Digital Commons Network^™

From Child To Children: The Experiences Of Economically Marginalized Parents As Their Family Sizes Grow, Yvanna Pogue Vicks

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Termites, Bully Boys, And The Architect Of Search & Destroy: An Assessment Of General William E. Depuy As Macv J-3 And Commander Of The 1st Infantry Division, Republic Of Vietnam, 1964-67, Adam D. Coste

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

As Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (J-3) at MACV from 1964-1966, General William DePuy served as the main architect of the campaign strategy implemented by General William Westmoreland in fighting both VC and NVA units during the earliest and most critical years of the Vietnam War. Following his role at MACV, DePuy assumed command of the 1^st Infantry Division in March 1966 where he exhibited a distinct command philosophy and transformed the organizational culture of the “Big Red One” through a series of directives and tactical innovations. Most historians are critical of Westmoreland’s chosen strategy as well as …

Wavelet Compression As An Observational Operator In Data Assimilation Systems For Sea Surface Temperature, Bradley J. Sciacca

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The ocean remains severely under-observed, in part due to its sheer size. Containing nearly billion of water with most of the subsurface being invisible because water is extremely difficult to penetrate using electromagnetic radiation, as is typically used by satellite measuring instruments. For this reason, most observations of the ocean have very low spatial-temporal coverage to get a broad capture of the ocean’s features. However, recent “dense but patchy” data have increased the availability of high-resolution – low spatial coverage observations. These novel data sets have motivated research into multi-scale data assimilation methods. Here, we demonstrate a new assimilation approach …

Goostly Coumforte In God: The Rhetoric Of Mysticism In The Cloud Of Unknowing, Clinton M. Sensat

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In this paper I analyze the rhetoric of the Cloud of Unknowing by an anonymous fourteenth-century English Catholic mystic. First, I situate the Cloud in its tradition, both spiritual and rhetorical. Then, after analyzing the linguistic arts employed, I engage in a sustained examination of the Cloud’s rhetorical technique. Ultimately, I conclude that the author of the Cloud succeeds in his rhetorical goals, even if some of his strategies are less successful than he perhaps believes, and that he does so through the use of concrete language and an appeal to the ethos of Christian monastic friendship.

Childcare Organizations: A Qualitative Study On Childcare Leaders’ Perceptions Of The Elements That Promote The Work They Do In The Childcare Industry, Paula S. Polito Mrs.

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Research has often highlighted the positive effects of high-quality early care and education on children's development and the economy. However, the challenge of ensuring access to quality care for all children and understanding the perspectives of leaders doing crucial work on the ground remains. Given the strong associations between high-quality early childhood education, brain development, and positive economic outcomes for those who access high-quality care, my paper introduces a theory of change. This theory outlines a pathway from understanding the determinants of quality in childcare centers, as seen through the eyes of industry leaders, to the implementation of policy changes. …

Advancing Additive Manufacturing For Biomedical Applications: Antimicrobial And X-Ray Absorptive Composite Filaments For Fused Filament Fabrication, John M. Arnold Jr

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to investigate the use of nano- and microparticle amendments for the creation of Poly-lactic Acid composite materials for use in biomedical applications using the Fused Filament Fabrication process of Additive Manufacturing. Composites were created with the goal of imparting the useful properties of antimicrobial activity and x-ray absorption to the material. In addition to testing the efficacy of the particle amendments in achieving the desired properties, the thermal and mechanical properties of the composite materials were tested to ensure that the composites would be compatible with the Fused Filament Fabrication process and would produce …

Measuring The Lengths Of Sperm Whales Of The Northern Gulf Of Mexico By Wavelet Analysis Of Their Usual Clicks, George Drouant

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Acoustic recordings of underwater sounds produced by marine mammals present an attractive alternative to costly and logistically complex ship based visual surveys for collecting population data for various species.

The first reported use of underwater acoustic recordings in the long-term monitoring of sperm whale populations was by Ackleh et al. (Ackleh et al., 2012). The paper describes counting sperm whale clicks at different locations to track population changes over time.

