Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Design And Implementation Of An Integrated Dynamic Vision System For Autonomous Systems Operating In Uncertain Domains, Michail Kontitsis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In recent years unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have been successfully used in a wide variety of applications. Their value as surveillance platforms has been proven repeatedly in both military and civilian domains. As substitutes to human inhabited aircraft, they fulfill missions that are dull, dirty and dangerous. Representative examples of successful use of UAS are in areas including battlefield assessment, reconnaissance, port security, wildlife protection, wildfire detection, search and rescue missions, border security, resource exploration and oil spill detection. The reliance of almost every UAS application on the ability to sense, detect, see and avoid from a distance has motivated …

Emergency Department Capacity Planning For A Pandemic Scenario: Nurse Allocation, Florentino Antonio Rico

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The problem considered in this research is the efficient allocation of resources in an emergency department during a large flow of patient consequent to a pandemic influenza breakout. Predicting the impact of a Pandemic Influenza is very complex due to the many unknown variables that may play a role to how severe a pandemic can be. Scenario planning is considered in this research to forecast different potential outcomes and help decision makers better understand the role of uncertainties and become prepared to make important decisions. The goal is to first create a forecast model to estimate the patient demand during …

Growth Of 3c-Sic On (111)Si Using Hot-Wall Chemical Vapor Deposition, Christopher Locke

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The heteroepitaxial growth of cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) on (111) silicon (Si) substrates, via a horizontal hot-wall chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor, has been achieved. Growth was conducted using a two step process: first the Si substrate surface is converted to SiC via a carbonization process and second the growth of 3C-SiC is performed on the initial carbonized layer. During carbonization, the surface of the Si is converted to 3C-SiC, which helps to minimize the stress in the growing crystal. Propane (C3H8) and silane (SiH4), diluted in hydrogen (H2), were used as the carbon and silicon source, respectively. A deposition …

Program Monitoring In A Mandatory-Results Model, Srikar Reddy Reddy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In many real enforcement systems, a security-relevant action must return a result before the application program that invoked that action can continue to execute. However, current models of runtime mechanisms do not capture this requirement on results being returned to application programs; current models are limited to reasoning about policies and enforcement in terms of actions alone, without considering the results of those actions. This thesis presents a more general model of runtime policy enforcement in which all actions return (possibly void- or unit-type) results. This mandatory-results model more accurately reflects the capabilities and limitations of real enforcement mechanisms, particularly …

Nanostructure Morphology Variation Modeling And Estimation For Nanomanufacturing Process Yield Improvement, Gang Liu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nanomanufacturing is critical to the future growth of U.S. manufacturing. Yet the process yield of current nanodevices is typically 10% or less. Particularly in nanomaterials growth, there may exist large variability across the sites on a substrate, which could lead to variability in properties. Essential to the reduction of variability is to mathematically describe the spatial variation of nanostructure. This research therefore aims at a method of modeling and estimating nanostructure morphology variation for process yield improvement. This method consists of (1) morphology variation modeling based on Gaussian Markov random field (GMRF) theory, and (2) maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) of …

Loyalty Of Online Faculty: A Work Design Perspective Of The Impact Of A Telecommuting Work Environment On Employee Loyalty, Kenneth N. Pereira

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT This study empirically evaluates the theoretical impact of a telecommuting or online work environment on employee loyalty. While the concept of employee loyalty has been extensively researched, the concept of the impact of the work environment on employee loyalty is fairly new. Specifically, this study operationally defines the work environment characteristics that contribute to employee loyalty and examines the impact of the online or telecommuting work environment on employee loyalty. A survey instrument is utilized to collect perceptual data about the psychological components of the work environment and their impact on employee loyalty from the employee's perspective. Multiple linear …

The Influence Of Parental Support On Antisocial Behavior Among Sixth Through Eleventh Graders, José Ordóñez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The primary objective of this study was to explore the influence of parental support on antisocial behavior among 1514 adolescents from Sarasota County (Florida). An integrated multilevel approach was developed considering elements of the social support paradigm and social learning theory. Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM), the results suggest that both paternal and maternal support were significant factors in the prevention of antisocial behavior. However, paternal support demonstrated to be stronger when students justified school misbehavior. At the school level, the findings suggest that the influence of parental support to reduce antisocial behavior competes with favorable definitions toward crime learned …

Generation Capacity Expansion In Restructured Energy Markets, Vishnuteja Nanduri

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With a significant number of states in the U.S. and countries around the world trading electricity in restructured markets, a sizeable proportion of capacity expansion in the future will have to take place in market-based environments. However, since a majority of the literature on capacity expansion is focused on regulated market structures, there is a critical need for comprehensive capacity expansion models targeting restructured markets. In this research, we develop a two-level game-theoretic model, and a novel solution algorithm that incorporates risk due to volatilities in profit (via CVaR), to obtain multi-period, multi-player capacity expansion plans. To solve the matrix …

