Digital Commons Network^™

Securing Approximate Computing Systems, Pruthvy Yellu

Doctoral Dissertations

Approximate Computing (AC) techniques have been leveraged to improve computing performance and energy efficiency with minor degradation in accuracy. Different than conventional computing, AC allows the computation to deviate from the reference or deterministic execution behavior. Thus, AC has emerged as a new paradigm of computing systems, especially for the applications such as image processing, audio recognition, and artificial intelligence. The majority of research efforts on approximate computing focus on new approximation mechanism design and implementation, rather than examining the security vulnerabilities of AC systems. To fill this gap, we first analyze the potential security threats induced by the AC …

Non-Covalent Anchoring Strategies For Hybrid Electrocatalytic Systems, Peiyuan Zhao

Doctoral Dissertations

Global climate change, induced by increasing anthropogenic emission of heat trapping gases, has drawn great attention from scientists in recent decades. Reducing carbon emissions by decreasing the usage of fossil fuels and applying low/no carbon energy sources is a promising solution for a sustainable future. Electrocatalytic proton reduction to form hydrogen, using green electricity is a practical starting point.

Recent examples of heterogenized molecular catalysts have shown promise but stable anchoring to electrode surfaces is still a challenge. Heterogeneous electrocatalysis shows much more stability, but these systems lack the selectivity provided by a molecular system when more challenging reactions are …

Symmetry, Bifurcations And Transition To Turbulence, Pratik Prashant Aghor

Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis focuses on two wall-bounded shear flows, namely, plane Poiseuille flow, where a fluid is pushed between two infinite parallel plates and radially heated Taylor-Couette flow, where a fluid is sheared between two independently rotating cylinders maintained at different temperatures. An overarching theme of this thesis is understanding and exploiting the interplay between symmetries and dynamics.

Chapter 1 presents an overview of the field of transition to turbulence and introduces the dynamical systems viewpoint of turbulence. In particular, we discuss subcritical transition to turbulence, where flows are observed to be turbulent below critical thresholds predicted by linear stability analysis. …

Nonlinear System Identification And Motion Control System Design For Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles, Oguzhan Oruc

Doctoral Dissertations

Modeling and control of marine robotics have become a conspicuous research topic in the controlengineering community in the last decade. Remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) are deployed and used in commercial, military, and scientific areas for many different purposes such as inspection and maintenance of submerged infrastructure, underwater surveillance/maritime, security, and ocean floor mapping most of which cannot be achieved effectively by human operators. However, to be able to operate these vehicles, an effective controller must be obtained, and an accurate dynamic mathematical model of the vehicle from which to design the controller is necessary. Although conventional modeling approaches are …

Mental Health And Experiences Of Pregnancy Among Black Women And Birthing People With Type 1 Diabetes (T1d), Madeleine E. Marcus

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explored the potential effects of intersections of oppression (i.e., anti-Black racism, diabetes discrimination, and sexism) on mental health and pregnancy experiences among Black women and birthing people with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Previous studies about pregnancy and T1D have included mainly white, cisgender women. Three participants qualified for inclusion in the present study and participated in semi-structured interviews, which the researcher analyzed using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) framework. Participants described feeling uncertain about whether aspects of their pregnancy experiences were related to obstetric and/or medical racism. Similarly, participants sometimes seemed uncertain about how racism may affect their …

The Effects Of Acculturation, Marianismo, And Religiosity On Pregnancy Related Anxiety In Latina Women, Jennifer M. Zanoli

Doctoral Dissertations

There is a dearth of information about pregnancy related anxiety (PRA) in Latina women, yet a growing body of literature demonstrates adverse birth outcomes for mother and infant due to PRA. This study examined the association between acculturation, religiosity, marianismo, parity, and a Latina pregnant woman’s relationship with her healthcare provider with PRA in Latina women aged 18 and above. Acculturation was expected to be the more robust factor amongst the independent variables.

