Digital Commons Network^™

Molecular Mechanisms Governing Osteosarcoma Pulmonary Metastasis, Niveditha Nerlakanti

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a bone cancer that commonly metastasizes to the lung. Despite advances in the development of targeted therapies for treating solid malignancies, broad-acting chemotherapies remain the first line of treatment for OS. In assaying the efficacy of approved therapeutics for non-OS malignancies, we identified the histone deacetylase 1 and 2 (HDAC1 and 2) inhibitor, romidepsin, as effective for treating established lung metastatic OS. However, romidepsin has noted toxicities in humans, thus we aimed to define the primary mechanisms through which HDAC1/2 mediates OS progression to identify more selective druggable targets/pathways. Microarray and proteomic analyses of romidepsin-treated OS cells …

Foundations Of Music Education: Creativity, Curriculum, And Terminal Degrees, Charles Edwin Patterson Iii

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This collection of articles includes three concepts centered on critical areas within music education: (1) creativity and the creative personality, (2) curriculum development with a focus on orchestral string teaching, and (3) the historical evolution and current status of doctoral programs in music education in the United States. These three articles are correlated through their shared focus on enhancing the field of music education by examining the essential elements that shape practices by students, teachers, mentors, etc. Together, they explore how creativity, curriculum approaches, and advanced training programs in music education contribute to a holistic and adaptive music education framework …

Systems And Methods For Detection Of Chocolate Bloom, Joshua Stewart Heuler, Siyu He, Sharad Ambardar, Dmitri V. Voronin

USF Patents

In an embodiment, a bloom engine is created that can detect the formation of both fat bloom and sugar bloom in a chocolate product. A Raman spectrometer is used to generate a first or reference spectrum of a chocolate product. Based on peaks of the spectrum known to be associated with sugar and peaks of the spectrum known to be associated with fat, a ratio of sugar to fat for the chocolate product is determined based on the reference spectrum. Later, a second spectrum is generated from the chocolate product, and a ratio of sugar to fat is similarly determined …

Compositions And Methods Relating To Novel Sulfono-Gamma-Aa Peptides, Chuanhai Cao, Jianfeng Cai

USF Patents

Provided herein are compounds, compositions, pharmaceutical compositions, kits, and methods relating to novel sulfono-γ-AA peptides. Novel sulfono-γ-AA peptides as described herein can have the structure according to Formula 1: In embodiments according to the present disclosure, novel sulfono-γ-AA peptides as described herein have minimal toxicity, can repair neuronal damage, inhibit Amyloid beta aggregation, and promote cellular growth and viability.

Corona Discharge Directed 3d Structure Construction, Ying Zhong, Zijian Weng

USF Patents

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for creating a three-dimensional structure from a binder-free powder. A corona discharge (plasma) generator forms a controllable electric field, positioning the binder-free powder within the influence of the electric field generated by the corona discharge generator, and activating the corona discharge generator to attract the binder-free powder into a three-dimensional structure. The corona discharge generator includes a grounded bottom substrate and a top substrate elevated above the bottom substrate in a substantially parallel planar orientation. The binder-free powder is placed in the interstitial space between the bottom substrate and the top substrate. …

Systems And Methods For Classifying Mosquitoes Based On Extracted Masks Of Anatomical Components From Images, Sriram Chellappan, Mona Minakshi, Pratool Bharti, Ryan M Carney

USF Patents

Images of an insect are subjected to at least a first convolutional neural network to develop feature maps based on anatomical pixels at corresponding image locations in the respective feature maps. The anatomical pixels correspond to a body part of the insect. A computer calculates an outer product of the first feature map and the second feature map to form an integrated feature map. Extracting fully connected layers from respective sets of integrated feature maps and applying the fully connected layers to a classification network for identifying the genus and the species of the insect.

