Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Green And Ampt Infiltration Model Accounting For Air Compression And Air Counterflow In The Shallow Water Table Environment: Laboratory Experiments, Yuliya Lukyanets

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Water infiltration into the unsaturated zone especially in a shallow water table environment is affected by air compression ahead of the wetting front and air counterflow. Neglecting air compression in infiltration modeling can overestimate infiltration and infiltration rates, whereas not accounting for air counterflow can underestimate infiltration and infiltration rates due to unrealistic buildup of air pressure resistance ahead of the wetting front. A method, derived on the basis of the Green and Ampt (1911) infiltration model, is introduced to simulate air compression and air counterflow during infiltration into a shallow water table. The method retains the simplicity of the …

Phenotypic And Genotypic Analysis Of In Vitro Selected Artemisinin Resistant Plasmodium Falciparum, Matthew Scott Tucker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Artemisinin and its derivatives provide faster clearance of parasitemia than any other antimalarial drugs and these drugs are part of frontline combination therapies in areas where drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum exists. Clinical resistance to artemisinins is emerging on the Thailand-Cambodia border, making it imperative to investigate mechanisms of artemisinin resistance. Previous work in our laboratory showed ring-stage parasites enter a dormant state after exposure to artemisinin. We hypothesize that this period of dormancy is directly related to recrudescence and prolonged parasite clearance times in patients, and possibly resistance. The target of artemisinin is currently unknown, and potential resistance mechanisms are not …

Gender And Cocaine Use Influence The Expression Of Urinary Markers Of Inflammation And Oxidative Stress, Marie Meagher Bourgeois

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not gender differences may be present in the expression of a number of urinary proteins which may serve as markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Males and females have different patterns of illness and different life spans, suggesting basic biological traits exert significant control on the incidence of rhabdomyolysis, renal failure, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia, myocardial contraction band formation, autoimmune disorders and general inflammatory diseases. Men are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease; however women, particularly elderly women, have higher fatality rates due to heart failure. Renal diseases progress far more …

Impact Of Tank Material On Water Quality In Household Water Storage Systems In Cochabamba, Bolivia, Cynthia Anne Schafer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The importance of water as a mechanism for the spread of disease is well recognized. This study conducted household surveys and measured several physical, chemical, and microbial water quality indicators in 37 elevated storage tanks constructed of different materials (polyethylene, fiberglass, cement) located in a peri-urban community near Cochabamba, Bolivia. Results show that although there is no significant difference in physical and chemical water quality between polyethylene, fiberglass and cement water storage tanks there is a difference in microbial contamination as measured by

E. Coli counts (p = 0.082). Evidence points toward elevated water temperatures that increase along the …

An Evaluation Of The Prevent-Teach-Reinforce (Ptr) Model In A Community Preschool Setting, Laura L. Kulikowski

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated the use of the Prevent-Teach-Reinforce (PTR) model with two four-year-old children in a community preschool classroom. A multiple baseline design across activities was used to assess the teacher implementation of the behavior intervention strategies developed during the PTR team process and the changes in child problem behavior and engagement. Additional measures associated with the outcomes, such as researcher procedural integrity and social validity were assessed. The results suggest that the team of teachers were able to implement the PTR intervention with fidelity, which resulted in a decrease in the children’s problem behavior and an increase in their …

The Relationship Between Knowledge And Beliefs About Human Papillomavirus, Acceptance Of The Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, And Intentions To Practice Safer Sex Behaviors Among Female College Students, Theresa Scorcia-Wilson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to be highly prevalent among young women, and STIs continue to be a challenging health issue on college campuses. Studies have shown that the highest prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) is among young adult women, ages 20 to 24, including female college students. While the HPV vaccine has proven to be highly effective in preventing certain high-risk types of HPV, it is not effective in preventing all types of HPV or other STIs. Practicing other safer sex behaviors, in addition to condom use, also can help individuals protect themselves and their partners from …

A Stella Model For Integrated Algal Biofuel Production And Wastewater Treatment, Ivy Cormier

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Based on a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Tampa, FL, a dynamic multiple-systems model was developed on the STELLA software platform to explore algae biomass production in wastewater by incorporating two photobioreactors into the WWTP‟s treatment train. Using a mass balance approach, the model examined the synergy through algal growth and substrate removal kinetics, as well as macroeconomic-level analyses of algal biomass conversion to biodiesel, biogas, or fertilizer. A sensitivity analysis showed that biomass production is highly dependent on Monod variables and harvesting regime, and profitability was sensitive to processing costs, market prices of products, and energy environment. The …

