Digital Commons Network^™

Determining The Pubertal Age Of Female Subadults Within The New Mexico Decedent Image Database, Jessica Destiny Parenti

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adolescence marks a critical period of social and biological transition, characterized by the onset of puberty—a pivotal milestone indicating sexual maturity. Shapland and Lewis (2013, 2014) proposed a method for tracking pubertal stages within the skeleton, encompassing observations of various skeletal developments such as the mandibular canine, hamate bone, distal radius, phalanges, and cervical vertebrae 3-5. This study analyzes the pubertal stages in 26 subadult females, aged eight to 20, from the New Mexico Decedent Image Database. By integrating the extensive background information provided by the New Mexico Decedent Image Database, this study explores the factors influencing the onset of …

Best Friends And Popular Peers As Sources Of Influence During Late Childhood And Early Adolescence, Mary Page James

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Across the transition into adolescence, changes in the child’s social world give rise to growing peer influence. As adult supervision declines and time with peers increases, children and adolescents become increasingly susceptible to influence from friends and popular peers. Unclear, however, is the relative magnitude of each and whether the scope of their influence varies across different domain behavior. Friends dominate private settings, where behaviors that promote reciprocity are particularly salient. Popular peers dominate public settings, where behaviors that promote hierarchy are particularly salient. The present study concerns the unique hypothesis that peer influence is domain specific, such that best …

Exploring The Use Of Commercial Wrist-Worn Wearables For Assessing Cardiovascular And Functional Outcomes, Safia Zoi Gecaj

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Several new wrist-worn devices estimate VO2 max; however, their validity has not been fully tested. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the validity of three wrist-worn devices (Polar Ignite 3, Garmin VivoActive 5, Garmin VivoSmart 5) for estimating VO2 max. Methods: Twenty-nine participants (21.9±2.1 years) participated.VO2 max was estimated using the three devices’ protocols. COSMED Quark CPET was used to measure VO2 max. Pearson Product-moment Correlations and paired t-tests compared device-estimated values to actual measurements. Agreement between device-estimates and measured values were determined using Bland Altman plots, mean absolute percentage error, and Intraclass Coefficients. Significance …

Multiscale Modeling Of Infectious Diseases: Identifiability Framework For Parameter Estimation And Model Validation, Ambegoda Liyanage

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understanding and controlling the spread of infectious diseases requires integrative mathematical models that connect biological processes across multiple scales, from individual-level transmission dynamics to population-level epidemic behavior. In this work, we develop and analyze multiscale mathematical models to investigate the transmission of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, with a strong focus on structural and practical identifiability to ensure model reliability.

We begin by investigating the transmission dynamics of the Usutu virus (USUV), an emerging mosquito-borne virus of growing concern in Europe and Africa. Understanding the epidemiology of such pathogens requires a systems-level approach that captures biological processes across multiple scales, …

Entrepreneur's Family Status, Strategy, Performance, Zdenka Cumano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research aims to illuminate the relationship between marital status and entrepreneurial performance among entrepreneurs, focusing on the implications for female entrepreneurs. While existing studies have predominantly examined gender-related challenges, such as disparities in access to financial and social capital, the role of marital status has received limited attention. Drawing on Becker’s seminal work (1965, 1974) on time allocation and human capital investment, this study argues that entrepreneurs face distinct risks and resource constraints compared to employees, who benefit from organizational risk-sharing and stable income. In contrast, entrepreneurs bear the full burden of market uncertainty and opportunity costs, making personal …

Enhancing Seaport Resiliency With Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Traci Ann Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Seaports are essential for international commerce as they facilitate movement of cargo through global trade networks. Failure of a seaport to remain operational during a disruptive event, such as a natural disaster or security threat, not only affects that seaport and the economy it supplies but can have far reaching impacts on supply chains worldwide. Enhancing seaport resiliency is essential to maintaining functionality in the event of crises that pose a threat to trade continuity and economic stability. This research explores the efficacy of using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to enhance resiliency building efforts in three case studies representing different …

Microplastics In Coastal Sediments, Halaina Hahn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Marine and coastal sediments are considered to be sinks for plastic pollution. The dispersal of microplastics through ocean dynamics (winds, waves, currents, and tides) may be dependent on the type of microplastic and sedimentation of the coastal environment. Coastal tourism significantly contributes to the sources of plastic, especially in the state of Florida. Microplastic pollution impacts all facets of the environment impacting ecosystem services, wildlife, and human health. However, few studies have been conducted to quantify the abundance and type of microplastics found in coastal sediments under different seasonal conditions. This project aimed to evaluate the abundance of microplastics in …

