Digital Commons Network^™

A Structural Study Of Correlated Materials: Incipient Mott Insulators And Low-Dimensional Systesm., Alaa Alfailakawi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Current theories of high-temperature superconductivity suggest that electrons must organize into Cooper pairs in order for a material to exhibit a superconducting phase. Electrons in insulators experience significant repulsive interactions that tend to keep electrons localized at atomic positions. In contrast, electrons in metals are delocalized, interact weakly, and are free to conduct electricity. Therefore, the formation of Cooper pairs should have different mechanisms for metals compared to insulators. This contrast raises the debate about the origin of high-temperature superconductivity in iron-based material, whether it depends on the strong or weak coupling. Many iron-based materials are metallic in the normal …

Incarceration Experiences Of Older African American Adults Living With Hiv - A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study., Verena Schmidt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Two epidemics disproportionally impact older (50 years and over) African Americans compared to the general U.S. population: Incarceration and HIV/AIDS. Those aged 50 and older constitute the fastest growing age group of persons who are incarcerated in the United States. It is estimated that by the year 2030 about one third of the incarcerated population in the U.S. will be aged 55 years and older. While areas of “Incarceration, racial disparities and HIV” as well as “Aging and HIV” have been well studied and discussed in the literature, little is known about the lived incarceration experiences of African American persons …

Radical Renewal, The Sisters Of Loretto, Nouvelle Theologie, And The Second Vatican Council., Carol Bolton Easterly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the experiences of women who were members of the Sisters of Loretto, an American congregation of women religious, in the years around the Second Vatican Council (1962 – 65). It argues that the ideas of nouvelle théologie – a movement among progressive European Catholic scholars aimed at reconnecting faith with lived experience – had a profound impact on how the Sisters of Loretto interpreted the Council’s directives. The movement’s core ideas: ressourcement, a return to original sources of Christian inspiration; an overlapping relationship between natural and supernatural; and the importance of Church engagement with modern social …

Linear Methods For Regression With Small Sample Sizes Relative To The Number Of Variables., Rajesh Sikder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In data sets where there are a small number of observations but a large number of variables observed for each observation, ordinary least squares estimation cannot be used for regression models. There are many alternative including stepwise regression, penalized methods such as ridge regression and the LASSO, and methods based on derived inputs such as principal components regression and partial least squares regression. In this thesis, these five methods are described. K-fold cross validation is also discussed as a way for determining regularization parameters for each method. The performance of these methods in estimation and prediction is also examined through …

Compassion Or Neoliberal Governance: Critiquing The Discourse Of Compassionate Louisville., Ekramul Islam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since 2011, the city of Louisville, the site of this research, has been calling itself “Compassionate City.” The dissertation takes Compassionate Louisville as a city brand and seeks to investigate the effect of the image construction on the local politics. It aims to investigate the latent discourses produced by Compassionate Louisville in relation to the neoliberal political economy of the city. This dissertation employs the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) methodology. Compassionate Louisville, being a brand, produces a discourse of compassion. The CDA methodological approach helps to investigate this manufactured discourse in relation to the neoliberal socio-political context of the city. …

Getting Up: An Ethnography Of Hip Hop Graffiti Writers, Their Art, And Perceptions Of Society's Reactions., Theodore Malone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This ethnographic analysis of the modern hip hop graffiti writing subculture connects the separate but complementary theoretical constructs of serious leisure (Stebbins 1982), dark leisure (Smith and Raymen 2016), recreational specialization theory (Bryan 1977), and edgework (Lyng 1990) and situates the writer “standpoint” (Smith 1987) in terms of interrelations of policy and written discourse. Past research found that writers were motivated by fame and status, to express artistic skills, and to control and destroy space (Brewer and Miller 1990). Others found that writers sought to express contestant notions of style and resist economic and political authority (Ferrell 1996; 2006), and …

