Digital Commons Network^™

The Efficiency And Accuracy Of Yolo For Neonate Face Detection In The Clinical Setting, Jacqueline Hausmann

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There are many face detection classification models available for download and use in the modern technological world. Based in the field of deep neural networks, these off-the-shelf solutions are generally inadequate to solve real world challenges. This work presents how current approaches biased towards detecting adult human faces must be modified in order to better accommodate face detection of the neonate in a NICU setting.

YOLO is a powerful object detection algorithm. Due to optimizations such as Cross mini-batch Normalization, Modified Spatial Attention Modules, Modified Path Aggregation Networks, Self-Adversarial Training, Mosaic Data Augmentation, DropBox Regularization, Multi-Input Weighted Residual Connections and …

Assessment And Integration Of Socioeconomic And Demographic Factors In The Implementation Of Integrated Water Resources Management In The Lake Chad Basin, Nodjidoumde Mbaigoto

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Most developing countries have responded to the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) call to implement Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in their national water policy to reach water sustainability and socioeconomic welfare. Despite the Lake Chad Basin Commission's adoption of the IWRM principles, the basin experiences a massive humanitarian crisis driven by the lake's shrinkage, the water shortage for food production, the rapid population growth, and the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram. This study sought to assess the socioeconomic and demographic status of people living upstream of Lake Chad in order to understand the challenges associated with …

Identifying The Academic And Emotional Risk And Resource Factors Of Underrepresented Students In Accelerated Coursework, Jasmine L. Gray

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There are many benefits of student participation in accelerated curricula in high school such as the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBD) or Advanced Placement (AP) coursework. Benefits include skipping introductory coursework in college, being better prepared to deal with the stressors of college, and positive impacts on peer relationships, self-image, and the development of the concept of success (The International Baccalaureate Organization [IBO], 2019). However, the extent to which all students, regardless of demographic background, are able to participate in and benefit from such programs is a little less known. Previous research indicates that the IBD tends to enroll high-achieving …

Applying The Situational Theory Of Publics To Children's Sex Education In China, Baoyi Zeng

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In China, "sex" is a sensitive, even taboo topic. In this special cultural background, the lack of sex education for children is worthy of attention. This study aims to extend the Situational Theory of Public (STP) to the field of sex education for children. The results of an online questionnaire survey among 424 Chinese parents show that a high degree of problem recognition and high level of participation in child sex education will lead Chinese parents to actively search for relevant information on this issue. Being able to identify children's sex education problems, having a low barrier to solving the …

Succession In Native Groundwater Microbial Communities In Response To Effluent Wastewater, Chelsea M. Dinon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Aquifer storage and recovery techniques are used globally to mitigate increasing demands for groundwater. Microcosms were used to evaluate the effect of wastewater effluent that may be used for aquifer storage and recovery injection on native aquifer microbial communities. Sulfur Springs water was used as the source of aquifer water. The microcosms were 100% spring water, 100% unchlorinated filtered wastewater effluent, or one of three mixtures of unchlorinated filtered wastewater effluent and spring water. The mixture microcosms were 50%, 30%, and 10% unchlorinated filtered wastewater effluent with the balance as spring water. The effluent water was UV treated prior to …

Mitigation Of Electromigration In Metal Interconnects Passivated By Ångstrom-Thin 2d Materials, Yunjo Jeong

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Electromigration in metal interconnects remains one of the most prominent challenges in the state-of-the-art semiconductor industry. A phenomenon defined as the momentum transfer from electrons in an electric current to the metal atoms in a conductor, electromigration creates voids and hillocks that ultimately cause failures in nanoelectronics due to short or open circuits. Additionally, electromigration induces undesirable diffusion of metal atoms into the dielectric material, forcing the need for a barrier material that can mitigate such adverse effects of the phenomenon. However, extremely tight dimensional control of modern transistor designs imposes reduced dimensions of the interconnects in order to accommodate …

One News Event, Three Media Frames, Le Xin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As a protest movement that has attracted international attention, the 2019 Hong Kong protest has become the focus of media and public attention due to political issues involving China mainland and Hong Kong. The reporting process and framing of news media for news events is actually a process of selecting and reorganizing related events. The media of different countries also reported the 2019 Hong Kong Protest like this process. However, the reporting frameworks in different media organizations are also completely different because of the differences in the nature, positioning, and political factors of those media. Based on the framing theory, …

Using The Cipp Evaluation Model To Examine A Bachelor Of Science In Health Systems Management Program, Somer Goad Burke

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this formative evaluation was to explore the effectiveness of a Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management (BS HSMT) program in supporting student success through gathering information that led to recommendations for program improvement. The evaluation setting was a public university in the southeastern United States that began enrolling students in the BS HSMT in the fall semester 2017. The BS HSMT was developed to meet the local workforce need for professionals trained in health management and to offer a non-clinical bachelor’s degree for students not competitive or not admitted to their first-choice selective major (described in …

A Review Of Feedback Techniques Used To Improve Athletic Performance, Codye Mark Donovan Manning

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Feedback is an important component to successful behavioral interventions. Regarding interventions to improve athletic performance, several studies have used different forms of feedback across multiple sports. This area paper examined the different types of feedback across studies on athletics, describing the forms of feedback and directions for future research highlighted among them. In particular, this paper described video feedback, verbal feedback, auditory feedback, and public posting.

