Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Measuring Social Stressors In Organizations: The Development Of The Interpersonal Conflict In Organizations Scale (Icos), Valentina Bruk Lee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Interpersonal conflict in organizations has been recognized as a leading social stressor across occupations with detrimental effects on employee well-being and organizational outcomes. However, reliable and valid measures of conflict are scarce and even the most widely used scales are limited by weaknesses in construct definition. In order to address the need for an improved measurement tool, the 63-item Interpersonal Conflict in Organizations Scale (ICOS) was developed. The ICOS was based on a comprehensive conceptualization of conflict that defines the construct on the basis of three definitional components: disagreement, interference, and negative emotion (Barki & Hartwick, 2004). In addition, the …

Uncontrollable And Unpredictable Stress With A Reminder Experience Induces Long-Lasting Effects On Physiology And Behavior: A Novel Approach To Modeling Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder In Rats, Phillip R. Zoladz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

People who endure horrific, life-threatening experiences are at risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, only about 25% of all individuals who experience trauma develop PTSD. Recent research indicates that the presence of certain physiological conditions, such as reduced cortisol and parasympathetic inhibition, during trauma may increase one's susceptibility to developing PTSD. Thus, I attempted to develop a novel animal model of PTSD and test the hypothesis that reduced adrenal and parasympathetic activity during stress would exacerbate its long-term effects on behavior.

In Experiment One, adult male rats were exposed to two stress sessions, each involving one hour of …

Hydrogen Isotopic Ratios Of Algal And Terrestrial Organic Matter In Lake Tulane, Florida: From A Modern Calibration To The Reconstruction Of Paleoclimatic And Paleohydrologic Conditions, Eric Charles Cross

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent sedimentary records have indicated that climate in low latitude, continental environments have varied significantly throughout the mid to late Holocene. In subtropical North America, major climatic phenomena such as the migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and the Bermuda High have been shown to play a major role in this variability. Specifically, the northward migration of the ITCZ and the eastward position of the Bermuda High during summer months leads to warmer and wetter conditions over subtropical North America, and vice versa. A quantitative approach to understanding hydrologic dynamics (i.e. atmospheric circulation patterns, relative humidity) associated with these …

Small Scale Distribution Of The Sand Dollars Mellita Tenuis And Encope Spp. (Echinodermata), James P. Swigart

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Small scale distributions of Mellita tenuis and Encope spp. were quantified at Fort De Soto Park on Mullet Key, off Egmont Key and off Captiva Island, Florida during 2005. Off Captiva Island, Encope spp. were aggregated in 33.3% of plots in March. Off Egmont Key, M. tenuis were aggregated in 100% of plots in March but in no plots in September. At Fort De Soto Park, M. tenuis were aggregated in 37.5% of plots in May 12.5% in July and 50.0% in September. Sand dollars in 6.3% of the plots in September at Fort De Soto had a uniform distribution. …

Electrical Characterization Of Metal-To-Insulator Transition In Iron Silicide Thin Films On Silicon Substrates, Hasitha C. Weerasinghe

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Iron Silicide (FeSi) films deposited on silicon substrates with the native SiO₂ layer have shown a Metal-to-Insulator Transition (MIT) of more than four order of magnitude change in resistance. Modification of the SiO2/Si interface due to Fe diffusion has been attributed to the formation of this effect. In this research a systematic experimental investigation has been carried out to study the effect of the growth parameters and substrate doping type in the transition. In addition, transport properties of continuous and discontinuous films have been investigated to understand the mechanism of this metal-to-insulator transition.

Four probe measurements of films deposited …

Development Of An End-Effector Sensory Suite For A Rehabilitation Robot, Stephanie A. Stiber

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research presents an approach in assisting the control and operation of a rehabilitation robot manipulator to execute simple grasping tasks for persons with severe disabilities. It outlines the development of an end-effector sensory suite that includes the BarrettHand end-effector, laser range finder, and a low cost camera.

The approach taken in this research differs greatly from the currently available rehabilitation robot arms in that it requires minimal user instruction, it is easy to operate and more effective for persons severely disabled. A thorough study of the currently available systems; Manus, Raptor and Kares II arm, is also presented.

In …

Assessment Of Occupational Heat Strain, Margaret Wan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Assessment of heat strain considers an individual’s tolerance and indicates the risk and physiological cost of working in hot environments. This study evaluated the discrimination ability of metrics of heat strain. The null hypotheses were that (1) the metrics individually could not discriminate between acceptable and unacceptable heat strain, (2) there were no significant differences among these metrics, and (3) there were no significant differences in the applicability of the metrics due to clothing or heat stress level.

