Digital Commons Network^™

Data Collection, Body-Weight Generation And Efficient Storage Of Physiological Data, Dewashish Koirala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Data is the key for developing algorithms that can infer the causes of agitation in mentally-ill individuals. Unfortunately, appropriate datasets are not readily available due to issues such as confidentiality breach and privacy invasion. This thesis addresses three problems.First, we identify a number of publicly-available datasets that are functions of actions and emotions of mentally-ill individuals. These include datasets of physiological signals, training videos and commercial movies.Second, we synthesize change in body-weight as a function of actions and emotions by extending a well-known model. The extended model is evaluated with respect to change in diet, physical activity and stress, using …

The Analysis Of Dietary Fat Intake, Body Mass Index, And The Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease For Individuals Diagnosed With Phenylketonuria, Nadine Mohammad Assaf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phenylketonuria is an inborn error of metabolism, in which a restricted protein diet is the primary treatment. High fat diets and obesity are two indicators of increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Therefore, the aim of this study was to use high fat intakes and obesity to investigate whether individuals with PKU were at an increased risk of CVD. Percentages of calories coming from fat (PCF), BMI, body mass index percentages (BMI%), and weight per lengths (WPL) were obtained on participants between the ages of 1-50 years old. In conclusion, this study did not identify a risk for CVD in its …

Genomic Reconstruction Of The Tree Of Life, Sambriddhi Mainali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A new methodology is presented for molecular phylogenetic analysis addressing a fundamental problem in biology, name the reconstruction of the Tree of Life (TOL). Here, phylogenies are based on patterns of hybridization similarity in their DNA. Furthermore, phylogenies are based on a set of universal biomarkers (so-called nxh chips) chosen a priori, independently of the target group of organisms. Therefore, this methodology enables analyses of groups with biologically distant organisms, hence could be scaled to obtain a universal tree of life. Unlike conventional molecular methods, it produces a hypothesis in a single run, without optimizing across numerous hypotheses for consensus. …

Fiberblender: A Realistic Computer Model Of Nerve Bundles For Simulating And Validating The Acquisition Of Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Teddy Salan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is a powerful medical imaging technique that provides a unique method to investigate the structure and connectivity of neural pathways. DTI is a special magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modality that combines the principles of magnetic resonance with molecular diffusion to trace the motion of water molecules. In the central nervous system, where nerve fibers are packed in highly-directional bundles, these molecules diffuse along the orientation of the fibers. Hence, characterizing the motion of water with DTI delivers a non-invasive in vivo technique to capture the connectivity of nerves themselves. Despite its promises and successful clinical applications …

Examining Educators' Perceptions Of The Use Of Time, The Availability Of Resources And The Quality Of Parent/Community Relations At Schools With Very Low And Very High Percentages Of Learning Disabled Students, Chantal Hess Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Hess-Taylor, Chantal. Ed.D. The University of Memphis. December 2016. Examining Educators’ Perceptions of the Use of Time, the Availability of Resources and the Quality of Parent/Community Relations at Schools with Very Low and Very High Percentages of Learning Disabled: Charisse Gulosino, Ph.D The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in how educators view the use of instructional time, the availability of instructional resources, and the quality of parent/community relations at schools with very low and very high percentages of students categorized as learning disabled (LD). Secondary data extracted from the 2013 administration of the …

Neutropenia At The Time Of Subcutaneous Port Insertion May Not Be A Risk Factor For Early Infectious Complications In Pediatric Oncology Patients., Lisa Taylor Vanhouwelingen , Md

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The risk of infection associated with subcutaneous port (SQP) placement in patients with neutropenia remains unclear. We reviewed the rate of early infectious complications (<30 days) following SQP placement in pediatric oncology pateints with /without neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <500/mm3.Baseline characteristics and infectious complications were compared between groups using univariable and multivariable analysis.A total of 614 SQP were placed in 542 patients. Compared to non-neutropenic patients, those with neutropenia were more likely to have leukemia (94% vs 50%), pre-operative fever (22% vs 5%), pre-operative infection (19% vs 9%), and were younger (81 vs 109 months) (p values <0.01).After adjusting for fever and underlying-disease there was a non-significant association between neutropenia and early post operative infection (OR 2.41, 95% CI 0.82-7.18, p=0.116). Only pre-operative fever was a predictor of infection (OR 6.09, 95% CI 2.08-17.81, p=0.564).Neutropenia may not be a predictor of early postoperative infection following SQP placement.

