Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Role Of Sensation Seeking In Children’S Ability To Learn Alcohol Expectancy Associations, Nicole M. Bekman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sensation seeking is a personality characteristic associated with problematic alcohol use and positive alcohol expectancies, but little research has examined the relationship between sensation seeking and the acquisition of alcohol expectancy information. In a recent study (Steinberg, 2003), sensation seeking was associated with how quickly and accurately college-aged students were able to learn alcohol-expectancy word pairs in a paired associate learning task. In this age group, however, the individuals had fully developed alcohol expectancies that may have influenced their rates of learning.

The current study sought to minimize the influence of previously held alcohol expectancies by exploring this relationship in …

Sorption Of Organic Vapors By Copolymers Of Poly (Styrene-Butadiene) Using A Piezoelectric Microbalance, Anant K. Upadhyayula

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Thickness shear mode (TSM) sensors, also known as quartz crystal microbalances (QCM) are a class of acoustic wave sensors that have been used for gas phase sensing. In this thesis this device is used to measure vapor-liquid equilibrium data for copolymers of poly(styrene-butadiene) at 294K.

Copolymers of poly(styrene-butadiene) with varying percentages of styrene (85%, 45% and 21 %) were studied with benzene, n-hexane, dichloroethane and chloroform as solvents. Literature data for pure polystyrene/benzene and polystyrene/chloroform and polybutadiene/benzene were obtained to complement the measured data.

Obtained experimental data were fit with a modified Flory-Huggins model and compared with the predictions of …

Performativity And The Latina/O-White Hybrid Identity: Performing The Textual Self, Shane T. Moreman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study is an exploration of Latina/o-White hybrid identity for constructions and negotiations of hybridity as performed in the lives of individuals and as rearticulated in discourse. These discourses are drawn from interviews with nine individuals, stories of my own life, and three published memoirs. Despite these different forms, all the selfidentified Latina/o-White hybrid individuals speak to the difficulty of imagining and enacting a hybrid identity within today’s discourse on race and ethnicity. This study articulates these difficulties as lived experience, theory, and performance come together to argue for and against hybridity as a model for contemporary identity. The project …

Transforming Public Spaces Through Performance, Anthony G. Valentine

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is study about how public spaces can be transformed through performance within them.

More specifically, this study involves two public venues: The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), Tampa, FL and The University of South Florida (USF), Tampa, FL in that within these public venues, not only do performances take place, but they transform the space they are performed in and the spaces in-between the public spaces into performance spaces.

Polytetrahydrofuran-And Dendrimer-Based Novel Sol-Gel Coatings For Capillary Microextraction (Cme) Providing Parts Per Trillion (Ppt) And Parts Per Quadrillion (Ppq) Level Detection Limits In Conjunction With Gas Chromatography And Flame Ionization Detection (Fid), Abuzar Kabir

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sol-gel capillary microextraction (CME) is a new direction in solvent-free extraction and preconcentration of trace analytes. CME presents significant interest in environmental, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, biomedical, agricultural, food, flavor, and a host of other important areas. Sol-gel CME utilizes advanced material properties of organic-inorganic hybrid sol-gel polymers to perform efficient extraction and enrichment of target analytes from a variety of matrices. In this dissertation, two novel sol-gel coatings were developed for CME: (a) sol-gel benzyl-terminated dendrimer coating, and (b) sol-gel polytetrahydrofuran (poly-THF) coating. A detailed investigation was conducted to evaluate the performance of the newly developed sol-gel coatings in solvent-free extraction …

The Benefits Of Clear Speech At Normal Rates For Older Listeners With Normal Hearing, Athina Panagos Panagiotopoulos

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Clear speech is a type of speaking style that improves speech intelligibility for many individuals. For example, one study showed a 17 percentage point increase in intelligibility over conversational speech for individuals with sensorineural hearing loss (Picheny et al., 1985). The clear speech benefit also extends to children with learning disabilities (Bradlow et al., 2003), non-native listeners (Bradlow & Bent, 2002), and other populations. Although clear speech is typically slower than conversational speech, it can be produced, naturally, at normal rates with training. For young listeners with normal hearing, clear speech at normal rates (clear/normal) is more intelligible than conversational …

A Future With Hope: The Social Construction Of Hope, Help, And Dialogic Reconciliation In A Community Children's Mental Health System Of Care, Christine S. Davis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research examines the social construction of hope in a community mental health system of care. Groopman (2004) defines hope as the elevating feeling we experience when we see a path to a better future. A year-long ethnographic study of a children's mental health system of care team found that members of the mental health care team construct hope for themselves and for the family they're helping by cycling through the dialectical tensions of hegemony and equality, marginalization and normalization, relating and othering, empowerment and disempowerment, and control and emotionality. They reconcile these tensions in dialogic moments of empathy toward …

