Digital Commons Network^™

What’S In Your Cup: A Critique Of The Fair Trade System And Its Ability To Support Qualitative Socioeconomic And Environmental Transformation, Brittan M. Stockert

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Ability Of Different Weak Acids When Combined With Hydrogen Peroxide To Develop Latent Fingerprints On Post-Fired Cartridge Cases, Casey Nicholas Oleksa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This study examined the effectiveness of different weak acids in developing fingerprints on different types of cartridge cases when combined with hydrogen peroxide due to a process known as chemical etching. Chemical etching involves an oxidation-reduction in which the metal is oxidized by the acid. Three types of cartridge cases were used: bi-metal, brass, and aluminum. Five different acids of varying pKa were used: acetic, citric, lactic, maleic, and propanoic. Each acid was made up to a different concentration to reflect the same pH as 1.0M H+ ions. Phase I involved testing each acid with each case printed after firing …

Reservoir Simulations Of Low-Temperature Geothermal Reservoirs, Madhur Ganesh Bedre

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The eastern United States generally has lower temperature gradients than the western United States. However, West Virginia, in particular, has higher temperature gradients compared to other eastern states. A recent study at Southern Methodist University by Blackwell et al. has shown the presence of a hot spot in the eastern part of West Virginia with temperatures reaching 150°C at a depth of between 4.5 and 5 km. This thesis work examines similar reservoirs at a depth of around 5 km resembling the geology of West Virginia, USA. The temperature gradients used are in accordance with the SMU study.;In order to …

Sevilla Una Maravilla: A Student's Guide To Study Abroad In Seville, Spain, Kayla F. Buchanan

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Nitric Oxide Releasing Polymers For Vascular Graft Applications, Ifeanyi U. Onyejekwe

Biomedical and Chemical Engineering - Dissertations

Nitric oxide [NO] is an endogenous gas involved in a multitude of physiological functions, ranging from vasodilatation, inflammatory response to inhibition of platelet aggregation. Significant interest exists for therapeutic application of exogenous NO, particularly for the improvement of foreign-body responses of biomaterials. One challenge amongst several others that must be taken into consideration is NO's short half-life, ranging from 2-3 s, in physiological systems. Researchers have worked on synthesizing materials, formally referred to as NO donors/NONOates capable of preserving NO and spontaneous gas release upon contact with blood under physiological conditions. Two groups of these commercially available NO donors known …

Designing A Simple Indirect Vector Controlled Drive System In Simulink, Ryan M. Hanlon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

In recent years, the need for alternative fueled vehicles has been highlighted by government and industry leaders. The emphasis has focused on hybrid/electric drive systems. In order to compete with current technology, these drives must be capable of operating under various load conditions as well as operating over a large speed range. Such performance requirements require motor control systems that must be capable of overcoming changes within the drive system: primarily motor parameter changes at high speed operation. While multiple control algorithms exist for electric drives, some offer more robust control than others. These algorithms range in cost and complexity.;The …

The Career Of Gary Robinette In The Contemporary History Of Landscape Architecture, Jason Lackey

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

Gary Robinette has practiced landscape architecture since 1963. During that time he has overseen policy and research that affects landscape architects in the United States and those in countries who model their regulatory system after the United States. His career has taken him through administration of the leading professional organizations, into the private sector, and the better part of his time he spent in the field of academy or scholarship teaching at The University of Wisconsin at Madison and The University of Texas at Arlington. He has contributed to the landscape architecture body of knowledge through his prolific writing with …

Design And Implementation Processes Of Low Impact Development In The Dallas - Fort Worth Area, Alice Cameron Holmes

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

In 1999, The EPA published The Stormwater Phase II rule, which instituted the implementation of "techniques, measures or structural control to manage and improve the quality of stormwater runoff" otherwise known as Best Management Practices (BMP). These strategies are designed to address one or more of three factors; flow control, pollutant removal, and pollutant source removal. As part of the list of techniques associated with BMP's, one in particular has become a more strategic approach that mimics predevelopment hydrology (EPA, 2012). This approach is known as Low Impact Development. Low Impact Development (LID) practices have emerged as the new alternative …

Design And Implementation Processes Of Low Impact Development In The Dallas - Fort Worth Area, Alice Cameron Holmes

