Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Population Dynamics Of The Little Gulper Shark (Centrophorus Uyato) And Community Analyses Of Elasmobranch Species In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Jacquelin Joye Hipes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In chapter 1 I describe the population dynamics of an understudied species of gulper shark, Centrophorus uyato (common name, the Little Gulper), found in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Sharks in the family Centrophoridae are mid-sized, demersal fish, with seven species identified in North American waters. These deepwater species can be difficult to study due to the extreme depths at which they occur. During four longlining cruises from 2012-2014, 593 sharks were landed, predominantly in the Mississippi Canyon off the Louisiana coast. Mean depth of capture was 290 m. Supplementing these data are catch records for C. uyato from a …

Biosynthesis Of Long-Chain Fatty Acid Amides, Kristen A. Jeffries

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The vast variety of long-chain fatty acid amides identified in biological systems is intriguing. The general structure of a fatty acid amide is R-CO-NH-X, where R is an alkyl group and X is derived from an immense variety of biogenic amines. Although structurally simple, the bioactivities of these molecules as signaling lipids are very diverse and have just recently begun to emerge in the literature. Interest in the long-chain fatty acid amides dramatically increased following the identification and characterization of one specific N-acylethanolamine, N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide), as the endogenous ligand for the cannabinoid receptors in the mammalian brain. Since …

Statistical Learning With Artificial Neural Network Applied To Health And Environmental Data, Taysseer Sharaf

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The current study illustrates the utilization of artificial neural network in statistical methodology. More specifically in survival analysis and time series analysis, where both holds an important and wide use in many applications in our real life. We start our discussion by utilizing artificial neural network in survival analysis. In literature there exist two important methodology of utilizing artificial neural network in survival analysis based on discrete survival time method. We illustrate the idea of discrete survival time method and show how one can estimate the discrete model using artificial neural network. We present a comparison between the two methodology …

Enhanced Magnetoimpedance And Microwave Absorption Responses Of Soft Ferromagnetic Materials For Biodetection And Energy Sensing, Jagannath Devkota

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A combination of magnetic sensors with magnetic nanoparticles offers a promising approach for highly sensitive, simple, and rapid detection of cancer cells and biomolecules. The challenge facing the field of magnetic biosensing is the development of low-cost devices capable of superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID)-like field sensitivity at room temperature. In another area of interest, improving the sensitivity of existing electromagnetic field sensors for microwave energy sensing applications is an important and challenging task. In this dissertation, we have explored the excellent magnetoimpedance and microwave absorption responses of soft ferromagnetic amorphous ribbons and microwires for the development of high-performance magnetic …

Metal Organic Frameworks (Mofs) And Porous Organic Polymers (Pops) For Heterogeneous Asymmetric Catalysis, Youngran Ji

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The administration of enantiopure drugs brings advantages such as improved efficacy, more predictable pharmacokinetics and reduced toxicity from the point of view of the pharmaceutical area.[1] For this reason, a tremendous amount of supply and demand for enantiomeric pure compounds has been shown not only in market, but industry and academia.[^2-4] According to the industry publication Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News (GEN) in 2014, 22 billion dollars were accounted for enantiopure form of drugs such as Sovaldi® (Sofosbuvir), Crestor® (Rosuvastatin), and Advair® (fluticasone/salmeterol).

The fact that one enantiomer can be pharmacologically effective whereas the other enantiomer can be …

Development Of Orally Bioavailable 4(1H)-Quinolones And 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroacridin-9(10H)-Ones With Potent Anti-Malarial Activity, Jordany Richarlson Maignan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Although Malaria rates are on the decline due to the efforts of the World Health Organization and other organizations dedicated to the eradication of this disease, a relaxed attitude towards the development of new antimalarial entities would be flawed. Due to the emergence of resistance in the parasite, the almost 50% world-wide reduction in malarial death rates that have been produced over the past 15 years are threatening to be lost

New drugs are urgently needed and our approach focuses on the re-evaluation and optimization of the historic antimalarial ICI 56,780. Due to its causal prophylactic activity, along with its …

Low Dimensionality Effects In Complex Magnetic Oxides, Paula J. Lampen Kelley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Complex magnetic oxides represent a unique intersection of immense technological importance and fascinating physical phenomena originating from interwoven structural, electronic and magnetic degrees of freedom. The resulting energetically close competing orders can be controllably selected through external fields. Competing interactions and disorder represent an additional opportunity to systematically manipulate the properties of pure magnetic systems, leading to frustration, glassiness, and other novel phenomena while finite sample dimension plays a similar role in systems with long-range cooperative effects or large correlation lengths. A rigorous understanding of these effects in strongly correlated oxides is key to manipulating their functionality and device performance, …

