Digital Commons Network^™

An Investigation Of Quaternary Metal Chalcogenide Semiconductors Possessing Intrinsically Low Thermal Conductivity, Oluwagbemiga P. Ojo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Inorganic materials with unique physical properties are vital components of modern technology, from electronic devices to energy storage and conversion systems. Recent advancements in materials research and development have garnered significant interest, particularly in the realm of sustainable energy applications like thermoelectrics and photovoltaics. The development of novel materials with enhanced electronic and thermal properties has emerged as a focal point in advancing these critical applications. Furthermore, low thermal conductivity materials are sought after for technologically significant applications such as thermal barrier coatings, rewriteable data storage utilizing phase change materials and thermoelectrics. However, the current efficiency levels of materials used …

Emergent Magnetism And Hyperthermia In Phase- And Size-Tunable Iron Oxide Nanostructures, K Mudiyanselage Tharindu Supun Bandara Attanayake

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) hold immense potential across diverse fields, from spintronics, magnetic hyperthermia to drug delivery, biodetection, and magnetic resonance imaging. Unlocking these applications hinges on our ability to tailor the magnetic properties of IONPs, and this dissertation presents novel and powerful approaches for enhancing magnetic and hyperthermic responses of multiphase iron oxide nanostructures. This is achieved by manipulating their phase volume fraction, size, and shape with a focus on the magnetic tunability of nanostructures via strategic control over structural and environmental parameters. The aforementioned has been achieved by the following three key approaches: (i) phase-tunability of iron oxide …

Modeling And Optimization Of Time Delay Unit Network Architectures For Reducing Complexity Of Ultra- Wideband Phased Antenna Arrays, Daniel A. Ramirez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a systematic technique for modeling and optimization of the hierarchical time delay unit (TDU) architectures of ultra-wideband (UWB) phased antenna arrays (PAAs). The first major contribution of this dissertation is the optimization of a linear PAA by casting the problem in the standard form of integer linear programming (ILP) optimization with an objective function that targets minimizing the total number of TDUs within the RF feed network fanout while maintaining phase error and manufacturability constraints. This optimization can significantly reduce the cost, power, and complexity of UWB PAAs in contrast to prior methods that iteratively converge on …

Revealing Long Vehicle Dynamics: A Comprehensive Journey From Visualization Tools For Heavy Vehicles To Conversion Factors And Public Transit Performance Analysis, Eren Yuksel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Over the past few decades, there has been an increasing fascination with Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) technology, particularly in the realm of data collection and traffic management. Thanks to the possibilities unlocked by ITS and CAV technology, traffic data collection now serves a diverse array of safety and mobility applications, delivering real-time or near-real-time information for both road users and transportation professionals.

The integration of ITS and CAV technology is crucial for the creation of safer, more reliable, and sustainable transportation environments. As traffic-related data collection, analysis, and visualization form essential components of this …

The Friendship Train: Peas, Politics, And Propaganda, Miller Scott

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

On a brisk fall night in November 1947, more than 100,000 people packed the streets of Hollywood to celebrate the launch of the Friendship Train. High-ranking government officials, business leaders, and a galaxy of film stars all attended the send-off ceremony. Over the next eleven days, the train traveled across the country, gathering essential foodstuffs to send to hungry Europeans. In small towns and big cities, the train received enthusiastic receptions. Its journey ended in New York City with a ticker-tape parade down the iconic Canyon of Heroes. Along the way, it collected more than 200 boxcars of food, worth …

Spectral Properties Of Wetlands In Michigan Using Remote Sensing To Identify And Classify Wetlands In Roscommon County, Michigan, Kolin Williamson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Biological, geological, and physical. These are only a handful of the many environmental aspects that wetlands functions maintain and protect. Unfortunately, wetlands within the United States have been razed at an alarming rate. The State of Michigan has not gone through this unscathed either, loosing over 1000 acres of wetland a year. One of the most important tools to prevent this destruction are the maps and programs that show where these essential ecosystems are located. The current, federally-created maps and imaging software in use by environmental consultants and contractors may not be up to date which can pose challenges for …

