Digital Commons Network^™

Western Art Appreciation, Steelman Library, Jan Hurndon

Syllabus Repository

No abstract provided.

Minimizing Formation Damage For Preformed Particle Gels Treatment In Mature Reservoirs, Mahmoud Omran Elsharafi

Doctoral Dissertations

"This research studied the effect of preformed particle gels (PPGs) on unswept, low-permeable zones/areas. The objective was to find methods that minimized the damage caused by PPGs on unswept, low-permeable zones/areas, thus improving PPG treatment efficiency. These results can help to identify of the best PPG types, particle sizes, and brine concentrations for specific reservoirs and treatments. This study used sandstone core samples with various degrees of permeability. Two types of particle gels, a strong Daqing gel (DQ) and a weak Liquiblock™ 40k gel (40K), were used, each with a different strength.

This research included two stages. Firstly, both a …

Modeling And Analysis Of Dynamic Behavior Of Adsorption Stratified Column Beds Packed With Partially Fractal Porous Adsorbent Particles, Min Li

Doctoral Dissertations

"In this work novel porous adsorbent media having partially fractal structures and stratified packed-beds are constructed and their dynamic performance with respect to their adsorptive capacity through the construction and solution of rigorous models is studied. The results show that conventional columns packed with partially fractal porous adsorbent particles provide larger breakthrough times and dynamic utilization of the adsorptive capacity of the column when compared with those of conventional columns employing conventional adsorbent particles which do not possess a partially fractal structure. Furthermore, stratified column beds exhibit superior species separation performance than conventional columns when they are packed with either …

Study Of Artificially Disordered Optical Fibers, Herath Mudiyanselage Sumudu Rasika Kumari Herath

Doctoral Dissertations

"Light transmission through photo-sensitive multi-mode fibers (MMF) with controlled volume disorder is investigated. Experiment shows that a segment of disordered MMF as short as 10 cm is sufficient to distribute power uniformly over all co-propagating modes and the intensity at the output surface of the fiber follows the Rayleigh negative exponential function. To explain the experimental findings, a comprehensive theoretical model is developed with three main results. First, statistical properties of all components of the dielectric tensor are obtained and analyzed in the framework a microscopical model of photo-sensitivity in a germano-silicate glasses. Secondly, it is shown that induced birefringence …

Synthetic Aperture Radar-Based Techniques And Reconfigurable Antenna Design For Microwave Imaging Of Layered Structures, Mojtaba Fallahpour

Doctoral Dissertations

"In the past several decades, a number of microwave imaging techniques have been developed for detecting embedded objects (targets) in a homogeneous media. New applications such as nondestructive testing of layered composite structures, through-wall and medical imaging require more advanced imaging systems and image reconstruction algorithms (post-processing) suitable for imaging inhomogeneous (i.e., layered) media. Currently-available imaging algorithms are not always robust, easy to implement, and fast. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) techniques are some of the more prominent approaches for image reconstruction when considering low loss and homogeneous media. To address limitations of SAR imaging, when interested in imaging an embedded …

A Viewpoint Of Tanzania E-Commerce And Implementation Barriers, George S. Oreku, Fredrick Mtenzi, Al-Dahoud Ali

Articles

The growing rate of ICT utilization particularly the Internet and mobile phones has influenced at an exponential rate online interaction and communication among the generality of the populace. However, with the enormity of businesses on the Internet, Tanzania is yet to harness the opportunities for optimal financial gains. This study is exploratory in nature as it attempts to unveil the prospects of ecommerce implementation, participation, motivation and opportunity to the developing countries like Tanzania where by the domestic market is very big to ensure the growth of agricultural sector. The paper proposes to investigate the ability of consumers to purchase …

Comparison Of Class Ii Injection Well Area Of Review Requirements With Area Of Evaluation For Hydraulically Fractured Wells, Yashesh Jitendra Panchal

Masters Theses

"Since 2010 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been proposing plans to study, and has now initiated research regarding the potential impact of hydraulic fracturing processes on drinking water sources. Their work refers to an 'Area of Evaluation' around a hydraulically fractured well, inferring that the wells immediately around hydraulic fractured wells should be studied, to evaluate the conditions of these wells and their potential to contaminate overlying USDWs. Class II injection wells must have a minimum 1/4 mile radius area of review to determine the condition of wells surrounding the proposed injection well. All wells within this AOR …

Green Roof Water Quality Impacts And Physicochemical Stability, Grace Ella Harper

Masters Theses

"Green roofs can provide environmental benefits and conserve energy; this research evaluated green roof stormwater management, nutrient loading, and erosion prevention for two green roof media. During a pilot study, the runoff quantity and composition from green roof material was evaluated continuously under field conditions for two different media, both tested under planted and unplanted conditions. Water quantity results show over a 40% reduction in runoff from just the growing media and over 60% reduction in runoff with established plants in green roof media over the eight month study. Previous studies have reported a "first flush" of excess nutrients but …

