Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Free Volume And Processing On The Development Of Gas Separation Membranes, Jacob Schekman

Dissertations

Structure, thermal, mechanical, gas transport, and free volume properties of thiol-ene based systems are investigated and discussed. In the pursuit of generating low energy-cost polymer membranes for gas separation, it became apparent that UV-curing of thiol-ene materials presented several routes toward achieving this goal. Network structure plays a vital role in determining the gas transport properties of membrane materials. UV photopolymerization techniques provide a means to rapidly vitrify network morphologies which can be tuned depending on choice of monomer. Thiol-ene monomers offer a broad range of precursor materials from which to choose for the design of functional membrane materials.

Chapter …

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 …

Einstein's Dream By Cindy Mctee: An Analysis And Transcription For Wind Ensemble, Kyle Aufderhar

Dissertations

Cindy McTee’s 2005 composition for strings, percussion, and computer music is an exploration in pluralism, combining newly composed music and computer-synthesized sounds with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and Charles Ives. McTee’s initial use of Bach’s music comprises the complete harmonization of the chorale “Wir glauben all’ an einen Gott.” In later sections of the work, McTee creates entire textures from the chorale’s soprano line, subjecting it to a variety of treatments including augmentation, diminution, inversion, retrograde, and retrograde inversion. In addition to the inclusion of his music, McTee reiterates the importance of Bach through composition that relies on …

Understanding Chain Dynamics And Conformation Of Conjugated Polymers In Films And Solutions, Guorong Ma

Dissertations

Significant efforts have been dedicated to the development of high-performance organic electronic materials, endowed with novel attributes that traditional inorganic silicon-based electronics cannot provide. Conjugated polymers stand out as the predominant class of organic semiconducting materials, offering a unique avenue to manufacture flexible, ductile, large-area, and customizable electronic devices through cost-effective solution processing. Despite the extensive array of processing methods, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of the dynamic and thermodynamic properties of conjugated polymer solutions and thin films. This dissertation endeavors to unravel the intricate structure-property-processing relationships of these materials by delving into their mechanical, dynamic, and …

Enhancing Cybersecurity In Wireless Sensor Networks: Machine Learning, Blockchain And Future Perspectives, Ilemona Solomon Atawodi

Dissertations

Security in the Industrial Internet of Things encounters various security issues but the main issues can be broken down into three core issues: Availability, Integrity, and Confidentiality. Security challenges generally tend to be caused by a failure of the system in one of these areas or cause a failure in one of these areas. Therefore researching scalable solutions to these security issues is prudent to explore methods that could be applied to large-scale industrial IIoT with tens to hundreds of devices as well as small-scale systems on a tiny factory floor comprising of just a few devices. In our research, …

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 …

Enabling High-Rate Thermoplastic Composite Manufacturing Through Structure-Processing-Property Relationships Of Polyphenylene Sulfide, Lina Ghanbari

Dissertations

In this dissertation, relationships between polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) chain structure and melt processing parameters are linked to thermoplastic composite (TPC) properties and mechanical performance. Deviations from linear PPS structure and the formation of branching/crosslinked moieties upon exposure to TPC manufacturing steps presents an opportunity to systematically uncover the interdependencies of melt-state thermal history on polymer rheology, crystallization, crystal structure, and translate these properties to the continuum level. This work first explores unreinforced PPS and how the formation of non-linear chain architectures yield altered rheological states when held at melt processing temperatures. These hindered chains exhibit unconventional crystallization behavior and non-uniform …

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 …

Onboarding To Retention: First Year Experiences Of Faculty And Staff Of Color At A Predominantly White Institution, Paige Jones

Dissertations

Proactive onboarding is essential to a long-term retention strategy. Past research has highlighted the challenge of retaining diverse faculty and staff and how an unwelcoming climate affects the decisions of leaving or staying for faculty and staff of color differently than their White coworkers. Using Bauer’s Four Cs framework, this study explores the role of first-year onboarding experiences in the retention of faculty and staff of color at predominantly white institutions (PWIs) in higher education. Purposive sampling was used to select participants, and semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with nine faculty and staff of color at a PWI in Southern …

