Digital Commons Network^™

Investigation Of Machine Learning Algorithms For Intrusion Detection System In Cybersecurity, Mohmmed Alrowaily

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The proliferation in usage and complexity of modern communication and network systems, a large number of trustworthy online Services and systems have been deployed. Even so, cybersecurity threats are still growing. An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) play a vital role in ensuring the security of communication networks, and it is taken into account as the subsequent security gate after the firewall. The IDS informs the system or network administrator in order to take specific actions to evade the suspicious activities. Three significant contributions are made during the course of this research to illustrate the feasibility of these IDS approaches. In …

Growth And Characterization Of Spatially Ordered Nanostructures Of Functional Materials, Domingo J. Mateo Feliciano

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Thin films and nanostructures of functional materials like lead zirconium titanite oxide (PZT) and Zinc Oxide (ZnO) offer multitude of applications in ferroelectrics, piezoelectrics and piezotronics. While the properties of thin films of ZnO and PZT are well understood, methods for the fabrication of vertically-aligned and spatially ordered nanocolumns of these materials are not common. To achieve a spatially ordered arrangement of either PZT or ZnO, a Silica Nanosphere (SNS) Monolayer Template has been constructed to serve as nucleation site for the growth of a specific number of nanocolumns. The SNS monolayer template is constructed by Langmuir-Blodgett dip coating, using …

Enhancement Of 5g Network Performance Using Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (Noma), Faeik Tayseer Al Rabee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is composed of two parts. The first presents several approaches to enhance the performance of 5G wireless systems by using NOMA (Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access) as the multiple access technique under different scenarios and performance metrics. The second investigates the performance of a wireless system network using a mobility model to evaluate the channel capacity taking into account motion. Both studies are directed towards improving the system performance in wireless communication systems.

In the first part, the optimum received power level for uplink power-domain NOMA with ideal Successive Interference Cancellation (SIC) reception is derived for any number of transmitters. …

Trauma Detection Personal Locator Beacon System, Sakshi Sharma

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis details the development of an automatically-activated personal locator beacon system to facilitate search and rescue of injured users in remote locations. Trauma in the wilderness can result in brain injuries caused by falling from heights, the onset of bad weather condition, cardiological, pulmonary diseased condition, etc. This thesis initially describes the concept of a low-power trauma detection Personal Locator Beacon system and later focuses on detecting the traumatic condition, through four (4) physiological parameters: skin conductance, pulse oximeter, user movement via Freefall and activity/inactivity and impact detection, and finally body temperature. For these four physiological parameters respective sensor …

Use Of High-Probability Instructional Sequences During Pre-Academic Activities For Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Danielle Russo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The antecedent-based strategy, known as the high-probability (high-p) instructional sequence has been one effective way to facilitate teachers to prevent noncompliant behavior and increase acquisition of functional and adaptive behaviors for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, the outcomes of using the high-p instructional sequence as an intervention in school settings remain inconsistent. In this study, we examined the use of the high-p instructional sequence intervention during pre-academic and academic activities for three young children with ASD. Specifically, the study focused on examining the overall effects of the high-p instructional sequence on initiation and compliance to low-probability (low-p) instructions, …

Evaluation Of Native Advertisement Though Third Person Effect Theory: An Experimental Design, Inga Nafetvaridze

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The main purpose of this research is to determine how people evaluate native advertising in order to figure out how ethical is a native advertising practice. The Third Person Effect Theory was applied to this study. It enables to examine people’s attitude toward native advertising. An experimental design was developed. Participants were exposed to three types of ads to find out if they are able to recognize native ads among other advertisements. The total number of participants was 386. The results were analyzed via ANOVA. The main finding of this study states that individuals perceive the native advertisement in a …

Media Fandom: Social Media Use And Collective Identity In China: A Case Study Of Z.Tao’S Weibo Fandom, Mier Sha

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the advancement of information and communication technologies (ICTs), social media platforms have been widely applied in the practices of media fandom. To determine the correlation between social media use and collective identity of celebrity fandom, the current study investigated Z.Tao’s Weibo fandom as a case conducting an online quantitative survey with 100 samples and 12 in-depth semi-structured interviews. The results show that social media use significantly facilitates the construction of collective identity of celebrity fandom on Weibo through fans’ experiences of ingroup interaction and outgroup interaction.

Evaluative Case Study Of Stakeholders’ Perspectives About A Service-Learning Abroad Program, Amela Malkic

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present case study evaluated a service-learning study abroad program based on the participants’ perspectives. The stakeholders included undergraduate students, University instructors/coaches, and community partners abroad. The main data sources were semi-structured interviews with volunteer participants and descriptive observations. The purpose of the case study was to identify perceived benefits and perceived challenges resulting from participants’ perspectives and to utilize findings for future program enhancement.

