Design, Synthesis And Characterization Of Zinc And Gold-Based Metal Organic Frameworks And Complexes For The Detection And Treatment Of Cancer, May Reda Mohamed

Dissertations

The early detection of cancer plays a pivotal role in improving patient outcomes, emphasizing the urgent need for highly sensitive and selective biosensing platforms. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising candidates in this domain due to their tunable properties, large surface area, and high porosity. Herein, the utilization of zinc-based MOF as a sophisticated biosensing platform tailored for the precise detection of the HER2 cancer biomarker is presented. HER2, a critical protein marker in breast cancer diagnostics and treatment, demands highly selective and accurate detection methods for effective patient management. Simple hydrothermal synthesis methodology has been adopted to synthetize …

Determining Factors For Improved Uptake Of Harm Reduction Services In The United States: A Study Of Inclusive, Culturally Sensitive Messaging, Lauretta Ekanem Omale

Dissertations

Harm reduction refers to public health policies and programs aimed at decreasing the adverse consequences associated with drug use. While harm reduction services (e.g., syringe exchange programs) can mitigate health risks, marginalized groups face barriers to service access and utilization, partially due to ineffective messaging approaches that fail to align with cultural values and experiences. A one-size-fits-all approach to messaging can negatively impact service utilization, health outcomes, and health disparities. Ineffective communication can lead to poor adherence to treatment, poorer health outcomes, and increased adverse events.

Culturally insensitive communication contributes to stigma, mistrust, and lack of perceived relevance, discouraging service …

Quasi-Monte Carlo Estimation For Functional Generalized Linear Mixed Models., Ruvini Kumari Jayamaha Hitihamilage

Dissertations

Functional Data Analysis (FDA) is a topic of growing interest in the statistics community and is applied in a wide range of fields such as Anthropology, Epidemiology, Meteorology, Neurology and Engineering. The data in FDA are smooth curves or surfaces in time or space which can be conceptualized as functions. Because of the smooth nature of the data and the measurements are highly correlated, making the classical methods such as univariate or multivariate analysis are infeasible for such data. Functional data Analysis (FDA) deals with these kinds of more detailed, complex, and structured data.

In this dissertation, we propose a …

Network Slicing And Noma Enabled Mobile Edge Computing For Next-Generation Networks, Mohammad Arif Hossain

Dissertations

The advent of next-generation wireless networks ushers in a new era of potential, harnessing cutting-edge technologies like mobile edge computing (MEC), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), and network slicing as pivotal drivers of transformation. Within this landscape, an innovative approach is proposed by introducing a NOMA-enabled network slicing technique within MEC networks. This approach aims to achieve multiple objectives: meeting stringent quality of service requirements, minimizing service latency, and enhancing spectral efficiency. By seamlessly integrating NOMA with network slicing in edge computing environments, significant reductions in overall latency are achieved, alongside ensuring optimal resource allocation for NOMA users. To address these …

Interaction Of Particles With Plasma And Shock Produced By Pulsed Spark Discharge, Shomik Mukhopadhyay

Dissertations

Interactions of powders with high-temperature plasma and shockwaves occur in diverse scenarios, such as nuclear blasts, accidental industrial dust explosions, solid propellant combustion in explosive charges and when removing contaminants from surfaces. Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), known for generating shock and plasma, is a promising lab-scale technique for simulating these interactions. Studies with ESD involved placing powders near a spark-producing gap between electrodes and observing mechanical and chemical processes like particle motion and ignition. A limited range of spark conditions and material properties have been tested, which facilitated the development and validation of preliminary computational models describing this system. Significant gaps …

A Molecular Dynamics Study On The Destruction Mechanism Of Per And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Due To Ultrasound Technology, Bruno Bezerra De Souza

Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of stable synthetic chemicals that are highly persistent and harmful pollutants to the environment and human health. PFAS have caused a strong public and regulatory response due to their ubiquitous presence in the environment and toxicity to humans. The application of ultrasound is one of the most effective treatment technologies for the mineralization of PFAS in contaminated water. However, this technology is treated as a black box causing the inability to be optimized. Therefore, there is a pressing need to investigate the intricate dynamics of PFAS degradation under ultrasound to unlock its …

