Digital Commons Network^™

Why China Cares About Canada’S Indigenous Residential Schools: From Whataboutism To Internal Denial, Xiyuan (Marvin) Xia

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

This article examines how the Chinese government and its propaganda departments use genocide-related discourses to fulfil different political purposes at home and abroad. By criticizing Western colonialist regimes’ assimilation policies, especially Canada’s Indigenous residential schools, the Chinese diplomats apply the rhetoric of whataboutism to dodge the international community’s questions about China’s systematic persecution of Uyghur Muslims. Domestically, China’s state media intensively cover Canada’s residential school system and the colonial genocide against Indigenous people, trying to distract the audience from the state atrocities in Xinjiang and mislead the public to distrust Canada and other countries’ motives for accusing China of committing …

Optimizing The Membrane-Assisted Recovery Of Solids (Mars) Technology For Nutrient Removal And Recovery From Concentrated Waste Streams, Ben Yamin Hoque

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The effective management of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in decentralizedwastewater treatment environments is a pressing challenge. These nutrients pose significant risks to the environment and public health when discharged into water bodies, while their recovery and reuse can help alleviate nutrient shortages in various industries, including agriculture. Conventional biological treatment methods used in centralized facilities are not suitable for decentralized systems due to operational complexities and space limitations. Chemical treatment mechanisms, such as adsorption, ion exchange, precipitation, and air-stripping, offer potential solutions but are accompanied by challenges like high costs and logistical issues. Therefore, finding a sustainable and …

System And Method For Imaging Tendon Cross Sections For Detecting Voids And Other Deficiencies In Grouted External Tendons, Alberto A. Sagues, Hani Freij, David Adam Dukeman, Christopher Lewis Alexander

USF Patents

An exemplary method of indicating a condition of grout within a post-tensioned tendon involves positioning a magnet and a metallic sensing plate in close proximity to an outer surface of the post-tensioned tendon; rotating the magnet and the metallic sensing plate around the outer surface of the post-tensioned tendon; measuring an amount of magnetic forces applied to the magnet during rotation of the magnet around the post-tensioned tendon; measuring an impedance between the metallic sensing plate and metallic strands within the post-tensioned tendon during rotation of the metallic sensing plate around the post-tensioned tendon; and generating an image of a …

Distributed Process State And Input Estimation For Heterogeneous Active/Passive Sensor Networks, Dzung Minh Duc Tran, Tansel Yucelen, Selahattin Burak Sarsilmaz

USF Patents

Systems and methods are described for estimating a state of a process and an input to the process using a sensor network. Each sensor node in the sensor network is directly to one or more adjacent sensor nodes and indirectly coupled to the remaining sensor nodes through the one or more adjacent sensor nodes. Each sensor node iteratively calculates a new estimated state based on estimations of the state and the input to the process calculated by the sensor node in a previous iteration. The new estimated state is then adjusted based on a difference between a predicted and actual …

Examining The Impact Of Stress And Fear Of Covid-19 On Transit Travel, Mark Burris, Alexander Brown, Hardik Gupta, Jasper Wang, Kartikeya Jha, Michael Walk, Alberto M. Figueroa-Medina, Daniel Rodríguez-Román, Carlos Del Valle-González, Luis Nieves-Díaz, Janilet Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Adel Del Valle-Pérez, Marianna Defendini

Research Reports

The COVID-19 pandemic initially caused a significant decrease in travel. Whereas highway travel rebounded quickly, transit use has not fully returned and may not fully return in the short or medium term. This report discusses the results from a survey of travelers' stated use of transit before, during, and after the pandemic, focusing on identifying factors associated with the change in transit use, including stress and fear of COVID-19. The study included data collection in three experiment phases. In the first phase of data collection, the survey was distributed via several online platforms while the data for the second phase …

