Digital Commons Network^™

A Game Theoretic Framework For Interconnect Optimization In Deep Submicron And Nanometer Design, Narender Hanchate

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The continuous scaling of interconnect wires in deep submicron (DSM)circuits result in increased interconnect delay, power and crosstalk noise. In this dissertation, we address the problem of multi-metric optimization at post layout level in the design of deep submicron designs and develop a game theoretic framework for its solution. Traditional approaches in the literature can only perform single metric optimization and cannot handle multiple metrics. However, in interconnect optimization, the simultaneous optimization of multiple parameters such as delay, crosstalk noise and power is necessary and critical. Thus, the work described in this dissertation research addressing multi-metric optimization is an important …

Efficient Suspicious Region Segmentation Algorithm For Computer Aided Diagnosis Of Breast Cancer Based On Tomosynthesis Imaging, Ravi K. Samala

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Computer aided diagnostic tool can aid the radiologist in the early detection of breast cancer. Even though mammography is considered to be the gold standard for breast cancer detection, it is limited by the spatial superposition of tissue. This limitation is the result of a using a two dimensional, (2D), representation of a three dimensional, (3D), structure. The limitation contributes to and results in misclassification of breast cancers. Tomosynthesis is a limited-angle 3D imaging device that overcomes this limitation by representing the breast structure with 3D volumetric data.This research, on tomosynthesis imaging, was a critical module of a larger research …

Design And Implementation Of A 200mm 3c-Sic Cvd Reactor, Christopher L. Frewin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Silicon carbide, SiC, is a semiconductor material which has many diverse uses in many of today's leading technologies. The wide band-gap aspect of the material has been utilized to create power and high frequency electronics, its physical hardness enables its use for MEMS devices, and the biological compatibility make perfect for utilization in medical applications. SiC is not a chemical compound normally found in nature and must be artificially generated. One of the methods used for the creation of single crystal, high quality SiC material is provided through the use of a chemical vapor deposition reactor. The University of South …

Petroleum Cleanup In The United States: A Historical Review And Comparison Of State Programs, Timothy A. Terwilliger

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cleanup of leaking underground storage tank (LUST) sites has been a priority for the United States of America (USA) for more than 20 years due to the large number of sites, the potential harmful health affects associated with gasoline components and the fact that single owners may not have the ability to pay for cleanup of these sites. In June 2006, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that of the 459,637 confirmed releases from USTs that had occurred previously, 342,688 had been remediated, which leaves 116,949 sites yet to be completed across the USA. Petroleum cleanup programs tend to …

Spatially Resolved Photoluminescence Spectroscopy Of Quantum Dots, Maciej Dybiec

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent advancements in nanotechnology create a need for a better understanding of the underlying physical processes that lead to the different behavior of nanoscale structures in comparison to bulk materials. The influence of the surrounding environment on the physical and optical properties of nanoscale objects embedded inside them is of particular interest. This research is focused on the optical properties of semiconductor quantum dots which are zero-dimensional nanostructures. There are many investigation techniques for measuring the local parameters and structural characteristics of Quantum Dot structures. They include X-ray diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy, etc. However, none of these …

Product Design: A Conceptual Development Of Product Remanufacturing Index, Swapnil B. Dixit

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In light of increasing pressure from environmental safety advocate groups and governments for eco-friendly manufacturing, safe after life product & waste disposal has had strong emphasizes in the past several years. Industrial manufacturers are becoming more and more responsive towards environment safety concerns. These efforts are being reflected by concepts such as green design or environmentally responsible design and manufacturing (ERDM). The key research areas in the 21st century for reducing the toll on the environment will be material recycling, controlled waste disposal (including fluids and gases) and remanufacturing. Remanufacturing offers a dual advantage over material recycling. First the geometrical …

A Three Part Study On The Relationship Between Retirement Planning And Health, Linda Christine Albert