Although the themes of the perceived benefits and challenges varied by stakeholder group and their respective roles in the program, some benefits such as career/professional development and exposure to diversity were shared by multiple stakeholders. …

Testing The Efficacy Of Recompression Tools To Reduce The Discard Mortality Of Reef Fishes In The Gulf Of Mexico, Oscar E. Ayala

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In order to enhance the recovery of overfished stocks, fishery managers have implemented increasingly restrictive harvest regulations. However, discarded fish are susceptible to mortality from barotrauma when retrieved from depth. Venting tools are commonly used to enable fish to return to their depth of capture. An alternative method has been developed that involves the rapid descent of fish to their depth of capture to reduce buoyancy. In the Gulf of Mexico, the released portion of Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and Red Grouper (Epinephelus morio) has exceeded 80% of total catch. I tested the survival of these two economically important species …

Using Generalization-Enhanced Behavioral Skills Training To Teach Poison Safety Skills To Children With Autism, Ellie Morosohk

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

It is important for children to learn safety skills, especially involving dangerous stimuli such as medicine that can be found in almost every household. This study examined a generalization-enhanced behavioral skills training package to teach children with autism poison safety skills. Three children ages 4- to 10-years-old received generalization enhanced BST to teach the safety skills required when they found pills. In situ assessments were conducted both in home and in the clinic to examine whether the skills generalized to the natural setting. All children engaged in the safety skills following training. The results of this study indicated that generalization …

Choice Versus Reinforcement: Which Produces Better Effects In Decreasing Disruptive Behavior For Students With Or At Risk Of Emotional And Behavioral Disorder?, Sara M. Hordges

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the number of students with developmental disabilities increases in schools (U.S. Department of Education, 2017a), so does the need for effective interventions within school settings. Both antecedent and consequence interventions have been conducted within schools in attempts to decrease maladaptive behaviors and increase appropriate behaviors in relation to academics. Providing choices and reinforcement have demonstrated empirical evidence that both interventions were successful in creating positive behavior change in students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). This study compared the use of an antecedent-based intervention (i.e., activity choice) versus a consequence-based intervention (e.g., differential reinforcement without extinction) to determine which …

Extending Brief Error-Correction Assessments To Adults With Intellectual Or Developmental Disabilities, J Turner B. Braren

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

We extended the results of Carroll, Owsiany, and Cheatham (2018) by evaluating the predictive validity of a brief error-correction assessment (brief assessment) in adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. A brief assessment and validation assessment were conducted for each participant, where the efficiency and intrusiveness of six error-correction procedures (ECP) were compared when teaching participants to assemble arbitrary Lego structures. During Phase 1, we evaluated whether we obtained orderly acquisition data during the brief and validation assessments and evaluated overall correspondence between the brief and validation assessments. During Phase 2, we developed an empirical decision-making model to identify the most …

Some Effects Of Metronome Modality On Speech Rate, Zachary Z. Hand

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Effects of three metronome modalities on speech rate were examined for three college students. Five conditions were tested for comparison of the effects of each modality. In the first phase of the multielement evaluation none of the modalities succeeded at decreasing the speech rate of the subjects to the target range. During the second phase, a modeling plus feedback component was implemented which successfully decreased the speech rate to the target range for each subject. In the post assessment the effects of the model and feedback component maintained for each subject. These findings may suggest that the use of a …

Decolonizing Human Trafficking: A Case Study Of Human Trafficking In Edo State Nigeria, Oyinkansola Adepitan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Every year, governments and globally acclaimed international organizations alike develop policies, sanctions and other control mechanisms in terms of prevention, protection and prosecution in an attempt to abate the current human trafficking problem which appears to be worsening by the year. This thesis will explore the relationship of colonial legacies to the current human trafficking dilemma, assessing the impact of post-colonial cultural and structural practices that continue to persist and proliferate the movement of human beings across borders and facilitates their sub-human treatment. By analyzing the underlying elements that have caused the current international system to operate and be structured …

Targeting The Eskape Pathogens By Botanical And Microbial Approaches, Emily Dilandro

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There is a vital need to find new clinical treatment options to combat ESKAPE pathogen infections. Nature has thus far been the most fruitful at providing antimicrobial compounds, which have been derived from a plethora of sources. Ranging from plants to microbial communities, these organisms create chemical compounds that are used as defense mechanisms against invasive or encroaching organisms and confer the producers with competitive advantages. In this study, cinnamaldehyde was investigated as a botanical approach to finding active antimicrobial compounds that inhibit the ESKAPE pathogens. Here, we show that all the ESKAPE pathogens are inhibited by cinnamaldehyde concentrations between …

