Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Altered Features Of Female Pigeons (Columba Livia) Elicit Preference Behavior In Male Pigeons, Tadd B. Patton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has shown that male pigeons (Columba livia) respond with courtship displays to video playbacks of a female pigeon indicating that they 'recognize' the female as a potential mate. Courtship displays significantly decline when the head region of the female is occluded (Shimizu, 1998) suggesting that features located within the head are important for species recognition and mate selection. However, little is known about the exact visual features necessary to elicit displays. The current study examined the preference behavior of male pigeons when given a choice between photographic images of normal looking or altered female pigeon faces. The altered-face …

The Acquisition Of Spanish Through Videoconferencing And Video-Based Lessons By Individual Fifth Graders, Annette L. Norwood

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to provide an in-depth examination of the language learning experiences of four fifth-grade students learning Spanish through videoconferencing and video-based lessons. This interpretive qualitative study involved intensive data collection over a period of 7 months through participant observation, audio and video recording of classes with subsequent transcription, and interviews of the students and their teachers. The following points of focus guided this research: (a) What instances of interaction and output are observed in the different instructional settings?; (b) Are patterns of change observed in learners' language production during the period under study?; (c) What …

Maximizing The Educational Effects Of Collaborative Learning: The Role Of Vested Interest, Christina Partin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study, using a quasi-experimental research design, investigates connections between pedagogy and social psychology by applying social psychological theories of group work and interaction to collaborative learning, a current trend in pedagogical techniques. It was hypothesized that by creating a setting in which students would be evaluated based in part on the performance of their peers would improve their individual performance. The incentive (a percentage of their grade) would hypothetically motivate students to teach their peers effectively; thus they would be taking a vested-interest role in becoming a co-teacher to their partner. This study was implemented by examining two sections …

Perceptions Of School Climate And Bullying In Middle Schools, Irene Pintado

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Bullying has been identified as a problem that can affect the physical and psychosocial health of both the aggressors and victims. Given the consequences for those who bully, for victims, and for the school environment, early intervention is important to minimize these risks. School staff need additional data to understand the scope of bullying and to adopt effective strategies. This study seeks to meet this need by analyzing the association of bullying behaviors and school climate perceptions of middle school students within the context of school membership. This study used Bronfenbrenner's ecological system theory. Within this framework, a bullying interaction …

Late Holocene Planktic Foraminiferal Assemblages From Orca Basin; Effects Of Dissolution On Faunal Assemblages, Denise D. Palmer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Studies of planktic foraminifers have been, and continue to be, very important to paleoceanographic reconstructions and are dependent on the integrity of the carbonate tests. This study investigates the methods and procedures that can be used to obtain an accurate planktic foraminifer assemblage. Samples from Orca Basin boxcore OB-BC4D were processed and examined to obtain census data on planktic foraminifers. Experimentation of the splitting technique demonstrates the method is acceptable for estimating a planktic foraminifer assemblage. The effects of a sonication step in the processing of the faunal assemblage were also examined and revealed that sonication is not recommended for …

Breast Cancer: Relationship Between Acculturation And Barriers To Breast Cancer Screening In Southwest Florida Latinas, Patricia Patino

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite multiple campaigns by the American Cancer Society, reports indicate that Latinas living in the United States who contract breast cancer are more likely than Anglos to die. These findings correlate with low participation in breast cancer screenings among Latinas. The objective of this study was to identify key obstacles that influence Latinas' low participation in breast cancer screenings, based on their health beliefs, knowledge of screenings, acculturation, and socio-economic factors.The study was a face-to-face informal interview, combined with a survey questionnaire conducted at churches, social clubs and/or at the participants' homes in a southwest Florida urban community. The sample …

Analysis Of Quasiconformal Maps In RN, Andrew Purcell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we examine quasiconformal mappings in Rn. We begin by proving basic properties of the modulus of curve families. We then give the geometric, analytic,and metric space definitions of quasiconformal maps and show their equivalence. We conclude with several computational examples.

