Digital Commons Network^™

The Perceived Usefulness Of A Weather Radar Display By Tampa Bay Residents, Michelle E. Saunders

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A weather radar display is a tool that provides spatially oriented, timely information about an impending weather event. While radar is frequently used by meteorologists, emergency managers, and pilots, this tool is now readily available for individuals to use on a variety of platforms including television, computer/laptop, smartphones and tablets. Most importantly, there are hundreds of mobile weather applications available as well as online sources that provide a weather radar display. However, little is known about how individuals use a weather radar display. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation is to understand why radar is sought out as a tool …

Machine Learning For The Internet Of Things: Applications, Implementation, And Security, Vishalini Laguduva Ramnath

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Artificial intelligence and ubiquitous sensor systems have seen tremendous advances in recent times, resulting in groundbreaking impact across domains such as healthcare, entertainment, and transportation through a collective ecosystem called the Internet of Things. The advent of 5G and improved wireless networks will further accelerate the research and development of tools in deep learning, sensor systems, and computing platforms by providing improved network latency and bandwidth. While tremendous progress has been made in the Internet of Things, current work has largely focused on building robust applications that leverage the data collected through ubiquitous sensor nodes to provide actionable rules and …

Opportunities Provided In Mathematics Methods Textbooks For Pre-Service Teachers To Develop Mathematical Knowledge For Teaching Fractions, Irem Ercan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

I explored using qualitative content analysis what type of opportunities in mathematics methods textbooks are provided for pre-service elementary teachers to develop Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching Fractions (MKTF). Specifically, I examined all fractions tasks that are located in fraction chapters of mathematics methods textbooks in order to explore the ways they support pre-service teachers’ Subject Matter Knowledge and Pedagogical Content Knowledge of fractions.

I used qualitative content analysis of three mathematics methods textbooks to analyze how MKTF is offered for pre-service elementary teachers. In particular, I investigated the chapters that are designated to fraction concepts using both deductive and inductive …

Effects Of Inter-Male Status Challenge And Psychopathic Traits On Sexual Aggression, Amy M. Hoffmann

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sexual aggression (SA) is a serious social problem that has been linked to a variety of negative physical and mental health outcomes for survivors and produces significant monetary costs to society. In the past five decades, a wealth of research has improved our understanding of the individual and sociocultural factors that contribute to SA perpetration; however, epistemological differences in theoretical approaches to the subject (i.e., evolutionary, feminist) have resulted in gaps in the empirical literature. Informed by both feminist and evolutionary perspectives, this study attempts to examine the ways in which same-gender interpersonal interactions and individual psychopathology interact to produce …

Effects Of Physical And Chemical Characteristics Of Slags And Cements On Durability Of Portland Cement-Slag Blended Systems, Farzaneh Nosouhian

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) which is a commonly used supplementary cementitious material (SCM) needs to be more investigated for improving durability of concrete elements and service life of concrete structures. This research focuses on the effect of the physical and chemical characteristics of GGBFS and portland cement on durability of portland cement-slag blended systems. The effect of cement replacement level is also investigated using control mixes (no slag) and four different levels of slag content. To this end, eight GGBFS and eight portland cements were selected based on their physical characteristics and chemical composition. Four series of experimental …

Textbooks As A Tool For Planning And Facilitating Mathematical Discourse, Denise L. Polojac-Chenoweth

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Across the nation, mathematics teachers are struggling to help their students meet the demands of high stakes testing while adhering to state standards for content and teaching and dealing with the time constraints imposed by school activities, paperwork, and testing schedules. Classroom mathematical discourse is touted as a central element of a quality mathematics learning environment. Nevertheless, many teachers struggle to implement mathematical discourse effectively. This dissertation aims to explore the use of textbooks as tools to support teachers in the planning and facilitation of mathematical classroom discourse.

In this study, I employed a mixed-methods design to investigate (1) how …

This, Or Something Like It: Socrates And The Problem Of Authority, Simon Dutton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a study of the intellectual practice of the Platonic character, Socrates, with emphasis on the presentation of dialectical engagement with authority. I argue that authority, conceptually and in practice, constitutes a serious problem for Socrates. On my reading, the problems of authority are indicative of an inappropriate understanding of the soul and the ailing condition of the sociopolitical practices of Athenian culture. I suggest that Plato’s Socrates is devoted to the personal and political improvement of his fellow citizens, and society at large, through dialectical engagement which seeks to undermine authority. I investigate Plato’s characterization of the …

Genome Maintenance Roles Of Polycomb Transcriptional Repressors Bmi1 And Rnf2, Anthony Richard Sanchez Iv

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The coordination of transcription, replication, and DNA damage response (DDR) is vital for maintaining normal cellular homeostasis. All of these processes take place on the chromatin and thus, the temporal and spatial separation of the factors responsible are necessary for each to be correctly completed. Here we detail several novel processes contributing to this network.

