American Studies Commons^™

Certain Diagonal Equations Over Finite Fields, Christopher Sze

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Let F_q^t be the finite field with q^t elements and let F*_q^t be its multiplicative group. We study the diagonal equation ax^q−1 + by^q−1 = c, where a,b and c ∈ F*_q^t. This equation can be written as x^q−1+αy^q−1 = β, where α, β ∈ F ∗ q t . Let Nt(α, β) denote the number of solutions (x,y) ∈ F*_q^t × F*_q^t of x^q−1 + αy^q−1 = β and I(r; a, b) be the number of monic irreducible polynomials f …

Algorithms For Simple Stochastic Games, Elena Valkanova

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A simple stochastic game (SSG) is a game defined on a directed multigraph and played between players MAX and MIN. Both players have control over disjoint subsets of vertices: player MAX controls a subset V_MAX and player MIN controls a subset V_MIN of vertices. The remaining vertices fall into either V_AVE, a subset of vertices that support stochastic transitions, or SINK, a subset of vertices that have zero outdegree and are associated with a payoff in the range [0, 1]. The game starts by placing a token on a designated start vertex. The token is moved …

Age, Growth, And Reproduction Of Calamus Proridens The Littlehead Porgy, From The Northeast Gulf Of Mexico, Amanda J. Tyler-Jedlund

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A total of 1814 Calamus proridens ranging from 76 mm - 361mm fork length (FL) were collected and processed along the central and northwest coasts of Florida between 2000 and 2007 to determine size, sex, age, and reproductive condition. Females ranged from 76-297 mm FL (mean FL=156 mm, n=1420), males ranged from 141-361 mm FL (mean FL=244 mm, n=297), and transitionals ranged from 131-307 mm FL (mean FL=207 mm, n=42). Sex ratios sorted by length class, age, and overall were significantly different from the 1:1 ratio for gonochoristic species (P is less than 0.0001). Sagittal otoliths (sectioned and whole) from …

Green Local Governments In Florida: An Analysis Of Sustainability And Green Building Policies, Naimish S. Upadhyay

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sustainable development is increasingly being integrated within local government planning across United States. Many communities are attempting to translate this general principle into specific and measurable terms. The urban sustainability planning literature has mostly focused on descriptive case studies of pioneering cities that have been characterized as true innovators in their sustainability efforts. Noticeably absent from the literature, however, has been an examination of the sustainable development claims made by local governments undergoing 'green' certifications. This study evaluates the commitment and efforts of municipalities and counties of Florida within the framework of Florida Green Building Coalition's 'Green …

The Neuron-Silicon Carbide Interface: Biocompatibility Study And Bmi Device Development, Christopher L. Frewin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Damage to the central nervous system (CNS) leads to the generation of an immune response which culminates with the encapsulation of the damaged area. The encapsulation, known as a glial scar, essentially breaks neural signal pathways and blocks signal transmissions to and from the CNS. The effect is the loss of motor and sensory control for the damaged individual. One method that has been used successfully to treat this problem is the use of a brain-machine interface (BMI) which can intercept signals from the brain and use these signals to control a machine. Although there are many types of BMI …

Rape Attitudes And Beliefs: A Replication Study, Rhissa Emily Briones

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The phenomena of sexual violence have been studied on college campuses for over 50 years. Despite changes in society's attitudes towards women and gains made by women in education and the work force since the 1960s, research reveals that the incidence and prevalence rates of date rape have not changed significantly over the years. Extant literature indicates that endorsement of rape myths has been found to be associated with sexual aggression by males. A review of existing instruments revealed that current assessments of rape supportive attitudes and beliefs appear outdated in their language and may not be geared for today's …

Leavell, Tim (Fa 416), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 416. Paper: ["Folklore in the 'Daily News'"] written by Tim Leavell for a Western Kentucky University folk studies class.

Sterling, Margaret (Fa 440), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 440. Paper: "Use of Proverbial Phrases in 'Watchmen'" written by Margaret Sterling for a Western Kentucky University folk studies class.

Rose, Kibby (Fa 437), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 437. Paper: "A Country Gentleman" written by Rose for a Western Kentucky University folk studies class.

Stelk, Sara Georgianna (Fa 439), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 439. Interviews with Michael Sullivan, Joe Koniak, Ambee Leanhart, Elizabeth Wright and Robin Lentz about hacky sack conducted by Sara G. Stelk for a Western Kentucky University folk studies class.

Smith, Carro Isabel (Wheatley), 1896-1989 (Fa 443), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 443. Interviw with Carro (Wheatley) Smith about farm life in Washington County, Kentucky.

