Digital Commons Network^™

Returning Home: The Thesis Of A Master, Yang Thai Vang

Theses and Dissertations

Over centuries, Hmong people have moved from mountain to mountain, home to home, country to country, crossing rivers and valleys in search of an escape from oppression. The Txiv Xaiv (Plig) ritual and chant has survived serial exodus and diaspora that Hmong people have experienced. This ritual encodes Hmong historical and cosmological understandings as an oral text, passed down from master to student, and performed at funerals to apply that understanding in the management of souls--ultimately to send them home. The Txiv Xaiv (Plig) serves as a glue, connecting the past generations to the generation of today and the generations …

Meaning Making And Athletic Gender Discrimination: Associations Between Sports Participation And Gender Discrimination Among Adolescent Females, Chenae Christensen Duerden

Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests that participation in athletics provides adolescent females with a variety of positive mental and physical benefits. While Title IX paved the way for increased female participation in organized sports, female athletes, including adolescents, continue to face various forms of gender discrimination. Research also suggests that females with a strong feminist identity are more likely to identify and speak out against gender discrimination. Accordingly, this study seeks to examine the association between gender discrimination and sports participation and the potential moderating role of feminist identity and cognitive appraisals of discrimination on this relationship. Participants were 580 adolescent females (age …

What Do Refugees Need Most, Micah Stepan, Hayley Gorham

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Refugees often struggle in their new country upon arrival. After fleeing their war-torn homeland and daring to survive an equally perilous journey to freedom through unknown landscapes, refugees often find that adjusting to the new country providing them shelter and safety is just as difficult as the journey it took them to get there. When refugees arrive in their new country, everything is new. Often, they arrive with just what is on their backs, and they begin a new fight for survival at the bottom of the economic food chain. In short, everything is a challenge.

Migrants And Refugees

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Primary Care Provider Density And Social Ecological Factors Related To County-Level Diabetes Prevalence In The United States, Robert Alan Kemsley

Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes is a critical public health concern with considerable financial and personal costs in the United States. Research has identified several interventions available to primary care providers to prevent diabetes. These interventions may prevent diabetes by influencing personal, community, and public health policy factors. These factors are key components of the social ecological model, which examines the influence of diverse social influences on health. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the univariate relationship between PCP density and diabetes prevalence, as well as the multivariate relationship between PCP density and diabetes prevalence with physical inactivity prevalence, obesity prevalence, …

Lifting Hands International, Walker Frahm, Hayley Smith

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

HQ: Utah, USA

Mission: Lifting Hands International (LHI) provides aid to refugees at home and abroad. No politics, simply humanitarian. We respond rapidly to forced migration situations, carefully investigating conditions on the ground, and working with partners to fill gaps in the provision of timely and impactful aid to those in need.

Citizen Science In Action: An Updated Distribution For Lampropeltis Pyromelana, Dallin B. Kohler, Bryan T. Hamilton, Drew E. Dittmer, Alison S. Whiting

Western North American Naturalist

The Arizona mountain kingsnake, Lampropeltis pyromelana, is a species of tricolor kingsnake distributed in disjunct patches of montane habitat in the western United States. Historical range maps were based on a small number of specimens, and the growing body of locality data on this secretive species has enabled a significant update to its known distribution. Multiple sources of citizen science data were used to supplement traditional data sources to more accurately delineate the range of this understudied species. We used citizen science data, primarily from iNaturalist and state-initiated surveys in Nevada and Utah, to show that the contemporary distribution …

A Multi-Scale Method For Combined Design And Dispatch Optimization Of Nuclear Hybrid Energy Systems Including Storage, Daniel Hill, Dawson Mccrea, An Ho, Matthew Memmott, Kody Powell, John Hedengren

Faculty Publications

Reliable, carbon-free power generation is increasing in importance. Nuclear-renewable hybrid energy systems (NHES) are a potential solution for current generation challenges, but design and dispatch optimization for these systems remains challenging particularly when stochastic effects, long time horizons and nonlinear modeling are needed. This work presents a multi-scale method for combining the design and dispatch optimization problems for nonlinear NHES over long time horizons. Rather than treating the entire horizon as a single optimization problem, a large number of combined optimization problems are solved for shorter samples of the horizon resulting in distributions of optimal capacities for each of the …

Does Chronic Low Back Pain Influence Breathing Mechanics And Diaphragm Positioning? A Pilot Study, Lindsey Wensel

Theses and Dissertations

Background and objective: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a complex musculoskeletal condition and often the source of the pain is not clear. A correlation has been found to exist between incidences of low back pain (LBP) and those with respiratory diseases such as COPD. This could give reason to believe that the sequence of events could be reversed, and LBP could elicit changes in respiratory function. The purpose of this study is to investigate if CLBP has an influence on breathing mechanics and the positioning of the diaphragm in the trunk. Methods: Volunteers were recruited between the ages of …

