Digital Commons Network^™

Regulation Of Cora, The Magnesium, Nickel, Cobalt Transporter, And Its Role In The Virulence Of The Soft Rot Pathogen, Pectobacterium Versatile Strain Ecc71, Caleb M. Kersey, Korsi Dumenyo

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Pectobacterium versatile (formally P. carotovorum) causes disease on diverse plant species by synthesizing and secreting copious amount of plant-cell-wall-degrading exoenzymes including pectate lyases, polygalacturonases, cellulases, and proteases. Exoenzyme production and virulence are controlled by many factors of bacterial, host, and environmental origin. The ion channel forming the magnesium, nickel, and cobalt transporter CorA is required for exoenzyme production and full virulence in strain Ecc71. We investigated CorA’s role as a virulence factor and its expression in P. versatile. Inhibiting the transport function of CorA by growing a CorA+ strain in the presence of specific CorA inhibitor, cobalt (III) hexaammine (Co …

Estimating Body Weight And Body Condition Score Of Mature Beef Cows Using Depth Images, Yijie Xiong, Isabella C.F.S. Condotta, J. A. Musgrave, Tami M. Brown-Bandl, J. Travis Mulliniks

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Obtaining accurate body weight (BW) is crucial for management decisions yet can be a challenge for cow–calf producers. Fast-evolving technologies such as depth sensing have been identified as low-cost sensors for agricultural applications but have not been widely validated for U.S. beef cattle. This study aimed to (1) estimate the body volume of mature beef cows from depth images, (2) quantify BW and metabolic weight (MBW) from image-projected body volume, and (3) classify body condition scores (BCS) from image-obtained measurements using a machine-learning-based approach. Fifty-eight crossbred cows with a mean BW of 410.0 ± 60.3 kg and were between 4 …

A Novel Method Of Rapid Detection For Heavy Metal Copper Ion Via A Specific Copper Chelator Bathocuproinedisulfonic Acid Disodium Salt, Yali Wang, Tinglin Ma, Joseph Brake, Zhaoyue Sun, Jiayu Huang, Jing Li, Xiaobin Wu

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

The extensive usage and production of copper may lead to toxic effects in organisms due to its accumulation in the environment. Traditional methods for copper detection are time consuming and infeasible for field usage. It is necessary to discover a real-time, rapid and economical method for detecting copper to ensure human health and environmental safety. Here we developed a colorimetric paper strip method and optimized spectrum method for rapid detection of copper ion based on the specific copper chelator bathocuproinedisulfonic acid disodium salt (BCS). Both biological assays and chemical methods verified the specificity of BCS for copper. The optimized reaction …

Applicability Of Bio-Adsorbents Synthesized From Maize/Corn Plant Residues For Heavy Metals Removal From Aquatic Environments: An Insight Review, Jonas Bayuo, Mwemezi J. Rwiza, Kelvin Mark Mtei

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

The underutilization of agricultural waste products in recent years has resulted in environmental issues owing to improper disposal. As a result, heavy metals removal from aqueous systems utilizing sorbent materials produced from agricultural wastes has received a lot of attention. The current study provides an insightful review of the use of bio-adsorbents synthesized from maize/corn residues to decontaminate various toxicants from wastewater. Although bio-adsorbents made from maize/corn residues have shown to be efficient in the sequestration of heavy metals from wastewater, no study has looked at hybrid bio-adsorbents made from various parts of the maize/corn plant. Moreover, all studies practically …

Gama/Devils: Cosmic Star Formation And Agn Activity Over 12.5 Billion Years, Jordan C J D’Silva, Simon P. Driver, Claudia D P Lagos, Aaron S G Robotham, Sabine Bellstedt, Luke J M Davies, Jessica E. Thorne, Joss Bland-Hawthorn, Matias Bravo, Benne Holwerda, Steven Phillipps, Nick Seymour, Malgorzata Siudek, Rogier A. Windhorst

