Digital Commons Network^™

Dead Man's Switch: Disaster Rhetorics In A Posthuman Age, Daniel Patrick Richards

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

When a disaster the magnitude of the Deepwater Horizon blowout and oil spill takes place, is it natural for the news media stories, investigative reports, and public deliberation to focus almost exclusively on finding the person or group responsible for such a horrendous scene. Rhetorically speaking, the discourse surrounding the event can be characterized as a reductive form of praise and blame rhetoric (epideixis). However, these efforts, while well-intentioned, are troublesome because searches for the one technical cause and the sole personal culpability are thwarted by the sheer complexity of the ecological, technological, scientific, institutional, and communicative network required for …

Ecology Of The Late Neogene Extinctions: Perspectives From The Plio-Pleistocene Of Florida, Shubhabrata Paul

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The ecological impact of past extinction events is one of the central issues in paleobiology. In face of present environmental changes, a better understanding of past extinctions will enable us to identify the magnitude of biodiversity crises and their underlying processes. The Late Neogene was a time of extraordinary climatic reorganization, including Northern Hemisphere glaciation, the rise of the Central American Isthmus, and associated changes in environmental conditions. Therefore, the Late Neogene extinctions of marine molluscs of South Florida present an ideal platform to examine the interaction between environmental changes and biotic response. In the present study, three different aspects …

Social Determinants Of Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Perinatal Morbidity: Social Origins Of Perinatal Health Study, Abraham A. Salinas-Miranda

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: The social causation of preterm birth remains elusive, without an adequate explanatory framework. Thus, this study proposed and evaluated a conceptual model of the social determinants of perinatal health for the understanding of perinatal health disparities.

METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted with pregnant women between 20 and 35 weeks gestation who were participating in two Healthy Start programs in Central Florida, from July 2011-August 2013. Perinatal health was operationalized based on gestational age, birth weight, and healthy start infant risk screen score. The predictors were: early life adversity, social position, maternal health-related quality of life, maternal stress, …

Hypogene Speleogenesis In The Cerna River Basin, Sw Romania: A Sedimentological, Mineralogical, And Stable Isotopic Approach, Cristina Montana Puscas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ever since it was identified as a speleogenetic process in the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico, USA, hypogene speleogenesis has become the focus of numerous research projects aimed at discerning between classical epigene caves and sulfuric acid or thermal caves. The first distinguishing characteristics that were recognized for hypogene caves were passage and cave morphology. The following step was the identification of rare minerals, specific for processes associated to hypogene speleogenesis. One other important step was the recognition of the importance of stable isotopes - mainly of S - in tracing the source of S and the chemical processes affecting …

The Extent Of Phosporus Redox Chemistry In West Central Florida Waters, Jacqueline Marie Sampson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Phosphorus (P) has long been acknowledged as a vital nutrient for living organisms and is a key factor responsible for the fresh water eutrophication. Our understanding of the phosphorus cycle has been limited by: (1) the common assumption that all P in the environment occurs primarily as phosphates and (2) by the limited analytical methods available to identify P speciation. In an attempt to understand the distribution and chemistry of phosphorus within a freshwater system we must be able to identify individual P species. To this end, we used a coupled High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) - Inductively Coupled Plasma …

Use Of Services By Female Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence: In Their Own Words, Michele M. Scordato

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

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Fate Of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers During Wastewater Treatment Process Producing Reclaimed Water, Kristy Siegel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), flame retardants, have been applied to consumer goods, such as furniture, electrical devices, textiles, and appliances for decades. Due to their physico-chemical properties, PBDEs are semi-volatile and easily leach off the consumer good during aging, stress, or normal wear and tear of the good. Once airborne, they pose an environmental health threat because they can adsorb onto dust particles, soil, or other particulates that can be inhaled, ingested, or come into contact with the dermal layer. Additionally, PBDEs have a molecular structure similar to other persistent organic pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and …

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers In Sediments Within The Hillsborough Bay Watershed, Candice Simmons

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a widely used class of flame retardants that are important sources for contamination in the marine environment. Sediments serve as a large reservoir for PBDEs due to their large sorption capacity. This research assessed the presence and distribution of PBDEs in Hillsborough Bay, a subdivision of Tampa Bay, FL, by determining levels in surface sediment samples, creating a historical profile of the contaminant in a sediment core taken from within the bay, and investigating sediment characteristics that control their distribution. Compositional patterns and temporal distributions of 8 of the 209 congeners of PBDEs (BDE-28, -47, …