Liquid Phase Sintering Of 20bi(Zn₀.₅Ti₀.₅)O₃-80batio₃ Dielectrics With Bismuth-Zinc-Borate And Bismuth Borosilicate Glasses, David I. Shahin

Masters Theses

"Dielectrics in the Bi(Zn₀.₅Ti₀.₅O₃-BaTiO₃ system (specifically 20BZT-80BT, in mol%) are promising candidates for high energy density capacitor applications due to broad temperature-dependent dielectric constant maxima and a relatively field-independent permittivity. Bulk samples require sintering temperatures of greater than 1180ºC to reach useful densities. Due to incompatibility of Bi with low-pO₂ processing, BZT-BT-based multilayer capacitors must utilize noble metal electrodes that resist oxidation during sintering. Sintering temperatures must be reduced to allow use of less expensive electrode materials (Cu, etc.). This work studies the reduced temperature sintering behavior and dielectric properties of BZT-BT sintered with 30 Bi₂O₃-30ZnO-40B₂O₃ and 50Bi₂O₃-25B₂O₃-25SiO₂ (mol%) liquid …

Production Of 1,3-Propanediol From Glycerol Under Haloalkaline Conditions By Halanaerobium Hydrogeniformans, Daniel William Roush

Masters Theses

"With increased demands around the world to make modern lifestyles more environmentally friendly, the chemical commodity market has rapidly shifted. Through new technologies in chemical production, certain high value products have oversaturated the market and have become high-volume, low value waste products. The expansion of biodiesel production offers a prime example; high volumes of glycerol byproduct from this process have shifted glycerol from a high priced commodity to a common waste product. A number of microorganisms are known to synthesize the polymeric precursor 1,3-propanediol from glycerol; however, crude glycerol from biodiesel production creates a harsh environment for most microbes, and …

Insufficient Ct Data Reconstruction Based On Directional Total Variation (Dtv) Regularized Maximum Likelihood Expectation Maximization (Mlem) Method, Fahima Fahmida Islam

Masters Theses

"Sparse tomography is an efficient technique which saves time as well as minimizes cost. However, due to few angular data it implies the image reconstruction problem as ill-posed. In the ill posed problem, even with exact data constraints, the inversion cannot be uniquely performed. Therefore, selection of suitable method to optimize the reconstruction problems plays an important role in sparse data CT. Use of regularization function is a well-known method to control the artifacts in limited angle data acquisition. In this work, we propose directional total variation regularized ordered subset (OS) type image reconstruction method for neutron limited data CT. …

Supply Chain Management And Lean Six Sigma In A Retail Environment, Brittain Cliff Ladd

Apparel Design and Hospitality Management

This qualitative research evaluated the as-is supply chain management and logistics retail processes of Dell, a manufacturing company that also has retail operations globally. Dell has an online channel capable of serving millions of customers annually. This research focused on Dell’s retail operations in Canada and the United States and the challenges of managing the supply chain requirements of meeting customer demand. The goal was to identify issues with process execution leading to decreased service to customers and increased costs to the manufacturer. A literature review provided information regarding best practices in supply chain management and the leading process-improvement methodology. …

Paved With Good Intentions: Sentencing Alternatives From Neuroscience And The Policy Of Problem-Solving Courts, Emily R. Murphy

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Media Propaganda: A Framing Analysis Of Radio Broadcasts From U.S. To Cuba, Melissa Joy Gonzalez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study is to analyze the dominant propaganda strategies that were reflected in an hour-long program of Radio Martì, a broadcast produced on behalf of Voice of America in the United States and aired to Cuba. Through propaganda techniques, a content analysis was used to determine which strategies were present in the commentator's coverage of the program, El Dia de la Prensa Libre on May 3rd, 2012. This study uncovered propaganda strategies, including testimonials, flag-waving, glittering generalities, appeal to prejudice, image manipulation, over-simplicity, assertion, and third party technique, that were utilized in an effort to present …

Constructing Legal Meaning In The Supreme Court Oral Arguments: Cultural Codes And Border Disputes, Jeffrey Forest Hilbert

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Culture plays a part in the construction of legal understandings in the Supreme Court contrary to much legal scholarship. The oral argument of the Supreme Court is a unique way for Justices to gather information beyond the formalized briefs and prior written opinions. In the oral argument the Supreme Court Justices utilize cultural codes as tools to probe, shape, negotiate and challenge the legal meanings and boundaries of the case before them. Using the oral argument transcript in a 2010 Supreme Court case on the issue of whether California has the right to censor the sale of violent video games …