Enhancing And Securing Wireless Medical Technology For Diagnosis And Treatment Of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction, Farhath Zareen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) is a debilitating medical condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Urodynamics is the current gold standard for diagnosing LUTD but uses non-physiologically fast, retrograde cystometric filling to obtain a brief snapshot of bladder function. Current state-of-the-art research in bladder monitoring includes ambulatory urodynamics using wireless implantable devices to evaluate bladder function during natural filling for long-term monitoring. However, there are various challenges and limitations to this multi-sensor approach. This research focuses on developing frameworks for automated event detection, data analysis, and optimization of long-term bladder recordingsto improve the diagnosis and treatment of LUTD. In …

Forum, Volume 47, No. 2, Summer 2023, Florida Humanities, Pam Daniel

FORUM: The Magazine of Florida Humanities

Contents: Letter from the Executive Director -- From the Secretary of State -- From the Editor -- Humanities Live -- Voices -- Treasure -- Oral History -- Sense of Place -- One for the Books -- The Way of the Trailer -- Saving Sanibel -- Freedom Spring -- Taste of Florida -- The Quiz

Exploring Bhutanese Primary School Teachers’ Technological Knowledge, Sonam Dhendup, Kezang Sherab

Journal of Global Education and Research

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the normal functions of schools globally. Online learning is a new concept in Bhutan. Nonetheless, classes have begun using various online learning platforms to continue their operations during the pandemic. This study examined primary school teachers’ perceived information technology knowledge and proficiency. The participants of this study consisted of 124 primary teachers from two western districts of Bhutan. Data were collected using an online survey. The study’s findings suggested that although the majority of participants (98.2%) had access to personal digital devices, slow internet connection and high internet data subscription charges (60.7%) were cited as …

Teacher Candidate Self-Efficacy And Ability To Teach Literacy: A Comparison Of Residency And Traditional Teacher Preparation Models, Doreen L. Mazzye, Michelle A. Duffy, Richard L. Lamb

Journal of Global Education and Research

This comparative study explored self-efficacy and ability for scientifically-based literacy instruction between a traditional and residency model of teacher preparation. Pre-/post-survey data was collected using the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy for Literacy Scale. Mentor teachers completed a modified version of the survey on candidates’ abilities. Data were analyzed using paired sample t-tests, independent sample t-tests, and a trend analysis. Results revealed that candidates in the Residency Model held higher levels of self-efficacy for literacy instruction than in the Traditional Model. Mentor teachers rated candidates in the Residency Model as more able to teach literacy than those in the …

A Taxonomy Of Radiofrequency Jamming And Spoofing Strategies And Criminal Motives, Tegg Westbrook

Journal of Strategic Security

This article provides a taxonomy of radiofrequency (RF) jamming and spoofing tactics and strategies associated with specific criminal objectives. This is based on the fact that the motivations and strategies of cyber-attackers – predominantly financial – is well-known, but the motivations behind specific electromagnetic interferences is lacking in the current literature. Previous research has also overlooked the motivations of other actors using jamming and spoofing devices.

The objective is to identify the most desirable spoofing and jamming strategies, likely targets, and likely motivations. The article finds that (a) previous literature on the subject overlooks a number of non-state actor motives, …

How Post-Immunization Covid-19 Context Affected Residents’ Evacuation Behavior During Hurricane Ida, Amy Polen, Jennifer Collins, Elizabeth Dunn, Stephen Murphy, Isabelle Jernigan, Killian Mcsweeney, Yi Jie Zhu

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, decision-making during disasters fundamentally changed to accommodate the combined risks of hurricanes and infectious diseases. Prior research conducted in 2020 by Collins et al. examined how individuals changed their intended evacuation decision-making during the pandemic or their actual evacuation decisions during Hurricanes Laura and Sally. Hurricane Ida provided further data on evacuation decision-making when vaccinations and masks were widely available. A digital survey was disseminated to individuals affected by Hurricane Ida in 2021. Respondents provided information about their actual evacuation choices and perceptions of public shelters and COVID-19 risks. In comparison with the …

Desperate And Opportunistic: Cbrn Terrorists And Civilian Radiological Material, Oliver Mihell-Hale