Towards Rans Parameterization Of Vertical Mixing By Langmuir Turbulence In Shallow Coastal Shelves, Nityanand Sinha

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Langmuir turbulence in the upper ocean is generated by the interaction between the wind-driven shear current and the Stokes drift velocity induced by surface gravity waves. In homogenous (neutrally stratified) shallow water, the largest scales of Langmuir turbulence are characterized by full-depth Langmuir circulation (LC). LC consists of parallel counter-rotating vortices aligned roughly in the direction of the wind. In shallow coastal shelves, LC has been observed engulfing the entire water column, interacting with the boundary layer and serving as an important mechanism for sediment re-suspension.

In this research, large-eddy simulations (LES) of Langmuir turbulence with full-depth LC in a …

Associational Resistance And Competition In The Asphondylia - Borrichia - Iva System, Keith Stokes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Indirect ecological effects such as associational resistance and resource competition have the potential to affect ecological interactions and influence the structure of ecological communities. Although resource competition is commonly studied, the effects of associational resistance are not as evident if studies are not designed to detect them. Additionally, the relative strengths of different ecological mechanisms ought to be measured in studies, rather than the strength of singular mechanisms. This permits proper attribution of causes and effects in community structure and detection of higher order interactions in a way that naïve reductionism will not.

In a series of experiments, I looked …

Drug Resistance Mechanisms To Gamma-Secretase Inhibitors In Human Colon Cancer Cells, Cindy R. Timme

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Much progress has been achieved in combating this disease with surgical resection and chemotherapy in combination with targeted drugs. However, most metastatic patients develop drug resistance so new modalities of treatment are needed.

Notch signaling plays a vital role in intestinal homeostasis, self-renewal, and cell fate decisions during post-development and is activated in colorectal adenocarcinomas. Under debate is its role in carcinomas and metastatic disease. In theory, blocking Notch activation using gamma-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) may show efficacy alone or in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of colon cancer.

In …

Complete Genome Sequences And Phylogeny Of West Nile Virus Isolates From Southeastern United States, 2003-2012, Crystal Wedin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The study of the evolution and phylogeny of West Nile virus (WNV) has been an important area of research since the introduction of WNV in 1999. However, genome sequencing of isolates from the Southeastern part of the United States has been somewhat limited. To determine how WNV has evolved at a more localized level, ten isolates from Florida and Georgia from 2003-2012 were completely sequenced using Illumina's next-generation technology. In addition, a phylogenetic comparison of both the complete genome and select partial genomes was completed to ensure consistency among the results. This study further demonstrated the dominance of the North …

Adolescent Literacy Practices And Positive Youth Development Through Fink's Taxonomy Of Significant Learning, Paula Taylor-Greathouse

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was not to disprove the effects of the current, common remedial literacy course design and the literacy practices within that help adolescent RLLs pass statewide assessment tests, but to describe the potential long-term impact of an innovative comprehensive approach to literacy (CAL) framed through an integrated course design model. In this study I sought to determine if the 2012 CAL design with a particular demographic of student produced "significant" or lasting learning as defined by Fink (2003). In other words, did the 2012 CAL design promote sustained or increased practices of literacy and PYD over …

Chlorophyll Fluorescence And Thermal Stress In Archaias Angulatus (Class Foraminifera), Heidi M. Toomey

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Benthic foraminifers that host algal symbionts are similar to corals in that they rely on their algal endosymbionts for their energy needs, calcify prolifically, and are sensitive to changes in environmental conditions. They are abundant in the benthos of coastal coral-reef areas and are found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions. Pulse Amplitude Modulated (PAM) chlorophyll fluorometry and chlorophyll a extraction techniques were used to quantify and compare the photosynthetic responses of the benthic foraminiferal, Archaias angulatus and their isolated endosymbionts, Chlamydomonas hedleyi, to short-term changes in temperature. Maximum quantum efficiency (F_v/F_m) and rapid …

