Digital Commons Network^™

Sw: Accessing Research After Graduation, Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

Attention: As of 2026 updated versions of this module will no longer be available on Digital Commons. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

As a practicing social worker, you'll "engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice" (CSWE Competency 4). This module contains pages on the following topics:

• What changes after graduation, including how you can still use the USU Libraries
• Free research databases
• Information about Open Access
• Tips for finding free copies of articles
• Other helpful sources, including reports, dissertations/theses, evidence-based practices, data/statistics, and tests/measures

Evaluating Sources (2024), Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

Attention: As of 2026 updated versions of this module will no longer be available on Digital Commons. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

In this module you'll complete these objectives:

• Understand the importance of source evaluation
• Learn strategies for addressing bias when evaluating sources
• Learn evaluation criteria
• Effectively employ evaluation criteria for academic and personal purposes

Sw 1010: Finding And Using Research (Library Module), Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

Attention: As of 2026 updated versions of this module will no longer be available on Digital Commons. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

In this module you'll learn:

• What a peer-reviewed source is and why you'll want to use them for your research assignment
• How to avoid paywalls and get full access to peer reviewed sources for free
• How to break your research topic into keywords for database searching
• How to cite your sources using APA citation style

Soc Proseminar - New Grad Students (Library Module), Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

Attention: As of 2026 updated versions of this module will no longer be available on Digital Commons. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

This library module contains a few pages to help you get to know what library resources you have access to and strategies for using them:

• Sociology research resources
• Accessing materials
• Demography and data resources
• Organizing materials
• And more!

Anth 1099 (Library Module), Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

Attention: As of 2026 updated versions of this module will no longer be available on Digital Commons. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

This library module contains a few pages to help you get to know what library resources you have access to for Anthropology research:

• Anthropology research resources
• Finding articles with Anthropological Literature
• Tips for accessing articles
• Finding books and ebooks with the library catalog
• Citing your sources

Musc 3190 Library Module (2025), Usu Libraries

All E-Learning Resources

Attention: As of 2026 updated versions of this module will no longer be available on Digital Commons. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

This library module contains a few more pages to help you get started with your research:

• Using Oxford Music Online
• Using RILM
• Finding related sources
• Evaluating your sources
• Organizing your research

Development And Validation Of Phonological Processing Assessment Tool In Kannada Language, Shwetha Prabhu, Vangmayee Subban, Jayashree Sunil Bhat, Haralakatta Shivananjappa Somashekara

Open Access archive

The research evidence in orthographically transparent language Kannada indicates that phonological processing significantly influences reading acquisition, and deficits increase the risk of dyslexia. A comprehensive assessment of phonological processing that includes phonological awareness, phonological memory, and phonological naming is crucial for implementing effective intervention strategies, thereby reducing the risk of dyslexia. However, there is a notable absence of phonological processing assessment tools specifically designed and validated for children learning to read alphasyllabary Kannada. The present study addresses this gap by developing and validating a phonological processing assessment tool for children between Grade I and Grade III learning to read alphasyllabary …

Development Of A Fluorescence-Based Excipient Screening For Improved Stability And Shelf-Life Of Recombinant Chitin Deacetylase, Goutam Mohan Pawaskar, Ritu Raval

Open Access archive

Chitin deacetylase (CDA) modifies chitin into chitosan by removing acetyl groups, but its inherent instability poses a challenge for successful crystallisation. Despite limited successes in crystallizing CDAs, prior attempts with recombinant chitin deacetylase (BaCDA) failed due to poor stability. To address this, we propose an enzyme buffer formulation as a cost-effective strategy to enhance stability, prolong shelf life, and increase the likelihood of crystallisation. Utilizing the high-throughput screening technique FTSA, we developed a screening method correlating BaCDA stability with its activity. The optimised formulation comprises 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer pH 7, 1 M NaCl, 20 % glycerol, and 1 mM …

Impact Of Effective Word Vectors On Deep Learning Based Subjective Classification Of Online Reviews, Priya B. Kamath, M. Geetha, Dinesh U. Acharya, Ritika Nandi