The Sonatine For Flute And Piano By Pierre Louis Joseph Boulez, And Its Contribution To Modern Day Flute Performance, Myles Roberts

Dissertations

Following the Second World War, Pierre Louis Joseph Boulez developed a less-than-ideal reputation for his strong views within the modernist movement, and the reaction to his Sonatine for flute and piano reflected these polarized feelings. The Sonatine was initially written for the French flutist Jean Pierre Rampal, who after a failed negotiation with Boulez, refused to premier it. The work was finally premiered by Jan Van Boterdael and Marcelle Mercenier in Brussels in 1947, and the first performance of the revised version was held in Darmstadt in July 1956, by the Italian flutist Saverio Gazzelloni. Gazzelloni’s performance had the audience …

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 …

Defining Experiential: Higher Education Educator Perspectives On Experiential Education Criteria And Experiential Learning Forms, Paul Gaszak

Dissertations

In the field of experiential education, there is a general understanding that concepts and definitions of experiential education and experiential learning differ by individuals, departments, organizations, and institutions. The purpose of this quantitative descriptive research study was to gather the perspectives of individual experiential educators across higher education (n = 121) on what they perceive to be experiential education’s criteria and what forms of educational methodologies qualify as experiential learning forms. The findings demonstrated inclusive perspectives regarding both criteria and forms, such as receptiveness to experiential education being able to occur within classrooms, in short durations, and without third-party participation. …

Preservice Teachers And Game Development: Constructing Learning Experiences, Erin Catherine Wachter

Dissertations

Incorporating game-based learning and technology integration into teacher preparation programs through communities of practice can effectively bridge the gap between theory and practice. This approach involves creating simulations of real-life situations, enabling preservice teachers to prepare to co-construct knowledge and connect with learners on pedagogical and interpersonal levels. The purpose of this critical case study was to explore preservice teachers' experiences constructing game-based learning experiences by collaborating in groups to develop a content-based educational card game along with a lesson plan based on the technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge (TPACK) framework. This study's epistemological view is the transformative learning theory, …

Practices, Curricula, And Perspectives: Creating Equitable And Inclusive Science Higher Education Classrooms, Victoria Lee Duncan

Dissertations

How can Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) faculty create environments where students do not feel marginalized? Changes are necessary to address the historically exclusive climate, systemic oppressive classroom policies, and practices dominated by White, patriarchal, Eurocentric perspectives in many STEM classrooms. Faculty incorporating approaches and practices documented in the literature across time and multiple STEM disciplines can create equitable and inclusive (EI) classrooms. However, the challenge for faculty is consolidating the information to identify fundamental elements necessary for establishing EI classrooms. By synthesizing and cataloging components found in the literature, following a qualitative meta-synthesis framework, the purpose of Project …

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 …

Resource Optimized Scheduling For Enhanced Power Efficiency And Throughput On Chip Multi Processor Platforms, Shivam Kundan

Dissertations

The parallel nature of process execution on Chip Multi-Processors (CMPs) has boosted levels of application performance far beyond the capabilities of erstwhile single-core designs. Generally, CMPs offer improved performance by integrating multiple simpler cores onto a single die that share certain computing resources among them such as last-level caches, data buses, and main memory. This ensures architectural simplicity while also boosting performance for multi-threaded applications. However, a major trade-off associated with this approach is that concurrently executing applications incur performance degradation if their collective resource requirements exceed the total amount of resources available to the system. If dynamic resource allocation …

Valorization Of Date Palm Waste For The Isolation, Characterization, And Surface Chemistry Modification Of Nanocellulose, Mohsin Raza

Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the utilization of date palm waste, a lignocellulosic material, as a source for the extraction of nanocellulose (NC), a versatile biopolymer with applications in biodegradable composites, bioplastics, and food packaging. Conventional methods of NC production using mineral acids such as sulphuric and hydrochloric acid are reaching their limits of toxicity, so more environmentally friendly alternatives such as ionic liquids (ILs) are being explored. The research focuses on the characterization of different date palm wastes to evaluate their α−cellulose content, lignocellulosic character, and thermal stability. By comparing extraction methods with mineral acids and ILs, the study evaluates …

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 …

Perovskite Materials For Optoelectronics Applications: Solar Cells And Photodetectors, Abdul Kareem Kalathil Soopy

Dissertations

Perovskite materials have emerged as promising candidates for optoelectronic applications, particularly in solar cells and photodetectors, due to their remarkable properties such as high carrier mobility, tunable bandgap, and low-cost fabrication. This thesis explores two novel approaches, namely monovalent doping and bulk as well as surface passivation, to enhance the performance and stability of perovskite-based devices.

