American Studies Commons^™

Nearshore Marine Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction Of Southwest Florida During The Pliocene And Pleistocene, Jennifer Leigh Sliko

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Future climate change has been the subject of considerable speculation

with scientists called upon to predict timing, magnitude, and impact of these

changes.

The Pliocene Warm Period serves as the best-available, pre-modern

analog to predicted climate changes, and Pliocene climate anomalies are

examined as possible scenarios for future climate change. Comparing modern

conditions to the mean climate state of the Pliocene is essential for better

constrained predictions of future climate change, and seasonal

paleoenvironmental records provide a data set more analogous to instrumental

observations and thereby reducing the uncertainty in modeled climate changes.

This study first examines the potential of …

The Impact Of Maladaptive Schema On Disordered Eating: A Collective Case Study, Susan Hurley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study is based on the reality that disordered eating such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and compulsive overeating resulting in obesity represent a major and growing problem in community health. Treatment models using cognitive behavioral therapy suggest that those diagnosed with an eating disorder tend to judge themselves in terms of their body shape, weight, and eating habits. However, the recovery rate for those treated for an eating disorder that only addresses those three issues identified above is less than 60%. A number of quantitative studies have provided evidence that other maladaptive schema may contribute to bulimic and …

Interview With Opal Cline Crabb Regarding Her Life (Fa 154), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Oral Histories

Transcription of an interview with Opal Cline Crabb conducted by Joe Adams for an oral history project titled "A Generation Remembers, 1900-1949." Crabb discusses her life and times, including information about growing up in McLean County, Kentucky, education, her teaching experience in a one-room school, food preservation at home including hog butchering and meat processing, the introduction of radios and televisions, the Green River and steamboats.

Effects Of A Shallow-Water Hydrothermal Vent Gradient On Benthic Calcifiers, Tutum Bay, Ambitle Island, Papua New Guinea, Brienne E. Engel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ocean acidification is occurring in response to rapidly increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2. Shallow-water hydrothermal vent systems have been proposed as natural laboratories for studying the effects of elevated pCO2 on benthic communities. Hydrothermal vents occur at depths of approximately 10m in Tutum Bay, Ambitle Island, Papua New Guinea; these vents are surrounded by a typical-appearing fringing coral-reef community. Groups of live specimens of seven species of reef-dwelling, larger benthic foraminifers, along with segments of calcareous green algae broken from live thalli, were collected from a reef location, placed in small mesh bags, and deployed for five days at six …

Preservice Teachers’ Developing Understandings About Culturally Responsive Teaching In A Field-Based Writing Methods Course, Susan V. Bennett

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

I investigated eight preservice teachers’ understandings about culturally responsive pedagogy as they participated in a writing methods course in which they tutored children from different ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds in an afterschool program at a local community center. I also investigated how these preservice teachers demonstrated culturally responsive teaching within the writing curriculum. I recognized the need for research relevant to my own personal beliefs and how to strive for more equitable schools. I want to contribute further to the understandings and insights related to culturally responsive pedagogy. According to the literature, it appears teachers remain unprepared to …

A Descriptive Study Of A Building-Based Team Problem-Solving Process, Alexander B. Brewer

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to empirically evaluate Building-Based Teams for General Education Intervention or BBT for GEI. BBT for GEI is a team problem-solving process designed to assist schools in conducting research-based interventions in the general education setting. Problem-solving teams are part of general education and provide support to students with academic or behavioral concerns by creating individualized interventions that teachers can use in the classroom. Historically, problem-solving teams’ two primary goals were to reduce referrals to special education and improve student performance on academic or behavioral concerns. This study examined the effectiveness of BBT for GEI by …

Transgenic Manipulation In Zebra Fish By Combination Of Cre-Loxp Recombinant System, Tol2 Transposon System, And Rnai Technique, Yang Bai

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The overall goal of this research is to make precisely controlled transgene constructs to target genes in zebrafish and facilitate their functional studies. Many of the previous transgenic techniques (e.g. morpholino) can only produce transient gene expression or inhibition, which is not good for long-term studies. Also, transgenes that randomly integrate into the chromosomes are typically difficult to control and are poorly regulated. Thus, it would be of great benefit to develop a reversibly controlled transgenic tool to help study gene function. Here, we propose to combine three distinct techniques to generate a stable transgenic tool to facilitate gene functional …

Modern Transnational Yoga: A History Of Spiritual Commodification, Jon A. Brammer

Master of Arts in Religious Studies (M.A.R.S. Theses)