The Effect Of Fixed Time Delays On The Synchronization Phase Transition, Shaizat Bakhytzhan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nature is full of synchronization phenomena, which are essential to many scientific fields like biology, chemistry, physics, and neuroscience. The Kuramoto model is a well-known theoretical model that helps explain the fundamental ideas behind synchronization dynamics [6]. Nevertheless, in practical situations, systems frequently display intrinsic latency, which can greatly impact their behavior during synchronization. This insight inspired our work, which looks at the results of adding temporal delays to the Kuramoto model. In particular, we investigate how the system’s synchronization dynamics are affected by delays. We shed light on the mechanisms underpinning synchronization in the face of temporal delays and …

Modeling The Human Learning Process Using An Industrial Steam Boiler Analogy To Design A Psychophysiological-Based Hypermedia Adaptive Automation System, Liliana María Villavicencio López

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation aims to address the existing gap in the integration of various dimensions within the student learning system, encompassing cognitive, emotional, and physical variables. The primary objective is to construct a Personalized Learning Adaptive Automation model using Electroencephalography (EEG) technology.

To provide deeper insight into the intricate nature of the Human Learning Process, this study introduces a novel analogy with an Industrial Steam Boiler. This analogy serves as a distinctive contribution to research in the field.

The research methodology involved the collection of brainwaves data from engineering students while they undertook educational tasks of varying levels of difficulty, categorized …

Slot Machine Addiction: The Untold Story Of Contradictions Between Self And America's Neoliberal Risk Society, Melanie C. Falconer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The ability to take risks is nothing short of heroism in the modern United States which thrives on a diet of hyper mobility, technological progress, and globalized, deregulated “free” markets. Such relentless instability affirms scholarly contentions that the U.S. is now a “risk society.” Indeed, in Gambling with the Myth of the American Dream: The Pokerization of America, rhetoric scholar Aaron Duncan suggests that media stories of modern poker tournaments signify a collective desire to grapple with this heightened modern “chanciness” within our established gambling lore and make it cohere with our deeply cherished notions of American individualism. While Duncan …

Development Of Novel Analytical Methods For The Investigation Of Mammalian Tissues And Cells, Grace A. Binder

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation endeavors to advance the frontiers of analytical chemistry by addressing critical challenges across three distinct chapters. In the first chapter, the focus is on the evaluation of digestion methods for the analysis of trace metals in mammalian tissues and the Standard Reference Material NIST 1577c. The primary goal is to optimize methodologies, laying the groundwork for reliable trace metal analysis and furthering our understanding of their roles in biological systems.

Transitioning into the realm of immunomodulation, the second chapter elucidates immune response, disease and treatment through the optimization and discovery of STING modulators, utilizing the luciferase assay for …

A Republic Of Pawprints: The Rise And Reign Of The Alaskan Sled Dog, 1870-1970, Christopher David Adkins

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation charts the career of the Alaskan sled dog: how it was used as an engine of development, how it became a symbol for early American Alaska, and how it fell victim to obsolescence as newer and faster means of conveyance became available. The figure of the sled dog in the Arctic is complex. Because it was closer to the wolf in phenotype both it, and Alaska, were buffeted by the same White settler expectations and Darwinian chauvinism which afflicted its Indigenous peoples. This would intensify during the baptisms by fire of the gold rushes. Dog abuse – overwork, …

Time-Scale Of Groundwater Recharge In Coastal Plain Soils, Qing Du

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Understanding and modeling the timing and magnitude of groundwater recharge fromrainfall infiltration through vadose zone percolation is important for many reasons but especially because the flux is being acted on by root zone evapotranspiration (ET) and very little of rainfall infiltration ever becomes water table recharge. This study elaborates on the considerable time of the wetting front arrival and ultimate bulk recharge of rainfall infiltration in shallow water table fine-sandy soils typical of coastal plain environments such as Florida. Calibrated Hydrus-1D modeling of Florida (Myakka) soil was evaluated at varying depths of water table and hydraulic conductivities to bracket the …

