Digital Commons Network^™

Optimal Well Being Of Those Recovering From Alcohol Use Disorder: An Exploration Of Individual Difference Factors And Treatment Outcomes, Jared Davis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Harmful alcohol use has continued to be one of the largest negative impact factors of daily living worldwide. Despite the pervasive use of alcohol and negative impacts that it has on the individual and society there is large disagreement on how to know when someone has “recovered” from AUD (El-Guebaly, 2012), with much of the literature focused narrowly on negative indicators (e.g., return to heavy drinking, re-occurrence of AUD symptoms). Such views have not only restricted definitions of recovery but has also created public perception that those with AUD will continue to struggle even when cessation of drinking has occurred. …

Cultural Continuity And Identity Preservation In Diaspora: The Role Of African Pentecostal Churches In Maintaining Traditions Within African Communities In The United States, Olamide T. Awoyemi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the role of African Pentecostal churches in preserving cultural traditions andshaping identities among African diaspora communities in the United States, focusing specifically on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) and Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) in Tampa, Florida. Through detailed participant observation and in-depth qualitative interviews, this thesis examines how rituals, religious practices, and community engagement within these churches facilitate cultural continuity and identity negotiation among Nigerian and Ghanaian immigrants. Findings reveal that these religious institutions serve as critical sites for resisting cultural erasure, navigating the complex tensions between maintaining African heritage and adapting to American society, and providing …

Simulation Of Multi-Receiver Solar Power Tower By Enhancement Of Solarpilot Software And A Review Of Absorber Coating Materials For The Receivers, Yasser Mirza Baig

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Central receiver concentrating solar power (CSP) towers offer significant potential for cost-effective renewable electricity but face increasing optical losses with larger heliostat fields. This thesis introduces enhancements to NREL’s SolarPILOT software through a Python-based API named CoPylot, which enables comprehensive optimization of heliostat field layouts for multi-receiver systems. The enhanced methodology incorporates per-heliostat ray tracing, receiver orientation optimization (tilt angle β), and an incidence-angle-dependent absorptance (α(θ)) model to evaluate optical performance, thermal losses, and techno-economic metrics within an integrated simulation framework.

A case study for Daggett, California demonstrates that transitioning from a baseline single-receiver system (180 m tower, 5×5 m …

Development And Photophysical Characterization Of Bioinspired Materials, Qaisar Maqbool

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Porphyrins are versatile aromatic macrocycles with unique photophysical properties that make them attractive for applications in light harvesting, photocatalysis, and sustainable energy conversion. Incorporating porphyrins into metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offers a unique opportunity to modulate their photophysical behavior through spatial confinement and host–guest interactions. This thesis explores how structural modifications influence porphyrin excited-state behavior through a multi-stage investigation. The work begins by comparing the photophysical properties of two cationic porphyrins: tetra(N-methylpyridyl) porphyrin(TMPyP) and tetra(4-N,N,N-trimethylanilinium) porphyrin(4TANP). While TMPyP exhibits significant singlet–charge transfer (S₁–CT) state mixing due to charge delocalization onto peripheral pyridinium groups, 4TANP lacks comparable behavior. The localized nature of …

Unveiling Success: A Qualitative Exploration Of Job Offer Attainment Among International Female Master's Graduates In Technology, Anna Bahvala

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explores the job search experiences of international female graduates from a Master of Science in Business Analytics and Information Systems (MS BAIS) program in the United States. I focus on the job search and preparation strategies that differentiate graduates, earning $100,000 and above from their peers. Using an Appreciative Inquiry framework and attribution theory as a foundation, the research examines the intersection of gender, mindset, risk-taking, negotiation skills, and self-efficacy in job attainment outcomes. Nine participants were interviewed, with data analyzed using Saldaña’s coding techniques to identify common themes and behaviors. Findings indicate that high earners demonstrated …

Motivations To Learn English Among First-Year Undergraduate Chinese Students, Yunyu Chen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the motivations to learn English among first-year Chinese undergraduates enrolled at an American university in the southeastern United States and it is essentially grounded in theories such as Self-Determination Theory and Achievement Goal Theory. It addresses a central research question about how is motivations to learn English shaped by external and internal factors among the first-year undergraduate Chinese students? Recognizing that many Chinese students experience low levels of interest and confidence in English, the study explores internal and external factors that shape motivations, including emotional engagement, cultural and academic expectations, and supportive roles played by teachers and …

