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Vocal And Instrumental Musicians: Electrophysiologic And Psychoacoustic Analysis Of Pitch Discrimination And Production, Dee Adams Nikjeh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Neurological evidence indicates that instrumental musicians experience changes in the auditory system following skill acquisition and sensory training; yet, little is known about auditory neural plasticity in formally trained vocal musicians. Furthermore, auditory pitch discrimination and laryngeal control are recognized as essential skills for vocal musicians; however, the relationship between physiological variables, perceptual abilities, and vocal production is unclear. Electrophysiologic and psychoacoustic measures were used to examine pitch production accuracy as well as pre-attentive and active pitch discrimination between nonmusicians and two classes of musicians. Participants included 40 formally trained musicians (19 vocalists/21 instrumentalists) and 21 nonmusician controls. All were …

Investigating The Fouling Behavior Of Reverse Osmosis Membranes Under Different Operating Conditions, Dhananjaya P. Niriella

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation describes the investigation of the fouling of a reverse osmosis membrane under different operating conditions. A mass transfer model to predict the permeate flux decline is defined. These studies used kaolin clay and bentonite clay as the fouling particles. As the membranes, thin film Low fouling Composite 1 polyamide reverse osmosis flat sheet membranes were used. Baseline experiments using only kaolin in D.I. water were conducted. At an operating pressure of approximately 1,380 kPa, no flux decline was observed. These results established the effects of a membrane-particle interaction. For the fouling experiments with kaolin clay, experiments show a …

Measurement Of Nerve Growth Factor In Induced Sputum And Exhaled Breath Condensate, Victor Maduabuchi Nwiloh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Several tests are available for evaluation of respiratory disorders but most of them are invasive and associated with some risk or patient discomfort. Examples include bronchoscopy (bronchoalveolar lavage, BAL) [1], venopuncture [2] and sputum induction [3]. Noninvasive sampling of nongaseous substances contained in expired air, collected as exhaled breath condensate (EBC) has been used to detect inflammatory markers and by-products including nitric oxide and arachidonic acid metabolites and proteins [4]. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a protein that has been implicated in neurogenic airway inflammation and this pilot study aimed to develop a non-invasive approach for evaluation of allergic airway …

The Acquisition Of Spanish Through Videoconferencing And Video-Based Lessons By Individual Fifth Graders, Annette L. Norwood

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to provide an in-depth examination of the language learning experiences of four fifth-grade students learning Spanish through videoconferencing and video-based lessons. This interpretive qualitative study involved intensive data collection over a period of 7 months through participant observation, audio and video recording of classes with subsequent transcription, and interviews of the students and their teachers. The following points of focus guided this research: (a) What instances of interaction and output are observed in the different instructional settings?; (b) Are patterns of change observed in learners' language production during the period under study?; (c) What …

Coral Reef Habitat Change And Water Clarity Assessment (1984-2002) For The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Using Landsat Satellite Data, David A. Palandro

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The decline of coral reef habitats has been witnessed on a global scale, with some of the most dramatic decline occurring in the florida keys. as remote sensing can provide a synoptic view of coral reef ecosystems, 28 landsat images (1984-2002) were utilized to study water clarity and habitat change. first, the data were used to derive the diffuse attenuation coefficient (kd, m-1), a measure of water clarity, for 29 sites throughout the florida keys national marine sanctuary (fknms). landsat-derived kd values from bands 1 (blue) and 2 (green) provided useful information for 26 of 29 sites, whereas band 3 …

Breast Cancer: Relationship Between Acculturation And Barriers To Breast Cancer Screening In Southwest Florida Latinas, Patricia Patino

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite multiple campaigns by the American Cancer Society, reports indicate that Latinas living in the United States who contract breast cancer are more likely than Anglos to die. These findings correlate with low participation in breast cancer screenings among Latinas. The objective of this study was to identify key obstacles that influence Latinas' low participation in breast cancer screenings, based on their health beliefs, knowledge of screenings, acculturation, and socio-economic factors.The study was a face-to-face informal interview, combined with a survey questionnaire conducted at churches, social clubs and/or at the participants' homes in a southwest Florida urban community. The sample …

Group Fission-Fusion Dynamics And Communication In The Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus), Ester Quintana-Rizzo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The bottlenose dolphin exhibits a fission-fusion social structure characterized by temporary associations lasting from minutes to hours. Although social structure has been described for some dolphin communities, the selective pressures affecting fission-fusion patterns and their consequences on dolphin communication are not well understood. The goals of the present study were three-fold: 1) to quantify the rate with which fission-fusion occurred and identify the selective pressures influencing an individual's decision to leave and join a temporary group; 2) to examine the communication signals produced during temporary separations; and 3) to estimate the distances over which dolphins could remain in acoustic contact …

