Digital Commons Network^™

Predicting Gender Of Author Using Large Language Models (Llms), Satya Uday Sanku

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The advent of text data from social media, blogs, movie reviews, and other textual sources has opened new avenues for research, particularly in the domain of Author Profiling. Author Profiling helps in Capturing the Stylistic features and also useful for analyzing the required elements in the written text. This Study addresses one of the tasks in Author Profiling which is termed as gender detection or Classification of Gender from Text. The main goal of this research is to obtain valuable and relevant gender characteristics that will accurately classify the Author’s gender of a review extracted from an Anime Review website. …

Interrelationships Among Local Values Of Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, Heat Index, And Adjusted Temperature, Andrea Giraldo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Occupational heat stress significantly affects outdoor workers who face challenges due to increased heat exposure. Because of the prevalence of heat illness, it is important to measure heat stress for outdoor workers. Monitoring occupational heat stress most often relies on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) measure. Heat Index (HI) is a widely used measure to account for air temperature and humidity. Adjusted Temperature (Tadj) considers air temperature, humidity and estimates radiant heat. There is interest in predicting WBGT from HI and HI from WBGT. This study builds on previous USF research by Bernard and Iheanacho and Irvin to evaluate …

From Displacement To Intersubjectivity: A Phenomenology Of Sound In Classic Film Noir, Thomas Goodchild

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper analyzes the use of sounds displaced from their sources in classic filmsnoir. Noir is often understood as a dark and solipsistic moment in American cinema. Interpretations of noir frequently emphasize isolated individuals who are physically, psychologically, and socially displaced from their environments. Although scholarship on noir has examined this alienation through various sonic motifs such as music and voice-over, I investigate how several noirs draw attention to the act of listening through acousmatic sound—that is, sound heard without a visible source. Far from being an ephemeral auditory experience, I argue that the separation between sound and image invites …

“Urban Renewal” Surrounding Florida Solar Plants: A Study On Low-Carbon Gentrification, Megan Amber Grove

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Renewable energy and sustainable living are growing trends in Florida as the state “develops” rural landscapes and “redevelops” urban ones, resulting in neighborhood changes, including displacement of low-income and minority populations (LIMP). Solar energy has not historically been a root cause of such changes, but in recent years it has increasingly accompanied neighborhood development which prioritizes the interests of the elite and middle class. As such, it has become a contributor to “urban renewal,” which must be addressed to avoid future LIMP displacement. This study used geospatial and data science technologies and techniques to empirically explore and analyze urbanization and …

A Differentially Methylated Region Analysis Between Three Disease States Of Major Depressive Disorder In Primarily African-American Cohorts, Lanie Katelynn Mullins

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and debilitating disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. MDD is a multifactorial disease with no established mechanism currently able to explain all facets of the disease or its etiology. Feedback loop mechanisms have been posited to explain the interactions of psychological and physical components of the disease etiology. Epigenetics, specifically DNA-methylation analyses, can shed light on the interaction between the within-person environment resulting from MDD symptomology, the persistence of the disease, and factors influencing remission. Here, a differentially methylated region analysis was conducted using samples derived from whole blood to interrogate the …

The Boundaries Of Melodramatic Film Music: Redefining Home Through The Score Of Douglas Sirk’S All That Heaven Allows, Meredith Donovan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this project, I analyze the relationship between music and narrative in Douglas Sirk’s 1950 film All That Heaven Allows. Sirk’s melodramas are held in high regard by film scholarship, but their scores, especially those composed by Frank Skinner, are often dismissed as lazy or mere atmospheric mood assistance. I argue, however, that the score of Sirk’s All That Heaven Allows builds protagonist Cary both a home—and a “home key”—through its tonal structure, rejecting a rigid boundary between diegetic and non-diegetic music as a whole by offering a fluid musical space to express the conflict between Cary’s emotional home and …