BMI1 is a component of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1) which plays a key role in maintaining epigenetic silencing programs during development. Recently, BMI1 and other members of PRC1 like RNF2 have been implicated gene silencing during the DDR; however, the mechanism through which …

Spatial Heterogeneity Utilization In Ct Images For Lung Nodule Classication, Dmitrii Cherezov

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer (LC) is leading in the number of deaths among the other types of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, 135,720 deaths during 2020 in the USA will be associated with LC. The patient 5-year survival rate of 16\% was reported in 1986 and 19% in 2019. One of the reasons why survival rate remains low is that the majority of patients diagnosed with cancer had stages III and IV. In contrast, a 5-year survival rate of 70% was reported for patients of stage IA after surgical resection in the National Lung Screening Trial.

CT screening detects a …

Indicators Of Mild Cognitive Impairment Associated With Language Processing And Production, Diana Julbe-Delgado

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The research purpose of the present study was to (1) examine cognitive-linguistic features related to processing and production across a series of tasks that are representative of everyday discourse and (2) compare older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) across linguistic features. Twenty-seven participants, including 12 individuals with- and 15 individuals without MCI, were enrolled from a larger study (Hudak et al., 2019). Cognitive status was initially assessed as part of the larger study using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA; Nasreddine et al., 2005). Participants who scored ≤ 25 on the MoCA received a standardized neuropsychological evaluation and …

Next-Generation Self-Organizing Communications Networks: Synergistic Application Of Machine Learning And User-Centric Technologies, Chetana V. Murudkar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The telecommunications industry is going through a metamorphic journey where the 5G and 6G technologies will be deeply rooted in the society forever altering how people access and use information. In support of this transformation, this dissertation proposes a fundamental paradigm shift in the design, performance assessment, and optimization of wireless communications networks developing the next-generation self-organizing communications networks with the synergistic application of machine learning and user-centric technologies.

This dissertation gives an overview of the concept of self-organizing networks (SONs), provides insight into the “hot” technology of machine learning (ML), and offers an intuitive understanding of the user-centric (UC) …

The Effects Of Surface-Water Flow On The Quality Of Groundwater And Surface-Water Systems, Quanghee Yi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

My research has focused on the effects of surface-water flow on the quality of groundwater and surfacewater systems. For the first part of my research (Chapter 2 ), I s tudied the effects of s urface flow system changes in the water-conservation areas and canals in southeast Florida on the quality of groundwater in the surficial aquifer system.

For the second part of my research, by developing analytical models using the superposition method, I investigated the effects of bidirectional surface-water flow on the conservative contaminant concentrations (Chapter 4) and mean residence time (Chapter 5) in streams and rivers as well …

Research On The Prevalence Of Bullying And Related Interventions: A Literature Review, Ashley Caliri

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This literature review will first describe the definition of bullying and the prevalence of bullying across populations. Populations include individuals with intellectual disabilities, individuals who are typically developing as well as children, and adults. Several interventions have been implemented to help remedy bullying occurrences, decrease the negative outcomes of bullying, and prevent the initiation of bullying. Therefore, this review will also discuss interventions that have been implemented to decrease bullying with a focus on BST and IST as these specific interventions have shown some of the most promising outcomes. Additionally, a discussion will highlight the need for continued research using …

Evaluation Of The Effects Of Video Modeling Types And Technologies, Laura J. Whitman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper aims to explore the literature available on video modeling. Video modeling teaches a variety of skills, including play skills, social skills, and daily living skills. Delivery of the video model varies based on researcher preference and available technology of the time. The paper provides descriptions and examples of different types of video modeling including, video self-modeling, simultaneous video modeling, video priming, interactive video modeling, and treatment packages. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research including the use of modern technologies with video modeling.