Thoughts, Conflicts, And Feelings Of Ela Teachers’ Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Matthew Osborn

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced many complications and challenges for educators. There is a need to document and describe teacher experiences during this time to determine common themes that may inform future educational practice. This study utilized narrative inquiry to examine the lived experiences of five secondary ELA teachers during the different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Three themes concerning how teachers perceived their students, work demands, and self were identified through several rounds of coding and thematic analysis. The findings and conclusions of this study contribute to developing a shared understanding of what happened in secondary education during the various …

Teacher Perceptions Of Calming Corners In Language Arts Middle School Classrooms, Freya Sneed

Dissertations

Student stress and anxiety are at an all-time high. Following the pandemic, more research is needed to better understand what types of interventions can be supportive in helping students manage their emotional wellbeing. To better support them, the researcher worked with various English Language Arts middle school teachers to implement Calming Corners, a social emotional based intervention. In this qualitative action research study, students in sixth-eighth grades were offered the use of Calming Corners in their English Language Arts classes. This research examined whether the Calming Corners was effective in reducing stress and anxiety for the students in their educational …

Uncovering Novel Small Regulatory Rna In Protostome, Sweta Khanal

Dissertations

Small RNAs play pivotal roles in post-transcriptional gene regulation across diverse phylum of protostomes. In this study, we investigate the functional significance of atypical miRNAs, mirtron miR-1017 in Drosophila. Through ectopic expression in neuronal cells, we demonstrate that miR-1017 extends lifespan by targeting its host transcript, acetylcholine receptor Dα2, and influencing its splicing. This novel trans-regulatory function suggests a mechanism for mirtron evolution, highlighting the interplay between splicing and post-transcriptional regulation. Additionally, we profile small RNA populations in the polychaete developmental model Capitella teleta, shedding light on the small RNA landscape in annelid worms. Our analysis reveals a rich …

Camp À La Campagne: Francis Poulenc’S Les Animaux Modèles, C.J. Everett

Dissertations

Francis Poulenc’s ballet Les Animaux modèles [The model animals] premiered in 1942 at the Paris Opéra during the German occupation of Paris to favorable reviews from prominent voices in the Parisian musical scene. Set in the French countryside (la campagne) in the seventeenth century, the ballet is a seemingly honest depiction of quaint rural life. To create the short vignettes that comprise the work, Poulenc (1899–1963) adapted well-known fables of the poet Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95). Existing discussions of Les Animaux modèles primarily focus on the ballet’s conception during World War II and the political implications of …

Understanding The Tick Cellular Immunity To Pathogen Infection, Abdulsalam Adegoke

Dissertations

The tick immune response consist of two main components: the cellular and humoral components. The cellular component consists of hemocytes that circulate in the hemolymph-filled body cavity. Tick hemocytes are functional analogs of the mammalian white blood cells and are involved in immune responses including phagocytosis. The Humoral component includes mainly soluble peptides that function as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and pattern recognition receptors. Although tick hemocytes partakes in the humoral responses, different tick tissues produce several humoral factors such as AMPs and lectins. We have a deep understanding of the different humoral effectors released across the tick tissues during tick-pathogen …

The Saudi Government's Response To Covid-19: A Social Media Analysis, Raghad Sonbul

Dissertations

In 2020, COVID-19 invaded the world and caused massive losses, materially, morally, and psychologically. Countries worldwide tried to mitigate the damages by taking strict precautionary measures. The response of governments to this pandemic varied. This study explored the Saudi government’s response to the pandemic by examining its official Twitter accounts. Saudi Arabia holds an important position, economically, politically, and religiously. Thus, its response to COVID-19 affects its international image and reputation, as well as the tremendous number of people who visit the country annually during the Umrah and Hajj seasons. A qualitative content analysis was conducted, and 1,007 tweets posted …

Exploring The Influence Of Integrating Soft Skills Training Into The Undergraduate Stem Curriculum On The Stem Identity Of Students, Candace King