The Quantification Of Heavy Metals In Infant Formulas Offered By The Florida Wic Program, Naya Martin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many infants rely on the WIC program to provide their main source of sustenance in theform of infant formula. In 2016, about 86% of the eligible infant population participated in this program. Infants in Florida account for about 30% of participation in the Southeast. For this reason, it is necessary to ensure that the formulas offered by this program provide the best opportunity for an optimal health outcome.

Exposure to heavy metals can have detrimental effects on the development of infants and children. Arsenic, lead, and cadmium specifically have been commonly found in certain types of infant formulas. Significant exposures …

Why Are Women Leaving Stem? An Examination Of Workplace Rivalry, Joseph Regina

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Past research on workplace rivalry has framed the construct as a motivating force that is desirable for individuals and organizations. Using social comparison theory as a framework, the potential harmful correlates of rivalry were examined. Specifically, the relationships between the status of having a rival, as well as one’s perception of their relative standing to (i.e. being better or worse than) their rival, and the outcomes of turnover intention, perceived competence, and imposter syndrome were analyzed. Further, to examine how STEM fields may be particularly impacted by these relationships, both job and STEM turnover were measured, and the moderating effect …

Longitudinal Examination Of A Dual-Factor Model Of Mental Health: Academic Adjustment And Stability Of Group Membership In High School Students In Academically Accelerated Curricula, Letty Langton Dileo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Middle adolescence (ages 14 to 18 years old) has been associated with declines in both psychopathology and subjective well-being (SWB). This study examined a dual-factor model (DFM) of mental health, which conceptualizes complete mental health as including both low levels of psychopathology and high levels of SWB, across three time points, each 9-12 months apart, in a sample of 328 9th grade students enrolled in accelerated coursework. This study aimed to determine (1) the stability of students’ mental health status over time, (2) the role of psychopathology versus SWB for students who changed mental health status, and (3) the relationship …

Motivation To Volunteer, Lendi N. Joy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The rate of volunteering in the U.S. remains low in spite of the many positive benefits that volunteering yields. Prior research has suggested various theories to help explain motivation to volunteer. Nonetheless, none of the theories have been both comprehensive and specific enough to allow for their practical application in recruitment efforts or campaigns to increase motivations to volunteer. The purpose of the current study was to test a comprehensive model of volunteer motivation by integrating the Volunteering Functions Inventory into the Theory of Planned Behavior as behavioral and normative beliefs that influence attitudes and subjective norms. The hypothesized model …

Analysis Of Computational Modeling Methods As Applied To Single-Crystal Organohalide Perovskites, Jon M. Bebeau

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Perovskite, specifically MAPbI3, has exploded onto the electronic material forefront, with applications from photovoltaic to optical sensors. Still, there remain many unanswered questions about the electronic, structural and mechanical processes and properties of this perovskite. Computational software exists to model the electronic structure and material properties, to the nano scale, using density-functional theory. The goal of these models it to parallel the physical science of the substance in a computer simulation based on emerging mathematical models of the quantum mechanical behavior. In this study I review the historical use of perovskites in electronics, review the evolution of DFT algorithm developments …

Diagnosis Of Freeway Bottlenecks During The Mass Evacuation For Hurricane Irma On Florida's Turnpike Mainline, Brian Michael Staes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Prevailing traffic conditions were examined for a bottleneck that occurred on northbound SR-91 (Florida’s Mainline Turnpike) during the mass evacuation for Hurricane Irma in September 2017. Radar detector count, occupancy, and speed data polling at 1-minute intervals were collected from the Regional Integrated Transportation Information System (RITIS) and employed to identify the distinct periods one particular bottleneck was active at a service plaza along SR-91. With this rich data, three distinct periods were identified in which the bottleneck was active at a service plaza off-ramp, lasting a total of 27.5 hours during this colossal evacuation. To identify the activation time …