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

In 1999, The EPA published The Stormwater Phase II rule, which instituted the implementation of "techniques, measures or structural control to manage and improve the quality of stormwater runoff" otherwise known as Best Management Practices (BMP). These strategies are designed to address one or more of three factors; flow control, pollutant removal, and pollutant source removal. As part of the list of techniques associated with BMP's, one in particular has become a more strategic approach that mimics predevelopment hydrology (EPA, 2012). This approach is known as Low Impact Development. Low Impact Development (LID) practices have emerged as the new alternative …

The Career Of Gary Robinette In The Contemporary History Of Landscape Architecture, Jason Lackey

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

Gary Robinette has practiced landscape architecture since 1963. During that time he has overseen policy and research that affects landscape architects in the United States and those in countries who model their regulatory system after the United States. His career has taken him through administration of the leading professional organizations, into the private sector, and the better part of his time he spent in the field of academy or scholarship teaching at The University of Wisconsin at Madison and The University of Texas at Arlington. He has contributed to the landscape architecture body of knowledge through his prolific writing with …

The "Pedestrian Realm" As A Genesis Of Commerce: Bazaars Of The East And Mixed-Use Centers Of The West, Zoha Niazi

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

Commerce is an ancient economical framework that enables establishment of social ties, improving cultural relationships, and trading values as well as commodities (Edgu et al., 2012). Different trends have taken place throughout history in this revenue based area, from the old Silk Road trading system to new department stores of this era. At the same time, exponential rise of the pressure of motorized traffic into the open public urban space has made non-motorized users such as pedestrians uncomfortable, but recently they started to be given more attention (Morgan, 1996), through mixed used environment especially in western cultures. The review of …

The "Pedestrian Realm" As A Genesis Of Commerce: Bazaars Of The East And Mixed-Use Centers Of The West, Zoha Niazi

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

Commerce is an ancient economical framework that enables establishment of social ties, improving cultural relationships, and trading values as well as commodities (Edgu et al., 2012). Different trends have taken place throughout history in this revenue based area, from the old Silk Road trading system to new department stores of this era. At the same time, exponential rise of the pressure of motorized traffic into the open public urban space has made non-motorized users such as pedestrians uncomfortable, but recently they started to be given more attention (Morgan, 1996), through mixed used environment especially in western cultures. The review of …

Creating Effective School-Community Partnerships In Urban Environments, Jennie M. Povenmire

Honors Projects

This prezi is a presentation on community partnerships in urban schools. After describing what partnerships are and how they operate, the presentation then focuses on three case studies. One case study looks at Toledo Public School and its artist in resident program. Another case study examines PS 112 in Manhattan, NY and its partnership with the Teachers College (Columbia, New York). The final case study focues on Global Tech Prep in New York City and its work with Google, Apple, Citizen Schools and Computer Associates.

Evaluating The Design And Planning Services Of The Arlington Urban Design Center: Clients' Perspectives, Yunhui Zhou

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

In North Texas, recognizing the potential benefits of combining community service and outreach, three design centers, the Arlington Urban Design Center (AUDC), the Dallas City Design Studio (DCDS), and the Oak Cliff Storefront (OCS) were established since 2009. A fourth design center is also in the process of being established in Waco. Similar to their counterparts across the U.S., these centers were established to provide design and planning services to cities, communities, institutions, and private owners. Although they are widely reviewed in a broad expanse of scholarly literature (Hardin, Eribes, & Poster, 2006; Forsyth & McGirr, 1999) very little is …

Assessing The Impacts Of Converted Rail-Trails In North Texas Communities: Learning From The Stakeholders' Perspectives, Bhavana Kidambi

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

Converting abandoned rail lines to trails is a strategy to enhance green infrastructure and provide recreational amenities for large metropolitan area dwellers. Literature on rail to trail conversions emphasizes several factors that influence this change. Some of the factors listed are environment, transportation, recreation, economy, historic preservation, community identity, health and wellness, conservation, livability and revitalization (Trails, 2005-2011; Conservancy, 2007; & Connecticut, 2011). The purpose of this research is to evaluate the stakeholders' perspectives on the impacts of rail-trails in North Texas on five recurring themes in the literature: environmental, recreational, transportation, health and wellness and historic preservation identified as …

Mobile Device Usage On Campus Spaces: Implications On Design And Behavior, Grace A. Herman

