Arts and Humanities Commons^™

A New Literacy Coach And Two English Language Arts Teachers Learn Together: A Narrative Inquiry, Christiana C. Succar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Literacy coaching is not new to education. Since the 2001 shift in the United States (U.S.) educational policy towards high-quality teacher training, accountability, and student achievement, literacy or reading coach positions have been a core part of the educational institution (U. S. Department of Education, 2003). However, with undefined coaching roles and inadequate coach training early in the initiative, minimal impact on effective teacher development and instructional shifts towards closing the achievement gap occurred (Dole, 2003; International Reading Association, 2004).

In the past ten years, more understanding of literacy coaches’ roles and responsibilities has occurred with the publication of numerous …

Design Of Contact Line Friction Measurement Machine Apparatus, Seyed Kamran Najafi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project is to design and manufacture a high precision machine to directly measure the surface force of fluids. Knowing how to move droplets easier with less resistance can increase the potential of a wide range of applications and improve the performance of things such as self-assembly applications. This machine has the ability to measure forces of up to 100 N with a MEMS based sensor. The motion system on this machine moves a substrate underneath of a droplet for 100 mm and applies dragging force to the sensor. It moves with a controlled speed with high …

Use Of Innovative Computer Technology And Optical Texture Properties In The Analysis Of Pavement Digital Images, Saumya Priyadari Amarasiri

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Digital image based automated pavement crack detection and classification technology has seen vast improvements in the recent years. In spite of these developments, although pavement crack lengths and widths can be evaluated using state-of-the-art software with a reasonable accuracy, no reported evidence is found in extending this technology to evaluate crack depths. Hence a preliminary study was carried out to model the digital image formation of cracked concrete pavements based on the Bidirectional Reflection Distribution Function. It was revealed that a definitive theoretical relationship exists among the crack widths and depths and the maximum pixel intensity contrasts in the images …

Mutual Elements And Substrate Effect Analysis On Patch Antenna Arrays, Matthew J. Wallace

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There have been many different technology advancements with the invention of solid state electronics, leading to the digital era which has changed the way users employ electronic circuits. Antennas are no different; however, they are still analog devices. With the advancements in technology, antennas are being fabricated on much higher frequencies and with greater bandwidths, all while trying to keep size and weight to a minimum. Centimeter and millimeter wave technologies have evolved for many different radio frequency (RF) applications. Microstrip patch antennas have been developed, as wire and tubular antenna elements are difficult to fabricate with the tolerances required …

Diffuse Degassing And The Hydrothermal System At Masaya Volcano, Nicaragua, Sophie C. P Pearson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hydrothermal systems change in response to volcanic activity, and in turn may be sensitive indicators of volcanic activity. Fumaroles are a surface manifestation of this interaction. We use time series of soil temperature data and numerical models of the hydrothermal system to investigate volcanic, hydrologic and geologic controls on this diffuse degassing.

Soil temperatures were measured in a low-temperature fumarole field located 3.5 km from the summit of Masaya volcano, Nicaragua. They respond rapidly, on a time scale of minutes, to changes in volcanic activity also manifested at the summit vent. The soil temperature response is repetitive and complex, and …

Corrosion Of Epoxy-Coated Reinforcement In Marine Bridges With Locally Deficient Concrete, Kingsley Lau

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Epoxy-coated rebar (ECR) has been used in approximately 300 Florida bridges, in an attempt to control corrosion of the substructure in the splash-evaporation zone. Early severe ECR corrosion was observed in the substructure of several Florida ECR bridges (Group 1) where the substructure was built with permeable concrete of high apparent chloride diffusivity D_App. Other ECR bridges built during the same period and having similar D_App were projected to show corrosion damage starting on the following decade. Examination of several of those bridges (Group 2) confirmed that projection. Other recently examined Florida ECR bridges (Groups 3 and …

Work-Family Conflict, Eating Behaviors, And The Role Of Coping, Ashley G. Walvoord

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There were two primary aims of the present study. The first aim was to examine the relationships between work-interference-with-family (WIF) and specific eating behaviors (eating vegetables, fruits, snack foods) reported by employed mothers, as it relates to health criteria such as BMI. Related to this first aim, household coping strategies were proposed as playing a significant role in the relationship between WIF and eating behaviors. The second aim was to investigate the crossover of WIF to specific child eating behaviors via mother feeding practices or mother eating behaviors.

Self-report and other-report survey data were collected from working mothers and their …

Can Using One Trainer Solely To Deliver Prompts And Feedback During Role Plays Increase Correct Performance Of Parenting Skills In A Behavioral Parent Training Program?, Michael M. Cripe

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Behavioral Parent Training refers to a broad range of instructional programs that teach parents and other caregivers ways to build and change behavioral repertoires of children. Most, if not all, such programs employ Behavioral Skills Training (modeling, prompting, role-play practice and feedback) to teach parenting skills. However, specific ways to use prompting during role plays have not been described in the behavioral parent training literature. The present study compared two methods of conducting role plays during parent training. A between group, pretest/posttest design was used to evaluate and compare the effect of using one versus two trainers on the role-play …

Electrochemical Behavior Of Aluminized Steel Type 2 In Scale-Forming Waters, Leonardo Caseres

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Aluminized steel Type 2 (AST2), often used for culvert pipes, is subject to corrosion which is the most important durability limitation factor. It was desired to determine if the outer aluminized layer will retain passivity and if protective galvanic action will develop. Thus, corrosion of unblemished and blemished AST2 surfaces was investigated in simulated natural waters.

