Digital Commons Network^™

Modeling Factual Claims With Semantic Frames: Definitions, Datasets, Tools, And Fact-Checking Applications, Fatma Arslan

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

As social media sites have become major channels for the quick dissemination of news, misinformation has become a significant challenge for our society to tackle. Today fact-checking rests primarily on the shoulders of human fact-checkers who laboriously sift through various trustworthy sources, interview subject experts, and check references before reaching a verdict regarding the degree of truthfulness of a factual claim. Compounded with the speed and scale at which misinformation spreads, the demanding process may leave many harmful factual claims unchecked. In the fight to curb the spread of misinformation, researchers from various disciplines have come forward to assist fact-checkers …

Rotor Performance Model (Rpm), Chadwick Scott Balfantz

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Theses - Archive

Rotorcraft performance modeling is of high interest with multiple industry codes in existence, many of which are high-fidelity and are comprehensive in the analyses that are achievable. Along with the high-fidelity and the comprehensive nature of the industry codes comes an equally high level of complexity in the inputs required to extract meaningful results. The ever-increasing fidelity in the existing codes creates a need for an analysis code that is built to be highly flexible, designed from the top down and implemented from the bottom up in a structured format. The Rotor Performance Model (RPM) was developed to provide high-fidelity …

Compressive Deconvolution Of Mri Imaging Via ℓ1 − ℓ2 Regularization, Talon Johnson

Mathematics Dissertations - Archive

The evolution of technology has drastically impacted the imaging field, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Compared to other imaging technologies, MRI offers multiple contrasting mechanisms to distinguish tissues and fat, is radiation-free, and provides anatomical and molecular information about the tissue in question. However, data acquisition times to produce those images require a patient to lie still for a relatively long time. Consequently, it may lead to the voluntary or involuntary movement of the patient due to discomfort. Combined with the underlying issue of inherent noise, MRI is often blurry and contains artifacts. Mathematically, one can describe this behavior as …

Deconvolving Kernel Regression Function Estimation Based On Right Censored Data, Erol Ozkan

Mathematics Dissertations - Archive

In this study, we propose a new regression function estimator when the observa- tion is contaminated in the convolution model with error in independent variable. We want to examine the e ect of the error variables when the data is right censored. The tail behavior of the characteristic function of the error distribution is used to describe the optimum local and global rates of convergence of these kernel estimators. We show that depending on the error is either ordinary smooth or super smooth, there are two sorts of convergence rates in adjusted mean square error for the regression function estimator. …

Using A Virtual Format To Support Student Learning Across Cultures, Countries And Disciplines, Vicky G. Spencer, Cindy A. Smith

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Today, an increasing number of higher education institutions are recognizing the importance of preparing students to communicate, live, and work effectively with others from different cultural backgrounds (Appiah-Kubi, 2020; Eliyahy-Levi, 2020; Iuspa, 2019). Providing opportunities for students to travel abroad has been an integral part of the higher education experience for many years. However, with the global pandemic resulting in limited travel, universities are developing new and innovative ways to provide international experiences for students. The purpose of this project was to explore an international virtual student collaboration between two universities, one in the United States and one in Australia. …

Frequency And Development Of Collocations In Turkish Efl Learners’ Essays, Didem Koban Koc

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

The aim of the present study is to analyze the frequency and development of collocations found in the essays of Turkish learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) across different proficiency levels. The learners were enrolled in the English Preparatory School of the School of Foreign Languages at a government university in Turkey. The study compared 25 intermediate, 25 upper-intermediate, and 25 low-advanced level EFL learners in terms of using adjective+noun and verb+noun collocations in essays and determined whether or not there would be an improvement in using such collocations as the learners’ proficiency developed over time. The results …

Social Media Marketing In Rural Hospitality And Tourism Destination Research, Samuel Adeyinka-Ojo, Shamsul K. Abdullah

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

An increasing number of studies have been dedicated to the application of social media in the marketing of hospitality services and tourism destinations. However, there exists a lack of extant literature dedicated to exploring how social media can be used in the marketing of hospitality and tourism in rural destinations. In order to achieve the objectives of this paper, the methodology adopted, and samples used for the analysis of literature review composed of relevant papers published in hospitality and tourism journals on social media framework, social media marketing (SMM), rural hospitality and tourism (RHT) destinations. These existing literature works were …

The Evaluation Of S-D Orientation On Service Innovation And Performance Of Airline, Inci Polat, Ozlem Atalik