Investigating The Causes Of Lake Level Variability On A Modern Carbonate Platform, Natalie M. Salazar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Lakes on carbonate islands are known to reduce freshwater lens volumes and alter freshwater lens distribution; however, the magnitude and controlling factors between lake and freshwater lens interactions remain poorly understood. Since freshwater lenses are thin and can be fragmented by lakes in small carbonate islands, it is important to understand the magnitude of exchange between lakes and the freshwater lens to understand potential groundwater depletion. This study utilized high temporal resolution water levels and meteorological data to quantify monthly water budgets for seven lakes on San Salvador Island, The Bahamas. The monthly water budgets accounted for rainfall, potential evaporation, …

Health Status In An Urban-Dwelling, Subtropical Frog Species (Lithobates Sphenocephalus) And Its Relation To Ranavirus And Hemoparasites, Gabrielle M. Wickersham

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Urbanization poses significant challenges to wildlife, including amphibians. The present study uses a multi-parameter approach that incorporates veterinary techniques to investigate the current health status of the adult southern leopard frogs (Lithobates sphenocephalus) in Tampa Bay, Florida, amidst urban stressors including nutrient loading, fragmented habitats, and light and noise pollution. Novel values for fluctuating asymmetry (e.g., variation between left and right bilateral traits; FA), body condition (CF), stress (e.g., neutrophil:lymphocyte (N:L) ratio), and inflammation (e.g., neutrophil morphologic abnormalities, parasite load) are reported. I also investigate the relationship of overall health with ranavirus presence and hemoparasite infections. Ranavirus was absent in …

Single And Dual Cell Encapsulation Via Liquid Core Hydrogels Using Pico Injection, Jade Houston

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this project, a comprehensive microfluidic device, along with several interdependent subsystems, was designed and developed in SolidWorks, leveraging a combination of 3D resin printing with biocompatible resin and micromachining with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The microfluidics chip integrated both passive and active components to facilitate its primary function: dual cell encapsulation via liquid core sodium alginate hydrogel droplets.

Integral to the microfluidics chip design were key features including a 5-convolution Archimedes spiral for particle sorting, a flow focusing junction for droplet generation, and a pico injector for injecting additional cells into passing droplets via the manipulation of an electric field.

An …

Development Of A Plant Growth And Health Monitoring System Using Imaging And Sensor Array Information For Cubesat Applications, Kat-Kim Phan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Space exploration has been a topic of interest in the scientific community, such as the planned missions to Mars. To accomplish this would require being able to provide astronauts with a steady supply of food beyond freeze-dried foods leading to the need to grow food in space. Although this is a topic still being investigated, the CubeSat platform opens the possibility of carrying out studies on plant growth under more strenuous space conditions unlike that in the International Space Station (ISS). Developing a plant-focused mission for a CubeSat, though, entails being able to develop a system to sustain plant life …

Preliminary Investigation Of Differences In Host Mitochondria Membrane Potential During Toxoplasma Gondii Infection, Bryan L. Ortega

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan with a broad host range of hosts, including various warm-blooded mammals, including humans. While infections can often be asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, they can pose significant risks to those who are immunocompromised, as well as pregnant women. Toxoplasmosis represents a significant burden on public health in the United States, with over 800,000 annual infections reported, often leading to severe complications such as symptomatic eye disease and congenital infections. Recent attention has developed regarding its potential association with human neuropathies such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and mood disorders. This project investigated differences in host …

Secondary Educator Approaches To Cemetery-Based Education In Florida, Hillary M. Van Dyke

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, descriptive case study is to study how teachers utilize cemeteries as a teaching space, specifically for instruction in Black history and for enacting social studies curriculum by examining the curricular and instructional strategies two educators use with historically Black cemeteries as a place of learning for students in west coastal central Florida. Conversations around what to do about the issue of historically Black cemeteries are growing in Florida, including the state dedicating resources to place-based education in cemeteries. Thus, this study is timely. A purposeful sampling strategy was used to select the two educators who …