The primary goal of this research is to enhance the properties of perovskite materials to improve their optoelectronic performance, aiming to broaden their use in solar cells and photodetector devices. Specifically, this study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of Cu doping and Zinc porphyrin …

The Relationship Between Undergraduate Student Leadership Potential And Selfperceived Employability And The Moderating Role Of Student Engagement, Aizhan Shomotova

Dissertations

The employability of university graduates is increasingly crucial for economic development, particularly in the Arab region, where youth unemployment is escalating. This thesis examines the Self-Perceived Employability (SPE) among undergraduate students in the UAE, exploring its relationship with Leadership Potential (LP) and Higher Education Student Engagement (HESE). Previous studies underscore the importance of aligning higher education outcomes with labour market demands. Research in student leadership and student engagement emphasizes that proactive engagement and leadership development are pivotal in enhancing employability. This thesis builds on these findings, focusing on the unique context of the UAE. A quantitative methodology was used to …

Mapping The Invisible: Machine Learning And Geovisualization Methods For Groundwater Management, Khalid Galal Elhaj

Dissertations

Groundwater is a vital global resource, yet mapping and managing aquifers remains challenging due to costs and complexities. This doctoral dissertation pioneers novel data-driven methodologies harnessing machine learning and hydrogeology domain knowledge to sustainably characterize and monitor aquifer systems. The overarching hypothesis investigated is that time series clustering of historical well hydrographs can enable low-cost delineation of aquifer boundaries by detecting response similarities between wells sharing the same aquifer. To test this, three interconnected studies were conducted. First, a specialized time series clustering framework was developed incorporating a global temporal alignment index and custom dissimilarity metrics tuned for hydrogeology. The …

Retrofit Prioritization Of Substandard Buildings For Earthquake Risk Management, Roshen John Joseph

Dissertations

Despite the pressing need for risk mitigation techniques for reinforced concrete (RC) structures designed without considering seismic design provisions, limited research has focused on selecting experimentally verified retrofit measures from various alternatives, particularly considering minimizing disruption to operating real-life buildings. Against this backdrop, this study is directed toward selecting reliable and costeffective retrofit techniques for improving the seismic performance of substandard RC buildings with different structural systems and heights common in medium seismicity regions. Contemporary retrofit approaches are investigated, including polyparaphenylene benzobisoxazole fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix (P-FRCM) composites, carbon FRCM (C-FRCM) composites, thin high-performance reinforced concrete (HPRC) jackets, and self-centering energy …

Civil Service Merit And Employment At Will Personnel Systems: The Role Of Transformational Change Leadership In Public Sector Recruitment, Hiring, Promotion, Retention, And Succession Planning, Angela Lauria-Gunnink

Dissertations

Purpose: This nonexperimental, descriptive, and comparative study aimed to identify and describe the differences between Public Sector HR Association (PSHRA) professionals who worked in a state or local government civil service merit or employment at will (EAW) personnel system.

Methodology: This nonexperimental, descriptive, and comparative study identified and described the responses of 214 state and local government PSHRA professionals throughout the United States, focusing on their respective personnel systems. The researcher collected data and tabulated descriptive statistics and z scores to compare and statistically determine the differences between the two public sector personnel systems.

Findings: The 214 PSHRA professionals who …

Millennial Latina Non-Profit Leaders: Exploring Self-Sabotaging Behaviors And Their Journey To Reclaiming Their Power, Tatiana Mendoza-Larreynaga

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed method study was to identify and describe self-sabotaging behaviors experienced by Millennial Latina nonprofit C-Suite leaders and explore the impact of these behaviors on their career development. A secondary purpose of this study was to identify strategies employed by Millennial Latina nonprofit leaders to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors.