“We Built Our Plane As We Flew It”: Communicative Resilience In Nonprofit Organizing During The Pandemic, Evgeniya Pyatovskaya

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates how nonprofit organizations cultivate resilience through communication and practice during periods of disruption, focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a case study of Apex for Youth—a New York City-based nonprofit serving low-income Asian and immigrant youth—this research explores how organizational members co-constructed resilience in response to both the pandemic and rising anti-Asian hate. Guided by the Communicative Theory of Resilience (CTR) and practice theory, resilience is examined as a dynamic, relational process enacted through daily organizational life.

Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, Formative Influences Timelines (FIT), ethnographic observation, and organizational documents. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed four …

Between The Land And The Sea: Belizean Voices In Environmental Governance, Kris-An K. Hinds

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Coastal communities around the world are at the epicenter of dynamic socio-environmental transformations driven by the impacts of climate change, shifting human–more-than-human environmental relationships, and the decisions made in response to these challenges. As environmental concerns intensify, the governance decisions made to address these impacts will determine the severity of the impacts and the future of affected coastal areas. In regions such as the Caribbean, Central America, and Latin America, environmental governance is complicated by uneven power dynamics, historical legacies of racialized environmental spaces, and the ongoing challenge of balancing national economic growth with environmental preservation. These transformations are not …

Adapting To Uncertainty: Strategic Decision Making In The Fresh Produce Supply Chain Under Fluctuating Market Conditions, Jacqueline Kelly

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The global fresh produce supply chain faces increasing uncertainty due to economic volatility, shifting trade policies, logistical constraints, and evolving consumer demand. In this dissertation, I examine industrial purchasing decision-making grounded in the Industrial Buyer Behavior (IBB) framework. The study explores how supply chain experts navigate uncertainty, mitigate risks, and implement adaptive strategies to maintain efficiency and profitability.

Using a qualitative approach, this research draws on in-depth interviews with industry professionals to identify key factors influencing purchasing decisions, including supply chain resilience, technological advancements, sustainability, and geopolitical risks. Findings indicate flexible sourcing strategies, real-time logistical adjustments, and predictive analytics are …

Unraveling The Narrative: How External Messaging Shapes The Academic Identities Of Neurodiverse Women Of Color, Timarie A. Franco

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examines how neurodiverse Women of Color understand and experience academic self-concept (ASC) within higher education systems shaped by whiteness, ableism, and gendered expectations. Traditional ASC measures rely on internalized perceptions of ability and often exclude the influence of external messaging and systemic oppression—especially for students with intersecting marginalized identities. Grounded in Disability Critical Race Theory (DisCrit), this study centers the voices of nine undergraduate collaborators at a large public university who identify as Women of Color and experience neurodivergence. Using narrative interviews and arts-based methods, collaborators explored how academic, social, and cultural experiences informed their sense of …

Precarious Pedagogy: A Critical Autoethnography Of Adjunct Labor, Erin V. Howell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The following autoethnographic study explores the experiences and use of adjunct faculty within the neoliberal higher education landscape. Adjunct faculty comprise most of the contemporary professoriate, accounting for nearly 75 percent of higher education instructors. Precarious labor practices, lack of job security, and limited institutional support often characterize adjunct employment. The use of adjunct labor and the vulnerability of their positions are impacted by structural inequities perpetuated by academic capitalism. By privileging the experiences of adjunct faculty, this study contributes to an ongoing conversation about labor practices and inequities in higher education. This dissertation examines the ways in which adjuncts …

Topics In Knot, Quandle, And Quiver Theory, Brooke Jones

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the algebraic and combinatorial structures arising from the study of knot theory through the lens of quandles, their colorings, and associated quiver and ring constructions. It is organized around three central themes: the analysis of quandle coloring quivers for torus links, the development of polynomial invariants and quiver invariants for stuck knots and links, and the algebraic and graphical study of quandle rings. The first chapter begins with an introduction to relevant concepts throughout the dissertation.

