Digital Commons Network^™

Community Detection In Complex Networks, Yaojia Zhu

Computer Science ETDs

The stochastic block model is a powerful tool for inferring community structure from network topology. However, the simple block model considers community structure as the only underlying attribute for forming the relational interactions among the nodes, this makes it prefer a Poisson degree distribution within each community, while most real-world networks have a heavy-tailed degree distribution. This is essentially because the simple assumption under the traditional block model is not consistent with some real-world circumstances where factors other than the community memberships such as overall popularity also heavily affect the pattern of the relational interactions. The degree-corrected block model can …

Impact Of Standalone Personal Health Record Use On Clinical Outcomes Of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: An Intervention Mixed Methods Study, Kevin T. Fuji

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of using an online personal health record (PHR) on clinical outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes. This study used an intervention mixed methods approach with a quantitative randomized, controlled trial combined with a qualitative exploration of how patients used the PHR. A total of 140 participants with type 2 diabetes were randomized to either receive a PHR and training to use the PHR, or to a control group who received usual care. Both clinical and social cognitive outcomes were measured and compared at baseline and follow-up, three to six …

Perceptions Of Positive Youth Development Experiences Related To Rural Hispanic Youth Academic Success, Jill A. Goedeken

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Understanding the struggles rural Hispanic youth face academically, learning more about their perceptions of positive youth development experiences relating to their academic success connects the essence of the two experiences. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore rural Hispanic youths’ perceptions of positive youth development experiences as they relate to their academic success. The phenomenological design was chosen to explore the essence of the shared experiences of positive youth development experiences among rural Hispanic youth in the Columbus, Nebraska, community. To understand a possible perceived connection between positive youth development experiences to academic success, 28 Hispanic youth from …

"Hunger Is The Best Sauce": Frontier Food Ways In Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House Books, Erin E. Pedigo

Department of History: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis examines Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House book series for the frontier food ways described in it. Studying the series for its food ways edifies a 19th century American frontier of subsistence/companionate families practicing both old and new ways of obtaining food. The character Laura in Wilder's books is an engaging narrator who moves through childhood and adolescence, assuming the role of housewife. An overview of the century's norms about food in America, the strength of domesticity as an ideal, food and race relations, and the frontier as a physical place round out this unexplored area of Little House …

Hardy, Darwin, And The Art Of Moral Husbandry, Owen Roberts-Day

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study of the influence of Charles Darwin on Thomas Hardy's tragic novels centers on two key concepts in the work of Darwin. The first is Darwin's narrative of the evolution of morality, which describes moral decisions as a struggle for survival between various instincts, habits, and customs, both within the individual and within society as a whole. Of particular importance is the role of reason and sympathy in overcoming base and selfish instincts. The second is the idea, introduced in Origin, that the work of scientific breeders represents an act of Conscious Selection, a separate form of evolution …

A Room Of His Own: A Literary-Cultural Study Of Victorian Clubland [Book Review], Amy Milne-Smith

History Faculty Publications

A review of Barbara Black’s A Room of His Own: A Literary Cultural Study of Victorian Clubland, an exploration of a surprisingly understudied Victorian institution: the gentlemen’s club.

Epilogue: Reflections And Observations On Peru's Past And Present, Ernesto Silva

Journal of Global Initiatives: Policy, Pedagogy, Perspective

The aim of this essay is to provide a panoramic socio-historical overview of Peru by focusing on two periods: before and after independence from Spain. The approach emphasizes two cultural phenomena: how the indigenous people related to the Conquistadors in forging a new society, as well as how immigration, particularly to Lima, has shaped contemporary Peru. This contribution also aims at providing a bibliographical resource to those who would like to conduct research on Peru.

The Unextinguished Militia Power Of Indian Tribes, Seth Fortin

American Indian Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Editorial: Acronyms Repurposed, Jeff Sommers

English Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Since You're Here, Volume 7, No. 12, December 2013, University Of South Florida St. Petersburg. Nelson Poynter Memorial Library

Since You're Here

The December 2013 issue of the newsletter "Since You're Here."