Open Access archive

Sentiment Analysis tasks are made considerably simpler by extracting subjective statements from online reviews, thereby reducing the overhead of the classifiers. The review dataset encompasses both subjective and objective sentences, where subjective writing expresses the author's opinions, and objective text presents factual information. Assessing the subjectivity of review statements involves categorizing them as objective or subjective. The effectiveness of word vectors plays a crucial role in this process, as they capture the semantics and contextual cues of a subjective language. This study investigates the significance of employing sophisticated word vector representations to enhance the detection of subjective reviews. Several methodologies …

Impact Of Deposition Temperature On Persistent Photoconductivity Of Sno2 Thin Films Deposited Using Spray Pyrolysis Technique Suitable In Optoelectronic Synaptic Devices, P. Asha Hind, Pawan Kumar, U. K. Goutam, B. V. Rajendra

Open Access archive

In this study, nanocrystalline tin oxide thin films that exhibited enhanced persistent photoconductivity (PPC) were prepared using spray pyrolysis technique. The effect of deposition temperature on different aspects of photoconductivity of these films were analysed using different characterization techniques. Raman analysis confirmed the tetragonal rutile structure of the films and also indicated their nanocrystalline nature, while XPS analysis verified the presence and oxidation states of tin and oxygen in the films. The films demonstrated UV sensing capability under above-bandgap illumination, generating electron-hole pairs and enhancing electrical conductivity. The deposition temperature of the film influenced their photocurrent characteristics, showcasing varied responses …

Influence Of Fibre Direction On The Mechanical Properties And Artificial Intelligence-Based Performance Prediction Of Hybrid Abaca-Jute Amino Composites, S. Ramesh, B. H. Maruthi Prashanth, P. Gomathi, G. M. Swamy

Open Access archive

In this study, the Hot-press method was used to create hybrid laminates using an equal amount of jute and abaca fibers with various fiber orientations [0/0/0/0/0/0, 0/45/0/0/45/0, 0/90/0/0/90/0, and +45/−45/+45/+45/−45/+45] embedded in amino resin. To assess the impact of fiber orientation on natural fiber hybrid eco-fiber composites, as per ASTM standard the tensile, flexural, impact, and ILSS tests were carried out. Additionally, conducting an in-depth statistical examination through the utilization of Machine Learning techniques like Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to make predictions. The experimental results revealed that the voids and defects have a significant impact on composite density. (0/45/0/0/45/0)The fiber-oriented …

Integrating Machine Learning Algorithms And Advanced Computing Technology Using An Ensemble Hybrid Classifier, Roopashri Shetty, M. Geetha, G. Shyamala, Dinesh U. Acharya

Open Access archive

Ovarian Cancer (OC) is one of the major types of cancers in women worldwide. Despite the standardization of characteristics that can help distinguish benign from malignant ovarian masses, accurate predictive modelling following ultrasound (US) examination and biomarkers for’progression-free survival’ is lacking in the field of ovarian cancer. Important leading factors in ovarian cancer lethality are the lack of diagnostic procedures and proper screening to detect early-stage ovarian cancer, and the rapid spread of the disease over the surface of the peritoneum. Therefore, developing tools for accurate screening and prognosis, as well as the diagnosis of early stage ovarian cancer, is …

Role Of Bi/Te Co-Dopants On The Thermoelectric Properties Of Snse Polycrystals: An Experimental And Theoretical Investigation, Manasa R. Shankar, A. N. Prabhu, Anuradha M. Ashok, Nithya Davis

Open Access archive

A sustainable solution to the energy crisis may be found in thermoelectric materials and generators, capable of transforming thermal energy into electrical energy or vice versa. SnSe is one of the emerging thermoelectric materials with distinctive properties. The main advantages of this compound are earth-abundant, inexpensive, non-toxic and it is also known for its high thermoelectric performance. Here we prepared Bi/Te co-doped SnSe polycrystals; whereas, Bi and Te are added with different compositions such as (x = 0.0,0.02,0.04,0.06 and y = 0.03) in (Sn1-xBixSe1-YTeY) matrix by using the solid-state reaction method. XRD data confirms the samples belong to the orthorhombic …