Dissertations

One of the major issues that STEM graduates face is overcoming Imposter Syndrome, and there is a consensus amongst STEM graduates and job recruiters that the current higher education system is missing some elements that could better prepare students for a successful STEM career. A solution to this issue results from recent research on the importance of “soft skills.” In general, “soft skills” or non-technical skills, include communication, critical thinking, and self-motivation. These skills complement “hard skills,” or technical skills, such as skills needed for performing laboratory experiments, like pipetting and Western blotting. The lack of soft skills among recent …

A Mixed Methods Evaluation Of Three Quantitative Approaches For Examining Persistence, Angela J. Rockwell

Dissertations

Institutional researchers use skills from their diverse backgrounds to collect, analyze and report data about their institutions to stakeholders representing various interests and levels of data literacy. However, there is little research into how these professionals process data and none into what aspects are important to institutional researchers when planning and executing these analyses. Given the importance of student persistence in higher education, this study used mixed methods to examine the factors institutional researchers consider when selecting a quantitative approach to exploring persistence and how they apply to selecting a quantitative approach. Three approaches (proportions, logistic regression, and discrete time …

The Practical Application Of In-Vitro Tissue Digestion As A Means Of Producing Species-Specific Larval Diets And The Impact Of Dietary Protein Composition On Growth And Metabolism In Freshwater Fish, Giovanni Settle Molinari

Dissertations

The heavy reliance on live feeds is currently restricting the growth and sustainability of the aquaculture industry, therefore, the overall goal of this research was to improve the utilization of formulated dry diets at first feeding of larval fish. This was done with a specific focus on the production and provision of the optimal dietary protein form and composition. Chapter 2 aimed to provide an efficient protein source for larval fish by using same-species muscle and endogenous enzymes to produce hydrolysates and by providing a series of diets with increasing molecular weight protein fragments through larval development. Largemouth Bass (Micropterus …

The Effect Of Altitude On Decomposition: Toward An Understanding Of The Postmortem Interval In The Rocky Mountain Region Of Colorado., Christiane Irene Baigent

Dissertations

The estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) is a critical component of medicolegal death investigation. An accurate PMI estimate has the potential to influence the allocation of investigative resources, establish the probative value of associated biological and material evidence, shape the analytical framework applied to skeletal analysis, and inform cause and manner of death. Forensic anthropologists are often tasked with PMI estimation throughout all stages of decomposition and typically rely on categorical phases of soft tissue and skeletal change purported to correspond to broad estimates of elapsed time. In an attempt to improve precision, Megyesi et al. (2005) developed the Total …

The Impact Of Death Anxiety On Counselors’-In-Training Efficacy With Substance Use Populations, Jason Rose

Dissertations

Death anxiety has been an unremitting agent of the human experience. The psychological dilemma posed by the awareness and forecasting of death can increase anxiety, thus affecting well-being through the compulsive desire or will to persist (Becker, 1973; Yalom, 1980). Such psychological armor can manifest in conscious and unconscious behaviors, thoughts, and emotions to which persons utilize psychological, social, and cultural defenses to manage anxiety (Becker, 1973; Solomon et al., 2015). Across all levels of counseling, there has been a deficiency in awareness and discussion of death-related fears within the therapeutic process (Lacocque & Loeb, 1988). Therefore, due to the …

Exploring University Student Perceptions Of Climate Change Using Connection To Nature And Psychological Distance, Jessica Duke

Dissertations

The central goal of my dissertation is to better understand undergraduate biology students’ perceptions of climate change specifically using a localized lens. Research relating to climate change perceptions and understanding is common in the K-12 setting; however, there have been far fewer studies that use undergraduate student populations. Undergraduate students represent a new age of the voting populus and are therefore an important demographic to target for inducing environmental change. To foster climate change awareness, concern, and willingness to act in our undergraduate students, we must first understand how they perceive it. Using both quantitative and qualitative approaches I explored …

Factors Influencing Uae High School Chemistry Students' Learning Of Organic Qualitative Analysis: A Qualitative Study, Manal Abdullah Almahdawi