Participants in this study (n = 53) were Hispanic, Chicano, Latino or had a Latin or Spanish heritage, over the age of 18, pregnant at the …

Working With Other Immigrants Brings The Parts That I Lost Back To Me: The Experiences Of Latin American Immigrant Therapists Working With Latin American Immigrant Populations, Elizabeth P. Rivera

Doctoral Dissertations

Therapists who work with traumatized populations are vulnerable to experiencing trauma indirectly. This experience may be exacerbated for those who have experienced trauma themselves. As LatAm immigrant populations have often experienced trauma at the various migration phases, therapists who are LatAm immigrants and work with LatAm immigrant clients may also experience secondary traumatization as an inherent part of their work. While the research on secondary trauma spans decades, there is a dearth of literature on the experiences of LatAm immigrant therapists specifically. This qualitative dissertation study begins the conversation of what the lived experiences of LatAm immigrant therapists are via …

Threads, Buckets, And Impact: A Framework For Tool Accelerated Machine Learning Courses, Jonathan Adam Niemirowski

Doctoral Dissertations

Artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML) have exploded in use, accessibility, and awareness in the past few years, particularly with the release of ChatGPT in late 2022. Advances in end-user ML tools are accelerating the development of ML applications, lowering the technical barrier of entry for users outside of the computer science (CS) community. Access to ML education within STEM is mostly limited to upper-level computer science courses that have deep pre-requisite requirements or to introductory workshops that yield limited ML skills. Despite the critical need for ML education, there is a lack of guidance in instructional design for applied …

The Effectiveness Of Interventions To Increase Antiretroviral Therapy (Art) Adherence Among Latinx Men Who Have Sex With Men (Msm) With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv) In The United States: A Systematic Review, Everardo Leon

Doctoral Dissertations

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to affect Latinx men who have sex with men (MSM). Interventions have been developed to improve antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, but little is known about the number of available interventions and their effectiveness to assist Latinx MSM. The current systematic review investigated the effects of interventions aimed at improving ART adherence for the treatment of adult Latinx MSM with HIV in the United States. The systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to communicate the results. The inclusion criteria comprised Latinx MSM with HIV, any type of …

Understanding Filipino Wellness: Investigating The Effects Of Colonial Mentality And Enculturation, Juliene Grace P. Fresnedi

Doctoral Dissertations

Filipino Americans are the third largest Asian American group within the United States and report significantly worse mental health when compared to other population groups. As a result of colonization by both Spain and the United States, Filipino culture has been perceived as a unique blend of cultural influences. Despite there being over 4.1 million Filipinos residing in the US there is a significant lack of research that directly investigates the well-being of this population and to what extent factors such as colonial mentality, enculturation, and generational status have an impact. The present study seeks to address this gap in …

Alleviating Mathematics Anxiety For Middle School Students Using A Combined Intervention Approach Versus Only Using The Cognitive Intervention Approach For Increasing Mathematical Achievement: A Comparative Study, Patricia Anna Garcia

Doctoral Dissertations

Current research has found evidence of effective interventions for mathematics anxiety, both motivational and cognitive interventions can affect learning through instructional design and increased student engagement. Thus, this study investigated whether a combined (cognitive and motivation) intervention approach was more effective than only using a cognitive intervention approach for alleviating mathematics anxiety in middle-school students in order to develop a positive mathematical self-concept. The design used in this study was a comparison pretest-posttest study using the modified Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale (mAMAS) to measure the participants’ level of mathematics anxiety and the STAR Mathematics diagnostic assessment to measure gradual mathematics …

A Case Study Of A School-Supported Extracurricular Activity's Influence On Stem Identity And Interest For Females, Letta Meyer

Doctoral Dissertations

Even though there has been a narrowing of the gender gap in STEM, there is still a pronounced gap in the physical sciences, engineering, and computer science. Females who persist in these fields have a strong STEM identity, including developing specific STEM interests. Females can develop STEM identity through long-term, active involvement in extracurricular STEM programs. Extracurricular STEM programs significantly impact the persistence of females in the STEM pipeline. This case study examined the effect of Science Olympiad, an extracurricular STEM program, on current high school students and alumnae’s perceptions of their STEM identity and personal specific STEM interest. Potential …

