Digital Commons Network^™

Third-Order Optical Nonlinearities For Integrated Microwave Photonics Applications, Marcin Malinowski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The field of integrated photonics aims at compressing large and environmentally-sensitive optical systems to micron-sized circuits that can be mass-produced through existing semiconductor fabrication facilities. The integration of optical components on single chips is pivotal to the realization of miniature systems with high degree of complexity. Such novel photonic chips find abundant applications in optical communication, spectroscopy and signal processing. This work concentrates on harnessing nonlinear phenomena to this avail. The first part of this dissertation discusses, both from component and system level, the development of a frequency comb source with a semiconductor mode-locked laser at its heart. New nonlinear …

Ultrasound Measured Flexor Muscle Thickness In The Forearms Of Rock Climbers, Michael Marsala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: To examine differences in the forearms of rock climbers using ultrasound to measure the muscle thickness of the finger flexors. METHODS: A total of 33 participants were recruited, 22 climbers (22.23 years; 68% male) and 11 controls (21.8; 55% male). Climbers provided self-reported ratings of their climbing ability, skill level, and preferred mode of climbing (e.g. sport climbing vs. bouldering). Anthropometric measures, including body fat percentage, were measured in all participants. Ultrasound measurements were taken with the participant lying on their back on a padded table with their dominant hand supinated. Muscle thickness measurements were taken at the forearm …

Overkill: A First Run Definition, Traccy Martins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Homicide is a major social issue that has been studied by many researchers worldwide. The vast literature available, however, has avoided distinguishing homicide characterized by excessive wounds as a particular category or type of murder. This is what is often referred to as overkill. It has been observed in a variety of incidents, but it has not been systematically defined or examined in the literature in regard to why it occurs. This study aims to define "overkill" based on the number and extent of injuries for LGBT homicides between the years 1969 to 2018 (provided by Dallas Drake, co-founder of …

Defining Effective Teacher Practices Among Students With Emotional Behavioral Disabilities, Zerek Mayes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of special education teachers who worked with students with emotional behavioral disabilities (EBD) across various urban settings and educative environments. Given that the overall percentage of students receiving special education services has increased, the overall percentage of students with EBD served among all school-aged children and youth has remained below 1% (U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2018). The current failings of reform efforts to improve the academic achievement of students with EBD brings the roles, responsibilities and practices of teachers and their preparation into view. This study examined the …

The Sustained Impact Of Prekindergarten Participation On Third Grade Academic Performance, Marissa Melin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this study, the researcher investigated whether the impact of participating in a prekindergarten program on academic achievement persists through third grade. The study compared three groups of students: students who participated in voluntary prekindergarten, private prekindergarten, and students who did not participate in any prekindergarten program. Using a series of two-factor multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs), this investigation found no interaction effects among prekindergarten participation and race, gender, socioeconomic status, presence of a discipline referral, or chronic absenteeism on academic achievement in the third grade. However, there was a main effect for the type of prekindergarten program on academic …

If A Virtual Tree Falls In A Simulated Forest, Is The Sound Restorative? An Examination Of The Role Of Level Of Immersion In The Restorative Capacity Of Virtual Nature Environments, Jessica Michaelis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stress and cognitive fatigue have become a pervasive problem, especially in Western society. Stress and cognitive fatigue can have deleterious effects not only on performance, but also on one's physical and mental health. This dissertation presents a study in which the aim is to investigate the effects of virtual nature on stress reduction and cognitive restoration. Specifically, this study assessed the effects of Immersion (Non-immersive, Semi-immersive, Fully-immersive) and Exploration (Passive vs Active) on stress reduction and cognitive restoration. Additionally, restoration from the most effective virtual nature environment was compared to that of taking an active coloring break. Eighty-three university students …

A Trauma-Informed School-Based Mental Health Counseling Intervention To Promote The Social-Emotional And Academic Functionality Of Children Living In Poverty, Mary Perleoni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a trauma-informed school-based mental health counseling intervention (TI-SBMHCI) on students enrolled in three Title I elementary schools. This study aimed to examine the impact of a TI-SBMHCI on participants' social-emotional functionality, trauma symptomology, and academic behavior. Counselors-in-training provided a 10-week TI-SBMHCI based off of Bath's (2008) The three Pillars of Trauma-informed Care and data was collected at pretest (first session), mid (fifth session), and posttest (tenth session). In addition, this investigation examined if participants showed greater improvement in academic behavior in comparison to students who did not receive a …

Protective Behavioral Strategies And Alcohol-Related Sex Among College Students, Roselyn Peterson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adverse sexual outcomes (e.g., sexual regret, sexual risk, and sexual assault) are a common experience among college students. In particular, regretted sex is reported by a third of college students and may result in psychological harm. Previous literature has found that alcohol is involved in approximately one third of regretted sex experienced by college students. A gap exists in the literature identifying who is more susceptible to experiencing a regretted sexual experience. Previous research has shown that students who implement protective behavioral strategies (PBS) while drinking are able to reduce alcohol-related negative consequences, including regretted sexual experiences. Three sub-types of …