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

The aim of the study is to reveal the relationship between S-D orientation and service innovation and performance variables. The empirical data were collected from airline passengers in Turkey through an online survey. PLS-SEM method was used to test the relationship between variables of the study. The results of the study exposure that there is a significant relationship between S-D orientation and service innovation. There is also a correlation between service innovation and firm performance. However, this does not apply to the relationship between S-D orientation and firm performance. The major results indicated that S-D orientation has a critical role …

Saving Grace: Digitization To Stay Or Address Crisis?, Smitha Vasudevan

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

As the successive waves of lockdown brought the shutters down on all business, small and medium businesses have had to address acute loss of business. The disruptive changes occasioned by Covid 19 pandemic has resulted in the use of digital technologies to mitigate the challenges (Richter, 2020). This paper examines how small retail businesses have integrated digital tools to manage the crisis, and whether this will add long term value for their business. Digitization offers SMEs opportunities to improve efficiency of operations and effectiveness of their customer relationships. Covid-19 has been a shock to the sector, and had a rapid …

Economic Cooperation Between Central Caucasus, China, And Eu, Under Covid-19 Challenges, Vakhtang Charaia, Mariam Lashkhi

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Study analyses the China’s Belt and Road Initiative perspectives for EU and Central Caucasus countries of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, with the special focus on covid-19 global pandemic reality. Trade, investments and transit is considered as main factors of the given paper. At the same time, global competition for leadership, open and hidden trade and investment wars are taken into account. Study also suggest different alternative ways of including Central Caucasian states into the project as a corridor for China – EU connection. Coronomic challenges are considered as a new wave of challenge and at the same time as a …

Survey On Purchasing Methods Of Food Products In Tarragona And Catania, Matarazzo Agata, Vazzano T. Alberto, Squillaci Carmelo

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Marketing can be the strategical difference between two companies. It identifies the way to sell a product, emphasizing the characteristics of the product. The paper aims to examine the relationship between green marketing strategy by food companies and consumers shopping behaviour. In order to better analyse the two factors of green marketing tools, their use and advantages are described, highlighting benefits of their application by food companies. The European Organic standard certification process is fully described by a comparison between quality and ecological labels. The European law set different requirements that companies must follow for the implementation of that standard. …

The Facility Infection Risk Estimator™: A Web Application Tool For Comparing Indoor Risk Mitigation Strategies By Estimating Airborne Transmission Risk, Marcel Harmon, Josephine Lau

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic created needs for (a) estimating the existing airborne risk of infection from SARS-CoV-2 in existing facilities and new designs and (b) estimating and comparing the impacts of engineering and behavioural strategies for contextually reducing that risk. This paper presents the development of a web application to meet these needs, the Facility Infection Risk Estimator™, and its underlying Wells–Riley based model. The model specifically estimates (a) the removal efficiencies of various settling, ventilation, filtration and virus inactivation strategies and (b) the associated probability of infection, given the room physical parameters and number of individuals infected present with either …

Investigations Of Elastin Recoil On Molecular And Macroscopic Levels., Nour Mohammad Jamhawi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Elastin is one of the most hydrophobic proteins, and it is extremely flexible when hydrated. The driving force for recoil is the decrease in entropy of the protein and/or the hydrating solvent. This dissertation is a study of both mechanisms. Following an introduction (Chapter 1), Chapters 2 and 3 investigate the recoil mechanism on the molecular level in the hydrating solvent and in the protein, respectively. Chapter 4 examines macroscopic properties of recoil by thermomechanics. Conclusions are discussed in Chapter 5. Using double quantum NMR, the deuterated water ordering at the elastin surface was studied quantitatively as a function of …

Signal Fingerprinting And Machine Learning Framework For Uav Detection And Identification., Olusiji Oloruntobi Medaiyese

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Advancement in technology has led to creative and innovative inventions. One such invention includes unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). UAVs (also known as drones) are now an intrinsic part of our society because their application is becoming ubiquitous in every industry ranging from transportation and logistics to environmental monitoring among others. With the numerous benign applications of UAVs, their emergence has added a new dimension to privacy and security issues. There are little or no strict regulations on the people that can purchase or own a UAV. For this reason, nefarious actors can take advantage of these aircraft to intrude into …

Motion And Emotion Estimation For Robotic Autism Intervention., Jacob M Berdichevsky