The Implications Of The Menstrual Cycle On Upper Extremity Function And Injury Risk, Kaitlyn Ashley Armstrong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the leading cause of time lost from work in the healthcare industry (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). Women account for 75 percent of the total employment in hospitals (BLS, 2022). It is important to identify key risk factors that may be contributing to the high rates of injury in this sector. Females bring a variety of unique factors into account, and understanding these factors could be critical for improving individual health and the burden placed on the system due to absenteeism resulting from injury. The cyclical hormonal fluctuations that occur over a menstrual cycle …

Safety Effectiveness Of Unsignalized Restricted Crossing U-Turn (Rcut) Intersections In Mississippi Using Empirical Bayes Before After Study, Gaurav Aryal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

At-grade intersections on high-speed highways can be hazardous, particularly where lower-speed vehicles from minor roads must cross fast-moving traffic on major roads. To address this, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) converted more than 20 unsignalized rural and urban intersections to the Restricted Crossing U‐Turn (RCUT) configuration between 2012 and 2022. This study provides the first before-after safety evaluation of these implementations, applying three analytical approaches: naïve before-after annual crash frequency comparison, an Improved Prediction Method (that accounts for changes in duration and AADT in before vs. after period), and a rigorous Empirical Bayes (EB) framework considering two definitions of …

Levee Breach Analysis Using Numerical Simulation Aided By Machine Learning, Mudhaffer Alqudah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a multi-faceted framework for the prediction of geotechnical and hydraulic failure mechanisms in earthen structures, with a focus on levees and embankments. The study integrates laboratory testing, numerical modeling, and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the assessment and forecasting of levee performance under static and dynamic loading conditions.

The first component of the research applies various machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) of soils using basic geotechnical parameters. Experimental data from lab-tested soil mixtures were used to train and compare models including Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Gradient Boosting, Random Forests, K-Nearest Neighbors, Support …

Les Conditions De Vie De La Classe Ouvrière Dans Les Chefs-D’ Œeuvre De Ousmane Sembène, Sawel Awuni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Francophone African literature emerged as a vehicle for criticism of the colonial system, subsequently shifting its focus to neocolonialism as a new stage of imperialism. Literature and film served as instruments for critiquing imperialist structures, which engendered societal issues and fostered division among Africans. This study examines how Sembène’s books and films satirize society and their continued relevance to contemporary issues in the countries and cities depicted in these literary and cinematic works. To conduct this study, two books and a film were selected as primary sources: Le Docker Noir, Les Bouts de bois de Dieu, and “La Noire de…”. …

Because Kids: Improving Reading Outcomes For Students In A Low-Performing Rural School, Cornishee Jekee Bruce

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this applied research study, I aimed to improve reading growth among at-risk, low-performing fifth and sixth-grade students at West Upper Elementary School, which was designated as a Comprehensive Support and Improvement school. I employed a data-driven decision-making framework, introduced the iReady reading computer program, and used high-quality instructional materials to address students' ongoing literacy issues. The research revealed a slight decline in the lowest reading percentiles by integrating quantitative and qualitative data collection methods through a Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle for continuous improvement. However, significant gains emerged in lower performance tiers, including significant decreases in the number of students at the …

Designing Security Primitives Using Digital And Analog Discrete-Time Chaotic Systems, Mrittika Chowdhury

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we explore the design of lightweight, reconfigurable, and entropy-rich security primitives using both digital and analog discrete-time chaotic systems. By leveraging the inherent unpredictability, sensitivity to initial conditions, and nonlinear dynamics of chaos theory, we present two distinct architectures: a pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) built using digital chaotic maps and a physically unclonable function (PUF) constructed from a compact analog chaotic oscillator. Each system is tailored for efficient implementation on resource-constrained platforms while maintaining strong statistical and security properties.

Boundaries And Barriers: A Study On The Factors Influencing Bachelor’S Degree Attainment For Women In Arkansas At Regional Public Universities, Meagan Rochelle Bowling Fudge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arkansas consistently ranks among the bottom five states nationally for bachelor’s degree attainment. To explore the factors contributing to this trend and identify opportunities for increasing degree completion, this study focuses on women attending Regional Public Universities (RPUs) in Arkansas. By examining the barriers these women face, this research aims to uncover critical gaps and inform future areas for research, policy, and investment.

Women represent the largest segment of undergraduate enrollment in the state, consistently enrolling in college at higher rates than their male peers. RPUs enroll more bachelor's degree-seeking students than any other type of institution in Arkansas, including …

Multi-Hazard Analysis Of Bridges Under Seismic, Flood-Induced Scour, And Hydrodynamic Loading, Raul Gautam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes pose significant threats to the resilience of highway transportation systems, particularly compromising the safety and serviceability of bridges. In regions susceptible to both seismic activity and flooding, the combined effects of earthquake loading, flood-induced scour, and hydrodynamic forces create a critical multi-hazard scenario. This research develops a comprehensive multi-hazard analysis framework to evaluate bridge performance under combined seismic and flood-induced hazards. Three-dimensional finite element (FE) models of representative three- and six-span steel girder bridges are developed and analyzed under varying scour depths and hydrodynamic loading conditions. Modal analysis, static pushover analysis, and non-linear …

Access To Pharmacies: Implications For Theory, Outcomes, And Policy, Emily Gravlee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation achieved the following objectives: (1) developed a patient-centered access to pharmacies framework; (2) evaluated the impact of pharmacy closures on immunization rates among Medicare beneficiaries; and (3) examined the influence of state-level pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulations on rates of pharmacy closures.

