American Studies Commons^™

Satellite Analysis Of Temporal And Spatial Chlorophyll Patterns On The West Florida Shelf (1997-2003), Lisa Anne Vanderbloemen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation is to gain a better understanding of the environmental and climatic effects on the temporal and spatial variability of phytoplankton biomass along the West Florida Shelf. Chapter 1 examines temporal and spatial patterns in chlorophyll concentrations using satellite data collected between 1997 and 2003. Chlorophyll data derived from the SeaWiFS sensor are validated with in-situ data and analyzed. Wind, current, sea surface temperature, river, and rain data are used to better understand the factors responsible for the patterns observed in the satellite data. My question is whether the standard OC4 algorithm is adequate for studying …

Freedom Fighters, Freedom Haters, Martyrs, And Evildoers: The Social Construction Of Suicide Terrorism, Cã©Cile Valã©Rie Van De Voorde

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Suicide terrorism is characterized by the willingness of physically and psychologically war-trained individuals to die while destroying or attempting to annihilate enemy targets in furtherance of certain political or social objectives. Rooted in the historical, social, and psychological dimensions of international terrorism, suicide terrorism is neither a unique nor a new phenomenon. Its recent resurgence and the extensive media coverage it has received account for the misleading uniqueness of this violent, complex, and adaptive form of terrorism. This qualitative study examines the definitional and rhetorical processes by which suicide terrorism is socially constructed. Using a social constructionist theoretical framework coupled …

A Structural Approach To The Study Of Intra-Organizational Coalitions, Dean T. Walsh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Coalitions are widely associated with collective or collaborative attempts to influence organizational members, decisions, policies and events. Yet, surprisingly, relatively little is known about how coalitions develop within organizations. Employing an exploratory case study design and using social network analysis, the Rokeach Value Survey, and semi-structured interviews, this research demonstrated that it is possible to identify and study coalitions in a real organizational setting. I suggest that the inclusion and investigation of member relationships may advance the state of the art in organizational coalition research. A benefit of this study, and contrary to most coalition research, is that it used …

“Trust Yourself To God:” Friar Francisco Pareja And The Franciscans In Florida, 1595-1702, Albert William Vogt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Friar Francisco Pareja represented the pinnacle of the achievement for the Franciscans in Florida during the Spanish colonial period. But who were the Franciscans? Why were they, and Friar Pareja in particular, so successful as missionaries? The bulk of the writing done thus far on the mission system in Florida has concentrated on retelling the lost story of the native peoples who once inhabited the land. The impact of the missions and the Spanish colony weighed heavily on native cultures and the Franciscans role in this has been discussed. However, little has been said about the religious order itself, and …

An Exploration Of Middle-Aged And Older Women's Experiences Of Bat Mitzvah Within The Framework Of Erikson's Theory Of Human Development, Keren S. Vergon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A growing number of Jewish women are participating in adult bat mitzvah ceremonies in many synagogues across the United States. Little is known about the reasons why women choose to participate in a bat mitzvah ritual as an adult. It is also unclear if women of different ages have different reasons for participating in bat mitzvah.Older women were often not given the opportunity to participate in the bat mitzvah ritual as a young adult, and it is unknown why older women choose to accept the challenge of bat mitzvah. It may be suspected that Jewish women are interested in adult …

Linkages Between Environmental Conditions And Recreational King Mackerel Catch Off West-Central Florida, Carrie C. Wall

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to determine if fronts sustained up to three days will result in an aggregation of kingfish due to the anticipated accumulation of forage, increasing fishing success at these locations. Automated algorithms to detect frontal features in satellite-derived sea surface temperature, chlorophyll concentration, water clarity, and fluorescence images were successfully adapted for the coastal waters off west-central Florida. The surface ocean fronts were used to study the linkages between environmental conditions and recreational catch statistics of king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) during 19 seasonal tournaments held in April to May and October to November of 2004 …