Yoga as both a physical activity and a spiritual practice has become an established part of Western culture. In recent years, the interest in postural forms of yoga and the philosophy from which they spring has developed into a multi-billion dollar industry; it has spawned volumes of popular histories and "how-to" books on the subject. However, scholars are only beginning to understand the true roots of modern transnational yoga (MTY) as it has developed in recent times. This thesis reviews the last two decades of scholarship in order to provide a credible explanation for MTY origins and argues that viewing …

Diagnosis Of Depersonalization Disorder, Margaret R. Dehoff

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Depersonalization Disorder (DPD) is considered both under-researched and under-diagnosed. A variety of reasons have been proposed for the under-diagnosis of DPD, including the high frequency of depersonalization as a symptom and comorbidity of DPD with other disorders. Under-diagnosis of DPD has also been attributed to inadequate diagnostic criteria in the DSM-IV-TR, as it lists only four criteria and only one specifically addresses the phenomenon of depersonalization. Several groups of researchers have proposed more comprehensive and in-depth conceptualizations of DPD. Further, common biases in clinical decision-making, such as an over-reliance on cognitive heuristics and the use of prototypes, can contribute to …

The Promise Of Gangster Glamour: Sinatra, Vegas, And Alluring, Ethnicized, Excess, Laura Cook Kenna

Occasional Papers

Las Vegas has been linked with Frank Sinatra since the 1950s. The highly‐publicized performances of the Rat Pack (consisting of Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford) at the Sands crystallized the image of Las Vegas as a place that mingled economic mobility with excess. This excess was often associated with ethnicity and frequently linked to crime. It was, however, the excess that made Las Vegas and Sinatra glamorous to many audiences.

Saints In Sin City: Religion And Community Building In Twentieth Century Las Vegas, Matthew R. Davis

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Due to an absence of social and religious tradition, Las Vegas provided the perfect setting for Jewish and Mormon faiths to create communities closely linked to their own spiritual doctrine. This thesis traces the evolution of these groups from the turn of the twentieth-century to the present, focusing on issues such as education, geographic location, and business acumen as avenues for personal and spiritual growth. This thesis also considers the relatively small number of religious studies conducted in the American West, and serves as a possible example for future study by using an urban religious framework to synthesize the dearth …

Table Of Contents

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

Editorial, by Mark Hall

The Man Who Helped Conan: An Interview with Roy Thomas, by Jeffrey Kahan

Fandom at a Crossroads: Jonathon Bacon and The Legacy of Robert E. Howard, by Lee A. Breakiron

Preservation Ethics In The Case Of Nebraska's Nationally Registered Historic Properties, Darren Michael Adams

Department of Geography: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This dissertation focuses on the National Register of Historic Places and considers the geographical implications of valuing particular historic sites over others. Certain historical sites will either gain or lose desirability from one era to the next, this dissertation identifies and explains three unique preservation ethical eras, and it maps the sites which were selected during those eras. These eras are the Settlement Era (1966–1975), the Commercial Architecture Era (1976–1991), and the Progressive Planning Era (1992–2010). The findings show that transformations in the program included an early phase when state authorities listed historical resources pertaining to the settlement of the …

Enhancing Gene Expression Signatures In Cancer Prediction Models: Understanding And Managing Classification Complexity, Vidya P. Kamath

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cancer can develop through a series of genetic events in combination with external influential factors that alter the progression of the disease. Gene expression studies are designed to provide an enhanced understanding of the progression of cancer and to develop clinically relevant biomarkers of disease, prognosis and response to treatment. One of the main aims of microarray gene expression analyses is to develop signatures that are highly predictive of specific biological states, such as the molecular stage of cancer. This dissertation analyzes the classification complexity inherent in gene expression studies, proposing both techniques for measuring complexity and algorithms for reducing …

Burt, John D., B. 1955 (Mss 325), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 325. Proof copy of a book titled "Democracy and Poetry: Robert Penn Warren and the Fate of Inwardness." (365 p.) This manuscript was adapted and later published as "Robert Penn Warren and American Idealism."

Plemmons, Florence Williams, B. 1936 (Sc 2286), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 2286. Thesis: "Janice Holt Giles: A Bio-Bibliography with Evaluations of the Kentucky Frontier Books as Historical Fiction," written by Florence Williams Plemmons in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Science degree from the University of Tennessee.