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

We use the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) and the Deep Extragalactic Visible Legacy Survey (DEVILS) observational data sets to calculate the cosmic star formation rate (SFR) and active galactic nuclei (AGN) bolometric luminosity history (CSFH/CAGNH) over the last 12.5 billion years. SFRs and AGN bolometric luminosities were derived using the spectral energy distribution fitting code ProSpect, which includes an AGN prescription to self consistently model the contribution from both AGN and stellar emission to the observed rest-frame ultra-violet to far-infrared photometry. We find that both the CSFH and CAGNH evolve similarly, rising in the early Universe up to a …

System And Method For Imaging Tendon Cross Sections For Detecting Voids And Other Deficiencies In Grouted External Tendons, Alberto A. Sagues, Hani Freij, David Adam Dukeman, Christopher Lewis Alexander

USF Patents

An exemplary method of indicating a condition of grout within a post-tensioned tendon involves positioning a magnet and a metallic sensing plate in close proximity to an outer surface of the post-tensioned tendon; rotating the magnet and the metallic sensing plate around the outer surface of the post-tensioned tendon; measuring an amount of magnetic forces applied to the magnet during rotation of the magnet around the post-tensioned tendon; measuring an impedance between the metallic sensing plate and metallic strands within the post-tensioned tendon during rotation of the metallic sensing plate around the post-tensioned tendon; and generating an image of a …

Supported Perovskite-Oxide Composites For Enhanced Low Temperature Thermochemical Conversion Of Co2 To Co, John Kuhn, Bryan Hare, Debtanu Maiti, Yolanda Daza, Venkat Bhethanabotla

USF Patents

Disclosed herein is a catalyst composite containing a perovskite-oxide and an oxide support, methods of preparing a catalyst composite containing a perovskite-oxide and an oxide support, and the use thereof for CO2 conversion by a reverse water gas shift chemical looping (RWGS-CL) process.

Distributed Process State And Input Estimation For Heterogeneous Active/Passive Sensor Networks, Dzung Minh Duc Tran, Tansel Yucelen, Selahattin Burak Sarsilmaz

USF Patents

Systems and methods are described for estimating a state of a process and an input to the process using a sensor network. Each sensor node in the sensor network is directly to one or more adjacent sensor nodes and indirectly coupled to the remaining sensor nodes through the one or more adjacent sensor nodes. Each sensor node iteratively calculates a new estimated state based on estimations of the state and the input to the process calculated by the sensor node in a previous iteration. The new estimated state is then adjusted based on a difference between a predicted and actual …

Geomembranes And Methods For Making And Using The Same, Yasin Kocak, Manoj K. Ram, Venkat Bhethanabotla

USF Patents

Described herein are geomembranes with improved chemical, physical, and mechanical properties. In one aspect, the geomembrane includes polyethylene, a phenolic antioxidant, a phosphite antioxidant, a hindered amine light stabilizer, and carbon black. Also described herein are methods for making the geomembranes described herein.

Exploring The Determinants Of Organic Matter Bioavailability Through Substrate-Explicit Thermodynamic Modeling, Firnaaz Ahamed, Yaqi You, Amy Burgin, James C. Stegen, Timothy D. Scheibe, Hyun-Seob Song

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Microbial decomposition of organic matter (OM) in river corridors is a major driver of nutrient and energy cycles in natural ecosystems. Recent advances in omics technologies enabled high-throughput generation of molecular data that could be used to inform biogeochemical models. With ultrahigh-resolution OM data becoming more readily available, in particular, the substrate-explicit thermodynamic modeling (SXTM) has emerged as a promising approach due to its ability to predict OM degradation and respiration rates from chemical formulae of compounds. This model implicitly assumes that all detected organic compounds are bioavailable, and that aerobic respiration is driven solely by thermodynamics. Despite promising demonstrations …

Exploring The Pre-Service Teachers Use Of Mobile Augmented Reality In Education Through An Extended Technology Acceptance Model, Mohamad Nizar Nur Nabihah, Rahmat Khairezan

Research Publications (2021 to 2025)

