Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

2017

Articles 1 - 30 of 227

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

The Collateral Effects Of Representation : Three Essays Evaluating Representative Bureaucracy In Practice, Ashley Miller Alteri Jan 2017

The Collateral Effects Of Representation : Three Essays Evaluating Representative Bureaucracy In Practice, Ashley Miller Alteri

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This dissertation evaluates representative bureaucracy, a public management theory that has been embraced by public management scholars and implicitly embraced by practitioners through the use of diversity hiring initiatives. The theory of representative bureaucracy posits that a bureaucracy will function better if the administrative arm of government, in addition to its political one, is representative of the public. This representativeness is achieved if the bureaucrat shares a common identity with the group or groups they are meant to represent. The three papers within this dissertation provide an analysis of how this theory translates into practice. Specifically, these papers examine the …


Impacts Of Internal Variability On Climate Trends In Large Ensemble Simulations By Two Climate Models, Christine Bloecker Jan 2017

Impacts Of Internal Variability On Climate Trends In Large Ensemble Simulations By Two Climate Models, Christine Bloecker

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Internal climate variability (ICV) can influence trends in observations and model simulations over periods spanning decades, making it difficult to quantify the response of the climate system to external forcing. We analyze two large ensembles of climate simulations from 1950-2100 by two fully coupled climate models, namely the CanESM2 and CESM1, to quantify the effects of ICV on apparent trends in annual surface air temperature (T) and precipitation (P) over different time periods and regions. In comparison with observations, the CanESM2 overestimates the global T and P trends during 1979-2014 while they fall within the ICV-induced range of the CESM1. …


Efficiency, Growth And The Pursuit Of Social Utility, Mary-Elizabeth Theresa Breitmaier Jan 2017

Efficiency, Growth And The Pursuit Of Social Utility, Mary-Elizabeth Theresa Breitmaier

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This paper discusses and analyzes the claim that laissez-faire policies achieve greater efficiency and growth, which in turn provides overall social utility. This paper outlines and defines the terms used in the defense of laissez-faire policies and shows that this defense is suspect on all grounds. That is to say these policies do not provide greater efficiency, growth, or overall social utility. This paper argues against the questionable claim that a laissez-faire economy attains greater efficiency and growth. Further, even assuming that it did succeed in these two areas, it does not necessarily imply that greater social utility will follow …


Redox-Dependent Calcium-Mediated Signaling Networks That Control The Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype, Akshaya Chandrasekaran Jan 2017

Redox-Dependent Calcium-Mediated Signaling Networks That Control The Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype, Akshaya Chandrasekaran

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Cellular senescence has evolved as a protective mechanism to arrest growth of cells with oncogenic potential. While senescent cells have lost the ability to divide, they remain metabolically active and adapt a deleterious senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP) central to the progression of several age-associated disease pathologies. The SASP is mechanistically regulated by the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) whose expression and activity is responsive to the senescence associated (SA) oxidant production and the accompanying disruption of calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis. Using primary IMR-90 human fetal lung fibroblasts as a model of replicative senescence, we explored the molecular underpinnings driving Ca2+ …


Homo- And Heterometallic Bis(Pentafluorobenzoyl)Methanide Complexes Of Copper(Ii) And Cobalt(Ii), Janell Crowder Jan 2017

Homo- And Heterometallic Bis(Pentafluorobenzoyl)Methanide Complexes Of Copper(Ii) And Cobalt(Ii), Janell Crowder

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

β-Diketones are well known to form metal complexes with practically every known metal and metalloid. Metal complexes of fluorinated β-diketones generally exhibit increased volatility and thermal stability compared to the non-fluorinated analogues, and thus are used extensively in various chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes for the deposition of metal, simple or mixed metal oxides, and fluorine-doped metal oxide thin films. Furthermore, the electron-withdrawing nature of the fluorinated ligand enhances the Lewis acidity of a coordinatively unsaturated metal center which facilitates additional coordination reactions. The physical and structural properties of fluorinated β-diketonate complexes are discussed in Chapter 1 …


Influence Of Volcanic Eruptions On Tropical Hydroclimate During The Last Millennium, Christopher Colose Jan 2017

Influence Of Volcanic Eruptions On Tropical Hydroclimate During The Last Millennium, Christopher Colose

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Volcanic eruptions exert the most important radiative forcing on Earth’s climate during the pre-industrial interval of the last millennium. In this thesis, I investigate the role of volcanic eruptions in altering tropical climate, including temperature and rainfall. I primarily use forced transient simulations of the last millennium as a tool to explore how explosive volcanic events project onto the hydrologic cycle, as well as the imprint of water isotopologues (H216O, H218O) associated with rainfall. Attention is given to the South American continent specifically (in chapter 2), and to the entire tropics (in chapter 3).