Temporal Registration Of Mammograms By Finite Element Simulation Of Mr Breast Volume Deformation, Yan Qiu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Clinically it is important to combine information provided by mammographic images from multiple views or at different times. Taking regular mammographic screening and comparing corresponding mammograms are necessary for early detection of breast cancer, which is the key to successful treatment. However, mammograms taken at different times are often obtained under different compressions, orientations or body positions. A temporal pair of mammograms may vary quite significantly due to the spatial disparities caused by the variety in acquisition environments, including the 3D position of the breast, the amount of the pressure applied, etc. Such disparities can be corrected through the process …

A Framework For Resource Assignments In Skill-Based Environments, Luis Daniel Otero

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The development of effective personnel assignment methodologies has been the focus of research to academicians and practitioners for many years. The common theory among researchers is that improvements to the effectiveness of personnel assignment decisions are directly associated with favorable outcomes to organizations. Today, companies continue to struggle to develop high quality products in a timely fashion. This elevates the necessity to further explore and improve the decision-making science of personnel assignments. The central goal of this research is to develop a novel framework for human resource assignments in skill-based environments. An extensive literature review resulted in the identification of …

Power-Control Theory: An Examination Of Private And Public Patriarchy, Jessica Nicole Mitchell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The gender difference in crime is indisputable. In an attempt to explain gender differences in adolescents' involvement in crime, secondary data analysis of middle and high school students and their neighborhoods will be examined. Feminists have identified the concept of patriarchy as the root of gender differences in all behavior and particularly in criminal behavior. Hagan's Power-Control Theory incorporates the concept of patriarchy through measures within home to examine how differences in occupational authority between parents affects the gender difference in delinquency through differential controls placed on sons and daughters. However, it has been suggested that the measure of patriarchy …

A Quasi Yagi Antenna With End Fired Radiation Over A Metal Ground, Sergio E. Melais

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a detailed investigation on the development of a quasi Yagi antenna with end fire radiation at 2.4 GHz (ISM band) over a metal reflector. Realization of an end fire radiator on top of a metal ground is very difficult because the reflected waves and image currents from the ground degrade the frequency bandwidth and steer the radiation pattern in the broadside direction. This destructive interference is reduced in this research through two quasi Yagi-ground configurations. The first arrangement utilizes a substrate of suitable thickness (7.5mm-0.19 ?g) to displace the ground away from the antenna. The second design …

Behavioral Skills Training With Teachers: Maintenance And Booster Training, Israel B. Miller

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Behavioral skills training (BST) has been employed within many different populations to effect change in the way of reduction or acquisition of behaviors. For this study, a multiple-baseline across participants and modified ABAB design were employed. Analogue assessments and in-situ probes were conducted with three teachers following an initial training which occurred several months previously. These pre-assessments were followed by a separate booster training session for each individual teacher which lasted three and a half hours or less. Following the training, analogue and in-situ post assessments were conducted with each teacher. The independent variable was the booster training and the …

Caregivers Of Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: The Relationship Of Compound Caregiving And Reciprocity To Quality Of Life, Elizabeth A. Perkins

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship between compound caregiving (i.e. multiple caregiving roles), and reciprocity to the wellbeing of older caregivers of adult children with intellectual disabilities. The study sample was composed of 91 caregivers with a mean age of 60 years. Participants were a convenience sample of caregivers predominantly residing in Florida. Care recipients' mean age was 29 years. Thirty-four were currently compound caregivers. Quality of life indicators used as outcome measures in this dissertation were life satisfaction, depressive symptomatology, physical health, mental health, and desire for alternative residential placement of the care recipient. Compared with the non-compound caregivers, the …

Using Social Stories And Behavior Skills Training Involving Family Members To Increase Social Skills For A Child With Autism, Jamie Leigh Powell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study compared the effectiveness of a social story intervention with a social story plus behavior skills training intervention involving family members for a child with autism. A multiple baseline across siblings design was used to assess the impact of the intervention on social interaction of the child with autism, as well as the social interaction of the child's siblings. The siblings implemented both phases of the intervention. Social validity measures were taken from the siblings and parents, treatment integrity and generalization were assessed as well. The results indicated that the social interactions of the child with autism and the …

Proxy Records Of Climate Change In Subtropical And Tropical Karst Environments, Jason Samuel Polk