In the second chapter, we classify quandle coloring quivers of torus links using dihedral quandles. We describe these quivers as weighted …

Enhancing State-Of-The-Art Motor Imagery Classification With Reinforcement Learning, Anton Shepelev

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

One of the key obstacles to the rapid adoption of non-invasive Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) for Motor Imagery (MI) is the low signal-to-noise ratio, and the substantial data requirements which can be mentally taxing for users. EEGNet, a compact Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), has long been considered the state-of-the-art (SOTA) for MI classification, demonstrating strong performance even with limited data. However, recent studies advocate for integrating Deep Reinforcement Learning (RL) to further enhance classification accuracy by dynamically optimizing feature extraction and decision-making processes. Despite this potential, practical implementations remain scarce due to challenges in stabilizing RL training and adapting it to …

Integrative Multi-Omics And Clinical Data Analysis For Predicting Recurrence And Survival In Uterine Cancer, Varun Sai Raigir

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The prediction of uterine cancer recurrence is very important for assisting women in reducing the cancer risks and also for the growing field of personalized medicine. The primary aim of this thesis is to investigate the integration of various omics data alongside clinical and therapeutic information to predict survival in uterine cancer. The combination is very important for understanding the risk factors, including clinical aspects, genetics, and the treatment schedule, in order to prescribe the appropriate way to reduce the risk of recurrence, make clinical interactions easier, and enhance personalized patient care. This study utilizes the publicly accessible TCGA dataset, …

Volatile Organic Compound (Voc) Sensing Trend Among Novel 2d/3d Materials, Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) present significant health risks to both humans and animals. Long term exposure to certain VOCs belonging to certain chemical classes can cause both short- and long-term effects including nausea, damage to the central nervous system, and cancer. VOCs can be found in various everyday products like varnishes, paints, cooking items, cleaning products, nail polishes etc. Because of their ubiquitous nature, health concerns and risks regarding VOC exposure have become even more pressing. In this study, the VOC sensing capabilities and trends of novel 2D, and 3D materials (perovskite, and phthalocyanines) have been explored through electrochemical and …

Automated Data Analysis For Concussion Patient Records: A Flutter-Based Desktop Application, Fhaheem Tadamarry

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Concussions are a prevalent and complex medical condition requiring careful clinical assessment and data-driven insights for effective management. This thesis presents the development of an automated data analysis system for concussion patient records, integrating Flutter-based desktop application development with SQL-driven data processing. The system provides a streamlined, interactive interface for clincians and researchers to upload, visualize, and analyze patient data efficiently.

The proposed solution automates data cleaning, preprocessing, and statistical analysis, ensuring robust and reliable insights into demographic, clinical, and recovery-related factors. Key analyses include sex-based differences injury mechanisms, prior head injury impact, mood disorder correlations, and time-to-treatment variations. The …

Multimodal Ai-Driven Biomarker For Early Detection Of Cancer Cachexia, Sabeen Ahmed

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cancer cachexia is a metabolic syndrome characterized by substantial skeletal muscle loss, impacting cancer patients' survival and quality of life. Despite its clinical significance, early detection remains a challenge due to the lack of standardized diagnostic criteria and the reliance on indirect markers. This work presents an AI-driven approach to enhance cachexia detection and monitoring by integrating multiple deep learning methodologies. We explore transformer architectures for time-series analysis to model sequential medical data, enabling disease prediction and progression modeling. To ensure robust and reliable decision-making in clinical settings, we explore Bayesian deep neural networks for uncertainty estimation. Additionally, we introduce …

Textbook Content Analysis For Statistical Content Standards For 8th-Grade Math: Commercial Publishers, Curriculum Software Supplement, And An Open Educational Resource, Matthew M. O'Brien

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined the vertical and horizontal content analysis of statistical content within current 8th-grade mathematics instructional materials to determine the extent to which students are provided with opportunity to learn high cognitive instances and the usage of the four phases of statistical problem-solving across two commercial publishers, one open educational resource, and one curriculum software supplement. All previous analyses of statistics education content textbooks have only examined textbooks from commercial publishers or those published by national governments. The horizontal content textbook analysis investigated the textbook's background information and overall structure. The vertical content textbook analysis examined the cognitive level …

Understanding The Interplay Between Nutritional Status And Depression Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Mary R. Goldsworthy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

By the year 2050, it is projected that the population of individuals aged 60 years and older will increase by 47 percent, reaching a total of 82 million in the United States. Many older adults experience depressive symptoms, and some never recover from it. Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders among older adults. Approximately 3.2% of community-dwelling older adults experience major depressive disorder in a 12-month period, although many more experience clinically significant depressive symptoms, with a recent estimate of 35% based on a global meta-analysis. In addition to physical functioning and depressive symptoms, another domain in …