Climate Fingerprints Of The Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation, Bo Dong Jan 2017

Climate Fingerprints Of The Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation, Bo Dong

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) is a multi-decadal quasi-oscillation seen primarily in tropical and extratropical Pacific sea surface temperatures (SSTs). Interacting with the atmosphere, the IPO has been shown to affect global and regional climate. However, a quantitative global synthesis of the IPO’s climate fingerprints and the underlying mechanisms are still lacking. Based on observational and reanalysis data and atmospheric model simulations, this dissertation investigates the IPO’s influence on regional climates over the globe, and its interactions with El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and global warming.


Hurricane Bonnie (1998) : Maintaining Intensity During High Vertical Wind Shear And An Eyewall Replacement Cycle, Erin Dougherty Jan 2017

Hurricane Bonnie (1998) : Maintaining Intensity During High Vertical Wind Shear And An Eyewall Replacement Cycle, Erin Dougherty

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Hurricane Bonnie (1998) was an unusually resilient hurricane that maintained intensity in 12–16 ms-1 vertical wind shear and during an eyewall replacement cycle from 23 – 25 August. This remarkable behavior was examined using observations from flight-level data, microwave imagery, radar, and dropsondes over the two-day period. The symmetric and asymmetric aspects of Bonnie’s eyewall replacement cycle were documented and compared to eyewall replacement cycles in other hurricanes. Similar to other observed eyewall replacement cycles, Bonnie exhibited the development, strengthening, and dominance of a secondary eyewall while a primary eyewall decayed. However, Bonnie’s structure was highly asymmetric due to strong …


Raman Spectroscopy And Chemometrics For Forensic Bloodstain Analysis : Species Differentiation, Donor Age Estimation, And Dating Of Bloodstains, Kyle C. Doty Jan 2017

Raman Spectroscopy And Chemometrics For Forensic Bloodstain Analysis : Species Differentiation, Donor Age Estimation, And Dating Of Bloodstains, Kyle C. Doty

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The field of forensic science is constantly growing, so the advancement of old and unreliable techniques is at the forefront of what will lead to future progress and improvement. Current methods for identification and analysis of bloodstains are underwhelming due to the insignificant amount of information provided in a destructive, unreliable, and unsafe manner. As is the purpose of this research, creating new methodologies that are rapid, nondestructive, robust, statistically reliable, and safe would significantly advance the way bloodstains are currently analyzed, while providing more useful and relevant information for investigations and criminal proceedings. Raman spectroscopy, along with advanced statistical …


Towards A Biomimetic Elastin-Based Nanofiber Scaffold For Salivary Gland Tissue Regeneration And Growth Factor Delivery, Zahraa Ismail Ahmed Foraida Jan 2017

Towards A Biomimetic Elastin-Based Nanofiber Scaffold For Salivary Gland Tissue Regeneration And Growth Factor Delivery, Zahraa Ismail Ahmed Foraida

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Development of electrospun nanofibers that mimic the structural, mechanical and biochemical properties of natural extracellular matrices (ECMs) and the basement membranes is a promising approach for tissue regeneration. Electrospun fibers of synthetic polymers partially mimic the topography of the ECM, however, their high stiffness, poor hydrophilicity and lack of in vivo-like biochemical cues is not optimal for epithelial cell self-organization and function. In search of a biomimetic scaffold for salivary gland tissue regeneration, we utilized proteins and peptides to induce biomechanical and biochemical cues that resembles the native tissue environment. These functional molecules were introduced to our previously-developed poly lactic-co-glycolic …


A Critical Review Of The Application Of Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory Applied Through The Use Of Computer Based Simulations Within Virtual Environments, 2000-2016, Daniel J. Grady Jan 2017

A Critical Review Of The Application Of Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory Applied Through The Use Of Computer Based Simulations Within Virtual Environments, 2000-2016, Daniel J. Grady

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This integrative research review aims to examine the application of Kolb’s theory of experiential learning through the use of simulations within virtual learning environments. It will first cover the framework of experiential learning as stated by Kolb, a learning theory that is finding new life within the context of simulations, role-playing games (RPGs), massive multiplayer role playing games (MMORPGs) and virtual environments. This analysis was conducted by making use of combined research strategies that focused specifically on both qualitative and quantitative reviews that utilized Kolb’s experiential theory of learning (ELT) within the context of the application of computer based simulations …


Computational Optimization And Characterization Of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers, Jacob Jordan Terracina Jan 2017

Computational Optimization And Characterization Of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers, Jacob Jordan Terracina

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are a class of materials containing sites capable of selectively binding to the imprinted target molecule. Computational chemistry techniques were used to study the effect of different fabrication parameters (the monomer-to-target ratios, pre-polymerization solvent, temperature, and pH) on the formation of the MIP binding sites. Imprinted binding sites were built in silico for the purposes of better characterizing the receptor – ligand interactions. Chiefly, the sites were characterized with respect to their selectivities and the heterogeneity between sites.


