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Evaluation And Implementation Of A Molecular-Based Protocol For The Identification Of Enteroviruses At The Florida Department Of Health – Tampa Laboratory, Matthew Adams Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Enterovirus genus within the family Picornaviridae contains over 100 serotypes, of which sixty-four are known to be human pathogens. Infection with this group of RNA viruses produces a myriad of clinical conditions including poliomyelitis, meningitis, encephalitis, respiratory illnesses, and hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Outbreaks have been documented worldwide; significant morbidity and mortality exist to warrant laboratory surveillance.

Traditionally, enteroviruses have been identified to the level of serotype by the serum neutralization assay. However, numerous problems are associated with this assay. The serum neutralization assay is labor intensive, results are often ambiguous, and reagents are becoming difficult to obtain. Recently, molecular-based typing …

2002 Oregon Crime Victims’ Needs Assessment Final Report, Deborah Elliott, Alice Galloway, Karen Cellarius, Mary Louise Mcclintock, Mary Ellen Johnson, Mandy Davis, John Knutson

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

On behalf of the Crime Victims’ Assistance Section of the Oregon Department of Justice, Portland State University’s Regional Research Institute for Human Services conducted an 18-month (July 2001-December 2002) needs assessment of the current state of crime victims’ services and victims’ needs in Oregon. The primary objectives of the needs assessment were to identify:

• Gaps in the current service delivery system, including linkages among agencies
• Range and quality of services
• Barriers to accessing services, particularly among underserved populations
• How well Crime Victims’ Rights are implemented
• Model national and statewide programs

This report is a compilation of the findings gathered from …

Headway Deviation Effects On Bus Passenger Loads: Analysis Of Tri-Met’S Archived Avl-Apc Data, James G. Strathman, Thomas J. Kimpel, Steve Callas

Center for Urban Studies Publications and Reports

In this paper we empirically analyze the relationship between transit service headway deviations and passenger loads, using archived data from Tri-Met’s automatic vehicle location and automatic passenger counter systems. The analysis employs two-stage least squares estimation to account for the simultaneous relationship between headway deviations and loads. Controlling for the effects of passenger activity on delay, the results indicate that the observed incidence of excess passenger loads is systematically attributable to deviations from scheduled headways. In turn, analysis of the causes of headway deviations served to identify possible operations control actions that would improve service regularity and, consequently, reduce incidences …

Investigating The Urban Heat Island Effect With A Collaborative Inquiry Project, Linda Acha George, William G. Becker

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Modification of the earth's surface through urbanization can have a dramatic impact on local climate. A phenomenon known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, which is a measure of the near-surface air temperature contrast between urbanized and adjoining rural areas, can be evaluated with readily available instruments. Students in an undergraduate general education science course study this phenomenon in the Portland, Oregon area through a collaborative research project. This inquiry project includes background content and literature review, preliminary studies, development of research questions, experimental design and implementation, data analysis and report writing. This project successfully enables students to collaboratively …

Assessing Sample Bias And Establishing Standardized Procedures For Weighting And Expansion Of Travel Survey Data, Fahmida Nilufar

LSU Master's Theses

Recent household travel surveys are encountering problems with non-response, non-coverage, non-reporting, and even incorrect or incomplete reporting of trips. In addition, data from survey samples are affected by the social, and economic conditions of the respondents, as well as the survey instrument used to collect the data. As a result, household travel survey data are invariably associated with some level of bias. These threats to the integrity of the data are often ignored while analyzing the sample survey data. However, considering the importance of information derived from such surveys, it is necessary that the survey must provide an accurate reflection …

Systematics Of The Western Lyresnake (Trimorphodon Biscutatus) Complex: Implications For North And Middle American Aridland Biogeography, Thomas James Devitt

LSU Master's Theses

The Western Lyresnake (Trimorphodon biscutatus) is found generally from the desert southwestern United States southward along the pacific lowland versant of Mexico to northwestern Costa Rica. This species exhibits substantial geographic variation in size, squamation, and color pattern across its range, and as such has had an unstable taxonomic history. I investigated populations of T. biscutatus representing currently and formerly recognized forms using both morphological and molecular methods to infer the evolutionary history of this widespread, polytypic taxon. Multivariate statistical analyses (principal components and discriminant analysis) of morphological data (432 specimens, 33 characters) yielded six statistically significantly different groups, consistent …