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Researchers consistently conclude that finances and health are the two most significant factors associated with retirement decision-making and a successful retirement experience. Retirement planning is one mechanism by which individuals prepare for the retirement transition; however, retirement planning routinely emphasizes financial concerns, often to the exclusion of health or other significant aspects of retirement. Retirement planning is an increasingly relevant topic at a time when the population is aging, company-sponsored pensions and retiree benefits have diminished significantly, and reform is being sought for the long-standing social programs that have provided support for generations of older Americans. From a financial perspective, …

High Growth Rate Sic Cvd Via Hot-Wall Epitaxy, Rachael L. Myers-Ward

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation research focused on the growth of 4H-SiC epitaxial layers in low-pressure horizontal hot-wall chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors. The goal of the research was to develop a growth process that maximized the growth rate and produced films of smooth morphology. The epitaxial growth of SiC was carried out in two different reactor sizes, a 75 mm reactor and a 200 mm reactor. The maximum repeatable growth rate achieved was 30-32 um/h in the 200 mm reactor using the standard chemistry of hydrogen-propane-silane (H2-C3H8-SiH4) at growth temperatures < ̲ 1600 °C, which is the highest growth rate reported to date in a horizontal hot-wall reactor at these temperatures. This growth rate was achieved with a silane flow rate of 30 sccm. The process development and characterization of 4H-SiC epitaxial films grown using the standard chemistry are presented.

There are many ways to increase the growth rate, such as changing …

Resonance Ultrasonic Vibrations (Ruv) For Crack Detection In Silicon Wafers For Solar Cells, William Dallas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The photovoltaic industry provides a pathway to allow renewable energy to meet world wide consumer energy needs. Past and present research and development on silicon based solar cells have helped make them the dominant player in the photovoltaic industry accounting for over 75% in 2005 as accounted by the US Department of Energy. One of the current technological problems is to identify and eliminate sources of mechanical defects such as thermo-elastic stress and cracks leading to the loss of wafer integrity and ultimately breakage of as-grown and processed Si wafers and cells.The RUV method, developed at the University of South …

Design And Evaluation Of New Power Management Methods To Reduce Direct And Induced Energy Use Of The Internet, Priyanga Chamara Gunaratne

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The amount of electricity consumed by devices connected to the Internet in the U.S. has rapidly increased and now amounts to over 2% of total electricity used, which is about 74 TWh/yr costing over $6 billion annually. This energy use can be categorized as direct and induced. Much of this energy powers idle links, switches, and network-connected hosts and is thus wasted.This dissertation contains the first-ever investigation into the energy efficiency of Ethernet networks. A method for matching Ethernet link data rate with link utilization, called Adaptive Link Rate (ALR), is designed and evaluated. ALR consists of a mechanism to …

Micro- And Nano-Scale Switches And Tuning Elements For Microwave Applications, Thomas P. Ketterl

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this work, various components for low power RF telemetry applications have been investigated. These designed, fabricated and tested devices include radio frequency (RF) micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) switches, single-pole-double-throw (SPDT) RF MEMS switches, nano fabricated capacitors and switching devices, and micromachined microstrip patch antennas.Coplanar waveguide (CPW) RF capacitive switches in shunt and series configuration were designed for high isolation, low insertion loss, and fast switching speed. Switches with > 35 dB isolation, < 0.3 dB insertion loss and switching speeds in the 10's of microseconds were fabricated and measured. These switches were packaged using photo-imagable resists and flip-chip bonding techniques. The MEMS shunt switch topology was also implemented into a single-pole-double-throw (SPDT) design by utilizing two such switches in a series and a shunt configuration, offset by a quarter wavelength section to provide a RF shor

t at the input of the shunt switch in the off state. This type of design has the advantage of requiring a simple on-off (0 V and 35 V) …

Transmission Power Control For Wireless Sensors Networks, Karim Souccar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Energy saving, in battery operated wireless sensor networks, for the purpose of increasing the node and network lifetime, has gained substantial importance. This research was conducted with the objective of reducing the power consumption of the MICA2 sensors. The objective was pursued by manipulating the MAC layer, and by introducing a dynamic transmission power control algorithm. A new simulation tool was developed in order to reduce the complexity related to the design and testing of the transmission power control algorithm. The power control algorithm was also developed in the NesC language for the MICA2 sensors. In addition,several modifications were introduced …

