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Performance Of Doubly Fed-Induction Machine Wind-Generators During Grid And Wind Disturbances, Badrul H. Chowdhury, Murali M. Baggu

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A doubly fed induction generator is under study for application with a wind turbine. The operation of the Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) under different disturbances namely, response to gradual increase or decrease in wind speeds, sudden change of wind speeds like wind gust and different fault scenarios near and farther to the wind turbine are demonstrated in this paper using the wind model developed by DIgSILENT® in their PowerFactory software.

Hydro-Nexrad Radar-Rainfall Estimation Algorithm Development, Testing And Evaluation, Witold F. Krajewski, Bong Chul Seo, Anton Kruger, Piotr Domaszczynski, Gabriele Villarini, Charles Gunyon

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Hydro-NEXRAD radar-rainfall estimation algorithms involve three main components: 1) preprocessing, 2) rain rate, and 3) rainfall accumulation. The preprocessing algorithm performs the quality control of reflectivity volume data and generates a hybrid scan. That is, reflectivity values for each azimuth and range bin are assigned from the several lowest elevation angles. It optionally estimates an azimuth-dependent vertical reflectivity profile and performs a correction for range effects. The rain rate algorithm converts the corrected reflectivity to rainfall intensity. The user can specify any power-law type empirical relationship between reflectivity and rainfall intensity. The last step of rainfall estimation is to …

Towards Better Utilization Of Nexrad Data In Hydrology: An Overview Of Hydro-Nexrad, Witold F. Krajewski, Anton Kruger, Ramon Lawrence, James A. Smith, A. Allen Bradley, Matthias Steiner, Mary Lynn Baeck, Mohan K. Ramamurthy, Jeffrey Weber, Stephen A. Delgreco, Bong Chul Seo, Piotr Domaszczynski, Charles Gunyon, Radoslaw Goska

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

With a very modest investment in computer hardware and the open-source local data manger (LDM) software from UCAR's Unidata Program Center, an individual researcher can receive a variety of NEXRAD Level III gridded rainfall products, and the unprocessed Level II data in real-time from most NEXRAD radars. Additionally, the National Climatic Data Center has vast archives of these products and Level II data. Still, significant obstacles remain in order to unlock the full potential of the data. One set of obstacles is related to effective management of multi-terabyte data sets: storing, compressing, and backing up. A second set of obstacles, …

Mediating The Cultivation Of Fear Through Media Literacy Education, Catherine N. Collins, Kristine L. Slank

Modern Psychological Studies

College students (N = 110) received a media literacy intervention based on critical thinking or they received no intervention. Students were also classified as low or high television viewers based on responses to a Television Use Survey. Fear was measured with a Safety Survey and analyzed with a 2 Intervention x 2 Television Viewing ANOVA. Fear was expected to be lower in the intervention and low television viewing groups than in the no intervention and high television viewing groups. However, no results were significant.

Laboratory Schools Annual Report, 2006-2007, Laboratory Schools, Illinois State University

Annual Reports – Laboratory Schools

Illinois State University Laboratory Schools annual report

The Molluscan And Brachiopod Fauna Of The Late Cretaceous Pierre Shale (Baculites Compressus/Baculites Cuneatus Biozones) Near Kremmling, Colorado, Lanora Ann Sava

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Kremmling Paleontological Resource Area (KPRA) contains one of the most fossiliferous units within the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway of North America. It was deposited during the late Campanian Baculites compressus/cuneatus ammonite biozones ((\approx) 72.5 Ma) and records slightly less than one million years of depositional history. Examination of the fauna, its dominant preservational mode and taphonomy as well as the lithologic evidence from measured stratigraphic sections strongly suggests that the depositional environment of the KPRA was a shallow, relatively nearshore environment. A detailed taxonomic examination of the molluscan fauna was undertaken in order to re-evaluate past work as …

Methods To Improve Bond On Frp Wrapped Piles, Andy Schrader

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) sheets can provide incredible structural strength while weighing only a fraction as much as steel. When applied to piles the FRP provides strengthening through both concrete confinement and tensile reinforcement. Mainly used in structural repair, its application is relatively simple in theory. However, many factors(some avoidable, some not) can interfere with the bond between FRP and concrete. When this bond is interrupted the strength of the repair becomes compromised.This thesis examines 2 new methods of improving FRP bond to concrete piles during the time the resin is curing. These methods are compared using 3 types of …

An Experimental Analysis Of Activist Message Strategy Effect On Receiver Variables, Andrea Schuch

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Utilizing communication and activist organization perspectives, this empirical study examined activist message strategies and how they influence variables related to the receiver of activist communication. Specifically, J.E. Grunig's (1997) situational theory of publics and Fishbein and Ajzen's (1975) theory of reasoned action were used to explain the communication effects of the seven activist message strategies developed from Hazleton and Long's (1988) public relations process model. The findings of this study support the premise of situational theory of publics and contribute to the extension of the theory through the inclusion of goal compatibility as a predictor of information seeking behavior and …

