Digital Commons Network^™

Analytical Strategies In Deciding Bus Route Alignments, Sandeep Seshan Iyer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this research a heuristic algorithm is developed for searching and identifying preferred actions as applied to the bus route design problem. The search routine evaluates each subsequent segment added to the route in the context of the value of that segment and also the value of future decisions and opportunities for subsequent segments. The total overall maximum accessibility of the system is calculated using a minimum path network between each node pair and adding the accessibility of all route segments. This is equivalent to assuming that there was a direct shortest path route between every two destinations in the …

Phylogeography And Evolution Of The Florida Crown Conch (Melongena Corona), Kenneth A. Hayes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Melongena corona and closely related congeners are a conspicuous part of the marine intertidal benthic communities of Florida and southeastern Alabama. Significant genetic differentiation among adjacent populations has been conjectured based on variation in shell morphology, habitat discontinuity, low levels of adult motility, and the presence of an aplanic lecithotrophic larval stage. Furthermore, studies of the highly variable shell morphology often have resulted in confusing specific and subspecific definitions of these gastropods, which are often referred to as the "corona complex". Variation in shell morphology may indicate local adaptation or environmentally induced phenotypic plasticity. In this study I utilized mitochondrial …

Otherness And Blackness, Chioke A. M I'Anson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this paper is to provide a phenomenological examination of Otherness as it relates to the experience of being black in the America. The project begins with a summary of the Otherness theories of Emmanuel Levinas, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir. I then compare these accounts to "Black Consciousness" with a criticism of Sartre from Frantz Fanon. I use this criticism to construct new concepts that will help to better understand the experience of blackness.

Towards A Single-Mode Dispensed Polymer Optical Waveguide, Jill Michelle Kalajian

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Dispensed organic polymer optical waveguides suitable for single-mode operation were recently fabricated. Different dispensing pressures, polymers, and dispensing tips were used in the drawing method.

The waveguides were measured to be approximately 16[mu] wide and 0.8[mu] tall. This is significantly smaller than previously reported dimensions of 300[mu] x 3.5[mu] waveguides fabricated with a similar dispensed polymer method. The waveguides were also found to be suitable for single-mode operation through a series of approximate calculations . This is also something previously not achieved with the larger waveguides.

This novel approach to waveguide fabrication could reduce the expense and time of creating …

Optimizing Long-Term Retention Of Abstract Learning, Danielle Mazur

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In a distributed learning strategy, study time is spread across multiple study sessions, without increasing total study time. The benefits of distributed practice, also known as spaced practice, on learning of rote-memory tasks (e.g., spelling, addition, and cued-recall of word pairs) are well known. However, few researchers have looked at the effects of distributed practice on the learning of abstract materials (e.g., physics problems, logical deductions, and algebra). We examined the effects of distributed practice on learning the abstract task of matrix multiplication. In Experiment 1, we taught participants matrix multiplication in either a massed (i.e., 0-day interstudy gap), or …

Characterization And Correlation Analysis Of Pharmaceutical Gelatin, Pascal Georges Felix

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The properties of the aged gel and subsequent softgels were examined using mechanical and chemical testing methods. Our hypothesis was that a negligible variation will exist between the aged gel of the same type. The greater difference is expected to be seen between the types of gels described as 150 Bloom (alkaline treated collagen) and 195 Bloom (acid treated collagen).

The types of gelatin used were the acid processed (195 Acid Bone) and alkaline processed (150 Lime Bone). Because of the differences expressed as the result of their manufacture sequence (namely their molecular weights), it follows that physical attributes will …

Design And Construction Of Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition Reactor And Directed Assembly Of Carbon Nanotubes, Joshua David Schumacher

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The goals of this research project were the design and construction of a carbon nanotube (CNT) reactor based on the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) principle and the development of a method for directed assembly of CNTs by catalyst patterning. PECVD was selected as the growth method due to the requirement of a catalyst for the growth process, thereby facilitating directed assembly and controlled diameter CNT growth at well-defined locations.

The reactor was built in accord with horizontal flow design using standard ultra high vacuum components. The controllable parameters of the reactor include sample temperature, DC plasma intensity, chamber …

Radiation Induced Degradation Pathways For Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) And Polystyrene Polymers As Models For Polymer Behavior In Space Environments, Kenneth Henry Heffner

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Modeling methods are required for predicting the chemical stability of macromolecular materials used in critical spacecraft components of satellites orbiting in the high-energy radiation environment of near earth and deep space planetary magnetic belts. Methods for establishing degradation mechanisms and predicting and simulating the total absorbed dose and ionization for long term space missions are presented herein. This investigation evaluates cross-linking, main-chain scission and elimination products in a linear series of narrowly dispersed poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) polymers. A comparison is made of the scission radiation yield (G_s) and crosslinking (G_x) predicted for the …

A Model For The Benefits Of Electronic Toll Collection System, Rajesh H. Chaudhary

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Due to the degree of complexity related to measuring the advantage of establishing Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) systems, literature generally stops short of modeling an all-inclusive set of benefits of the system. In this research, a model that incorporates the impact on both the users and the society as a whole and evaluates the financial benefits over the lifespan of the ETC investment is developed.