Predation, Competition, And Nutrient Levels Affect The Survival Of Escherichia Coli, Enterococci And Enteric Pathogens In Aquatic Habitats, Pauline Wanjugi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) such as Escherichia coli and enterococci are used to assess microbiological water quality in recreational waters worldwide. FIB are used with the assumption that their presence correlates with that of fecal-associated pathogens in recreational waters. In aquatic habitats, several factors can interfere with the predictive relationship between FIB and pathogens including extended survival of FIB in secondary habitats such as sediment, vegetation and sand. Furthermore, many biotic (e.g. predation from bacterivorous protozoa and competition from indigenous bacteria) and abiotic factors (e.g. temperature, salinity, ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation, and nutrient availability) can influence the fate of FIB …

Stable Isotopes And Trace Elements In Tooth Enamel Bioapatite: Effects Of Diagenesis And Pretreatment On Primary Paleoecological Information, Jessica Norman Wilson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The geochemical analysis of bioapatite in vertebrate skeletal tissues is an important tool used to obtain ecological information from fossil animals. An important consideration when conducting stable isotope and trace element analyses is obtaining biogenic information that has been unaffected by diagenetic processes.

A two-step pretreatment procedure is commonly used remove diagenetically altered material by removing organic material, via an oxidation reaction with H2O2 or NaOCl, and secondary carbonate, via dissolution in dilute acetic acid, from bioapatite. While much work has been done to determine the efficacy of the pretreatment process, little research has been conducted to determine the potential …

A Case Study Of Virtual Physical Education Teachers' Experiences In And Perspectives Of Online Teaching, Leslie Michelle Williams

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The 21st century has brought changes to education — changes that include greater distance learning options for middle and high school students. While distance learning has been around for a century, the progressive ways in which students are able to select and complete virtual courses through the internet in nearly every secondary content area are increasing. Physical education courses at the secondary level are among the courses offered online to students across the United States and Canada. One question that prevails in communities and particularly in physical education circles is, “How do you teach PE online?” In an effort to …

Improving Implementation Of A Regional In-Line Chlorinator In Rural Panama Through Development Of A Regionally Appropriate Field Guide, Benjamin A. Yoakum

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Access to safe drinking water has a direct effect on improving human health and their quality of life. One country still struggling with providing access to safe drinking water to all of its population is Panama. Panama's largest indigenous group, the Ngöbe people, is disproportionately affected by lack of access to safe drinking water. One way Panama's Ministry of Health (MINSA) is attempting to increase access to safe drinking water to the Ngöbe people is by disinfecting the water already captured by rural gravity fed water systems constructed within in the Ngöbe-Bugle reservation. This is accomplished using an in-line chlorinator …

Synoptic To Interannual Variability In Volumetric Flushing In Tampa Bay, Fl Using Observational Data And A Numerical Model, Monica Wilson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research provides insight into changes in volumetric flushing of the Tampa Bay estuary caused by synoptic scale wind events. The two main studies of this dissertation involve 1) using wavelet analysis to investigate the link between the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the frequency and strength of volumetric flushing driven by synoptic variability and 2) using a multi-decadal model simulation to examine how extratropical/winter storms and hurricanes affect the overall flushing rates for Tampa Bay, FL.

In the first study, two analyses are performed on 55 years of observational data to investigate the effect of multiple small wind events …

Floracultures: Conserving Perth's Botanical Heritage Through A Digital Repository, John C. Ryan

Research outputs 2013

FloraCultures is a 2013 pilot project in development with Kings Park and Botanic Garden in Perth, Western Australia, and funded by Edith Cowan University’s Early Career Researcher grant scheme. The project aims to develop a model for documenting the plant-based cultural heritage of 30–50 indigenous species occurring in the Kings Park bushland. The FloraCultures initiative integrates archival and digital design techniques, creating a unique web portal of potential interest to a range of users -- from first-time tourists and amateur naturalists to heritage consultants and evironmental conservationists . The initiative reflects the belief that research into environmental heritage (defined broadly …

Using Research Informed Approaches To Strategic Hrm Teaching, Alan J. Coetzer, Helen B. Sitlington

Research outputs 2013

This paper outlines research that was guided by the broad question: What teaching and learning (T&L) strategies should be employed in SHRM? This question was answered using data gathered in three focus groups involving T&L specialists, business strategy and HRM academics, and HRM practitioners. Through a process of successive focusing, potential T&L strategies were initially identified and then tested and refined in the focus groups. Drawing on literature and input from the participants, we contend that SHRM can be effectively taught through a combination of primarily problem-based and case-based approaches. We also argue that process worksheets are an effective method …