African American Women Make Meaning Of Historical Trauma, Deidre A. Miller

Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Historical trauma may be a fairly new concept for some providers; therefore, this research offers another clinical lens through which providers can view the presenting problem(s) of their African American female patients. This qualitative study used descriptive methodology to examine the range of African American women’s lived experiences connected to historical trauma with two interlocking systems of oppression: race and gender. Two themes and six subthemes were developed from the data collected: Theme A: Prevalence of Racist Experiences Throughout Their Lifespans; and Theme B: Responses to Racism (e.g., Emotions & Coping Mechanisms).

This study gives clinicians insight into the …

Parent-Child Conversations About Body Safety And Consent, Natasha Gerber

Doctoral Dissertations

This is a qualitative study of parents who shared their experiences discussing body safety and consent with their children. Twelve parents participated in a semi-structured interview, and conventional content analysis was used to analyze the data. There were five common themes that emerged from the data, with several categories within each theme: (1) parental motivation for engaging in discussions about bodies, consent, and sex; (2) teaching and modeling body safety and consent in the home; (3) variation of language used to discuss boundaries, bodies, behavior, and consent; (4) potential barriers to having parent-child conversations; and, (5) other factors that impact …

The Association Between Psychotic Symptoms And Romantic Relationship Quality Among Young Adult Ethnic Minorites, Tashagaye T. Mckenzie

Doctoral Dissertations

This study aimed to examine the association between psychotic symptoms and the quality of romantic relationships amongst ethnic minority young adults. Approximately 10.4 million people, which represents 4.2% of the adult population in the U.S, are currently diagnosed with severe mental illnesses, including psychotic disorders. Prior research found that ethnic minorities, in general, have an increased risk of developing psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. People with SMI generally have issues being and maintaining romantic relationships. However, being in positive romantic relationships is associated with better physical and mental well-being. The final sample size for the study consisted of 411 young …

Risk-Based Decision-Making Modeling For Wastewater Pipes, Sai Nethra Betgeri

Doctoral Dissertations

The dissertation research work described here has three primary objectives under risk-based decision making. (1) The development of a comprehensive sewer pipe condition rating model that incorporates many environmental, structural, and hydraulic parameters. (2) The development of a sewer pipe deterioration model used to predict future overall condition states of the pipe, as well as determining the probability of failure at any given age of the pipe. (3) The development of a comprehensive consequence of failure model that assesses the consequence of sewer pipe failure using economic, social, and environmental cost factors.

The Pipeline Assessment and Certification Program (PACP) was …

Silicon Nitride And Metalized Halloysite Nanotube For Enhanced Bacteriostatic Activity, Wound Healing, And Tissue Regeneration, Femi Alakija

Doctoral Dissertations

Metals such as titanium have been used in implants, but there are often cases of infection and rejection of the implant from the body. In the past decade, the use of metal nanoparticles has seen increasing demand as an alternative treatment for reducing microbial infections, leading to progress in orthopedic surgery and wound healing. Recent investigations have developed new biomaterial bone substitutes with novel structural, biological, and mechanical properties. Advanced ceramic materials, such as Si3N4, may fulfill all the requirements above and represent a promising alternative to metals or polymers. However, the above mentioned materials have limitations because they are …

Assessment Of Human Performance In Industry 5.0 Research Via Eye-Tracking And Cognitive Biases, Dana Isam Hamarsheh

Doctoral Dissertations

Manufacturing assembly is combining previously made components or subassemblies into a final finished product. The assembly process can be manual, hybrid, or fully automated. Human operators who are involved in assembly use their judgment to perform the process. They collaborate with the other work agents such as assembly machines, robots, smart technologies, and computer interfaces. The recent Industrial revolution, Industry 5.0, exploits human expertise in collaboration with efficient and accurate machines. Manufacturing facilities that feature Industry 5.0 work settings require higher expectations, higher accuracy, sustainability solutions, mass customization of products, more human involvement, and digital technologies in smart workstations. Given …