Vadose Zone Processes Affecting Water Fluctuations: Conceptualization And Modeling Considerations, Nirjhar Shah

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on a variety of vadose zone processes that impact water table fluctuations. The development of vadose zone process conceptualization has been limited due to both the lack of recognition of the importance of the vadose zone and the absence of suitable field data. Recent studies have, however, shown that vadose zone soil moisture dynamics, especially in shallow water table environments, can have a significant effect on processes such as infiltration, recharge to the water table, and evapotranspiration. This dissertation, hence, attempts to elucidate approaches for modeling vadose zone soil moisture dynamics. The ultimate objective is to predict …

Enduring Changes In Reward Mechanisms After Developmental Exposure To Cocaine: The Role Of The D2 Receptor, Kirstie H. Stansfield

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

During adolescent brain maturation, there are likely sensitive periods where environmental conditions, including drug exposure, may influence development by modifying neuronal connections. Altering neuronal function may produce different phenotypes than expected under normal conditions that may influence subsequent responding to drugs of abuse after the brain is fully mature. Experiment one investigated the relationship between novelty preference and cocaine place preference in adolescent and adult rats. High responding adolescent rats displaying greater free choice novelty exploration (but not forced novelty locomotion) expressed decreased cocaine place conditioning compared to low responding rats. No relationship was found in adult rats. Experiment two …

A Theoretical Model For Self-Assembly Of Flexible Tiles, Ana Staninska

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

We analyze a self-assembly model of flexible DNA tiles and develop a theoretical description of possible assembly products. The model is based on flexible branched DNA junction molecules, which are designed in laboratories and could serve for performing computation. They are also building blocks for make of even more complex molecules or structures. The branched junction molecules are flexible with sticky ends on their arms. They are modeled with "tiles", which are star like graphs, and "tile types", which are functions that give information about the number of sticky ends. A complex is a structure that is obtained by gluing …

Teachers’ Use Of Sensory Activities In Primary Literacy Lessons: A Study Of Teachers Trained In Accelerated Literacy Learning, Margaret E. Stockdale

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated Accelerated Literacy Learning (ALL) trained teachers' implementation of sensory activities into their classroom instructional practice. There were 38 participants in Phase One that completed questionnaires using a 5-point response scale to indicate their frequency of use for each of 30 sensory activities. All but one participant reported a high use of sensory activities in their literacy lessons, although the grade level did influence the variety and frequency of their reported use. Most primary level teachers reported a high use on many of the activities. Seven teachers of the participants from Phase One participated in interviews for Phase …

Changes In Abundance And Distribution Of Humpback Whales, Megaptera Novaeangliae, In Hervey Bay Marine Park, Australia, Based On Aerial Surveys Conducted In 1992 And 2004, Lucã­A De La Paz Suzacq

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Aerial surveys were conducted throughout Hervey Bay Marine Park between August and October 1992 and 2004 to determine changes in abundance and distribution of the Eastern Australia humpback whale population in this area. Due to concerns about possible effects of boat traffic on whale distributions associated with a growing whale watching industry, the number and location of vessels were also recorded during these surveys. Throughout the 1992 season, 17 flights were conducted and a total of 41.93 surveys hours were completed, recording 186 pods, and a total of 320 animals. In addition, 392 boats were spotted in the area. During …

Assessing The Reproducibility Of Skeletal Geochemistry Records In Atlantic Corals Using Montastraea Annularis Coral Heads From The Dry Tortugas, Florida, Kristine L. Stair

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Core samples were collected in September 1995 from live coral heads of Montastraea annularis at Bird Key reef in the Dry Tortugas, Florida (24 degrees 55 minutes N, 82 degrees 92 minutes W). Four 4 mm-thick coral slabs from two cores were continuously sampled at 12 samples per year (0.025 cm per sample for Core 31, 0.023 cm per sample for Core 35). Visual inspection of X-radiographs indicates an average skeletal extension rate of about 3 mm per year in Bird Key corals. The goal of this study was to perform a replication test in Montastraea annularis by using elemental …

Cellular Electrofusion Utilizing Corona Fields And Dc Pulse Technology, Joshua Stein

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cell fusion is an important technique that is used in the field of medicine and biomedical research. For instance, fusion can be used to create hybridomas and novel types of secretory hybrid cells. It may also be used to engineer cultured insulin-secreting pancreatic B-cell lines for the treatment of diabetes. Historically, the applications listed above have been accomplished by a number of methodologies including dielectrophoresis, centrifugation, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and viral fusion proteins. However, these approaches often fail to produce the desired results due to poor cell viability, lack of 1:1 fusion, and use of non-physiological environments. It is proposed …