Coupling Of Sterically Demanding Peptides By Strain Driven Beta-Thiolactone Mediated Native Chemical Ligation, Yunxian Xiao Jan 2017

Coupling Of Sterically Demanding Peptides By Strain Driven Beta-Thiolactone Mediated Native Chemical Ligation, Yunxian Xiao

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The association between sterically requesting peptidyl destinations is hard to accomplish. The ligation between amino acids, for example, Val-Val has been ended up being amazingly testing with ordinary NCL strategies that are depending on exogenous thiol added substances. Besides, the extra of overabundance measures of outer thiol activators, for example, a 4-mercaptophenylacetic corrosive (MPAA) impede the consequent desulfurization, and it needs the additional progression to be expelled. Although various methodology has been produced to encourage MPAA expulsion, reverse phase preparative HPLC purification remains the best. Nevertheless, the additional purification decreases response proficiency and yield. Thus, we report a β-thiolactone-mediated additive-free …


Three Essays On Electricity Pricing, Congestion, And Market Efficiency, Yu Zou Jan 2017

Three Essays On Electricity Pricing, Congestion, And Market Efficiency, Yu Zou

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

In the first chapter, I analyze the price variations among zones in the electricity forward market of New York State, and how electricity forward prices react to the economic risks in the market. It applies a VAR model with monthly/holiday dummies and weather data to forecast the three components of electricity prices--energy price, marginal cost of congestion and losses. The GARCH estimates of the conditional variance of the VAR residuals are treated as risks. We find that participants will bid higher price in the forward market when they expect higher risks. Particularly, the risk of congestion has a larger effect …


The Influence Of Dragonbox On Student Attitudes And Understanding In 7th Grade Mathematics Classroom, Nihal Katirci Jan 2017

The Influence Of Dragonbox On Student Attitudes And Understanding In 7th Grade Mathematics Classroom, Nihal Katirci

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This exploratory study seeks to investigate how a mathematical education game, DragonBox12+, effects students’ learning about algebra. Data for this research was collected from middle school 7th grade students in the Northeast region of the United States of America. The interviews and classroom observations were recorded on videotape. The research results showed that the video game DragonBox 12+ affects students’ attitude of mathematics and learning of mathematics by the help of using game mechanics to teaching algebraic rules.


Improving Hiv Outcomes In Pakistan : The Interaction Between Politics, Power And Implementation, Hina Khalid Jan 2017

Improving Hiv Outcomes In Pakistan : The Interaction Between Politics, Power And Implementation, Hina Khalid

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

HIV contributes to the highest number of deaths from infectious diseases in low-income countries. In this three-paper dissertation, using the case of Pakistan, I focus on understanding how the exercise of power by actors at three different levels of the health system, individual, program and societal, influences policy implementation and shapes HIV program outcomes. The objective is to improve HIV service provision thereby achieving improved health policy outcomes. I adopt a mixed-methods approach and use quantitative (logit regression) and qualitative techniques (content analysis of newspapers and semi-structured interviews). One paper tests the role played by network operators in influencing condom …


Association Between Hiv And Violence Among Female Commercial Sex Workers In Ukraine : Analysis Of Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Conducted In 2015-2016, Ganna Momotyuk Jan 2017

Association Between Hiv And Violence Among Female Commercial Sex Workers In Ukraine : Analysis Of Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Conducted In 2015-2016, Ganna Momotyuk

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

A cross-sectional analysis investigated the association between HIV and violence in female commercial sex workers (FCSW) in Ukraine between 10/2015 and 01/2016. Methods: 3,885 FCSW from a total of 4,300 were questioned about behavioral and social demographics and tested for HIV in mobile testing van. Results: of the 3,885 respondents, 5.89% were HIV positive, and 47.00% had experienced violence. We tested for and found that drug use was an effect modifier for the association between HIV and violence. Analyses were stratified by injecting drug use and no injecting drug use. High risk for HIV was found in the non-IDU stratum …


A Synoptic Climatology Of Combined Severe/Weather/Flash Flood Events, Kyle James Pallozzi Jan 2017

A Synoptic Climatology Of Combined Severe/Weather/Flash Flood Events, Kyle James Pallozzi

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Classical forms of severe weather such as tornadoes, damaging convective wind gusts, and large hail, as well as flash flooding events, all have potentially large societal impacts. This impact is further magnified when these hazards occur simultaneously in time and space. A major challenge for operational forecasters is how to accurately predict the occurrence of combined storm hazards, and how to communicate the associated multiple threat hazards to the public. A seven-year climatology (2009-2015) of combined severe weather/flash flooding (SVR/FF) events across the contiguous United States was developed in attempt to study the combined SVR/FF event hazards further.


