Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Evaluation Of Oncology Nurses' Knowledge, Practice Behaviors, And Confidence Specific To Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy, Rebecca Denise Mcallister

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) remains one of the most serious and challenging symptoms oncology nurses encounter in caring for patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy. CIPN is under-addressed, under-reported, and symptoms are minimized by healthcare providers, which adversely affect patient quality of life, physical function, and emotional well-being. There is an absence of research examining nurses’ knowledge and practice behaviors related to CIPN. The purpose of this study was to explore oncology nurses knowledge, practice behaviors, confidence, and the relationship between education, experience, and knowledge specific to CIPN.

Data was collected at Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Chapter meetings throughout central and …

Topics In Random Knots And R-Matrices From Frobenius Algebras, Enver Karadayi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, we study two areas of interest in knot theory: Random knots in the unit cube, and the Yang-Baxter solutions constructed from Frobenius algebras.

The study of random knots can be thought of as a model of DNA strings situated in confinement. A random knot with n vertices is a polygonal loop formed by selecting n distinct points in the unit cube, for a positive integer n, and connecting these points by straight line segments successively, such that the last point selected is joined with the first one. We present a step by step description of our algorithm …

Understanding The Interaction Between Blood Flow And An Applied Magnetic Field, Francy L. Sinatra

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hemodynamic monitoring is extremely important in the accurate measurement of vital parameters. Current methods are highly invasive or noncontinuous, and require direct access to the patient’s skin. This study intends to explore the modulated magnetic signature of blood method (MMSB) to attain blood flow information. This method uses an applied magnetic field to magnetize the iron in the red blood cells and measures the disturbance to the field with a magnetic sensor [1]. Exploration will be done by experimentally studying in-vitro, as well as simulating in COMSOL the alteration of magnetic fields induced by the flow of a magnetic solution. …

Examination Of The Effect Of Child Abuse Case Characteristics On The Time A Caseworker Devotes To A Case, Christopher J. Card

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study used an explanatory research model that determined the effect on caseworker time and therefore workload caused by specific characteristics of cases assigned after the child abuse investigation is complete. The purpose of this study was to explain the relationship between child protection case characteristics and the time an assigned caseworker devotes to a case. With this knowledge an informed methodology to assess the current workload of a caseworker could be used to assure that the caseworker is able to successfully complete the tasks required for each child assigned. Further, the knowledge of the amount of time spent on …

An Experimental Study Of Distance Sensitivity Oracles, Vincent Troy Williams

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The paper \A Nearly Optimal Oracle for Avoiding Failed Vertices and Edges" by

Aaron Bernstein and David Karger lays out a nearly optimal algorithm for nding the

shortest distances and paths between vertices with any given single failure in constant

time without reconstructing the oracle. Using their paper as a guideline, we have

implemented their algorithm in C++ and recorded each step in this thesis. Each step

has its own pseudo-code and its own analysis to prove that the entire oracle construction

stays within the stated running time and total space bounds, from the authors. The

effciency of the algorithm …

A Study Of Omnidirectional Quad-Screw-Drive Configurations For All-Terrain Locomotion, Jon T. Freeberg

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Double-screw vehicles have been developed to operate in soft, wet terrains such as marsh, snow, and water. Their exceptional performance in soft and wet terrains is at the expense of performance on rigid terrains such as pavement. Furthermore, turning can be difficult because the method of turning varies depending on the terrain. Therefore, in this study, several different quad-screw-configurations were proposed and tested to improve upon double-screw vehicles.

A test-bed was developed which could easily be converted into each quad-screw-configuration for testing on a variety of surfaces (grass, dirt, sand, clay, marsh, snow, gravel, pavement, and water). In addition, a …

Rehabilitation Of Precast Deck Panel Bridges, Atiq H. Alvi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

USF completed a research study in 2005, which prioritized the replacement of 85 deteriorating composite precast deck panel bridges. This thesis re-evaluates the original recommendations in the wake of failures of two of these bridges in 2007. Since funding will not allow all identified bridges to be replaced, it was necessary to determine the most effective repair methods. To assess USF’s recommendations, a forensic study was undertaken in which the most current inspection and work program documents on the two failed bridges were reviewed and FDOT personnel interviewed. The best repair procedures were determined by reviewing repair plans, specifications, reports …

Visualizando La Conciencia Mestiza: The Relation Of Gloria Anzaldúa’S Mestiza Consciousness To Mexican American Performance And Poster Art, Maria Cristina Serrano

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores Gloria Anzaldúa’s notion of

mestiza consciousness and its

relation to Mexican American performance and poster art. It examines how the traditional

conceptions of

mestizo identity were redefined by Anzaldúa’s Borderlands/La Frontera

in an attempt to eradicate oppression through a change of consciousness. Anzaldua’s

conceptions are then applied to Guillermo Gomez-Peña’s performance art discussing the

intricacies and complexities of his performances as examples of

mestiza consciousness.