The Science And Policy That Compels The Wetland Mitigation Of Phosphate-Mined Lands, Nejma Danielle Piagentini

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The State of Florida ranks fifth in the world's production of phosphate. The phosphate industry relies on surface mining to withdraw the phosphate ore, and this process can devastate the natural environment. One of the most impacted natural resources is wetlands. Federal laws permit the legal destruction of wetlands providing their loss is compensated by the mitigation (i.e., the restoration, creation, or enhancement) of other wetlands, but the complexity of wetland ecosystems makes the mitigation process difficult. One of the goals of this thesis is to review the established Federal, State and non-regulatory guidelines for the development and maintenance of …

The Contribution Of The Neighborhood Context To Social Disparities In Access To Health Care Among Sexually Experienced Adolescent Females, Jodi Nearns

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Access to health care is an important resource for sexually experienced adolescent females in the prevention of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. However, a paucity of research exists regarding the extent to which social disparities in access to health care exist among this vulnerable population of adolescents, including the potential contribution of the neighborhood context. Therefore, the primary aims of this dissertation were to examine (1) the extent to which racial and socioeconomic disparities in access to health care exist among sexually experienced adolescent females, (2) the extent to which access to health care among sexually experienced …

Contributions To The Degree Theory For Perturbations Of Maximal Monotone Maps, Joseph Quarcoo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Let x be a real reflexive separable locally uniformly convex banach space with locally uniformly convex dual spacex *. Let t:x\supset d(t)\rightarrow 2 {x *} be maximal monotone with 0\in t(0), 0\in intd(t) and c:x\supset d(c)\rightarrow x *. Assume that $l\subset d(c)$ is a dense linear subspace of x, c is of class (s_+)_l and \langle cx,x\rangle\geq-\psi(\lx\l), x\in d(c), where \psi:\mathbb{r} +\rightarrow\mathbb{r} + is nondecreasing. a new topological degree is developed for the sum t+c in chapter one. This theory extends the recent degree theory for the operators c of type (s_+)_{0,l} in [15]. unlike such a recent extension to …

Influence Of Solution And Surface Chemistry On Yttrium And Rare Earth Element Sorption, Kelly Ann Quinn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The sorption behavior of yttrium and the rare earth elements (YREEs) was investigated using a variety of hydroxide precipitates over a range of solution conditions. Experiments with amorphous hydroxides of Al, Ga, and In were conducted at constant pH (~6.0) and constant ionic strength (I = 0.01 M), while YREE sorption by amorphous ferric hydroxide was examined over a range of ionic strength (0.01 M < ̲ I < ̲ 0.09 M), pH (3.9 < ̲ pH < ̲ 7.1), carbonate concentration (0 M < ̲ [CO32-]T < ̲ 150 micro-M), and temperature (10°C < ̲ T < ̲ 40°C). Sorption results were quantified via distribution coefficients, expressed as ratios of YREE concentrations between the solid and the solution, and normalized to concentrations of the sorptive solid substrate. Distribution coefficient patterns for Al, Ga, and In hydroxides were well correlated with the pattern for YREE hydrolysis.

In contrast, amorphous ferric hydroxide developed a distinct pattern that was different than those for Al, Ga, and In precipitates but similar to the pattern predicted for natural marine particles. YREE sorption was shown to …

Statistical Models In Environmental And Life Sciences, Lakshminarayan Rajaram

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The dissertation focuses on developing statistical models in environmental and life sciences. The Generalized Extreme Value distribution is used to model annual monthly maximum rainfall data from 44 locations in Florida. Time dependence of the rainfall data is incorporated into the model by assuming the location parameter to be a function of time, both linear and quadratic. Estimates and confidence intervals are obtained for return levels of return periods of 10, 20, 50, and 100 years. Locations are grouped into statistical profiles based on their similarities in return level graphs for all locations, and locations within each climatic zone. A …