Estimation Of Evapotranspiration Using Continuous Soil Moisture Measurement, Mandana Seyed Rahgozar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A new methodology is proposed for estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) flux at small spatial and temporal scales. The method involves simultaneous measurement of soil moisture (SM) profiles and water table heads along transects flow paths. The method has been applied in a shallow water table field site in West-Central Florida for data collected from January 2002 through June 2004. Capacitance shift type moisture sensors were used for this research, placed at variable depth intervals starting at approximately 4 in. (10 cm) below land surface and extending well below the seasonal low water table depth of 59 in. (1.5 m). Vegetation …

Mode Of Action And Structure­Activity Studies Of N­Alkylthio B­Lactams And N­Alkylthio­2­Oxazolidinones, And Synthesis Of Second­Generation Disulfide Inhibitors Of B­Ketoacyl­ Acyl Carrier Protein Synthase Iii (Fabh) As Potent Antibacterial Agents, Kevin David Revell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Work in the Turos group over the past five years has focused on the development of N-alkylthio beta-lactams, which show antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus (including MRSA), Bacillus, and others. These compounds do not function in the manner of the traditional beta-lactam antibiotics, but were thought to undergo an intracellular thiol-transfer to coenzyme A. In expanding the SAR of these novel compounds, it was found that N-alkylthio-2-oxazolidinones also exhibit antibacterial activity. Although CoA acts as the thiol-redox buffer in the genera most susceptible to the N-alkylthio beta-lactams, studies on Coenzyme A disulfide reductase (CoADR) show that the redox buffer is not …

Menendez Versus Mickey: A Study Of Heritage Tourism In Florida, Monica Rowland

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines heritage tourism as: "traveling to experience the places and activities that authentically represent the stories and peoples of the past and present. It includes irreplaceable historic, cultural, and natural resources." Heritage tourism is a lucrative industry in the United States. On average, heritage tourists spend $623 per trip compared to $457 for all U.S. travelers. The rise of heritage tourism is inextricably linked with several trends in American society, namely: the historic preservation movement, the desire for a sense of place, and nostalgia. These motivating tendencies often inspire problems of authenticity, commodification, and …

Archival Evaluation Of A Proactive School-Wide Discipline Plan, Beth Rutz-Beynart

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The study conducted was an archival review of school detailed incident discipline records and description of the school-wide proactive discipline plan developed at an elementary school. The study examined the effects of sequential changes in a proactive school-wide discipline plan. Initially, the baseline data consisted of a full year of school without a proactive school-wide discipline plan. This allowed an assessment of the variation in referrals that occurred across a school year. Subsequent years were assessed in relation to this baseline, and the effects from year to year compared to other years. After the baseline year, substantial changes were made …

A Study On The Calibration And Accuracy Of The One-Step Tdr Method, Brian David Runkles

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Traditional in-situ soil compaction monitoring methods are often limited in their application, thus quality control of compacted fills and roadway embankments remains a challenging problem. As a result, new methods are being developed to more accurately measure in-situ compaction parameters. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) is one such method. Several advances have been made over the past few years to further the use of TDR technology in water content and density measurement of compacted fill. The one-step method relies on the measurement of the apparent dielectric constant in conjunction with the bulk electrical conductivity, and correlates them through two soil-specific constants, …

The Social Construction Of School Refusal: An Exploratory Study Of School Personnel’S Perceptions, Anna Marie Torrens Salemi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite a multi-disciplinary, international literature, little research has drawn attention to the phenomenon of school refusal within the school. Most research on school refusal follows a positivist paradigm, focusing on the student, instead of examining the role of schools. Using a qualitative design and a social constructionist framework, this study explored how school personnel perceive school refusal, focusing on the social interactions, processes, and perceptions that construct their understanding. The study was conducted in a large school district in the Southeastern United States.Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with school personnel at the middle school (N=42), high school (N=40), and district …

Zeolite Synthesis From Municipal Solid Waste Ash Using Fusion And Hydrothermal Treatment, Maysson Sallam

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the possibility of producing zeolites from municipal solid waste ash, MSW ash, by using hydrothermal treatment alone and by introducing fusion at 550 °C prior to hydrothermal treatment. The study was performed at different treatment conditions where silica/aluminum ratio of 13.9 and 2.5, hydroxide concentrations of 1.5N, 2.5N and 3.5N, temperatures at 100°C and 60 °C and time at 6, 24 and 72 hours were the major variables used to study zeolites synthesis process. The possibility of forming zeolites A, P1 and X was of particular interest in the present study. Factors, mechanism and modeling of zeolite …