Dissertations

Chemistry is one of the five science subfields typically covered in secondary schools in the United Arab Emirates. Chemistry is a branch of science that studies substances' characteristics, components, and structures. Numerous subfields fall under the umbrella of chemistry, including inorganic, organic, analytical, and physical chemistry. One of the topics covered in chemistry classes is the analysis of chemical compounds, which is divided into two types: quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis. While qualitative analysis determines the kind of each element or group present in a given solution sample, quantitative analysis determines the quantity of each element or group present. Students' …

Phenolic Compounds In Date Fruits (Phoenix Dactylifera L.), Muneeba Zubair Alam

Dissertations

This study investigated the phenolic compounds in date fruits, mainly soluble and hydrolyzable compounds, and insoluble melanin. Soluble (27.5–54.0 mg/100 g FW) and hydrolyzable (24.0–78.5 mg/100g FW) phenolic compounds were determined in 18 cultivars using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Phenolic acids were predominant in both fractions while flavonoids were mainly present in the soluble phenolic fraction and the proanthocyanidin B1 and B2 were only present in the hydrolyzable fraction. Four total antioxidant activity assays (total phenolic content, ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH) gave different results for both the soluble and hydrolysable fractions of 26 date fruit cultivars, which …

The Role Of Abu Dhabi's Nearshore Marine Environments In The Ecology Of Elasmobranch Fishes, Stephan Bruns

Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the role of inshore habitats in the ecology of elasmobranch fishes, with a specific focus on the wider Khor Fardiah Region on the eastern site of Abu Dhabi City. Once the vulnerability of these environments to anthropogenic pressure and climate change is recognised, it is clear that nearshore environments are susceptible to adverse outcomes. Hence, this dissertation aims to provide informative data that can help in devising effective conservation strategies. The study used a multi-survey technique approach, including stereo-BRUVS, acoustic telemetry, and satellite tracking, in combination with local ecological knowledge to explore the species diversity and habitat …

Exopolysaccharides Of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated From Labneh: Characterization, Bioactivities, And Effects On Gut Microbiome And Fermented Milk Rheology, Mohammed Tarique

Dissertations

Exopolysaccharides (EPS), produced by Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB), are carbohydrate polymers with unique physicochemical properties and various biological activities widely used in food and pharmaceutical industries. This dissertation is aimed to (1) screen 42 new isolates from traditional yogurt-like products (Labneh) for their probiotic nature and identify the LAB strains using 16S rDNA sequencing; (2) optimize the conditions like pH, temperature, time, and quantity of sucrose for the growth of EPS produced by four selected LAB isolates; (3) purify and characterize EPS for the contents and investigate the bioactivities of the partially purified EPS; (4) study the effects of the …

Investigation Of Geographic And Ontogenetic Venom Variation And Diversity Of Snake Venom Metalloproteinases In The Great Basin Rattlesnake (Crotalus Oreganus Lutosus), Eric Januszkiewicz

Dissertations

Snake venoms can show a large degree of phenotypic variation based on factors such as geographic location, environmental influences, and age which is likely beneficial for local adaptations to various ecological niches. Venom composition not only affects the ability of a snake to acquire prey but can also impact snakebite symptomology. This study, involving sixty-seven individual Great Basin Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus) venom samples collected from Idaho, Utah, California, and Arizona, showed that ontogenetic and geographic variables play a significant role and clearly drive the variation found within the venom of the Great Basin Rattlesnake. All six toxin families assessed …

Measuring Inclusive Leadership In Nonprofit Performing Arts Organizations, Thomas Abruzzo

Dissertations

Inclusive leadership is undoubtedly a practice to strive for, and few would argue against the value of leading inclusively. Yet, empirically, little is known about what constitutes effective inclusive leadership, especially in the context of nonprofit performing arts organizations. This sector is a particularly apt place to study and practice inclusive leadership because, in addition to the many benefits it provides, the nonprofit arts sector has problematic roots in terms of privileging a dominant social class by prioritizing certain art forms over others. For example, the popularity of the nonprofit form in the arts sector, when compared to for-profit or …

Genetic, In Vitro Phenotypic, And Clinical Characterization Of Atypical Enteropathogenic E. Coli Infection And Pathogenesis, Sarah E. Kralicek