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the paleoclimate of a region is important, especially when trying to determine the extent of natural climate variability within the context of anthropogenic impacts. Recent anomalous periods of climate change in the Late Holocene, including the Little Ice Age and Medieval Warm Period, could possibly repeat in the future, having significant worldwide consequences. This holds especially true for tropical and subtropical karst environments, where limited paleoclimate proxies provide minimal data regarding past climate change. An investigation into past climate change in Belize using fulvic acids from cave sediments shows periods of drought during the collapse of the Maya society …

Baseband Receiver Algorithms For 4g Co-Channel Femtocells, Mustafa Sahin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The growing interest for high data rate wireless communications over the last few decades gave rise to the emergence of a number of wideband wireless systems. The resulting scarcity of frequency spectrum has been forcing wireless system designers to develop methods that will push the spectral elciency to its limit. One such method is to have multiple systems utilize the same spectrum by allowing some unavoidable interference to occur between them. The idea of co-channel systems is tested in the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) bands and it is found to be a very beneficial approach. Therefore, it can be …

“Re-Homing”: Sustaining Housing First, Jennifer Mckinney

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The problem of homelessness is an issue in every city of America. Increasingly there are more individuals and families that find themselves without a permanent residence due to varying factors. Traditionally, the approach to this crisis has been to shuffle from emergency shelters to transitional shelters towards temporary housing. However, this lengthy, regulated process prohibits a large portion of the homeless population from ever settling back into housing. It is also merely a stop gap for the issue and this process absorbs a large sum of resources in land, money and manpower. However, there is a new model emerging to …

Visualizing Sound: A Musical Composition Of Aural Architecture, James Pendley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

We depend on our collective senses in order to rationalize and negotiate space. Unfortunately, sound and acoustics has become a secondary concern to that of the visual perception in architecture. The initial design intent for many modern performance spaces and music education space, for about the past one-hundred years, has not been driven by sound or acoustics, as a consequence the visual perception has become the major infl uence. Prior to modern acoustical applications, performance spaces have been designed for the essence of sound and the form and function had no divisible lines, but with amplifi cation of sound and …

Synthesis Of Small Molecule Inhibitors Targeting Signal Transduction Pathways, Divya Ramamoorthy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The main aim of the study described in this thesis is the development of small molecules as inhibitors targeting signal transduction pathways, thereby treating cancer. We attempted to synthesize compounds based on the hits obtained from high throughput screening of the Chemdiv diversity set compounds. Chapter One is a general introduction to cancer, history of chemotherapeutic drugs and an introduction to signal transduction pathways. The following two chapters briefly introduce the biological targets in the authors study. Chapter Two describes the role of B-cell lymphoma type xL (Bcl-xL), in apoptosis and the development of drugs targeting Bcl-xL. Examples of Bcl-xL …

Optimization And Characterization Of Lab-On-A-Chip Elements: Microfluidic Chambers And Microneedles, Puneet Khanna

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this work, MEMS based fabrication is used to engineer multifaceted enhancements to microfluidic systems such as lab-on-a-chip devices. Two specific elements of microfluidic systems are the focus of this study: microfluidic chambers and microneedles. Microfluidic chambers, which are back-end passive elements, via proposed material and structural modifications, are shown to exhibit reduced non-specific DNA binding and enable increased cell lysis efficiency. Microneedles, which are front-end interfacing elements, have been fabricated in silicon and in silicon dioxide varieties. The geometry of silicon microneedles has been varied via DRIE processing to yield sharpened tips. Sharpening of microneedle tips provides reduced skin …

Facial Skin Motion Properties From Video: Modeling And Applications, Vasant Manohar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Deformable modeling of facial soft tissues have found use in application domains such as human-machine interaction for facial expression recognition. More recently, such modeling techniques have been used for tasks like age estimation and person identification. This dissertation is focused on development of novel image analysis algorithms to follow facial strain patterns observed through video recording of faces in expressions. Specifically, we use the strain pattern extracted from non-rigid facial motion as a simplified and adequate way to characterize the underlying material properties of facial soft tissues. Such an approach has several unique features. Strain pattern instead of the image …

Spanish-Specific Patterns And Nonword Repetition Performance In English Language Learners, María R. Brea-Spahn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nonword repetition tasks were originally devised to assess the efficiency of the phonological loop (Baddeley & Hitch, 1974), a component of the working memory system, where verbal information is temporarily stored and translated to support activities like phonological processing during early word-recognition (Snowling, 1981; Wagner et al., 2003), speech production (McCarthy & Warrington, 1984), and articulation (Watkins, Dronkers, & Vargha-Khadem, 2002; Yoss & Darley, 1974).