Educator And Caregiver Perceptions Of Project Begin Well: An Early Childhood Risk Identification Course, Samin Khallaghi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The early years of a child's life are vital to building the foundation for early childhood, and educators and caregivers are at the heart of making this foundation for children. However, educators and caregivers often lack knowledge on correctly identifying risks in children. The current study used a quantitative non-experimental design to examine early childhood educator and caregiver perceptions of a training program called Project Begin Well. Project Begin Well included a risk identification course for educators and caregivers of children aged 3-5 years. Specifically, educators' and caregivers' knowledge, skills, attitudes, aspirations, and behaviors toward the risk identification course were …

Dissolved Nickel Speciation At The Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series Study (Bats) Site, Caitlyn E. Parente

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Here I present the first depth profiles of dissolved nickel (DNi) speciation over an annual cycle at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site in the North Atlantic. Seawater samples were collected in March, May, August, and November 2019 and analyzed for labile DNi using competitive ligand exchange-adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (CLE-AdCSV). Labile DNi was measured by CLE-AdCSV as the fraction of DNi that exchanges with an added competitive ligand in an overnight equilibration. Results revealed two distinct fractions of DNi present throughout the water column: a labile fraction, and a strongly organically complexed (i.e., non-labile) fraction. More than 50% …

An Analysis Of Therapeutic Alliance And Group Cohesion In A Group Positive Psychology Intervention Serving Middle School Students Reporting Low Life Satisfaction, Alexis Taylor

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While previous research has focused on how positive psychology treatments relate to outcomes, it is also essential to evaluate the therapeutic process of these treatments. The therapeutic process consists of elements like the therapeutic alliance and the efforts the clinicians and the client put into the process (Bordin, 1979). Positive psychology intervention therapeutic processes differ from traditional treatments, as they have a skills-building perspective rather than a problem-focused perspective (Cunha et al., 2019; Datu & Bernardo, 2020; Kwok et al., 2016). Thus, the therapeutic relationship may take on a different form. Furthermore, as therapy approaches differ, so do the modalities …

The Effect Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Environmental Perceptions Of College Students, Sydney H. Kaylor

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this study, the environmental perception changes in college students during the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated. During the almost worldwide lockdown between March and December 2020, many students experienced dramatic changes in their socioeconomic life that have affected their well-being, ability to learn, and environmental perceptions. Students were sent home from college campuses, many businesses were shut down, and changes were seen in the environment throughout the world. The many industries and businesses that were shut down decreased the pollution that was in the atmosphere, in our water, and on the land. In many places, lockdown policies lead to improved …

Metatranscriptomic Insights Into The Interaction Between Microcystis Blooms And Hydrogen Peroxide, Taylor L. Hancock

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For this dissertation I studied the interactions of hydrogen peroxide and cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) dominated by Microcystis in the Caloosahatchee River, FL. Specifically, I examined how taxonomic and functional succession relates to both natural hydrogen peroxide dynamics and hydrogen peroxide added to the environment as a cHAB treatment. Chapter 2 investigated how taxonomic succession and gene expression patterns relate to blooms and associated elevated hydrogen peroxide concentrations. The results showed that gene expressions related to cyanobacterial growth were positively correlated with hydrogen peroxide. The genes identified included enzymes capable of hydrogen peroxide generation which were expressed by blooming …

Mentorship In A Virtual World: How Remote Work Relates To Mentoring Relationships And Outcomes, Alyssa M. Lezcano

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the context of an increasingly virtual workplace, it is critical to understand how remote and hybrid work arrangements relate to key developmental, interpersonal relationships at work, such as mentoring relationships. Guided by the existing mentoring literature as well as leader distance theory, the present study aimed to examine the mentorship experiences of early-career protégés who worked remote and hybrid hours. Three waves of data were collected to investigate the influence of remote work and mentor distance on protégés’ perceptions of mentoring support received. Specifically, the study examined protégés’ degree of remote work, perceptions of social and spatial distance between …