A Review Of American College Campus Tobacco Or Smoke Free Policies: A Case Study Of A Large Urban University, Sarah E. Powell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Objective: A year after a tobacco free policy was passed, the University of South Florida (USF) was interested in the overall policy opinions and efficacy. To assess this a project was completed that included a survey and geospatial data. The survey measured tobacco policy enforcement behavior and a geographic information system (GIS) mapped tobacco policy violation. This project introduces an evaluation process that can efficiently assess an institutions tobacco-free policy. Methods: Using a cross-sectional survey sent to students, faculty, and staff, understanding of policy and resources, tobacco use observations, stage of change regarding policy enforcement, self-efficacy to enforce, and perceived …

Teacher Certification Pathway And Mathematical Quality Of Instruction, Gail Stewart

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The formal documentation of alternative routes to teacher certification programs in the United States began in 1983 (Ludlow, 2011). According to the former US Secretary of Education’s Annual Report on teacher quality the high demand for teachers in high needs areas, such as mathematics, has caused growth in alternative certification routes for teachers (Paige, 2002). The many factors that influence teaching quality make it difficult to determine what impact, if any, a teacher’s preparation program has on the quality of their instruction. Current research on teacher quality shows varied results, making it hard to reach a conclusion about the effectiveness …

An Inferential Study Of The Potential Consumer Value Of Free Charging For Users Of Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure, Divyamitra Mishra

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Although there is economic and marketing evidence of consumers assigning additional benefits to free products and bundles, there is limited research into the behavioral consequences of offering public electric vehicle charging for free. Previous exploratory research by Maness and Lin analyzed possible economic and environmental benefits from offering free public charging infrastructure and policy. Their work found that providing free public charging infrastructure could increase plug-in electric vehicle sales and cause decreased reliance on fossil fuels in the personal transportation sector. However, their study assumed the increased value which consumers would place on free charge events. This project proposes to …

The West Knows Best: East Germans Left Behind After Unification, Arwen A. Puteri

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The East-German euphoria of unification in 1989 and the subsequent transition from a communist to a market economy that had promised West German standards and prosperity in East Germany vanished rapidly. A hastily negotiated unification treaty and emerging West German dominance – in numbers and economic power – resulted in vast unemployment, bankruptcies, and the large-scale collapse of the East German economy. In addition, East-German culture, accomplishments, and experiences were not respected and valued in a unified country that was focused on Western values, languages, and ways of life. With nothing to offer, East Germans became hopeless and resentful and …

Physician Self-Efficacy And Risk-Taking Attitudes As Determinants Of Upcoding And Downcoding Errors: An Empirical Investigation, Samantha J. Champagnie

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Physicians across the United States are burdened with the pressure of accurate coding while trying to maintain quality patient care. Despite the economic importance of coding accuracy, investigators have not reached consensus on the factors that contribute to coding errors. This study fills this gap by investigating physician characteristics that explain the variation in physician coding accuracy, specifically evaluation and management upcoding and downcoding errors. An electronic survey was distributed to 325 physicians that measured physicians’ attitudes towards risk and coding self-efficacy. Regression analysis found physicians with low self-efficacy had more conservative coding behaviors, resulting in higher incidences of downcoding. …

Humanistic Climate Philosophy: Erich Fromm Revisited, Nicholas Dovellos

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Given the current juncture in history, humanity is faced with the herculean task of adapting to a tumultuous present and a gimmer future. Should climate projections be accurate, there is little time to waste. This work makes the claim that we are not only in a political gridlock but also in an academic one. Researching climate philosophy from its inception, the concluding view is that no major progress, outside of a standardized descriptive analysis, has been achieved. Thus, the work evaluates an array of climate philosophers e.g. Stephen Gardiner, James Garvey, Peter Singer, Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, etc., with specific emphasis on …

Using Geospatial Data To Predict The Locations Of Groundwater Discharge To Salmon-Bearing Streams, Alaska, Mary Gerlach

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Identification and protection of groundwater resources are considerations of increasing interest as climate shifts but can be challenging to accomplish in remote areas. To that end, a series of GIS techniques and weight of evidence approach were applied to determine the feasibility of remotely identifying likely areas of ground discharge. Through the confluence of topographic analyses and a novel geologic dataset, these techniques were found to consistently identify areas characterized by either shallow subsurface or aquifer-fed groundwater discharge or evidence of ephemeral surficial water features. Two distinct GIS techniques to build spatial proxies of the effects of topography and geology …

Optimal Strategies For Grassland Restoration To Increase Spatial Carrying Capacity Of Florida Sandhill Cranes In Pasco County, Florida, Ibrahim Kaya