A Contingent Valuation Of Tampa’S Urban Forest Resource, Alec Foster

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Urban forests provide environmental, social, and economic benefits to urban residents. These benefits are often overlooked when making spatial and financial distributive decisions in urban areas. The City of Tampa has demonstrated interest in its urban forest resource and estimated its extent and some of the benefits provided. Estimating economic values for benefits that have not been quantified can help to ensure that resources are distributed more efficiently. Five methods to estimate urban forest benefits in the City of Tampa are reviewed, with contingent valuation being the method chosen out of this review process. A mailed, dichotomous choice contingent valuation …

Predictors Of Peer Referral Intentions For Individuals At Risk For Suicide Related Behavior: An Application Of The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Sarah J. Tarquini

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The role of peer gatekeepers is crucial in connecting individuals at risk for suicide

related behaviors to mental health service providers. However, limited research has

focused on the role of peers as potential helpers for those at-risk. The current study

utilized a mixed experimental and correlational design to examine predictors of female

college students’ referral intentions following hypothetical interactions with peers at-risk

for suicide related behavior. More specifically, the current project examined the utility of

an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model of peer-referral intentions. In

addition to the original TPB constructs of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived

behavioral …

Understanding The Uncapped Poker Florida Legislation Of 2010 And Its Affect On Florida Poker Players, The State Of Florida, And The Game Of Poker Itself., Andrew Phillips

Honors Thesis and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Molecular Mechanism Of Agc Kinases In Human Malignant, Shaokun Shu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The maintenance of normal cell function and tissue homeostasis is dependent on the precise regulation of multiple signaling pathways that control cellular decisions to either proliferate, differentiate, arrest cell growth, or initiate programmed cell death (apoptosis). Cancer arises when clones of mutated cells escape this balance and proliferate inappropriately without compensatory apoptosis. Deregulated cell growth occurs as a result of perturbed signal transduction that modulates or alters cellular behavior or function to keep the critical balance between the rate of cell-cycle progression (cell division) and cell growth (cell mass) on one hand, and programmed cell death (apoptosis, autophagy) on the …

Molecular Detection Of The Toxic Marine Diatom Pseudo-Nitzschia Multiseries, Jennifer A. Delaney

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The marine diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia includes species that produce domoic acid, a neurotoxin responsible for illness and mortality in both humans and marine wildlife. Because of the expertise and time required for the microscopic discrimination of species, molecular methods that monitor environmental concentrations of Pseudo-nitzschia provide a rapid alternative for the early detection of blooms and prediction of toxin accumulation. We have developed a nucleic acid sequence-based amplification with internal control RNA (IC-NASBA) assay and a quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) assay for the detection of the toxic species P. multiseries targeting the ribulose- 1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase small subunit (rbcS) gene. …

Kinematic And Experimental Evaluation Of Commercial Wheelchair-Mounted Robotic Arms, John William Capille Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Commercially available wheelchair-mounted robotic arms (WMRAs) are becoming more prevalent internationally but have yet to be largely developed and approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. The purpose of this study was to experimentally evaluate commercially available WMRAs in a controlled test environment. The goal was to quantitatively compare each device through a standardized testing protocol. The study produced theoretical manipulability measurements as well as efficacy ratings of each device based on Denavit-Hartenberg kinematic parameters and physical testing, respectively. Both the manipulator and control devices of WMRA systems were evaluated. The iARM WMRA system was presented …

Queering Cognition: Extended Minds And Sociotechnologically Hybridized Gender, Michele Merritt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the last forty years, significant developments in neuroscience, psychology, and robotic technology have been cause for major trend changes in the philosophy of mind. One such shift has been the reallocation of focus from entirely brain-centered theories of mind to more embodied, embedded, and even extended answers to the questions,

what are cognitive processes and where do we find such phenomena? Given that hypotheses such as Clark and Chalmers‘ (1998) Extended Mind or Hutto‘s (2006) Radical Enactivism, systematically undermine the organism-bound, internal, and static pictures of minds and allow instead for the distribution of cognitive processes among brains, bodies, …