A Novel Hydrogen And Oxygen Generation System, Zhiyong Peng

LSU Master's Theses

This study examined the three phases of the sorption-enhanced SMR process for H2 production: production of low-CO hydrogen using the standard Ni-based reforming catalyst and high purity CaO sorbent precursor, evaluation of combined reforming catalyst-sorbent samples supplied by TDA, and an Aspen simulation study of the process for simultaneous production of H2 and O2. The production of low-CO (<20ppmv) hydrogen was studied using the single-step sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming process. The effects of temperature, volumetric feed rate, and feed gas composition on the purity of H2 and the content of CO were investigated. The feasibility of producing 95+% H2 with CO content of less than 20ppmv was experimentally proven in a test at 480¡ãC and 5 atm using a commercial Ni-based catalyst and the calcium-based CO2 sorbent. The feed gas contained 20% CH4 and 80% H2O, while the product gas contained 97.8% H2 and 17 ppmv CO. With this low CO concentration, the product can be used in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell without further purification. The catalyst-sorbent samples from TDA Research Inc. were extensively studied and evaluated with respect to their performance in the steam-reforming reaction using both the fixed-bed reactor system and TGA. The activity of the catalyst samples having different compositions was examined and compared at different temperatures and space velocities using a feed gas containing 11.1% CH4 with a steam-to-carbon (S/C) ratio of 3.0. The sorption activity and durability was also examined in the TGA system. The overall hydrogen and oxygen co-production process was studied and evaluated using the Aspen Plus simulator. Material and energy balance calculations showed that this system can produce 99+% purity hydrogen and oxygen simultaneously with efficient energy integration. This process is balanced on power consumption and generation, so no external power is required.

Perspectives On Comparative Literature, Alexandru Boldor

LSU Master's Theses

The main objective of this dissertation was to provide researchers interested in the history and evolution of "comparative literature" with a collection of references delineating the evolution of the concept and the development of academic departments dedicated to its study. The paper includes a first section describing the main issues contributing to the "identity crisis" with which studies and departments defining themselves as "comparative" were consistently confronted ever since the term was coined. The "preliminary concepts" section offers an overview of the elements that usually confer a "comparative" quality to a literary study, such as interdisciplinarity and multiculturalism, together with …

Traffic Engineering In Multiprotocol Label Switching Networks, Chung-Yu Wei

LSU Master's Theses

The goal of Traffic Engineering is to optimize the resource utilization and increase the network performance. Constraint-based routing has been proposed as an networks effective approach to implement traffic engineering in Multiprotocol Label Switching. In this thesis, we review several algorithms on constraint-based routing from the literature and point out their advantages and disadvantages. We then propose several algorithms to overcome some of the shortcomings of these approaches. Our algorithms are specifically suitable for large densely connected networks supporting both Quality of Service traffic and the Best Effort traffic. In large networks the size of the MPLS label space in …

No Child Left Behind And The Louisiana School Accountability System: A Comparative Study Of Accountability Systems, Rani Coleman

LSU Master's Theses

In the educational field, accountability is one of the key issues in the media. No Child Left Behind (NCLB) has made a definite impact in the political and social realm of society. However, many people do not understand what it fully means to education on all levels. The aim of this thesis is to compare and contrast the Louisiana School Accountability System with the new Federal government's No Child Left Behind. Of key interest in this comparative study is: long-term goals, flagging methods, disaggregation of subgroups, starting out - index/proficiency rate, modification/corrective plans, number of tests, indicators, and high stakes …

Temperature Dependent Kinetics Of Biotin Carboxylase, Brett K. Lord

LSU Master's Theses

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase catalyzes the first committed step in long chain fatty acid biosynthesis. In Escherichia coli, the enzyme is composed of three distinct protein components: biotin carboxylase, biotin carboxyl carrier protein, and carboxytransferase. The biotin carboxylase component has served for many years as a model for mechanistic studies devoted toward understanding biotin-dependent carboxylases. Studies of the temperature dependence, temperature dependence of the kinetic solvent isotope effect and thermodynamics of biotin carboxylase are reported. Analysis of the van’t Hoff plot in H2O was biphasic showing an apparent transition temperature of 20°C, with corresponding DH° values of –4.55 ± 1.84 kcal/mol below …

Investigation Of Qualitative Methods For Diagnosis Of Poor Bit Performance Using Surface Drilling Parameters, Arash Aghassi

LSU Master's Theses

Bit performance in deep shale when using water-based mud is typically poor. This study is part of a larger research project to improve that performance entitled "Automated Rig Controls for Improved Drilling Costs." The objective of the project is diagnosis of changes in drill bit performance to provide a logical basis for automating draw works control, maximizing bit performance, and reducing drilling costs. The specific goal of this study is a means to diagnose bit performance, specifically to identify bit balling and lithology changes, using real-time drilling data. The research began by identifying symptoms relating to specific causes of bit …

Use Of Primary Production By Benthic Invertebrates In A Louisiana Salt-Marsh Food Web, Padma Maddi

