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Graduate Theses and Dissertations

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Peptoid-Based Microsphere Coatings For Use As Tunable Biocompatible Interfaces, German Raul Perez Bakovic Aug 2017

Peptoid-Based Microsphere Coatings For Use As Tunable Biocompatible Interfaces, German Raul Perez Bakovic

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The pursuit of sensitive, non-invasive, and cost efficient diagnostic tools for early stage disease detection have led to the development of sophisticated biosensor technologies for proteomic studies. As these markers increase in complexity, the role of support substrates grows increasingly important. Limitations in existing support substrates include the potential for increased sensitivity, binding specificity, and bio-stability. Ideal support substrates need to provide biocompatible and bioresistant surfaces, that offer high surface areas for binding, and enables the incorporation of diverse chemistries. The use of peptoids as the basis for the deposition of uniform microsphere coatings offers a mean to the attainment …


Job Satisfaction In The Digital Age: A Qualitative Study Of Social Responsibility And Burnout In Local Television News Reporters, Christi Welter Aug 2017

Job Satisfaction In The Digital Age: A Qualitative Study Of Social Responsibility And Burnout In Local Television News Reporters, Christi Welter

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This is an exploratory study of job satisfaction, burnout, and social responsibility among local television news reporters with three years of experience or less. Through in-depth qualitative interviews, this study applied existing theory while exploring the factors that influence job satisfaction and burnout in local television news reporters. This study explored whether local television journalists feel they are able to meet the normative professional standards outlined in the social responsibility theory as their work demands increase with rise of digital media and one-man band expectations. The job satisfaction levels of the participants in this study varied. Those with higher job …


A Comparative Analysis Of Feed And Environmental Factors On Broiler Growth In The United States, Alexandra Gulli Aug 2017

A Comparative Analysis Of Feed And Environmental Factors On Broiler Growth In The United States, Alexandra Gulli

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Broiler production in the United States has become an important industry within the last half century. As the demand for poultry continues to increase and the concern of climate change also increases, it will become an important part of the industry to become more sustainable. This study uses a feed optimization model, a broiler growth model, and a life cycle assessment (LCA) to determine how feed ingredients and the barn environment can affect the broiler’s growth and production emissions. A multi-criteria ration optimization model is used to produce feeds based on carbon footprint and cost. A growth model is used …


Genomic And Physiological Approaches To Improve Drought Tolerance In Soybean, Avjinder Kaler Aug 2017

Genomic And Physiological Approaches To Improve Drought Tolerance In Soybean, Avjinder Kaler

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Drought stress is a major global constraint for crop production, and improving crop tolerance to drought is of critical importance. Direct selection of drought tolerance among genotypes for yield is limited because of low heritability, polygenic control, epistasis effects, and genotype by environment interactions. Crop physiology can play a major role for improving drought tolerance through the identification of traits associated with drought tolerance that can be used as indirect selection criteria in a breeding program. Carbon isotope ratio (δ13C, associated with water use efficiency), oxygen isotope ratio (δ18O, associated with transpiration), canopy temperature (CT), canopy wilting, and canopy coverage …


An Analysis Of The Model And Enacted Curricula For A History Of Science Course In A Nationwide Teacher Education Program, Noushin Nouri Aug 2017

An Analysis Of The Model And Enacted Curricula For A History Of Science Course In A Nationwide Teacher Education Program, Noushin Nouri

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The UTeach program, a national model for undergraduate teacher preparation, includes Perspectives on Science and Mathematics, a class designed to share content about the History of Science (HOS) with preservice teachers. UTeach provides a model curriculum as a sample for instructors teaching Perspectives. The purpose of this study was (a) to describe and evaluate the model science lessons provided; (b) to compare the relationship of the various versions of the Perspectives class with the model curriculum; (c) to determine the factors that led to instructors’ success or failure in implementation of the model curriculum; and (d) to highlight the instructors’ …


Evaluating Methods For Quantifying Evapotranspiration In Arkansas Rice, Colby Reavis Aug 2017

Evaluating Methods For Quantifying Evapotranspiration In Arkansas Rice, Colby Reavis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to evaluate different methods for quantifying evapotranspiration (ET) in commercial rice fields using different irrigation regimes. The rice fields were located in south central Arkansas. The different irrigation regimes were alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and continuous flooding (CF). Alternate wetting and drying and conventional flooding estimates of ET were 602 mm and 570 mm, respectively, based on field observations using eddy covariance. Models used to estimate ET estimated values between 498 and 653 mm for the 2015 growing season. The Penman Monteith actual evapotranspiration model (PM AET) performed best when compared to the …


Reactionism: Resurrecting The Past, Derrick F. Till Aug 2017

Reactionism: Resurrecting The Past, Derrick F. Till

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates a novel construct, reactionism – the belief that the past is good and should be resurrected. Specifically, these studies test two competing hypotheses. It could be that reactionism is purely perceptual, such that perceiving the past as positive will promote reactionary attitudes and behavior. Or reactionism could be motivated, such that perceiving change away from the past as threatening is necessary for reactionary attitudes and behavior. In study 1, I tested whether reactionism beliefs are related to greater support for policies that would resurrect the past. The prediction was unsupported, suggesting that reactionism beliefs are motivated. In …


Linear Dna-Linked Nanoparticle Building Blocks (Nblocks) For Modular Self-Assembly Of Nanostructures, Jakob Thomas Hockman Aug 2017