University Student Volunteering Alignment With Sustainability Principles, Rowena H. Scott, Eddie J. Van Etten

Research outputs 2013

This research paper reviews the concept and practice of tertiary sciences students doing environmental volunteering, otherwise known as conservation volunteering, as a core part of their course to check its alignment with sustainability principles. First year Natural Sciences students at Edith Cowan University do five days environmental volunteer work with community groups as practicum. Initial research data displays the number of volunteer hours done by students in various types of activities, locations and organisations. Preliminary quantitative evaluations and qualitative comments demonstrate students’ positive attitudes and outcomes from their volunteering experiences. Definitions and classifications of sustainability from current literature are discussed …

Towards A Natural History Of Internet Use? Working To Overcome The Implications For Research Of The Child-Adult Divide, Lelia R. Green, Donell J. Holloway, David Holloway

Research outputs 2013

Using a metaphor borrowed from the biological sciences, this paper discusses a ‘natural history’ of Internet use. As ‘digital natives’ many of today’s teenagers and young people have grown up and matured interacting with the Internet from an early age. Research about young people’s Internet use tends, however, to focus on the protection of minors. Young people, 16 years or older, are often excluded from noncommercial research about how young people grow into more mature patterns of Internet use. This paper highlights how parents with teenagers are building dynamic models of their children’s engagement with the Internet as they mature. …

Self-Defensive Force Against Cyber Attacks: Legal, Strategic And Political Dimensions, Matthew C. Waxman

Faculty Scholarship

When does a cyber attack (or threat of cyber attack) give rise to a right of self-defense – including armed self-defense – and when should it? By "cyber attack" I mean the use of malicious computer code or electronic signals to alter, disrupt, degrade or destroy computer systems or networks or the information or programs on them. It is widely believed that sophisticated cyber attacks could cause massive harm – whether to military capabilities, economic and financial systems, or social functioning – because of modern reliance on system interconnectivity, though it is highly contested how vulnerable the United States and …

Y A-T-Il Des Cancérogènes Dans Votre Milieu De Travail? Passez À L'Action!, France Labrèche, Brigitte Roberge, Sabrina Gravel, Marie-France D'Amours

Guides

No abstract provided.

Whole-Genome Analysis Of A Daptomycin-Susceptible Enterococcus Faecium Strain And Its Daptomycin-Resistant Variant Arising During Therapy, Truc T. Tran, Diana Panesso, Hongyu Gao, Jung H. Roh, Jose M. Munita, Jinnethe Reyes, Lorena Diaz, Elizabeth A. Lobos, Yousif Shamoo, Nagendra N. Mishra, Arnold S. Bayer, Barbara E. Murray, George M. Weinstock, Cesar A. Arias

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Discovery Of Antivirulence Agents Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, Varandt Khodaverdian, Michelle Pesho, Barbara Truitt, Lucy Bollinger, Parita Patel, Stanley Nithianantham, Guanping Yu, Elizabeth Delaney, Eckhard Jankowsky, Menachem Shoham

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility And Resistance Patterns Among Helicobacter Pylori Strains From The Gambia, West Africa, Ousman Secka, Douglas E. Berg, Martin Antonio, Tumani Corrah, Mary Tapgun, Robert Walton, Vivat Thomas, Juan J. Galano, Javier Sancho, Richard A. Adegbola, Julian E. Thomas

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Drug-Induced Apoptosis: Mechanism By Which Alcohol And Many Other Drugs Can Disrupt Brain Development, Catherine E. Creeley, John W. Olney

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Genome Wide Association And Linkage Analyses Identified Three Loci-4q25, 17q23.2, And 10q11.21-Associated With Variation In Leukocyte Telomere Length: The Long Life Family Study, Joseph H. Lee, Rong Cheng, Lawrence S. Honig, Mary Feitosa, Candace M. Kammerer, Min S. Kang, Nicole Schupf, Shiow J. Lin, Jason L. Sanders, Harold Bae, Todd Druley, Thomas Perls, Kaare Christensen, Michael Province, Richard Mayeux

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.