case of EEEV. These stringent requirements restrict the ability of public …

Toward A Systemic Model For Governance And Strategic Management: Evaluating Stakeholder Theory Versus Shareholder Theory Approaches, James A. Stikeleather

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The research’s intent is improvement in governance and strategic management initially by comparing Shareholder Theory and Stakeholder Theory and making results useful for both Practitioner and Academic audiences. A conceptual model for how a society establishes and evolves the roles it legitimizes for a business to support reasoning about those roles and the process originating the expectations, responsibilities, obligations, contributions and freedom to act in the roles is proposed. Understanding this process would enable better governance and strategic management of a firm while avoiding unintended consequences when fulfilling the role and consequences for failing the role. The model becomes a …

Synthesis, In Vitro Characterization And Applications Of Novel 8-Aminoquinoline Fluorescent Probes, Adonis Mcqueen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Malaria is a parasitic disease that is caused by the plasmodium parasite. Plasmodium infection has affected man for thousands of years. With advances in drug discovery over the past century, malaria has evolved to possess resistance to most mainline therapeutics. This war of drug discovery vs plasmodium evolution continues to be fought to this very day, with attempts to eradicate malaria worldwide. Frontline treatments such as chloroquine, artemisinin, and atovaquone/proguanil have all seen parasitic resistance in strains of P. vivax as well as P. falciparum. While plasmodium possesses resistance to most classes of anti-malarials, the 8-aminoquinoline (8-AQ) class has …

Microfluidic Biopsy Trapping Device For The Real-Time Monitoring Of The Tumor Microenvironment, Angela Holton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The tumor microenvironment is composed of cellular and stromal components such as tumor cells, mesenchymal cells, immune cells, cancer associated fibroblasts and the supporting extracellular matrix. The tumor microenvironment provides crucial support for growth and progression of tumor cells and affects tumor response to therapeutic interventions. To better understand tumor biology and to develop effective cancer therapeutic agents it is important to develop preclinical platforms that can faithfully recapitulate the tumor microenvironment and the complex interaction between the tumor and its surrounding stromal elements. Drug studies performed in vitro with conventional two-dimensional cancer cell line models do not optimally represent …

Role Of Viruses Within Metaorganisms: Ciona Intestinalis As A Model System, Brittany A. Leigh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Marine animals live and thrive in a literal sea of microorganisms, yet are often able to maintain specific associations that are largely dictated by the environment, host immunity and microbial interactions. Animal-associated microbiomes include bacteria and viruses that vastly outnumber host cells, especially in the gut environment, and are considered to be integral parts of healthy, functioning animals that act as a metaorganism. However, the processes underlying the initial establishment of these microbial communities are not very well understood. This dissertation focuses on the establishment of a well-known developmental animal model, Ciona intestinalis (sea squirt), to study the establishment and …

Statistical Analysis And Modeling Of Ovarian And Breast Cancer, Muditha V. Devamitta Perera

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of the present study is to investigate key aspects of ovarian and breast cancers, which are two main causes of mortality among women. Identification of the true behavior of survivorship and influential risk factors is essential in designing treatment protocols, increasing disease awareness and preventing possible causes of disease. There is a commonly held belief that African Americans have a higher risk of cancer mortality. We studied racial disparities of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer on overall and disease-free survival and found out that there is no significant difference in the survival experience among the three races: Whites, …

Leaders Who Learn: The Intersection Of Behavioral Science, Adult Learning And Leadership, Natalya I. Sabga

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines if a relationship exists among three rich research streams, specifically the behavioral science of motivation, adult learning and leadership. What motivates adult professionals to continue learning and how is that connected to their style and efficacy as leaders? An extension of literature to connect Andragogy, Self-determination and Transformational Leadership Theory is explored. Responses to questions adapted from the Carré Model of Adult Orientation and Implication on Learning and Training Activities (Carré, 1997) and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (Avolio & Bass, 2000) are compared among a sample of adult professionals in leadership positions. Results indicate that learning motivation …

Lung Ct Radiomics: An Overview Of Using Images As Data, Samuel Hunt Hawkins

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and worldwide. Early detection of lung cancer can help improve patient outcomes, and survival prediction can inform plans of treatment. By extracting quantitative features from computed tomography scans of lung cancer, predictive models can be built that can achieve both early detection and survival prediction. To build these predictive models, first a detected lung nodule is segmented, then image features are extracted, and finally a model can be built utilizing image features to make predictions. These predictions can help radiologists improve cancer care.

Building predictive models based …

Experience Of The Neophyte Science Teachers: Through Their Eyes, David Thornton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A variety of lenses were used to examine the world of the novice science teacher. A degree of agency was provided by looking through the eyes of the beginning teacher. Previous studies focused on researcher or program’s orientation, the successes of various educator preparation programs, or were limited in scope to elementary teachers of science. This study was conducted to better understand and appreciate the high school novice science teacher’s view of science, teaching, and teaching science in the today’s contextual setting. Experiences encountered during the initial year of teaching high school science and as perceived by teachers without previous …