Dissertations

Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) are enteric pathogens that are non-invasive, lack Shiga toxin, and use a type 3 secretion system encoded on the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) pathogenicity island to translocate bacterial effector proteins into host intestinal epithelial cells leading to diarrhea. Atypical EPEC (aEPEC), in contrast to typical EPEC (tEPEC), lack bundle-forming pili, likely altering adherence and pathogenicity. Detection of aEPEC with co-infecting pathogens and in some asymptomatic individuals leads to questions regarding aEPEC virulence, especially in adults. I aimed to characterize the clinical manifestations of aEPEC infection and the genetic and in vitro phenotypic factors that contribute …

Elucidating The Underlying Mechanisms Polyamines Play On Coxsackievirus B3 Infection, Mason Richard Firpo

Dissertations

Polyamines are a class of metabolites consisting of small carbon chains that contain amine groups and are positively charged at cellular pH. They play many important roles within the cell and are necessary for cell growth, membrane function, transcription, and translation. They are also required by a myriad of viruses for a productive infection. This includes the non-polio enterovirus Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3). CVB3 is a cardiotropic virus that can readily infect the heart and cause irreversible damage which can eventually lead to dilated cardiomyopathy and the need for a heart transplant. Unfortunately, there are no approved antivirals or vaccines that …

Investigating The Role Of Diet In Modulating Neuroinflammation In Health And Disease, Rasa Valiauga

Dissertations

An estimated 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, with the prevalence expected to drastically increase in the coming years as the population ages. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and the substantial burden associated with AD has been recognized as a growing public health issue. Despite significant advancements in uncovering the mechanisms which play a role in disease pathology, there is currently no cure or effective treatments. AD is highly complex and multifactorial, with accumulation of misfolded protein, oxidative stress, and inflammation among the numerous etiological processes implicated in disease pathogenesis. While genetic risk factors …

Convening The Counter-Conversation: Critical Participatory Action Research Against Real-Time Repression, Connor Maguire, Leo Jalipa, Anne Grass

Dissertations

This dissertation presents the anti-fascist Critical Participatory Action Research (CPAR) process of three doctoral student participants/co-researchers, all practicing educators, with varied experiences in public and private education at the middle school, high school, and collegiate level. This research examines the convergence of the participants/co-researchers in response to their shared concerns about ascendent authoritarianism and rising repression and the subsequent formation of this study’s in-process CPAR research collective organized to critically counter, rather than reiterate, this repression.

Enacting the theoretical/methodological frameworks of Critical Theory and Habermas’s Theory of Communicative Action, the participants/co-researchers dialogically determined contemporary fascism to be the focus of …

My Story Is In The Structure: An Autoethnographic Study By An Instructional Designer Working In A Centralized Academic Reporting Line, Pamela Williams

Dissertations

Although not officially named in the shared governance of an institution, instructional designers play an important role as they collaborate with administrators and faculty to create high quality, regulatory-compliant courses for enrolled students. Instructional designers working in centralized, academic reporting units may be well-positioned to advance the work of institutions to maintain good standing with the industry and regulatory bodies. To illustrate the challenges, opportunities, and strategies employed by an instructional designer working in such a position, an autoethnographic study was conducted to elucidate how shared governance influences, empowers, and disempowers an instructional designer’s ability to lead and collaborate on …

Dream-Seekers (Ladson-Billings, 2009): An Analysis Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogical Development Through The Perspective Of Black Novice Teachers, Christina Grove, Nana Becoat, Michelle Cooley, Pablo Ramos Jr

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Using critical race theory and Gloria Ladson-Billings' culturally relevant pedagogy as theoretical frameworks, this thematic narrative analysis study explored the epistemology and ontology of culturally relevant pedagogy by investigating the research question: How do Black novice teachers (years 1-5) become culturally relevant practitioners? The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with Black K-12 public school teachers in which the participants reflected on how their upbringing, cultural identities, K-12 experiences, and teacher preparation program/process impacts their readiness to practice culturally relevant pedagogy. Five themes emerged from the narrative analysis: 1) K-12 racialized trauma; 2) racialized awakening and awareness; 3) the sanctuary of …