The Role Of Microrna-155 In Human Breast Cancer, William Kong

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent statistics reveal breast cancer as the most common cancer among women and accounts for approximately 41,000 mortalities per year. In diagnosis, features such as stage, grade, lymph node metastasis are important prognostic indicators that help guide physicians and oncologist towards optimal patient care. Presence of established pathological markers such as ER, PR, and Her2/neu status would indicate ideal adjuvant therapy situation. Although treatment of these types of breast cancer is well established, cancer that lack all three receptors, “triple negatives” or “basal like” do not respond to adjuvant therapy and are considered more aggressive in that patients tend to …

Between Agency And Accountability: An Ethnographic Study Of Volunteers Participating In A Juvenile Diversion Program, Marc R. Settembrino

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Since the 1970s, the United States has witnessed a great expansion of community-based restorative justice programs. These programs serve as alternatives to the traditional court and probation system. Unlike the traditional justice system, restorative justice focuses on repairing harm done by an offense and works toward restoring the offenders to good standing in the community. While there is a significant amount of research which has examined the effectiveness of community-based programs, relatively little research has focused on the community volunteers who participate in these programs. I conducted an ethnographic study (observations and interviews) of community volunteers participating in a juvenile …

Re-Connecting: Revitalizing Downtown Clearwater With Environmental Sensibility, Diego Duran

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many downtowns in North America have been severed from the rest of the city and from the contextual relationship to their surroundings. Sundered from their context, the ecological characteristics of a site are frequently taken for granted, and the disengagement of its public spaces erodes the downtown's character as well as the urban fabric.

Downtown Clearwater has lost the vitality and vibrancy that once characterized it as a lively district. Because of recent developments in the downtown area, public spaces have been lost between parking lots, high rises and a small number of sporadic residential pockets. Some of the most …

Photothermal Studies Of Carboxymyoglobin, Meagan Small

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Small ligand diffusion in heme proteins is not fully understood. To help better understand CO diffusion, three systems were investigated: L29H/F43H site-directed sperm whale myoglobin, horse heart myoglobin in a heavy water buffer, and calix[4]resorcinarene. Binding of copper to calix[4]resorcinarene was photophysically characterized to unravel transient binding of small molecules in heme-copper proteins. Copper binding was found to have a low dissociation constant of approximately 8.6 micrometers.. Reaction profiles using photoacoustic calorimetry were constructed for the myoglobin systems. In deuterium oxide, ligand escape is not rate limited by water entry. Large enthalpy differences arise from the thermodynamic properties of deuterium …

Investigation Of Buildup Dose For Therapeutic Intensity Modulated Photon Beams In Radiation Therapy, Khosrow Javedan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Buildup dose of Mega Voltage (MV) photon beams can be a limiting factor in intensitymodulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatments. Excessive doses can cause patient discomfort and treatment interruptions, while underdosing may lead to local failure.

Many factors which contribute to buildup dose, including the photon beam energy spectrum, scattered or contaminant radiation and their angular distribution, are not modeled well in commercial treatment planning systems. The accurate Monte Carlo method was employed in the studies to estimate the doses.

Buildup dose of 6MV photon beams was investigated for three fundamentally different IMRT modalities: between Helical TomoTherapy and traditional opposed tangential …

Computer Simulation Of Metal-Organic Materials, Abraham C. Stern

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Computer simulations of metal-organic frameworks are conducted to both

investigate the mechanism of hydrogen sorption and to elucidate a detailed,

molecular-level understanding of the physical interactions that can lead to successful

material design strategies. To this end, important intermolecular interactions are

identified and individually parameterized to yield a highly accurate representation

of the potential energy landscape. Polarization, one such interaction found to play a

significant role in H

2 sorption, is included explicitly for the first time in simulations

of metal-organic frameworks. Permanent electrostatics are usually accounted for by

means of an approximate fit to model compounds. The application of …

Geographic Variation In Life History Tactics, Adaptive Growth Rates, And Habitatspecific Adaptations In Phylogenetically Similar Species: The Eastern Fence Lizard, Sceloporus Undulatus Undulatus, And The Florida Scrub Lizard, Sceloporus Woodi, Travis R. Robbins