Effectiveness Of Environmental Regulations: Monitoring By The Regulated Community Under Clean Water Act Industrial Stormwater Runoff Requirements, Kelly L. Gleaton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research identified and evaluated possible uses of environmental monitoring data collected and reported by industrial facilities under the Clean Water Act requirements and determined whether the current regulatory system supported any of those uses. Federal policies and state-level policies in the United States, Florida, and California were evaluated in order to determine whether the current regulatory system supported any of the identified uses. Monitoring programs and currently available monitoring data were evaluated from Hillsborough County, Florida, and Los Angeles County, California, from the perspective of 1) the current implementation of the monitoring program, and 2) perfect implementation under full …

The Science And Policy That Compels The Wetland Mitigation Of Phosphate-Mined Lands, Nejma Danielle Piagentini

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The State of Florida ranks fifth in the world's production of phosphate. The phosphate industry relies on surface mining to withdraw the phosphate ore, and this process can devastate the natural environment. One of the most impacted natural resources is wetlands. Federal laws permit the legal destruction of wetlands providing their loss is compensated by the mitigation (i.e., the restoration, creation, or enhancement) of other wetlands, but the complexity of wetland ecosystems makes the mitigation process difficult. One of the goals of this thesis is to review the established Federal, State and non-regulatory guidelines for the development and maintenance of …

Evaluating The Reliability Of Continuous Resistivity Profiling To Detect Submarine Groundwater Discharge In A Shallow Marine Environment: Sarasota Bay, Florida, Arnell Harrison

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) can be an important pathway for nutrients entering coastal systems. However SGD flow paths can be difficult to identify and flow volumes difficult to quantify. This study assesses whether geophysical techniques are potentially cost effective methods for detecting the presence or lack of SGD within an estuary environment found in Sarasota Bay, Florida. In this area, a rapid increase in urbanization has led to increased nitrogen loading into the bay, with some 10% of this loading attributed to SGD. Discharging groundwater is expected to be fresher and hence higher resistivity, than "background" surface waters. Thus resistivity …

Linkages Between Environmental Conditions And Recreational King Mackerel Catch Off West-Central Florida, Carrie C. Wall

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to determine if fronts sustained up to three days will result in an aggregation of kingfish due to the anticipated accumulation of forage, increasing fishing success at these locations. Automated algorithms to detect frontal features in satellite-derived sea surface temperature, chlorophyll concentration, water clarity, and fluorescence images were successfully adapted for the coastal waters off west-central Florida. The surface ocean fronts were used to study the linkages between environmental conditions and recreational catch statistics of king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) during 19 seasonal tournaments held in April to May and October to November of 2004 …

Herbivory By Leaf Miners On Florida Scrub Oaks, Tatiana Cornelissen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated effects of plant quality and natural enemies on the abundance and survivorship of several leaf miner species on Florida scrub oaks over several ecological scales. Three oak species (Quercus laevis, Q. geminata, and Q. myrtifolia) and four leafminer species (Acrocercops albinatella, Brachys tesselatus, Stilbosis quadripustulatus, and Cameraria sp. nova) were the main focus of five separate studies, addressing effects of bottom-up and top-down factors at regional, local, and individual scales. At the regional scale, it was observed that Cameraria sp. nova was aggregated into sites, and sites closer to …

Electromagnetic Characterization Of Miniature Antennas For Portable Devices, Diana P. Aristizabal

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Advances in technology have placed a great emphasis on the design of broadband antennas as well as antenna miniaturization to cope with the demands of making electronic and handheld communication devices smaller and more efficient. In this thesis, the design and fabrication of a frequency independent antenna and a narrow-band planar microstrip Balun are presented. An analysis of frequency selective surfaces is also introduced in order to demonstrate their capability to miniaturize antenna thickness. Lastly, s-parameters measurements and efficiency characterization are performed to determine the radiation properties of surface mount chip inductors in order to determine the feasibility of using …