Fraud Brainstorming In An Era Of Remote Work: The Effects Of Alternative Video Conferencing Configurations And Audit Team Hierarchy, Ahmed Shuaib

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic prompted governments to respond by implementing social distancing regulations and travel bans. Although these actions helped mitigate the spread of the virus, they also created unique challenges for businesses and their employees. Firms transitioned quickly from face-to-face work settings to remote work arrangements using video conferencing technologies (VCT). These technologies enable video calls with or without instant messaging (chat) to facilitate information exchange. For audit firms, group tasks that were previously performed in face-to-face settings had to be performed using VCT. A commonly performed group task in auditing is fraud brainstorming, which auditing standards require …

Temporospatial Deep Learning Strategies For Prediction Of Disease Progression In Radiology, John D. Mayfield

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While the fields of machine learning and medicine are deeply rooted in axiomatic scientific principles, there is an element of art that makes the practice imperfect, yet innately human. As the two fields have seen the greatest overlap in their collective history, there remains a chasm between them in terms of practical translation for the patients who desire and deserve personalized medicine. As presented in this dissertation, I and my collaborators have contributed to the groundwork for future exploration of predicting disease progression by identifying signals within sequential medical imaging to provide a temporospatial relationship upon which we can make …

Differentiating Magic: A Call For A Differential Approach, Weston L. Wright

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper seeks to propose an alternative approach for studying magic. It is often the case inacademia, when studying magic, scholars use an understanding of modernity which favors a scientific perspective. When doing so, some scholars have concluded magic has become extinct in our modern society; despite recent research suggesting magical practice is thriving. Likewise, this scholarship promotes an idea of magic grounded in fear, ignorance, superstition, and fraudulence. The goal of this paper is two-fold. First, I seek to advocate for an approach to magic that allows for a plurality of perspectives to be acknowledged, not just a scientific …

Exploring The Swimming Behavior Of A Hydromechanical Copepod In The Context Of Positive Density Dependence, Eva J. Muir

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the swimming behavior and population dynamics of the marine copepod, Acartia tonsa. This copepod is of interest as it utilizes hydromechanical signals within the environment to navigate its surroundings, resulting in a distinctive hop/sink swimming pattern. This adaptive trait serves several purposes including searching for mates, obtaining food, and detecting predators, however the evolution of this unique swimming style has not been explored. To address this knowledge gap, the first chapter of this dissertation explores the swimming characteristics and escape responses of captive-reared and wild-caught A. tonsa. When reared in aquaculture, A. tonsa populations experience higher populations …

“You Are Not The Same Person You Were:” On Diagnosis Seeking During A Liminal Period And Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Kaylee A. Appleton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

“You are the healthiest looking sick person I’ve ever met”

(Daphne, 62)

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is one of many chronic illnesses considered to be “invisible.” Once the onset of symptoms occurs, the illness can drastically change the dynamic of an individual's life in ways that may not be noticeable to others, even before a chronic illness diagnosis. I discuss how these individuals experience the liminal period of developing symptoms and seeking a diagnosis. Furthermore, I discuss vignettes that exemplifies the occurrence of a liminal state while looking at the current for-profit set-up of healthcare in the United States. Utilizing …

The Role Of Muslim Women In Nigeria’S Socioeconomic Development Through The Implementation Of The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Faqiat Afolake Adeaga

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research explores the often underestimated yet pivotal role of Muslim women in propelling socio-economic development in Nigeria, specifically focusing on the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary research question seeks to comprehend the transformative impact of faith-based women-led NGOs, including Ansar-ud- Deen, Nawair-ud-Deen, FOMWAN, and NASFAT, on Muslim women's empowerment and their contribution to SDG1 (extreme poverty), SDG3 (health), SDG4 (education), and SDG5 (gender equality) in Nigeria. Simultaneously, the secondary research question explores successful strategies employed by these organizations in empowering Muslim women, with a keen focus on potential areas for improvement. Incorporating research …

Comparing The Effects Of The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines Training Workshop: Online Vs. In-Person, Caroline Mierzwa