Analysis of sperm whale clicks offers additional insight into sperm whale populations. The echo location clicks (usual clicks) of sperm whales can be used to give an estimate of …

Assessing Math Motivation, Educational Expectancy, And Grades In Corequisite Coursework To Predict Outcomes In College Algebra, Kurt M. Ovella

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The lack of preparation and math motivation are obstacles for new students entering higher education. Students who are underprepared in math often lack the skills and motivation to succeed in College Algebra. The purpose of this research study is to assess student math self-efficacy, task value, intrinsic value, educational expectancy, and grades in corequisite coursework to predict outcomes in College Algebra. Using binary logistic regression, the researcher examined motivational factors and corequisite course grades to determine their impact on student success in College Algebra. The primary objective of the present study was to examine college students’ math achievement in College …

“The East:” A History Of New Orleans East And The Retail Redlining Of Black Middle-Class Suburbs, Charles Miller

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a case study of New Orleans East, a collection of diverse suburban neighborhoods that comprise the easternmost part of New Orleans. This interdisciplinary research study chronicles the growth and decline of “The East” to more generally understand the challenges facing Black middle-class suburbs. Decades-long mischaracterizations and overstated negative perceptions of The East persist, unjustly and unceasingly detracting from economic development and prosperity and exacerbating the inequities that have long plagued the city’s Black residents. Findings from this dissertation uncover how, in metropolitan New Orleans, residents, city officials, and local news media have effectively stigmatized and written off …

Working Memory And Language Associations In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Megan A. Goldfarb

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social communication and interaction, with repetitive behaviors or specialized interests. A range of language abilities is seen in ASD, with some having typical abilities and others severe impairments. Working memory (WM) deficits have also been found in some children with ASD. In typically developing, as well as non-ASD children with language deficits a strong relationship has been found between WM and language abilities. Although both language and WM deficits are often seen in ASD, the relationship between these deficits has been underexplored. The objective of this study is …

Past And Present Patterns Of Neutral And Adaptive Genetic Diversity In Wild Mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx), Anna Weber

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Although primates have fascinated researchers and the public alike for generations, one species that has remained enigmatic is the mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), a large Cercopithecine monkey endemic to Central Africa. Mandrills are currently in decline due to bushmeat hunting, urbanization, and habitat loss. Neutral and adaptive genetic diversity are important tools for understanding evolutionary history and future viability, since diversity influences a species’ ability to adapt to a changing environment. However, thus far, minimal genetic information has been available for wild mandrills. Because of the dense vegetation in their tropical forest habitat, studying wild mandrills has proven to …

"The Freedom To Express Yourself": The National Park Service And The African Diasporic Roots Of Black Dance In New Orleans, Ariel D. Roy

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In partnership with the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, my project entitled “African Dance in New Orleans: The Roots of Black New Orleans Dance” exhibit will focus on the African diasporic roots of Black traditional dance practices within New Orleans’ African American community. This project aims to diversify the public and political expressions of Black dance in New Orleans. It argues that the study of dance forms and practices uncovers narratives and fragments of African and African American cultural history in New Orleans that are impossible to glean from other sources. This thesis will support three modes of African …

An Exploration Of Emotional Intelligence And The Professional Competency Of Academic Support Student Affairs Professionals, Margaret Shannon Williamson

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated the relationship between the Emotional Intelligence of student affairs practitioners and their professional competency. 248 academic support professionals completed the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQi 2.0) to measure their emotional intelligence. Using the competencies identified by the 2015 joint publication on student affairs competencies by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), participants provided a self-rating of their attainment of the ten professional competencies. Demographic data, years of experience in the field, educational background, and professional development opportunities were also measured. A hierarchical multiple regression was run for each …

Voices In My Head: An Improvisers Approach To Becky Mode’S Fully Committed, Drew Stroud

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis will focus on improvisational theatre and its importance in my overall process in the creation of Becky Mode’s Fully Committed. I will explain my previous knowledge and theories that I brought to the University of New Orleans and run in tandem with the techniques and discoveries I learned during the process of my Master of Fine Arts, both in the classroom and on the stage. Fully Committed was performed in the Robert E. Nims Studio Theatre September 23^rd, 24^th, 25^th, 28^th, 29^th, 30^th, and October …

A Pelican's Journey To Flight: A Louisiana National Guardsman, The Development Of The United States Army Air Service, And The Human Cost Of Military Innovation, James H. Smith

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

George E. Dicks deployed to the Mexican Punitive Expedition and World War I with the Louisiana National Guard. He recorded his experience in writing and photography, which reside in the Jackson Barracks Military Museum in Chalmette, Louisiana. His memorabilia reflect an officer’s perspective on early military aviation and parallel to the United States military’s experimentation with aviation. Through experimentation, Dicks became an aerial observer in World War I.