Computing 2-Body Statistics On Graphics Processing Units (Gpus), Yicheng Tu, Napath Pitaksirianan

USF Patents

Disclosed are various embodiments for computing 2-body statistics on graphics processing units (GPUs). Various types of two-body statistics (2-BS) are regarded as essential components of data analysis in many scientific and computing domains. However, the quadratic complexity of these computations hinders timely processing of data. According, various embodiments of the present disclosure involve parallel algorithms for 2-BS computation on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). Although the typical 2-BS problems can be summarized into a straightforward parallel computing pattern, traditional wisdom from (general) parallel computing often falls short in delivering the best possible performance. Therefore, various embodiments of the present disclosure involve …

Methods For Sampling Into An Atmospheric Pressure Inlet Mass Spectrometer, Theresa Evans-Nguyen, Linxia Song, Yi You

USF Patents

Provided herein are systems and methods for sampling analytes into an atmospheric pressure inlet mass spectrometer using ultrasonic nebulization-assisted atmospheric pressure chemical ionization. The systems can include a mass spectrometer having an input and an ultrasonic nebulizer chip. The ultrasonic nebulizer chip can be operatively coupled to the mass spectrometer, such that when the ultrasonic nebulizer chip nebulizes the analyte to provide a nebulized analyte, at least some of the nebulized analyte enters the input of the mass spectrometer.

Plasma Derived From Human Umbilical Cord Blood For The Treatment Of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Svitlana Garbuzova-Davis, Jared Carl Ehrhart, Paul R. Sanberg

USF Patents

A method of treating neurodegenerative diseases using hUCB plasma is presented herein. hUCB plasma attenuated the hyperactive response (Group III) and potentiated the normal response in Group I ALS patients, but did not alter that of the non-responders to PHA (Group II). The elevated activity of caspase 3/7 observed in the MNCs from ALS patients was significantly reduced by hUCB plasma treatment. The ability of hUCB plasma to modulate the mitogen cell response and reduce caspase activity suggest that the use of hUCB plasma alone, or with stem cells, may prove useful as a therapeutic in ALS patients. hUCB plasma …

“Who Am I?”: Novice Teachers Making Meaning Of Their Intersectional Teacher Identity, Kerrijo E. Ellis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how marginalized and/or minoritized novice teachers make meaning of their teacher identity. An integrated theoretical framework informed this study using Hong et al.’s (2024) conceptualization of teacher identity, Crenshaw’s (1989) intersectionality, and Collins & Bilge’s (2020) definition of intersectionality. Utilizing the photovoice methodology, four focus groups were conducted with a purposeful sample of five novice teachers who identified as marginalized (i.e., gender, disability, LGBTQIA+) and/or minoritized (i.e., ethnic and/or racial minority). Using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2023), I identified three themes: (1) Why I Became a Teacher, which included …

Feminist Narrative Inquiry: Stories Of Five Young Adults Who Aged Out Of Florida Foster Care, Amy E. Nourie

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There are approximately 400,000 children in foster care in the United States and, each year, more than 20,000 reach the age of majority without achieving permanency, also known as aging out (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2022a). Research has consistently called attention to the negative effects of foster care on youth including issues relating to substance use, housing instability, educational obstacles, and mental health concerns (Forkey & Szilagyi, 2014; Sarri et al., 2016). These negative outcomes are often even more pronounced for young adults aging out of foster care and transitioning into adulthood (Haggman-Laitila et al., 2019). Despite the decades of …

Technology And Aging: Maintaining, Improving And Understanding Health And Wellness, Mitchell Roberts

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three academic papers followed by a chapter discussing the implications of the findings. This dissertation aims to better understand how technologies can promote older adults' (55 years or age or and older) desires to maintain, improve, and understand their health and wellness. The primary objective is to examine how three different technological modalities can inform proactive interventions at various life stages, aiming to promote healthy aging and alleviate age-related health issues by integrating disease prevention strategies within the Lifespan Theory of Aging.