Contemporary Afro-Cuban Voices In Tampa: Reclaiming Heritage In “America’S Next Greatest City”, Linda M. Callejas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents findings from ethnographic research conducted with members of the Sociedad La Unión Martí-Maceo, established by segregated Black Cuban cigar workers in Ybor City in 1904. For decades, Tampa officials have initiated numerous urban revitalization projects aimed at developing a world-class tourist destination and metropolitan center. Often, these efforts have centered on highlighting the ethnic history of Ybor City, from which the participation of Black Cubans and the Martí-Maceo Society have been actively excluded or ignored. The main issues related to contemporary Afro- Cuban identity in Tampa and which will be examined in my dissertation, include the changing …

The Biocomplexity Of Benthic Communities Associated With A Shallow-Water Hydrothermal System In Papua New Guinea, David J. Karlen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Shallow-water hydrothermal vents occur world-wide in regions of volcanic activity. The vents located at Tutum Bay, Ambitle Island, Papua New Guinea are unique in that the vent fluids and surrounding sediments contain some of the highest concentrations of arsenic in a natural system. This study addresses the effects of the vent system on the benthic communities, focusing on the eukaryotes, macrofauna, meiofauna and bacteria.

Samples were collected in November 2003 and May/June 2005. Analysis of the 2003 macrofaunal samples indicated that pH, rather than arsenic was influencing the benthic community, and that the hydrothermal influence occurred at a greater distance …

Exploring The Human Interactivity With A Robot To Obtain The Fundamental Properties Of Materials, William L. Christian

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research studies the way in which humans and robots interact with each other. When two humans are working together through a set of robotic devices, do they tend to work together or fight with each other more? In which Cartesian direction do they have the most difficulty? Does fighting drastically affect the performance of the team? Finally, what measures can be taken to promote better cooperation between humans and robots to ultimately allow humans to work just as comfortably with a robotic partner as with a human partner? This research answers these questions and provides an analysis of human-robot …

Body Depilation Among Women And Men: The Association Of Body Hair Reduction Or Removal With Body Satisfaction, Appearance Comparison, Body Image Disturbance, And Body Dysmorphic Disorder Symptomatology, Michael Scott Boroughs

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Body depilation, or the reduction or removal of body hair, is a relatively new area of research inquiry. Although women in many industrialized cultures have engaged in depilation for several decades, this behavior has been documented only recently among men. Though originally thought to be widely practiced by women and only a small proportion of men, including athletes or bodybuilders, recent studies suggest that more men engage in body depilation than previously hypothesized. In fact, one recent study estimated the prevalence of men's body depilation at 83.7% which suggests that men are depilating at rates similar to women. Nevertheless sparse …

Ocbs Gone Bad: The Moderating Roles Of Burnout And Role Overload, Kevin Loo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous literature has typically assumed that organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) are beneficial to both employees and organizations. Researchers have begun to question this assumption. This paper seeks to identify situations when OCBs are detrimental to employees or organizations. Specifically, two variables (burnout and role overload) are hypothesized to moderate the relationship between OCBs and outcomes (job satisfaction, turnover intentions, and task performance), such that when burnout and role overload are high, negative outcomes occur. Moderated regression was used to test the hypotheses. There was little evidence for burnout as a moderator, but interactions involving role overload were significant; however, the …

A Narrative Study Of Perspectives Of Puerto Rican Doctoral Graduates, Doreen Rivera Rapp

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A review of the literature indicates that Latinos lag behind Whites and Blacks in college degree attainment. This educational disparity is of concern because Latinos are currently the largest minority group in the United States, and the Latino population is expected to increase exponentially in the future. College degree attainment for Latinos is imperative because statistics show an undeniable relationship between degree attainment and income level. In order to ensure the economic wellbeing of Latinos, it is important that Latinos persist through college degree programs. This is especially true for Puerto Ricans because they are the second largest Latino subgroup. …

Understanding School Readiness Abilities Of Bilingual Latino Head Start Children And The Differences Among Latin American Regions, Liza Arango

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Limited research has been conducted focusing on the school readiness abilities among bilingual Latino children. Additionally, little is known about how children from different Latin American regions may differ in their readiness skills. This study examines the differences in school readiness abilities in both English and Spanish of a group of bilingual Latino Head Start children in five counties in Florida (n = 202). Specifically, the study investigates the differences in abilities among children from different Latin American Regions (i.e., North American, Caribbean, Central American, and South American). School readiness skills were assessed using subtests from the Woodcock Johnson III …