Using Fuzzy Logic To Enhance Control Performance Of Sliding Mode Control And Dynamic Matrix Control, Edinzo J. Iglesias Sanchez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Two application applications of Fuzzy Logic to improve the performance of two controllers are presented. The first application takes a Sliding Mode Controller designed for chemical process to reject disturbances. A fuzzy element is added to the sliding surface to improve the controller performance when set point change affects the control loop; especially for process showing highly nonlinear behavior. This fuzzy element, , is calculated by means of a set of fuzzy rules designed based on expert knowledge and experience. The addition of improved the controller response because accelerate or smooth the controller as the control loop requires. The Fuzzy …

Assessment Of Biogeochemical Deposits In Landfill Leachate Drainage Systems Phase Ii, Abdul R. Mulla Saleh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Land disposal of solid waste is a vital component of any solid waste management system. Design, operation and closure of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are required by regulations to control leachate and gases generated during the life, closure,and post-closure of the facility. Clogging of leachate drainage and removal systems in landfills is a common phenomenon and has been acknowledged in several landfills throughout the United States and abroad. This project was conducted in two phases. Phase I was completed in February of 2005 and Phase II was completed in August of 2006. Leachate characteristics data obtained in Phase I …

Correlates Of Weight In Adolescents: A Path Analysis, Angela T. Sheble

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the interrelationships between adolescent weight and several other variables thought to impact weight and obesity: physical activity, depressive symptoms, binge-eating symptoms, dieting, socio-economic status, special education status, gender, and ethnicity. The sample consisted of 251 high school students in rural Florida who completed measures of depression, binge-eating, dieting, and physical activity. Measurement instruments included the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale-2nd Edition (RADS-2), the bulimia scale of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), the dieting scale of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), and a physical activity questionnaire derived from the Youth Risk Behavior Scale for Students (YRBSS). The study …

Crossing Locations, Light Conditions, And Pedestrian Injury Severity, Naved Alam Siddiqui

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study assesses the role of crossing locations and light conditions in pedestrian injury severity through a multivariate regression analysis to control for many other factors that also may influence pedestrian injury severity. Crossing locations include midblock and intersections, and light conditions include daylight, dark with street lighting, and dark without street lighting. The study formulates a theoretical framework on the determinants of pedestrian injury severity, and specifies an empirical model accordingly. An ordered probit model is then applied to the KABCO severity scale of pedestrian injuries which occurred while attempting street crossing in the years 1986 to 2003 in …

Maternal Interaction Style, Reported Experiences Of Care, And Pediatric Health Care Utilization, Wendy Lauran Struchen Shellhorn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

U.S. immunization and well child-care rates are below desired levels with lower income individuals being at higher risk for receiving inadequate care. To enhance the understanding of motivating factors to health care utilization, this study explored relationships between a mother's interaction style (secure, anxious, avoidant), her reported experiences with pediatric health care and her child's utilization of pediatric health care. Participants included 126 US-born, English-speaking women with an infant 12 to18 months of age. Linear regression analyses found no bivariate associations between maternal interaction style and reported experiences of care. Poisson regression analyses measured associations of maternal interaction style, reported …

Effects Of A Multi-Component Interdependent Group Contingency Game On The Classroom Behaviors Of Typically Developing Elementary School Children, Stacey D. Simonds

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research in the field of applied behavior analysis indicates that all group-contingency programs have been effective in both increasing academic and behavior success in the classroom environment. Among the three types of group-contingency programs, this study investigated the effects of a multiple component interdependent group-oriented contingency program on the behavior of typically developing elementary students. The purpose of this study was to develop and analyze the effects of a classroom management system that teachers or educators could utilize to minimize problematic classroom behaviors while increasing adaptive classroom behaviors. The study was conducted within two third-grade classrooms from a local school …

Selling St. Petersburg: John Lodwick And The Promotion Of A Florida Paradise, Nevin D. Sitler

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For over a century Florida's Tampa Bay area has been extolled for its abundant seashores and moderate climate. The success of early twentieth-century St. Petersburg as a tourist destination was due to a consistent method of self-promotion highlighting the natural and physical features of peninsular Pinellas County. Warmed by balmy Tampa Bay breezes, St. Petersburg had been dubbed the "Health City." This tiny 1890 coastal town of less than three hundred inhabitants, now blessed with a slogan, new train tracks, and a railway pier, was an ideal setting for tourism. By 1902, boosters declared St. Petersburg a city second to …

Geochemical Signatures In The Coral Montastraea: Modern And Mid-Holocene Perspectives, Jennifer Mae Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the first phase of this project, four decades of monthly resolved geochemical variations from two massive heads of Montastraea were used to explore the reproducibility of the geochemical signal in these two corals from Looe Key, Florida. The coral d18O and d13C records of the two corals have statistically indistinguishable mean values, which is not the case for the coral Sr/Ca records implying that nonenvironmental factors are influencing coral Sr/Ca. Calibration equations relating coral geochemistry variations to environmental variations at Looe Key are different from previously published equations for Montastraea. These calibration differences are not related to growth-related kinetic …