Pedagogy, Technology Acceptance, And Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Among Nursing Faculty, Rachel Ross

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Integrating pedagogical and technological knowledge among faculty is crucial, especially within Florida state colleges’ Nursing (ADN) programs. I explored the impact of three decades of technological advancements on faculty's ability to incorporate technology into their teaching methods using a qualitative, exploratory design; I conducted semi-structured interviews via Microsoft Teams. The analysis of faculty perceptions, experiences, and challenges reveals a significant gap in pedagogical knowledge despite strong subject matter expertise, indicating underdeveloped instructional strategies and learner-centered pedagogies. Additionally, participants exhibited a diverse understanding of the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, highlighting difficulties in effectively integrating technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge. …

Examining Within- And Cross-Language Relationships And Quantitative Methods In Spanish-English Dual Language Learners' School Readiness Skills, Shaunacy R. Sutter

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aims of this three paper dissertation are as follows: First, to examine the cross-domain associations between school readiness skills, including oral language, literacy, and math skills, within and across languages in Spanish-English speaking DLLs in PreK. Second, to explore the cross-domain associations between oral language, literacy, and mathematics skills at varying levels of literacy and math achievement. Finally, to review the quantitative methods used in research on school readiness skills and the home and classroom contextual factors that support these skills for Spanish-English speaking DLLs in the United States over the past decade. Spanish-English speaking DLLs enter early childhood …

Exploring Corona Discharge In Electrostatic Printing For Electronics And In Other Application, Zijian Weng

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The field of printed electronics (PEs) is expanding rapidly, driven by increasing market demand. According to reports, the global market for PEs is expected to reach $23 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate of 18.3% from 2023 to 2028. This growth necessitates the development of innovative printing technologies that can meet these demands efficiently, delivering high-quality, high-resolution PEs suitable for applications in health, environmental monitoring, sports, aerospace, and more.

Currently, PEs manufacturing relies on two main groups of printing technologies. Contact printing methods offer high-speed production but struggle with precision, while non-contact methods provide high resolution but …

Dnajb6: A Potent Dnajb Chaperone In Regulating Tau Proteostasis, Abigail R. Esquivel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Neurodegenerative diseases often feature the pathological buildup of misfolded proteins, and tau is a principal culprit in multiple tauopathies. One chaperone of emerging interest is DnaJB6b, a member of the Hsp40/DnaJ family, which exhibits potent anti-aggregation activity against several disease-related proteins. Recent investigations highlight its unique capacity to recognize and neutralize aggregation-prone forms of tau. DnaJB6b appears potent against multiple variants of tau and may be acting against tau, in part, by directing misfolded tau toward proteasomal clearance. The first lines of evidence come from systematic chaperone screens, where DnaJB6b repeatedly emerged as a strong suppressor of tau seeding. Further …

The Asset Management Optimization Engine: An Ai And Machine Learning Model Approach To Pavement Asset Management, Matt Versdahl

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While state Departments of Transportation (DOT) face major funding challenges, the need to find optimal ways to preserve and maintain pavement assets remains. Asset management employs a lowest cost lifecycle method to analyze asset costs and determine the best investment strategies to preserve it throughout its lifecycle. As new technology emerges, so do opportunities to leverage it. DOTs collect a significant amount of performance data on pavement and use it to decide how to keep it in a state of good repair. The literature in this area focuses on engineering techniques applied to treatment strategies. This dissertation research focuses on …

New Petrographic And Geochemical Constraints On Pre-Eruptive Storage Conditions And Their Control On Eruptive Styles In Martinique’S Recent Volcanic Systems, Abigail Martens