The Cost Of Professionalization: A Case Study Of Osteopathic Medicine In The United States, Rochelle Harris

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the co-optation of the heterodox medical system of osteopathic medicine by the hegemonic medical system of biomedicine and its impact on the practice of osteopathic medicine in America. The study particularly explored students (n=20), practitioners (n=5), and faculty (n=5) regarding their views of osteopathic medicine. The process of professionalization of osteopathic medicine has caused DOs to become more akin to MDs, which may have led to an identity crisis within the profession. This case study took place at a private osteopathic medical school in the Southeastern U.S. A content analysis of the …

Simulating The Electric Field Mediated Motion Of Ions And Molecules In Diverse Matrices, Joseph Hickey

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Electroporation is a methodology for the introduction of drugs and genes into cells. This technique works by reducing the exclusionary nature of the cell membrane [125, 129, 186, 189]. Electroporation has successfully been used in electrochemotherapy and electrogenetherapy [57, 68, 86, 87, 110, 112, 131]. The two major components of electroporation are an induced transmembrane potential and the motion of the deliverable through a compromised cell membrane into the target cell [38, 55, 62, 114, 131]. These two components are both dependent on the electrophoretic motion of charged species in an applied electric field [45, 64, 75, 77, 177].

Currently, …

A Dynamic Simulation Assessment Of English As A Second Language Students' Academic Readiness: An Initial Validation Of A University Admissions Tool, S. "Sha" G. Balizet

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the measurement quality of the Content Learning Experience: Academic Readiness (CLEAR) test, a new measure for university admissions decisions regarding English as a Second Language (ESL) applicants. The CLEAR test measures ability through dynamic simulation: learning opportunities are followed by testing how well students learned the academic content, all modeled on university instructional experiences.

Measured by the CLEAR is academic readiness (AR), the direct, present evidence of ability to learn academic content via the second language as demonstrated during the dynamic simulation. AR is hypothesized to comprise above-threshold academic language proficiency, personal characteristics, topical knowledge, academic skills, …

Do Expectancies Influence Outcomes For Tailored Smoking Cessation Messages? A Placebo Tailoring Experiment, Monica S. Webb

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study was an effort to replicate and extend findings from our previous research, which suggested that the efficacy of tailored messages is influenced by high levels of content personalization within the message and by individuals trait expectancies about tailored interventions. We tested whether tailoring-related expectancies regarding smoking-cessation booklets could be altered via a brief expectancy-priming intervention, and whether this would enhance the impact of the cessation materials. A 2x2 factorial design crossed personalization level and expectancy priming on evaluation of the intervention content, readiness to quit smoking, cessation self-efficacy, cognitive processing, and progress towards quitting. Smokers (N = 205) …

Speech-Language Pathologists’ Professional Efficacy Beliefs About Assessing The Language Skills Of Bilingual/Bicultural/Bidialectal Students, Karen Patricia Harris

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Like educators, speech-language pathologists can anticipate working with culturally and linguistically diverse students and their families. Data reported from the Study of Personnel Needs in Special Education (SPeNSE), 1999-2000, revealed that during the years 1999-2000 speech-language pathologists caseloads included students from various culturally and linguistically diverse groups (U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, 2001). Furthermore, on average, more than one-fourth of students seen by speech-language pathologists were from a culturally and/or linguistically diverse group than their own and 8.8% were English language learners (U.S. Department of Education, 2001). Thus, guaranteeing a highly qualified pool of speech-language pathologists …

Three Studies Of Problem Solving In Collaborative Software Development, Madeline Ann Domino

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A potential solution to producing quality software in an acceptable time frame may be found by using the newer, innovative methods, such as collaborative software development. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the individual developer characteristics, developmental settings, collaborative methods and the processes during development that impact collaborative programming performance and satisfaction outcomes.

Understanding individual differences in performance in the collaborative development setting is important, since it may help us understand how the collaborative setting may raise the lowest level of performance to much higher levels, as well as how to select individuals for collaborative development. Exploring the …

Leadership Style And The Link With Counterproductive Work Behavior (Cwb): An Investigation Using The Job-Stress/Cwb Model, Kari Bruursema

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Relations among job stressors, leadership style, emotional reactions to work,counterproductive work behavior (CWB), and autonomy were investigated. Participants representing a wide variety of jobs were surveyed. Results indicate that transactional leadership style is related to negative emotions and occurrence of CWB. Relationships between variables were mediated by emotions.