Care: Collecting And Assessing Cancer Family History To Identify At Risk Individuals Educational Intervention For Community Health Workers, Laura Moreno

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Collection of family health history (FHH) can identify individuals at increased risk and guide disease-specific recommendations for management, early detection, and prevention. Yet, collection of FHH is often low or infrequent despite national initiatives. In the Hispanic/Latino population, community outreach and education professionals (CORE-Ps) have effectively increased cancer prevention and control behaviors; but, limited research has been conducted to assess genetic and family health history knowledge among CORE-Ps. We sought to evaluate an educational program designed to improve cancer FHH and cancer genetics knowledge, self-efficacy and attitudes. Methods: The ARBOLES Program educates bilingual (Spanish-English) CORE-P to increase knowledge about …

A Multidisciplinary Approach To Trauma Analysis In Cases Of Child Fatality, Jaime D. Sykes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Child fatality is an issue of social and forensic significance. Due to the complex nature of these cases, it can be difficult to determine the cause and manner of death (referred to as equivocal death), particularly when differentiating between accidental and inflicted traumatic fatalities. Finite Element Modeling is a tool typically used to elucidate the etiology of fractures. This thesis utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to research the frequency of equivocal deaths among juveniles and the usefulness of FEM as a solution to diagnosing skeletal trauma. The first component examines the problem of misdiagnosed manner of death through retrospective case examinations …

Predictive Validity Of Standards-Based And Curriculum-Embedded Assessments For Predicting Readiness At Kindergarten Entry, Elizabeth Ashton Decamilla

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As with traditional K-12 educational settings, early childhood assessments have been a primary source of information determining whether early educational experiences have promoted children’s readiness to start school in kindergarten. The level of use of Kindergarten Entry Assessments (KEAs) has become more wide-spread to establish levels of school readiness at kindergarten entry.

This quantitative, correlational study of children in schools that have blended Head Start/Voluntary Prekindergarten funded programs examined the predictive relationships between the independent variables (i.e., VPK Assessments and Teaching Strategies GOLD) and the dependent variable of kindergarten readiness, as measured by the Work Sampling System™ (WSS). Additionally, the …

Evaluating The Use Of Alternative Seating With Children At Risk For Emotional Behavioral Disabilities, Corinne E. Bloom Williams

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Characteristics of emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD) include learning difficulties that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors and an inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers. Often, children with EBD have a tendency to have negative experiences in school and engage in challenging behavior in the classroom. This could stem from their lack of desire or motivation to succeed, which is often found in individuals with EBD. One possible antecedent manipulation, alternative seating, may reduce problem behavior and involves exchanging the typical seating and tables in classrooms for different types of seating …

The Effects Of Perceived Motivations And Mental Distress On The Likelihood Of Reporting And Engaging In Self-Protective Measures Among Victims Of Stalking, Daniela Oramas Mora

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The current study examines how perceived motivations and mental distress affect decision-making among victims of stalking. Although stalking victimization has become relatively common in recent years, with approximately 1 in 6 women reporting to have been victims of stalking at some point in their lives, victims of stalking are unlikely to report to police compared to victims of other violent crimes (NISVS, 2015). Though studies have explored the dynamics of stalking, little is known about the role of the victim’s perception of the offender’s motivation in the victim's decision to report to the police and engage in self-protective measures. The …

Use Of Pyramidal Training In A Juvenile Residential Facility: Teaching Staff To Self-Monitor Use Of Behavior Specific Praise, Zoe I. Hay

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Juvenile residential facilities are punitive and restrictive limiting youth opportunity to learn and engage in adaptive behavior. Staff training is necessary to reduce the punishment-based behavior management practices that are often in place and to increase reinforcement of appropriate behavior. Pyramidal training is a cost-effective and efficient strategy to train multiple levels of staff of behavior analytic skills. In this study a pyramidal training approach was used to train juvenile residential level 1 staff to deliver training to level 2 staff, using behavioral skills training (BST) procedures and to implement self-monitoring procedures to improve their practices. A multiple baseline across …

Gofundtransitions: Narratives Of Transnormativity And The Limits Of Crowdfunding Livable Futures, Hayden J. Fulton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Crowdfunding websites, such as GoFundMe, have provided a new avenue for (some) individuals to fund their healthcare needs. The use of these sites requires individuals to story their medical need, in the hopes of receiving financial assistance. Trans individuals encounter unique challenges within the healthcare system, including providers’ lack of knowledge, a dearth of competent care, and widespread individual and institutional cissexism. Because of the difficulties acquiring competent trans-healthcare compounded with broader inadequacies in our healthcare system, many trans folks and their loved ones turn to crowdfunding platforms to help cover the cost of medical transition. In this thesis I …

Archaeology And The Philosopher's Stance: An Advance In Ethics And Information Accessibility, Dina Rivera

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ancient Greek scholars have scaffolded ethical examination for several fields beyond philosophy, providing essential guidance for management and practicum within professions. From the Society of Antiquaries of London (1718) to the Society of American Archaeology (1934), the professional study has continued to evolve as new translations of the past and new models for predicting human behavior in the future would underpin the development of ethics in academic archaeology. Database enabled study creates opportunities for open research, expanding data pools and scientific perspectives and becomes essential for providing inclusivity, respect, and cooperation in order to build and rebuild paradigms.