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the volcanic systems of Martinique Island, focusing on magma storage conditions, magmatic evolution, and eruption dynamics. Chapter 3 presents a petrographic analysis of volcanic rocks from the island’s old, intermediate, and recent arcs, examining the evolution of plagioclase textures and the increasing abundance of other mineral phases, such as pyroxene, amphibole, olivine, and quartz, which provide insights into changing magmatic conditions. The main research is divided into two projects. Chapter 4 addresses the pre-eruptive storage conditions (pressure and temperature) of magmas beneath recent (<5 Ma) volcanic complexes (Morne Jacob, Piton du Carbet, Trois Îlets, Mt. Conil, and Mt. Pelée), exploring magma evolution, crystallization, and the role of lower crustal injections and flank collapses in triggering eruptions. Results reveal variable magma storage depths (<6 km), with significant temperature and pressure variations, indicating complex magmatic systems. Chapter 5 focuses on the Roches-Genty ignimbrite in southwestern Martinique, investigating its stratigraphy, geochemistry, and age using field mapping, grain size analysis, and 40Ar/39Ar dating. The study identifies two distinct sub-Plinian eruptive phases associated with the Dizac ignimbrite, with ages of 3.37 ± 0.14 Ma and 2.10 ± 0.26 Ma, providing insights into past explosive volcanic activity. Geochemical analysis confirms an andesitic composition, similar to regional volcanic systems. This dissertation enhances understanding of Martinique’s volcanic history, providing valuable insights into magmatic processes and eruption dynamics, with implications for volcanic hazard assessments in the Lesser Antilles.

Relationship Between Motivation, Requesting Accommodations, Rapport, And Adequate Progress In College Students With Disabilities During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Harold Holmes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

College students with disabilities often face challenges including difficulty accessing accommodations and developing satisfactory rapport with instructors when navigating their college experience. These challenges can negatively impact their academic progress and their ability to complete their programs of study. The first purpose of this study was to describe the levels of self-efficacy, perceived control, willingness to request accommodations, instructor- student rapport, and adequate progress towards a degree among college students with disabilities. The second purpose was to determine any relationships between these variables. Undergraduate students with disabilities at a public university in the southeast region of the United States completed …

Finding Solutions To Missed Appointments And Leveraging Virtual Technology In The Healthcare Setting, Adam R. Brown

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The healthcare community faces numerous challenges concerning patients and their ability to attend appointments as scheduled. Reports indicate that annually, between 23% and 34% of appointments are missed. This challenge creates a cascading effect of wasted time, resources, and valuable appointment slots in an already strained environment. The investigation of this phenomenon is not new and has been extensively researched in the operations management literature. While numerous solutions have been proposed over the past decade, there remains a need to continually advance this research. Beyond merely recognizing missed appointments and potential modalities to alleviate this issue within the care framework, …

Essays In Development Economics, Karina Gabitova

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates how environmental shocks and early-life health conditions influence child and adolescent development in low- and middle-income countries, using longitudinal data from the Young Lives survey in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam. The two chapters address distinct but interrelated dimensions of human capital formation: the effect of environmental shocks on adolescent self-esteem and the causal impact of birth weight on cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes.

Chapter 1 analyzes how shocks such as droughts, floods, and crop failures affect adolescent selfesteem, a key non-cognitive skill linked to long-term well-being. Using a fixed-effects model, the study finds heterogeneous effects: environmental shocks …

The Prideful Ass: Using Augustine's Neoplatonic Theory Of Sin To Investigate Curiosity In Apuleius' Golden Ass, Danielle E. Booth

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ancient discourse about the beneficial yet predominantly dangerous role of curiosity inattaining knowledge was prevalent in the Roman Empire around the 2nd century C.E. when the North African author, Apuleius, composed his Latin novel, the Golden Ass. Although there is no shortage of modern scholarship that focuses on how Apuleius dramatizes obsessive intrigue by means of his protagonist, Lucius, contemporary publications seldom reorient the discussion to consider how unclear he is about the unstated source of curiosity, as I do in the following thesis. Approaching this topic through the context of ancient Neoplatonism, I argue Augustine of Hippo – a …

Awful, Yet Awe-Full: The Sublime Dystopia Of Blade Runner 2049, Charles E. Butt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Blockbuster dystopian sci-fi features stories of environmental collapse, authoritarian governments, out of control corporations, unbounded consumerism, and other awful possibilities. Scholars of science fiction broadly agree that this genre explores collective fears, anxieties, and speculations about the present and future. At the same time, film scholars have established that dystopian sci-fi cinema is compelling, and audiences respond to their effects-driven visuals, photorealistic mise-en-scene, and dramatic narratives. This creates an apparent paradox: Blockbuster cinematic aesthetics portray undesirable worlds desirably. I resolve this paradox by arguing that the worldbuilding of spectacle-driven, dystopian sci-fi cinema is Romanticized. That is, the provocative style of …