Methodology: Employing a mixed method sequential explanatory design, the research involved eight Millennial Latina nonprofit leaders, utilizing convenience and snowball sampling. Data collection included electronic Likert scales to quantify self-sabotaging behaviors and interviews to explore lived experiences. Analysis sought to identify prevalent behaviors and strategies for overcoming …

Mathematical Modeling For Dental Decay Prevention In Children And Adolescents, Mahdiyeh Soltaninejad

Dissertations

The high prevalence of dental caries among children and adolescents, especially those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, is a significant nationwide health concern. Early prevention, such as dental sealants and fluoride varnish (FV), is essential, but access to this care remains limited and disparate. In this research, a national dataset is utilized to assess sealants' reach and effectiveness in preventing tooth decay, particularly focusing on 2nd molars that emerge during early adolescence, a current gap in the knowledge base. FV is recommended to be delivered during medical well-child visits to children who are not seeing a dentist. Challenges and facilitators in …

Finding Combinatorial Patterns In Real Valued Omics Data, Kenneth Smith

Dissertations

Precision medicine is a healthcare approach which tailors disease prevention and treatment to an individual, based on their genetics, environment, lifestyle, and physiological state. These factors interact to produce biological changes that can be measured to produce data called omics, and include genomics, lipidomics, and proteomics. Despite the abundance of omics data and analysis techniques, researchers still struggle to identify biological findings that replicate across data sets and translate into clinical applications. In this dissertation, we employ combinatorial optimization techniques to improve upon three steps in the precision medicine analysis pipeline: 1) data cleaning, 2) community detection, and 3) feature …

In What Ways Do Perceptions By Faculty, Students, And Advisors In An Urban University Contribute To Undergraduate Student Success?, Carla Jordan

Dissertations

This study employs a mixed-methods approach to explore perceptions of academic advising among faculty, advisors, and undergraduate students at an urban university in the Midwest, focusing on its implications for student success. Utilizing Creswell’s research design framework, the research integrates quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to understand the relationship between academic advising and student outcomes.

Informed by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, the study examines how beliefs, behaviors, and environmental factors shape academic experiences and success. It employs the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) from George Kuh’s student engagement framework as a quantitative tool to measure student engagement and …

A Holistic And Collaborative Behavioral Health Detection Framework Using Sensitive Police Narratives, Martin Keagan Wynne Brown

Dissertations

Identifying behavioral health is paramount for law enforcement officers to provide appropriate follow-up community care. In the current practice, law enforcement offices manually identify these behavioral health cases to allow the designation of the relevant follow-up resources. Police reports generated by officers' response to 911 calls remain an untapped resource for identifying such incidents. Therefore, we advocate for the incorporation of manual annotations from experts, natural language processing (NLP), active learning, advanced machine learning, and ensemble techniques to detect behavioral health cases within police reports. In this dissertation, we develop tools and frameworks to automatically detect behavioral health cases from …

Development Of A Discrete Element Model For Artificial Turf, Justin Rittenhouse

Dissertations

NFL data exhibits a distinct correlation between an elevated lower extremity injury rate and synthetic surfaces. These ubiquitous injuries frequently relate to excessive foot traction (i.e., failure to release causing fracture or soft tissue damage). Consequently, a discrete element model was developed using open-source software to analyze stud traction. First, laboratory data was collected via bench level experiments covering seventeen different testing scenarios. A minimum of twenty-five samples were collected per scenario. Total work, average torque, and maximum torque were used as indicators of stud grip. And the latter two were statistically analyzed for outliers and significant differences. Next, an …

An Examination Of The Impediments To Implementing Student-Centered Teaching Methods In Public Schools, Nicole R H Adewale, Robert L. Bloch, Garry D. Gibbs

Dissertations

In education, traditional methods have long relied upon static textbooks and blackboards to impart knowledge to students. Unfortunately, the lack of dynamism with this approach has failed to foster creativity, motivation, inquiry, individualization, and other practices crucial to serving diverse learners, especially Black children. We sought to uncover barriers and potential solutions to this problem by elevating the voices of educators, from classroom teachers to building and district administrators, at a predominantly African-American suburban secondary school in the Midwest.

We designed a qualitative research study to answer a single yet layered research question: What impedes Black students from experiencing and …