In A Dilemma: How Did Moscow Make The Decision Of The Soviet Air Force To Enter The Korean War?, Shiyao Zhang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

When China sent troops into North Korea to fight the UN forces in 1950, the Soviet Union's secret air cover for Chinese troops became critical support. However, the Soviet Union's determination to provide support was not easy. China and the Soviet Union's decision on this issue changed many times, and it was not resolved until the Chinese leader decided to send troops to North Korea on October 13, 1950. At the same time, the United States was aware of the secret involvement of the Soviet Union and made corresponding choices.

Sunitinib-Loaded Mpeg-Pcl Micelles For The Treatment Of Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Jarriaun D. Streets

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Age-related Macular Degeneration, or AMD will be responsible for the vision impairment of more than 5 million late-aged adults in the next 30 years. Current treatment options include frequent intravitreal injections which report high levels of pain resulting in a low patient compliance. However, there are methods of drug delivery that can decrease the amount of intravitreal injections by sustaining drug release. Polymeric micelles, specifically MPEG-PCL have reported superb biocompatibility and more efficient ways of delivering anti-VEGF drugs such as Sunitinib to the posterior segment of the eye. In this study, the novel micellar formulation exhibited an average DLS particle …

Borges, El Escritor Italiano: Precursores Italianos En/Desde Borges, Sara Boscagli

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The word precursor is a term that suggests something that comes before, that anticipates. However, what would happen if literature (beginning with Borges) would change this concept? The binary canons of before and after would disappear and with them the idea of a chronological literary temporality. As Borges suggests in the essay “Kafka and his precursors”, precursors can be identified due to the existence of Kafka who (as all writers) choose his literary “fathers”. What Borges suggests is that this choice not only modifies the future, but also the past.

To explore this literary and philosophical idea, Borges will be …

Journey Mapping The Minority Student’S Path Toward Genetic Counseling: A Holistic Picture, Tatiana E. Alvarado-Wing

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Reasons for limited ethnic and racial diversity among genetic counselors in the United States may be elucidated through better understanding the experiences of minority students who are attending genetic counseling graduate programs as well as recent graduates. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with minority participants using Journey Mapping to elicit touchpoints that positively or negatively impact success at varying points on the path to becoming a genetic counselor. Touchpoints with negative impacts include; late awareness of the profession, observing the lack of diversity in the field, the financial burden of the application process, and microaggressions from peers, program leadership, and clinical …

9/11 Then And Now: How The Performance Of Memorial Rhetoric By Presidents Changes To Construct Heroes, Kristen M. Grafton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study is concerned with American presidential rhetoric at the cross-section of hero rhetoric and memorial address. It analyzes presidential memorialization of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. 9/11 is arguably the most significant tragedy in recent American history. The purpose of this study is to identify the type of hero each president since 9/11 has attempted to construct of himself for the public and discuss the rationale behind that hero construction. To complete this objective, I analyze the second 9/11 memorial speech from the presidencies of Bush, Obama, and Trump for hero construction. A close reading examining the …

Toward Culturally Relevant Emotion Detection Using Physiological Signals, Khadija Zanna

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research shows that emotional distress has a statistically significant impact on a student’s grade point average and intent to drop out of college. Because students of different races have varying college experiences, it is important to understand the emotional experiences of different racial groups to better support students’ needs and academic success. In this work, we explore several physiological responses to ten different emotional stimuli captured from 140 students. We employ unsupervised learning via the Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm and supervised learning via Random Forests and Support Vector machines to analyze clustering partitions and classification …

The Athletics Behind The Academics: The Academic Advisor’S Role In The Lives Of Student Athletes, Max J.R. Murray

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

College athletics is a mainstay in the United States entertainment market. The public will often recognize the names of high-profile college athletes as they move from college sports to professional sports. However, while they are in college, sports is not the only focus of their attention. Student athletes are in college to get an education. The academic advisor is someone that works with the student to better facilitate the academic aspects of college. Using in-depth, semi-structured interviews, I find out how an academic advisor views their formal and informal roles and responsibilities and how they accomplish them. Among prior research …