Context-Aware Affective Behavior Modeling And Analytics, Md Taufeeq Uddin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Affective computing (AC) is a sub-domain of AI that has the potential to assist people by assessing mental states and making appropriate recommendations to patients, loved ones, caregivers, and domain experts. Humans usually produce an enormous amount of data (such as face videos) every day. One of the major challenges for affective computer vision is to efficiently deal with high volumes of data to facilitate automated model development. To cope with this challenge, we developed computer vision algorithms that measure the expressivity of the human face from video data. More precisely, the developed algorithms can map complex affect information from …

Local Ecological Knowledge, Education, And Bilingualism: Ethnography Of A Stem Program For Elementary Students In Southwestern Florida, Barbara D. Herrera

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In response to the limited inclusion of cultural relevant pedagogy in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) centered educational programs, this study illustrates dynamics that encourage inclusivity and provide a space for minority students to develop self-efficacy while also exposing them to formal modes of STEM knowledge. Elementary level English/Spanish speaking children were taught local ecological knowledge (LEK) during a STEM summer program in a city in Southwestern Florida. The use of participant observation, group interviews with the students, and interviews with the educators allowed for an in-depth analysis of the program and the established goals. This study provides insight …

Beach Processes Controlling Erosional Hotspots And Their Influences On Beach Nourishment Performances: A Case Study Along West-Central Florida Barrier Island Beaches, Sophia Gutierrez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the long-term performance of repeated beach nourishment over an approximately 35-year period at two barrier islands, Sand Key and Treasure Island along the west-central Florida coast, USA. Five cycles of beach nourishment on Sand Key and six on Treasure Island were conducted during the study period. Three erosional hotspots were identified along a combined 14-km stretch of the nourished beach. The processes that cause the erosional hotspot were examined through numerical modeling of nearshore wave and current fields.

The most recent three nourishments since 2006 were monitored systematically by this study. Beach profiles were surveyed bimonthly to …

Comparative Analysis Of Time Series Models On U.S. Stock And Exchange Rates: Bayesian Estimation Of Time Series Error Term Model Versus Machine Learning Approaches, Young Keun Yang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study presents a comparative analysis of contemporary applications of time series models, focusing on the Bayesian approach. In contrast to many nonparametric studies, the Bayesian approach circumvents the common issue of bandwidth selection by offering systematic estimation and avoiding ad hoc methods. Specifically, we delve into the Bayesian approach for estimating the autocovariance function of a time series model’s error term. Traditional time series models often make the unrealistic assumption of a constant error term. Furthermore, models such as autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARCH) and general autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) address the limitation of constant variance by assuming an autoregressive …

Advancing Text Summarization And Classification: Deep Insights From Transformer-Based Statistical Learning, Kun Bu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a part of human's daily life nowadays. Machine Learning (ML) as one aspect from AI has been rapidly developing during the past two decades, especially from the statistical learning approaches, which emphasized the use of probability and statistics to model data, such as Support Vector Machines (SVMs) for classification and regression tasks to the ensemble learning techniques, such as Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), and stacking. Ensemble learning has evolved into a pivotal concept in contemporary machine learning, empowering practitioners to amalgamate multiple models to enhance generalization, accuracy, and robustness. As the field of machine …

Individual Behavioral Modeling Across Games Of Strategy, Logan Fields

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

An individual’s actions in a particular environment and with specified resources can reveal their decision-making tendencies and patterns, and by analyzing the variations in cognitive traits among individuals, it may be possible to identify trends that can foretell their future behaviors. This can be a powerful tool in various fields including cognitive modeling, player analytics, computer security, and threat detection. Collectible card games are a fruitful test space for studying cognitive differences in decision-making, as they can have clearly defined and replicable environments and large player bases. As such, in this work, I explore the potential of using two virtual …