Neuroinflammation In Alzheimer’S Disease: Characterization And Modification Of The Response Of Transgenic Mice To Intrahippocampal Lipopolysaccharide Administration, Donna Lorraine Herber

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimers disease (AD) is pathologically characterized by amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. According to the amyloid hypothesis of AD, the central mediating event of the disease is the deposition of amyloid. The inflammation hypothesis of AD states that it is the inflammatory response to plaques and tangles, rather than the actual lesions, which causes the disease. Studies described here combine the two approaches into a single model. Four studies are presented using a basic protocol of intrahippocampal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection to stimulate inflammation in transgenic mice. The first study looked at alpha7 nicotinic receptors during the glial response …

Integrated Uv-Vis Multiangle-Multiwavelength Spectrometer For Characterization Of Micron And Sub-Micron Size Particles, Yong-Rae Kim

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Characterization of micron and sub-micron size particles requires the simultaneous measurement of the joint particle property distribution (JPPD). The JPPD is comprised of particle size, shape, orientation, composition, optical properties, and surface properties. Measurement of each of the particle properties independently is a difficult task and it has been only partially successful. To determine as many particle properties as possible using optical methods it is necessary to simultaneously measure all aspects of the interaction of the incident light with the particles of interest. This approach leads to the concept of multidimensional spectroscopy suggested by Prof. Garcia-Rubio. Dr. Bacon proved the …

The Construct Validation Of An Instrument Based On Students’ University Choice And Their Perceptions Of Professor Effectiveness And Academic Reputation At The University Of Los Andes, Josefa Maria Montilla

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the construct validation of an instrument based on students university choice and their perceptions of professor effectiveness and academic reputation at the University of Los Andes (ULA). Moreover, a comparative analysis was carried out to determine how the selected factors that influence the students decisions and perceptions differ according to student demographic factors such as: gender and university campus.

This instrument was developed with items based on the three domains formulated: university choice process, professor effectiveness, and university academic reputation. To determine the instruments appropriateness to measure the students decisions in university …

Validation Of The Functional Assessment Of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Scale With Bone Marrow Transplant Patients, Sheri R. Jacobs

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research has demonstrated that cancer patients report problems with cognitive functioning related to their cancer and their cancer treatments. Cognitive complaints refer to subjective reports of problems such as decreased memory, attention, concentration, and language skills. These problems with cognitive functioning can interfere with a person’s quality of life. The current measures of cognitive complaints have poor or unknown psychometric properties. Therefore, the present study sought to examine the psychometric properties of a newly developed measure of cognitive complaints for cancer patients, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Scale (FACT-Cog). Eighty-two patients were administered a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological …

Assessing Student Reading Progress: A Comparison Of Generic And Basal Curriculum-Based Reading Probes, Kelli S. Henson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to clarify and extend previous research on the comparibility of curriculum-based measurement oral reading fluency results using reading materials from outside of the students’ curriculum for repeated measurement over time. Specifically, this study evaluated the use of generic measurement materials for monitoring student reading growth and expected gains in words read correctly per minute over time at different grade levels. Sixty-four first through third grade students were assessed twice weekly using both AimsWeb and Open Court reading probes. The dependent variables in this study were the level, which is defined as the mean of …

American Folk, Preston Poe

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This piece is a forty-five minute video utilizing the concept of liquid medium cross-pollination of media including, sound, music, video and "found" art. The piece was shot over the course of three years at a cost of twelve thousand dollars using a Sony trv950, a Mac PowerBook, a 1954 Gibson J45, and a 1971 Guild F212, edited on Final Cut Pro and conceptualized for multiple viewings.

The Thornton Biennial: The Kruszka Pavilion: The 29yr Apology, Ethan Kruszka

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Thornton Biennial: The Kruszka Pavilion: The 29YR Apology document functions as a catalog for the art event of the same name that occurred in November 2004. The catalog features a director's statement detailing the organizational practices of the event as well as a curatorial statement highlighting motivations for the event. In addition the catalog features color plates and statements from the sole participant in the 2004 Thornton Biennial. Selected excerpts: -When writing, I tell myself that I will immediately delete the writing upon its completion. Not so much because I fear its contents or the repercussions of having written …