Most of the values for the parameters used for calculating the benefits are taken from Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and from similar studies conducted by transportation agencies, which is the setting that has motivated the …

Comida Sin Frijoles No Es Comida: Evaluation Of A Type 2 Diabetes Education Program For Latinos, Danielle R. O'Connor

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes an internship for the Department of Anthropology that was part of the Florida Health Literacy Study (FHLS) conducted at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, Department of Community and Family Health in the spring and summer of 2003. The FHLS implemented Pfizer Inc.'s For Your Health program, a type 2 diabetes and hypertension education programs, at 14 community health clinics across the state of Florida. The internship was designed to elicit the experiences of 10 bilingual health educators about their experiences and their perceptions of the experiences of their Latino patients with type 2 …

Vibrofluidized Bed Drying Of Citrus Processing Residue For Byproduct Recovery, Eric A. Roe

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 44% of the citrus that is processed becomes processing residue. The residue consists of the non-juice components of a citrus fruit, primarily peel and pulp, and is recovered by conversion to animal feed. The material is hygroscopic, agglomerating, has a wide particle size distribution, and must be carefully dried to avoid thermal damage to nutrients and flavors. This dissertation evaluates the possibility of utilizing a vibrofluidized bed dryer for citrus processing residue. Results demonstrate that it is possible to overcome the agglomeration difficulties associated with this material, offering an economically viable alternative processing methodology.

To properly analyze this proposed …

Design And Fabrication Of Multi – Dimensional Rf Mems Variable Capacitors, Hariharasudhan T. Kannan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this work, a multi dimensional RF MEMS variable capacitor that utilizes electrostatic actuation is designed and fabricated on a 425um thick silicon substrate. Electrostatic actuation is preferred over other actuation mechanisms due to low power consumption. The RF MEMS variable capacitor is designed in a CPW topology, with multiple beams supported (1 - 7 beams) on a single pedestal. The varactors are fabricated using surface micromachining techniques. A 1um thick silicon monoxide (Er - 6) is used as a dielectric layer for the varactor. The movable membrane is suspended on a 2.5um thick electroplated gold pedestal. The capacitance between …

Self-Interference Handling In Ofdm Based Wireless Communication Systems, Tevfik Yücek

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a multi-carrier modulation scheme that provides efficient bandwidth utilization and robustness against time dispersive channels. This thesis deals with self-interference, or the corruption of desired signal by itself, in OFDM systems. Inter-symbol Interference (ISI) and Inter-carrier Interference (ICI) are two types of self-interference in OFDM systems. Cyclic prefix is one method to prevent the ISI which is the interference of the echoes of a transmitted signal with the original transmitted signal. The length of cyclic prefix required to remove ISI depends on the channel conditions, and usually it is chosen according to the worst …

Physiological Responses Of Thalassia Testudinum And Ruppia Maritima To Experimental Salinity Levels, Donna M. Berns

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Thalassia testudinum, a stenohaline seagrass species, and Ruppia maritima, a euryhaline submerged aquatic vegetation species, were subjected to the same seven salinity levels (0 - 60) in a controlled environment. The response variables examined were the occurrence of leaf discoloration, plant growth rates, photosynthetic characteristics of blade segments (P_max, respiration, alpha, and I_k), and osmolality changes within the plant tissues. These response variables were measured at exposure times of one, seven, and 28 days.

Greater than 75% leaf discoloration occurred in Thalassia testudinum blades placed in 0, and 60 psu, while Ruppia maritima blades …

Using The Ablls With English Language Learners: Implications For Students And Teachers, Lorie G. Schultz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

English language learners are traditionally behind in academics such as reading, math and science. Hispanics, who make up the vast majority of English language learners, tend to not enroll in pre-school or higher education, have higher dropout rates and as adults earn less than whites. Common instructional strategies used in public schools are not meeting the needs of these students. The field of TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) has typically offered a wide variety of poorly defined teaching strategies that are not based on empirical research. Within public schools, assessment tends to serve the purpose of …

Toward An Integrated Communication Theory For Celebrity Endorsement In Fund Raising, Tracie M. Domino

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the history of the United States, Americans customarily have given away their money, as well as their time to serve the common good. Americans will give "to build something, to fight something, or to save something" (Fink, 1990, p. 136). They make gifts to causes, or the societal problems represented by organizational missions, that are important to them. Individuals give not only to advance a common good, but also to receive private goods, or benefits that are internal, intangible, and in some cases, tangible (Steinberg, 1989).

