Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Dependency Of Loosening Parameters On Secondary Locking Features Of Threaded Inserts, Carlos Felipe Acosta

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a study of the dependency of loosening parameters on secondary locking features of threaded inserts subjected to dynamic shear loads. Secondary locking is used to assist and/or provide redundancy to the primary locking feature (threads) in preventing preload loss in almost any mechanical applications. Two different secondary locking features are studied: the Locking Heli-Coil insert and the Loctite Threadlocker (R) applied before assembly to a Standard Heli-Coil insert. Five parameters are studied in this thesis: percentage loss of initial preload, initial rate of preload loss, secondary rate of preload loss, steady-state value, and the final preload value. …

Integrin Mediated Mechanotransduction In Renal Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells, Lavanya Balasubramanian

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Integrins are transmembrane heterodimeric proteins that link extracellular matrix (ECM) to cytoskeleton and have been shown to function as mechanotransducers in non-muscle cells. Synthetic integrin-binding peptide triggers Ca²⁺ mobilization and contraction in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from rat afferent arteriole, indicating that interactions between ECM and integrins modulate vascular tone. RGD, an integrin binding peptide, triggered contraction in cultured VSMCs as observed by Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing technique. To examine whether integrins transduce extracellular mechanical stress into intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling events in VSMCs, unidirectional mechanical force was applied to freshly isolated renal VSMCs through paramagnetic beads coated …

A Comparative Study Of Healthcare Procurement Models, Arka Bhattacharya

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) play a significant role in the healthcare industry. The presence of GPOs helps the healthcare centers to offload their responsibilities so that they can focus on more critical areas which require attention like providing quality care.

This thesis involves the comparison of three models of procurement operations in terms of cost efficiency. This cost comparison model features a healthcare organization associated with a national GPO, a healthcare organization which procures by self sourcing (not associated with a GPO), and a hybrid procurement model involving a national GPO and a regional GPO. The comparison model highlighted the …

Utilization Of Community-Based Transitional Housing By Homeless Veteran Populations Diagnosed With A Mental Illness: The Association Between Predisposing, Enabling, And Need Factors With Program Outcomes, Roger Casey

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mental illness among homeless populations is a significant public health issue. Community-based programs that assist the homeless are most often developed to meet local housing needs, not the needs of mental health populations. Transitional housing, a model frequently utilized to address homelessness in communities, provides program-based housing with supportive services.

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between participant- and program-level factors on the utilization of community-based transitional housing by homeless veterans diagnosed with a mental illness. The study tested a revised framework of the behavioral model of utilization for vulnerable populations theory.

The sample was comprised …

Acoustic Classification Of Benthic Habitats In Tampa Bay, Shane C. Dunn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The need for assessment of benthic habitat characteristics may arise for many reasons. Such reasons may include but are not limited to, habitat mapping, environmental concerns and identification of submerged aquatic vegetation. Oftentimes, such endeavors employ the use of aerial photography, satellite imagery, diving transects and extensive sampling. Aerial photography and remote sensing techniques can be severely limited by water clarity and depth, whereas diver transects and extensive sampling can be time consuming and limited in spatial extent. Acoustic methods of seabed mapping, such as the acoustic sediment classification system QTC are not hampered by water clarity issues. The acoustic …

First-Principles Studies Of Energetic Materials, Michael W. Conroy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

First-principles density functional theory calculations were performed on a number of important energetic molecular crystals, pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX), cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX), and nitromethane. Simulations of hydrostatic and uniaxial compressions, as well as predictions of ground-state structures at ambient conditions, were performed using the DFT codes CASTEP and VASP.

The first calculations done with CASTEP using GGA-PW yielded reasonable agreement with experiment for the calculated isothermal EOS for PETN-I from hydrostatic compression data, yet the EOS for β -HMX shows substantial deviation from experiment. Interesting anisotropic behavior of the shear-stress maxima were exhibited by both crystals upon uniaxial …

Malaria, Labor Supply, And Schooling In Sub-Saharan Africa, Taiwo Abimbola

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the causal effects of malaria and poor health in general on economic outcome in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study uses panel data from the Living Standard Measurement Survey (LSMS) for Tanzania from 1991 to 2004. Three main hypotheses are tested. First, the study evaluates the effect of malaria and other chronic illnesses on labor supply using the number of hours worked per week as a measure of outcome. Second, it determines the impact of poor health on human capital accumulation by measuring the number of weekly school hours lost to illness. The third …

Reading Fluency Through Alternative Text: Rereading With An Interactive Sing-To-Read Program Embedded Within A Middle School Music Classroom, Marie Biggs