Friction And Heat Transfer Modeling Of The Tool And Workpiece Interface In Friction Stir Welding Of Aa 6061-T6 For Improved Simulation Accuracy, Ryan Melander

Theses and Dissertations

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state joining process that offers advantages over traditional fusion welding. The amount of heat generated during a FSW process greatly influences the final properties of the weld. The heat is generated through two main mechanisms: friction and plastic deformation, with friction being the larger contributor in a FSW process. There is a need to develop better predictive models of the heat generation and heat transfer in FSW. Almost all models seen in the literature validate temperature predictions on only one side of the tool/workpiece interface, thus ignoring possible inaccuracy that comes from incorrect partitioning …

Variability Among Individual Male Runners Influences Cumulative Loading More Than Foot Strike Type, Tamarie Trotter

Theses and Dissertations

Foot strike type affects running mechanics and may influence overuse injury occurrence. Measuring the interaction between cumulative load and foot strike type may provide additional information that could eventually help with understanding injury mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to determine how foot strike type affects cumulative loading in runners, and to determine if individual metrics change throughout a 5-kilometer sub-maximal run. 30 participants ran on an instrumented treadmill for 5 km at 3.15 m/s with their preferred foot strike type (14 rearfoot strike, 16 non-rearfoot strike). Stride rate, foot strike angle, loading rate, per stride and per km …

Remembering And Forgetting: The Commemoration Of The First World War And The Spanish Influenza Pandemic In Salt Lake City, Utah, Bethany Kathleen Gustafson

Theses and Dissertations

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, American culture has experienced a renewed interest in pandemic events, including the Spanish Influenza pandemic of 1918-1919. Based on research carried out in cemeteries and monuments in Salt Lake City, Utah, this paper compares commemoration practices relating to the Spanish Influenza pandemic and the simultaneous events of First World War within the city. Such research provides evidence that warfare enjoys a greater presence in places of social memory than does disease, suggesting an inequality in the cultural value placed on different causes of death. This outcome is the result of numerous factors and …

Extending Model Checking Using Inductive Proofs In Distributed Digital Currency Protocols, Kyle R. Storey

Theses and Dissertations

Model checking is an effective method to verify both safety and liveness properties in distributed systems. However, the complexity of model checking grows exponentially with the number of entities which makes it suitable only for small systems. Interactive theorem provers allow for machine-checked proofs. These proofs can include inductive reasoning which allows them to reason about an arbitrarily large number of entities. However, proving safety and liveness properties in these proofs can be difficult. This work explores how combining model checking and inductive proofs can be an effective method for formally verifying complex distributed protocols. This is demonstrated on a …

Integration Of Insoluble And Soluble Dopants Into Steel Using Laser Powder Bed Fusion, Mckay Goodman Sperry

Theses and Dissertations

Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) is an Additive Manufacturing (AM) method whereby complex parts can be built to near net geometry in an automated environment. Parts formed by LPBF have excellent properties and require little post-processing. While LPBF allows for creative designs to reduce weight and part count by integrating sub-components of assemblies, designers are limited to one material within any LPBF print. Although various materials can be used in LPBF, metals are of special interest to many industrial customers due to their high strength and toughness. The metals commonly used for LPBF include iron, aluminum, and titanium alloys. These …

Characterizing Dust From National Wind Erosion Research Network Sites Using Strontium Isotopes, Major And Trace Element Chemistry, And Mineralogy, Abby L. Mangum

Theses and Dissertations

The frequency of dust storms is increasing globally yet it is often difficult to determine dust sources in mixed events. Dust events may negatively impact human health, but the composition of major dust sources is not well characterized in arid regions globally. In the western US, the National Wind Erosion Research Network (NWERN) has various sites evaluating seasonal dust emissions to quantify dust fluxes. We used existing dust samples to characterize the isotopic, chemical, and mineralogical composition of dust over multiple seasons from ten representative NWERN sites and compared with land use, vegetation, and surficial geology. Our results show variability …

Acoustic Directivity: Advances In Acoustic Center Localization, Measurement Optimization, Directional Modeling, And Sound Power Spectral Estimation, Samuel David Bellows

Theses and Dissertations

Sound radiation from an acoustic source typically exhibits directional behavior, as is the case for the human voice, musical instruments, and loudspeakers, to name just a few. The necessity of directional data for many applications, such as sound source modeling, microphone placement, room acoustical design, and auralization, motivates directivity measurements. However, these measurements require careful understanding and implementation to produce the most meaningful results. Accordingly, this dissertation addresses several topics relevant to directivity theory, measurement, processing, and application. It first expands and amends previously published concepts of an acoustic source center and demonstrates the close relationship between the center and …