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Robots have recently emerged as a novel approach to treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A robot can be programmed to interact with children with ASD in order to reinforce positive social skills in a non-threatening environment. In prior work, robots were employed in interaction sessions with ASD children, but their sensory and learning abilities were limited, while a human therapist was heavily involved in “puppeteering” the robot. The objective of this work is to create the next-generation autism robot that includes several new interactive and decision-making capabilities that are not found in prior technology. Two of the main features that …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Perceptions Of Co-Teaching Through The Lens Of Special Education And General Education Teachers., Erin Seale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Co-teaching has become one of the most popular service-delivery models that school districts use to incorporate students with disabilities in the general education settings. This phenomenological study reports how special education teachers and general education teachers at one Central Kentucky high school describes their perceptions and experiences with co-teaching. This study uses semi-structured interview to explore general education and special education teachers’ perceptions of their experiences with co-teaching and being a part of a co-teaching team.

Multilateration Index., Chip Lynch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We present an alternative method for pre-processing and storing point data, particularly for Geospatial points, by storing multilateration distances to fixed points rather than coordinates such as Latitude and Longitude. We explore the use of this data to improve query performance for some distance related queries such as nearest neighbor and query-within-radius (i.e. “find all points in a set P within distance d of query point q”). Further, we discuss the problem of “Network Adequacy” common to medical and communications businesses, to analyze questions such as “are at least 90% of patients living within 50 miles of a covered emergency …

Wetting And Drying Dynamics For Tio2 With Pbs Quantum Dots., Kelly M. Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Initial solar cells utilized silicon and alloys for their economic viability. Photoelectrochemical photovoltaic cells were discovered with technological advancement which increased solar efficiency and further improved economic feasibility leading to quantum dot sensitized solar cells. Lead sulfide quantum dots and titanium dioxide were studied for wetting and drying effects. Zeta potential, pH values, SEM, and optical microscopes quantified or observed the colloidal suspension and dried sample behavior. Combined mixtures of lead sulfide and titania were dried at 3.6 pH and 12.56 pH values. This due to the observed zeta potential isoelectric point of titania, and behavior showed increased stability occurring …

The Study Of Copper Corrosion Mechanisms Using Electrochemical Experimental Techniques., Evan Grimm

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover and thoroughly explain the corrosion mechanisms of copper in saltwater, tap water and deionized water, and to apply these methods and findings when testing the corrosion mechanisms of other materials. The experimental procedure consisted of measuring the open circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, linear sweep voltammetry, and Tafel analysis.

The copper was found to corrode at a greater rate in saltwater, followed by tap water then deionized water, with a larger difference between saltwater and tap water than between tap water and deionized water. Each reaction was found to be both kinetically …

Modified Electrode Surfaces With Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Catalysts Derived From Electropolymerized Complexes With Redox Active Ligands., Amanda Mae Arts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The demand for energy is growing exponentially, and to keep up with these demands new technologies for renewable energy have received increased attention. Hydrogen is one of the most promising energy sources for the future and plays a vital role in water electrolysis and fuel cells, as the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is the main step in the water splitting process. To increase the reaction rate and improve efficiency for the water electrolysis, catalysts are used to minimize the overpotential.

Most of the current electrocatalysts for HER are heterogeneous in nature and are dominated by platinum and other precious metals …

Passive Cavity Deflation After Water Entry Facilitated By A Vented Tube, Emma R. Fraley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

When an object enters water, a crater, or air cavity, can form around the object and remain attached as the object travels underwater. Cavities can be beneficial and reduce drag force but there may be times when the cavity needs to be removed. This research proposes a method to remove air cavities by letting air leave the cavity, deflating the cavity similar to how a balloon is deflated. To provide air a path to leave the cavity, a tube with vent holes is attached to the object. The vent holes are located near the object, where the air cavity forms, …

An Analysis Of Electromagnetic Flowmeters: A Numerical Study, Kade J. Beck

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

As water scarcity increases, improved water management through better water measurement is of critical global significance. Today, the most common way to measure water in drinking water and wastewater systems is to use an electromagnetic (magnetic) flowmeter. A magnetic flowmeter has many components, and their accuracy can be compromised if not installed or calibrated correctly. The purpose of the present study was threefold. Each of the three components has been named to help the reader understand the context of the study without getting lost in the details.