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Florida sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis pratensis) is a non-migratory bird species occurring throughout the Florida peninsula and the Okefenokee Swamp in southeastern Georgia. Human land-altering activities have led to a substantial decline in the amount and condition of suitable habitat, including grasslands, for the species in Florida, thereby decreasing the population size significantly. Grasslands located in close proximity to nesting locations are one of the habitat types on which the population viability of the species depends, as they provide foraging and brooding habitat which is crucial for successful reproduction. The purpose of this study is to propose the most …

Warfare In Christianity And Islam: Unveiling Secular Justifications And Motivations Behind So-Called Religious Violence, Onur Korkmaz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The phenomenology of religion has received the most attention in social science because it has shaped society on social, political, and economic levels throughout history. Religion can be an organization that brings people together and develops a sense of identification, while also acting as a divisive structure for those of other faiths or nonbelievers. And so, we have witnessed the rise of both religious tendencies and violent acts for the last two decades, occasionally intertwined. Various belief systems have increasingly become a factor that politicians, intellectuals, and the mainstream media associate with violence-based modern warfare. However, scholars and analysts who …

A Sustainability Machine: The Incineration-Based Waste Regime In Tampa, Fl, Usa, Kevin P. Martyn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent history has seen some significant changes in terms of how society thinks about and deals with its wastes. Increasingly troubling indications of the immediacy of ecological concerns, now often described by the Anthropocene concept, have been provocative of a reinvigorated fervor for a sustainability transition. As a result, sustainability has become well-established as both an urgent pursuit and an eminently pliable buzzword. This research describes and explains one key aspect of society’s pursuit of some version of sustainability: our relationship with waste.

The site of this research is Tampa, Florida, a sunbelt city with a unique waste management system. …

Transfat Representation, Jessica "Fyn" Asay

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study defines and analyzes representation of transfats, those who are both transgender and fat, through the examination of two popular media texts, Jabba the Hutt from The Return of the Jedi and Pat from the Saturday Night Live tv program in the 1990’s. I analyze these two texts using a queer feminist media studies lens to reveal the media construction of a transfat representation that is rooted in racism, transnormativity, and fatphobia and that positions the transfat body as non-normative and grotesque through the use of abject horror and fear. My analysis reveals how racism, transnormativity, and fatphobia shape …

Current And Projected Sustainability Of The Water-Energy-Food Nexus In Caribbean Small Island Developing States, Zachary S. Winters

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Within Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC), small island developing states (SIDS) of the latter are wholly reliant on their natural environments for their tourism-dependent economies yet are experiencing declining environmental health. These effects are exacerbated by Caribbean susceptibility to climate change and growing populations. With limited size, elevation, GDP, and water resources compared to Latin America, the subregion requires management and solutions tailored to the needs of each country. This study examined current and future sustainability of the Caribbean SIDS by assessing the nexus of water-energy-food (WEF) resources at the national level. In addition, the potential for nature-based solutions …

Middle Woodland Mounds Of The Lower Chattahoochee, Lower Flint, And Apalachicola River Basin, Michael H. Lockman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A thorough literature review was completed in order to construct a database of all the known Middle Woodland-period (A.D. 300-700) mounds in the Apalachicola – lower Flint and lower Chattahoochee River drainages of northwest Florida, southwest Georgia, and southeast Alabama. The database presented in this document provides both quantitative and tabular data which may be used to evaluate, describe, and compare sites within this research region as they relate to one another as well as other sites in the Southeast. Through the lens of cultural materialism, descriptive statistics were used to summarize the accumulated data and ultimately refine our understanding …

Protease Resistant Growth Factor Formulations For The Healing Of Chronic Wounds, Tabitha Boeringer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Chronic wounds are those wounds which are refractory to treatment, often taking years to heal. These wounds are complex and may present with elevated protease levels, resulting in rapid degradation of growth factors, both native and augmented via treatment. This study’s focus was the development of a system to protect growth factors from protease mediated degradation.

The protective system consisted of chimeric fusion proteins developed to contain both a growth factor or known protease inhibitory peptide and an Elastin-Like-Peptide (ELP)component. The unique phase transitioning abilities of the ELP component allowed for the self-assembly of these chimeric fusion proteins into a …

Improving Engagement: The Moderating Effect Of Leadership Style On The Relationship Between Psychological Capital And Employee Engagement, Scott Beatrice

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate the moderating effect that different leadership styles (Transformational, Transactional, and Passive-Avoidant) can have on the relationship between Psychological Capital and Employee Engagement. Additionally, it explores the direct positive relationship that Psychological Capital and Transformational Leadership have on Employee Engagement. This study examines 238 adults that work at least 20 hours a week. The results show that Psychological Capital and Transformational Leadership have strong, positive effects on Employee Engagement and Transformational Leadership positively moderates the direct relationship between Psychological Capital and Employee Engagement. The importance of Psychological Capital in its relationship to Employee …