An Investigation Of The Appropriateness Of The English Language Learner Accountability Mark Established By The Every Student Succeeds Act Of 2015, Francisco Rivera

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study sought to disclose and describe differences in academic performance between English language learners (ELLs) and non-English language learners (non-ELLs) in grades sixth, seventh, and eighth during the two-year period of 2016 – 2018. A two-year period was utilized because of the two-year ELL accountability mark established by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. The study used i-Ready diagnostic data, in both mathematics and reading, as the performance measures, and used ACCESS for ELLs (WIDA) tier scores (i.e., WIDA Tier A, WIDA Tier B, and WIDA Tier C) to identify the level of English language acquisition …

The Life Experiences Of Women With An Intellectual Disability Who Were Sexually Assaulted, Jillian Schreffler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The views of those with an intellectual disability (ID) on sexuality is not a topic many are willing to broach. Many challenges exist for those identified with ID when it comes to sexual education, including a lack of appropriate curricula; a lack of trained school personnel; the inability of school, state, and national stakeholders to agree on policy or curriculum content; and the generalizability of the content. These challenges are heightened by an increase in sexual assault of women with ID. To improve sexual assault prevention skills, the researcher conducted a phenomenological study to identify the current status of sexual …

Electing Or Appointing School District Superintendents In The State Of Florida: A Comparison Of Characteristics And Performance Of Districts Led By Elected Superintendents Versus Districts Led By Appointed Superintendents, Timothy Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Florida and Alabama are the only two states in the United States of America with school districts led by either elected superintendents or appointed superintendents. The other 48 states only have appointed superintendent-led school districts. The current study was conducted to examine the impact of the superintendent governance structure on student learning by analyzing differences in student achievement between Florida school districts led by elected superintendents and Florida school districts led by appointed superintendents. The conceptual framework of the study was the tension between democratic localism and professionalism. Dynamics associated with the conceptual framework are relevant to the current debate. …

Biochemical Characterization Of Rv2633c From Mycobacterium Tuberculosis And The Effects Of Mutagenesis On Iron Binding, Kyle Strickland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a pathogenic bacterium that is the causative agent of the disease Tuberculosis (TB). TB kills an estimated 1.8 million people annually and roughly one third of the world's population carries Mtb in a dormant state. Drug resistant Mtb strains are on the rise, thus a new method of combating this disease is paramount. Mtb survival inside of macrophages requires overcoming various stressors such as; iron restriction, reactive oxygen species, and hypoxic conditions. Mtb employs the use of catalases, nitric oxide reductase, superoxide dismutase, and siderophores to aid in survival. These functions have also been found in …

Stress, Coping, And Quality Of Life Among Parental Caregivers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dawn Turnage

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Parental caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are exposed to stressors associated with the daily care of raising a child with a developmental disability, which may negatively impact parental quality of life (QOL). The specific aim of this study was to examine the relationships between demographic factors, stress, and coping among parental caregivers of children with ASD to determine whether predictors of QOL exist. Methodology: This study was descriptive, and an electronic survey was distributed to Florida parents of children, age 3-21 years old, diagnosed with ASD. The survey measured parent reported demographic factors, severity of the …

A Phenomenological Study Of High School Assistant Principals Who Supervise Special Education, Erin Vacchio

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of high school assistant principals who lead the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) departments at their respective schools. The role of the school leader is critical and complex. Second to only the classroom teachers, school leaders have the ability to shape the school wide attitude and vision for students with disabilities. Knowing that in the past 30 years, the number of students with disabilities has nearly doubled in size, the expertise of school leaders in special education must also increase. Research on the experiences of high school administrators who serve students with intellectual disabilities …

Phenomenological Study Of Urban Elementary Teachers With Proficient English Language Learners, Tracy Webley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of fourth grade teachers working in a large urban school district, where the achievement gap between English Language Learners (ELLs) and non-ELLs was smaller when compared to other schools within the district. The problem originated from the need to consider factors beyond teacher training that potentially influenced academic achievement. The research question guiding this study asked: What are the lived experiences of 4th grade teachers who have taught at identified elementary schools, where ELL students have demonstrated proficiency on the ELA portion of the state standards assessment? …

Analyzing Faculty Attitudes And Actions Surrounding Distance Education Accommodations And Inclusiveness Based On Udl Principles, Catherine Cash