Transit Market Evaluation Of Seniors Losing Driving Privileges, Oliver A. Page

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The projected growth of persons ages 65 and older in the U.S. over the next few decades will usher in an era of unprecedented numbers of seniors licensed to drive. For some members of this group, there will come a time where driving will have to cease due to a variety of factors. At that juncture in their lives, these seniors may have to consider transportation alternatives other than the personally operated vehicle. The objective of this study is to evaluate potential changes in transit market share arising from travel behavior changes of seniors who lose their driving privileges. This …

Recognizable Languages Defined By Two-Dimensional Shift Spaces, Joni Burnette Pirnot

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There are numerous connections between the theory of formal languages and that of symbolic dynamics. In each, the transition from one dimension to two dimensionsis accompanied by much difficulty due in large part to the emptiness problem, which is related to the presence (or lack thereof) of periodic points and is known to be undecidable. Here, we focus on two-dimensional languages that have the property that all blocks allowed by the language can be extended to a configuration of the plane satisfying the structure of the language; for such languages the emptiness problem is not an issue. We first show …

Leadership Predictors Of Proactive Organizational Behavior: Facilitating Personal Initiative, Voice Behavior, And Exceptional Service Performance, Johannes Rank

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Proactive organizational behavior is characterized by self-started and long-term oriented activities involving forward thinking and the intention to effect change in one's work environment. The primary objective of this research was to investigate relationships of supervisory behaviors with subordinates' personal initiative, voice behavior, and proactive service performance and to reveal moderators and mediators of these associations. Whereas personal initiative represents a wide range of proactive behaviors, voice behavior specifically reflects challenging and constructive forms of change-oriented communication. Drawing on the proactivity, service, and performance literatures, the proactive service performance construct was newly conceptualized as self-started and long-term oriented service behavior …

Clarifying The Cohesion-Performance Relationship In Teams: Backup Behavior As A Mediating Mechanism, Matthew S. Prewett

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between team cohesion and team performance has been extensively studied, but behavioral mediators of this relationship have not been adequately assessed. This study proposed that backup behavior mediates the relationship between team cohesion and team performance. In addition, it was also hypothesized that team goal commitment would moderate the relationship between team cohesion and team backup behavior. 138 participants forming 46 teams of three were assigned to one of fours conditions to test this framework: high cohesion/high goal commitment, high cohesion/low goal commitment, low cohesion/high goal commitment, and low cohesion/low goal commitment. Results indicated no significant differences between …

Estimation Of Evapotranspiration Using Continuous Soil Moisture Measurement, Mandana Seyed Rahgozar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A new methodology is proposed for estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) flux at small spatial and temporal scales. The method involves simultaneous measurement of soil moisture (SM) profiles and water table heads along transects flow paths. The method has been applied in a shallow water table field site in West-Central Florida for data collected from January 2002 through June 2004. Capacitance shift type moisture sensors were used for this research, placed at variable depth intervals starting at approximately 4 in. (10 cm) below land surface and extending well below the seasonal low water table depth of 59 in. (1.5 m). Vegetation …

Group Fission-Fusion Dynamics And Communication In The Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus), Ester Quintana-Rizzo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The bottlenose dolphin exhibits a fission-fusion social structure characterized by temporary associations lasting from minutes to hours. Although social structure has been described for some dolphin communities, the selective pressures affecting fission-fusion patterns and their consequences on dolphin communication are not well understood. The goals of the present study were three-fold: 1) to quantify the rate with which fission-fusion occurred and identify the selective pressures influencing an individual's decision to leave and join a temporary group; 2) to examine the communication signals produced during temporary separations; and 3) to estimate the distances over which dolphins could remain in acoustic contact …