A Morphometric Analysis Of The Geomorphology Of Florida’S Springs, Andrew Curtis Walker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

An exploratory study of the geomorphology of Florida's springs was conducted using morphometric analysis. Spatial datasets for spring locations, elevation data, physiography, geology and hydrography were acquired for incorporation and analysis with GIS technology. ArcGIS 9 was used to measure certain morphometric parameters from the spatial data for Florida's springs. Other Parameters representing physical and dimensional characteristics of the springs were acquired from FGS Bulletin 66, Springs of Florida. All measured and collected data was compiled into a usable morphometric database. The data is described statistically and summarized according to the spatial distribution of Florida's springs with respect to geology …

Associations Between Individual, Social, And Service Factors, Recovery Expectations And Recovery Strategies For Individuals With Mental Illness, Gary W. Walby

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Clinical and consumer recovery efforts continue to advance more successful recovery agendas. Limited research into the effect of the expectation to recover and what strategies are most effective in enhancing recovery impedes coherent recovery programming. What factors are significantly associated with recovery expectancy and recovery strategies is still largely unknown. Thus, this study addresses three key gaps in the field.

First, which factors associate with the expectation of recovery and is expectation related to strategy choice? Second, what are common strategies for recovery from mental illness and what factors are associated with each strategy? Third, does recovery expectancy or severity …

The Use Of Mini-Pile Anchors To Resist Uplift Forces In Lightweight Structures, Julio Aguilar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the state of Florida one of the primary factors which influences design of structures is the effect of hurricane force winds on structures. These forces can be greater than any other force encountered throughout the lifetime of said structure. For this reason, designing a structure to resist such forces can greatly increase the cost and time required for completing construction projects. Traditionally, large concrete footings have been utilized to resist wind-induced uplift forces. These footings do little more than act as large reaction masses to weigh down the building. An alternative and little-used method for resisting these large uplift …

Adolescent Alcohol Use And Educational Outcomes, Wesley A. Austin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There is some controversy over whether adolescent alcohol use has deleterious causal effects on educational outcomes. In particular, does drinking reduce academic performance and school enrollment rates and increase truancy, or does the observed negative correlation between drinking and educational outcomes merely reflect common unobservable factors? This dissertation sheds further light on the issue by estimating the causal impacts of alcohol use on various educational outcomes. Specifically, an instrumental variables model is estimated to study the effects of several drinking measures on grades, school enrollment and absenteeism.

Arts In New Directions The Development And Application Of A Construct That Uses The Arts To Promote Transformation And Self-Actualization In Health Care And Education/Therapy, Alexxis Avalon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Artistic methods to evoke relaxation, spark creativity, and change self-perceptions are already being used by therapists, educators, and scientists. Interdisciplinary collaborations among researchers are developing to create new paradigms that incorporate the use of arts to empower individuals. By describing various connections between the arts and participants, researchers are looking at the expressive arts (including dance, music, drama, poetry, and visual arts) for transformation and self-actualization.The problem is that no construct is available to describe the transformation, "the conscious move from one deep structure of knowledge to another" (Wilber, 2004), that occurs when using the arts in health care and …

A Comparison Of Systolic Blood Pressure In Women With And Without Lymphedema Following Surgery For Breast Cancer, Deborah M. Arvidson-Hawkins

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There is no evidenced-based research on prevention of upper extremity lymphedema following breast cancer treatment. General guidelines have been identified from a basic understanding of the lymphatic system and are considered to be prudent advice for prevention. Cause of lymphedema is hypothesized to be multifactorial and time of onset is widely varied. Exogenous risk factors leading to lymphedema are the removal and destruction of lymph nodes; however, not all women develop lymphedema following axillary lymph node dissection. Co-morbid conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension are cited as possible endogenous risk factors. Several studies identify hypertension as a significance endogenous …