Monsters Under The Bed: An Analysis Of Torture Scenes In Three Pixar Films, Heidi Tilney Kramer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With background information on militarism, nationalism, and torture, this study analyzes Monsters, Inc., Toy Story 3, and The Incredibles, three Pixar films released from 2001 through 2010, for the ways in which the torture scenes are framed. These frames, state control, prisons, and 60s spy thrillers, invite laughter through intertextuality, while deflecting attention from torture of central characters in the films. The implications of this analysis are: these films present torture as deserved and normative; the tortured characters stand outside the frames of recognition for humanness; and they redefine children as threats and dangers. This study concludes that these ideologies …

An Analysis Of Self-Directed Learning Of First-Year, First-Generation College Students, Patricia Lynne Linder

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the reflective essays of first-year, first-generation college students for evidence of self-directed learning at the conclusion of their first semester at the university. A phenomenological qualitative method was employed and a content analysis rating rubric used to identify and code evidence related to four themes: Self Awareness, Decoding and Pattern Fit, Autonomy/Responsibility, and Academic Success.

The study findings indicated that first-year, first-generation college students have the capacity to take ownership of their learning in ways exemplified by self-directed learners. Participants demonstrated deep reflection and metacognition and their essays revealed unexpected student vulnerability …

Parent Pathways: Recognition And Responses To Developmental Delays In Young Children, Jennifer Marshall

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The importance of early recognition and intervention for developmental delays is increasingly acknowledged, yet high rates of under-enrollment and 1-3 year delays in entry to the public early intervention system continue. Much research has examined developmental screening in health and child care settings, but less well understood is what prompts parents to identify problems and seek help for their children. This mixed methods study rooted in the Health Belief Model and Social Support Theory examined child, parent, family, and community level factors related to parent recognition (awareness and concern) and response (help-seeking and enrollment in services), including formal and informal …

Reaction Enthalpy And Volume Profiles For Excited State Reactions Involving Electron Transfer And Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer, William Antonio Maza

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Electron transfer, ET, and proton-coupled electron transfer, PCET, reactions are central to biological reactions involving catalysis, energy conversion and energy storage. The movement of electrons and protons in either a sequential or concerted manner are coupled in a series of elementary reaction steps in respiration and photosynthesis to harvest and convert energy consumed in foodstuffs or by absorption of light into high energy chemi-cal bonds in the form of ATP. These electron transfer processes may be modulated by conformational dynamics within the protein matrix or at the protein-protein interface, the energetics of which are still not well understood. Photoacoustic calorimetry …

Development Of Novel Nano-Composite Membranes As Introduction Systems For Mass Spectrometers: Contrasting Nano-Composite Membranes And Conventional Inlet Systems, Luis Miranda

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents the development of novel nano-composite membranes as introduction systems for mass spectrometers. These nano-composite membranes incorporate anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes as templates that can be used by themselves or modified by a variety of chemical deposition processes. Two types of nano-composite membranes are presented. The first nano-composite membrane has carbon deposited within the pores of an AAO membrane. The second nano-composite membrane is made by coating an AAO membrane with a thin polymer film. The following chapters describe the transmission properties these nano-composite membranes and compare them to conventional mass spectrometry introduction systems. The nano- composite …

The Role Of Connectedness And Religious Factors On Bullying Participation Among Preadolescents In Puerto Rico, Melissa C. Mercado-Crespo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Relationships or connections with caring pro-social others (e.g., parents, teachers, school, friends, neighborhood, religion) serve as pro-resilience assets that may enhance children's abilities to cope with bullying. The purpose of this research study was to explore the roles of connectedness and religiosity as potential factors that could enhance resiliency against bullying among preadolescents in Puerto Rico (PR). This doctoral dissertation also addressed several gaps in the children's bullying, resilience and religiosity research literature.

A sample of 426 community-based afterschool program preadolescents (ages 10-12 years old) participated in this exploratory, cross-sectional study, by completing a quantitative questionnaire in paper and pencil …

Excellent Leadership In Public Relations: A Question Of Experience And The Pr Practitioner, Roelof Oldenbanning

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

To better understand excellent leadership in public relations (PR) of developing and experienced PR practitioners, this study focuses on the important qualities and dimensions of excellent leadership practitioners. This study continues on the work of Meng, Berger, Gower, and Heyman (2012) in their attempt to advance understanding of leadership in the PR field.