Peptide Carriers To Improve Uptake And Functionality And To Cross Bbb To Arrest Secondary Injury Post Tbi, Yashwanthi Yanamadala

Doctoral Dissertations

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) possess the ability to transport different cargos efficiently across the cell membrane. In this study, the ability of a CPP to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and stably carry therapeutic components across the plasma membrane was assessed. The therapeutic efficacies were determined by the ability of the KAFAK conjugated anti-inflammatory peptide drug to inhibit the progression of secondary neuronal damage in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) model at 7-day post-injury (DPI) by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines. A related study with minocycline and PgP-rolipram was conducted to improve the outcome in TBI models at 14 DPI. …

Chitosan-Based Composite For Wound Healing & Biomedical Applications, Abdul-Razak Masoud

Doctoral Dissertations

Polymer composites have witnessed increased research interest in the last decades, and the applications of these materials include drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound bandages and dressings. Numerous polymers have been studied to fabricate the ideal wound dressing. Making these polymer composites biocompatible, porous, and bioactive with high absorption capabilities is critical to guide cell growth and differentiation and limit their detrimental effects on incorporated therapeutic molecules. This research work aims to address shortcomings of available wound dressings by fabricating a biocompatible, porous, bioactive, and antimicrobial dressing using chitosan (CTS) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) polymers incorporated with zinc-doped halloysites (ZnHNT). …

Creating Inclusive Practices Through A Culture Of Caring In School Leadership: A Principal’S Perspective, Kasie Mainiero

Doctoral Dissertations

Elementary educational research and practice have relied heavily on academic success and achievement based on standardized test scores, sometimes to the exclusion of other vital aspects of education, preparing each student to reach their full potential mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally. This dissertation posits that the leaders of schools must establish a caring culture to create positive outcomes in teacher satisfaction, student attendance, and student performance. It further explains that we must look at the leadership to determine their qualities and characteristics for this to be possible. This dissertation presents the role a Culture of Caring plays in a diverse …

Assessment Of Human Performance In Industry 5.0 Research Via Eye-Tracking And Cognitive Biases, Dana Isam Hamarsheh

Doctoral Dissertations

Manufacturing assembly is combining previously made components or subassemblies into a final finished product. The assembly process can be manual, hybrid, or fully automated. Human operators who are involved in assembly use their judgment to perform the process. They collaborate with the other work agents such as assembly machines, robots, smart technologies, and computer interfaces. The recent Industrial revolution, Industry 5.0, exploits human expertise in collaboration with efficient and accurate machines. Manufacturing facilities that feature Industry 5.0 work settings require higher expectations, higher accuracy, sustainability solutions, mass customization of products, more human involvement, and digital technologies in smart workstations. Given …

The Perceived Impact Of The Use Of African American Vernacular English In A Sales Situation, Cameron Sumlin

Doctoral Dissertations

According to William Raspberry “Good English, well-spoken and written, will open more doors than a college degree. Bad English will slam doors you didn’t even know existed.” This dissertation examines the use of Standard American English (SAE) vis-à-vis African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in a sales situation. This dissertation is grounded in the Stereotype Content Model (SCM) and its two dimensions, warmth and competence. This research reveals the perceived influence that a particular dialect has on stereotype activation, through warmth and competence in a personal selling situation. This study extends marketing and sales literature by specifically focusing on AAVE vis-à-vis …

Clay Nanotube Drug Carrier With Enhanced Membrane/Skin Permeability, Mahdi Saleh

Doctoral Dissertations

Halloysite nanoclay is a natural material which is interesting for biomedical applications. Its unique physiochemical structure that forms the tubular shape originates from rolled sheets of aluminosilicate 15-20 times, such that alumina is inside and silica on the outside of the nanotubes, thus defining inner positive and outer negative charges. The dimensions of these tubules vary from 500-1,000 nm in length, external diameter 50-60nm, and inner lumen 12-15nm. Halloysites are biocompatible, cheap, and available in large quantities which suggests that these tubules can be used as effective nanocarriers. In this work, we exploited halloysite as a “nano-torpedo” for targeted drug …