LSU Master's Theses

A combination of natural abundances of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes and tracer-addition experiments were employed to determine the relative contributions of three potential food sources (phytoplankton, benthic microalgae, and Spartina alterniflora) to benthic invertebrate fauna of Louisiana salt marshes. Samples of the major food sources and the consumers were collected quarterly (summer, fall, winter and spring) to analyze the ƒÔ13C and ƒÔ15N ratios. A simultaneous tracer-addition experiment, in which benthic microalgae (BMA) were labeled with NaH13CO3 and 15NH4Cl, was conducted in all quarters to determine the relative importance of the BMA to consumers. Results indicated that the carbon isotopic …

The Metabolizable Energy Value And Physiologic Effects Of Hi-Maize Resistant Starch In Male Rats, Tanya A. Garcia

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to calculate the metabolizable energy value of Hi-Maize® RS (60% amylose), to observe if consumption of RS alters adiposity, and to examine the effects of RS on fermentation and fecal excretion. Eighteen four-week old male Sprague-Dawley rats consumed either a 20% amylose Hi-Maize® RS diet (n=6) or a control diet (baseline group, n=6; control group, n=6). The baseline group was sacrificed at the beginning of the study; the RS and control groups were transferred to metabolic cages and fed the respective diets for the next six weeks. Feces and urine from each individual rat …

Evaluation Of The Profiler As A Tool For Imrt Qa, Manuel Rodriguez

LSU Master's Theses

The principal goal in this project is to determine if a one-dimensional diode array, the Profiler (Sun Nuclear Corporation), can be used as a tool for intensity modulated radiation therapy quality assurance (QA). A one-dimensional diode array can be used to measure dose and dose profiles for IMRT fields. IMRT fields for real cases at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center were used to test the Profiler model 1170 (Sun Nuclear Corporation). The main concern with the Profiler is that there is not central diode in the array. The absorbed dose displayed in the Profiler window is the average of the …

Gateways Into The Atchafalaya: Developing A Framework For Water-Based Recreation In The Atchafalaya Basin Parishes, Steven Joseph Lumpkin

LSU Master's Theses

The term “gateways” has been used in many contexts as a means of providing entry or connection. Gateways are where people congregate to leave a realm of familiarity to one of uncertainty and adventure. They can also mark the entrance into an area of interest. Gateways may have a significant impact on an individual’s impression of a particular destination. This thesis provides arguments for using boating gateways into the Atchafalaya Basin (AB) region as the basis for a recreational framework that encompasses eight parishes. A common theme that exists in all eight AB parishes is their boat launches. They represent …

Field Evaluation Of In-Situ Test Technology For Qc/Qa During Construction Of Pavement Layers And Embankments, Munir Darwish Nazzal

LSU Master's Theses

With the coming changes from an empirical to mechanistic-empirical pavement design, it becomes essential to move towards changing the quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) procedures of compacted materials from a unit weight-based criterion to a stiffness/strength based criterion. The non-destructive in-situ tests such as Geogauge, Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP), and Light Falling Weight Deflectometer (LFWD) can be used as effective tools in the assessment of subsurface conditions and in evaluating the stiffness of pavement materials and embankment. This thesis evaluates the potential use of these three devices to reliably measure the stiffness characteristics of highway materials for possible application in the …

Computational Model For Heat Transfer In The Human Eye Using The Finite Element Method, Umit Cicekli

LSU Master's Theses

In this work a finite element model for the human eye presented. Thermal analysis was done in order to capture the temperature variation in the human eye. The model was created using advance finite element program ABAQUS. In the model each of the eye's component (cornea, sclera, lens, iris, aqueous and vitreous humor) has own material property. Specific boundary conditions were used for the model. The model incorporates the interaction between eyes components. The Comparisons were done with the available experimental results. The results show that there is a temperature variation in the human eye components with the increasing the …

Out The Loop, Matthew Christian Anderson

LSU Master's Theses

Often referred to as resembling an architectural blueprint, the screenplay is known for its laconic style. Discarding the subjective abstractionism of a more flowery writing, the screenplay's brevity forces the writer to make use of the physical world of the text to display its underlying currents of thought. This trend in artistic representation, of which the influence has been heatedly discussed since the onset of the cinema, is not stagnant but evolving. The screenwriters of today produce their craft with an increased savoir faire not only in relation to plot and form but also in regards to the aesthetics of …

Civil Society And Democratization In Asia: Prospects And Challenges In The New Millennium, Emma E. Porio

Sociology & Anthropology Department Faculty Publications

This paper examines the conceptual foundations of civil society and its role in shaping socio-political life in the past decade as well as their prospects and challenges for the next millennium. It argues that civil society is a key mediating force in changing the state- society dynamics, which in turn, is also being reconfigured by the globalization of social life and the rise of identity and resource claims from various groups. Furthermore, state- civil society engagements have been influenced by communication technologies, facilitating the efficient movement of information, capital, and human resources across groups and national boundaries. Finally, the growth …