It's Real, It Just Hasn't Happened Yet: A Three-Article Dissertation On Emerging Technologies In Higher Education, Jeanette Abrahamsen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this three-article dissertation is to better understand the role emerging technologies are playing in learning. This dissertation explores tools on a spectrum of reality from fully immersive virtual reality (VR), semi-immersive VR, non-immersive VR, augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and extended reality (XR). Three studies focus on emerging technologies from the student, educator, researcher perspectives to develop a holistic picture of emerging technologies in higher education. I explore factors that impact new technology adoption, which includes advantages and disadvantages to deploying different digital tools. This dissertation begins with a systematic literature review of 20 research studies …

Advancing Depth-Storage-Discharge Modeling In Regional Hydrology, Fahad Alshehri

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents the development of an innovative approach to populating rating characteristics and supporting hydrologic modeling, designed to simplify complex real-world hydrological systems and accurately estimate their responses to rainfall, runoff, baseflow and evaporation stresses. The core of this research addresses the challenges inherent in characterizing hydrography elements in hydrologic modeling, particularly in regions lacking comprehensive stream reach survey data, flow and stage. This issue is pronounced in areas with extensive wetland hydrography, where traditional modeling requires intensive manual calibration, and course rating data that are often unavailable. To overcome these challenges, this study introduces a novel procedure that …

Spatial Patterns Of Building Damages And Associated Socio-Economic Factors By Hurricane Ian, Md Zakaria Salim

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Literature shows that communities with different socio-economic conditions suffer from different levels of damage in disasters. In addition to the physical intensity of hazards, such disparities are also related to varying abilities to prepare for and respond to natural hazards. The study analyzes the spatial patterns of building damage in Hurricane Ian in 2022 and investigates the socio-economic disparities related to building damage. Specifically, this study employs NASA’s Damage Proxy Map (DPM2) to analyze Ian's spatial patterns of building damage. Then, it uses statistical analysis to assess the relationship between building damage and various physical and socio-economic variables at building …

Introductory Geology Laboratory Students' Learnings From And Perceptions Of Physical And Virtual Polarizing Light Microscopes – An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study, Christy M. Bebeau

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Undergraduate geoscience laboratory courses provide hands-on learning about earth materials. However thin section analysis is not typically included in introductory geology laboratories, likely due to the polarizing light microscope (PLM) costs. Therefore, there is a lack of research about the educational outcomes of novices learning these skills.

In this inquiry, I conducted mixed methods research about novice students' learning of thin section analysis in an introductory geology laboratory and evaluated learning and perception differences between students who used a virtual PLM and those who used a physical PLM. I collected data from Creative Exercise (CE) assessments in student midterm and …

Integrated Process Modeling, Techno-Economic Analysis And Life Cycle Assessment For Enhanced Biogas-To-Energy Sustainability And Efficiency, Rarosue Jennifer Amaraibi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation aims to enhance the cost competitiveness and minimize the environmental footprint of technologies that convert biogas to energy, contributing to global climate change mitigation efforts. Biogas, a by-product of the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste from various sources, is a renewable energy source with the potential to reduce carbon emissions and meet local energy needs. However, widespread adoption requires the development of economically viable and environmentally friendly technologies.The central hypothesis of this dissertation suggests that by adopting a holistic strategy that combines cutting-edge techniques to purify biogas and improve its conversion into valuable liquid fuels, we can substantially …

Electrospun Nanofiber Technology Based Energy Storage And Biosensor Devices For Wearable Electronics, Bianca Seufert

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As progress in the field of nanotechnology continues to evolve, it is becoming more and more prevalent to apply this small but powerful technology to portable wearable electronics. The unique scale of such a technology lends its expertise to the investigation of enzymes for biometric related diagnostics or in the development of light weight flexible energy storage devices. Furthermore, as the need for highly precise and durable wearable electronics grows, the next generation of electronics must keep pace with this development in terms of shape, flexibility, functionality, and performance.