Multi-Event Crisis Management Using Non-Cooperative Repeated Games, Upavan Gupta

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The optimal allocation of the resources to the emergency locations in the event of multiple crises in an urban environment is an intricate problem, especially when the available resources are limited. In such a scenario, it is important to allocate emergency response units in a fair manner based on the criticality of the crisis events and their requests. In this research, a crisis management tool is developed which incorporates a resource allocation algorithm. The problem is formulated as a game theoretic framework in which the crisis events are modeled as the players, the emergency response centers as the resource locations …

Evaluation Of The Current State Of Florida West Nile Surveillance Program As A Predictor For Control And Prevention Of Human West Nile Diseases, Angela E. Butler

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

West Nile is an important novel virus in the United States, having spread rapidly since it was first detected in New York in 1999. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as many State Health Departments, have mandated programs for surveillance of West Nile Virus activity. These programs incorporate many different aspects including existing arboserology programs with additional testing for West Nile Virus and new plans that incorporate active and passive surveillance methods.

The objective of this study was to examine all aspects of the Florida West Nile surveillance program to determine if there was transmission in the …

Threatening Skies, Brandon Dunlap

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Tampa Heights Greenprinting Initiative: An Attempt At Community Building Through Park Revitalization, Maya Marie Harper

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I discuss the Tampa Heights Greenprinting Initiative, an initiative to build community in a gentrifying neighborhood. I was primarily hired to find out what changes residents of Tampa Heights desired in their chosen park, observe the Greenprinting process, and write a report that could be used in future initiatives.

Due to my Anthropological training, I paid attention to the wider context associated with this project. I paid as much attention to who was not there as I did to who was there. The applied nature of my program enabled me to not only document the socio-economic factors …

Development Of A Generic Pda Based Control Mechanism For In-House Fabricated Miniature Sensors, Sunny Kedia

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A novel method of controlling miniature sensors using Handspring Visor Prism PDA has been implemented. A generic motherboard was developed to map the data and address lines from the Visor onto a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD) to provide basic electrical signals to the sensor board. The sensor board housed the sensor and contained application specific circuitry. The PDA, the motherboard, and the sensor board completed the control mechanism for the sensor. Miniature sensors and PDA based control mechanism scaled down the size of the complete system making the unit portable. This unit facilitated a faster analysis of data on …

Characteristics Of A Chronically, Rapidly Eroding Beach: Long Key, Pinellas County, Florida, Alyssa L. Saint John

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Long Key, on the central western coast of Florida, has been nourished repeatedly since 1975. Following nourishment, the beach has rapidly eroded. This study documents rates, processes, and mechanisms for the rapid erosion. To better understand the beach performance, it is crucial to quantify the background erosion rate when artificial beach fill is at its minimum. This year long study from February 2003 through March of 2004 provides a detailed examination of the performance of a natural beach experiencing intense erosion.

The primary objective is to analyze the performance of Long Key through detailed investigation of shoreline and beach-volume changes …

Investigating Second Seminole War Sites In Florida: Identification Through Limited Testing, Christine Bell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses the results of limited testing at the Fort Dade (1836-1842) and Hope Homestead (1842-ca. 1900) archaeological sites to establish a method for quickly identifying threatened sites with minimal disturbance to surrounding areas. Artifact analysis, pattern recognition, and comparison with similar known sites are key elements. Pedestrian survey, metal detection, posthole and shovel testing, and test excavation are tools used to accomplish this. Artifact analysis is used to establish date ranges for the sites, as well as the material variation between military and homestead occupations. Artifacts used for analysis include glass, ceramics, nails, arms and personal items. Quantitative …

Images Of Naples: Class, Gender And The Southern Character In Hester Piozzi’S Observations And Reflections, Kelley A. Cason

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

On the tenth of January 1786, Mrs. Hester Lynch Piozzi recorded her entrance into the city of Naples, Italy in her travel journal Observations and Reflections Made in the Course of a Journey Through France, Italy, and Germany. She emphasized the importance of her experience in Naples by stating that: "among all the new ideas I have acquired since England lessened to my sight upon the sea, those gained at Naples will be the last to quit me." This British woman's stay in Naples was but a brief period within her three year long Grand Tour, yet it represented …

Transnational Social Movements And The War On Drugs, Ben Mostyn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis discusses the growing body of work on transnational social movement theory. Transnational social movement theory is an attempt to adapt social movement theory to the changing nature of international relations. To further this theory, I test the hypothesis that "a transnational social movement has caused drug law reforms at the local and state level".

To test this hypothesis I undertake a case study of one local and one national drug law reform. The drug laws in the state of New South Wales, Australia were reformed in 1999 to allow heroin addicts to use a medical center to inject …