Keats And Food : Language Of The Edible In John Keats's Letters And Poems, Kaitlin Resler Jan 2017

Keats And Food : Language Of The Edible In John Keats's Letters And Poems, Kaitlin Resler

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This thesis is an exploration of the language of food and drink in the letters and poetry of John Keats. In sifting through his letters, famous for his unselfconscious thoughts on the nature of poetry and poetic composition, it is possible to construct the details of his culinary life not only as it pertains to daily eating habits but also in how he uses the language of food to articulate the sensations achieved in the course of writing and reading poetry. Keats frequently adapted this language to describe these activities because for him, the way food is consumed and synthesized …


Bridging The Stereotypical Gap From The Past To The Present : An Analysis Of African American Stereotypes Through The Boondocks, Tiffany Addo Jan 2017

Bridging The Stereotypical Gap From The Past To The Present : An Analysis Of African American Stereotypes Through The Boondocks, Tiffany Addo

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and identify African American stereotypes that contain both negative and positive connotations. These stereotypes have origins that date back to the Pre-Slavery Era. Regardless of the lapse in time, the stereotypes have only adapted and found a place in the world we live in today. I use these stereotypes and analyze them through a show called The Boondocks. Within the show, Aaron McGruder (the writer and producer of the first three seasons) makes it a point to present his audience with a satirical representation of all these known stereotypes through the main …


Wheezing & Food Allergies In Infants Delivered Via Cesarean Section : The Upstate Kids Study, Temilayo Elizabeth Adeyeye Jan 2017

Wheezing & Food Allergies In Infants Delivered Via Cesarean Section : The Upstate Kids Study, Temilayo Elizabeth Adeyeye

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This dissertation sought to assess the effect of cesarean delivery (CD) on the risk of developing wheezing or food allergies in early childhood; and whether breastfeeding mediates the association between CD and the outcomes. We also aimed to highlight the differences in immunoglobulin concentrations by mode of delivery (MOD) in newborn dried blood spots (DBS), and the subsequent development of wheezing and food allergies in infants during the first three years of life. Data from the Upstate KIDS cohort was analyzed. Modified Poisson regression was used to compare the risks for wheezing and food allergies by MOD. We used a …


The Effects Of Employment And Training Programs On Low-Income Workers' Labor Market Outcomes : Evidence From The Survey Of Income And Program Participation, Suran Ahn Jan 2017

The Effects Of Employment And Training Programs On Low-Income Workers' Labor Market Outcomes : Evidence From The Survey Of Income And Program Participation, Suran Ahn

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Since the Great Recession, employment and training (E&T) programs are of growing interest given the labor market policy response to high and long-term patterns of unemployment. For low-income workers with low educational attainment and limited job skills, E&T programs are expected to play a vital role in improving their employability and enhancing long-term economic security.


Assessing Factors Influencing Employees' Voice Behavior In Organizations, Nikita Agnihotri Jan 2017

Assessing Factors Influencing Employees' Voice Behavior In Organizations, Nikita Agnihotri

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The purpose of the present study was threefold: (1) to investigate the relationship between organizational based self- esteem and voice behavior, (2) to examine whether or not organizational identification interacts with organizational based self-esteem in significantly predicting voice behavior, and (3) to test another moderation effect, interaction of perceived organizational support and organizational based self-esteem in predicting voice behavior. Based on data from 482 undergraduate students, results suggested organization based self-esteem is strongly positively related to voice behavior. Additionally, the interaction of organization based self-esteem with both perceived organizational support and organizational identification in predicting voice behavior was not significant. …


Computationally Efficient Multiple Imputation Routines In Clustered Data, Tugba Akkaya-Hocagil Jan 2017

Computationally Efficient Multiple Imputation Routines In Clustered Data, Tugba Akkaya-Hocagil

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Presence of missing data in correlated data settings is a non-trivial problem. Inference by multiple imputation offers a viable solution to analysts. However, the missing data problem is typically more complicated due to diverse measurement scales, skip patterns, bounds and restrictions. Sequential regression imputation also known as variable-by-variable imputation has emerged as a popular imputation modeling technique, especially in the complex data structures. In this dissertation, we develop three methods to handle incomplete data in hierarchically nested and non-nested multilevel data structures using sequential regression imputation approach.