Experiments with unblemished specimens showed passive corrosion rates (~0.06 µm/yr) in scale-forming, 0.01 M Cl- solutions but sustained corrosion in other less protective media (with rates 3~10 µm/yr). Corrosion was manifested macroscopically by discoloration and few macro pits, but it likely proceeded also microscopically …

Gate Level Dynamic Energy Estimation In Asynchronous Circuits Using Petri Nets, Ryan Mabry

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis introduces a new methodology for energy estimation in asynchronous circuits. Unlike existing probabilistic methods, this is the first simulative work for energy estimation in all types of asynchronous circuits.

The new simulative methodology is based on Petri net modeling. A real delay model is incorporated to capture both gate delays and interconnect delays. The switching activity at each gate is captured to measure the average dynamic energy consumed per request/acknowledge handshaking pair. The new type of Petri net is called Hierarchical Colored Asynchronous Hardware Petri net (HCAHPN). The HCAHPN is able to capture the temporal and spatial correlations …

Saharan Dust And Phosphatic Fidelity: A Three Dimensional Biogeochemical Model Of Trichodesmium On The West Florida Shelf, Jason M. Lenes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The availability of iron within the surface waters of the broad, oligotrophic West Florida shelf (WFS) controls periodic blooms of the pelagic marine cyanobacterium Trichodesmium. Summer delivery of iron (Fe), in the form of Saharan dust, alleviates this growth constraint, shifting limitation to the efficiency of phosphorus (P) cycles. Florida's rivers drain Miocene phosphorus deposits to supply the WFS with freshwater nutrient supplies at molar dissolved inorganic nitrogen/phosphate (DIN/PO4) ratios of less than 6. These diazotrophs draw upon ubiquitous stocks of dissolved nitrogen gas, once stimulated by Fe-deposition within P-replete waters of the West Florida shelf. An extensive in situ …

System Optimization For Micron And Sub-Micron Particle Identification Using Spectroscopy-Based Techniques, Eduardo Zurek

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation describes an approach and a model for the analysis of critical parameters related to the optical and electronic components of spectroscopy systems. The model described herein enables a systematic study of the impact of these parameters on the total performance of the system; therefore, it is a tool for the design and optimization of spectrometers.

Although the physics of the optical and electronic components in spectroscopy systems are known and well established, the systemic approach to the understanding of their interactions is recent and it is an area of active research. The results from this study are at …

The Effects Of Role-Playing On The Development Of Adaptive Skills In A Parent Training Program, Chantell A. Rodriguez-Del Valle

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Parent training programs are widely used to remediate ineffective strategies being

used by parents of children with maladaptive behaviors. While there are a multitude of

parenting workshops available, it has been estimated that over half have no established

effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to advance our knowledge regarding the

effects of modeling and role-playing (in an experimentally controlled design), used to

supplement the parent workshop called “Winning at Parenting” and enhance development

of adaptive parenting skills of participants.

This study trained parents in the behavioral techniques of clear communication,

differential attention, and time-out procedures via modeling by the …

Assessment Of Image Analysis As A Measure Of Scleractinian Coral Growth, Steven K. Gustafson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Image analysis was used to measure basal areas of selected colonies of Montastraea annularis and Porites astreoides, following the colonies over a three-year period from 2002 to 2004. Existing digital images of permanently-marked quadrats in the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, Belize, were selected based on image quality and availability of images of selected quadrats for all three years. Annual growth rates were calculated from the basal-area measurements. Mean growth rates (radial skeletal extension) for M. annularis and P. astreoides were 0.02 cm yr-1 and -0.20 cm yr-1, respectively. Basal area measurements demonstrated a large degree of variability. Increases were approximately …

An Ahp Framework For Balancing Efficiency And Equity In The United States Liver Transplantation System, Vijayachandran M. Veerachandran

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

ABSRACT: Liver transplantation and allocation has been a controversial issue in the United States for decades. One of the main concerns in the allocation system is the trade-off between the two main objectives, efficiency and equity. Unfortunately, it is difficult to reach consensus on how to develop allocation policies that aim at balancing efficiency and equity, among transplantation policy makers, administrators, transplant surgeons and transplant candidates.Our research identifies and classifies the outcomes of liver allocation into two major categories, efficiency and equity, that are, often times, conflicting. Previous researchers did not consider how to balance outcomes in these two categories. …

An Implementation Of The Usf/ Calvo Model In Verilog-A To Enforce Charge Conservation In Applicable Fet Models, Joshua Nicodemus

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The primary goal of this research is to put into code a unique approach to addressing problems apparent with nonlinear FET models which were exposed by Calvo in her work in 1994. Since that time, the simulation software for which her model was appropriate underwent a significant update, necessitating the rewriting of her model code for a few applicable FET models in a Verilog-A, making it more compatible with the new versions of software and simulators.