According to the study's participants (N = 72): strategic decision-making capability, problem-solving ability, and communication knowledge and expertise are the three most important qualities of excellent leadership. Moreover, respondents rated that communication skills training, individual initiative and desire, and on-the-job experiences lead to excellent PR leadership. About …

Mapping Dissertation Genre Ecology, Kate Lisbeth Pantelides

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Though the pervasive rumor that the “traditional” dissertation persists because of the “I suffered, so they too should suffer” mentality — the professor revenge theory — students are often the ones eager to pin down writing genres so that they can master them. However, hopes to stabilize and thus capture the secret or equation of the dissertation genre are futile, since genres, like language, are alive: rhetorical, evolving, and flexible. Thus, to demonstrate the contemporary context of the dissertation genre, the conflicting perspectives of university stakeholders, the forces working on the genre to enact change, and the process by which …

Functional And Mutational Analysis Of Human Recq-Like Dna Helicases In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Hamed Mirzaei-Souderjani

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

RecQ-like proteins are a family of DNA helicases that are evolutionary conserved from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. A large amount of experimental evidence suggests these proteins have a major role in the maintenance of genome stability. In humans five RecQ like helicase have been identified (RecQL1, BLM, WRN, RecQL4, and RecQL5), three of which are associated with rare genetic disorders with sever chromosomal and developmental abnormalities, and an elevated predisposition to cancer. Among the disease associated RecQ-like helicases, BLM and WRN have been subject to extensive research, while our collective knowledge about the function of RecQL4 is still very limited. Similarly, …

Scfslimb Ubiquitin Ligase Suppresses Condensin Ii–Mediated Nuclear Reorganization By Degrading Cap-H2, Daniel W. Buster, Scott G. Daniel, Huy Q. Nguyen, Sarah L. Windler, Lara C. Skwarek, Maureen Peterson

Dartmouth Scholarship

Condensin complexes play vital roles in chromosome condensation during mitosis and meiosis. Condensin II uniquely localizes to chromatin throughout the cell cycle and, in addition to its mitotic duties, modulates chromosome organization and gene expression during interphase. Mitotic condensin activity is regulated by phosphorylation, but mechanisms that regulate condensin II during interphase are unclear. Here, we report that condensin II is inactivated when its subunit Cap-H2 is targeted for degradation by the SCF(Slimb) ubiquitin ligase complex and that disruption of this process dramatically changed interphase chromatin organization. Inhibition of SCF(Slimb) function reorganized interphase chromosomes into dense, compact domains and disrupted …

Dispute System Design: A Comparative Study Of India, Israel And California, Sheila Purcell

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of Brer Interaction With The Bile Response Promoters Breab And Brer In Vibrio Cholerae, Francisca A. Cerda-Maira, Gabriela Kovacikova, Brooke A. Jude, Karen Skorupski, Ronald Taylor

Dartmouth Scholarship

The Vibrio cholerae BreR protein is a transcriptional repressor of the breAB efflux system operon, which encodes proteins involved in bile resistance. In a previous study (F. A. Cerda-Maira, C. S. Ringelberg, and R. K. Taylor, J. Bacteriol. 190:7441-7452, 2008), we used gel mobility shift assays to determine that BreR binds at two independent binding sites at the breAB promoter and a single site at its own promoter. Here it is shown, by DNase I footprinting and site-directed mutagenesis, that BreR is able to bind at a distal and a proximal site in the breAB promoter. However, only one of …

Identification Of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria Isolated From Clinical Specimens At A Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study, Imran Ahmed, Kauser Jabeen, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background:
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are opportunistic pathogens in immuno-compromised patients. They are also increasingly recognized as pathogens in immuno-competent individuals. Globally, an increase in NTM isolation is being reported with a varied geographic prevalence of different species around the world. There is lack of data on species distribution of these organisms from Pakistan. Treatment options differ according to the species isolated and its susceptibility profile. Knowledge of local species variation would help targeted therapy. This study was performed to determine frequencies of different NTM species isolated from various clinical specimens submitted at a tertiary care hospital laboratory.
Methods:
NTM isolated …

The Use Of Icts In The Public Lbraries: A Case Study Of Oyo State Library Board, Ibadan, Nigeria, Olanike Oladunni Olaniyi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study attempts to investigate the efforts of the Oyo State Library Board in the use of ICTs among its users and staff. The study appraises the library services in the state to highlight the library services development to the populace of the state. The survey research method was adopted and questionnaire was used to collect data from 110 library users and 20 library staff within the headquarter library. The instrument contained three sections with thirty-five questions. The findings of the study reveal that despite the fact that the level of ICT literacy among the users and staff is relatively …

Publication Pattern Of Scientists Of Physical Research Laboratory (Prl), Ahmedabad, India, Nishtha Anilkumar

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) is an institute of national repute and is being funded by Department of Space (Government of India). However, a bibliometric study measuring its research output has not been carried out yet. The present study is a step in that direction and tries to find the publication pattern of research carried out in the institute. The period covered is 1997 to 2006. The study aims to quantify the publication output of researchers at the institute, to study the productivity of scientists in PRL and to determine whether it conforms to the Lotka’s Law. It tries to discern …