This thesis finally analyzes various Mexican American posters in relation to both

Anzaldúa and Gomez-Peña’s art works. It demonstrates that the similarities in the artist’s

treatment of hybridity illustrate a progressive change …

Characterization Of The Role Of Nicotine And Delta 9-Thc In Modulation Of Neuroinflammation, Jared C. Ehrhart

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Neuroinflammation is a major driving force in the progression of neurodegenerative disorders. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, as well as cannabinoid CB2 receptors, have been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory properties when activated. These effects are shown, in vivo, to be a result of stimulation of α7 nAChRs and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. Microglia cells, an immune cell in the brain, are shown to express both of these receptor subtypes. The studies detailed herein, investigated the ability of two compounds, nicotine and Δ9-THC, in modulation of inflammatory processes. Stimulation of these receptors on microglia using nicotine and Δ9-THC blocked the activation of these …

Consumable Process Development For Chemical Mechanical Planarization Of Bit Patterned Media For Magnetic Storage Fabrication, Joseph T. Bonivel Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the superparamagnetic limit is reached, the magnetic storage industry looks to circumvent the barrier by implementing patterned media (PM) as a viable means to store and access data. Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is a semiconductor fabrication technique used to planarize surfaces and is investigated as a method to ensure that the PM is polished to surface roughness parameters that allow the magnetic read/write head to move seamlessly across the PM. Results from this research have implications in feasibility studies of utilizing CMP as the main planarization technique for PM fabrication. Benchmark data on the output parameters of the CMP …

Capillary Self-Assembly And Its Application To Thermoelectric Coolers, James K. Tuckerman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The thermoelectric effect was discovered well over a century ago, yet performance has not shown improvement until recent years. Prior work has shown that the thermoelectric effect can be enhanced by the use of microscale pieces of thermoelectric material. Conventional assembly techniques are inadequate to deal with parts of this size, making it necessary to find a suitable alternative before these devices can be made economically. Capillary self-assembly is a promising alternative to conventional techniques. This method employs the use of preparing substrates with areas of favorable surface tension to place and align parts. Still, many obstacles have to be …

Geochemical Modeling Of Co2 Sequestration In Dolomitic Limestone Aquifers, Mark W. Thomas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO

2) in a deep, saline aquifer is being proposed for a power-generating facility in Florida as a method to mitigate contribution to global climate change from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The proposed repository is a brine-saturated, dolomitic-limestone aquifer with anhydrite inclusions contained within the Cedar Keys/Lawson formations of Central Florida. Thermodynamic modeling is used to investigate the geochemical equilibrium reactions for the minerals calcite, dolomite, and gypsum with 28 aqueous species for the purpose of determining the sensitivity of mineral precipitation and dissolution to the temperature and pressure of the aquifer and the salinity …

The Use Of Proteomic Techniques To Study The Physiology And Virulence Of Staphylococcus Aureus, Frances Rivera

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus

is a bacterial pathogen that is believed to be the most common agent of human infectious disease, causing conditions ranging from common skin lesions to life-threatening illnesses. S. aureus has also shown a remarkable ability to develop resistance to antimicrobial treatment, making infections difficult to treat. In the post-genomic era, proteomic studies analyzing the protein complement of a genome in a particular organism at any given time, have gained real significance. This result is largely due to dynamic changes in protein expression profiles which can lead wide alterations in physiology and behavior. For proteomics, it is necessary to …

The Monitoring And Evaluation Of Geothermal Systems, Whitney E. Maynard

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the heightened importance of green engineering in today’s society, harnessing the Earth’s internal energy has become ever more important. Specifically, the use of geothermal heat pumps as a means of heating and cooling homes and municipal buildings is on the rise. However, due to the high cost of installation and limited amount of research conducted, geothermal systems in the State of Florida have yet to meet their potential as an alternative heating and cooling source. With Florida’s relatively constant ground temperature of 72°F, an above average temperature gradient for both heating and cooling of indoor areas is provided. To …

Does Patient Dementia Limit The Use Of Cardiac Catheterization In St-Elevated Myocardial Infarction?, Marianne Chanti-Ketterl

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Regardless of age or mental capacity, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the first line of treatment for ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study evaluates the disparities in the use of diagnostic cardiac catheterization and PCI in STEMI patients with dementia. A retrospective analysis was performed of Florida‟s comprehensive inpatient surveillance system for the years 2006-2007 with admission diagnosis of STEMI. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify disparities in the use of intervention among all STEMI patients. A total of 8,331 STEMI patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 77% were catheterized and of these 67% received PCI. A total …