This thesis explores George E. Dicks’ memorabilia and how it both represents the development of the American Air Service and the human cost of military aviation with photographic evidence. By representing aviation’s …

Comparison Of Facial Emotion Recognition Models Using Deep Learning, Arsany Hanin

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Facial emotion recognition is a widely studied area with applications in diverse domains such as human-computer interaction, affective computing, and social robotics. This thesis aims to improve the accuracy of facial emotion recognition models by incorporating a second neural network trained on original probabilities and probability transformation, while also comparing the performance of different techniques. The thesis begins with a thorough review of available datasets and technologies used for data collection, highlighting the challenges associated with these datasets. A detailed analysis of various facial emotion detection models, including the baseline model and its different architectures, is presented. The thesis also …

Props, Bianca Walker

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In their artwork Bianca Walker takes a refreshing and historically engaging approach to the act of painting. After researching through photographic references of black people from the early 1900s the artist reimagines these photographs as painted portraits using a drip painting method purposely eliminating paint brushes from their practice. Incorporating more utilitarian materials such as drop cloth and palms, the artist’s relationship to the traditional act of paintings versus their current practice mirrors the current point of view placed upon and change of view that they would like to be seen in conversations around black working-class people from this period.

Hydrological Modeling For The Impact Of Predicted Climate Change And Urbanization: A Case Study Of The Lower Mississippi River Basin, Amelie E. Lagarde

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippi River Basin is the United States’ largest watershed and consists of many subbasins. Each subbasin has hydrological processes including flow rate, evapotranspiration, and groundwater flow. It is important to understand how these processes change through shifts in weather, time, and land use. This study uses the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to predict how changes in temperature, rainfall, and land use can change hydrological processes responses. This study concludes that, for the studied subbasin, a high representative concentration pathway (RCP) will result in lower flow rates and ground water flow as well as higher evapotranspiration by the …

It Isn't Easy Fighting Crime In A Tutu, But It Helps!, Jeanne C. Mcglory

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

It Isn't Easy Fighting Crime in a Tutu, but it helps! is a description of struggles and triumphs of a woman working in a male traditional job for the New Orleans Police Department. She worked as a civilian and as a police officer and police sergeant from 1970 until 1996. Several Essays are included to provide a glimpse of the lighter side of the badge, the human beings wearing them, and an appreciation of the culture and some neighborhoods of New Orleans.

Theory Application In Home-Based Counseling, Victoria Rodriguez

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Home-based counseling is a modality of counseling where a provider conducts sessions within a client’s home. Providing services in the home can improve access to services in rural areas or for clients without access to transportation or childcare and can increase participation in services in cases where traditional office-based services have been unsuccessful.

Despite these benefits for clients, home-based counselors might struggle with applying counseling theory within this setting. Theory is an integral part of both counselor identity and treatment planning; a theoretical orientation helps counselors conceptualize client issues, guide treatment goals, and assess progress. Due to the lack of …

Reading The Room: Memory, Dwelling, And The Everyday, Sara R. Hardin

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In any space, there is a residue that coats the present with a patina of memory. Creating layered imagery in dream-like paintings and prints, I use the domestic realm as a metaphor for the internal world of the mind, memories, and private thoughts, including them in compositions with symbols like the boundaries of windows, doors, and gates. These metaphorical structures also portray outward identities, which guard inner emotions. The conceptual aspects of these compositional elements weave together memories of the past and places of the present into a unified whole.

I began graduate school at the beginning of the COVID-19 …

Theatre And The Pandemic - Directing Fully Committed By Becky Mode, William Ware

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis will provide a detailed account of the University of New Orleans’ School of the Arts production of the play Fully Committed by Becky Mode. I will explain our process as we slowly began to surface from the Coronavirus pandemic that shuttered theatres in March of 2020, and discuss the social climate and attitudes toward theater just before, during and as we come out of pandemic. Fully Committed was performed on September 21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd, 24^th, 25^th, 28^th, 29^th, 30^th, and October …

Automating Lackenby's Method: The Design Of A Set Of Scripts To Execute Lackenby's Method With Mcnaull's Expansion In Rhinoceros 3d, Mara E. Kramer