Reaching Readers Beyond The Screens: Understanding How And Why Student Writers Compose For Audiences Of Self-Sponsored Digital Writing, Emily Elizabeth Brown

Theses and Dissertations

In this qualitative research study, I use case studies to analyze the rhetorical understanding students have about online audiences, including how this understanding informs writerly choices, primarily in digital, self-sponsored writing. In this study I found that, while anxieties about online writing do exist, there are also many benefits for online writers that cause these anxieties to lessen. In addition, findings indicated that participants didn't always know how to correctly interpret and capitalize on audience feedback, which causes challenges, but these participants also claimed rhetorical power once they entered community spaces they cared about and better understood their purpose and …

Perceptions Of Pregnant Women Surrounding Covid-19 Vaccine Decision-Making, Mckinsey Owen

Theses and Dissertations

Background/Significance: Vaccines are essential to decrease the harmful effects of illness. The COVID-19 vaccination reduces mortality and hospitalizations from the COVID-19 virus. On August 11, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strengthened its recommendation for all people ages 12 years and older who are pregnant, lactating, or trying to get pregnant to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Despite the recommendation, pregnant women appeared to be vaccine hesitant. This qualitative descriptive study explored this hesitancy. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore pregnant women’s perceptions regarding COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and to identify information sources pregnant women …

On Algorithmic Design Methodologies, Heterogenous Rfsoc/Gpu Beamformers, And Cryogenic Antenna Efficiency Evaluation For Phased Array Receivers In Radio Astronomy, Mitchell C. Burnett

Theses and Dissertations

Modern radio astronomy’s demand for high sensitivity and wide fields of view is met through innovations that reduce receiver system noise temperatures and integrate technology supporting parallel processing and larger instantaneous bandwidths. The advanced L-band phased array camera for astronomy (ALPACA) is a fully cryogenic 69 dual-polarized dipole PAF and digital beamformer back end for the Green Bank Telescope. This instrument will form 40 dual-polarized beams yielding a 0.35 sq. deg field of view on the sky with a 305.2 MHz processing bandwidth. The target system noise temperature is 27 K. A structured technique to map critically sampled and oversampled …

Detecting Lumbar Muscle Fatigue Using Nanocomposite Strain Gauges, Darci Ann Billmire

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Muscle fatigue can contribute to acute flare-ups of lower back pain with associated consequences such as pain, disability, lost work time, increased healthcare utilization, and increased opioid use and potential abuse. The SPINE Sense system is a wearable device with 16 high deflection nanocomposite strain gauge sensors on kinesiology tape which is adhered to the skin of the lower back. This device is used to correlate lumbar skin strains with the motion of the lumbar vertebrae and to phenotype lumbar spine motion. In this work it was hypothesized that the SPINE Sense device can be used to detect differences …

Evaluating The Impact Of Math Self-Efficacy, Math Self-Concept, And Gender On Stem Enrollment And Retention In Postsecondary Education, Marcia Bingham

Theses and Dissertations

Low enrollment and high attrition of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) continues to be an issue for postsecondary institutions. Improvements in representation of women has been seen in some of the agricultural and biological sciences; however, in many of the more math intensive areas such as geosciences, engineering, mathematics/computer science, and physical sciences (GEMP), women continue to be underrepresented leading to underrepresentation in the workforce and further exacerbating gender gaps. Studies suggest the lack of representation is not due to a gap in math ability between men and women, yet underrepresentation remains predominantly within math intensive STEM …

Green Lighting The Altruistic Influencer, Savanna Rebecca Bagley

Theses and Dissertations

This paper comprehensively examines a new type of social media influencer characterized by altruistic tendencies. Utilizing the popular YouTube channel Vlogbrothers as the case study text for a constant comparative analysis, this research explores how the strategies altruistic influencers use to mobilize their community for good, the characteristics of the altruistic influencers, and how altruistic influencers create community. Through an in-depth analysis of 30 Vlogbrothers videos, the themes of education, community, and shared humanity emerged. Education, shared values, and calls to action are discussed as essential for mobilizing communities in charitable endeavors. Authenticity, quality, accessibility, and solutions-focused action were found …

Ultracold Neutral Plasma Evolution In An External Magnetic Field, Chanhyun Pak

Theses and Dissertations

We study the expansion velocity and ion temperature evolution of ultracold neutral plasmas (UNPs) of calcium atoms under the influence of a uniform magnetic field that ranges up to 200 G. In the experiments, we use a magneto-optical trap (MOT) to capture the neutral atoms and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) to take images of the plasma. We vary the magnetic field strengths and the initial electron temperatures and observe the plasma evolution in time. We compare the ion temperature evolution to the theory introduced in the paper by Pohl et. al. [Phys. Rev. A 70, 033416 (2004)]. The evolution of the …