Comparing The Effects Of The Exotic Cactus-Feeding Moth, Cactoblastis Cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) And A Native Cactus-Feeding Moth, Melitara Prodenialis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) On Two Species Of Florida Opuntia., Amanda J. Baker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Exotic species are a great concern because of the possibility of negative effects once they become established. The exotic cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum has a reputation for being detrimental to Opuntia populations throughout Florida and the southeastern United States. Multiple projects are currently underway to attempt to contain and eradicate this species before it can migrate to the Opuntia-rich desert southwest and the agricultural Opuntia fields in the Mexican highlands. These projects have been undertaken without previous studies to determine what negative effects, if any, the moth is having on the common native Opuntia species. This is understandable; since it …

Study Of Laplace And Related Probability Distributions And Their Applications, Gokarna Raj Aryal

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aim of the present study is to investigate a probability distribution that can be derived from the laplace probability distribution and can be used to model various real world problems. In the last few decades, there has been a growing interest in the construction of flexible parametric classes of probability distributions. Various forms of the skewed and kurtotic distributions have appeared in the literature for data analysis and modeling. In particular, various forms of the skew laplace distribution have been introduced and applied in several areas including medical science, environmental science, communications, economics, engineering and finance, among others. In …

Polynomial Quandle Cocycles, Their Knot Invariants And Applications, Kheira Ameur

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A quandle is a set with a binary operation that satisfies three axioms that corresponds to the three Reidemeister moves on knot diagrams. Homology and cohomology theories of quandles were introduced in 1999 by Carter, Jelsovsky,Kamada, Langford, and Saito as a modification of the rack (co)homology theory defined by Fenn, Rourke, and Sanderson. Cocycles of the quandle (co)homology, along with quandle colorings of knot diagrams, were used to define a new invariant called the quandle cocycle invariants, defined in a state-sum form. This invariant is constructed using a finite quandle and a cocyle, and it has the advantage that it …

Community Of Practice As Community Of Learners: How Foreign Language Teachers Understand Professional And Language Identities, Ruth Ban

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study seeks to understand the transmogrification of four Mexican foreign language teachers as they participate in a teaching exchange in American schools throughout the United States. Previous research into development of competent membership in given communities of practice points to the need for mutual engagement with other community members, an understanding of the community activity, and a shared repertoire among community members. Framed within an activity theory perspective, the present study examined how the teachers's socio-historical background, cultural tools and artifacts, along with other pedagogical activities, community rules, and division of labor mediated the teachers' understanding of their professional …

Evolutionary Genetics Of The Family Placobranchidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia: Sacoglossa), Anna Lee Bass

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Members of the family Placobranchidae have been the focus of numerous studies because of their interesting physiological adaptations (kleptochemistry and kleptoplasty) and ecological associations with marine algae. More than 100 species have been described since the 1800's, but no determination of phylogenetic relationships in the family has occurred. DNA sequences from two mitochondrial genes (large subunit ribosomal and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) and one nuclear gene (Histone 3) were used to reconstruct relationships among 34 nominal species within the Placobranchidae. Strong support for terminal nodes was found using Bayesian phylogenetic methods; however, a "soft" polytomy was detected at internal …

Design And Synthesis Of Core Structural Intermediates For Novel Hiv-1 Protease Inhibitors & Synthesis, Biological Activity And Molecular Modeling Of Novel 20s Proteasome Inhibitors, Kiran Kumar Venkata Raja Avancha

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

HIV-1 protease binds to its peptide/protein substrates in extended conformations. Therefore protease inhibitors that are constrained to form extended conformations are likely to produce very active protease inhibitors. This is because they are pre-organized to form favorable interactions with the enzyme environment immediately surrounding the active site. With this hypothesis in mind, we designed a family of structurally related molecules, which contain dipeptide analogs constrained to adopt the extended conformation. Core structural intermediates that are required for the total synthesis of the novel class of HIV-1 protease inhibitors are outlined in Chapter One. Chapter Two discusses the enantioselective synthesis of …