The popularity of Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR) has increased in recent years. However, the potential remains underexplored in education due to the massive penetration in the entertainment industry. It promotes flexibility in learning as well as enriches students’ learning experiences. Therefore, this study aims to enhance the use of MAR and formulates a model of MAR usage for pre-service teachers. Since there are limitations in achieving existing MAR technology resource, the present study developed a MAR technology, namely Mobile Augmented Reality Learning Cardiovascular (MARLCardio). In the context of this study, MARLCardio serves as an experimental tool to determine the acceptance …

Situational Analysis Of Gold Processing Practices At Artisanal And Small-Scale Gold Mining In Tanzania, Sospeter Maganga

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study reports the state-of-art situation of gold processing practices at artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Tanzania. It involved literature review, document review of public domain reports, and field survey during data collection. This was followed by screening of literature, reports, and field data relevant to the study topic. Further, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges (SWOC) analysis of ASGM was conducted and discussed. The study indicates that ASGM subsector in Tanzania continues growing with people involved directly in ASGM ranging between 1 to 1.5 million. Further, the study indicates that ASGM in Tanzania contributes about 90% of …

Self-Beliefs, Transactive Memory Systems, And Collective Identification In Teams: Articulating The Socio-Cognitive Underpinnings Of Cohumain, Gabriela Cuconato

Student Scholarship

Socio-cognitive theory conceptualizes individual contributors as both enactors of cognitive processes and targets of a social context's determinative influences. The present research investigates how contributors’ metacognition or self-beliefs, combine with others’ views of themselves to inform collective team states related to learning about other agents (i.e., transactive memory systems) and forming social attachments with other agents (i.e., collective team identification), both important teamwork states that have implications for team collective intelligence. We test the predictions in a longitudinal study with 78 teams. Additionally, we provide interview data from industry experts in human–artificial intelligence teams. Our findings contribute to an emerging …

A Word Fitly Spoken Is Like Apples Of Gold In Settings Of Silver: Removing The Veil From Inspirational Historical Fiction, Laura Louise Milcarzyk

Masters Theses

This thesis is about the importance of inspirational historical fiction writers to pen literary works that are more reflective of the diverse Kingdom of God on earth and the trials and tribulations the diverse community of followers of Christ endure in this life. The thesis also defines three literary techniques that will, if applied correctly, help lead a writer in creating novels that bring God, His love, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to life. The artistic statement explains how the novel originated and its process, as well as the novel’s literary and biblical significance. The critical paper is the …

Nursing Faculty Experiences Of An Academic Merger: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Sherry Michelle Boone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experience of undergoing a merger of two or more academic institutions within the United States for nursing faculty who chose to voluntarily depart the organization following the merger. The theoretical framework guiding this study was social capital theory as it discusses the importance of relationships and the resources those relationships provide. While assets may be acquired during a merger, social capital must be developed over time and is important for building a new combined healthy organizational culture. The study included nine participants who departed the institution in the timeframe …

With Sand In Their Pockets: Lessons Of The American Expeditionary Force’S Mobilization For The First World War, Kasey James Comstock

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

When the Eleventh hour rang on November 11th, 1918, the United States Expeditionary Force, now the United States Army was no longer a mere constabulary organization. In fact, it had grown from just over 200,000 total soldiers to a staggering 4.2-million-man army. However, the growth of the army was not easy, through political and organizational in-fighting the army grew painfully. The inability of the United States government, especially its commander-in-chief, to implement reform measures ensured, and ultimately sealed the fate of thousands of American dead Doughboys in France. Additionally, the Army War College, General Staff, and War Department deliberately curtailed …

Instructors’ Experiences With Employing Kinesthetic Instructional Strategies In Gatekeeper Community College Courses: A Single Holistic Case Study, Jodie S. Hogan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, single holistic case study was to understand how community college instructors use kinesthetic instructional strategies to engage students enrolled in gatekeeper college courses at a community college in the Northeastern United States. The theory guiding this study was domains of learning theory, as it explains how faculty approach instruction according to how students experience the six levels of the cognitive taxonomy and provides a foundation for the consideration of how the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains are intertwined. A qualitative methodology with a single case study design was used to address the central research question, …