Evaluating The Effects Of Reinforcement Delay On Acquisition During Discrete Trial Training: A Literature Review, Theresa Barhold

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This review of literature analyzes the use of immediate and delayed reinforcement within discrete trial training (DTT). Criteria for inclusion in this review consisted of articles published in English, human participants, single subject design, targeting skill acquisition in a DTT format, and inclusion of at least one delay to reinforcement condition. Four articles, with a total of 18 participants and 23 datasets, were identified in this review. Data on participants’ characteristics and procedural modifications (i.e., target response, type of prompt, delivery of praise, use of an error correction procedure, type of reinforcer, and delay to reinforcement) were extracted. Results indicate …

Eppm And Its Effectiveness In Advertisements Of Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Young Adults, Anh T. Nguyen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Colorectal cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer around the world and in the United States, yet it could be highly preventable by following the recommended guidelines of getting screened by the age of 50 and above. The focus of this study was on the Extended Parallel Process Model and sought to understand the efficacy and threat components in the fear appeal messages in the context of colorectal cancer screenings. Specifically, the study examined how young adults react when being exposed to those messages and whether they intended to discuss with their parents about it. The study also …

Examining Role Breadth, Efficacy, And Attitudes Toward Trauma-Informed Care In Elementary School Educators, Mikayla J. Drymond

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Children growing up below the poverty line are at heightened risk for developing complex symptoms of trauma caused by repeated exposures to a variety of traumatic events. The detrimental effects of repeated traumatic exposures on developing children living in low-income environments are now considered a public health concern (APA Presidential Task Force on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma in Children and Adolescents, 2008; Crosby, Howell, & Thomas, 2018). Increased awareness of the negative effects of trauma early in life and the need for combative care has accelerated the movement for educators to become trauma-informed, which can be demonstrated through altered …

Recurring Scream: Trauma In Wes Craven's Slasher, Ben Muntananuchat

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates trauma representation in the horror film trilogy Scream, by director Wes Craven and based on the story and characters by screenwriter Kevin Williamson. The franchise is a satirical body of work that uproots the formulaic narrative aspects of the slasher film subgenre, of which it belongs to. Craven and Williamson’s method of critiquing the subgenre employs the usage of its cinematic tropes, though elevating them to a level of postmodern parody. I analyze traumatic representation within the franchise’s layers of mediation and postmodern narrative elements, which are often highlighted in academic discussion. The trauma observed revolves around …

An Experimental Investigation Into The Impact Of Crisis Response Strategies And Relationship Management In The Pharmaceutical Industry, Nikoletta Pappas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates how millennials view their relationship with the pharmaceutical industry and if that relationship changes when exposed to different crisis messaging strategies. The pharmaceutical industry is currently dealing with a preventable crisis because of companies in the industry, such as opioid companies, causing death, distrust, and lawsuits. Coombs suggests the rebuild message strategies will result in a stronger relationship between the industry and their publics. This study will test that theory. The millennial participants that contributed to this study were all born between 1980-1996. Their relationships were measured through the variables of trust, satisfaction, control mutuality, commitment, communal …

“Placing Our Breasts On A Hot Kerosene Lantern”: A Critical Study Of Microfinancialization In The Lives Of Women Entrepreneurs In The Informal Economic Sector In Ibadan, Nigeria, Olubukola Olayiwola

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study uses an anthropological perspective to investigate everyday lived experience of women borrowers and entrepreneurs (in the informal economic sector in Ibadan, Nigeria) relating to microfinancialization. Study such as this becomes important given the popular Yoruba metaphor “owo komulelanta” (“Placing our breasts on a hot kerosene lantern”) women borrowers use to express their experience particularly in their attempts to make repayments of MFB loans. Hence, there is a need to pay close attention and listen more carefully to operators of the informal sector and borrowers of MFB loans. This study employs ethnographic mixed methods to generate data in various …

Procedural Variations Of Rird: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Stephanie Almendarez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this paper was to summarize and synthesize the current literature on RIRD. Specifically, the aim of this review was to determine proportion of cases in which RIRD was effective in reducing stereotypy as well as to identify RIRD procedural variations that appear to be correlated with an increased probability of positive outcomes. Researchers synthesized the results of 21 articles according to the following categories: (a) participant characteristics (e.g., sex, age, diagnosis, communication repertoire, and topography of stereotypy), (b) RIRD procedural variations (e.g., form of RIRD, type of task, response requirement, number of tasks, and intervention), and (c) …

Additive Manufactured And Laser Enhanced Optical Fiber On Flexible Kapton Substrate, Dianhao Hou

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis mainly focuses on the realization of laser enhancing additive manufactured optical fibers on the flexible substrate based on previous work on the rigid surface, and the exploration of their loss at different bend status by optical transmission test. Optical fibers are successfully fabricated using polymethyl methacrylate by fused deposition modeling technology within Norland Optical Adhesive 1369 which is chosen as the cladding material and micro-dispensed on the Kapton substrate. The Laser cutting technology and scanning electron microscope have been used to enhance and characterize the flatness of two end facets of samples, respectively. The optical adhesive and PMMA …

An Analytical Approach To Information And Communication Technologies, Sahir Hismiogullari