To create this feeling of reciprocity for prospective donors who have not actually …

A Vlsi Architecture For Rijndael, The Advanced Encryption Standard, Naga M. Kosaraju

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The increasing application of cryptographic algorithms to ensure secure communications across virtual networks has led to an ever-growing demand for high performance hardware implementations of the encryption/decryption methods. The inevitable inclusion of the cryptographic algorithms in network communications has led to the development of several encryption standards, one of the prominent ones among which, is the Rijndael, the Advanced Encryption Standard. Rijndael was chosen as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) by the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST), in October 2000, as a replacement for the Data Encryption Standard (DES). This thesis presents the architecture for the VLSI implementation …

Kinematic Analysis And Evaluation Of Wheelchair Mounted Robotic Arms, Edward Jacob Mccaffrey

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this thesis is the kinematic analysis and evaluation of wheelchair mounted robotic arms. More specifically, to address the kinematics of the wheelchair mounted robotic arm (WMRA) with respect to its ability to reach positions commonly required by an assistive device in activities of daily living (ADL).

A robotic manipulator attached to a power wheelchair could enhance the manipulation functions of an individual with a disability. In this thesis, a procedure is developed for the kinematic analysis and evaluation of a wheelchair mounted robotic arm. In addition to developing the analytical procedure, the manipulator is evaluated, and design …

Characterization Of Large Area Cadmium Telluride Films And Solar Cells Deposited On Moving Substrates By Close Spaced Sublimation, Vishwanath Kumar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With CdTe based photovoltaics developed by close spaced sublimation reaching efficiencies of over 16%, commercialization of this technology draws serious attention. Today large area industrial modules have not been able to produce the same performance of their laboratory counterparts. This work provides a means for understanding the various technical challenges in developing an effective deposition technology for large area processing.

The submodule process investigated provides a model for continuous and sequential processing of subsequent films. The system has a unique design and constructed with the provision for a moving transport module for the substrate transport. The process was developed to …

Characterization Of Cadmium Zinc Telluride Solar Cells, Gowri Sivaraman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Currently thin film solar cells have efficiencies in the range of 16-18%. Higher efficiencies of 20% or more can be achieved by two junction solar cells in which two p-n junctions are connected in series one on top of the other in a tandem structure. The ideal bandgaps for optimum efficiency in a tandem structure are about 1eV for the top cell and 1.7 eV for the bottom cell. Copper Indium Gallium di-Selenide (CIGS) with a bandgap of 1 eV is a suitable candidate for the bottom cell and Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) with a tunable bandgap of 1.44-2.26 eV …

Development And Testing Of A Haptic Interface To Assist And Improve The Manipulation Functions In Virtual Environments For Persons With Disabilities, Rohit Tammana

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Robotics in rehabilitation provides considerable opportunities to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities. Computerized and Virtual Environment (VE) training systems for persons with disabilities, many of which utilize the haptic feedback, have gained increasing acceptance in the recent years. Our methodology here is based on creating virtual environments connected to a haptic interface as an input device. This robotic setup introduces the advantages of the haptic rendering features in the environment and also provides tactile feedback to the patients.

This thesis aims to demonstrate the efficacy of assistance function algorithms in rehabilitation robotics in virtual environments. Assist …

School Factors Related To The Social And Behavioral Success Of Children And Adolescents With Tuberous Sclerosis: Special Education Placement, Services, And Parental Involvement, Kathleen Walker Carlisle

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The researcher examined the relationships between tuberous sclerosis, a multi-system genetic disorder, and school functioning through the use of a parent questionnaire and behavior rating scale. Information was gathered on the typical school experiences of children with tuberous sclerosis, including educational placement and services, behavioral functioning, parent involvement, and parent satisfaction. The results indicated that the majority of students with tuberous sclerosis are in special education and receiving related services. Three-quarters received one or more related services through the public school, and 30% received private related services paid for by their parents. Parent involvement was positively correlated with parent satisfaction, …

A Mathematical Model For Colloidal Aggregation, Colleen S. O'Brien

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The characterization of fine particles is an area of immense significance to many industrial endeavors. It has been estimated that 70% of all industrial processes deal with fine particles at some point in the process. A natural phenomenon occurring in these processes is colloidal aggregation. This study examines aggregation in colloidal systems in order to characterize, examine, and control this occurrence in industrial processes. The study of particle aggregation has been broken into many different areas, such as collision mechanisms, interaction energy etc, but a complete model that integrates these different aspects has never been fully realized. A new model …