Design And Fabrication Of A Membrane Integrated Microfluidic Cell Culture Device Suitable For High-Resolution Imaging, Alla A. Epshteyn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Malaria remains a serious concern for people living and traveling to warm climates in Africa, Asia, and some parts of America. Understanding the mechanism of the malaria parasite in the liver phase could lead to important discoveries for preventative and treatment therapeutics before the disease develops into the blood stage. While in vitro liver cell culture models have been explored, a device that mimics the liver cell architecture with the capability of high-resolution imaging has never been created. In this research, a cell culture microfluidic device was designed and fabricated with a membrane integrated design to mimic the architecture of …

Continuous Electrowetting Actuation Utilizing Current Rectification Properties Of Valve Metal Films, Corey M. Lynch

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) is a technique for reducing the apparent contact angle of a fluid droplet, which has many promising applications in the fields of optics, digital displays, and lab-on-a-chip research. In this thesis, a design is presented for a novel single circuit device for achieving continuous droplet motion, by using the current-rectifying properties of valve metals to create diode-like behavior. This contrasts with existing designs, which require an array of individual electrodes to achieve motion in discrete steps. We are able to demonstrate continuous droplet motion across a 28mm-long test strip with an applied voltage of 303 V …

The Effects Of Directional Audit Guidance And Estimation Uncertainty On Auditor Confirmation Bias And Professional Skepticism When Evaluating Fair Value Estimates, Norma R. Montague

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I examine the effects of audit guidance and estimation uncertainty on auditors’ confirmation bias and professional skepticism when evaluating fair value estimates. Fair value estimation is becoming more prevalent in financial reporting frameworks, and regulators warn that fair value estimation presents higher risk of material misstatement when greater judgment in estimation is involved. In addition recent evidence from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) indicates that some auditors may not be exercising sufficient professional skepticism when performing audit procedures in higher risk areas of the audit. Martin et al. (2006) suggest that it may be the …

Ballistic Penetration Of A Sandbagged Redoubt Using Silica Sand And Pulverized Rubber Of Various Grain Sizes, Robert Paul Cole

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The basis of this work is to find how varying the grain size of materials contained in sandbags (sand and crumb rubber) effects the ballistic penetration of the projectiles from both the 7.62x39mm (308-short), and 9mm Luger cartridges. The sandbags were stacked in a pyramidal stacking configuration according to military specifications in order to simulate a section of a sandbag barrier or redoubt as would be seen on the battlefield. The projectiles were fired at the targets, and the velocity and penetration data was recorded. The results concern both military and civilian applications alike. The 7.62x39 round was found to …

A Novel Approach To X-Ray Mirror Bending Stability And Control, Michael Weinbaum

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A novel, no-contact approach to X-ray mirror bending control is presented here,

proposed for use on the beamlines of the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL)

project. A set of mirrors with tunable bending radii are desired, that will maintain their

optical properties even as the beam incidence causes local heating. Various mechanical

bending mechanisms have been proposed and used on other beamlines, which can take up

a lot of physical space, demanding more vacuum power, while using expensive high

precision servomotors. Rather than bend the mirror by mechanical means, it is proposed

to heat the mirror to produce the …

From Night To Dawn: The Cultural Criticism Of George A. Romero, Christopher Paul Wagenheim

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Analyzing George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead (1968) and Dawn of the Dead (1978) in relation to the early works of Marshal McLuhan, Erich Fromm, and Herbert Marcuse reveals an ideological parallel that can be explicated using Antonio Gramsci's theory of cultural hegemony. While McLuhan, Marcuse, and Fromm observe, in order to critique, social manifestations of power in a consumerist system, Romero presents a model of hegemony in his films that he exposes to extreme stress thereby allowing viewers to observe such manifestations of power for themselves. These analyses are significant because although Marcuse, McLuhan, Fromm, and Romero …

Dynamics Of Teacher Self-Efficacy: Middle School Reading And Language Arts Teacher Responses On A Teacher Sense Of Efficacy Scale, Kimberly Ann Schwartz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Efficacy is created early in a career and not easily influenced over time yet states and school districts loose tremendous amounts of money annually educating and training teachers who elect to leave the profession as a result of low self-efficacy. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived levels of self-efficacy of middle school Language Arts and reading teachers at various stages in their teaching careers in an attempt to inform the practices of teacher preparation. The Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale along with a Teacher Demographic Survey was used to identify how preparation method, content area, and …

Investigating The Mode Of Action Of A Novel N-Sec-Butylthiolated Beta-Lactam Against Staphylococcus Aureus, Katherine Rose Prosen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

N-sec

-butylthioloated β-lactam (NsβL) is a novel beta-lactam antimicrobial with a mechanism of action proposed to inhibit 3-oxoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase (ACP) III (FabH), resulting in the inhibition of fatty acid synthesis. It has been suggested that NsβL inhibits FabH indirectly by inactivating coenzyme-A (CoA). CoA is an essential cofactor for numerous proteins involved in glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (TCA), and pyruvate metabolism, in addition to fatty acid biosynthesis. This study aimed to determine the effects of NsβL on a diverse array of laboratory and clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates by analyzing the mode of resistance in spontaneous and adaptive …