Each academic paper came from an independent data source. The first paper used audio …

Can The Effluent From Wastewater Stabilization Ponds Be Effectively Managed For Health And Nutrient Recovery?, Michael Glass

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Wastewater stabilization ponds, such as facultative and maturation lagoons, have been shown to be effective processes to manage conventional water quality parameters found in domestic wastewater. The main goal of this thesis is to explore whether wastewater stabilization ponds can simultaneously reduce pathogens to safe levels while supporting agricultural activities through nutrient recovery. A large dataset for water quality of wastewater lagoon effluent in the U.S. was obtained at the state level and combined into regional southern and northern locations. Analysis of data showed there was significant difference in lagoon effluent concentration between northern and southern states for the water …

Beyond The Mask: Veterans Challenging The Strong Black Woman Trope In Their Journey To Heal In The South, Meya J. Hemphill-Hodges

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to emphasize notions of citizenship and accessibility as experienced by Black women Veterans. By expanding our worldview of Veteran identity, the ethnographic data demonstrate issues of displacement, alienation, and longing that contribute to the dissonance Black women Veterans rooted in the U.S. South may experience. To forge belonging through place-making, Black women Veterans may seek sisterhood by building sites of resistance in person or online. Findings are based on in-depth interviews with Black women Veterans and participant observation with community partners who service Veteran needs. Black women Veterans construct their identities often in oppressive …

Understanding Contributing Factors To Injury Severity And Improper Driver Actions In Work Zone Crashes And Evaluating Smart Work Zone Applications For Safety Improvement, Rakesh Rangaswamy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A work zone can be described as a roadway designated for construction, maintenance, or other activities that temporarily disrupt the normal traffic flow. Due to this disrupts in traffic conditions, work zones may bring sudden shifts in driving experience, depending on the sort of work zone present, creating unpredictable maneuvers, and putting both motorists and workers at risk. To understand these issues, this study uses work zone accident data obtained from Florida and uses several methodological techniques, including the mixed logit model with variance and mean heterogeneity, temporal instability test, log-likelihood test, out-of-sample analysis, and ANOVA test.

Firstly, this study …

Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Level Of Preparedness To Support Students Who Encounter Adverse Childhood Experiences, Lanicia P. Marshall

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to explore preservice teachers’ perceptions of their preparedness to support students who have been exposed to or/are currently encountering adverse childhood experiences. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a form of trauma and are very likely to occur among students. Due to students spending a significant amount of time in classroom settings, teachers are the first to identify possible issues that can interfere with academic performance. The present study was built upon the few studies that have focused on preservice teachers and their perceptions of preparedness to support students experiencing ACEs. Data were collected using an online survey …

Comparing National Benchmark Quantitative Literacy Paper-Based Tests Scores With Its Computer-Based Counterparts, Robert N. Prince

Numeracy

One of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic was the rapid shift to replacing traditional, paper-based tests with their computer-based counterparts. In many cases, these new modes of delivering tests will remain in place for the foreseeable future. In South Africa, the National Benchmark Quantitative Literacy (QL) test was impelled to make this rapid shift. While test-makers attempted to ensure comparability between the computer-based and paper-based versions, some scholars have questioned the efficacy of these efforts. The International Test Commission (2005) declared that the equivalency of test scores obtained from computer-based and conventional paper-based testing should be established to ensure …

Preparing Children For Kindergarten Readiness: Early Childhood Teachers’ Goals And Practices, Julie Chappell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Literature in the field of early childhood education suggests that standardization and the accountability movement in the United States has changed the way that teachers approach kindergarten, resulting in less play and more teacher-directed activities. This pedagogical shift causes challenges for early childhood educators striving to promote developmentally appropriate, play-based and child-centered approaches to learning for young children while preparing children for the expectations of kindergarten. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding of prekindergarten teachers’ views about their role in preparing children for kindergarten. The study was guided by two research questions: How do prekindergarten …