Geological Framework Of The Continental Shelf Of South Carolina Winyah Bay: Paleodrainage, Transgressions And Essential Fish Habitat, Amanda Roach

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A regional geophysical survey of the inner continental shelf off central South Carolina was completed on a cooperative cruise between NOAA and Coastal Carolina University in July 2015. An integrated mapping suite comprised of subbottom echosounder, side scan, multibeam and split beam sonars was used to define the regional geologic framework, including paleodrainage patterns across the shelf and to identify potential fish habitat locations that will provide additional inputs to a thematic habitat mapping routine developed by NOAA. Results from the thematic mapper characterization suggest that large-scale framework elements such as paleochannel networks may play a role in determining benthic …

Revising Middleton's Model Of Mathematics Achievement And Exploring Ethnic Differences Across White, Black, And Hispanic Adolescents, James Michael Ford Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For decades, the achievement gap across White, Black, and Hispanic students has yet to be reduced, with White students consistently outperforming Black and Hispanic students on standardized mathematics assessments (National Assessment of Educational Progress, 2017). In order to reduce this gap, achievement motivation scholars have been studying the multifaceted ways in which cognitive factors may influence academic outcomes, especially for students who have traditionally been under-examined and underserved (Borman, & Overman, 2004; Borman & Dowling, 2010). Eccles, Wigfield (e.g., Eccles, 2007; Wigfield & Eccles, 2000), and Middleton and colleagues (Middleton, 2013; Middleton & Spanias, 1999; Middleton & Toluk, 1999) have …

Using Digital Tools To Achieve Connectedness In Higher Education Online Courses: Faculty Perceptions And Practices, Laura L. Alderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research examined higher education faculty perceptions and practices regarding the role of digital tools; specifically, social media and communication tools to achieve connectedness between the faculty member and students and among students in fully online courses. The study was guided by three research questions: 1) What are faculty perceptions of connectedness and its importance with regard to achieving connectedness? 2) In what ways do faculty use social media and/or communication tools in online courses to achieve connectedness? and 3) What do faculty report as key benefits and challenges to achieving connectedness in online courses? A qualitative, intrinsic case study …

Treasure, Karen M. Perkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Long after a brutal series of events resulted from her power exchange relationship, Treasure Montgomery’s recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder is hampered by relationships with family members and the legal difficulties of her foster daughter.

Leadership Identity Development In Intercollegiate Female Student-Athletes: A Case Study, Natalie M. Poole

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study is focused on the process of leadership identity development through an in-depth analysis of the experiences of and influences on intercollegiate female student-athletes at a mid-south, mid-size university that participates in Division 1 collegiate athletics. Research was conducted within the theoretical framework of the Leadership Identity Development (LID) model authored by Komives, Owen, Longerbeam, Mainella, and Osteen (2005). This study was interested in the degree to which the data upheld the presence of the four developmental influences of the LID model: 1) peer influences, 2) adult influences, 3) reflective learning, and 4) meaningful involvement. Framed by an understanding …

Sharing Feelings Of Anger And Peer Sociability, Robert Washington Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Managing anger is important for successful peer relations. The present research examined the association between a child telling a friend when they felt angry, how much better they felt after telling, and peer nominated sociability. Children in Grades 3-5 (males = 94, females = 107) participated (IRB approved) with data collected in group, classroom sessions. Peer nominations for sociability behaviors were assessed (unlimited nominations; no self-nominations). Self-reports of extent of telling friends when angry, perceived benefit of telling a friend when angry, and extent of feeling angry over the last month were collected as well as assessment of classroom mutual …