It’S Black And White: An Investigation Into The Founding Of Three Post-Civil War Black Colleges, Melvin Gamble Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This work examines how White and Black Baptist worked together to form and developed three historically Black Colleges immediately after the Civil War in the most contested region of the Eastern seaboard—Shaw University, Virginia Union University and Benedict College. After the Civil War, there were different schools of thought on how to fill the void in African American education. Ex-slaves, Radical southerners, Freemen, Northern Baptist, Black Baptist, Southern Baptists, and missionary organizations from various denominations all offered varying perspectives on what forms of educations were relevant for the newly emancipated slave. Some held to the notion that industrial education was …

Survey Headaches, Katherine Deibel

PCOM Scholarly Works

In the library profession, and in the world as a whole, the experiences of trans and gender diverse people often go unnoticed, hidden, and ignored. But we are here. Trans and Gender Diverse Voices in Libraries is entirely written and edited by trans and gender diverse people involved in the field: its fifty-seven authors include workers from academic and public libraries, special collections and archives, and more; LIS students; and a few people who have left the library profession completely.

This book is not intended to be the definitive guide to trans and gender diverse experiences in libraries, but instead …

Viscoelastic Properties Of Fresh Cement Paste: Measuring Procedures And Influencing Parameters, Ammar Yahia, Arnaud Perrot, Dimitri Feys, Kamal Khayat, Mohammed Sonebi, Shiho Kawashima, Wolfram Schmidt

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fresh cement pastes behave as viscoelastic materials below the flow onset. The measurements of viscoelastic properties of fresh cement paste provide valuable insight into the dispersion of solid particles as well as the hydration kinetics at early age and its influence on the structural evolution and solidification behavior at quasi-static conditions. Monitoring the development of viscoelastic properties of fresh cement paste using dynamic oscillatory shear measurements can also elucidate the working mechanisms of chemical admixtures. These properties are efficient indicators to guide mixture proportion design and are necessary to understand the rheology and stability of concrete. In this paper, the …

Firefighter Staffing Model Implications On Fire Casualties And Fire Loss: Life Safety And Socio-Economic Impacts Of The Fire Service, Jeffrey Daniel Shoffner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Fire and rescue services are considered a staple among services provided by governments to local communities. Local governments are often charged with providing these services, especially across the United States and Canada. As with any professional service, there are standards set forth in order to ensure services are adequate and provide equity to the citizens that they serve. The purpose of this dissertation will be to delve into the common staffing configurations of career fire departments across the United States and Canada, particularly related to staffing levels on fire engines and ladder trucks. Fire departments utilize various staffing models, but …

A Phenomenological Understanding Of K-12 Leaders’ Lived Experiences Of Changing From Teacher-Centered Practices To Student-Centered Practices, Claudia Burregi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to understand the process of changing from teacher-centered practices to student-centered practices for K-12 educational leaders at Blue Ocean school district (pseudonym) in Louisiana to equip students with 21st-century skills. The theory guiding this study is Lewin’s change theory, which undergirds the premise that as individuals embrace change, they are better equipped to support the vision of why change is needed, ultimately leading to lasting change. A transcendental study was used to capture the essence of the change from TCL to SCL experience of ten educational leaders from seven schools in BOSD …

A Phenomenological Study: Factors Influencing Faculty Attitude Toward Online Teaching During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kelly A. Waltman-Payne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover the factors that influenced the faculty’s lived experiences and perceived preparedness when transitioning to fully online courses in response to the COVID-19 crisis, for full-time faculty members at Greenhill College, North Branch. The central research question for the research was “What factors, such as professional development and other training, related to online learning, influenced faculty attitudes and perceptions of preparedness, as they transitioned to online teaching during the COVID-19 Pandemic 2020?” Ten participants were selected using a random sample drawn from full-time faculty members at Greenhill College, North Branch. Data collection …