Comprehensive Study On Structural, Optical, Mechanical And Radiation Blocking Nature Of Eu3+-Doped Bismuth Tellurite Glasses, Ashwitha Nancy D’Souza, M. S. Murari, M. I. Sayyed, Hanan Al-Ghamdi

Open Access archive

A novel glass system B2O3–SiO2–Bi2O3–TeO2–BaO–ZnO doped with Eu2O3 (x = 0–4 mol%) is fabricated through melt-quench technique and coded as BiTeEu-x. Density and refractive index measurements done on the glasses resulted in the increase up to 5.4377 gcm⁻³ and 1.99, respectively, for 4 mol% addition of Eu2O3. Vickers micro-indentation measurements done on synthesized glasses gave increasing microhardness values with Eu³⁺ doping due to higher bond strength of Eu–O bond compared to Te–O bond. The Phy-X/PSD simulation software utilized for obtaining radiation shielding parameters produced highest range of mass attenuation coefficient (63.878–0.036 cm²/g) and lowest range of …

Global, Regional, And National Age-Specific Progress Towards The 2020 Milestones Of The Who End Tb Strategy: A Systematic Analysis For The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2021, Jorge R. Ledesma, Jianing Ma, Meixin Zhang, Ann V.L. Basting

Open Access archive

Background: Global evaluations of the progress towards the WHO End TB Strategy 2020 interim milestones on mortality (35% reduction) and incidence (20% reduction) have not been age specific. We aimed to assess global, regional, and national-level burdens of and trends in tuberculosis and its risk factors across five separate age groups, from 1990 to 2021, and to report on age-specific progress between 2015 and 2020. Methods: We used the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2021 (GBD 2021) analytical framework to compute age-specific tuberculosis mortality and incidence estimates for 204 countries and territories (1990–2021 inclusive). We quantified …

Data-Driven Modeling Of Calcium Homeostasis And Bioenergetics In Alzheimer’S Disease, Down’S Syndrome And Leigh’S Syndrome., Abdul Rahim Umar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Disruption of Ca2+ homeostasis is implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), AD-like pathology in Down's Syndrome (DS) and Leigh’s Syndrome (LS). In astrocytes, disrupted intracellular Ca2+ signaling can compromise numerous brain functions, including synaptic transmission, neurovascular coupling, andbioenergetics. In our first project, we investigated the effects of brain extracts from AD patients on calcium signaling within cells and found that these extracts triggered a release of calcium within the cell, similar to synthetic components of amyloid beta plaques, a hallmark of AD. We developed a computational model to analyze how these changes in calcium …

Comparison Of Contingent Vocal Imitation With And Without Supplemental Reinforcement On Vocalizations Of Children With Asd, Megan L. Baumgartner

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Verbal communication often entails vocal verbal behavior. Research has shown that many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience delays in the onset of vocalizations, which can hinder the acquisition of more complex vocal verbal behavior. Findings of previous research have also shown that early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) is effective at teaching various skills, including verbal behavior, to children with ASD. Moreover, several studies have shown that contingent imitation leads to increases in the frequency of vocalizations and echoic responding of children with ASD; however, no study to date has compared the effectiveness of contingent vocal imitation (CVI) with …

Evaluating When Changes In Delay Discounting Occur In A Residential Alcohol Treatment Program, Asha A. Fuller

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Delay discounting has long been associated with substance misuse across both animal subjects and human participants. The purpose of the proposed study was to evaluate if and when changes in delay discounting occur during a residential treatment program for alcohol use. Participants were asked to complete the 5-trial adjusting amount discounting task (Koffarnus & Bickel, 2014) and an electronic version of the Du et al. (2002) delay discounting task repeatedly across 21 days while in residential treatment. Additional assessments included the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT; Saunders et al., 1993), a demographic survey, and a social validity questionnaire. Findings …