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Singing exaggerates the language of reading. The students find their voices in the rhythm and bounce of language by using music as an alternative text. A concurrent mixed methods study was conducted to investigate the use of an interactive sing-to-read program Tune Into Reading (Electronic Learning Products, 2006) as an alternative text, embedded within a heterogeneous music classroom. Measured by the Qualitative Reading Inventory-4 (QRI-4) (Leslie & Caldwell, 2006), the fluency, word recognition, comprehension, and instructional reading level of the treatment students were compared to their counterparts who sang as part of the regular music program. Concurrently, this investigation also …

Development Of Micro/Nanosensor Elements And Packaging Techniques For Oceanography, Shyam Aravamudhan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this research, novel high resolution reinforced diaphragm MEMS piezoresistive pressure sensors were designed, fabricated and tested to measure physical phenomena (such as depth/pressure variations) in the ocean. To complement the physical sensing elements, a microfluidic electrochemical nitrate sensor, was also developed to detect chemical fluxes. The electrochemical sensor was designed and packaged to conform to a flow through system. The multisensor approach will enable better measurement quality compared to the current ocean sensors. This, in turn, will potentially improve the current understanding of physical and biogeochemical processes from coastal to deep-sea environment.

The pressure sensor element utilized a reinforced …

A Dynamic Inventory/Maintenance Model, Jonathan J. Bates

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A model is proposed to provide inventory and maintenance guidance for a system of operating parts. This model is capable of handling a system with multiple operating components, unknown part lifetime failure distribution, and separately maintained parts. In this model, part reliability characteristics are used along with system costs to predict the required stocking levels and part replacement times. Two maintenance strategies are presented that have the unique characteristic of allowing flexible scheduling of replacements. A case study is completed comparing developed stocking policies to an existing policy. An estimation selection method is introduced and fit into the model for …

Yogi-Ing Purists, Trail Magic And Men In Skirts: An Analysis Of Appalachian Trail Culture, Shellie L. Andrews

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the motivations and experiences of those thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in the 20th and 21st Century. A detailed analysis examines the influence of conservationism, urban development, and collective American values on trail culture. The analysis uses Susan Fast's methodology from her 2000 article, "Rethinking Issues of Gender and Sexuality in Led Zeppelin: A Woman's view of Pleasure and Power in Hard Rock," as a model. Personal experiences from hiking the A.T. in 2003 are analyzed in juxtaposition with other hiker's written accounts. The bulk of these journals come from the website TrailJournals.com.

The Appalachian Trail extends over …

Silicon Carbide Biocompatibility, Surface Control And Electronic Cellular Interaction For Biosensing Applications, Camilla Coletti

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cell-semiconductor hybrid systems are a potential centerpiece in the scenery of biotechnological applications. The selection and study of promising crystalline semiconductor materials for bio-sensing applications is at the basis of the development of such hybrid systems. In this work we introduce crystalline SiC as an extremely appealing material for bio-applications. For the first time we report biocompatibility studies of different SiC polytypes whose results document the biocompatibility of this material and its capability of directly interfacing cells without the need of surface functionalization. Since the successful implementation of biosensors requires a good understanding and versatile control of the semiconductor surface …

The Effects Of Mentoring On The Elementary Special Education Mentor, Maria Angeliadis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Increasingly, mentor programs are being developed in teacher education programs to assist novice teachers. The focus in most of the literature on mentoring is on the new teacher being mentored. While the mentor teacher appears to be the most crucial element in mentoring programs (Feinman-Nemser, 1992; Little, 1990; White, 1995), there is not much information about how a teacher experiences being a mentor or the perceived benefits to a mentor.

The purpose of this present study was to examine the effects of mentoring on mentors in order to: (a) address the gap in the literature by exploring the effects of …

Evaluation Of The Supply Chain Of Key Industrial Sectors And Its Impact On The Electricity Demand For A Regional Distribution Company, Thiago Arruda Mariotoni

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Considering the international scenario, in a recent past, the electrical industry was based on the concepts of monopolistic concessions and vertical utilities structures. In Brazil, until recently, the electricity companies were all governmental properties that served restricted monopolized areas. In a similar manner, in the United States, monopolies for certain concession areas were assigned to vertically integrated electric utilities. This monopolistic portfolio brought to the industry, in a generic sense, a lack in the interface between companies and consumers. This fact established a low capacity of obtaining consumer's information and consequently, a low capacity of developing precise demand forecasts.