Tessler, Heather (Fa 442), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Foklife Archives Project 442. Paper: "Folklore in Advertising[:] 'Southern Living' 1993" written by Heather Tessler for a Western Kentucky University folk studies class.

Teague, Stanley (Fa 441), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 441. "[Folklore in Media Project on Folk Speech in 'Sports Center']" by Stanley Teague for a Western Kentucky University folk studies class.

Larry Lee Interview, Ami Shah

Asian American Art Oral History Project

2009 interview with installation artist and curator Larry Lee by Ami Shah

Larry Lee website

View Larry's work in the AAOH project gallery

Barriers And Facilitating Factors To High School Students’ School Engagement, Amy Green

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Students who are engaged in their high school environment have higher graduation rates, fewer discipline problems, and lower delinquency rates. In addition, students who are connected to teachers and involved in extracurricular activities consistently experience positive outcomes. However, although the benefits of school resources such as extra-curricular activities and connections to supportive individuals during high school have been well documented, the factors influencing utilization of these resources have not yet been established. Given the known benefits of activity participation and connection to supportive individuals in school settings, and the voluntary nature of their utilization, it is important to investigate factors …

Structural Polarities In J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings, Quincey Vierling Upshaw

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

My thesis reflects an assessment of The Lord of the Rings centering on the idea of a structure of opposites. For each place, race, character and object in The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien included an element which serves as an antithesis. In addition, the style, pacing, and language of the work also contain antithetical pairs which continually engage and propel the reader to the work's conclusion. I contend that this deliberate pairing of opposing elements adds depth and verisimilitude to the work.

Tolkien was an avid student of what his contemporaries would have called "fantasy" or "fairy …

Robertson, Stephen & Cindy Robertson (Fa 436), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 436. Interview with June Long conducted by Stephen Robertson and Cindy Roberston for a Western Kentucky University folk studies class.

Lee, Laura Harper, B. 1946 (Fa 515), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 515. Interviews conducted by Laura Harper Lee between September and November of 1985 with Brenda Venable on the subject of itinerant selling. Venable discusses her five years as a Mary Kay consultant, including her sales strategy, the products offered by Mary Kay Cosmetics and its distribution system, and what it is like to be a Mary Kay consultant.

Vincent Pham Interview, Devin Meyer

Asian American Art Oral History Project

2009 interview with Vincent Pham a Doctoral Student at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and co-author of Asian Americans and the Media (Polity, 2008).

Constructing A New Nationalism From Below: The Dalit Movement, Politics And Transnational Networking, Lisa A. Daily

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research examines one potential route for sub-national social movements to alter preexisting contemporary nationalisms- the transnational social movement network. When social movements "go global" they move beyond the nation where they are typically excluded from the national project and instead, become members of an alternative and inclusive transnational project. What social movements do at this level is not under examination here, but rather how they go about returning to their respective nations and challenging the hegemonic national project. Does the transnational site impact the success of sub-national social movements? Is a movement more likely to achieve its goals and …

The Influence Of Daily Social Stimulation In Ameliorating Ptsd-Like Behavioral And Physiological Changes In Rats Exposed To Chronic Psychosocial Stress, Shyam Seetharaman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Individuals exposed to life-threatening trauma are at increased risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Not all people exposed to trauma, however, go on to develop PTSD. Some evidence suggests that individuals who receive social stimulation, such being involved in supportive social networks, are less likely to develop PTSD compared to those lacking social interactions. Although human research has been effective in demonstrating associations between higher levels of social stimulation and lower incidences of PTSD, there has been a lack of experimental evidence suggesting that social stimulation protects against the onset of the disorder after trauma. Here, we tested the …

Uv Laser And Led Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy For Detection Of Trace Amounts Of Organics In Drinking Water And Water Sources, Anna V. Sharikova

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A UV Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) system, previously developed in our laboratory, was modified and used for a series of applications related to the development and optimization of UV LIF spectroscopic measurements of trace contaminants in drinking water and other water sources. Fluorescence spectra of a number of water samples were studied, including those related to the reverse osmosis water treatment and membrane fouling, domestic and international drinking water, industrial toxins, bacterial spores, as well as several fluorescence standards. Of importance was that the long term detection of the trace level of Dissolved Organic Compounds (DOC) was measured, for the …

Combinatorial Models For Dna Rearrangements In Ciliates, Angela Angeleska

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Motivated by genome rearrangements that take place in some species of ciliates we introduce a combinatorial model for these processes based on spatial graphs. This model builds up on two earlier models for pointer-guided DNA recombination (intramolecular model introduced in [22, 23] and intermolecular model introduced in [35, 36]) and is influenced by a molecular model for RNA guided DNA recombination (introduced in [2]).