Synthesis Design Of Polystyrene Based Anion Exchange Membranes: Study On Relationship Between Chemical And Morphological Structures And Properties In Alkaline Fuel Cell Conditions, Sayema Khan Tuli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) are an alternative renewable energy source with potential benefits including use of non-precious metal catalysts, facile electro-kinetics, and high power density. Despite these advantages, development of chemically robust and highly conductive anion exchange membranes (AEMs) is the great challenge. The properties of polymeric AEMs depend on many parameters, for example, backbone structures, morphology of membranes, and chemical stability of the ion transporting group. Therefore, all of these interconnected parameters have to be addressed and studied for AEM development. The objectives of this dissertation are 1) to develop durable membranes with high anion conductivity by …

Secure Bootstrapping And Access Control In Ndn-Based Smart Home Systems, Lei Pi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Smart home systems utilize network-enabled sensors to collect environmental data and provide various services to home residents. Such a system must be designed with security mechanisms to protect the safety and privacy of the residents. More specifically, we need to secure the production, dissemination, and consumption of smart home data, as well as prevent any unauthorized access to the services provided by the system. In this work, we study how to build a secure smart home system in the context of Named Data Networking, a future Internet architecture that has unique advantages in securing Internet of Things. We focus on …

Communication Barriers And Health Among Hispanics: A Quantitative Study Exploring Race, Ethnicity, And Language, Daisy Angeles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sociological and medical research on Hispanic health often emphasizes the phenomenon termed the "Hispanic Paradox;" however, it is currently unclear whether this applies equally for Hispanics who only speak Spanish, speak both English and Spanish, or exclusively speak English. I conduct a two-step analysis using data from 2005 and 2010 from the National Health Interview Survey to examine how race, ethnicity, and language influence various health measures, controlling for sex, age, and education. Findings from the first analytic stage demonstrate that there is significant health heterogeneity within the Hispanic group because of communication barriers. Findings from the second analytic stage …

A Geospatial Investigation Of The Potential For Inter-Aquifer Communication In Shelby County, Tennessee: A Multi-Scale Spatial Dependency Model, Andrew Barnett Murphy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The upper-Claiborne confining unit overlies the Memphis aquifer in Shelby County, Tennessee. Hydrogeologic windows are locations where clay intervals are thin or absent within the confining unit, resulting in localized vertical recharge. Previous work has not been geostatistically focused. In this study, 430 borehole geophysical logs were analyzed. The objectives were to: 1) capture and analyze exisiting well log data in a geodatabase 2) utilize geostatisitical modeling at a variety of scales 3) integrate well log data with historic water-table elevation trends and 4) produce multi scaled maps that illustrate hydrostratigraphic trends in terms of inter-aquifer communication. Geostatisitical ordinary kriging …

"I Am A Cartoon? Not Me!": Racial Identity Work And Resistance To Native American Caricature Iconography Erasure, Anthony Jerome Stone Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Indigenous population of the United States remains a neglected demographic in sociological research. Scholars in other disciplines, and few in sociology, have studied a wide range of issues within the Native Americans populations, including health, socioeconomics, political representation, and law. However, few have researched the emergent controversy over media representations and identity. Although academics from several disciplines have examined Native American Mascots and other such images, few have noted the ways in which those who identify as Native (American) talk about such representations in regard to their identity. For this study, research was conducted to examine the ways Native …

Using Latent Variable Mixture Modeling To Understand Differences Between Ptsd And Moral Injury, Jessica Tripp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and moral injury (MI) are common reactions to trauma exposure, particularly serving in a combat zone. While previous research has shown that PTSD and MI exhibit similarities, no research has examined person-centered analyses that demonstrate whether there are groups of individuals with high PTSD and low MI and vice-versa. This study explored an underlying class structure that differentiated subtypes of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) veterans based on PTSD symptom clusters and MI. Participants were 208 OEF/OIF/OND veterans (91% men; 81% Caucasian) who completed self-report measures via an online survey that was distributed …