From a practical perspective, there is a significant need for a systematically-designed Spanish nonword repetition measure that is equivalent to currently-available English measures. For this study, a database of nonwords that considered phonotactic and phonological …

Finding Confucianism In Scientology: A Comparative Analysis, John Albert Kieffer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Scientology holds considerable interest for scholars of new religious movements. As such, this study aims to contribute new data and insight to ongoing theoretical work within this area of religious studies scholarship. Engaged in this inquiry are the similarities between Scientology, the new religious movement founded in 1951 by L. Ron Hubbard (1911-1986), and the Chinese religion, Confucianism, which originates with the teachings of Confucius (551-479 BCE). Though Hubbard admits being influenced by eastern thinking such as Buddhism and Daoism in shaping his worldview, he specifically discounts Confucius as relevant in this regard. However, through comparisons between Scientology and Confucianism, …

A Hypergraph Regularity Method For Linear Hypergraphs, Shoaib Amjad Khan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Szemerédi's Regularity Lemma is powerful tool in Graph Theory, yielding many applications in areas such as Extremal Graph Theory, Combinatorial Number Theory and Theoretical Computer Science. Strong hypergraph extensions of graph regularity techniques were recently given by Nagle, Rödl, Schacht and Skokan, by W.T. Gowers, and subsequently, by T. Tao. These extensions have yielded quite a few non-trivial applications to Extremal Hypergraph Theory, Combinatorial Number Theory and Theoretical Computer Science. A main drawback to the hypergraph regularity techniques above is that they are highly technical. In this thesis, we consider a less technical version of hypergraph regularity which more directly …

The Effects Of Reinforcement Magnitude And Session Length On Stereotypical Behavior Of An Adolescent With Autism, Spiro Kotsios

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Functional Analysis is an important component of creating a treatment plan for individuals with autism. A concern of functional analysis is that it might not match the natural environment in which the problem behavior occurs. Dimensions such as varying reinforcement duration and session length may affect response rates during functional analyses in natural settings. This study investigated if varying reinforcement duration and session length during functional analyses would affect the identification of the function of problem behavior across assessors, and the intervention designed based on the functional analyses would be effective in reducing stereotypic behavior and teaching communicative skills of …

Sympathy For The Devil: A Character Analysis Of Gibreel Farishta In Salman Rushdie’S The Satanic Verses, Catherine Mary Lafuente

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses created a major controversy when published in 1988, much like the controversy that Nikos Kazantzakis's novel The Last Temptation of Christ caused in 1951. Kazantzakis's work upset many Christians due to the controversial characterization of Jesus, who in the novel engages in sexual activities and other behaviors that many Christians find offensive. The Satanic Verses caused a similar uproar in the Umma, or Muslim community, resulting in book burnings, death threats, and even a murder. Most of the controversy focused on some the problematic characterizations of the Prophet Muhammad and his wives, such as using …

Operational Evaluation Of Advanced Safety Enhancement Devices: Rearview Video System, Achilleas Kourtellis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Since the creation of the automobile, there has been an effort to create and implement mechanical and electronic devices that would improve vehicle safety. In recent years, electronic technologies have become more efficient and cost effective, therefore creating a great spike in widespread implementation. These safety related devices have to be tested for their reliability and amount of help they provide the driver with. The end user (the driver) has to be involved for a successful device. This research presents the methodology used to evaluate the effectiveness of the rearview video system (RVS) used in vehicles, especially in large commercial …

Shadows Fall On Main Street: Film Noir Travels Out Of The City, Anthony Laporte

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

After World War II, film audiences of American crime dramas, later termed film noirs, witnessed the relocation of several film narratives to settings outside of the traditional urban environment. These films began to defy the conventional notion that crime only exists in densely populated cities and began to incorporate alternative spaces, like suburban communities, small towns, and the open road, to tell their stories. This thesis examines how social and geographical spaces contribute to, rather than oppose, a noir sensibility by employing an intertextual analysis of three film noirs set in locations out of the city: Fallen Angel, The Stranger, …

The Impact Of Wearable Weights On Perceptual Reponses To Treadmill Walking, Ashley T. Kuczynski

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The growing public health burden associated with insufficient physical activity has resulted in the development of numerous health initiatives and products aimed at stabilizing and reversing the negative trends reported in epidemiological literature. A relatively novel product that has only recently made its way to the market are wearable weights. These products are designed to be worn on the lower legs and arms along with regular clothing as a means to increase caloric expenditure. However, no research to date has tested the efficacy of this product. PURPOSE: Compare psychological responses within bouts of aerobic exercise that vary on intensity and …