Search For New Physics Using Lepton Flavor Violating Signatures In Modern Particle Colliders., Atanu Pathak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Charged lepton flavor violation is a clear signal of new physics. Such decays are not allowed in the Standard Model but highly anticipated in a large class of new physics models. A direct search for lepton flavor violation in decays of the Higgs boson with the ATLAS detector at the LHC is presented here. The analysis is performed in the H → l tau channel, where the leading lepton (l) can be either an electron or a muon, and the tau lepton decays into an opposite flavored lighter lepton or via the hadronic decay channel. Published results of this search …

A Gis-Based Method For Archival And Visualization Of Microstructural Data From Drill Core Samples., Elliott Holmes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Core samples obtained from scientific drilling could provide large volumes of direct microstructural and compositional data, but generating results via the traditional treatment of such data is often time-consuming and inefficient. Unifying microstructural data within a spatially referenced Geographic Information System (GIS) environment provides an opportunity to readily locate, visualize, correlate, and explore the available microstructural data. Using 26 core billet samples from the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD), this study developed procedures for: 1. A GIS-based approach for spatially referenced visualization and storage of microstructural data from drill core billet samples; and 2. Producing 3D models of …

Pentecostal Women And Religious Reformation In The Progressive Era: The Political Novelty Of Women’S Religious And Organizational Leadership, Sherry Kaye Ms.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Progressive Era in America from 1870 to 1920 introduced unprecedented change in the way Americans lived, worked, and thought about themselves in relation to the rest of the world. New platforms of charitable benevolence, religious activism, and legislative reform were enacted to meet the changed demographic landscape initiated by waves of new immigration from Europe. The tenor of religious worship shifted in mainstream and evangelical churches to reflect not only new ways of response to these changes, but new ideas of women as authoritative leaders in secular and religious institutions. Charismatic evangelical women influenced by an era of change …

Serious Mental Illness And Rural Primary Care: Provider Training, Attitudes, And Opinions, Lydia Eisenbrandt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare resources are especially limited in rural regions of the US. The lack of Primary Care Providers (PCPs) and mental/behavioral health services is problematic, as there are high rates of behavioral and medical concerns within rural populations. Special populations, such as rural persons with Serious Mental Illness (SMI), are medically complex and represent a vulnerable and underserved population. Healthcare outcomes for persons with SMI are poor compared to the general population and commonly lead to premature death. Various barriers prevent this population from accessing optimal healthcare, especially in rural areas, due to negative perceptions/stigma, a lack of understanding from PCPs, …

Maya Bone Tool Technologies At Ucanal, Guatemala, Jacob Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A key part of understanding Maya bone tool production is studying the rare assemblages containing bone tools and bone tool debitage. The Late Classic J-2 assemblage is a distinct composition of lithic, charcoal, human and animal bone at the site of Ucanal, Guatemala. The number of sites with high concentrations of fauna remains are well, and sites with high concentrations of worked bone is even rarer. This thesis is an analysis of the worked and unworked faunal elements excavated in 2019 from Operation 1B of the J-2 assemblage. The primary purpose of this thesis is to further understand Maya bone …

Methods For Mass Data Acquisition Of Whiskey Webs., Adam D. Carrithers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Whiskey webs are a recently discovered phenomenon in which the monolayer collapse during evaporation of diluted American whiskey results in self-assembled, web-like structures. It was found that the pattern of weblike structures were unique between different American whiskey products. It is desirable to use these unique patterns as a “fingerprint” which can be used to identify whiskeys, their chemical constituents, and perhaps even counterfeits. In pursuit of identifying whiskey products based on their web pattern, it is necessary to have a large database of samples imaged for each product. The device discussed herein is the realization of an apparatus capable …