Dynamic Behavior Of Operational Wind Turbines Considering Aerodynamic And Seismic Load Interaction, Mohammad-Amin Asareh

Doctoral Dissertations

"With the advancements in the wind energy production industry, the demand for a cost effective and safe design of wind turbine structures is growing rapidly. The wide deployment of wind turbines in locations with high seismic hazard has lead engineers to take into account a more comprehensive seismic design of such structures. In response to the need for a computational tool that can perform coupled simulations of wind and seismic loads, a seismic module has been developed for the publicly available National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) code, FAST, at the first step of this research. This achievement allows engineers working …

Application Of Colloidal Unimolecular Polymer (Cup) Particles In Coatings, Sagar Vijay Gade

Doctoral Dissertations

"Colloidal unimolecular polymer (CUP) particles were prepared by the process of water reduction on copolymers containing hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers at definite ratio using free radical polymerization. The CUPs are formed by the effect of hydrophilic /hydrophobic interactions of the polymer with a change in the solvent environment around them. Once formed these colloidal particles are thermodynamically stable with collapsed hydrophobic groups forming a spheroidal core and hydrophilic charges on the surface stabilizing the particle by the charge repulsion. CUPs contain only the charged CUP particles, water and counterions with all the functionality on the surface for further chemistry. CUP …

Air Quality And Respiratory Health Among Adolescents From The United Arab Emirates, Caroline Barakat-Haddad, Sheng Zhang, Ayesha Siddiqua, Rania Dghaim

All Works

© 2015 Caroline Barakat-Haddad et al. Purpose. To examine the role of air quality in relation to chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, wheeze, and dry cough among adolescents from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods. A survey was administered on 6,363 adolescents from 9 UAE regions. Data consists of demographic, socioeconomic, residential, and behavioural variables, such as location of residence, residing near industry/gas stations/dumpsites/construction sites, residing near overhead power line/plants, exposure to tobacco, residential exposure, ethnicity, concern over air pollution, smoking, and purposely smelling gasoline fumes/glue/correctors/car exhaust/burning black ants. Logistic regression modeling was used to determine significant predictors of respiratory health. …

Weaving Risk Identification Into Crowdsourcing Lifecycle, Faouzi Kamoun, Dima Alhadidi, Zakaria Maamar

All Works

© 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license. Crowdsourcing enables companies and individuals as well to tap into the versatile knowledge, creativity, and talent of a large population of crowd contributors. Yet, crowdsourcing can expose companies to a myriad of risks that can have drastic impact on the profitability and competitive position. This paper presents a Risk Breakdown Structure (RBS) of crowdsourcing projects that spans the entire project's lifecycle. The paper first reports on a lifecycle model that captures the main phases of a crowdsourcing project. It then identifies …

Matrix And Edge Effects On The Maintenance Of Ecological Function In An Afromontane Protected Area, Robin M. Martino

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Land use type in the human dominated matrix surrounding tropical forest can influence edge effects at the forest-matrix interface. Edge effects can alter ecological processes and impact the function of forest edge ecosystems. A key ecological process that helps maintain tropical forest and is affected by forest disturbance is seed dispersal by large, fruit eating vertebrates (frugivores). This dissertation examines how the type of vegetation in the matrix, the `soft’ edge contrast of pine plantations and the `hard’ edge contrast of tea plantations, affect seed dispersal behavior of large frugivores, and the structure and composition of tree species, in forest …

Ecosystem-Based Management And Refining Governance Of Wind Energy In The Massachusetts Coastal Zone: A Case Study Approach, Enid C. Kumin

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

While there are as yet no wind energy facilities in New England coastal waters, a number of wind turbine projects are now operating on land adjacent to the coast. In the Gulf of Maine region (from Maine to Massachusetts), at least two such projects, one in Falmouth, Massachusetts, and another on the island of Vinalhaven, Maine, began operation with public backing only to face subsequent opposition from some who were initially project supporters. I investigate the reasons for this dynamic using content analysis of documents related to wind energy facility development in three case study communities. For comparison and contrast …

Advanced Ligo, Tiffany Summerscales, Ligo Scientific Collaboration

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Individual-Based Modeling: Mountain Pine Beetle Seasonal Biology In Response To Climate, Jacques Regniere, Barbara J. Bentz, James A. Powell, Remi St-Amant

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

Over the past decades, as significant advances were made in the availability and accessibility of computing power, individual-based models (IBM) have become increasingly appealing to ecologists (Grimm 1999). The individual-based modeling approachprovides a convenient framework to incorporate detailed knowledge of individuals and of their interactions within populations (Lomnicki 1999). Variability among individuals is essential to the success of populations that are exposed to changing environments, and because natural selection acts on this variability, it is an essential component of population performance. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015.