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As distance education continues to increase, it is vital that postsecondary institutions contribute time and resources towards upholding inclusive teaching practices that decrease barriers and increase opportunities for diverse student populations. This study examined faculty attitudes and actions surrounding online accommodations and inclusive teaching practices that were based on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles using the Inclusive Teaching Strategies Inventory (ITSI), which was adapted into the Inclusive Teaching Strategies Inventory-Distance Education (ITSI-DE) to focus on faculty teaching fully online courses. The ITSI-DE measured the following seven constructs: (a) Accommodations, (b) Accessible Course Materials, (c) Course Modifications, (d) Inclusive Lecture …

A Comparison Of Self-Service Technologies (Ssts) In The U.S. Restaurant Industry: An Evaluation Of Consumer Perceived Value, Satisfaction, And Behavioral Intentions, Motaz Zaitouni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Innovation in technology has been growing rapidly in recent years. Many restaurants have been utilizing different types of self-service technologies (SSTs) to enhance their operations and customer satisfaction. Despite, the rapid spread of SSTs in the restaurant industry, very limited empirical research has been conducted to evaluate the influence of SSTs type on customer dining experience. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to examine the SSTs values that influence restaurant customers' satisfaction and their decision to continue to reuse SSTs. More specifically, this study utilized the Theory of Consumption Values (TCV) to examine consumers' perception of the SST values …

Magnesium-Based Treatment For The Degradation Of Octachlorodibenzofuran And Trinitrotoluene, Amal Mogharbel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of the present research is to investigate the efficacy of using ball-milled zero-valent magnesium (ZVMg) with and without activated carbon (AC) for the dechlorination of polychlorinated dibenzofurans. Three different solvent systems are presented here which are ethanol, ethanol/ethyl lactate (90:10), and 2-butoxyethanol. These solvents in combination with ZVMg with and without activated carbon were tested towards the degradation of octachlorodibenzofuran (OCDF, the most highly chlorinated PCDF congener). All the tested systems were very powerful and reductively dechlorinated OCDF to less chlorinated congeners. However, the system of ball-milled ZVMg and ethanol was the only system which converted OCDF and …

Thermo- And Zero-Valent Iron-Activated Persulfate Oxidation Of 3,5,6-Trichloro-2-Pyridinol In An Aquatic System, Roaa Mogharbel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The compound 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), a metabolite of the broad-spectrum organophosphorous insecticide chlorpyrifos, is both more persistent and more water soluble than its parent compound. This difference, which allows TCPy to more readily leach into surface water and groundwater, has led to widespread contamination of TCPy in soils and aquatic environments. In this study, the degradation of TCPy by sulfate radicals was evaluated using zero valent ironactivated persulfate systems and heat activated persulfate system in aqueous media. Response surface methodology coupled with Box-Behnken design was applied in these studies to evaluate the effects of the independent variables on the mineralization of …

Improved System For Fabrication And Characterization Of Nanophotonic Devices By Multi-Photon Lithography, Rashi Sharma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A new system for multi-photon lithography (MPL) was developed and used to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) structures with higher aspect ratio, better resolution, improved fidelity, and reduced structural distortion relative to a conventional implementation of MPL. A set of curved waveguides (Rbend = 19 μm, and 38 μm) and straight waveguides (length = 50 μm, Rbend = ∞) were fabricated in an epoxide photopolymer and optically characterized using light having a wavelength in vacuum of λ0 = 2.94 μm. The optical performance of the waveguides was compared to novel spatially-variant photonic crystals (SVPCs) previously studied in the group. The waveguides were …

Lewis Base Promoted Annulations Of Allenoates With 1,4-Naphthoquinones, Nicole Marie Shoup

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lewis base promoted cyclization of allenoates with electron deficient olefins open up the possibility to generate more complex organic structures. By generating more complex molecules, we are able to produce new compounds for biomedical and material applications. Both phosphine and amine Lewis bases offer interesting annulations with allenoates resulting in Lu or Morita–Baylis–Hillman type reactions. Once the Lewis base engages with the allenoate there can be several modes of nucleophilic reactivity that allows for the allenic ester to act as a two or three carbon synthon. The allenoate can then react with varying electron deficient olefins generating more complex molecules …

Barrier Graphs And Extremal Questions On Line, Ray, Segment, And Hyperplane Sensor Networks, Kirk Anthony Boyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A sensor network is typically modeled as a collection of spatially distributed objects with the same shape, generally for the purpose of surveilling or protecting areas and locations. In this dissertation we address several questions relating to sensors with linear shapes: line, line segment, and rays in the plane, and hyperplanes in higher dimensions.