Six-Year College Graduation Status For High School Students Participating In An Upward Bound Program, Raymond Upward Cabrera

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the impact of high school academic indicators and participation in the federally funded Upward Bound program on college graduation rates for first-generation, low-income students. Specifically the extent to which participation in the federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program and related factors—high school GPA, course rigor, program involvement, gender, race, and college type—predict 6-year college graduation rates for first-generation, low-income students. Using stepwise logistic regression analysis on data of 163 students in an Upward Bound program in the Southeast, the results show that students with higher GPAs, active engagement in the program, and females were significantly more likely …

Monsters, Multiplicities, And Liminal Experiences In Doctoral Education: Fabulation As Research Methodology, Anna V. Gonzalez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to experiment with qualitative research methodologies while exploring the complexities of doctoral education, research practices, philosophies of inquiry, and other topics intersecting with(in) educational scholarship. My vision for this work was fueled by postmodernist critiques of humanist education, frustrations with the methodological status quo pervasive in educational research, and deep concerns about the unsustainability of performance-focused teaching and learning.

The logic I follow in this project is simple: if we—researchers and academics—are to contribute solutions for challenges and ongoing crises in our world, then we must start thinking relationally and in ways more complex …

Performance And Trihalomethane Formation Potential Of Alternative Electron Donors For Wastewater Denitrification, Bruno Fulco Mancini

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen removal from wastewater is critical to preserve ecosystems, as well as human health and welfare. Excess nutrients in receiving waters can cause many problems to the environment, such as algal blooms, drinking water contamination, and economic losses. Nitrogen removal in wastewater occurs mainly through the oxidation and reduction processes of nitrification and denitrification, which occur in engineered systems at wastewater treatment plants or water reclamation facilities.

The site for this research was the South Cross Bayou (SCB) Water Reclamation Facility, located in Pinellas County, FL, USA. At SCB, nitrogen is removed through a Modified Ludzak-Ettinger (MLE) process with the …

Variation In Investment Portfolios For Identical Client Scenarios: A Study Of Portfolios Recommended By Financial Professionals, Patricia G. Wells

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Using a unique set of data obtained from interviews of financial professionals, this study aimed to explore the heterogeneity among portfolios of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds recommended by financial professionals for fictional client scenarios that control for investor risk and asset allocation. First, the extent to which the revealed asset allocation matched the elicited asset allocation was examined. Next, the portfolios were examined relative to diversification within the stock and bond holdings. Portfolios were examined on the basis of hypothetical historical risk and return. Lastly, comments provided by financial professionals about their security selections and investment approach were presented. …

Analysis Of The Impact Of Pavement Characteristics On Road Traffic Safety And Pavement Management Using Statistical Heterogeneity Models, Huiqing Lyu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Pavement shall accommodate current and predicted traffic needs in a safe, durable, and cost-effective manner. Among pavement surface characteristics, pavement friction is a critical factor contributing to roadway safety, as it directly impacts a driver's ability to execute steering, braking, and acceleration maneuvers safely. Ensuring an adequate level of pavement friction is essential to minimize the skidding risk for all road users. Continuous pavement friction measurement (CPFM) has recently become a proven approach, revolutionizing safety-related pavement management and skidding crash injury prevention. Meanwhile, pavement roughness has long been linked to vehicle fuel efficiency and pavement structural degradation. Perceptions of pavement …

Life History Of Men Who Experienced Childhood Maternal Absence, Renice Obure

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation project explored the impact of childhood maternal absence on the life history outcomes of adult men. An integrated theoretical model of developmental-evolutionary framework was developed to guide research design and conduct. This model combined sex-differentiated life history framework and fathering resource theory. The study consisted of three components: a scoping review of 29 relevant studies conducted in the United States between 1990-2023, a quantitative analysis of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health (Add Health) waves I and IV (n=6932), and a qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with a sample of 22 fathers who experienced childhood …