Decompositions Of The Complete Mixed Graph By Mixed Stars, Chance Culver

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the study of mixed graphs, a common question is: What are the necessary and suffcient conditions for the existence of a decomposition of the complete mixed graph into isomorphic copies of a given mixed graph? Since the complete mixed graph has twice as many arcs as edges, then an obvious necessary condition is that the isomorphic copies have twice as many arcs as edges. We will prove necessary and suffcient conditions for the existence of a decomposition of the complete mixed graphs into mixed stars with two edges and four arcs. We also consider some special cases of decompositions …

The Effects Of Different Set Configurations On Concentric Velocities In The Barbell Back Squat, Hanson Wong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if concentric velocities of lighter loads of could be augmented if they are performed heavier working sets. Twelve trained males with experience in the barbell back squat performed a 5RM and completed two separate squat training session conditions that consisted of three sets of five repetitions with 85% of their 5RM. Both conditions differed in the placement of a reduced-load set that was either performed after the working sets or during the warm-up period. No significant differences were observed in the working set MCVs in both conditions. Additionally, no significant differences were …

Development, Expansion And Role Of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells In Post-Sepsis Immune Suppression, Tuqa Alkhateeb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) numbers increase significantly in sepsis and are associated with high mortality rates. These myeloid cell precursors promote immunosuppression, especially in the late (post sepsis) stage. However, the mechanisms that underlie MDSC expansion and programming are not completely understood. To investigate these mechanisms, we used a cecal-ligation and puncture (CLP) mouse model of polymicrobial sepsis that progresses from an early/acute proinflammatory phase to a late/chronic immunosuppressive phase. Previous studies in our laboratory showed that microRNA (miR)-21 and miR-181b elevate levels of the transcription factor nuclear factor 1 (NFI-A) that promotes MDSC expansion. We report here that miR-21 …

Utilizing The Public On Public Lands: The Application Of Community Science To Monitor And Model Erosion In National Forests, Jacob L. Hansen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Unpaved forest roads are adversely affecting coldwater streams through excessive erosion and the subsequent sedimentation of adjacent waterways. To help identify areas of concern, Trout Unlimited (TU) in the Southern Appalachian region developed a Community Science initiative to gather data on sediment sources and stream-road crossings. Volunteers were recruited and trained to monitor road and trail conditions and collect and submit data using a Survey123 application on their cell phones. Analysis of the contributed data reveals statistical connections between drainage type and both erosion level and stream sedimentation. The contributed data were also included as a calibration for the lite …

The Relationship Between Cell-Free Dna And Resistance Training, Henry Lang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary purposes of this dissertation were to explore relationship between cell free DNA (cf-DNA), creatine kinase (CK), C-reactive protein (CRP), vertical jump testing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in response to a high-volume resistance training protocol, and to assess the sensitivity of cf-DNA to different resistance training volume loads. The secondary purpose was to examine the relationship between cf-DNA and relative strength. Study 1 was an exploratory attempt to discover relationships between cf-DNA, CK, CRP, delayed onset muscle soreness, and performance variables. Seventeen resistance trained males were recruited, 9 were randomly assigned to receive BCAAs while 8 received a …

Talk This Way: A Look At The Historical Conversation Between Hip-Hop And Christianity, Joshua Swanson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Christianity and Hip-Hop culture are often said to be at odds with one another. One is said to promote a lifestyle of righteousness and love, while the other is said to promote drugs, violence, and pride. As a result, the public has portrayed these two institutions as conflicting with no willingness to resolve their perceived differences. This paper will argue that there has always been a healthy conversation between Hip-Hop and Christianity since Hip-Hop’s inception. Using sources like Hip-Hop lyrics, theologians, historians, autobiographies, sermons, and articles that range from Ma$e to Tipper Gore, this paper will look at the conversation …

The Effects Of Elevation On Foraging Behavior Of Bats In Southern Appalachia, Victoria Long