Ieee 802.11b Wireless Lan Sensor System And Antenna Design, Leonard Guerra

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A novel approach to miniaturizing an 802.11b WLAN card using folded-flex ultra-thin substrates is presented. A 73 percent reduction in size was realized using hybrid circuits on FR4 and polyimide. There is even more potential for further reduction if more copper layers are used. The miniaturized 802.11b WLAN cards were used to design 802.11b wireless sensor nodes. A research test-bed was setup to study how 802.11b networked sensor nodes could operate in the field. There are many applications for such sensor networks like habitat monitoring, object tracking, seismic detection, military surveillance, or fire detection to name a few. This investigation …

Are Respiratory Behaviors Affected In Individuals With Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia?, Katie Biedess

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) is a focal dystonia that is characterized by voice breaks due to involuntary contractions of the adductor muscles of the vocal folds. These spasms can interfere with the coordination and balance of the respiratory and phonatory systems interfering with normal voice production. Disruptions in normal respiratory behaviors are well documented in inviduals with laryngeal disorders, including ADSD. Previous research regarding respiratory processes in ADSD has focused on airflow and pressure; however, there are many other parameters that have not been considered and may shed new light on the respiratory behaviors of individuals with ADSD. Therefore, the …

Mathematical Model Of Arsenic Adsorption In A Modified Zeolite / Microfiltration System, Miles B. Beamguard

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Carcinogenic health concerns over arsenic in drinking water caused the USEPA to reduce the maximum contaminant level (MCL) from 50 to 10 ppb, effective on January 23, 2006. This has forced many smaller utilities into expensive treatment or discontinuation of water distribution. Researchers throughout the world are working to develop an inexpensive method for arsenic removal to meet this MCL. Aluminum silicates, or zeolites, are naturally occurring ionic sorbents. Modification of a zeolite may enhance adsorption capacities and ion selectivity. This research investigates the arsenic adsorption capacities of a modified Chabazite. This adsorption, coupled with a hollow fiber, microfiltration membrane …

Arts In New Directions The Development And Application Of A Construct That Uses The Arts To Promote Transformation And Self-Actualization In Health Care And Education/Therapy, Alexxis Avalon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Artistic methods to evoke relaxation, spark creativity, and change self-perceptions are already being used by therapists, educators, and scientists. Interdisciplinary collaborations among researchers are developing to create new paradigms that incorporate the use of arts to empower individuals. By describing various connections between the arts and participants, researchers are looking at the expressive arts (including dance, music, drama, poetry, and visual arts) for transformation and self-actualization.The problem is that no construct is available to describe the transformation, "the conscious move from one deep structure of knowledge to another" (Wilber, 2004), that occurs when using the arts in health care and …

Implications Of Sleep Disorders Symptoms On School Behavior, Academics, And Quality Of Life, Erin Elizabeth Ax

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Pediatric sleep problems are among the most common yet significant pediatric health issues faced by families. Sleep problems can impact social-emotional and academic functioning of schoolchildren. Once identified, pediatric sleep problems and disorders are treatable with effective and rapid behavioral and medical interventions. The purpose of the current study was to determine the prevalence rates of symptoms of sleep disorders in a diverse school-based sample as well as the relationship between symptoms of sleep disorders and school behavior, academic achievement, and quality of life. The present study examined the relationship between the independent variables of No Sleep Disorders symptoms and …

Adolescent Alcohol Use And Educational Outcomes, Wesley A. Austin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There is some controversy over whether adolescent alcohol use has deleterious causal effects on educational outcomes. In particular, does drinking reduce academic performance and school enrollment rates and increase truancy, or does the observed negative correlation between drinking and educational outcomes merely reflect common unobservable factors? This dissertation sheds further light on the issue by estimating the causal impacts of alcohol use on various educational outcomes. Specifically, an instrumental variables model is estimated to study the effects of several drinking measures on grades, school enrollment and absenteeism.