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

To understand the evolutionary and ecological significance of geographic variation in life

history traits, we must understand whether the patterns are induced through plastic or adaptive

responses. The Eastern Fence Lizard,

Sceloporus undulatus

, exhibits countergradient variation

(larger body sizes, et cetera, in northern, cooler environments; presumed adaptive) in life history

traits across its large geographic range. However, cogradient variation (the expected result from

a plastic response, although not necessarily inconsistent with adaptation) has been suggested as

a null hypothesis, especially on fine geographic scales because of relatively small environmental

changes. Here we focus on life history variation on a …

Assessing The Ability Of Soils And Sediment To Adsorb And Retain Cs-137 In Puerto Rico, Warner Ithier-Guzman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As part of the radioactive exercises taking place around the world anthropogenic radionuclides were introduce to Puerto Rico’s terrestrial and aquatic environments beginning in 1962. Two major projects took place in the island, the Rain Forest Project and the construction of a Boiling Superheat Nuclear Power Plant (BONUS). While in operation several accidental shutdowns occurred at the BONUS facility. One of these accidental shutdowns released 582 MBq into the nearby environment. Vieques an island located few miles east of the main island has received anthropogenic inputs of heavy metals resulting from military practices conducted by the US Navy. Due to …

Artemisia Gentileschi : The Heart Of A Woman And The Soul Of A Caesar, Deborah Anderson Silvers

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Artemisia Gentileschi’s

Susanna and the Elder’s trilogy consisting of her 1610,

1622 and 1649 paintings is a self referential series based on the artist’s own feelings of

betrayal by the men in her life. These works are comprised of her first canvas showing

youthful fear, and a very importantly timed work in mid-career symbolizing commercial

success. In these, she relates the Apocryphal tale of Susanna and the Elders to events that

are happening to Gentileschi at each stage of her life and career, aging the figures of

Susanna and the Elders along with the appropriate time in her own life. …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of The Travel Assistance Device On The Bus Riding Behavior Of Individuals With Disabilities, Arica J. Bolechala

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Independence for individuals with disabilities can be facilitated through the use of devices that have been created and adapted for these individuals. Research regarding the use of technology to afford independence to those with disabilities is growing as new devices are being created. One such device is the Travel Assistance Device (TAD) which has undergone conceptual tests to assess if the individual components of the device work as intended. The purpose of this research study was to determine whether the prompts given by the TAD would exhibit stimulus control over the participant's behavior of pulling the cord to stop the …

Evaluating Behavioral Skills Training And In-Situ Training To Teach Greeting Skills To Adults With Developmental Disabilities, Shannan Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has demonstrated that behavioral skills training (BST) is effective in teaching social skills to individuals with developmental disabilities, but often the skills fail to generalize. One strategy to promote generalization has been the use of in situ training. In an effort to improve upon previous research BST plus in situ training was evaluated to teach greeting skills to adults living in a group home setting. The percentage of correct greeting responses was evaluated in a multiple baseline across participants design. Results showed that BST was only partially effective in teaching greeting skills to the participants. However, In-situ training …

Relationship Between Muscular Strength Testing To Dynamic Muscular Performance In Division One American Football Players, Johnathan Fuentes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to develop a prediction equation for (performance variables) vertical jump, broad jump, 40-yard sprint time, and pro-agility shuttle time using body mass and 1-RM values of strength for bench press and back squat. Participants (n = 76) used in the study were members of the University of South Florida D-1 football team in fall of 2009. Squat/BM demonstrated the strongest relationship in both correlation and multiple regression data for every performance variable. Squat 1-RM and Squat/BP indicated a decreased relationship and negative impact on performance. Results indicate that with increased Squat/BM improvement for all …

“Some Marvelous Thing”: Leonardo, Caterina, And The Madonna Of The Rocks, Michael Thomas Jahosky

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Leonardo's Virgin of the Rocks (or Madonna of the Rocks, c.1486) is a masterpiece. Scholars have been unclear, however, about the unconventional cave setting and where Leonardo's inspiration came from. The Song of Songs mentions a beautiful bride being invited to come "into the wall of rocks," and the apocryphal Gospel of James (written around 150 A.D.) tells the story of Jesus being born in a cave outside of Bethlehem. But Leonardo's own personal cave experience in 1481 spurred his desire to find literature that placed Jesus' birth in a cave, or a "wall of rocks." This …

N400 Activations In Adults Who Stutter In A Picture-Word Priming Task Requiring Attention To Probe Word Phonology, Angela A. Pizon-Moore

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Objective: A neuroscientific picture-word task was used to investigate semantic and phonological activation spreading in adults who stutter (AWS).

Method: Fourteen AWS and 14 adults who do not stutter (AWNS) participated. On each trial, a picture was named at a delay. Sometimes, an attended probe word was heard before naming. Some probes were Semantically-Related to the labels. Those same probes also appeared following pictures with Unrelated labels. N400 ERPs recorded to these two probe types were compared (Semantically-Related versus Unrelated). Other probes were Phonologically-Related to the labels. Those same probes also appeared following pictures with unrelated labels (P-Unrelated). N400 ERPs …