For objective 1, a grounded theory methodology was used to identify a patient-centered access to pharmacies framework (PcAP). This framework asserts that patients determine whether they have access to a pharmacy through evaluation of their characteristics, the characteristics of pharmacies, and their own needs or values within the context of a health-related need. This evaluation of …

Measuring The Dynamic Exponent Across The Excitation Spectrum Of The Fredkin Spin Chain, Coleman Kristopher Irby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spin chains are thoroughly studied models used throughout statistical physics. They make considerable simplifications to complex many-body systems that allow us to analyze complex behaviors such as phase transitions. With these large interacting systems, it is often impossible to solve them analytically. However, with the advent of digital computers, we are able to investigate these models numerically and to extrapolate to the thermodynamic limit. Our area of study concerns the Fredkin Spin Chain model. The Fredkin Spin Chain is a well studied model which has an exactly solvable ground state and an unusually large dynamical exponent, z. Much analysis has …

The Underrepresentation Of African American Male Educators In K-12 Education, Nisa Lewis Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The American education system has struggled with a significant teacher shortage for years. Alongside this shortage is the underrepresentation of African American male teachers. Despite the increasing diversity of the student population, African American men make up less than 2% of teachers nationwide (Aftunion, 2020). This disparity denies all kids access to diverse perspectives in the classroom and limits the presence of role models for students of color. Research studies have shown that African American students who have African American teachers show improvement in their grades, standardized test scores, attendance records, and graduation rates (Breazeale, 2023). This study aimed to …

Asking Pharmacists About Over-The-Counter Oral Contraceptives: Intention Among Adolescents And Young Women, Ivy Leong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The recent availability of over-the-counter oral contraceptives eliminates many barriers to accessing birth control. Even with this easier accessibility, pharmacists can still play an important role in educating users, especially adolescents and young adults. However, hesitation to reach out to pharmacists among younger populations has been documented. Additionally, little is known about the underlying driver of this hesitation.

This study aimed to examine predictors of young females’ willingness to seek assistance from pharmacists for over-the-counter oral contraceptive use and to determine the difference in the effect of these predictors between adolescents (age 16 to 17) and young women (age 18 …

Copulas And Applications Of The Multivariate Central Limit Theorem In Statistics, Mous-Abou Hamadou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We first investigate the mixing properties of copula-based Markov chains,

Secure Wireless Communication With Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces, Babita Pradhan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the promising use of Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS) for enhancing the security in wireless communication, this dissertation explores secure wireless communication facilitated by IRS to improve the secrecy rate of the system. We consider a multiple-input single-output (MISO) communication system supported by the IRS in the presence of a single legitimate user (Bob) and an illegitimate user (Eve).

First, we focus on maximizing the secrecy rate of the system through joint optimization of transmit beamforming and the phase shifts of the IRS elements. We examine two methods: (1) Method 1, which directly optimizes the secrecy rate as the objective …

Exploring Aging And Bone Health In Normal Weight Obesity And The Prevalence Of Unhealthy Lean Phenotypes, Pouria Sefidmooye Azar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a complex chronic condition characterized by the excessive accumulation of body fat. While numerous studies have highlighted the risks of adverse complications associated with obesity, limited research has explored the relationship of body composition phenotypes, more specifically normal weight obesity with aging, and bone health. Also, the prevalence of unhealthy lean phenotypes in adults in the U.S. is not clear. A secondary-data analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002 were performed to further examine the relationship between body composition phenotypes—normal weight lean (NWL), overweight/obesity with normal body fat percentage (OBL), normal weight obesity (NWO), …

A Profile Of Contempt: Its Expressive Function In The Age Of Profilicity, Eric Michael Servatius

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Contempt permeates modern political discourse and popular media. Nevertheless, within the psychological and philosophical literature on reactive attitudes, moral emotions, and negative sentiments, contempt remains comparatively understudied. In this paper, I examine contempt’s intimate connection with social identity and argue that existing accounts of contempt largely overlook the broader social role it plays in a contemporary moment characterized by digital communication and fluid group dynamics. I contend that public expressions of contempt serve two primary expressive functions in modern society: (1) to signal group identification and (2) to enforce group norms—not for the target of contempt, but for third party …