Three Dimensional Finite Element Model For Lesion Correspondence In Breast Imaging, Yan Qiu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Predicting breast tissue deformation is of great significance in several medical applications such as surgery, biopsy and imaging. In breast surgery, surgeons are often concerned with a specific portion of the breast, e.g., tumor, which must be located accurately beforehand. Also clinically it is important for combining the information provided by images from several modalities or at different times, for the planning and guidance of interventions. Multi-modality imaging of the breast obtained by mammography, MRI and PET is thought to be best achieved through some form of data fusion technique. However, images taken by these various techniques are often obtained …

Fishing-Dependent Communities On The Gulf Coast Of Florida: Their Identification, Recent Decline And Present Resilience, Yu, Huang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

U.S. fisheries legislation requires National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to attend to the critical social and economic issues surrounding the definition and identification of fishing communities, and to the effects that changes to the physical environment and regulatory decisions can have on such communities. To fulfil their mandate, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) sponsored the research entitled "Identifying Fishing Communities in the Gulf of Mexico" to study the economic, social and cultural status of potential fishing communities along the Gulf of Mexico.

NMFS contracted the research project to Impact Assessment, Inc. to study 80 plus potential fishing communities in the …

Transport And Survival Of Water Quality Indicator Microorganisms In The Ground Water Environment Of Florida: Implications For Aquifer Storage And Waste Disposal, David E. John

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ground water resources are heavily used for drinking water supply and often as a receptacle for waste water. One concern is the possible contamination of wetland areas by ground water receiving septic system infiltration. To investigate this, two tracer studies were performed using the bacteriophage PRD-1 by seeding septic systems adjacent to wetlands with the phage and monitoring migration towards wetland areas. Transport velocities were evaluated based on appearance of tracer in sampling wells at various distances from the injection point. Velocities were estimated to be 0.25 m/d and 0.4 m/d at the two sites. Some retardation with respect to …

Homosocial, Homoerotic, Bisexual, And Androgynous Bonds In Shakespeare’S Comedies, Klarisa Sokolovic-Cizmek

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the thesis I inquire into the nature of the same-sex bonds in Shakespeare’s comedies. I discuss seven pairs of characters and demonstrate how in his comedies, Shakespeare first created homosocial relationships, later homoerotic relationships, then bisexual relationships, and, finally, a couple that may be described as androgynous. I demonstrate that in the early comedies the relationships are primarily homosocial and serve the purpose of self-realization. The self-realization includes reaching of a balance between a “feminine,” and a “masculine” self, with the goal of becoming a mature, androgynous human being. Although there are some homoerotic undercurrents in both the male …

Computer-Aided Diagnosis For Mammographic Microcalcification Clusters, Mugdha Tembey

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States and microcalcifications clusters are one of the most important indicators of breast disease. Computer methodologies help in the detection and differentiation between benign and malignant lesions and have the potential to improve radiologists' performance and breast cancer diagnosis significantly.

A Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD-Dx) algorithm has been previously developed to assist radiologists in the diagnosis of mammographic clusters of calcifications with the modules: (a) detection of all calcification-like areas, (b) false-positive reduction and segmentation of the detected calcifications, (c) selection of morphological and distributional features …

Feasibility And Emissions Of Compression Ignition Engines Fueled With Waste Vegetable Oil, Morgan H. Crawford

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research and experience has shown that vegetable oil can be processed, by transesterification, into a useable fuel for compression ignition engines. Earlier research examined using straight vegetable oil as a fuel, but found it to cause detrimental engine problems. Trial and error has shown that heating the vegetable oil prior to injection, is a viable option. A diesel vehicle engine was operated for over 188 hours or approximately 7,000 miles, using waste cooking oil as fuel. The longevity of the vehicle engine was limited by an undetermined engine failure.

Using stationary testing, with no engine load and various power settings, …

Design And Development Of A Silicon Carbide Chemical Vapor Deposition Reactor, Matthew T. Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this thesis is to present the design and development of a chemical vapor deposition reactor for the growth of high quality homoepitaxy silicon carbide films for electronic device applications. The work was performed in the Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing Research Center at the University of South Florida from 8/2001-5/2003.

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is the technique of choice for SiC epitaxial growth. Epitaxial layers are the building blocks for use in various semiconductor device applications. This thesis reports on a SiC epitaxy process where a carrier gas (hydrogen) is saturated with reactive precursors (silane and propane) which are …