Life As A Student At An Independent Day School, Diana R. Torres

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the interconnectedness of social class, education, and cultural capital. Considered academically elite, the independent school is be an ideal environment to find increased instances and opportunities for the acquisition and reproduction of elite, or "dominant" cultural capital. By implementing an ethnographic approach within an independent school setting, this study attempts to illuminate the student experience through adolescents' eyes. Past cultural capital studies focus on the relationship between cultural capital and academic achievement and/or social reproduction; instead, this study focuses on the everyday student experiences as they point to potential indicators of cultural capital. Results suggest that students' …

Brevetoxins In Marine Birds: Evidence Of Trophic Transfer And The Role Of Prey Fish As Toxin Vector, Michelle Van Deventer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) of the brevetoxin-producing dinoflagellate Karenia brevis occur periodically along the central west coast of Florida. Mass mortalities of marine birds have long been associated with these blooms, yet there is little data documenting the accumulation of brevetoxins in the tissues of birds and their prey items. An intense HAB event impacted the region from Tampa Bay to Charlotte Harbor during most of 2005. More than one hundred marine birds, representing twenty three species, were collected during this bloom. All birds sampled were found dead or had died within 24 hours of admittance to local wildlife rehabilitation …

Technology And Older Faculty: A Descriptive Study Of Older Florida Community College Faculty, Christopher D. Van Der Kaay

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Institutions of higher learning across the United States are experiencing an aging faculty population. A significant proportion of college and university faculty are over 55, a growth expected to continue in future years. Parallel to this growth and change has been an expanding use of technology in higher education. Despite this trend and potential implications, few studies have provided in-depth insight into older faculty and technology. The study used a quantitative descriptive design to provide a comprehensive look at older community college faculty and various aspects of technology. Areas examined included older faculty's perceptions of technology, their attitudes toward institutional …

What The Spirit Knows: Charles Williams And Kenneth Burke, Grace Veach

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

What the Spirit Knows: Charles Williams and Kenneth Burke examines the Arthurian poetry of Charles Williams using a methodology derived from Kenneth Burke. This is an experiment in literary criticism of a Christian poet using a methodology that is not specifically Christian. Key critical ideas found in Burke are utilized in reading poems from Taliessin Through Logres and Region of the Summer Stars. Burke's work on form and symbol (primarily from Counter-Statement) is addressed first. Form in an individual poem (using "Taliessin's Song of the Unicorn) and in an entire cycle is examined. Burke lists several uses for symbol in …

Online Delivery Of Career Choice Interventions: Preferences Of First-Year Students In Higher Education, Melissa Venable

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Career services professionals are increasingly involved in decisions regarding the use of technology to perform their jobs. The millennial generation, increasingly enrolling in distance education, is characterized as being comfortable with technology, expecting efficient services, and valuing convenience. Understanding the technology-related preferences of today's students is fundamental for those planning and developing student career services. Brown and Ryan Krane (2000) identified five critical interventions important to career decision-making: (a) Written Exercises, (b) Individualized Interpretations and Feedback, (c) Information on the World of Work, (d) Modeling, and (e) Attention to Building Support.

This study investigated the following questions: (1) what are …

Experimental And Analytical Modeling Of The In Vivo And In Vitro Biomechanical Behavior Of The Human Lumbar Spine, Tov I. Vestgaarden

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation has two major parts; Analytical and Experimental. The analytical section contains a study using Finite Element Analysis of dynamic instrumentation to demonstrate stress reduction in adjacent level discs. The experimental section contains biomechanical testing of facet fusion allograft technique and finally a comparison between In Vivo and In Vitro intradiscal pressures to determine forces acting on Lumbar spine segment L4-L5. A comprehensive study of available data, technology and literature was done. Conventional fusion instrumentation is believed to accelerate the degeneration of adjacent discs due to the increased stresses caused by motion discontinuity. A three dimensional finite element model …

Immunomodulatory Role Of Flagellin In Antigen-Presenting Cells, Ildefonso Vicente-Suarez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) expressed by cells of the immune system play a central role in the generation of immune responses against pathogens. Following TLR ligation, both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators are produced in order to elicit an immune response that controls the microbial infection while limiting tissue damage. Among these mediators, the proinflammatory cytokine IL-12 and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 are known to play major roles. Here, we show that in vitro or in vivo stimulation with flagellin, the TLR5 ligand, does not result in IL-10 production. Furthermore flagellin inhibits IL-10 production by other specific TLR ligands at the protein …

Effect Of A Preoperative Warming Intervention On The Acute Phase Response Of Surgical Stress, Vanda Doreen Wagner