Lncrna Ak001796 Is Essential For The Survival Of Aggressive Breast Cancer Cells, Sumayya Adib Al-Chalabi Jan 2017

Lncrna Ak001796 Is Essential For The Survival Of Aggressive Breast Cancer Cells, Sumayya Adib Al-Chalabi

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Abstract:


Mass Spectrometric Analysis And Machine Learning Enable Microorganism Classification Based On Rna Posttranscriptional Modifications, Colin Christopher Aldrich Jan 2017

Mass Spectrometric Analysis And Machine Learning Enable Microorganism Classification Based On Rna Posttranscriptional Modifications, Colin Christopher Aldrich

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

RNA post-transcriptional modifications (PTMs) are dynamic features that can be up- or down-regulated by the health and metabolic state of a cell. These covalent modifications are installed and removed on RNA nucleosides by enzymes controlled by the activation and deactivation of specific genes. The goal of this research was to demonstrate that RNA PTMs can serve as a unique feature for the classification/identification of microorganisms. We utilized a scheme based on electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to obtain global PTM profiles from total RNA extracted from various microorganisms in optimal growth conditions as well as Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) spiked …


Torsion Freeness Of Symmetric Powers, Exterior Powers, And Schur Functors, Muberra Allahverdi Jan 2017

Torsion Freeness Of Symmetric Powers, Exterior Powers, And Schur Functors, Muberra Allahverdi

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Let $R$ be a local Noetherian commutative ring and $I$ an ideal with projective dimension less than or equal to 1. Necessary and sufficient conditions were provided in \cite{T2007} for a symmetric power $S_kI$ of an ideal of projective dimension 1 to be torsion free, where $k \geq 2$. We extend this result to symmetric powers and a broad class of Schur functors of finitely generated $R$-modules with projective dimension 1. While doing so, we also study the structure of Schur complexes from \cite{ABW1982}, and provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the acyclicity of the Schur complex by computing the …


Elucidation And Optimization Of Resistive Random Access Memory Switching Behavior For Advanced Computing Applications, Zahiruddin Alamgir Jan 2017

Elucidation And Optimization Of Resistive Random Access Memory Switching Behavior For Advanced Computing Applications, Zahiruddin Alamgir

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

RRAM has recently emerged as a strong candidate for non-volatile memory (NVM). Beyond memory applications, RRAM holds promise for use in performing logic functions, mimicking neuromorphic activities, enabling multi-level switching, and as one of the key elements of hardware based encryption or signal processing systems. It has been shown previously that RRAM resistance levels can be changed by adjusting compliance current or voltage level. This characteristic makes RRAM suitable for use in setting the synaptic weight in neuromorphic computing circuits. RRAM is also considered as a key element in hardware encryption systems, to produce unique and reproducible signals. However, a …


Mystical Oil : Mapping The Oil Narrative In Fiction, Sara Alotaibi Jan 2017

Mystical Oil : Mapping The Oil Narrative In Fiction, Sara Alotaibi

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Oil’s representation is shaped by the resource’s biological properties and its material forms of flow, which are features that contribute to its mystification as a commodity bringing instant and laborless wealth. I examine oil’s impact on narrative by charting some of the transnational formal and thematic patterns in literature shaped by the oil fetish and its mystified transformative capacities. Through a comparative reading of Upton Sinclair’s Oil!, Abdelrahman Munif’s Cities of Salt, and Helon Habila’s Waiting for an Angel and Oil on Water, I aim to locate the specific ruptures oil creates on temporal and spatial structures that shape the …


Does What You Think You Feel, Impact What You Actually Eat? : An Examination Of Alexithymia, Interoceptive Awareness, And Loss Of Control Eating In Young Women, Lisa Marie Anderson Jan 2017

Does What You Think You Feel, Impact What You Actually Eat? : An Examination Of Alexithymia, Interoceptive Awareness, And Loss Of Control Eating In Young Women, Lisa Marie Anderson

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Affect regulation theories posit that loss of control (LOC) and binge eating are maintained via an emotion regulation process, through which eating relieves negative affect and aversive mood states. LOC has been identified as a key binge eating characteristic associated with psychopathology and poor psychological outcomes. As such, maladaptive emotion regulation has been identified as a central risk factor for binge eating, as theories posit that individuals binge eat in response to negative mood states. However, empirical studies testing the link between induced negative mood and subsequent food intake in people with LOC and binge eating have yielded inconsistent findings. …