Journal of Strategic Security

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) terrorism has long been a threat that has concerned policy makers. This paper highlights the factors which determine when a group is likely to use CBRN weapons given the numerous constraints on their use. A group which is desperate, small, and innovative is most likely to resort to their use as the taboos which constrain groups under normal circumstances become an incentive. These characteristics also determine what type of CBRN weapon will be used, a basic radiological weapon. A radiological weapon is relatively easy to develop compared to other options, and the material for …

Fixing American Cybersecurity Ed. Larry Clinton, Georgetown University Press, 2023., Mark T. Peters Ii

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

An Indispensable Spice In Multicultural Hatay Cuisine: Sumac, Ibrahim Cekic

Journal of Mediterranean Tourism Research

Hatay is an ancient city that has hosted dozens of civilizations in the history. Today, this city, which includes different ethnic groups, has a rich culinary culture shaped by cultural interactions. Spices are among the basic components of this cuisine. Locust powder, nutmeg, mahaleb, fennel, dried basil, cajun, Samandag’s red chili powder, zahtar, and sumac are among the most used spices in Hatay cuisine. This study was carried out to determine the traditional consumption patterns and uses of sumac, which is one of the spices identified with the gastronomic identity of Hatay. In this context, a semi-structured interview form consisting …

Evaluating The Accuracy Of Inertial Measurment Units In Detecting Gait Parameters For Lower Limb Prosthesis And Orthosis Users, Bryce Fuller

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A Gait Extraction System (GES) was developed to investigate the accuracy of wearable sensors by producing gait parameters, to be compared against a gold standard motion capture system. Two inertial measurement units (IMUs) were placed in the lower limb region, specifically in the shank region of each leg. The GES uses algorithms to extract the gait cycle from raw acceleration data to produce gait parameters such as stride length, stride time, step length, step time, stance time, swing time and cadence. There were three main trials that consisted solely of a flat road, a road with small hills and a …

Optimization Techniques For Machine Learning Inference And Near Memory Image Processing In Hardware For Highly Constrained Iot Edge Nodes, Rajeev Joshi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The growing demand for fast and energy-efficient hardware for resource-constrained Internet of Things (IoT) edge devices has highlighted the limitations of conventional computing architectures. This research focuses on addressing the demand for fast, optimized, and energy-efficient machine learning inference engines as well as image processing in IoT edge applications. In this work, we address three challenging research problems and devise efficient solutions. Our investigation involved comprehensive exploration and analysis, leading to the proposal of effective approaches for overcoming these demanding issues. Through our work, we contribute novel solutions that offer improved efficiency and effectiveness in handling these research problems.

First, …

Case Study And Fidelity Assessment Development For The Family Intervention Specialist (Fis) Program, Areana Cruz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation involved an in-depth analysis of the Family Intervention Specialist (FIS) program and the development of an FIS fidelity assessment. Three studies were conducted for this analysis. Study one analyzed FIS administrative data from one Managing Entity to determine the extent that the quality assurance measures align with the core program policies and procedures established by the Department of Children and Families. Study two included a content analysis of FIS policies and procedures manuals for alignment regarding implementation practices and qualitative interviews with FIS stakeholders regarding FIS implementation, strengths, challenges, and adherence to established policies and procedures. Study three …

Supervision Needs At 2 And 5 Years Post Traumatic Brain Injury: A Veterans Affairs Tbi Model Systems Study, Deveney M. K. Ching

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present study assessed the supervision needs, with the Supervision Rating Scale [SRS] (Boake, 1996) of Veterans and Service Members enrolled in the Veterans' Affairs (VA) Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (TBIMS) at 2- and 5-year follow-ups after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). A cross sectional analysis was conducted at 2-year follow-up (N=428) where it was found that 35% of subjects still needed supervision. At 5-year follow-up (N=295) it was found that 32% of subjects needed supervision. Finally, a multilevel model of supervision (N=164) found that the relationship of supervision needs remains a constant linear line over the …