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

When a patient is exposed surgical stress, the endocrine system secretes hormones in response to that stress. These hormones further activate the immune system to release cytokines and other acute phase reactions. These processes are supposed to protect the body by upregulating the innate immune system and producing an inflammatory response that acts to protect and heal. However, uncontrolled surgical stress may cause a weaker immune response that may lead to delayed wound healing. The phenomenon of unplanned perioperative hypothermia is known to expose patients to additional surgical stress. The purpose of this preliminary experimental study was to determine the …

Narratives Of Lesbian Transformation: Coming-Out Stories Of Women Who Transition From Heterosexual Marriage To Lesbian Identity, Clare F. Walsh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Women who have transitioned to a lesbian identity from a previously heterosexual one lack a voice in the academic literature. Identity formation in this subset of women, those who chose a heterosexual marriage, had children, and later in life self identify as lesbian, has not been fully investigated. For this project, eight women were asked to answer this question: How have you negotiated the path from heterosexuality to lesbianism? Four main themes were found dealing with heteronormativity and accountability, relationship with children, transition, and acceptance by the lesbian community. Additionally, I introduce a new term---gender-normativity---to describe these women who only …

Hospitalizations Associated With Pneumococcal Infection Within The Medicare Population Among Vaccinated And Non-Vaccinated Patients, Silky Fanyelle Webb

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the primary causative agent of pneumonia in older adults. Vaccination is the only tool to protect against pneumococcal infection; however, vaccination rates remain far below the Healthy People 2010 objective of 90% coverage. The number one reason for such low rates is attributed to controversy over the protective efficacy of the vaccine in preventing nonbacteremic pneumonia (eg, community-acquired pneumonia [CAP]). OBJECTIVES: The primary objectives of this study were to assess the incidence of pneumonia, pneumonia requiring hospitalization, and pneumonia hospitalization costs. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years in 2003, subjects …

Signaling In Natural Killer Cells: Ship, 2b4 And The Kinome, Joseph A. Wahle

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The NK cell is a large granular lymphocyte that plays a key role in protecting the body against numerous pathogens including parasites, intracellular bacteria, viral infections, as well as showing anti-tumor activity and playing a role in the rejection of allogeneic BM. Unlike other lymphocytic cell types, that utilize rearranging receptors, NK cells are regulated by a complex array of germ line encoded activating and inhibitory receptors. NK cells are often described as a front line or rapid defense given their response to stimuli can be immediate, although they also maintain functions that extend their role well into the adaptive …

Subtyping Psychopathy: Exploring The Roles Of Degree Of Punishment, Cognitive Dissonance And Optimism, John M. Weir

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For over half of a century, social and behavioral scientists have been investigating the construct of psychopathy. Even so, psychopathy is still a highly misunderstood personality construct. Even though it has been estimated that psychopaths make up only about 1% of the general population, they are believed to consist of 15-25% of the prison population (Hare, 1996). However, not all psychopaths are in prison. Psychopaths can also be found in such fields as the legal profession, the business world and in politics (Babiak, 1995). In terms of criminal behaviors, psychopaths are arrested at earlier ages, have a higher rate of …

Effect Of Personal And Practice Contexts On Occupational Therapists' Assessment Practices In Geriatric Rehabilitation, Mirtha Montejo Whaley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite considerable debate surrounding an age associated cognitive decline in non-demented elders, recent studies indicate that changes attributable to normal aging affect cognitive processes and fluid abilities. Additionally, studies indicate that factors such as physical illness, depression, neurological damage, medication side effects, drug interactions, and the effects of surgery and anesthesia may also cause varying degrees of cognitive impairment. Impairment of cognitive function is known to affect treatment and rehabilitation outcomes for older persons, and increase their likelihood of institutionalization. Although proper screening and identification of cognitive deficits in geriatric patients are crucial in developing treatment plans, there is evidence …

The Influence Of Masculinity Ideology On High-Risk Sexual Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex With Men, Christopher Wheldon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Epidemiologic evidence shows that the incidence of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) is on the rise. high-risk sexual behaviors are the primary mode of transmission and are responsible for increased rates of infection. a growing body of evidence suggests that endorsement of normative beliefs and values regarding manhood and masculinity, or masculinity ideology, may help to explain certain high-risk sexual behaviors. this study investigated the associations between a measure of masculinity ideology and sexual risk taking among a sample of MSM. in addition, indirect pathways in which masculinity ideology may lead to sexual risk taking were …

Evaluating The Effects Of A Reinforcement System For Students Participating In The Fast Forword Language Program, Catherine C. Wilcox

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A computer-assisted language intervention program called Fast ForWord(R) (Scientific Learning Corporation, 1998) has received a great deal of attention over the past few years. The Scientific Learning Corporation claims that the use of Fast ForWord will improve students' language, reading and learning skills, leading to improved communication skills and increased self-esteem in and out of the classroom. Researchers have explored the effects of Fast ForWord training on reading and spoken language. However, little research has examined the effects on student's reading level and FFW scores when a reinforcement system is used in conjunction with FFW. This study was conducted in …