Additive Manufacturing Of Biocompatible Thin Polymeric Tubular Structure, Anant Bhusal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing may be used to fabricate synthetic artery for use in, for example, coronary artery bypass surgery. Structurally, the artery comprises the intima layer and two other layers. Thus, we have suggested that a novel approach is to use different AM methods to fabricate the different parts of the artery and to devise a way to suitably join them. In the present work, we concentrated on the fabrication of a thin polymeric tubular structure that would mimic the intima. None of three in-house AM machines produced such a structure with the requisite thickness (0.074 mm). …

The Compositional Process Behind The Song Of Trees For Solo Marimba By Keiko Abe, Kae Hashimoto Reed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Solo marimba repertoire has grown significantly since the 1970s. As a result of this expansion, there is no doubt that the marimba is regarded as a legitimate solo instrument. One of the pioneers of the solo marimba is Keiko Abe. She developed solo literature and performance skills, and improved the reputation of the marimba as a solo instrument. She was also directly responsible for improvements to the design of the instrument itself. Ms. Abe has been a well-known marimba player, educator, and composer for almost four decades. Her music, life, and achievements are featured in many international media such as …

Factors Associated With The Need For Hospitalization, Length Of Hospital Stay, And Parental Consent To Participate In Research Among Children With Community Acquired Pneumonia, Cori C. Grant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the third leading cause of hospitalization among children in the U.S. This research is comprised of three studies of children with CAP. The data were collected for the CDCs Etiology of Pneumonia in the Community (EPIC) study. Study one aimed to examine the association of clinical factors with potentially unnecessary hospitalizations, as defined by a length of stay (LOS) in the hospital ≤ 24 hours. Study two aimed to validate the Canadian Acute Respiratory Illness and Flu Scale (CARIFS) questionnaire among an inpatient pediatric population with CAP. This study also examined the utility of the CARIFS …

Synthesis Of 2,4,6-Substituted Pyrrolo[2,3-D]Pyrimidines As Potential Anticancer Agents, Si Yang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis mainly focuses on the introduction of the background and work have been done in the areas of antifolates development, such as folate function, its three uptake mechanisms inside human cells, antifolates’ role in chemotherapy, et. al. In addition, the Structure-Activity-Relationship design rationale for the series of antifolates will also be discussed. Nevertheless, the details of synthesizing these pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as potential antifolates have been described, including chemistry reviews on the pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine scaffold, and the challenges encountered and the solutions how to solve or improve in order to achieve better yield.

Material Properties Design Using Simulations And Experiments For Powder Injection Molding Of Lead Zirconate Titanate (Pzt)., Bhushan Pramod Bandiwadekar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Powder injection molding (PIM) process simulations can be performed to minimize the number of injection molding experiments by estimating material properties necessary for PIM simulations. In current work, lead zirconate titanate (PZT) powder-polymer binder feedstock was compounded for 45 vol. % and 52 vol. % solids loading. PIM experiments on designed micro-pillar array geometry were performed using 52 vol. % PZT. Using PIM experiments results as basis, PIM simulations were performed on designed micro-pillar array geometries to understand the effectiveness of PIM simulations with the use of estimated feedstock properties in predicting molding behavior that have micro-features. Additionally, PIM simulations …

An Ecological Systems Approach To Understanding Intimate Partner Violence Outcomes, Alison Marisa Pickover

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the influence of person-level, event-level, geographic, and social factors on the maintenance of mental health conditions in women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). The influence of these factors on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) was conceptualized used an ecological systems framework. Main effects of 13 empirically-supported predictor variables and interactive effects of race and racial-ethnic make-up of the neighborhood, race and crime, and crime and social support, were examined. Geographic information systems (GIS) technology was used to map neighborhood factors (e.g., racial-ethnic composition, employment rate, median income) and crime. Crime …