The experimental design was a case crossover. Clothing and heat stress level were potential confounders. Two clothing ensembles were work clothes and …

An Evaluation Of The Relationship Between Stress, Depression, And Glycemic Control In Low-Income Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Kristen Jennifer Wells

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

People in low socioeconomic status groups are at increased risk for diabetes mellitus, a group of diseases associated with high levels of blood glucose. High rates of depression have been found in people with diabetes. The study examined the relationship between stress, depression, and glycemic control in low-income type 2 diabetes patients. Participants were recruited at two community health centers that provide free medical care. The following hypotheses were examined: (1) experiencing stressful life events is positively correlated with blood glucose level; (2) negative stressful events have a greater association with glucose level than positive stressful events; (3) depression mediates …

Geophysical Investigations And Groundwater Modeling Of The Hydrologic Conditions At Masaya Caldera, Nicaragua, Richard Eric Macneil

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Masaya volcano, Nicaragua, has been the site of tremendous Plinian basaltic eruptions. Two eruptions ~6,500 and 2,250 BP formed the 6 kilometer (km) x 11 km, northwest trending Masaya caldera. The present day active Santiago Crater within the caldera is the site of persistent volcano degassing and occasional phreatic explosions. While the mechanism responsible for these phreatic explosions is unclear, one possible explanation is the interaction of groundwater with the shallow magma chamber beneath Masaya. This interaction with meteoric water is supported by the substantial steam discharge from the vent, which is significantly larger than other similar volcanoes in the …

Knowledge-Based Video Compression For Robots And Sensor Networks, Chris Williams Williams

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Robot and sensor networks are needed for safety, security, and rescue applicationssuch as port security and reconnaissance during a disaster. These applications rely on realtimetransmission of images, which generally saturate the available wireless networkinfrastructure. Knowledge-based Compression is a strategy for reducing the video frametransmission rate between robots or sensors and remote operators. Because images mayneed to be archived as evidence and/or distributed to multiple applications with differentpost processing needs, lossy compression schemes, such as MPEG, H.26x, etc., are notacceptable. This work proposes a lossless video server system consisting of three classesof filters (redundancy, task, and priority) which use different levels …

A Mechanized Horseback Riding Simulator As An Aid To Physical Therapy, Jennifer Lott

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Equine-assisted therapy is a nontraditional form of physical therapy that involves riding horses as a form of rehabilitation. Limited access to these riding programs justifies a need to develop a horseback riding simulator capable of simulating the gaits, bend, and collection of the horse. Research involving the development of horseback riding simulators is limited, but the available research does show promising results in the ability to aid in physical therapy.

A two-dimensional model and simulation was developed using MATLAB. Using the results from the simulation, a horseback riding simulator was designed, fabricated and tested. The physical simulator was capable of …

The Reaction To Economic Globalization In Latin America: A Case Study Of Argentina, Lisa A. Warner

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Since Washington Consensus policies became predominant in the 1980s, two sides of the economic globalization debate have developed: advocates claim that trade liberalization, deregulation, privatization and reduced state spending increase growth and therefore reduce poverty, while critics claim that levels of poverty and income disparity have worsened at the same time that social welfare and education programs have suffered budget cuts. Over the past decade, as many Latin Americans have failed to see promised results to alleviate poverty stemming from the "lost decade" of the 1980s (and beyond), they have elected "leftist" presidents that campaigned on anti-economic globalization (or anti-neoliberal) …

Study Of Upward-Facing Spray Cooling With Water At Atmospheric Pressure, Alberto D. Sato

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Spray cooling is a high heat removal technique which has been used widely in many industries, especially metallurgical, where the control of the temperatures of metals is an important factor to obtain the desired microstructure; and also in microelectronics where is very important to obtain high heat fluxes at relatively low surface temperatures. In this study, an open loop spray cooling system has been fabricated to provide an upward-facing spray over a 12 mm diameter test surface. A full cone spray nozzle was used to deliver deionized water to the test surface at five pressures (10, 15, 20, 25 and …

Mining Medical Data In A Clinical Environment, Tim V. Ivanovskiy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The availability of new treatments for a disease depends on the success of clinical trials. In order for a clinical trial to be successful and approved, medical researchers must first recruit patients with a specific set of conditions in order to test the effectiveness of the proposed treatment. In the past, the accrual process was tedious and time-consuming. Since accruals rely heavily on the ability of physicians and their staff to be familiar with the protocol eligibility criteria, candidates tend to be missed. This can result and has resulted in unsuccessful trials.A recent project at the University of South Florida …

The Shift In United States Foreign Policy In The Middle East Since 1989, Brandon M. Ward

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A bi-polar world emerged at the end of World War II. The United States and the Soviet Union were the world’s superpowers and tensions between them spiraled consequently bringing about the Cold War. United States foreign policy during the Cold War revolved around containment policy. The Middle East during the Cold War was a region that the bi-polar world’s superpowers wanted to influence, and protect. The United States during the Cold War warned the Soviet Union through presidential doctrines that it would fight to keep the Middle East from communism, and the Soviet Union’s influence.