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

This study explores the relationship between place, behavior, and technology in order to identify how users interact with the physical features of public space while interacting with mobile technology. The introduction of digital media has altered the way in which individuals engage socially within places (Gergen 2002; Hampton 2009; Humphreys 2005; Kleinman 2004; Louv 2011; Paulos 2003; Small 2008). The private nature of mobile device use modifies the social atmosphere in public spaces (Caballero-Munoz 2006; Eriksson 2007; Humphreys 2005; Paulos 2003; Srivastava 2005). For example, mobile phone users often block out others within their vicinity both physically and mentally in …

Capacity Position And Financial Performance: Longitudinal Evidence From U.S. Manufacturers, Carol J. Cagle

Information Systems & Operations Management Dissertations

This research synthesizes research from the strategy, organization theory and operations management streams in exploring the competitive implications of firms' capacity over time. Data from archival sources are analyzed via Hierarchical Linear Modeling in exploring: 1) systematic relationships between capacity and financial performance that they obtain over time; and 2) the role of strategic and environmental covariates in these relationships.

Evaluating The Design And Planning Services Of The Arlington Urban Design Center: Clients' Perspectives, Yunhui Zhou

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

In North Texas, recognizing the potential benefits of combining community service and outreach, three design centers, the Arlington Urban Design Center (AUDC), the Dallas City Design Studio (DCDS), and the Oak Cliff Storefront (OCS) were established since 2009. A fourth design center is also in the process of being established in Waco. Similar to their counterparts across the U.S., these centers were established to provide design and planning services to cities, communities, institutions, and private owners. Although they are widely reviewed in a broad expanse of scholarly literature (Hardin, Eribes, & Poster, 2006; Forsyth & McGirr, 1999) very little is …

Landscape Practices On Gas Well Sites In North Texas: Perceptions Of Selected Industry Representatives And Regulators, Sarah Kuehn

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

Fossil fuel extraction, a principal industry in Texas, has turned toward natural gas exploration in the Barnett Shale, altering the landscapes of urban and rural communities alike. Improvements in technology have caused dramatic increases in the concentration of gas wells being drilled in large metropolitan areas, such as the Fort Worth area of North Texas. The result is an increase in awareness about urban drilling and its impact on regional environment (BSEEC 2011). In response, individual municipalities have amended their natural gas well ordinances and now mandate the implementation of regulations, such as permitting processes and the reclamation of sites, …

Landscape Practices On Gas Well Sites In North Texas: Perceptions Of Selected Industry Representatives And Regulators, Sarah Kuehn

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

Fossil fuel extraction, a principal industry in Texas, has turned toward natural gas exploration in the Barnett Shale, altering the landscapes of urban and rural communities alike. Improvements in technology have caused dramatic increases in the concentration of gas wells being drilled in large metropolitan areas, such as the Fort Worth area of North Texas. The result is an increase in awareness about urban drilling and its impact on regional environment (BSEEC 2011). In response, individual municipalities have amended their natural gas well ordinances and now mandate the implementation of regulations, such as permitting processes and the reclamation of sites, …

The Impacts Of Voyage Optimization And Slow Steaming On The Liner Shipping Strategy Through Dynamic Simulation, Jong-Kyun Woo

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Nhanes 2005-2006 Data Analysis Examining Early Childhood Factors, Food Security, Medical Insurance, And Childhood Obesity, Assanatu Iyatunde Savage

Presidential Alumni Research Dissemination Award

The purpose of this study, and primary research question, was to examine the relationships among early childhood factors, food security, and family medical insurance and childhood obesity. There are many factors associated with the overweight and obesity epidemic. Hence, creating solutions must be addressed on various platforms such as early childhood influences, food security/insecurity, and family availability of health insurance. Relevant and aggregate data on factors affecting childhood obesity could potentially lead to age appropriate interventions to prevent childhood obesity and its sequelae. The literature noted the social cognitive theory in addressing the relationship between parents, the environment, and childhood …

The Impact Of Facebook Access In Creating A Sense Of Community In Tourism And Recreation Classes, Lorie A. Tuma

Presidential Alumni Research Dissemination Award

Previous research has indicated that college students use social networking sites such as Facebook to establish friendships, maintain communication, and foster a sense of community; research also has indicated that many college instructors do not. Many college faculty acknowledge the importance of a sense of community in the classroom but are reluctant to try social media as a way to enhance student motivation, affective learning, and classroom climate. The purpose of this ex post facto, causal comparative study was to determine if there was a statistically significant difference in tourism and recreation students' self-reported sense of community when an instructor's …

A Guide For Teachers And Paraprofessionals Working With Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Lesley Fettig

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project was to create a resource for occupational therapists in the public school system to provide a guide to educators and paraprofessionals working with children with autism spectrum disorder. The resulting guide for the occupational therapist provides the necessary materials to develop child specific guides for the educator and paraprofessional. The product provides education and guidance to optimize the educator and paraprofessional's ability to provide for the needs of a child with autism spectrum disorder in the school environment.

A comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine current best practice and treatment guidelines for autism …

Child, Parent, And Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives On Hiv Infection Status Disclosure To Children, Grace Gachanja

Presidential Alumni Research Dissemination Award

HIV infected parents face great challenges when contemplating and performing disclosure of theirs and their children's illnesses to their infected and noninfected children. HIV disclosure guidelines for a parent's and child's illness do not exist in resource-poor nations. This hinders and impedes the delivery of disclosure from parent to child. This qualitative phenomenological study, based on the disease progression theory and the consequence theory of HIV disclosure, was conducted to understand the lived experiences of HIV-infected parents and their children living in Kenya before, during, and after disclosure of a parent's and child's HIV infection status. Thirty four participants consisting …

The Nonprofit Sector's Involvement In Prisoner Reentry : A Mixed Methods Analysis, Michael Jay Woods

Public Affairs Theses

The 1990's were plagued with crime and high recidivism rates, and the State of Texas responded by embarking upon the largest expansion of a criminal justice system in its history. Having served their sentences, record numbers of offenders who were sent to prison in the 1990's are now flooding the streets. At the time of their release, some of these offenders will have unmet needs, such as a lack of food, housing, and clothing. Others may need help enrolling in school or finding a job. Whatever their needs, a host of nonprofit organizations stand ready to assist ex-offenders in their …

The Issue Of Governance In Neighborhood Planning Programs, Brian Price

Planning Theses

Neighborhood planning programs are a kind of initiative cities all across the country utilize to engage communities in planning processes affecting their own neighborhoods and to target resources and city initiatives within these spaces more effectively. These programs also represent a governance process, where publically relevant affairs are regulated at the interface of public, private, and civic sectors. Because these programs are highly variable between cities and are structured based off of local needs, trends, and agendas exploring governance contexts and relations at the urban and neighborhood level is helpful for explaining these differences in program goals and outcomes. At …

Creating A Cohesive Triple Bottom Line: Helping The Urban Planner As A Liaison To The Citizen, Jeffery Earl Bell

Public Affairs Theses

This thesis is an attempt to create a viable liaison tool for the urban planner to create a cohesive idea of the Triple Bottom Line of sustainability between the citizen and the government of the city. By using consistent policy standards and adequate focus upon the new ideas of a sustainable lifestyle, the city should be able to create a viable structure for the future. In order to create a viable Triple Bottom Line, the citizen and the government will need to combine long term planning with current policy and standards of use and compliance in order to dedicate a …

Developers' Perceptions Of Opportunities & Obstacles To Building New Urbanist Communities In Dfw, Luke Jackson

Public Affairs Theses

The recent housing crash has done great damage to the American economy and has affected millions of households. Pre-crash, New Urbanist Communities became more popular to build, yet sprawl development remains the norm. I seek to find out why New Urbanist Communities are being built at their current rates in Dallas-Fort Worth, so to discover whether or not a market failure has occurred regarding this real estate product. This study analyzes supply-side factors affecting the development New Urbanist Communities (i.e. the factors affecting the developers in the Metroplex) through interviews with individuals representing each residential development company. The factors affecting …

Creating A Cohesive Triple Bottom Line: Helping The Urban Planner As A Liaison To The Citizen, Jeffery Earl Bell

Planning Theses

This thesis is an attempt to create a viable liaison tool for the urban planner to create a cohesive idea of the Triple Bottom Line of sustainability between the citizen and the government of the city. By using consistent policy standards and adequate focus upon the new ideas of a sustainable lifestyle, the city should be able to create a viable structure for the future. In order to create a viable Triple Bottom Line, the citizen and the government will need to combine long term planning with current policy and standards of use and compliance in order to dedicate a …