Lately, …

Risk Reduction Decision Making In Women With Brca1/2 Gene Mutations, Heidi M. King

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With technological advances in testing for gene mutations, a new population of BRCA1/2 women is becoming aware of their increased risk for developing breast and/or ovarian cancer. A salient issue these women face is which risk-reducing option to choose. Little is known about the decision making factors underlying the choice of prophylactic mastectomy for women with a BRCA1/2 mutation. To address this issue, 137 unaffected, positive BRCA1/2 gene mutation carriers (42 who opted for prophylactic mastectomy, 95 who did not) served as participants. All women completed an on-line battery that assessed the following theory-based decision making variables: advantages and disadvantages …

Non-Invasive Manipulation Of Membrane Potential In Intact Living Cells, Robin Dando

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

All living cells contain the electrogenic enzyme Na/K ATPase, whose function is to pump ions against the electrochemical gradient, in order to provide potential energy which is later used for cellular processes such as action potentials, muscle contraction and facilitated transport. Using a technique developed in our lab, exploiting the molecule's voltage dependence, it is possible to increase this pump function by many folds. Optical measurement of the membrane potential of living cells was made using a potentiommetric dye, with successful manipulation of the ionic concentration and membrane potential reported. Additional supporting results are presented, along with extension of this …

Interagency Collaboration And Communication: Funders And Service Providers Working Together To Create A Management Service Organization, Beth E. Eschenfelder

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Charitable nonprofit organizations are growing in number and scope, but the body of literature and knowledge about communication within these organizations is limited. Today, charitable organizations face a flurry of economic and environmental factors that challenge their continued survival: growing community needs, mounting funding cuts from all segments of government, increased competition for funding, a limited pool of dedicated community leaders to serve on boards, decreased charitable giving for some causes, and persistent calls for greater accountability. As nonprofits explore new ways of coping with these socioeconomic pressures---such as reorganization, consolidation, mergers, and management service organizations---there is a clear need …

The Model-Based Systematic Development Of Logis Online Graphing Instructional Simulator, Darrel R. Davis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This Developmental Research study described the development of an interactive online graphing instructional application and the impact of the Analysis Design Development Implementation Evaluation (ADDIE) model on the development process. An optimal learning environment was produced by combining Programmed Instruction and Adaptive Instruction principles with a graphing simulator that implemented guided contingent practice. The development process entailed the creation and validation of three instruments measuring knowledge, skills, and attitudes, which were components of the instruction.

The research questions were focused on the influence of the ADDIE model on the development process and the value of the LOGIS instructional application. The …

Examining The Distinction And Concordance Between Implicit Measures Of Alcohol Expectancies: Toward Agreement On Their Meaning And Use, Maureen C. Below

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol expectancies have traditionally been measured with explicit self-report questionnaires, but in recent years implicit measures have also been used to explore the tenets of expectancy theory. The basic psychometric properties of reliability and validity have not been established for most implicit tasks, and the convergent validity of different implicit measures has not been explored. Despite these shortcomings, many researchers continue to treat implicit tasks as reliable and valid assessment tools. To address reliability and validity of implicit measures, 218 undergraduate women and men were recruited from the University of South Florida to examine the psychometric properties of and concordance …

Political Pedagogy And Art Education With Youth In A Street Situation In Salvador, Brazil: An Ethnographic Evaluation Of The Street Education Program Of Projeto Axé, Lance A. Arney

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Projeto Axé is a non-governmental organization that carries out political-pedagogical work and art education for children and adolescents living in a street situation in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. I conducted an exploratory ethnographic study with Projeto Axé's Street Education program in order to observe its day-to-day activities and to conduct a utilization-focused program evaluation (Patton 1997) of its pedagogical praxis. This thesis will describe how ethnographic fieldwork methods are interwoven with the political-pedagogical approaches of Projeto Axé's Street Education program and explain how street educators attempt to construct citizenship with participants in the Street Education program. Findings are based on an …

Cost/Effectiveness Analysis Of Obtaining Operational Estimates Of Reference Evapotranspiration, Peninsular Florida, Usa, Michael G. Kittridge

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study is to conduct a cost/effectiveness analysis of the computation of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) in the peninsular of Florida. A meteorological station on the Fort Meade Mine in Polk County, Florida was used to provide data for the calculation of ETo. Five ETo equations were tested to determine the accuracy and cost/effectiveness to the fully measured ASCE Penman-Monteith (Full ASCE-PM) equation on daily, monthly, and annually time steps. The ETo equations ranged in amounts of parameters from the Full ASCE-PM to the Hargreaves. The energy terms accounted for approximately 90% of the total ETo flux. Solar …

Clear Speech Effects For Vowels Produced By Monolingual And Bilingual Talkers, Teresa Demasi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

'Clear speech' is a speaking style that talkers often employ when they know they may have trouble being understood, as when speaking in noise or to a person with a hearing loss. When 'clear speech' produced by native talkers is presented in noise to native listeners, it has been shown to be about 10-15 percentage points more intelligible, on average, than normally produced speech. Recent research has shown that bilingual listeners may experience a smaller intelligibility benefit than monolingual listeners from 'clear speech' produced by monolingual talkers. The present study compares the ability of monolingual and bilingual talkers to produce …

The Effects Of Decision-Making And Leadership Styles On Relationships And Perceived Effectiveness In The University Development Context, Rachael K. Van Loveren

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how employees' perceptions of leadership, decision-making, and relationships are associated with their perception of a development operations' effectiveness. Deans, development officers, central development staff, and unit development staff at the University of South Florida were surveyed via email. The results indicated that employees' perceptions of leadership, decision-making, and relationships are strongly related to their perceived job satisfaction, trust, commitment, and control mutuality and consequently their perception of the development operation's effectiveness.