Evaluation Of Differences In Depression, Defensiveness, Social Support, And Coping Between Acute And Chronic Chd Patients Hospitalized For Myocardial Infarction Or Unstable Angina, Ashley Ellen Owen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to examine differences in the psychological characteristics of patients admitted to the hospital for acute or chronic Myocardial Infarction (MI) or Unstable Angina (UA). Depression, anger, anxiety, curiosity, defensiveness, social support, and coping were evaluated for 165 patients (86 MI and 79 UA), who were tested on the Cardiology Stepdown Ward of Tampa General Hospital. The following psychological measures were administered to these patients: the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI-2), the Rationality/Emotional Defensiveness (R/ED) Scale, the Adult Form of the Coping Responses Inventory (CRI-Adult), the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List …

Hearsay And Its Exceptions: Conforming The Evidence Code To The Federal Rules, Miguel A. Mendez

University of San Francisco Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Durban Conference Against Racism And Everyone's Responsibilities, J.A. Lindgren Alvez

University of San Francisco Law Review

WHEN DELEGATES AND observers to the third United Nations conference against racism left the premises in Durban, South Africa, exhausted and still stunned by the difficulties they had faced, they did not have a hint of what was soon to happen. They knew that only by means of accommodation and last minute procedural maneuvers had they managed to reach a "consensus" on the final documents. This should have been enough to tone down any possible enthusiasm. Nevertheless, for most of them, results had undoubtedly had positive aspects. There were reasons to believe the Conference had been worthwhile.

Employment Arbitration And Workplace Justice, Lewis L. Maltby

University of San Francisco Law Review

SOME CVIL RIGHTS lawyers look at the growth of employment arbitration and see the end of workplace justice. Others see an exciting opportunity to create workplace justice. How can this be possible? How can attorneys with the same values see the same development in diametrically opposite ways? The heart of the answer lies less in these attorneys' different perceptions of alternative dispute resolution ("ADR") than in their different perceptions of the civil justice system. Different attorneys have conflicting opinions on how well the civil justice system provides workplace justice and these opinions shape their attitudes regarding arbitration in the workplace.

Vol. 31, No. 4: Full Issue, Denver Journal Of International Law & Policy

Denver Journal of International Law & Policy

No abstract provided.

For The Sake Of Your Health: Erisa's Preemption Provisions, Hmo Accountability, And Consumer Access To State Law Remedies, Elaine Gareri Kenney

University of San Francisco Law Review

ERISA was enacted in 1974 as a response to fraud and abuse that occurred in employee pension funds. At the time, it was hailed as a much-needed reform of the entire employee pension fund system. Although most of ERISA's provisions govern the administration of employer-offered pension funds, it also regulates non-pension employee benefits such as disability and health insurance plans. As a result, those seventy-three million Americans, like the Corcorans, who obtain health care through an employer-offered benefit plan contracted through an outside provider are subject to these provisions. In the area of health care, ERISA's promise of protection has …

The Role Of Judge And Jury: Conforming The Evidence Code To The Federal Rules, Miguel A. Mendez

University of San Francisco Law Review

THE CALIFORNIA EVIDENCE Code ("Code") and the Federal Rules of Evidence ("Rules") have much in common in defining the respective roles of judges and jurors. Their differences, while significant in some instances, are few in number.

Proving Discrimination After Croson And Adarand: "If It Walks Like A Duck", Derek M. Alphran

University of San Francisco Law Review

Following the Supreme Court's decision in Croson, "state and local governments have scaled back or eliminated altogether affirmative action programs that had been adopted precisely to overcome discriminatory barriers" to minority participation. 7 Although many jurisdictions re-enancted minority business enterprise ("MBE")" programs after conducting post-Croson disparity studies of discrimination within their jurisdictions, there has been a tidal wave of litigation regarding the issue of government-sponsored MBE programs.

A Practical Guide To Representing Parties In Eeoc Mediations, Robert E. Talbot

University of San Francisco Law Review

AS EVEN THE casual newspaper reader may be aware, the number of employment discrimination lawsuits has exploded in recent years. Indeed, studies show that private employment lawsuits tripled in the 1990s.1 It seems that no employer is immune from charges, whether prison or church or educational institution. In today's workplace, almost everyone-man or woman, gay or straight-in every conceivable employment situation-from hiring to firing to the assignment of office space-is potentially protected by one statute or another

Pre-Dispute Arbitration Clauses-Can They All Be Right?, Jay Folberg

University of San Francisco Law Review

CALIFORNIA IS IN the eye of the storm over the enforcement of pre-dispute arbitration clauses in consumer and employment cases. These non-negotiated agreements to arbitrate all future disputes, imbedded in contracts that are offered on a "take it or leave it basis," curtail any meaningful opportunity to pursue a claim in court and limit the right to be part of a class action lawsuit.