The N-P Scattering Cross Section From 90 Kev To 1.8 Mev, Hongwei Yang

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

There have been very few measurements of the total cross section for n-p scattering below 500 keV. In order to differentiate among NN potential models, improved cross section data between 20 and 600 keV are required. We measured the n-p and n-C total cross sections in this energy region by transmission; a collimated neutron beam was passed through CH₂ and C samples and transmitted neutrons were detected by a BC-501A deuterated liquid scintillator. Cross sections were obtained by taking the ratios of normalized neutron yields with the samples in the beam and with no sample in the beam. Both …

A Measurement Of The Prompt Fission Neutron Energy Spectrum For 235U(N,F) And The Neutron-Induced Fission Cross Section For 238U(N,F), Zachariah W. Miller

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Two measurements have been made, addressing gaps in knowledge for ²³⁵U(n,f) and ²³⁸U(n,f). The energy distribution for prompt fission neutrons is not well-understood below 1 MeV in ²³⁵U(n,f). To measure the ²³⁵U(n,f) prompt fission neutron distribution, a pulsed neutron beam at the WNR facility in Los Alamos National Laboratory was directed onto a ²³⁵U target with neutron detectors placed 1 m from the target. These neutron detectors were designed specifically for this experiment and employed a unique geometry of scintillating plastic material that was designed to reject backgrounds. Fission fragments were detected using an avalanche …

Characterizing The Nearest Young Moving Groups, Kyle Mccarthy

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Moving groups are associations of stars which originated from the same star forming region. These groups are typically young (< 200 Myr) since they have not dissipated into the galactic field population. Over the last 15 years, roughly 10 such moving groups have been found with distances < 150 pc (7 with distances < 100 pc), each with a unique velocity and position.

This work first investigates the likelihood to resolve star from two moving groups (AB Doradus and Beta Pictoris) using high spacial resolution optical interferrometry and found 5 AB Doradus stars and 1 Beta Pictoris star with declinations > -30 could be spacially resolved.

To more deeply characterize individual groups, we used the 2.7m telescope at the McDonald Observatory to observe 10 proposed AB Doradus stars and 5 proposed Octans-Near stars (3 probable members, 2 possible) with high resolution (R ~60,000) optical …

An Analysis Of The Parity Violating Asymmetry Of Polarized Neutron Capture In Hydrogen From The Npdgamma Experiment, Elise Tang

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

The NPDGamma Experiment is used to study the n + p to d + g reaction for the purpose of examining the hadronic weak interaction. The nucleon-nucleon interaction is overwhelmingly mediated by the strong force, however, the weak part can be extracted by a study of its parity violating manifestations. When neutrons are incident on protons, deuterons and 2.2 MeV gamma rays are produced. If the incoming neutrons are polarized, the parity violating weak interaction gives rise to a measured spatial asymmetry, A_g, in the outgoing gamma rays, as s_n · k_g is parity odd.

At …

The Development And Implementation Of Systems To Study The Physical Properites Of Tantalum Trisulfide And Small-Molecule Organic Semiconductors, Hao Zhang

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

The charge-density-wave (CDW) material orthorhombic tantalum trisulfide (TaS₃) is a quasi-one dimensional material that forms long ribbon shaped crystals, and exhibits unique physical behavior. We have measured the dependence of the hysteretic voltage-induced torsional strain (VITS) in TaS₃, which was first discovered by Pokrovskii et. al. in 2007, on temperature and applied torque. Our experimental results shows that the application of torque to the crystal could also change the VITS time constant, magnitude, and sign. This suggests that the VITS is a consequence of residual torsional strain originally present in the sample which twists the polarizations …

Chemoselective Formation Of Unsymmetrically Substituted Ethers From Catalytic Reductive Coupling Of Aldehydes And Ketones With Alcohols In Aqueous Solution, Nishantha Kumara Kalutharage, Chae S. Yi

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

A well-defined cationic Ru–H complex catalyzes reductive etherification of aldehydes and ketones with alcohols. The catalytic method employs environmentally benign water as the solvent and cheaply available molecular hydrogen as the reducing agent to afford unsymmetrical ethers in a highly chemoselective manner.