First we explore ray sensor networks in the plane, whose resilience is the number of sensors that must be crossed by an agent traveling between two known locations. The coverage of such a network is described by a particular tripartite graph, the barrier graph of the …

A Child Shall Lead Them: Exploring Discourses Of Efficacy And Climate Change As They Appear In Children's Animated Film, Jason Derry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent climate change discourse has tended to presume scientific knowledge and rational argumentation as the principle factor in convincing peoples and publics toward climate action. However, scholarship across numerous fields reveals myriad other contributing factors in how people think about and respond to this environmental crisis, which leans predominately toward silence and apathy. Alongside this, children are often centered as inheriting a calamity, yet find themselves largely disempowered. From out of this rhetorical milieu I interject by way of a multidisciplinary grounding to examine the predominate framings of efficacy in the context of children, climate change, and environmental discourse. To …

Highly Efficient Gan-Based Single-Phase Transformer-Less Pv Grid-Tied Inverter, Khaled Alatawi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Growing energy demand and environmental concerns have led to an increased interest in renewable energy resources to provide a sustainable and low carbon emission energy supply. Among these renewable energy resources, photovoltaic (PV) systems have been the focus of many scientific researchers. The most vital component of a PV system that needs to be improved is the power converter. Grid-tied transformer-less inverters have gained a lot of interest in recent years because of their higher efficiency, reduced volume and lower cost compared to traditional line transformer inverters.

This dissertation discusses single-phase transformer-less inverter challenges and provides solutions that could lead …

Beyond School Engagement: School Adaptation And Its Role In Bolstering Resilience Among Youth Who Have Been Involved With Child Welfare Services, Skyler S. Leonard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Youth involved with the child welfare system are at significant risk of poor school functioning and mental health. Little research has explored how the connection to school impacts known relationships between adversity and youth outcomes. The following project sought to shed light on the role of schools in conferring risk or resilience for youth in contact with the child welfare system, with regard to their mental health. The overall aims of this project were to (1) improve our conceptualization of school adaptation, with particular attention to individual variation along multiple dimensions of school adaptation, (2) examine the relationship of …

Is A Picture Worth A Thousand Numbers? An Exploration Of Understanding And Recall Of Data Presentations, Holly L. Roof

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation reports results of a study with a quasi-randomized experimental component and a protocol analysis, or think aloud, component. The experimental component was designed to determine if people with no statistical training and people with some statistical training differed in their understanding and recollection of statistical information with varying degrees of complexity. Information was presented using data visualization techniques based on cognitive theory and compared to presentations using APA-style numerical tables of statistical output. The focus was on using empirically-supported graphical displays in PowerPoint presentations such as one might see at a research conference. Classroom groups of beginning and …

Mindful Acting, Terence Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As we transition into a more goal-oriented society, our ability to nurture and cultivate individual growth in emotional, spiritual, and mental awareness in the performing arts has been stifled by the desire to get ahead in our modern-day race for success. This fierce struggle brings with it a risk of subconscious deterioration in mental, spiritual and emotional health. As actors in an aggressive industry, we are often faced with the monumental task of preserving our artistry while competing in the industry, and we often find ourselves overwhelmed by the inescapable pressures in the business of acting. In "Mindful Acting", I …

The Living Hashtag Play: A Modernized Living Newspaper With Theatre Of The Oppressed Approaches To Play Development, Elizabeth Corsi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In a time where the majority of our news sources and justice movements are received, hashtagged, mobilized, and scrutinized through technology and social media, this thesis embarks to resurrect a once short lived concept of introducing theatre as an informative and educational news source. ?The Hashtag Play ?will be an experiment to create a modern living newspaper play that will utilize techniques and approaches found in Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed Pedagogy to devise meaningful and impactful art determined to educate, inform, and challenge artists and audiences while fostering a sense of community. For the purpose of this thesis, …

Chemometric Applications In Fire Debris Analysis: Likelihood Ratios From Naive Bayes And Frequency Of Component And Pyrolysis Product Occurrence, Anuradha Akmeemana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the major challenges in fire investigation is the determination of the cause of fire. The fire can be accidental or intentional. The determination of ignitable liquid residue (ILR) from fire debris helps the process and this process is called fire debris analysis in forensic science. This is one of the most complex areas in the field of forensics because of the evaporation of the ILR from the debris and the interference of the substrate matrix with the ILR if present. In the present, the final decisions in fire debris analysis are based on categorical statements and it only …

System Justification Theory: Synthesizing And Applying Its Theoretical Motivations In Behavioral Accounting Research, Wioleta Olczak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consists of two studies on System Justification Theory, hereafter SJT. SJT (Jost and Banaji 1994) is a psychology theory stating that individuals justify the status quo even if doing so is against their own or their group's interest (Jost et al. 2004). Comprised of twenty propositions, SJT attempts to explain social and psychological factors driving individuals to perceive the social system as legitimate. These factors also drive individuals to support and maintain the social system. The synthesis and application of this psychological theory in behavioral accounting research is limited, but could provide explanatory evidence on individual decision-making in …