Thermal Conductivity Of Soils From The Analysis Of Boring Logs, Nicole M. Pauly

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent interest in "greener" geothermal heating and cooling systems as well as developments in the quality assurance of cast-in-place concrete foundations has heightened the need for properly assessing thermal properties of soils. Therein, the ability of a soil to diffuse or absorb heat is dependent on the surrounding conditions (e.g. mineralogy, saturation, density, and insitu temperature). Prior to this work, the primary thermal properties (conductivity and heat capacity) had no correlation to commonly used soil exploration methods and therefore formed the focus of this thesis.

Algorithms were developed in a spreadsheet platform that correlated input boring log information to thermal …

Using The Prevent-Teach-Reinforce Model With Families Of Children With Autism, Kacie M. Sears

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study involved families of young children with autism spectrum disorders to

examine the feasibility of implementing an adapted version of the school-based Prevent-Teach-

Reinforce (PTR) model. This research included two families who developed and implemented the

intervention for their children in collaboration with the researcher. The PTR manual was modified

for use in a family context. The PTR intervention was tested using a multiple baseline design

across routines. Procedural fidelity was assessed during training and coaching, as well as family

implementation fidelity and social validity. To examine the potential efficacy of the adapted PTR

intervention, the children’s target problem …

The Design And Synthesis Of Functionalized Porphyrins And Their Applications In Group Transfer Reactions, Medicine, And Materials, Kimberly Bliss Fields

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Porphyrins and their analogs are a class of chemically and biologically important compounds that have found a variety of applications in different fields such as catalysis, medicine, and materials. The physical, chemical, and biological dependence of the peripheral substituents of porphyrins on their properties has prompted great effort towards the synthesis of new porphyrins with different electronic, steric, and conformational environments. To this end, porphyrins have been prepared using a modular approach from bromo- and triflate synthons. These synthons underwent palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling with chiral amines, amides, alcohols, and boronic esters to create products that were tested for biological activity.

Metalloporphyrins …

Electric-Field Effects And Interactions Of Dye–Polymer Systems, Brent Hilker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectroscopy is used in the characterization of synthetic polymers. MALDI allows for determination of: modal, most probable peak (M

P), molecular number average (MN), molecular weight average (MW), polydispersity (PD), and polymer spread (PSP). We evaluate a new sample preparation method using Induction Based Fluidics (IBF) to kinetically launch and direct nanoliter volumes to a target without contact. IBF offers signal improvement via field enhanced crystallization. This is the first study to discuss filed enhanced crystallization in MALDI sample preparation. IBF can increase signal/noise (S/N) and signal intensity for polystyrene (PS), …

Analysis Of Stochastic Disruptions To Support Design Of Capacitated Engineered Networks, Andrés Fernando Uribe-Sánchez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work is a compilation of four manuscripts, three of which are published and one is

in the second round of review, all in refereed journals. All four manuscripts focus on analysis

of stochastic disruptions to support design of capacitated engineered networks. The work

is motivated by limited ability to mitigate elevated risk exposure of large-scale capacitated

enterprise networks functioning in lean environments. Such inability to sustain enterprise

capacity in the face of disruptions of various origins has been causing multi-billion enterprise

forfeitures and hefty insurance premiums. At the same time, decision support methodologies

for reliable design of dynamic capacitated …

News Media Representations Of Women In The U.S. Military Post September 11, 2001, Colleen Krepstekies

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines newspaper portrayals produced by the

Washington Post, the New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times of women in the military from Sept. 11, 2001, to Sept. 11, 2009. The purpose was to identify how the three nationally recognized U.S. newspapers depict women’s expanding combat roles on contemporary battlefields that lack definitive front lines. Because the news media are the primary vehicle to update the general public on military matters, how the news media portray military women can play a role in shaping audience perceptions of military women. In turn, this relationship can influence the …

Synthesis Of Functionalized Resorcin[4]Arene Via Click Chemistry, Ali Husain

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Click chemistry is a very powerful chemical strategy that overcome carbon-carbon bond with carbon-heteroatom bond by joining small units with heteroatom links (C-X-C) using spring-loaded reactants. The Cu(I)-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition is a major example based on the click chemistry philosophy. This method was used for the last 10 years to join different functional groups, carbohydrates, aminoacids, polymers to calix[4]arene and resorcin[4]arene cavitands by a stable 1,2,3-triazole linkages.

Herein I describe our interest in this type of click chemistry reaction in the synthesis of dimeric capsules resorcin[4]arene via four 1,2,3-triazole linkages. Two different resorcin[4]arene derivatives were synthesized in which four …