Mathematical Model Of Arsenic Adsorption In A Modified Zeolite / Microfiltration System, Miles B. Beamguard

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Carcinogenic health concerns over arsenic in drinking water caused the USEPA to reduce the maximum contaminant level (MCL) from 50 to 10 ppb, effective on January 23, 2006. This has forced many smaller utilities into expensive treatment or discontinuation of water distribution. Researchers throughout the world are working to develop an inexpensive method for arsenic removal to meet this MCL. Aluminum silicates, or zeolites, are naturally occurring ionic sorbents. Modification of a zeolite may enhance adsorption capacities and ion selectivity. This research investigates the arsenic adsorption capacities of a modified Chabazite. This adsorption, coupled with a hollow fiber, microfiltration membrane …

Understanding Activity Engagement And Time Use Patterns In A Developing Country Context, Amlan Banerjee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Flourishing economy, rapid industrialization and increasing trend of motorization have been shaping societies in the developing countries like India in an unprecedented manner.Infrastructure backlog amid such rapid growth in all imaginable directions has heavily exacerbated the urban transport crisis in these countries by alarming increase in vehicular travel demand, road fatalities, and environmental pollution. To address urban transport challenges, the necessary development and implementation of effective transport planning and policies have generally lagged in the developing countries compared to that seen in the developed countries due to several constraints including resource constraints, knowledge constraints, institutional constraints and so on. However, …

Development Of Ganglioside-Based Assays For The Identification Of Botulinum And Cholera Toxins Utilizing An Evanescent Wave Biosensor, Crystal M. Bedenbaugh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

An evanescent wave fiber-optic biosensor was used in an effort to develop an assay for the rapid detection of two biological toxins: cholera toxin and botulinum toxin. The Analyte 2000 fiber-optic biosensor utilizes a sandwich immunoassay format. Gangliosides or liposomes are directly adsorbed to the surface of the fiber-optic waveguide through hydrophobic interactions. The waveguide is exposed to a sample containing the toxin of interest, then subsequently exposed to a polyclonal detection antibody conjugated to the fluorophore cyanine 5. Excitation light from a 635nm laser diode is propagated through the waveguide and fluorescent molecules within approximately 100nm of the waveguide …

Gene Expression Profiles And Clinical Parameters For Survival Prediction In Stage Ii And Iii Colorectal Cancer Patients, Mubeena Begum

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Prediction of outcome in colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently based on the TNM staging classification; however, histopathological classification alone is insufficient for accurately predicting survival in stage II and III patients. Studies indicate that microarray gene expression profiles can predict survival in CRC. We hypothesize that tumor gene expression in combination with clinical parameters, is a better predictor of outcome in stage II and III colorectal cancers than the TNM stage classification alone. Clinical records and follow-up data were retrospectively reviewed for 58 Stage II and Stage III patients with primary colorectal cancer, who did not receive any neoadjuvant therapy …

Teaching Philosophy And Practices Among Chemistry Faculty Attending Mid Project Workshops : Implications For Reform In Chemistry, Beverly Dee Barker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Over the past decade over 600M in funding has been devoted to bringing about reform in science education, but little is known about who is implementing reform, the extent of reform implementation and how educational contexts differentially impact reform innovations. This dissertation explores the results of the Multi-Initiative Dissemination Project (MID Project), a national curriculum reform program that was designed to propagate reform pedagogy among undergraduate chemistry faculty in faculty development workshops. We analyzed data from surveys, in-class observations and faculty interviews to explore the relationships between the participant faculty demographic features and their pedagogy and teaching philosophy before and …

Implications Of Sleep Disorders Symptoms On School Behavior, Academics, And Quality Of Life, Erin Elizabeth Ax