The bi-polar international power structure …

The Role Of Organizational Culture In The Delivery Of Humanitarian Assistance And Inter-Organizational Collaboration, Jamie Antoinette Wilke Corvin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The international community has seen a dramatic increase in the complexity of aid operations, with increasing numbers of donors participating in humanitarian aid endeavors. Therefore, it is essential to determine factors that contribute to successful aid delivery. In an effort to guide more effective and efficient aid operations, this study investigated organizational culture in three distinct types of humanitarian organizations: (a) the U.S. military, (b) the International Federation of the Red Cross, and (c) a sampling of local and indigenous non-governmental organizations. Being a relatively unexplored area, this study took an exploratory approach, utilizing qualitative methods to analyze humanitarian aid …

Establishing A Functional Analysis Protocol For Examining Behavioral Deficits Using Social Withdrawal As An Exemplar, Melissa Penaranda Walters

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to establish a functional analysis protocol for examining behavioral deficits, using social withdrawal as an exemplar. A review of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis over the past 10 years found that although the current behavior analytic literature contains extensive studies that functionally analyze behavioral excesses, there is a limited amount of studies that analyze deficits. The rationale behind this study was the notion that although behavioral deficits are rarely studied, the fact that the participant is capable of the behavior yet fails to engage in it leads to the idea that certain events …

The Acquisition Of Functional Sign Language By Non-Hearing Impaired Infants, Kerri Haley-Garrett

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research shows that young children, typically developing with no developmental delays, hearing impairments or visual impairments, can acquire sign language to communicate their wants or needs prior to their ability to communicate through spoken language. However, much of the research reviewed focused on whether it was normative for young children to use signs or symbolic gestures to represent objects, make requests, or to express other wants or needs. In addition, many of the studies reviewed lacked scientific rigor and were primarily anecdotal in that much of the data relied on parent reports of his/her child's production of signs or symbolic …

Use Of Box-Pcr Subtyping Of Escherichia Coli And Enterococcus Spp. To Determine The Source Of Microbial Contamination At A Florida Beach, Miriam J. Brownell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Siesta Key Beach, located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, is frequently mentioned among the top ten beaches in the US. In summer 2004, high levels of indicator bacteria caused health warnings to be posted, and a storm drainage system was implicated as a possible source of microbial contamination. A study was initiated to determine whether indicator bacteria that persisted in the stormwater system could contribute to high microbial loads in receiving waters. Two sampling events, one within 48 hours of a rain event and the other during dry conditions, were conducted. Water and sediment samples were taken at various …

Metal-Organic Networks Based Upon Dicarboxylato Ligands, Zhenqiang Wang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Network structures based upon metal-organic backbones represent a new class of functional materials that can be rationally constructed by employing the concepts of supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering. The modularity of design strategies, the diversity of prototypal structures, and the dynamic features of networks have afforded great advantages over traditional materials syntheses. The research presented in this thesis is primarily concerned with developing an in-depth understanding of the basic principles that govern the supramolecular behaviors of metal-organic networks and gaining an experimental control over the structure and function of these new classes of hybrid materials.

The use of rigid and …

Effect Of Tricalcium Silicate Content On Expansion In Internal Sulfate Attack, Troy T. Whitfield

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the cementitious parameters and placement temperature that impact internal sulfate attack in concrete. Concrete structures make up a large percentage of the infrastructure and multifamily housing. Durability is very important. Cements can be formulated to reduce the impact of external environmental exposure such as high salinity from marine environments or high sulfate levels from soils or surface waters. Concrete is also subject to internal attack such as alkali aggregate reaction, (AAR), and delayed ettringite formation, (DEF). This study focused on some of the cement chemistry issues that determine susceptibility of cement to …

Development Of Models For Understanding Causal Relationships Among Activity And Travel Variables, Xin Ye

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Understanding joint and causal relationships among multiple endogenous variables has been of much interest to researchers in the field of activity and travel behavior modeling. Structural equation models have been widely developed for modeling and analyzing the causal relationships among travel time, activity duration, car ownership, trip frequency and activity frequency. In the model, travel time and activity duration are treated as continuous variables, while car ownership, trip frequency and activity frequency as ordered discrete variables. However, many endogenous variables of interest in travel behavior are not continuous or ordered discrete but unordered discrete in nature, such as mode choice, …

Measuring Social Competence In Preschool-Aged Children Through The Examination Of Play Behaviors, Eun-Yeop Lee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For young children, a primary component of social competence is establishing effective interactions with peers during play. To inform the development of practices that promote this competency starting in early childhood, quality assessment measures are needed. These instruments must have the capacity to establish linkages between the home and school as well as utilizing multiple informants. A promising early childhood assessment measure is the Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale (PIPPS), which is a rating scale created with parent and teacher versions. Previous research has established its validity for preschoolers from among various populations.