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There are limited studies on bat activity in higher elevations in the Appalachian region. Levels of bat activity were compared in south central Appalachia at low (< 914.4 m) and high (> 1, 524 m) elevations in open, forest edge, and riparian habitats. Additionally, habitat suitability was modeled for a common species, big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). The study started May 27^th 2019, and sites were monitored biweekly until October 2^nd 2019. Six species and one genus were recorded during the study. Species from the Myotis genus were grouped together because of similar call characteristics. Results show that species were significantly more …

The Effects Of Increasing Running Speed On Vgrf And Asymmetry, Kaela M. Hierholzer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biomechanical and physiological parameters related to running performance are usually studied separately. However, evaluating both aspects together could be beneficial in improving athletic performance. The purpose of this study was to observe the change in peak vGRF and asymmetry as speed increases, while observing physiological responses during a O_2maxtest. Data from athlete monitoring of 12 cross-country and triathlon athletes were analyzed. The athlete monitoring protocol included three unweighted countermovement jumps and a O_2maxtest performed by the athletes. The athletes had an average O_2maxof 53.4 ± 7.7 mL/kg/min, while their average vGRF asymmetry throughout the …

Tumor-Derived Exosomes Drive Immunosuppressive Macrophages In A Pre-Metastatic Niche Through Nf-Kβ Dependent Glycolytic Metabolic Reprogramming., Samantha M. Morrissey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The formation of a pre-metastatic niche is a fundamental requirement for primary tumor metastasis. One of the defining characteristics of a pre-metastatic niche is infiltration of immunosuppressive macrophages. However, how these macrophages acquire their immunosuppressive phenotype remains largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that tumor-derived exosomes (TDE) polarize macrophages towards an immunosuppressive phenotype characterized by increased PD-L1 expression through NF-kB-dependent metabolic reprogramming in mice and humans. While NF-κB has previously been shown to act as a direct transcription factor for PD-L1, we report a novel mechanism where TDE-induced NF-κB activation drives PD-L1 expression by augmenting the glycolytic capacity of macrophages through …

A Study Of The United States Influence On German Eugenics., Cameron Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a study of the influence and effects that the United States had upon Germany from the rise of eugenics to its fall following the end of World War II. There are three stages to this study. First, I examine the rise of eugenics in the United States from its inception to the end of World War I and the influence it had upon Germany. Then I examine the interwar era along with the popularization of eugenics within both countries before concluding with the Second World War and post war era.

My thesis focuses on both the active …

Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction Of Quaternary Saltville, Virginia, Using Ostracode Autecology, Austin Gause

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Saltville valley in southwestern Virginia is home to Quaternary localities containing paleontological and archaeological remains. Historically the valley has been mined for salt and the small lakes, ponds and springs along the valley floor have a brackish signature. A preliminary report on the site’s ostracode fauna suggested that the site’s water was not always saline. This study analyzed modern and Quaternary ostracodes to understand the valley’s hydrologic and chemical evolution. Sediments contained primarily freshwater species, including the environmentally sensitive Candona crogmaniana. The presence of Pelocypris tuberculatum and a new Fabaeformiscandona species throughout a vertical section spanning the latest Pleistocene …

Investigation Of Factors Affecting The Hiv Continuum Of Care In Tennessee, Elaine Loudermilk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Factors contributing to the HIV continuum of care (HCC) for adults in Tennessee (TN) have not been studied in depth with known predictors for HIV risk, specifically adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), among low annual income or sexual minority groups [lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT)].

Methods: A mixed methods study design was used to assess factors related to the HCC. Quantitative analysis used the TN Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data to examine at risk and ever tested for HIV, to (1) investigate ACEs among adults with low-income (<$25,000 annually) in 2016-2017 and (2) among LGBT in 2018. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression (MLR) analysis stratified by TN grand division were performed. Qualitative analysis included 11 interviews with persons living with HIV (PLWH) receiving care at a local clinic to evaluate surveillance questions related to ACEs and the HCC to develop a culturally appropriate survey.