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Pediatric sleep problems are among the most common yet significant pediatric health issues faced by families. Sleep problems can impact social-emotional and academic functioning of schoolchildren. Once identified, pediatric sleep problems and disorders are treatable with effective and rapid behavioral and medical interventions. The purpose of the current study was to determine the prevalence rates of symptoms of sleep disorders in a diverse school-based sample as well as the relationship between symptoms of sleep disorders and school behavior, academic achievement, and quality of life. The present study examined the relationship between the independent variables of No Sleep Disorders symptoms and …

Are Respiratory Behaviors Affected In Individuals With Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia?, Katie Biedess

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) is a focal dystonia that is characterized by voice breaks due to involuntary contractions of the adductor muscles of the vocal folds. These spasms can interfere with the coordination and balance of the respiratory and phonatory systems interfering with normal voice production. Disruptions in normal respiratory behaviors are well documented in inviduals with laryngeal disorders, including ADSD. Previous research regarding respiratory processes in ADSD has focused on airflow and pressure; however, there are many other parameters that have not been considered and may shed new light on the respiratory behaviors of individuals with ADSD. Therefore, the …

B-Raf Is An Essential Component Of The Mitotic Machinery Critical For Activation Of Mapk Signaling During Mitosis In Xenopus Egg Extracts, Sergiy I. Borysov

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Activation of the MAPK cascade during mitosis is critical for spindle assembly and normal mitotic progression. The underlying regulatory mechanisms that control activation of the MEK/MAPK cascade during mitosis are poorly understood. The goal of my dissertation research is to identify the MEK kinase responsible for activation of the MAPK cascade during mitosis and to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms that regulate its activity. In the described herein work I purified and characterized the MEK kinase activity present in M-phase arrested Xenopus egg extracts. I demonstrate that B-Raf is the critical MEK kinase required for activation of the MAPK pathway at …

Crystal Engineering Of Organic Compounds Including Pharmaceuticals, Joanna A. Bis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Neutral or charge-assisted hydrogen bonds occurring between organic molecules represent strong and directional forces that mediate the molecular self-assembly into well defined supramolecular architectures. A proper understanding of hydrogen bonding interactions, their types, geometries, and occurrence in supramolecular motifs, is a prerequisite to crystal engineering, i.e. to the rational design of functional solid materials.Multiple-component organic crystals represent ideal systems to study the intermolecular interactions between the constituent molecules that can be pre-selected for their hydrogen bonding sites and geometrical capabilities. In particular, the systematic structural analysis of supramolecular systems that are comprised of simple molecules facilitates the development of strategies …

Rsvp: An Investigation Of The Effects Of Remote Shared Visual Presence On Team Process And Performance In Urban Search & Rescue Teams, Jennifer L. Burke

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This field study presents mobile rescue robots as a way of augmenting communication in distributed teams through a remote shared visual presence (RSVP) consisting of the robot's view. It examines the effects of RSVP on team mental models, team processes, and team performance in collocated and distributed Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) technical search teams, and tests two models of team performance.

Participants (n=50) were US&R task force personnel drawn from high-fidelity training exercises held in California (2004) and New Jersey (2005). Data were collected from the 25 dyadic teams as they performed a 2 x 2 repeated measures search …

Table Of Contents

The Dark Man: The Journal of Robert E. Howard & Pulp Studies

Articles:

Editorial Comments (The Dark Man V2n1/2), by Mark Hall

Robert E. Howard and Poetic Narrative: The Bardic Tradition and “Popular Modernities”, by Frank Coffman

Robert E. Howard: New Deal Heroic Fantasist, by Rusty Burke

Crash Go the Civilizations: Some Notes on Robert E. Howard’s Use of History and Anthropology, by Mark Hall

“Red Shadows” Through the Lens of Northrop Faye’s Archetypal Criticism, by Patrick R. Burger

Letters to the Editor (The Dark Man V2n1/2), by Mark Hall

Letter (The Dark Man V2n1/2), by Mark Finn

Letter (The Dark Man V2n1/2), by Jeffrey Kahan

Letter (The Dark Man V2n1/2), by …