Determinants Of Upper Genital Tract Complications In A Chlamydial Urogenital Mouse Model, Enitra N. Jones

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection is a major public health concern. Chlamydia is the most commonly reported infection in the United States and the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Unrecognized infection endangers female reproductive health by serious complications such as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, ectopic pregnancy, and involuntary infertility. Widespread Chlamydia control programs were implemented more than two decades ago to improve women's reproductive health but, despite initial success, the number of chlamydial infections reported have increased.

One of the hypotheses put forth to explain increased chlamydial reporting suggests that a longterm caveat of control initiatives is interference with the …

The Financial Determinants Of College Football, Mitchell Adams

HIM 1990-2015

There is a certain tradition, pageantry, rivalry, and glory in college football. It is well known that college football can be a big time money maker and sometimes covers the costs of other athletic teams within a school. However, it is also recognized that many college football programs lose money or struggle to break even. Thus, there is tremendous variability that exists in the amount of resources a school may have and the outcomes in athletic success, while there is not always a one to one correspondence between the two. The purpose of this study is to examine and analyze …

A Historical View Of Cuban Immigration Policy, Sarah Castro

HIM 1990-2015

Cuba is a communist country an estimated population of 11,075,244(2013), Cuba is located about ninety-three miles south of Key West, Florida. Cuba has been ruled by the communist regime of Fidel Castro, and now his younger brother Raul Castro. For over fifty years this regime has forced a major increase in the amount of people migrating to the United States. The regime has been disregarding basic human rights for decades and oppressing Cuba’s citizens. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans have come to the United States using boats, rafts, or any means available. The Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 (amended in …

Sexually Suggestive Songs And Singers: Music Media And Its Effects On The Sexualization Of Women, Jessica Brandt

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between music and the sexualization of women. The study focused on 450 participants, both male and female, belonging to various ethnic backgrounds, ages 18 and up. It was hypothesized that a participant’s exposure to sexually suggestive music would impact their views of women. Specifically, exposure to sexual explicit or suggestive music would relate to more sexist views towards women. Results indicated that there were relationships between music and the sexualization of women. The breakdown of each genre of music and the different measures proved to be surprising, as some genres …

Using Picturebooks To Enhance Third Grade Science Instruction And Meet The English Language Arts Core State Standards, Onaiza Chippa

HIM 1990-2015

Teachers are constantly being asked to use innovative ways to teach core subjects, especially science. Teachers need to get students engaged and actively learning, at all times and that is not an easy task. The purpose of this project was to explore the use of quality children’s literature in enhancing science instruction in the third grade curriculum while implementing and helping students meet the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards (ELA CCSS). I researched how using children’s literature in the science curriculum may be beneficial for students. I have created a handbook that third grade teachers can use as …

The Effects Of Federalism On Women's Political Representation: A Case Study Of German Federalism, Christine M. Comfort

HIM 1990-2015

This thesis analyzes the effects of federalism on promoting gender representation in parliaments using the case of Germany. There is no country in the world where women and men are equally represented in politics. Discrepancies in representation may stem from historical, cultural, institutional, or structural facets. One little discussed possibility is that of governmental institutions, particularly, the federalist structure of government. Theoretically, federalism should encourage minorities, including women, to be elected to parliaments at a higher rate than in unitary states because it allows additional layer of access to and entry into elected office. By investigating the proportions of women …

Predatory War: A History Of Violence, John Chapman

HIM 1990-2015

This thesis attempts to explain the reasons states choose to prey on other states or territories. A way of testing significance was devised and three variables were produced: Proclivity to violence, winning coalition size, and whether or not a war of conquest took place. The scope for this project was the time period of 1900-1950 and the location was Europe. The European countries were then refined down to a list of 10 states based on power ratings used in the Correlates of War. Then the leaders of each of these states were rated on a scale of 1 – 5 …

The Role Of Expectations In The Perceived Usefulness And Acceptance Of Virtual Reality As A Preventative Technique For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Christine Kreutzer