Mode Of Action And Structure­Activity Studies Of N­Alkylthio B­Lactams And N­Alkylthio­2­Oxazolidinones, And Synthesis Of Second­Generation Disulfide Inhibitors Of B­Ketoacyl­ Acyl Carrier Protein Synthase Iii (Fabh) As Potent Antibacterial Agents, Kevin David Revell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Work in the Turos group over the past five years has focused on the development of N-alkylthio beta-lactams, which show antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus (including MRSA), Bacillus, and others. These compounds do not function in the manner of the traditional beta-lactam antibiotics, but were thought to undergo an intracellular thiol-transfer to coenzyme A. In expanding the SAR of these novel compounds, it was found that N-alkylthio-2-oxazolidinones also exhibit antibacterial activity. Although CoA acts as the thiol-redox buffer in the genera most susceptible to the N-alkylthio beta-lactams, studies on Coenzyme A disulfide reductase (CoADR) show that the redox buffer is not …

Characterization Of Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus By Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis, Multilocus Sequence Typing, And Staphylococcal Protein A Sequencing: Establishing A Strain Typing Database, Jill Carolyne Roberts

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus has long been recognized as a leading cause of nosocomial infection. However, several recent publications have demonstrated this pathogen as the cause of community-acquired severe wound infections and necrotizing pneumonia in otherwise healthy individuals. These highly virulent endemic clones have been reported in several locations in the United States and Canada. The rapid spread of the organism, the ability of certain clones to cause serious infection, and the antibiotic resistance of the endemic clones, illustrates the importance of infection control measures. In this study we examined three S. aureus typing techniques; pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing …

Educational Backgrounds And Teaching Styles Of Athletic Training Educators In Entry-Level Caahep Accredited Athletic Training Programs Valerie J. Rich, Valerie J. Rich

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe the educational backgrounds and teaching styles of athletic training educators and to see if a relationship existed between educational backgrounds and teaching styles. An electronic survey was e-mailed to 338 Program Directors of CAAHEP accredited undergraduate and graduate athletic training education programs. The survey was also posted on the athletic training educator's listserv to recruit more participants. The survey contained questions regarding demographics and educational history, as well as the Teaching Styles Inventory (Grasha, 2002). A total of 198 athletic training educators responded to the survey, and 174 filled out the survey …

Menendez Versus Mickey: A Study Of Heritage Tourism In Florida, Monica Rowland

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines heritage tourism as: "traveling to experience the places and activities that authentically represent the stories and peoples of the past and present. It includes irreplaceable historic, cultural, and natural resources." Heritage tourism is a lucrative industry in the United States. On average, heritage tourists spend $623 per trip compared to $457 for all U.S. travelers. The rise of heritage tourism is inextricably linked with several trends in American society, namely: the historic preservation movement, the desire for a sense of place, and nostalgia. These motivating tendencies often inspire problems of authenticity, commodification, and …

An Analysis Of The Legal Contexts Of Public Education Law: Its Judicial Interpretations And Applications With Regard To Discipline And Special Education And Non-Special Education Students In K-12 Public Schools, Janet Marie Roland

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated legal implications of differential disciplinary treatment of special education and non-special education students in K-12 public schools. It focused on interpreting and applying federal and state education legislation by courts and how various judicial decisions affect discipline practices in public school systems, asking if preferential treatment was afforded to students with disabilities through implementation and interpretation of educational legislation.The historical myriad of complex legislation passed before and after inception of Public Law 94-142 in 1975 was studied, exploring relationships between school discipline of children who do and do not receive special education services. Research included review of …

Effects Of Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus Polyphemus) Translocation On Movements, Reproductive Activity, And Body Condition Of Resident And Translocated Individuals In Central Florida, Susannah Christina Riedl

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Human-caused destruction of xeric habitats in Florida that support gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus Daudin) is occurring at a rapid rate. One conservation strategy that has been used for numerous taxa is translocation. The effects of translocation on the health, reproductive activity, and movements of translocated and resident telemetered individuals was evaluated for a population of gopher tortoises in central-Florida from 2001 to 2004. Only one of the 13 individuals released left the site during the study. The home range estimates of resident individuals were not significantly different before and after the release of the translocated individuals on the site, and …