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The twentieth century was a century of scientific and technological development. Especially the fact of information and communication technologies, beyond being a technological leap, has led to different levels of development and changes / transformations. Therefore, developments, possibilities, changes and problems emerging in the Internet and other digital contexts have attracted the attention of communication scientists, sociologists, historians and philosophers, and have become a field of research that leads to interdisciplinary studies. Along with the mass media developed for the last two centuries (from the spread of newspapers to the invention of the internet), every social development or transformation is …

Between Soledad And Attica Brothers: The Raiford Protests And Prison Activism In Florida, Alexander Obermueller

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In February of 1971 prisoners staged a weeklong protest at Florida’s largest prison near the rural town of Raiford. Prior to the Raiford sit-in and hunger strike, George Jackson had only recently published his prison letters and six months after the Raiford uprising a similar protest would rock Attica Correctional Facility and bring prisoners’ rights into national news. This thesis situates Raiford prisoners’ protests in the context of an emerging prisoners’ rights movement. Prisoners made use of various protest forms, retracted their labor, and engaged in litigation to fundamentally challenge prison and achieve some improvements to their lives behind bars. …

Using Geophysical And Geodetic Data To Improve Natural And Human-Induced Hazard Assessments, Fanghui Deng

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

I use geophysical and geodetic data to study dynamics of the Earth System, including volcanoes and induced seismicity, aiming to improve related hazard assessment at different time and space scales. My dissertation consists of the following three projects: 1) Geophysical model for the origin of volcano vent clusters (Deng et al., 2017). We developed a conceptual model to simulate long-term magma transport to explain the origin of volcanic vent clusters in Quaternary Colorado Plateau volcanic fields. We used density contrast inverted from gravity data to constrain the magma transport model. The development of vent clusters appears to be influenced by …

Features Of Borderline Personality And Related Psychopathologies As A Contemporaneously And Temporally Connected Network, Haya Fatimah

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In contrast with the latent variable models, network psychometricians have proposed that symptoms co-occur not because of an underlying common cause but because of direct dynamic associations among symptoms. This empirical study aims to elucidate how features of with borderline personality disorder, depression, and anxiety interact with one another and form a network. Specifically, I aimed to identify a potential causal structure among the features of BPD, depression, and anxiety while identifying the most influential features. Participants were 37 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 26 recruited from University of South Florida SONA pool. Following baseline assessment, participants …

How Can I Help My Anxious Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder? Understanding Parental Perspectives And Treatment Preferences, Sandra L. Cepeda

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite the high prevalence of co-occurring anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), little is known about parental preferences for treatment in addressing these anxiety concerns. Understanding parents’ preferences for treatment is an important factor to consider for ensuring quality care, as it can guide clinical decisions with regard to implementation of care, strategies for optimizing engagement and treatment adherence, and is associated with treatment outcome. To date, limited studies have examined parental preferences in treatment for childhood anxiety or ASD; but no study has investigated preferences for treatment in children with comorbid symptoms. Thus, the present study sought …

A Review Of Training Interventions To Teach Safety Skills To Children With Autism, Gabrielle Mondello

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Teaching safety skills to children with autism is a serious responsibility for caregivers, siblings, teachers, and other important people in the children’s lives. Finding the effective and most efficient way to teach these skills is important. Behavioral skills training (BST), in situ training (IST), video modeling, virtual reality, and the use of simulation training have all been evaluated for teaching safety skills. This paper discusses the safety threats faced by children with autism and reviews these various approaches to teaching safety skills.

Use Of Music To Improve Running Performance, Jeremy Buttice

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Running is an exercise that requires minimal equipment and gear therefore, running is easily accessible for many people. Research has shown performance benefits when music is used while running such as increased cadence (steps per minute), increased speed, and decrease in perceived exertion. Since music is easily accessible during a run (e.g., smartphone or smartwatch), one can utilize the technology in these smart devices to track specific aspects of their run. Accelerometers, GPS, heart rate sensors, gyroscopes, and barometers can be utilized to track speed, distance, physical exertion, steps, and cadence. Software developers can take advantage of these features in …

Enhancing Intergenerational Conversation Using Visual Cues: Effects Of A Historical Timeline, Allyson Lindsay

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Interacting with individuals with expressive aphasia can be particularly challenging not only because of the language impairments, but also because of the frequent age difference between the clients with aphasia and student clinicians. Although students learn a variety of strategies to support language impairments, there remains a need to bridge the age gap in historical knowledge to enhance conversation. The current study explored the use of a timeline as written and pictorial cue to support conversations between individuals with aphasia and students. This study consisted of Two Experiments. The purpose of Experiment 1 was to identify the differences in knowledge …