A Novel Air Sampling And Analytical Method For Determination Of Airborne Bronopol, John Charles Smyth

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Bronopol has been used as a preservative in drugs and cosmetics since 1964. Bronopol has low dermal irritancy at levels commonly used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals but it is significantly irritating at higher concentrations. Laboratory testing of bronopol indicates a low potential for dermal sensitization; however, a number of case reports demonstrate human allergenic reactions. No reports were identified on the allergenic properties of bronopol for the inhalation route of exposure. In 1983 approximately 5,200 people in the United States were occupationally exposed to bronopol. Current novel uses of bronopol include mold remediation and the sanitizing of ventilation system components. …

Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners’ Judgments Of Coronary Heart Disease Risk, Kelly D. Stamp

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the single largest killer of American males and females in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, (2005) approximately 41% of Americans that experience a coronary attack in a given year will die from it (AHA, 2005). To combat this growing problem, strategies need to be evaluated to assess how the identification of actual and potential CHD risks are made. This study utilized the Social Judgment Theory to gain insight into nurse practitioner's decision-making strategies. Sixty family or adult specialty nurse practitioners affiliated with the University of South Florida (USF) College of Nursing …

Considering Security In Florida’S Transportation Project Development Process, Phillip W. Stevens

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The transportation decision-making process takes on different forms in different states. The purpose of this study was to include and move considerations for national, state, and local security needs into the transportation project development arenas with a focus on Florida. A thorough and updated literature review was completed to determine the current state of the industry regarding incorporating security considerations into the transportation planning process. A review of current Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations concerning planning requirements was conducted to outline planning parameters and limitations. An information request letter was mailed to the key planning staff members for …

Perceptions Of Principals And Teachers Of Their Roles And Other Variables In School Culture In Improving Their School’S Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (Fcat) Letter Grade By Two Grade Levels, Tracey D. Tedder

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on perceptions of principals, assistant principals and teachers of their impact on student achievement scores in improving their school's Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test letter grade scores. This information is of importance because we do not have information on how school reference groups (principals, teachers) perceive the grading of schools as defined by the Florida A+ Plan. Specifically, this study investigated perceptions of school principals, assistant principals and teachers on their role in improving the school's FCAT letter grade by two grade levels in a 9-month school year. This qualitative case study analyzes perceptions of factors and behaviors …

The Relationship Between Anxiety And Spirituality In Persons Undergoing Chemotherapy For Cancer, Cindy Tofthagen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Anxiety is a common problem for cancer patients, especially those who must receive chemotherapy. Anxiety may have a negative effect on quality of life, interrupting sleep, causing uncomfortable physical symptoms, and inhibiting sound decision-making. This study examined the relationship between spiritual well-being and anxiety in patients on chemotherapy for cancer. The convenience sample consisted of 30 patients, 15 male and 15 female, receiving chemotherapy in a two physician private medical oncology practice in Southwest Florida. Patients completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well- Being Scale.

Participants ranged in age from 31 to 88, …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Religiosity And Subjective Well-Being In Older Adults: The Mediating Role Of Optimism, Teri A. Trede

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The proportion of adults aged 65 and older in the United States has been increasing steadily for years. Although most would agree that this increased longevity is a remarkable achievement, there is growing concern regarding the resources that will be necessary to provide care and services for this rapidly expanding segment of the population. From a public health perspective, simply increasing longevity is no longer the ultimate outcome sought. A more pertinent goal is increasing the quality of life years, or promoting resilience and successful aging. Strategies that assist adults in delaying the onset of disability or reducing the severity …

A Case Study Of The Perceived Decision-Making Practices And Patterns Of Secondary Administrators Using Four Scenarios, Elizabeth M. Tuten

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research study explored practitioners' perceived understanding and situational use of seven decision-making models of educational administration. In examining the extant literature of the field, the following research problem emerged to guide this study: scholars and practitioners struggle to understand how school administrators make workplace decisions, and how school leaders perceive their decision-making strategies and actions. Based upon Pettigrew's (1985) Conceptual Framework of Organizational Change and relevant literature (see chapter 2), the researcher developed a series of questions in order to explore the aforementioned purpose and problem. Specifically, three principals, three assistant principals of curriculum, and three assistant principals for …

A Closer Look At The Work Hours And Work/Family Relationship: The Moderating And Enhancing Effects Of Fit, Matthew D. Tuttle

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Managing the conflict between work and family role demands is a critical issue that has generated substantial interest for both individuals and organizations in recent decades. One factor thought to contribute to the occurrence of work-family conflict (WFC) is the amount of time committed to activities in either the family or to the work domain. Because time is a finite resource, it has been posited that when one dedicates a certain amount of time to one domain, this will invariably take away from the amount of time available for activities in the other domain. The result of this is conflict …