HIM 1990-2015

Expectancy theory is based on the subjective probability (expectancy) and projected value (valence). Based on this notion, an individual chooses his or her behaviors based on the interaction between the valences perceived to be associated with the outcomes, and the appraisal of the probability of that behavior resulting in those outcomes. Expectancies have been found to be predictive of many outcomes, such as treatment outcomes, behavioral change, and training reactions. The goal of the present study is to empirically investigate this issue within the mental health field. While virtual reality appears to be a promising preventative technique for posttraumatic stress …

Theoretical Tailoring Of Perforated Thin Silver Films For Surface Plasmon Resonance Affinity, Renan Gongora

HIM 1990-2015

Metallic films, in conjunction with biochemical-targeted probes, are expected to provide early diagnosis, targeted therapy and non-invasive monitoring for epidemiology applications [1-4]. The resonance wavelength peaks, both plasmonic and Wood-Rayleigh Anomalies (WRAs), in the scattering spectra are affected by the metallic architecture. As of today, much research has been devoted to extinction efficiency in the plasmonic region. However, Wood Rayleigh Anomalies (WRAs) typically occur at wavelengths associated with the periodic distance of the structures. A significant number of papers have already focused on the plasmonic region of the visible spectrum, but a less explored area of research was presented here; …

Social Networking And Users: The Interaction Of Personality And Motivation To Post On Facebook, Theresa Kessler

HIM 1990-2015

Facebook is the reigning king of Social Networking Sites (SNSs). Due to Facebook’s impact on current culture, researchers have been focused on how it interacts with its members on a variety of issues including well-being, personal identity, personality type, and motivation. While the topics of personality type and motivation have been investigated separately, their possible relationship has not been examined until now. Participants consisted of 415 students from the University of Central Florida were surveyed with an International Personality Item Pool (IPIP), a Facebook Intensity Survey, and a Facebook Motivation Scale. Results showed that the personality traits of agreeableness, conscientiousness, …

Federal Funding And The Rise Of University Tuition Costs, Megan Kizzort

HIM 1990-2015

Access to education is a central part of federal higher education policy, and federal grant and loan programs are in place to make college degrees more attainable for students. However, there is still controversy about whether there are unintended consequences of implementing and maintaining these programs, and whether they are effectively achieving the goal of increased accessibility. In order to answer questions about whether three specific types of federal aid cause higher tuition rates and whether these programs increase graduation rates, four ordinary least squares regression models were estimated. They include changes in both in-state and out-of-state tuition sticker prices, …

Survey Of Comparative Human And Non-Human Osteology: Common Florida Species, Jennifer Dewey

HIM 1990-2015

Forensic anthropologists are tasked with the responsibility of identifying human remains in a forensic context. This includes differentiating between human and non-human osteological remains, and further determining a species-specific identification when presented with nonhuman material. Previous research has provided manuals that are typically limited to one class of animal and includes either photographs or descriptions of cranial or post-cranial skeletal elements. Further, the available resources generally cover a limited number of species from Florida#s diverse habitat. Therefore, the intent of this thesis was to compile a comprehensive comparative osteological guide of local Florida species that addressed both cranial and postcranial …

Boy Student/Girl Student: Exploring Early Childhood Teacher Perceptions Of Gender And Their Influence On Children's Learning, Elizabeth Oliver

HIM 1990-2015

Brain development in children has always been fascinating to me; it was the reason I chose to major in Early Childhood Education. I have often wondered how the expectations and behavior of parents and teachers affect young children academically. Specifically, how do early gender messages from adults, peers, and the popular media have a powerful impact on the development of young brains? The professional responsibility of all educators is to help every child reach their full potential. This thesis explored the potential impact early childhood educators have in developing and reinforcing stereotypes that can affect children academically by surveying teachers …

At The Frontlines Of The Kulturkampf: Social Policy Positions Of Undergraduate Students At A Large University In The Southeastern United States, Julio Montanez