Interdisciplinary Studies In General Music Education: Enhancing Learning Across Content Areas, Tara Kathleen Roof Stradley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Some perspectives of educators and community members in small rural school districts fail to see the academic benefits of music education and the importance of integrated forms of study, despite the many clear connections that can be seen between the general music curriculum and other content areas such as math and language arts. Interdisciplinary studies in general music education are essential for student growth across content areas. This study reveals the importance of music integration and interdisciplinary music studies in small rural elementary schools. It gives example lessons of mathematics and language arts in the elementary music curricula. Guided by …

Building The Hill City: Internal Improvements And Political Economy In Lynchburg, Virginia, 1791-1829, Mark Ryan Feld

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research explores the economic and political considerations of internal improvements in antebellum southwest Virginia. Special emphasis is paid to local petitions submitted to the Virginia General Assembly between 1791 and 1829, as well as local newspaper editorials printed or reprinted in Lynchburg, Virginia during the same period. Questions of intentionality, self-interest, and sectionalism are raised in elucidating what role localities along the ‘old frontier’ played in connecting the underdeveloped western region of the state to the developed eastern region during the early 19th century. Border towns first settled in the colonial backcountry—specifically Lynchburg, Virginia—served as ‘first movers’ in implementing …

A Descriptive, Multi-Site Case Study To Discover The Inclusion Of Disability Competencies In Undergraduate Public Health Program Curricula In California-Based Public Universities, Jacqueline Suzanne Siukola Tompkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nearly one in four adults and one in six children in the United States (U.S.) have a disability. Despite the evidence documenting health differences, public health professionals receive inconsistent or little-to-no disability education in graduate public health curricula. Undergraduate public health (UGPH) programs have an expanding role in building the future public health workforce, including the U.S. governmental public health workforce. However, the inclusion of disability-related content within UGPH program curricula is currently unknown. The purpose of this multi-site case study was to conduct preliminary research to describe how disability-related curricula are or can be included in UGPH program curricula …

An Embedded Case Study To Understand The Barriers To Cultural Progression In Aviation, Scott Phillip Trepinski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, revelatory, embedded case study was to understand the barriers to cultural progression aviation leaders experience within airlines based in the United States. The study was guided by the research question: What can be learned about the barriers hindering the progression of safety culture within the aviation industry? The research design used a single embedded case study model utilizing participants responsible for managing, participating in, and designing programs and policies associated with an organization's safety management system. The study's theoretical framework was the cognitive dissonance theory and the dialogue-supported organizational learning theory. Data was collected utilizing …

The Breeding Of Wolves: Understanding The Escalation Continuum & Escalation Dynamics Of Contemporary Sex Trafficking Demand, Kevin Lee Wilkinson Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, quasi-longitudinal research was conducted to empirically examine if sex-demand buyer behavior of heterosexual males is causational based on commonplace societal and transgenerational influences. These causational influences are termed “escalation dynamics,” which can lay on a ranged scale from adolescent development through adulthood, termed an “escalation continuum.” This research aimed to research how and why a heterosexual male becomes a sex buyer from different influences over a developmental time frame. Participants had to meet the criteria of being a heterosexual male, having been arrested for sex-demand buying, and currently participating or having completed the Sex Buyers Transformation and Restoration …

Aerobic Exercise Reverses Aging-Induced Depth-Dependent Decline In Cerebral Microcirculation, Paul Shin, Ikbal Şencan-Eğilmez, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Aging is a major risk factor for cognitive impairment. Aerobic exercise benefits brain function and may promote cognitive health in older adults. However, underlying biological mechanisms across cerebral gray and white matter are poorly understood. Selective vulnerability of the white matter to small vessel disease and a link between white matter health and cognitive function suggests a potential role for responses in deep cerebral microcirculation. Here, we tested whether aerobic exercise modulates cerebral microcirculatory changes induced by aging. To this end, we carried out a comprehensive quantitative examination of changes in cerebral microvascular physiology in cortical gray and subcortical white …

The Relevance Of Gender For Excellent Research And Innovation: An Opinion, Yvonne Galligan

Irish Journal of Academic Practice

This piece argues that the integration of sex and/or gender in research improves the quality of the research, contributes to excellence in the research process and makes the outcomes beneficial to society.