Parental Response To Child Sexual Abuse In Zimbabwe: Formative Research For Intervention Development, Christopher Okoth Obong'o

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nearly 31% of females and 17% of males experienced child sexual abuse (CSA) globally in 2012. In Zimbabwe, about 33% of young women aged 18-24 years experienced sexual abuse by age 18 in 2013. Because CSA perpetrators are likely to be someone known to the victim and the abuse likely to be perpetrated at the home of the victim, parents and other adult caregivers are in a unique position to support timely CSA disclosure and reporting.The purpose of this study was to generate information for development of interventions to strengthen CSA disclosure and reporting in Zimbabwe. The primary aim was …

Functional Biomarkers For Detecting Glaucoma Progression, Srinivas Rajaraman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is an optic neuropathy characterized by progressive loss of retinal structure and visual function of the eye and may eventually lead to blindness. Standard Automated Perimetry (SAP) is a standard clinical procedure used to assess and quantify the sensitivity (in decibels) of various locations in the retina in response to light stimuli presented at the respective retinal locations. Therefore, to detect POAG and to assess efficacy of treatment procedures, it is necessary to assess progressive loss of visual sensitivity at all retinal locations simultaneously. In this work, we present a new approach to detect glaucomatous …

Exploring The Relationship Between Silencing The Self And Risky Sexual Behavior In Black Women, Robin Nicole Hardin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Black women are disproportionately affected by HIV. Understanding how sociocultural factors and beliefs contribute to Black women's risky sexual behavior is critical in understanding this health disparity. This study investigated the mediating influence of silencing the self (i.e., putting the needs and wants of a romantic partner before one's own needs) on the relationship between risky sexual behaviors and self-esteem, gender role beliefs, and gender ratio imbalance beliefs and behaviors (GRIBBs) in Black female college students. Participants included 99 female undergraduate students enrolled at a regional Mid-South University. Results demonstrated that risky sexual behavior was not significantly associated wtih the …

An Exploration Of Dementia Friendly Communities From The Perspective Of Persons Living With Dementia, Catherine Hebert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The growing global prevalence of dementia coupled with a shift in public perception from a hopeless disease to the possibility of living well with dementia has led to the formation of dementia friendly communities (DFC). DFCs are a new phenomenon in the United States, with a gap in knowledge on input from people living with dementia (PLWD). This study investigated DFCs from the perspective of PLWD in Western North Carolina, with the following research questions:

1. How are interactions and relationships experienced by persons living with dementia in the community?
2. How is community engagement experienced by PLWD?
3. To what extent and …

Operational Limits Of Blade Coating With High Aspect Ratio Pigments, Lisa Weeks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During the blade coating of paper, operational issues such as stalagmite formation, scratches or spits can develop at high solids content and high web speeds. For coatings that contain high aspect ratio pigments, these difficulties appear at lower solids concentrations and slower machine speeds than with more spherical shaped pigments. These operational issues are important because plate shaped particles have good properties in publication and barrier grades. A number of possible mechanisms have been described in the literature, but a clear cause has not been established nor have methods to estimate the operational limits been proposed.

The influence of particle …

Identities And Persistence Of Family Farm Operators, Parker T. Arnold

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the identities of family farm operators and the challenges to maintaining viable farm operations in today’s agricultural economy. Employing a grounded qualitative approach, the author conducted 18 in-depth interviews with principal farm operators from Iowa and Tennessee. Using the insights of farmers from geographically different agricultural regions, this study notes how preserving family histories, socialization processes, and farming as a moral career inform operators’ understandings of themselves and the work they do. The analysis also focuses on how family farm operators contend with a globalized agricultural economy and the moral and ethical concerns of managing a …