Ultrasound Based Dynamic Reference Reflection Technique For Simultaneous Specific Gravity And Temperature Estimation, Jose Paul

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work is driven by the need for a noninvasive density estimation device for pipeline infrastructure due to the increased risk of volatility in the high energy density fuels that are available in the market. Ultrasound based techniques have proved to be a viable alternative to traditional u tube resonance or nuclear techniques due to their robustness and safety offering. The major update that this work intends to make to the existing technology is development of a system wherein the transducer or the electronic components remain isolated from the flow field.As a result, this work dives headfirst into the fundamentals …

Assessing The Social, Economic, And Environmental Impacts Of A Multifunctional Crop: The Case Of Moringa Oleifera, Yoel Gebrai

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Multifunctional crops have the potential to support societal goals toward more sustainable production of food, feed, and fuel. The production and processing of multifunctional crops, with their numerous uses and coproducts, is accompanied by social, economic, and environmental impacts that need to be systematically evaluated to avoid unintended consequences from widespread adoption. Complexity emerges in the presence of multifunctionality, and counterintuitive system responses can occur. As a result, this dissertation has sought to enhance and apply frameworks to assess multifunctional crop sustainability holistically. Systems thinking and life cycle approaches are applied to a multifunctional crop case study, Moringa oleifera (MO). …

Performing Anti-Oppressive Education In A Private Dual-Language Immersion Elementary School, María Luisa Miguéliz Valcarlos

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the U.S., dual-language immersion programs have played a fundamental role in reducing the opportunity (and achievement) gap for Latinx Spanish-speaker students by centering their cultural backgrounds, knowledge, and overall well-being. Nonetheless, scholars have expressed concern that dual language programs teaching in Spanish and English may reproduce unbalanced power relations between historically minoritized and privileged groups. Research in bilingual education has shown that curriculum and instruction in dual-language immersion programs often benefit English-dominant students and risk contributing to reproducing social inequities. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the role of curriculum in addressing or reproducing social inequities …

Integrating Location Data Into Analytics: Methods, Applications, And Fairness In Public Healthcare, Arindam Ray

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the application of location data in healthcare management, focusing on epidemic spread forecasts and fairness in healthcare access. It demonstrates the power of location data in understanding and forecasting epidemic spread with two examples, using mobility metrics derived from the location data. The second example also considers the effect of social vulnerability along with population mobility and extends a popular deep-learning algorithm to accept static anddynamic data. The dissertation also proposes health equity measures by evaluating the alignment between healthcare facility locations and people’s mobility patterns, considering demographic factors. This research highlights the valuable insight location data …

Physiological And Circadian Outcomes Of Fkbp5 Imbalance: Insights From Two Models, Niat Tsegai Gebru

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Circadian rhythms are crucial in regulating various physiological processes, including mood regulation, and disruptions in these rhythms have been linked to several neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. FKBP51, a protein involved in stress responses and glucocorticoid receptor function has emerged as a potential regulator of the circadian clock. FKBP51’s interaction with glucocorticoid receptors impacts the transcriptional regulation of circadian-related genes. In recent years, FKBP51 has been associated with genetic and epigenetic alterations in neuropsychiatric disorders, highlighting its potential as a target for intervention. The heterogeneity associated with neuropsychiatric disorders arises from a combination of genetic, environmental, …

The Role Of Pregnancy Intendedness In Shaping Contraceptive Practices And Family Planning Experiences: Evidence From Sub-Saharan Africa, Otobo I. Ujah

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Despite the associated adverse health and economic implications associated with unintended pregnancy, there remains a paucity of literature examining the effect of unintended pregnancy on postpartum contraceptive and reproductive behavior in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including Nigeria.