Small Antennas Design For 2.4 Ghz Applications, Ibrahim Turki Nassar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In many wireless devices, antennas occupy the majority of the overall size. As compact device sizes become a greater focus in industry, the demand for small antennas escalates. In this thesis, detailed investigations on the design of a planar meandered line antenna with truncated ground plane and 3D dipole antenna at 2.4 GHz (ISM band) are presented. The primary goal of this research is to develop small, low coast, and low profile antennas for wireless sensor applications. The planar meandered line antenna was designed based on a study of different miniaturization techniques and a study of the ground plane effect. …

The Virtual Hip: An Anatomically Accurate Finite Element Model Based On The Visible Human Dataset, Jonathan M. Ford

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine if element decimation of a 3-D anatomical model affects the results of Finite Element Analysis (FEA). FEA has been increasingly applied to the biological and medical sciences. In order for an anatomical model to successfully run in FEA, the 3-D model’s complex geometry must be simplified, resulting in a loss of anatomical detail. The process of decimation reduces the number of elements within the structure and creates a simpler approximation of the model. Using the National Library of Medicine’s Visible Human Male dataset, a virtual 3-D representation of several structures of the …

Problematic Conceptualizations: Allies In Teacher Education For Social Justice, Vonzell Agosto

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Faculty Publications

This review of the literature on the concept ally and ally identity development was inspired by a qualitative study exploring the identities and social justice values of prospective teachers of color. Although the participants in the original study never used the term ally, their narratives inspired me to characterize them as allies in the struggle for social justice education. However, a review of the literature on allies, as analyzed through critical race theory and critical discourse analysis, revealed emerging conceptualizations of ally as incongruent with minority identities as they position people of color at the periphery of this social justice …

Design Of A Comprehensive Student Information System (Sis) And User Interface For The Honors College At Usf, Sean M. Motta

Honors Thesis and Capstone Projects

The creation and management of accurate, up-to-date information regarding a student’s academic career is critically important in the management of a university. Previously, the USF Honors College relied heavily on paper records for this initiative. This research focuses on the design and implementation of a comprehensive student information system and user interface to replace the current paper records. Honors College Staff are able to directly access all aspects of a student’s academic progress through a secure, online interface embedded in the college’s website. The system utilizes user authentication, displaying only information necessary for an individual’s duties. Additionally, each sub-system has …

A Comparison Of Feedback Procedures On Teachers’ Use Of Behavior Support Strategies And Children’S Problem And Alternative Behaviors In Preschool Classrooms, Jada-Rae D. Traub

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two feedback procedures: written feedback and written feedback plus audio feedback on two teachers’ use of behavior support strategies and two children’s problem and alternative behaviors in two community preschool settings. A non-concurrent multiple-baseline design across teacher-child dyads with an A-B-C sequence was used to assess the effects of the feedback procedures on teacher and child target behaviors. A 10-second partial interval recording system was used to measure child target behaviors during 10-minute sessions and an event recording system to measure teacher use of strategies. The results indicated that …

Thesis: Diagnosis And Treatment Of Alzheimer’S Disease: Current Challenges, Kelly Bethune

Honors Thesis and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

The Cultural, Psychological, And Legal Aspects Of Video Game Censorship, Bryan Wojciechowski

Honors Thesis and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Paclitaxel And Obatoclax Synergize To Kill Paclitaxel-Resistant Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells, Neil Manimala

Honors Thesis and Capstone Projects

Small molecule BH3 mimetic obatoclax (GX15-070) enhances the chemotherapeutic action of paclitaxel by increasing in vitro occurrence of Type I cell death (apoptosis) in selected small cell lung cancer (SCLC) lines. SCLC is historically resistant to paclitaxel treatment, yielding only single-digit response rates in second line chemotherapy. This resistance is attributed to a paclitaxel-induced upregulation of mitochondrial pro-survival protein bcl-xL. To increase SCLC response rates to taxol treatment, it is important to find a therapeutic modality that disables the bcl-xL line of defense against apoptosis. It was hypothesized that a combination of paclitaxel and obatoclax would synergize to enhance in …

Losing Faith: Radical Religious Thought In The Early English Enlightenment, Michael Curry

Honors Thesis and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.