The problems addressed are the inconsistencies between the small-signal model and the corresponding large-signal models due to a factor called transcapacitance. It has been …

The Effect Of Mental Practice Type On Dart-Throwing Performance, Todd Allen Joseph

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present study used a sample of 171 college students from the University of South Florida to examine the effects of different types of mental practice on dart-throwing performance. This study examined the effects of imagery and video modeling on an immediately following physical task As suspected, the video modeling condition under these circumstances was associated with poorer performance than the imagery and control conditions. The imagery condition, however, resulted in no difference in performance from the control condition. Discussions of the results and future avenues of research (including gender effects) are also mentioned.

On Effective And Efficient Experimental Designs For Neurobehavioral Screening Tests: The Choice Of A Testing Time For Estimating The Time Of Peak Effects, Peter A. Toyinbo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In its latest neurotoxicity guidelines released by the US EPA Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) in 1998, it is recommended that in a neurobehavioral testing, at a minimum, for acute studies, observations and activity testing should be made before the initiation of exposure, at the estimated TOPE (time of peak effects) within 8 hrs of dosing, and at 7 and 14 days after dosing. It is recommended that estimation of TOPE be made by dosing pairs of rats across a range of doses and making regular observations of gait and arousal. However it is well known that …

Symbolic Regression Of Thermo-Physical Model Using Genetic Programming, Ying Zhang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The symbolic regression problem is to find a function, in symbolic form, that fits a given data set. Symbolic regression provides a means for function identification. This research describes an adaptive hybrid system for symbolic function identification of thermo-physical model that combines the genetic programming and a modified Marquardt nonlinear regression algorithm.

Genetic Programming (GP) system can extract knowledge from the data in the form of symbolic expressions, i.e. a tree structure, that are used to model and derive equation of state, mixing rules and phase behavior from the experimental data (properties estimation).

During the automatic evolution process of GP, …

Ammonia Flux At The Air/Water Interface Of Tampa Bay, Constance Anne Mizak

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

An ammonia emissions inventory discovered that 90% of the ammonia emitted from Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Polk counties, originated from the latter two counties. This finding is significant and suggests that a substantial portion of the ammonia deposited to Tampa Bay is transported with easterly air masses.

Ammonia and ammonium concentrations at the coastal Gandy Bridge site were seasonally and diurnally consistent, but the rural Sydney site showed greater variability. It was determined that wind direction was the most influential parameter affecting the Gandy Bridge site, which supports the hypothesis that an advection of ammonia from the east is a major …

Improved Current-Voltage Methods For Rf Transistor Characterization, Charles Passant Baylis Ii

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the development of a nonlinear transistor model, several measurements are used to extract equivalent circuit parameters. The current-voltage (IV) characteristic of a transistor is one of the measurement data sets that allows the nonlinear model parameters to be extracted. The accuracy of the IV measurement greatly influences the accuracy of the large-signal model.

Numerous works have reported the inadequacy of traditional static DC IV measurements to accurately predict radio-frequency (RF) behavior for many devices. This inaccuracy results from slow processes in the device that do not have time to completely respond to the quick changes in terminal conditions when …

Characterization And Generation Of Streaming Video Traces, John N. Shahbazian

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes two methods collectively called Time Series Generation (TSG) that can be used to generate time series inputs modeling packet loss to test IP-based streaming video software. The TSG methods create packet loss models that recreate the mean, variance, and autocorrelation signatures of an actual trace. The synthetic packet loss traces can have their inherent statistics altered, thus allowing for thorough testing of video software in ways that could not be done on actual networks. The two methods comprising TSG, which are individually called the primary and secondary method, use the principle of iterated uniformity to create a …

Characterization And Formation Of Particulate Nitrate In A Coastal Area, Melissa Cheryl Foster Evans

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Particulate nitrates play important roles in the atmosphere. They consist mainly of NH₄NO₃ and NaNO₃, products from the reactions of gaseous HNO₃ with gaseous NH₃ and sea salt, respectively. The gas-to-particle phase conversion of nitrate changes its deposition characteristics and ultimately changes the transport and deposition rates of the locally produced species. Studies were conducted to develop background information on the particle concentrations and size distributions and the chemistry and kinetics behind the interactions.

The predominant nitrate species in the Tampa Bay area was identified as coarse mode NaNO₃. NH_{4 …}

Evaluation Of Pile Driving Lead Section, Kadir Uslu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Driving piles constitute a large portion of the high-capacity foundations used today. They transfer structural loads to deep bearing strata when adequate surficial soils are not available. The mechanisms required to install these piles generally consist of a hammer, hammer lead, a crane, and various support rigging.

This study focused on lead sections, specifically, one which was manufactured by Berminghammer Foundation Equipment, Inc. The dimensions and strength of a lead section must be capable of supporting both the pile driving hammer and the longest anticipated pile for a given site. The strength of the section must be capable of withstanding …