The purpose of this study was to …

Spatial And Temporal Patterns Of Feeding And Food In Three Species Of Mellitid Sand Dollars, Susan Elizabeth Hilber

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sand dollars are abundant and conspicuous macroinvertebrates in sandy habitats in the Gulf of Mexico. They ingest sediment and associated organisms. Given their high abundances, size, and deposit feeding, they likely are the most important consumer coupling primary productivity with the rest of the food chain in these habitats. Moreover, sand dollars bioturbate sediments and affect species diversity and community structure.

Three species of sand dollars in the family Mellitidae,

Mellita tenuis, Encope michelini and Encope aberrans, were studied off the West Coast of Florida. Food and feeding of these sand dollar species were studied to understand their relationship …

Hot Flashes In Men With Prostate Cancer: Prevalence, Severity, And Psychosocial Correlates, Erin Winters

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present study evaluated the prevalence, severity, and psychosocial correlates of hot flashes in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. Seventy-two men completed a detailed packet of questionnaires prior to the initiation of treatment and again three-months later. Results indicated that the extent to which hot flashes interfered with patients' daily functioning significantly contributed to changes in depressive symptoms. Changes in fatigue were found to mediate the relationship between hot-flash related interference and depressive symptomatology, suggesting that increases in fatigue were responsible for the concurrent increases in symptoms of depression. The coping strategy of catastrophizing moderated the relationship …

Inorganic Sorption In Polymer Modified Bentonite Clays, Melody Schwartz Nocon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In 1986, geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) were invented and successfully used as a replacement for the soil layer in composite lining systems. In some applications an additive (polymer) is mixed with the bentonite to increase performance, especially in those that have low concentrations of sodium bentonite (EPA 2001).Studies showing significant increases in hydraulic conductivity values for bentonite in the presence of high salt concentrations are frequently documented and there is a risk of early breakthrough due to performance failure of the GCL clay component. (Ashmawy et al, 2002). It has also been stated that sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium have …

Understanding Eating Boundaries: A Study Of Vegetarian Identities, Susan Kremmel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

My research uses participants' understandings to look at how people define and use the identities and categories of "vegetarian" and "meat-eater." My research examines what it means to be vegetarian, how ideals and moral hierarchies are understood, and how issues of identity importance, social support, and boundary work are components of vegetarian identity construction processes. My research highlights the unmarked character of the meat-eating identity and investigates the variations and complexities of eating behaviors and identities. Learning more about how both vegetarians and meat-eaters construct vegetarian identities contributes to our understanding of identities and how, despite ambiguities, people experience identities. …

An Investigation Into The Antifungal Activities Of N-Thiolated Beta- Lactams Against Selected Candida Species, Marci Culbreath

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

β-lactam antibiotics have long been a reliable course of treatment for bacterial infections. However, with recent increases in resistance and rising populations of immunocompromised patients new β-lactams have been synthesized and tested. The Turos laboratory has recently discovered novel β-lactams that have a mode of action distinct from penicillin and other β-lactam antibiotics as cell lysis is not observed. In the current investigations, these compounds are shown to also have antifungal properties. The rising incidence and prevalence of invasive fungal infections has become an increasing concern. The most common fungal pathogens involved in these infections are species in the genus …

The Influence Of Habitat Features On Selection And Use Of A Winter Refuge By Manatees (Trichechus Manatus Latirostris) In Charlotte Harbor, Florida, Sheri L. Barton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Investigating alternate winter refuges for Florida manatees is increasingly important

as sustained warm-water discharges from industrial and some natural sites becomes more

uncertain. This study examined habitat features of possible importance to manatees by

comparing a winter refuge in Charlotte Harbor, FL (the Matlacha Isles canal system) to

two nearby, seemingly similar sites that are not frequented by manatees during winter.

Water temperature, salinity, boat traffic, canal depth, and tidal flushing were assessed at

these sites. Additionally, this study examined when and how manatees use the Matlacha

Isles refuge by documenting movements, habitat use, and behaviors of manatees during

the …

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 …