Results: Quantitative results found that among LGBT (N=262) and low-income …

Act Scores And High School Cumulative Grade Point Average As Indicators Of College Graduation At One High School In East Tennessee, Ariane Day

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to see if there was a significant difference in the mean American College Test (ACT) scores and high school grade point average (HSGPA) between students who attained a bachelor’s degree within 6 years of starting college and those who did not attain a bachelor’s degree within 6 years of starting college. Data from 2005-2013 high school graduates from one high school with only academic course choices were used. A series of independent t-tests were used to compare the mean ACT scores and HSGPA of students from both groups.

The goal was to find …

Roles Of Endothelial Cell Heat Shock Protein A12b And Β-Glucan, A Reagent For Trained Immunity In The Regulation Of Inflammation In Sepsis, Fei Tu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sepsis is dysregulated host immune response to infection causing life-threatening organ dysfunction. Endothelial cell dysfunction and uncontrolled inflammatory responses are two contributors for sepsis-induced mortality. The crosstalk between endothelial and immune cells plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of sepsis. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of interaction between endothelial and immune cells will provide novel information to develop therapeutic strategies for sepsis.

Pathogen associated moleculear patterns (PAMPs) and/or damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) produced during sepsis, activate endothelial cells to increase the expression of adhesion molecules, attracting immune cell infiltration into the tissues. Uncontrolled inflammatory responses during the early phase …

Thwarted Interpersonal Needs, Depression, And Sleep Disturbances In Primary Care: Does Gratitude Help You Sleep?, Heather R. Altier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sleep disturbances are prevalent in primary care patients and can be exacerbated by interpersonal dysfunction and depression. As well, thwarted interpersonal needs (TIN), including thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, contribute to depression. However, the presence of gratitude, a cognitive-emotional protective factor, may improve symptoms. We longitudinally examined the mediating role of depressive symptoms on the relation between TIN and sleep disturbances, and the moderating role of gratitude on the TIN-sleep disturbances and depression-sleep disturbances linkages. Our primary care patient sample (N = 223) completed self-report surveys at baseline (T1) and at a one-year follow-up (T2; n = 97). Patients …

Examining The Relationship Among Middle School Students’ Performance On The Tnready Assessment, District Checkpoints, And Teacher-Assigned Grades, Kristina Dempsey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this nonexperimental, quantitative study was to determine if there is a significant correlation among teacher-assigned grades (TAG), district checkpoint scores (CP), and student scale-scores on TNReady tests. The focus was on 1,445 seventh and eighth grade students who were enrolled at a middle school in northeast Tennessee during the academic years of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, specifically for the content areas of English Language Arts and mathematics. The second purpose of this study was to examine any moderating effects of the categorical variable, students with disabilities (SWD) status, on the correlations among the district and state assessments and …

Examining The Warm Handoff In Rural Integrated Care, Jamie Tedder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An ever-growing body of evidence supports the efficacy of integrated care as a treatment approach; however, less is known about what specific components of integrated care are most effective. This is especially true of warm handoffs, which are an often discussed but understudied process in integrated care. A total of 246 patient charts were reviewed to determine if type of referral (warm handoff or traditional) increased the likelihood of follow-up with behavioral health services as well as factors that might impact this relationship. There were no significant differences between type of referral and likelihood of follow-up with behavioral health services. …

Assessing The Impact Of Restored Wetlands On Bat Foraging Activity Over Nearby Farmland, Philip Allagas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Up to 87% of the world’s wetlands have been destroyed, considerably reducing ecosystem services these wetlands once provided. More recently, many wetlands are being restored in an attempt to regain their ecosystem service. This study seeks to determine the effects of restored wetlands on local bat habitat use. Bat activity was found to be significantly higher around the wetlands when compared to distant grassy fields; however, no significant difference was found among the restored wetlands and a remote cattle farm containing multiple water features. Geospatial models of bat distribution and bat foraging were produced using machine learning that showed higher …