The Idealist. Using mathematical programs, the spacing of two types of magnetic flowmeter …

Attitude And Reflection Parameter Estimation Of Resident Space Objects Using Ground-Based Photometry, Arun J. Bernard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

There are currently thousands of objects orbiting Earth, and this number is only going to increase. Larger number of satellites will require that operators have a greater knowledge of the state their assets. Electro-optical telescopes are currently being used to observe and track many of these objects. When using these telescopes to take images of satellites, they often appear as dots in the image. Depending on the surface properties of the satellite, and its orientation at a given time, the dots in the image can appear brighter or dimmer. Photometry measurements are a quantification of how bright the object appears. …

Deep Learning Data And Indexes In A Database, Vishal Sharma

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A database is used to store and retrieve data, which is a critical component for any software application. Databases requires configuration for efficiency, however, there are tens of configuration parameters. It is a challenging task to manually configure a database. Furthermore, a database must be reconfigured on a regular basis to keep up with newer data and workload. The goal of this thesis is to use the query workload history to autonomously configure the database and improve its performance. We achieve proposed work in four stages: (i) we develop an index recommender using deep reinforcement learning for a standalone database. …

Embracing Low-Power Systems With Improvement In Security And Energy-Efficiency, Pramesh Pandey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

As the economies around the world are aligning more towards usage of computing systems, the global energy demand for computing is increasing rapidly. Additionally, the boom in AI based applications and services has already invited the pervasion of specialized computing hardware architectures for AI (accelerators). A big chunk of research in the industry and academia is being focused on providing energy efficiency to all kinds of power hungry computing architectures. This dissertation adds to these efforts.

Aggressive voltage underscaling of chips is one the effective low power paradigms of providing energy efficiency. This dissertation identifies and deals with the reliability …

Analysis And Design Of 3-Phase Unfolding Based Ac-Dc Battery Chargers, Rees R. Hatch

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis presents the analysis and design of high-efficiency battery chargers for heavy duty EV applications. The rise in popularity of the electric vehicles (EVs) due to their increased efficiency over conventional internal combustion engines, has driven the need for more battery charging infrastructure. Furthermore, heavy duty vehicles are also being converted to electric to fill needs such as public transportation via bus fleets as well as cargo delivery via semi-trucks. Such heavy duty vehicles require more energy than personal transportation vehicles and thus require larger battery packs. To charge heavy duty battery packs in the same amount of time …

Concrete Maturity Method Applied To Rapid-Setting Calcium-Sulfoaluminate (Csa) Concretes For Pavement Repair Under Different Ambient Temperatures, Ryan Nicholas Langford

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

With more and more people using roadways the need for fast and efficient repair work is becoming increasingly important. Lane closures impede traffic flow and result in congestion. To further limit the amount of time lane closures are needed for repair work, calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement concrete has become an increasing popular construction material for its ability to reach adequate strength requirements within four hours. Because of this accelerated repair time, advanced testing methods are needed to verify that the replaced concrete does indeed meet or exceed the minimum compressive strength requirements.

The maturity method is one test used to …

Accessing Healthcare In The Intermountain West During The Age Of Precarious Labor, Jordan Hammon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This research aims to improve our understanding about the association between precarious employment and healthcare access. Using the framework of neoliberalism and the history of welfare reform in the United States, this thesis investigates the relationship between precarious labor and two outcomes associated with health insurance access, namely Medicaid utilization, and being uninsured. I also examine one potential consequence of Medicaid utilization and lack of insurance, having a usual place of health care in the context of the Intermountain West region of the United States.

Using new survey data and quantitative methodologies, this research shows how economic changes, particularly related …

Gender And Political Incentives: Examining The Applicant Pool Under Merit Selection, Logan M. Loftis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Merit selection is a judicial selection system for when a state’s constitution or statute directs an independent nominating commission to evaluate applicants as a precursor to gubernatorial appointment. The initial process to fill a judicial vacancy under merit selection has three steps: application, nomination, and appointment. Proponents of the selection system insist that by de-emphasizing politics and highlighting qualifications, judicial diversification will be more likely to increase under merit selection. Yet, there is not a clear consensus as to whether merit selection systematically engenders a more diverse bench.

In this thesis, I explore whether women are less likely to apply …

Susceptibility Of High-Elevation Forests To Mountain Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus Ponderosae Hopkins) Under Climate Change, David N. Soderberg

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Across western North America, pine forests are important for timber, wildlife habitat, and at high elevations are important for water retention and yield from rain and snowmelt. The mountain pine beetle (MPB) is one of the most significant disturbance agents shaping pine forests, and like all insects, temperature is a major driver of its population success and the dynamics of the landscapes that they inhabit. Changing temperature regimes can therefore directly influence MPB population persistence at a particular location, in addition to potential shifts in the range boundaries that they inhabit. MPB is currently expanding its range northward in British …