Aims: The overall aim of this doctoral dissertation was twofold. First, to quantitatively examine whether and to what extent the intendedness of a woman’s most recent pregnancy is linked to subsequent contraceptive behaviors and family planning experiences. Secondly, to disentangle the influence of compositional and contextual level factors on these study outcomes. In the first paper, I investigated the extent …

Tuning Polymer Glass Formation Behavior And Understanding Time-Temperature Superposition Breakdown With Oligomeric Additives, Peijing Yue

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The glass transition of polymer melts has been investigated for over a century. Even so, there are still many unanswered questions about the underlying physics. Countless theories were proposed to explain and define glass transition temperatures. More specifically, both the origins of the glass transition and underlying classification of glass as a state of matter remain unresolved. Time-temperature superposition (TTS) is one of the most widely used techniques to characterize the viscoelastic behavior of a material and the mechanical behavior and is employed to reduce the measuring time during characterization. Despite the widespread use of TTS, many authors have reported …

Texas School Board And Ambition Replication Data, Kelly Bergstrand

Sociology & Anthropology Datasets - Archive

This data contains information on the demographics of Texas school board members and their ambition levels. (2024-06-20)

“It’S Not Me, It’S You:” A Critical Race Exploration Of University-Community Partnerships (Ucps) With Black Community Leadership, Christopher Ellis Matthew Darby

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite the growing number of initiatives and efforts by universities to engage with their local communities, university-community partnerships (UCPs) remain complex relationships from their development to implementation—specifically, UCPs between Black communities and predominantly White institutions (PWI). However, research that centers on Black communities and their UCPs is limited. This study delves into the dynamics of UCPs with Black communities, aiming to explore and comprehend the attitudes, perceptions, and experiences from the viewpoints of both university and Black community leaders. Employing a convergent parallel mixed methods research design and utilizing Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Community-Based Educational Leadership (CBEL) to inform …

Resolving Antarctic Margin Paleoceanography For Two Different Timescales And Archives, Theresa M. King

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent decades have seen increased rates of ice mass loss from Antarctic ice sheets, through thinning of many ice shelves around the periphery of the continent. The most vulnerable are the glacial systems that are marine-terminating and grounded below sea level, a characteristic that exposes these systems to sea level rise and warming oceans. Enhanced basal melting under the influence of warm ocean water masses can lead to thinning and retreat of glaciers, and ultimately to the acceleration of grounded ice loss. To contextualize current ice mass loss and contribute to accurate model projections for future retreat scenarios, it is …

Roles Of Mitochondrial Chchd2 And Gpcr-Associated Β-Arrestin2 In The Pathogenesis Of Lewy Body Disorders, Teresa R. Kee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Coiled-coil-helix-coiled-coil-helix domain containing 2 (CHCHD2) is a mitochondrial protein that plays important roles in cristae structure, oxidative phosphorylation, and apoptosis. Multiple mutations in CHCHD2 have been associated with Lewy body disorders (LBDs), such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), with the CHCHD2T61I mutation being the most widely studied. We generated the first transgenic mouse models expressing human CHCHD2WT and the PD-linked CHCHD2T61I mutation driven by the mPrP promoter. CHCHD2T61I Tg, but not CHCHD2WT Tg mice exhibit perinuclear mitochondrial aggregates, neuroinflammation, and have impaired long-term synaptic plasticity associated with synaptic dysfunction. Dopaminergic neurodegeneration, a hallmark of PD, …

Characterization And Reprogramming Of T-Cell Metabolic Dysfunction In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia For Improved Adoptive Cell Therapy, Wael B. Gamal

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a predominant B-cell malignancy impacting elderly populations in Western societies. Targeted therapies have revolutionized the CLL treatment landscape. Still, patients often require long-term therapy and are subject to drug-induced resistance and severe toxicities, for which CLL is still considered an incurable disease. T-cell-based immunotherapy, particularly chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, has shown remarkable success, leading to various FDA approvals in hematological malignancies. Nonetheless, CAR T-cell therapy success rate is limited in CLL because of the dysfunctional nature of T cells. CLL T cells exhibit skewing toward immunosuppressive and terminally differentiated phenotypes, leading to hindrances …