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In vessel design, modifying the design of a preexisting hull is a common practice to save time and labor compared to designing a hull from scratch. This can be achieved either by manually adjusting the hull model in a 3D modeling software or by systematically adjusting certain vessel parameters using an algebraic method. However, these methods are time-intensive and do not fully utilize the capabilities of modern software. To address this issue, this paper presents a set of Rhinoscript and Python scripts that automate part of the hull modification process using Lackenby’s method with McNaull’s expansion. The developed code utilizes …

So To Speak, Heather G. Boyle

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Shifting Images: Film And Historical Legacy Of Malcolm X, 1959-2021, Kristina M. Smith

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little and died el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, left an indelible mark on the American consciousness. Between 1952 and 1964, Malcolm X earned renown as a minister for the Nation of Islam under the guidance of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. The first film appearance of Malcolm X himself was in the 1959 documentary The Hate That Hate Produced, a film that sent both Malcolm and the Nation of Islam onto the national, and eventually international, stage. The next attempt to immortalize the man in film would be after his death, in 1972’s Malcolm X, a documentary based on …

Political Religion: An Intellectual History Of Eric Voegelin And Defense Of His Thesis On Political Religion And Nazism, Stephen Gaines

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an intellectual history of Eric Voegelin and the concept of “political religion”. Eric Voegelin was a German-Austrian political scientist whose work surrounding the field of political science has made him one of the most influential thinkers of the 20^th century. Voegelin saw the rise of Nazi Germany in 1932 and fled Austria during Anschluss in 1938 to escape Nazi persecution, coming to the United States. During this time, Voegelin published, The Political Religions (Die Politischen Religionen) in which he describes National Socialism as a “political religion”. This thesis will delve into the conceptualization of …

Experiencing Positional Turbulence: High School Social Studies Teachers' Perceptions Of Instructional Leadership Support While Teaching During National Crises, Lynn M. Walters-Rauenhorst

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This research examined instructional leadership support of eight Louisiana high school social studies teachers as they experienced positional turbulence as a result of teaching to politically and socially aware students in a polarized political and social climate during the 2020-2021 school year. In recent years the American education system has been challenged in unprecedented ways. A global pandemic, renewed calls for social justice, and a highly polarized political climate created an extremely turbulent environment for all educators. Social studies teachers faced a unique set of challenges of integrating controversial current events into a high-stakes standards-based curriculum. Utilizing a conceptual framework …

Therapeutic Approaches To Working With Perinatal Loss Clients: A Grounded Theory Study, Heather H. Olivier

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Perinatal loss (i.e., miscarriage, stillbirth, termination, and infant death) is commonly referred to in the literature as an invisible loss, non-loss, and even medical event. It is an ambiguous loss exhibiting the dialectical contradiction between the physical absence and psychological presence of the baby accompanied by disenfranchised grief, a reaction to a loss that is unacknowledged by society. Despite the likelihood of mental health clinicians working with clients who have experienced perinatal loss, there has yet to be a therapeutic model designed specifically for the unique grief and trauma reactions presented in this population. Existing grief models do not address …

A Cross-Disciplinary Approach To Stage Design, Kimberly (Adachi) Pimentel

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

When designing for theater, inspiration, and ideas can come from a wide array of resources and play analysis. This thesis includes the combined method of technical lighting and scenic design for the production of Is God Is, by Aleshea Harris. Presented are approaches to script and character analysis, the incorporation of a diverse range of research, the production process, and a post-production analysis. Also included in this paper are theater design theories, visual references, a light plot, a lighting map, ground plan, and insight behind the design choices.

Perceptions Of Sub-Saharan African International Students In United States: Mental Health Concerns And Help-Seeking Behavior, Adekemi L. Ekanoye

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

International students face a lot of challenges while studying abroad, with or without the supportive system that their families provide. Sub-Saharan Africa international students consists of 3.7 percent of the population, which indicates a 2.1 percent increase prior to previous year. While in the host country, this population is saddled with the self-responsibilities of maintaining their values, cultural identities, personality, language ability, self-perceptions, and attitudes. African international students adopt a masking behavior in the form of adaptive strategies that could hide the mental health concerns experienced.

The purpose of this constructivist grounded theory study was to explore the untold lived …