Enhancing The Safety And Reliability Of Closed-Loop Medical Control Systems, Shakil Mahmud

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is a rapidly advancing field that relies heavily on semi- or closed-loop Wearable and Implantable Medical Devices (WIMDs). In recent years, there has been renewed interest in clinical automation, with researchers looking for innovative solutions for Physiological Closed-Loop Control Systems (PCLCS). However, these devices can have various security issues, including vulnerabilities in software and firmware, physical attacks, weak encryption/authentication, and compromised system components. Government agencies, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA), emphasize the importance of ensuring the safety and reliability of PCLCS since malfunctioning medical devices can …

Counting Every Death When Every Death Counts: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Hurricane Michael Excess Mortality, Blake L. Scott

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Vulnerable populations have been shown to be disproportionately impacted by natural disasters, such as hurricanes. Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm, in October of 2018 hit the rural and socioeconomically vulnerable area of the Florida Panhandle, causing 50 fatalities in Florida, massive destruction to area including the healthcare infrastructure, and led a prolonged recovery period. The purpose of the research was to examine long-term impacts to health in Florida Panhandle after Hurricane Michael; changes to mortality trends, changes to health of survivors, and changes to their access to health care using a mixed-methods, sequential, explanatory study design.

The initial phase …

Development Of Antimicrobial Guanidinylate Polycarbonates, Menglin Xue

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified the emergence of antibiotic resistance as one of the top 10 threats to public health. This is exemplified by serious threats such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VREF), and the urgent threat posed by Clostridioides difficile to human health. As part of a multifaceted combat strategy against these pathogenic bacteria, host-defense peptide (HDP)-mimicking polymers have proven to be resourceful and promising. However, a vast majority of antibiotic polymer applications were limited to topical applications due to their potential systematic toxicity. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a …

Vascular And Auditory Changes After Repetitive Traumatic Brain Injury, Courtney Lynn Penn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects over 2.87 million people in the US each year. The large majority of these injuries can be classified as mild. However, evidence suggests that even mild TBIs can lead to long-lasting symptoms that greatly impact quality of life. This is particularly true when an individual sustains multiple TBIs (repetitive TBI, rTBI). Much of the damage caused by rTBI is due to secondary injury mechanisms that cause the initial injury site to spread and worsen over time. No therapies currently exist which can mitigate secondary injury, and monitoring this phase of rTBI is difficult. Development of …

The Relationship Between First-Year Expectations And Persistence For Students Who Self-Identify As Having Not Declared A Major, Shane Combs

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research aligned with protocols established by the Florida Board of Governors in 2016 to form a new funding model tied to the institution's performance. The literature review highlighted a disparity between students' expectations and the reality of college which could negatively impact persistence, and therefore funding to the institution. This quantitative study utilized the Beginning of College Survey of Student Engagement (BCSSE) to explore the correlation between incoming, undeclared FTIC students' expectations of co-curricular involvement, faculty interaction, and learning support services utilization and their persistence to the end of the second fall semester. The sample consisted of 1,042 respondents …

Reframing Resistance, Resilience, And Racial Equity In Maternal Health: A Mixed Methods Exploration Of Paternal Involvement And The Racial Disparity In Severe Maternal Morbidity, Marshara G. Fross

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: The preventable, persistent racial inequity observed in maternal and infant death has lasting impacts on African American communities and families. Fathers, partners, and co-parents are important supports during the sensitive and vulnerable perinatal period. Emerging research has begun to demonstrate a concerted effort to move beyond the sphere of medicine and quality improvement, towards exploring and integrating social factors into targeted intervention strategies to address racial inequality in health outcomes. However, sparse literature concentrates on understanding the role of fathers and partners in peripartum care and maternal health outcomes. This study aimed to explore, understand, and describe the role …

A Novel Jazz Music Curriculum For Young Children: Results Of A Pilot Study, Jazmin D. Ghent