Despite their differences, the intermolecular and intramolecular model formalize the recombination events through rewriting operations applied on formal words. Both models predict the same set of molecules as a result of correct rearrangement. Here, we give …

Gordon Cc Liao Interview, Elise Osenbaugh

Asian American Art Oral History Project

2009 interview with poet Gordon CC Liao

An Empirical Examination Of The Dark Side Of Relationship Marketing Within A Business To Business Context, Brent L. Baker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A large number of empirical studies have illustrated the benefits of adopting and implementing a relational or relationship marketing strategy. However, there is an emergent stream of literature that suggests that despite the recognized benefits associated with this strategy there may also be a dark side that manifests itself between firms as a result of adopting a relationship marketing strategy. However, though this stream of literature recognizes the presence of the dark side, causal antecedents mediating the dark side constructs, or consequences of the dark side have yet to be theoretically derived, explained or empirically tested.

This dissertation constructs theoretical …

Recombinant Aav Gene Therapy And Delivery, Nikisha Christine Carty

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer's disease (AD), first characterized in the early 20th century, is a common form of dementia which can occur as a result of genetic mutations in the genes encoding presenilin 1, presenilin 2, or amyloid precursor protein (APP). These genetic alterations can accelerate the pathological characteristics of AD, including the formation of extracellular neuritic plaques composed of amyloid beta peptides and the formation of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles consisting of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Ultimately, AD results in gross neuron loss in the brain which is evidenced clinically as a progressive decline in mental capacity. A strong body of scientific evidence has …

An Empirical Analysis Of Public Perception Of Reclaimed Water Applying The Situational Theory Of Publics, Jessica Voss

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Utilizing J.E. Grunig's (1989a, 1997) situational theory of publics and Fishbein and Ajzen's (1975) theory of reasoned action, this empirical study examined the public's perception of reclaimed water. Specifically, the three independent variables - problem recognition, constraint recognition, and level of involvement - were separated into internal and external variables to determine their influences on behavioral intention. The independent variables were also used to determine the public's communication behavioral intention.

The findings of this study support the basic premise of the situational theory of publics and contribute to the extension of the theory through the inclusion of some of the …

Shyness In The Context Of Reduced Fear Of Negative Evaluation And Selffocus: A Mixed Methods Case Study, Freda S. Watson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods case study examined the effect of reduced fear of negative evaluation and self focus on behaviors related to shyness in a church environment. A sample of 239 members, regular attenders, and visitors completed a survey, consisting of the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation-Straightforward (BFNE-S) Scale; two checklists measuring perceived acceptance and levels of comfort in situations known to be difficult for shy people; and extended response questions regarding thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in six church situations.

Confirmatory factor analysis revealed the BFNE-S (General and Context-specific) had acceptable fit compared with previous studies, and descriptive statistics were similar …

Cannabinoids Induce Immunoglobulin Class Switching To Ige In B Lymphocytes, Marisela Agudelo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cannabinoid treatment increases Th2 activity and previous reports showed B cells express the highest level of CB₂ mRNA relative to other immune cells suggesting that cannabinoids play a critical role in B cell activation and maturation. To examine the direct effect of cannabinoids on B cell antibody class switching, mouse splenic B cells were purified by negative selection and cultured with IL4 and anti-CD40 in the presence or absence of the nonselective cannabinoid agonist, CP55940, or the CB1 selective agonist, methanandamide, or the CB2 selective agonist, JW015. The cultures were then analyzed at different times by flow cytometry for …

Ionic Liquid-Mediated Sol-Gel Sorbents For Capillary Microextraction And Challenges In Glass Microfabrication, Anne M. Shearrow

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Three ionic liquids (ILs), trihexyltetradecylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate (TTPT), N-butyl-4-methylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate (BMPT), and 1-methyl-3- octylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (MOIC), were utilized to prepare sol- gel sorbent coatings. Non-polar polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polar poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PolyTHF) and bis[(3-methyldimethoxy-silyl)propyl] polypropylene oxide (BMPO) polymers were employed to develop novel ionic liquidmediated sol- gel hybrid organic- inorganic sorbents. The novel sorbents were first tested as coatings for capillary microextraction off-line hyphenated to gas chromatography. To gain an understanding of the role of the ionic liquids in the sol-gel process, the preconcentration abilities of these novel coatings were investigated for several classes of compounds utilizing CME-GC. This …