An Examination Of Community Formation Through The Lens Of Transvestia Magazine, Amanda Elaine Shinn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Transvestia magazine was important for the creation of the modern transvestite community. This project shows how the editor of the magazine defined her readership and how the stories, letters to the editor, and advertisements published within the magazine helped to develop this sense of community within the readership. The contents of the magazine were tabulated into spreadsheets and counted along with relevant data, including word counts, what issues the items appeared in, where they appeared inside the magazine, etc. The first five years of the magazine were compared with the last five years, showing how it changed editors, length, frequency, …

Identification And Computational Modeling Of Molecular Precursors To Carbonaceous And Inorganic Grains In Cosmic Media, Athena Renee Flint

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mechanistic and spectroscopic data for small astronomically-relevant molecules are necessary to make sense of astrophysical observations and modeling results. For certain groups of species, including cyclopropenylidenes, silica, silicates, and ortho-benzyne derivatives, more small-scale astrochemical insights are needed to bridge the gap between atoms and small molecules and larger structures. As these understudied species are among those that can be difficult to study experimentally, quantum chemistry provides an excellent medium for carrying out such work. Within this dissertation, elucidation of reaction pathways, qualitative and quantitative rate predictions, and computation of rovibrational spectroscopic data are combined in order to better understand the …

Slope Stability Hazard Investigation Of Calhoun County, Mississippi And The County Road 210 Landslide, Miles Heath Grames

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses geological field data, laboratory characterization of sediments, and multiple computational models of slope stability to investigate a landslide that occurred in Calhoun County, Mississippi. The primary hypothesis is that intense rainfall led to the saturation of the slope, triggering failure through the reduction of shear strength.

Fieldwork included drilling at the failure site to obtain subsurface samples and drone-based site characterizations. Laboratory analysis included soil descriptions, grain size analysis, and Atterberg limit testing. Sample characterizations revealed a stratified soil profile dominated by fine-grained silts and clays, including an organic-rich lignite layer (OL). Strata generally exhibit low permeability …

Partitions Into Sums Of Two Squares And Gaps Between Zeros Of L-Functions, Jaime Hernandez Palacios

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work consists of two distinct problems. In the first one, we use a variation of the Circle Method, along with ideas coming from the Saddle Point Method, to obtain an asymptotic formula for the number of partitions of a number n into integers which are sums of two squares. In the second problem, we discuss some new results for large and small gaps between the ordinates of zeros of high degree zeta and L-functions, including Dedekind zeta-functions associated with Galois extensions of Q and principal automorphic L-functions.

Chemical Composition And Cardiorespiratory Health Effects Of Fine Particulate Matter (Pm2.5) From Ambient Sources And Gunshot Residue: Investigating The Role Of Rage-Driven Inflammation And Oxidative Stress, Samuel Cole Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 30 million people in the U.S. use firearms for recreation or occupation annually. The discharge of firearms releases a complex chemical mixture into the breathing zone of the individual. Historically the primary concern of this exposure was the inhalation of lead (Pb), however gunshot residue (GSR) is composed of inorganic and organic components that are understudied in regards to airborne concentrations and health relevance. In addition to chemical composition, GSR released into the air is composed of various size particles from unburnt propellent and projectile fractionation. A size fraction of major health concern is particulate matter less than 2.5 …

Leveraging The Zebrafish Model For The Study Of Human Health Impacts Of Particulate Matter Exposure: Exploring Biological Effects Of Fuel Source Emissions, Autism Spectrum Disorder-Like Behaviors, And Molecular-Level Reproductive Impacts, Shayla Victoria

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Particulate matter (PM) is the solid and liquid portion of air pollution that can be found at various size fractions, including PM2.5, which is 2.5 μm or smaller in aerodynamic diameter. PM is a complex mixture, containing a wide variety of chemical constituents, including inorganic compounds (heavy metals), organic compounds (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), and pesticides, that have been individually linked to human health impacts. These include cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, but due to its small size and chemical composition, PM has the ability enter into systemic circulation and cause dysregulation of other physiological processes, such as neurodevelopment and reproduction, which …

A Spoonful Of Sugar: A Mathematics Board And Card Games Intervention For Kindergarten Students At Risk For Mathematics Disabilities, Leah Kai Tiisler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Early mathematics knowledge in kindergarten students can predict their later success in school and in life, while difficulties with mathematics early on can derail a child’s future unless they are provided with effective interventions. Ideally, interventions should be developmentally appropriate, playful, low in stress, and easy to implement. Board games and card games can be integrated into math interventions and easily adapted to include early arithmetic elements. This dissertation investigates the impact of a mathematics board and card game intervention on kindergarten students at risk for mathematics disabilities. The study employed a single-subject research design to assess the effectiveness of …