Air Coupled Impact Echo Testing Of Buried Concrete Pipes, Yash Kumar Dhabi

Doctoral Dissertations

Concrete pipes constitute an integral part of the buried infrastructure, and non-destructive testing (NDT) plays an important role in their maintenance effort. Impact echo (IE) is a well-established NDT technique that is widely used for the investigation of concrete structures. In this technique, the thickness (or resonant) frequency is first measured by inducing (compression) P-wave into the structure using an impact source and recording the elastic wave generated using an accelerometer. From the knowledge of P-wave velocity of the medium, the unknown thickness and subsurface defects are then established. To effectively apply this technique, the transducer should be properly coupled …

Coaching Isn't Just For Little League Anymore: A Theory Of Individual Coachability, Ashley C. Fournet

Doctoral Dissertations

Utilizing coaching as an employee development activity has increased significantly in the practitioner space in recent years. Practitioners have implemented coaching in the modern organization, establishing best practices for both coaches and coachees. Coaching is a dyadic relationship whereby the coach and the coachee play a critical role in the successes obtained by the relationship. Previous academic research in a variety of disciplines, including athletics, entrepreneurship, marketing, and management, has studied the coach/coachee relationship extensively from the perspective of the coach. Although the coach’s perspective is important, practitioners and academics agree that individual coachability is a key individual characteristic of …

Development Of A Rubric To Measure Radiography Programmatic Assessment Plan Quality, Rebecca G. Hamm

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation attempts to fill an existing gap in the literature concerning radiography programmatic assessment and provide a method of self-assessment for programs to create and evaluate their programmatic assessment plan. There is limited radiography-specific literature concerning programmatic assessment plans, and what does exist concerns general assessment best practices and some other allied health or health science related empirical research. Assessment plans are a necessary part of accreditation by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), which is required by many programs. However, education for many radiography program assessment plan contributors is limited in this area, and …

First-Principles Calculations On Optoelectronic Properties Of Halide Perovskites For Solar And Sensing Devices, Sean Nations

Doctoral Dissertations

Perovskites are a class of semiconductors which has been rapidly growing in popularity due to their potential as absorbing layers for solar cells and applications in other devices such as sensors. There are several types based on the constituent species making up their ABX3 structure, and the flexible formulation results in tunable electronic properties. The research contained within this work aims to contribute to the knowledge of some of the most promising sub-types of halide-containing perovskites by way of first-principles density functional theory calculations, with the aim of improving the commercialization potential of derivative devices. The formulations of (MA)BX3 (A …

An Integrative Approach To Assess The Behavioral Impacts Of Noise Stimuli On The Australian Black Field Cricket, Teleogryllus Commodus, Jessica Briggs

Doctoral Dissertations

For acoustically oriented species, elevated levels of ambient sound can interfere with an organism’s ability to detect and assess acoustic signals and cues needed for making important decisions. Ambient noise, defined as any unwanted or non-focal acoustic signal, can impact behavior and decision-making by disrupting auditory sensory perception. As a result, noise in the context of this dissertation can be further delineated as excess sound that hinders a receiver's ability to detect and distinguish acoustic signals. Noise consists of either airborne or substrate-borne modalities or both. While many studies focus on the impact of airborne noise, many species have evolved …

Numerical Modeling Of Flexible Structures In Open Ocean Environment, Alexander Knysh

Doctoral Dissertations

The dissertation presents advancements in numerical modeling of offshore aquaculture and harbor protection structures in the open ocean environment. The advancements were implemented in the finite element software Hydro-FE that expands the Morison equation approach previously incorporated in Aqua-FE software developed at the University of New Hampshire.

The concept of equivalent dropper was introduced and validated on the example of a typical mussel longline design. Parametric studies for mussel dropper drag coefficients and bending stiffness contributions were performed for different environmental conditions.

To model kelp aggregates in macroalgae aquaculture, a corresponding numerical technique was developed. The technique proposes a modified …