HIM 1990-2015

Social policy concerns groups. Specifically, social policies have been implemented as a means to affect the well-being of sexual and gender minorities, including areas such as health, employment, violence, and many others. Undergraduate student opinions on such policies are an understudied area of survey research. Possible correlates of support for such policy areas include, but are not limited to, sexual prejudice, attributions, increased contact with the minority group, gender, Para-social contact, and many others. This research administered a 55-item survey to undergraduate students at the University of Central Florida. With a sample of 210 individuals, this study aimed to answer …

The Impact Of Media On Attitudes Toward Women And Sexual Attitudes In Emerging Adults, Melissa Patrick

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this research was to explore the relationship between exposure to media variables and emerging adults' attitudes toward women and sex. Previous research indicated that exposure to media variables can influence the thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes of those exposed. The current study examined how age at exposure to media variables impacted attitudes about sex and attitudes toward women. Six-hundred and ninety four college students were given a questionnaire containing an attitudes toward women scale, a sexual attitudes scale, and a media viewing questionnaire. ANOVAS and linear regressions were performed on the data and results for the study were …

The Risks And Benefits Of Running Barefoot Or In Minimalist Shoes: A Systematic Review, Kyle Perkins

HIM 1990-2015

The popularity of running barefoot or in minimalist shoes has notably increased in the last decade due to claims of injury prevention, enhanced running efficiency, and improved performance when compared to running in shoes (shod). A systematic review of the literature was performed using the Downs and Black checklist to assess the methodological quality of studies proposing risks or benefits between running barefoot, shod, or in minimalist shoes. The databases Ovid MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and CINAHL were searched using keywords or "Booleans" including: "Barefoot", "Running" and "Minimalist," exclusively. All included articles were obtained from peer reviewed journals in the English language …

The Relationship Between The Big Five Personality Traits And Paranormal Belief, Autumn Perdue

HIM 1990-2015

Studies into paranormal belief and the effects thereof have been gaining more attention. This study looked at the Big Five Personality Traits and how they could relate to belief in the paranormal, specifically which personality traits, if any, lended themselves to paranormal belief more than others. Four hundred forty-six college-age participants completed a Big Five survey as well as the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale. Results from a multiple regression showed a significant relationship between gender, religion, level of education achieved by the participant's mother, extraversion, and neuroticism (emotional stability) in relation to paranormal belief. Implications and elaboration of findings are …

The Effects Of Stress On Distance Perception, Monica Rosen

HIM 1990-2015

Although there has been a great deal of research on binocular distance perception (Foley, 1980; Gogel, 1977), a number of questions remain unexplored. One such question involves how our ability to perceive distances is influenced by fitness and stress (internal and external). Previous research has shown that kinesthetic stress (via backpack weight) influences a person’s ability to accurately guess distances (Proffitt, Bhalla, Gossweiler, & Midgett, 2003). This research did not only attempt to replicate previous work, but also extend it by exploring potential interactions between fitness level and mental stress on distance perception, a combination that is often encountered by …

Assessing The Second Born: The Role Of Competitiveness And Extrinsic Motivation In Birth Order, Melissa D. Thye

HIM 1990-2015

Birth order may represent one of the most influential environmental factors that directly impacts personality development and even life outcomes. The present study sought to expand upon the existing literature by examining the motivational and dispositional differences between first born and second born individuals. Research indicates that first born children show significantly higher levels of academic achievement and lifelong attainment due to experiencing higher parental expectations as well as increased financial support. As a result, the second born child is likely to compare him/herself with the first born sibling and develop a greater level of competitiveness. Additionally, this desire to …

The Effect Of Lovestyle On Consumer Behavior: Attracting A Partner And Forming A Relationship, Fonda Yeh

HIM 1990-2015

Erotic stimuli in the consumer's environment can lead to affective responses, which produce traits such as erotophobia-erotophilia and lovestyle. Individuals can be classified as one of six main lovestyles, as well as erotophilic (having a positive view towards sexual behaviors) or erotophobic (having a negative view towards sexual behaviors). A person's style of loving may affect which products he or she perceives to be helpful in attracting potential sexual and relationship partners. I investigated this possible correlation by examining (1) whether each lovestyle is erotophilic or erotophobic and (2) which products erotophilic individuals are more likely to buy as opposed …