Exploring Blended Learning Supports For First-Generation And Underrepresented Minoritized Undergraduate Students, Krista Marie Gardner

Theses and Dissertations

First-generation students are frequently underrepresented minoritized (URM), low-income students (Douglas, 2019; Postsecondary National Policy Institute [PNPI], 2021). They are often highly motivated (Haney, 2020) but frequently experience unique or exacerbated challenges in post-secondary education (Moore et al., 2018; Soria et al., 2020). These challenges may continue into online spaces. In the first paper of this dissertation, we performed a scoping literature review and uniquely identified and categorized the challenges of these students in the online environment. We placed these challenges within the model of student engagement by Borup et al. (2020) to offer theoretical perspective for potentially better student support. …

Ecology And Retribution: Blake, Tokarczuk, And Animal Rights, Kristina Isaak Powell

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores how Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk's 2008 novel, Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, engages with William Blake's life and his writings on animal welfare and speaks to current conversations about multispecies justice in the environmental humanities. It argues, first, that in recognizing how this novel's protagonist, Janina, selectively reads Blake to rationalize retributive justice, readers should resist a tendency to mistake this character for Tokarczuk's ideal advocate for environmental ethics. Secondly, it asserts that legal scholars' division between retributive and restorative justice offers valuable framework for approaching both this novel and ongoing debates about …

Reconstructing Historical Earthquake-Induced Tsunamis: Case Study Of 1852 Event Using The Adjoint Method Combined With Hmc, Chelsey Noorda

Theses and Dissertations

Seismic hazard analysis aims to estimate human risk due to natural disasters such as earthquakes. To improve seismic hazard analysis, our group is focused on earthquake induced tsunamis and the use of statistical models to reconstruct historical earthquakes. Based on the estimated wave heights given in anecdotal historical descriptions, we created observational probability distributions to model the historically recorded observations and constructed a prior distribution on the relevant earthquake parameters based on known seismicity of a given region. Then we used the software package GeoClaw, and a Metropolis-Hastings sampler to obtain a posterior distribution of earthquake parameters that most closely …

Meet Them Where They Scroll: A Meta-Analytic Review Of Teen And Young Adult Dating Violence Prevention Programs, Aeriel Grace Halstead

Theses and Dissertations

The public is often surprised by the high prevalence of relationship violence. With more than 50% of adults experiencing some form of physical or psychological violence in their intimate relationships during their lifetime, IPV is a public health crisis that particularly affects marginalized communities (Breiding et al., 2015; Johns et al., 2019, 2020; Stockman et al., 2015). The variable results of perpetrator and victim treatments make prevention particularly important if it is effective (Anderson & Van Ee, 2018; Babcock et al., 2004; Cheng et al., 2021; Karakurt et al., 2019; Maguire, 2018; Stith, Rosen, et al., 2004; Stover et al., …

The Effects Of A Peer-Mediated Social Skills Intervention On Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Shannon Elizabeth Mcconaghie

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of a peer-mediated social skills intervention (PMI) on children 6-12 years of age diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Current literature discusses the effects of peer-mediated social skills interventions for children with ASD in schools and on the playground but has not been conducted in an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) clinic or in an Early Childhood Education/ABA-integrated preschool. Three dyads, each consisting of a typical peer and a target child diagnosed with ASD, participated in this study. The frequency of participants' initiations, responses, and continuations were collected throughout all phases, …

Racial Differences And Lived Experiences: Civil Rights Experiences And A Private, Religious, Predominantly White Institution, Anthony Brandon Bates

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This article explores the expressed thoughts and feelings of 24 research participants who processed and articulated their lived experiences. They each attended the same private, religious, historically, and predominantly White institution and participated in a three-credit course that covered the history of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and '60s, which culminated in an experience in Georgia and Alabama (Civil Rights experience). Methods: In this phenomenological study, the research participants all participated in a semi-structured interview with the same bank of questions. The questions were designed to examine their lived experiences, within the context of participating in the …

Marital Stability In Newlywed Remarried Couple Relationships: Positive Communication And Marital Interactions In Shared Moments Or Activities, Colette Hickman-Evans

Theses and Dissertations

Remarriages are more structurally diverse, last less time, are more vulnerable, and at greater risk for divorce than first marriages. The newlywed stage of marriage is a critical time when relationship patterns are established or reinforced that can impact a relationship for years to come, yet very few studies have examined remarried relationships in the newlywed stage. This study examined the association between marital interaction, positive communication, and marital instability in 348 newlywed remarried couple participants from a nationally representative sample. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) and actor-partner interdependence model with mediation (APIMeM), the findings indicated that positive communication was …