How To Hear The Unspoken: Engaging Cross-Cultural Communication Through The Latin American Testimonial Narrative, Elena Flores Ruiz-Aho

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This project seeks to address issues in cultural politics brought on by difficulties in cross-cultural communication, particularly as these problems manifest themselves in twentieth century Latin American testimonial narratives. By developing a critical line of questioning drawn from Gayatri Spivak's influential article "Can the Subaltern Speak," one aim herein is to analyze and describe the ways in which the narrative, Me Llamo Rigoberta Menchú Me Nació la Conciencia, translated into English as I, Rigoberta Menchú: An Indian Woman in Guatemala, exemplifies the incommensurable nature of cross-cultural discursive attempts. This is done through a twofold method: one, by placing heavy emphasis …

A Study On The Calibration And Accuracy Of The One-Step Tdr Method, Brian David Runkles

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Traditional in-situ soil compaction monitoring methods are often limited in their application, thus quality control of compacted fills and roadway embankments remains a challenging problem. As a result, new methods are being developed to more accurately measure in-situ compaction parameters. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) is one such method. Several advances have been made over the past few years to further the use of TDR technology in water content and density measurement of compacted fill. The one-step method relies on the measurement of the apparent dielectric constant in conjunction with the bulk electrical conductivity, and correlates them through two soil-specific constants, …

Women In Nontraditional Careers, Teresa Ann Roche

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In a traditional male dominated field such as construction, and automotive technology, artificial barriers and attitudes have often prevented qualified females from reaching their full potential. The late entrance of females into these fields has created very few role models for nontraditional younger females entering these professions. This study was designed to create a profile for nontraditional females working in a male dominated work force. A large percentage of females have experienced some barriers due to discrepancies in gender performance. Acceptance by peers, community and administrators, combined with the challenge of balancing family and career appears to be areas of …

Structure And Dynamics Of Heterogeneous Molecular Systems, Alfred B. Roney

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Although current classical force fields describe homogeneous single-componentsystems fairly well, they do not represent the response of an individual molecule's electronic structure to its local environment with enough detail to reliably predict atomic motions in interfacial regions such as a solvation structure or liquid surface.Since most chemical processes of non-trivial interest involve two or more dissimilar molecules interacting at a short distance, molecular models must accurately simulate the interactions between different molecular species as well as bulk behavior in order to provide useful information. Results from two simulation studies are presented to illustrate both the utility of current point-charge electrostatics …

Zeolite Synthesis From Municipal Solid Waste Ash Using Fusion And Hydrothermal Treatment, Maysson Sallam

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the possibility of producing zeolites from municipal solid waste ash, MSW ash, by using hydrothermal treatment alone and by introducing fusion at 550 °C prior to hydrothermal treatment. The study was performed at different treatment conditions where silica/aluminum ratio of 13.9 and 2.5, hydroxide concentrations of 1.5N, 2.5N and 3.5N, temperatures at 100°C and 60 °C and time at 6, 24 and 72 hours were the major variables used to study zeolites synthesis process. The possibility of forming zeolites A, P1 and X was of particular interest in the present study. Factors, mechanism and modeling of zeolite …

Using Fuzzy Logic To Enhance Control Performance Of Sliding Mode Control And Dynamic Matrix Control, Edinzo J. Iglesias Sanchez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Two application applications of Fuzzy Logic to improve the performance of two controllers are presented. The first application takes a Sliding Mode Controller designed for chemical process to reject disturbances. A fuzzy element is added to the sliding surface to improve the controller performance when set point change affects the control loop; especially for process showing highly nonlinear behavior. This fuzzy element, , is calculated by means of a set of fuzzy rules designed based on expert knowledge and experience. The addition of improved the controller response because accelerate or smooth the controller as the control loop requires. The Fuzzy …