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine participant outcomes related to the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) professional development training workshop when delivered in-person and online. Participant outcomes in knowledge of threat assessment, ability to classify a threat case appropriately, and overall evaluations of the training workshop were examined to evaluate threat assessment team aspirations to use the threat assessment procedures and effectiveness of the CSTAG training. Kirckpatrick's Model of Evaluation was utilized to investigate participants' reactions to the training and learning outcomes. Furthermore, participant results were assessed based on their respective position within schools, encompassing roles such …

Traditional Or Trendy: News Presentations In Short Form Video And Its Audiences, Sophie Rose Theiss

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The landscape of short-form video news is evolving, propelled by the popularity of platforms like TikTok. This paper employs content analysis to examine the traits and production elements of six news publishers utilizing short-form video to engage with audiences through traditional and trendy, non-traditional presentations. It investigates audience interactions with this content and explores how specific traits may influence audience sentiment. Findings reveal shifts in traditional news norms as they adapt to social media platforms, positive audience responses to trendy, non-traditional videos, and audience sentiment and engagement across short-form video platforms. Additionally, distinctions emerge between publishers rooted in social media …

Surface Modification Of Poly(4,4'-Oxydiphenilene Pyromellitimide) With Low-Pressure Plasma Treatment, Cihan Aktas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the change of the wetting characteristics of commercially availablepolyimide (PI), Kapton® HN, films a type of poly(4,4′-oxydiphenylene-pyromellitimide), following treatment with low-pressure plasmas of carbon tetrafluoride (CF4), air, hydrogen (H2), carbon-dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) gases as well as the surface texturing via laser-exposure procedure. The water contact angle (CA) and surface free energy (SFE) of untreated PI films were determined as 82.4°±0.8 and 45.0±0.3 mN/m, respectively. After CF4 plasma gas treatment, the CA value of PI films increased to 110.2°±1.0, while it decreased to 9.3°±2.3 after O2 plasma gas treatment. The surface free energy (SFE) of PI …

Examining Associations Between Social And Emotional Loneliness And Drinking In A Clinical Sample With Alcohol Use Disorder (Aud): An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study, Brendan E. Walsh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Loneliness, a negative affective state that arises when someone perceives a lack of social connectedness, is a predisposing and maintaining factor of alcohol use behavior. Several studies have linked loneliness to drinking at the daily level and elevated AUD risk using longitudinal designs; however, cross-sectional studies have identified inconsistent patterns. The current study applied a multidimensional framework of loneliness (i.e., emotional and social dimensions) to examine daily relations between loneliness and drinking in an AUD sample (N = 60), with consideration of drinking context (social vs. solitary) as a moderator. Results indicated that emotional loneliness (within-person) was associated with increased …

Development Of A Suspended Aerobic Membrane Bioreactor (Sambr) For Sustainable Wastewater Treatment On Early Planetary Bases, Talon James Bullard

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) ideally should treat all “waste” streams for recovery in a sustainable and near closed-loop manner. This will be critical for Partial Gravity Habitats (PGH) and Early Planetary Bases (EPB) that will be established on the Moon and Mars due to the lack of readily available resources. Currently, the Water Recovery System (WRS), onboard the International Space Station (ISS), recovers and purifies water from urine and graywater. While efficient, this system is not optimized for future missions and utilizes physical-chemical technologies that operate with single-use and hazardous consumables. In response to the lack of …

Brain-Inspired Spatio-Temporal Learning With Application To Robotics, Thiago André Ferreira Medeiros

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The human brain still has many mysteries and one of them is how it encodes information. The following study intends to unravel at least one such mechanism. For this it will be demonstrated how a set of specialized neurons may use spatial and temporal information to encode information. These neurons, called Place Cells, become active when the animal enters a place in the environment, allowing it to build a cognitive map of the environment. In a recent paper by Scleidorovich et al. in 2022, it was demonstrated that it was possible to differentiate between two sequences of activations of a …