An Evaluation Of Movement Patterns And Effects Of Habitat Patch Size On The Demography Of The Florida Mouse (Podomys Floridanus), Irmgard Lukanik

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Habitat degradation by humans has been the main reason for the decline in numbers of P. floridanus, the only mammal indigenous to the state of Florida, in the past century. The mouse inhabits what remains of scrub and sandhill associations, which are characterized by patches of sandy soils within a more mesic landscape. It has long been accepted that small populations are more prone to decline and extinction than are larger ones as a result of environmental fluctuations. I hypothesized that the demography of a population of P. floridanus would be affected by a restriction in numbers through habitat …

Effects Of Clear Speech And Linguistic Experience On Acoustic Characteristics Of Vowel Production, Michelle Bianchi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated the hypothesis that later and/or early learners of English as a second language may exhibit an exaggerated or restricted degree of change in their production performance between clear and conversational speech styles for certain acoustic cues. Monolingual English talkers (MO), early Spanish-English bilinguals (EB) and late Spanish-English bilinguals (LB) were recorded using both clear and conversational speaking styles. The stimuli consisted of six target vowels /i, I, e, E, ae/ and /a/, embedded in /bVd/ context. All recorded target-word stimuli were isolated into words. Vowel duration was computed, and fundamental frequency (F0), and formant frequency values …

Geomorphology Of Submarine Spring West Of Fort Myers, Florida, Shihadah M. Saleem

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In March of 2000, March of 2001, and April of 2002, multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data were collected, which revealed several low-temperature hydrothermal submarine springs in the Mudhole Submarine Springs (MHSS) area that were investigated by SCUBA divers. High-resolution multibeam sonar provides a precise way of defining the geomorphology of the seafloor. The bathymetry data were used to understand (1) vent geomorphology and how it varied from vent to vent; (2) spatial patterns of active vents compared to extinct vents and known land springs identified by Kohout (1977) and Breland (1980); and (3) potential correlations between geochemical and geomorphological characteristics …

Explaining Drinking Patterns And Heavy Drinking Among Racial And Ethnic Subgroups In The United States, Michael S. Caudy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The study of racial differences in the consumption of alcohol and the prevalence of alcohol-related problems has clearly matured in recent years. Researchers have moved away from single-factor explanations and are beginning to develop and test theories focusing on the complex interplay of psychological, historical, cultural, and social factors that describe and explain alcohol use among racial and ethnic subgroups in the United States. The current study continues this maturation process by further examining the complex interaction effects of predictor variables that have established their utility in explaining racial/ethnic subgroup differences in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. This study analyzes …

Improving Pediatric Cardiology Consultation Methods By Introducing Digital Interactive 3-D Heart Models: A Proof Of Concept Study, Adam Verigan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of a pediatric cardiology consultation is to inform, or educate, the patient and family of all aspects surrounding a certain congenital heart defect. Consultation education methods and materials may include verbal descriptions, two-dimensional (2-D) heart diagrams, and take-home pamphlets. Because the human heart is a complex three-dimensional (3-D) object, the problem lies within the clarity to which these methods are performed by the doctors and understood by the patients and families. Therefore, during a consultation the cardiologist must a) possess the ability to describe a defect visually as well as verbally and b) ensure that the patient and …

Understanding And Closing The Gaps: A Gap Audit Approach Linking Archaeology And Land Acquisition Strategies In Florida, Lori D. Collins

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The population in Florida is projected to double over the next 50 years. Large land areas now in rural settings will become residential and urban areas. More than seven million acres of agriculture and open space will convert to housing developments, shopping malls, and business space. At stake are natural and cultural resources, which are lost or fragmented in this growth process. New planning measures are called for in order to grow in ways that minimize and least impact resources.

Archaeological value in preservation projects is often examined after priorities for natural resources have been set, relegating archaeology to a …

The Use Of Microarrays In The Detection Of The Gene Expression Of Ribulose- 1,5- Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase (Rubisco) In The Marine Environment, Kathryn Lafaye Bailey

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) pathway is the primary pathway for the entry of inorganic carbon in the biosphere. Autotrophic organisms use this cycle to ultimately convert CO₂ into carbohydrates using a key enzyme known as ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO). The gene that encodes for the large subunit of RubisCO is rbcL and detection of its expression can be used to determine the autotrophic organisms present in the environment. Recently, microarrays have been used to study functional gene expression from environmental samples such as those obtained from sediments and soil. The purpose of this thesis is to combine microarray technology and rbcL …