Navigating Change: Youth Civic Engagement At Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association, Alex R. Whitacre

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the impact of gentrification on the Tampa Heights community in Florida, focusing on the role of Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association (THJCA) in fostering civic engagement and youth empowerment amidst urban transformation. Using a mixed-methods ethnographic approach, including participant observation, archival review, spatial analysis, surveys, and interviews, the research investigates how THJCA affiliates conceptualize and respond to gentrification, space, and community change. Employing urban place theories and social capital frameworks, the research challenges deficit-oriented narratives in examining the experiences of current and former residents, the effects of gentrification on youth educational services, and THJCA's strategies for maintaining …

A Contexted Learning Experience: Instructional Strategies For Effective Teaching For Primary And Intermediate Students From Diverse Ses Environments, R. Suzanne Legg

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aim of my three-article dissertation was to investigate the methods employed by effective teachers to promote academic progress among all students, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Each article addressed perspectives on effective teaching strategies aimed at closing the opportunity gap from three different contexts. These contexts were 1) a focus group consisting of primary teachers, 2) a focus group consisting of intermediate teachers, and 3) personal reflections from observations of both focus groups pertaining to COVID-19. Recent scores from the Programme for International Student Assessment (OECD, 2023) revealed a growing disparity in academic achievement between students from higher socioeconomic …

Developing Robotic Task Planning Methods For Diverse Real-World Challenges, Md Sadman Sakib

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The deployment of robotic systems across various domains has expanded significantly, with applications ranging from domestic tasks, such as cleaning and cooking, to industrial operations requiring precision and automation. These advancements highlight the critical importance of effective task planning in ensuring that robots can perform tasks safely, efficiently, and autonomously. However, task planning in robotics faces challenges related to generalization, executability, flexibility, and limitations in existing knowledge bases.

This dissertation addresses these challenges through innovative strategies aimed at enhancing robotic task planning and execution. We first focus on adapting to unknown scenarios by utilizing the Functional Object-Oriented Network (FOON) to …

Evaluating The Use Of Text Message Prompts To Increase Staff Behavior-Specific Praise In Adult Residential Care, Melissa Hernandez-Bautista

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Behavior-specific praise (BSP) has been widely evaluated in school settings as an intervention to improve social interactions between teachers and students. However, minimal studies have evaluated the use of BSP outside of school settings. One area BSP might help improve is staff and client interactions in group home settings for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The current study evaluated the effectiveness of text message prompts for increasing staff-delivered BSP to improve the frequency of social interactions between staff and consumers in a group home setting. In addition, this study evaluated staff use of BSP when they received text prompts …

Multi-Sided Information Asymmetry In A Single Contract: Why Revocable Living Trusts Go To Court, James P. Wells

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Revocable living trust documents (trusts) are among the most important documents created in contemporary estate planning. One of the trust’s objectives is to provide clear guidance to the trustees on how to carry out the grantor's intent. When a trust is contested in court, the objective of the trust has clearly failed. Consequently, understanding why trusts go to court and developing approaches that reduce or eliminate the number of trusts in our courts is an endeavor worthy of research and the primary objective of this research effort.

Ideally, with a clearly stated grantor’s intent and clearly executed interpretation of the …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Edge Line Sinusoidal Rumble Strips On Lane Departure Crash Prevention And Injury Severity, Shubhankar Chintamani Shindgikar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Lane departure crashes are one of the most prevalent accidents in Florida and the United States. Various forms of rumble strips have been employed to mitigate and decrease these incidents. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) recently adopted a new sinusoidal rumble strip pattern for statewide implementation of audible and vibratory treatment (AVT). Recent research indicates sinusoidal rumble strips are highly effective in alerting drivers audibly and through tactile vibrations, thus aiding lane departure prevention. Moreover, they generate less external noise compared to other rumble strip textures.

However, a systematic assessment of the safety effectiveness of sinusoidal rumble strips in …