Crystal Engineering Of Organic Compounds Including Pharmaceuticals, Joanna A. Bis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Neutral or charge-assisted hydrogen bonds occurring between organic molecules represent strong and directional forces that mediate the molecular self-assembly into well defined supramolecular architectures. A proper understanding of hydrogen bonding interactions, their types, geometries, and occurrence in supramolecular motifs, is a prerequisite to crystal engineering, i.e. to the rational design of functional solid materials.Multiple-component organic crystals represent ideal systems to study the intermolecular interactions between the constituent molecules that can be pre-selected for their hydrogen bonding sites and geometrical capabilities. In particular, the systematic structural analysis of supramolecular systems that are comprised of simple molecules facilitates the development of strategies …

A Case Study Of A School Implementing A Constructivist Philosophy, Joseph C. Brown

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Isaacson's (2004) dissertation chronicles the implementation of a constructivist instructional approach at Southwood Elementary School. Southwood's faculty experienced a change of principals, which the Tri-Partite Theory of Organizational Change and Succession, a theory of organizational entropy, predicts could lead to organizational entropy. This study examines the dynamics of the change in principal, as well as Isaacson's recommendation to study teachers' perceptions regarding the maintenance of the constructivist approach. This study answers three questions: 1) Are faculty still using constructivist strategies? 2) What are teacher perceptions regarding the maintenance and support of constructivist philosophy? 3) Is there congruence between what literature …

Teaching Strategies Of Successful College Trombone Professors For Undergraduate Students, Matthew T. Buckmaster

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study identified teaching strategies of successful trombone professors for undergraduate trombone students. Participants were three professors at accredited colleges in the United States who had received international awards in the field of trombone pedagogy. A comprehensive interview instrument was administered to each participant in a multiple case studies research design. From the gathered data, a classical content analysis revealed 79 emergent themes from 375 coded passages, with 45 of the emergent themes being commonalities among the three participants. In addition to specific teaching strategies, three meta-themes emerged from an examination of these commonalities: Product Over Process, Individualized Teaching Approaches, …

B-Raf Is An Essential Component Of The Mitotic Machinery Critical For Activation Of Mapk Signaling During Mitosis In Xenopus Egg Extracts, Sergiy I. Borysov

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Activation of the MAPK cascade during mitosis is critical for spindle assembly and normal mitotic progression. The underlying regulatory mechanisms that control activation of the MEK/MAPK cascade during mitosis are poorly understood. The goal of my dissertation research is to identify the MEK kinase responsible for activation of the MAPK cascade during mitosis and to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms that regulate its activity. In the described herein work I purified and characterized the MEK kinase activity present in M-phase arrested Xenopus egg extracts. I demonstrate that B-Raf is the critical MEK kinase required for activation of the MAPK pathway at …

Stabilization Of Marginal Soils Using Recycled Materials, Delfin G. Carreon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Marginal soils, including loose sands, soft clays, and organics are not adequate materials for construction projects. These marginal soils do not possess valuable physical properties for construction applications. The current methods for remediation of these weak soils such as stone columns, vibro-compaction, etc. are typically expensive. Waste materials such as scrap tires, ash, and wastewater sludge, offer a cheaper method for stabilizing marginal soils. As an added benefit, utilizing waste materials in soil stabilization applications keeps these materials from being dumped into landfills, thereby saving already depleting landfill space. Included in this report is an extensive investigation into the current …

Cue Reactivity And The Role Of Social Alcohol Expectancies In The College-Aged Drinking Population, Ashlee C. Carter

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown alcohol expectancies to be critically important in understanding maladaptive drinking patterns within alcohol use disorders. Alcohol expectancies, thought to be automatically elicited in the presence of environmental alcohol-related cues, represent both cognitive and affective associations with drinking behavior. However, the automatic and affective properties of alcohol expectancies have not yet been thoroughly measured in the literature. Psychophysiological measures, including skin conductance, heart rate, and the acoustic startle response in particular, offer a uniquely powerful set of indices for the automatic affective processing of alcohol-related cues.

Therefore, the present study was designed to examine how alcohol expectancies moderate …