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Jazz improvisation is known as the highest-known art form concerning improvisation due to its frequency and development of creative ideas (Feldman 1964). Research shows that the art of spontaneous creation can contribute to children’s ability to problem-solve, social and emotional well-being, and academic success into adulthood (Biasutti, 2017; Heble & Laver, 2016; Kiehn, 2003; Kuzmich, 1980; Solis, 2009). Improvisation is crucial for developmentally comprehensive music programs; however, improvisation is scarce in elementary music classrooms and curricula. For this pilot study, a group of 31 children aged 5-8 and considered at-risk participated in a study where they were randomly assigned to …

Understanding How Cancer Adapts To Stress And Therapy Using Evolutionary Game Theory, Mariyah Pressley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adaptive responses in cancer promote disease initiation, progression, and resistance to treatment. Understanding the underlying evolutionary dynamics behind these adaptive responses is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies. Evolutionary game theory (EGT) has proven a useful tool in analyzing how different cellular behaviors and evolutionary forces shape the dynamics of tumor growth, response to therapy, and the emergence of resistance. In this dissertation, we utilize EGT to understand the adaptive responses of cancer through the lens of ecology and evolution. By employing fitness-generating models and exploring various ecological contexts, we aimed to unveil critical factors influencing aggressive cell phenotypes, treatment …

Bibliometric Analysis Of Academic Publications On Tourism And Humor, Omur N. Timurcanday Ozmen, Songul Gokhan

Journal of Mediterranean Tourism Research

The aim of this study is to examine academic publications related to tourism and humor by using bibliometric analysis method. Research data were collected using the Elsevier Scopus bibliometric database. In this context, 90 data, including articles, papers and book chapters at international level, were found in the search carried out on Scopus. Maxqda 2022 package program was used to analyze and visualize the obtained data. As a result, it was observed that publications on tourism and humor were relatively few between 1989 and 2007, and an increase in the number of publications between 2019-2022. The majority of publications are …

Withaferin A And Immune Checkpoint Blocker Therapy For The Treatment Of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Roukiah Khalil

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer is the first cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women with an overall five-year survival rate of 28%. Although immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) are currently FDA-approved for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), only 17-20% of patients achieve durable responses by the induction of immunologic memory. The lack of response in most patients can be attributed to the tumor-intrinsic or tumor-extrinsic immune resistance mechanisms. A biomarker of importance is the Programmed Death Ligand-1 (PD-L1), as higher PD-L1 expression is usually associated with a better response to ICBs. Although studies have attempted to combine ICBs …

Examining Patient Satisfaction And Treatment Effectiveness For Hispanic Adolescents Receiving Intensive Mental Health Services For Depression, Myesha M. Morgan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Behavioral Activation (BA) is a treatment approach that has demonstrated promising outcomes for the adolescent population (Martin & Oliver, 2019). However, more studies are needed to examine its effectiveness with Hispanic adolescents. The prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms tend to be higher among Hispanic adolescents in comparison to their non-Hispanic White peers (Pratt & Brody, 2014). In addition, depressive symptoms are associated with poor social, academic, and later health outcomes (Naicker et al., 2013; Owens, Stevenson, Hadwin, 2012). Given the lack of prior investigations on the effectiveness of BA for Hispanic adolescents, this study aimed to fill a gap …

One Year Impact Of The Advancing Coping And Engagement (Ace) Program On Advanced Placement And International Baccalaureate Student Success, Amanda C. Moseley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Student success hinges on educational settings that feature a well-developed, comprehensive mental health support system (Hoover et al., 2019). Salient pieces of well-functioning mental health supports adhere to Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) principles, including evidence-based practices with incremental intensity (Stoiber & Gettinger, 2015). Adolescents pursuing accelerated curricula in high school, specifically Advanced Placement courses (AP) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), display a need for psychosocial support related to the stressors inherent to a rigorous curriculum (Suldo & Shaunessy-Dedrick, 2013b). Suldo and colleagues’ (2018) research on AP and pre-IBDP youth identified malleable predictors of success that became intervention …