The presented research reviews the current state of art of nanofiber …

A Gateway To Next-Generation Patient Monitoring System, Kishore Kumar Kadari

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare patient monitoring is undergoing a significant digital transformation, and the integration of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly crucial in reshaping patient care. In an era where digital technology is revolutionizing medical practices, this research aims to take a leading role in advancing a fundamental aspect of predictive and sustainable healthcare practices, enhancing patient outcomes and uplifting the practice of medicine.

This research focuses on the study of Digital Twins for precision health, which are designed to monitor and provide intricate, personalized feedback dynamically during a patient's healthcare experience. The architecture of the system is …

Zeros And Ones: Digital Video Aesthetics And Geopolitical Economy In Blackhat, Everett Barnett

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Film and media theory has been fundamentally altered by the advent of digital technology, both in terms of film production and broader aesthetic overtures but also in terms of greater digital mediation. Blackhat (Michael Mann, 2015), although not a commercial or critical success, articulates many of the exact circumstances and broader consequences of digital technology in relation to its digital video aesthetics but also its narratives content involving global telecommunication and data systems. As a wholly digital film, Blackhat is uniquely situated to speak not only developments in digital filmmaking but also, by way of its plot line involving stateless …

Count Me In: A Study Of Social Validity, Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports, And A High School, Amie Dia Davis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) has been attributed to a decrease in office discipline referrals (ODRs) and suspensions and to increase academic performance, and engagement, as well as staff, family, and student perceptions of a safe and positive school climate. High schools have had more significant issues than elementary sites with implementing PBIS and garnering staff support due to larger faculty, staff, and student size, multi-faceted organizational culture, and the age of the students served. In addition, factors that have also been cited as inhibiting successful implementation at the high school level are lack of student …

Human Motion-Inspired Inverse Kinematics Algorithm For A Robotics-Based Human Upper Body Model, Urvish Trivedi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research is to develop a human motion-inspired inverse kinematics algorithm framework specifically designed for a Robotics-Based Human Upper Body Model (RHUBM). This framework offers solutions to challenges in various fields. In humanoid robotics, the framework addresses the problem of unnatural robot movement by enabling the development of motion planning algorithms that incorporate human-like movements. For prosthetics, the framework tackles the challenge of amputee difficulty in learning and controlling prosthetics by providing a user-friendly interface that predicts and visualizes upper limb movements, enabling learning and practice. In rehabilitation therapy, the framework tackles …

Introductory Chemistry Student Success: Evaluating Peer-Led Team Learning And Describing Sense Of Belonging, Jessica D. Young

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Identifying approaches that make science and engineering education broader and more inclusive is core to discipline based education research. Both fundamental and applied research are important in advancing a STEM education that retains the necessary scientists of the U.S.’s future. Thus, the major goal of this work was to evaluate and describe efforts that promote student success within introductory STEM courses. This began with applied research by utilizing quantitative analyses like case-matching, logistic regression, independent sample t-tests, and repeated measures while evaluating the efficacy of peer-led team learning (PLTL). Later, this work delves into qualitative approaches to answer fundamental research …

Development Of Data-Driven Models To Predict Chemical Dosage And Energy Intensity For Different Supply Sources Of Drinking Water, Rehnuma Salsavil

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG6), access to clean water for the entire population and sustainable management of water resources have been stressed. Demand for water is increasing due to population growth, economic development, water quality degradation, and climate change. More water needs to be produced for the community at lower treatment costs. The chemical dosage and energy intensity are two important factors that influence water treatment costs and sustainable management of resources as well.

Previously, chemical dosage modeling to reduce treatment costs have been explored but there have been more focus in coagulant dosage modeling. Other …