Linear Dna-Linked Nanoparticle Building Blocks (Nblocks) For Modular Self-Assembly Of Nanostructures, Jakob Thomas Hockman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Controlling the shapes and sizes of nanomaterials often enables controlling their properties for certain applications. The most promising methods for controlling the shapes and sizes of nanostructures use base-pairing between complementary DNA strands to self-assemble nanostructures from DNA and nanoparticles. DNA Brick-based self-assembly is a particularly useful method for creating DNA nanostructures. It offers a large amount of control over the final shapes and sizes because it uses building blocks that are anisotropic and have predictable geometry. However, this control has not been extended to the self-assembly of nanostructures from nanoparticles. Applying DNA Brick based self-assembly to the self-assembly of …


Hedge Fund Performance And Derivative Hedging, Yongjia Li Aug 2017

Hedge Fund Performance And Derivative Hedging, Yongjia Li

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is comprised of three essays which focus on hedge fund performance and derivative hedging. The first essay uses ETF returns as proxies for tradable risk factors in hedge fund performance evaluation and identifies contemporaneously relevant risk factors from the entire universe of ETFs. The model provides more informative estimates of alpha and beta coefficients for predicting hedge fund out-of-sample performance compared with other widely used hedge fund factor models. Portfolios of top alpha hedge funds selected by the model generate statistically significant out-of-sample performance that is substantially higher compared with portfolios selected by other models. In addition, the …


Studies In Blackberry: Development And Implementation Of A Phenotyping Protocol For Blackberry Seedling Populations And Impact Of Time Of Day Of Harvest On Red Drupelet Reversion For University Of Arkansas Blackberry Genotypes, Melinda Yin Aug 2017

Studies In Blackberry: Development And Implementation Of A Phenotyping Protocol For Blackberry Seedling Populations And Impact Of Time Of Day Of Harvest On Red Drupelet Reversion For University Of Arkansas Blackberry Genotypes, Melinda Yin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There are two major public blackberry (Rubus L. subgenus rubus Watson) breeding programs in the United States: one at the University of Arkansas (UA) and another at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Horticultural Crops Research Unit (USDA-ARS HCRU) based in Corvallis, OR. The germplasm and breeding objectives of these two breeding programs are diverse, but frequent collaboration necessitated a standardized method of characterizing plant and fruit traits. A phenotyping protocol for blackberry was developed at UA and implemented for two years on UA seedling populations. The protocol included plant traits (health, vigor, estimated crop load, peak bloom …


Personalized Decision Modeling For Intervention And Prevention Of Cancers, Fan Wang Aug 2017

Personalized Decision Modeling For Intervention And Prevention Of Cancers, Fan Wang

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Personalized medicine has been utilized in all stages of cancer care in recent years, including the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Since prevention and early intervention are particularly crucial in reducing cancer mortalities, personalizing the corresponding strategies and decisions so as to provide the most appropriate or optimal medical services for different patients can greatly improve the current cancer control practices. This dissertation research performs an in-depth exploration of personalized decision modeling of cancer intervention and prevention problems. We investigate the patient-specific screening and vaccination strategies for breast cancer and the cancers related to human papillomavirus (HPV), representatively. Three popular …


Evaluating The Impact Of An All-Vegetable Protein Supplement Containing Fat Emulsifiers And Probiotics On Broiler Performance, Jordan Weil Aug 2017

Evaluating The Impact Of An All-Vegetable Protein Supplement Containing Fat Emulsifiers And Probiotics On Broiler Performance, Jordan Weil

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Currently, several niche markets, such as organic and “all natural”, are marketed within the poultry industry. However, little research has been undertaken to determine the cost-effectiveness of poultry diets used to produce chicken within these markets. Specifically, the economics and resulting profits associated with raising chicken with antibiotic-free, all-vegetable (AV) diets are not evaluated. As national chain restaurants such as Chick-fil-A and Panera Bread begin to mandate poultry suppliers raise chicken without antibiotics and use AV diets, it becomes increasingly important to evaluate the economics for integrators. Given the rapidly changing feeding strategies necessary to respond to consumers’ and wholesalers’ …


A Laboratory-Scale Study On The Production Of High-Value Products From Broiler Litter Involving Solid-State Anaerobic Digestion And Mushroom Cultivation, Joe Barrett Carter Iii Aug 2017

A Laboratory-Scale Study On The Production Of High-Value Products From Broiler Litter Involving Solid-State Anaerobic Digestion And Mushroom Cultivation, Joe Barrett Carter Iii

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There is a need to investigate alternate uses and treatments of broiler litter that lessen environmental impacts and decrease costs associated with its disposal. Anaerobic digestion is a biological process in which organic material is converted to a renewable fuel source. However, the substrate for anaerobic digestion often requires some form or pretreatment. Certain types of fungus have been investigated as a pretreatment for anaerobic digestion, one of which is Pleurotis ostreatus or the oyster mushroom, which also produces an edible fruiting body. Thus, this study was performed to investigate the use of broiler litter for oyster mushroom cultivation and …


People Change: Impression Management Influences Autobiographical Memories, Holly Elizabeth Cole Aug 2017

People Change: Impression Management Influences Autobiographical Memories, Holly Elizabeth Cole

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper presents the results of an experiment that tested a new impression management strategy, termed memory enhancement, and the long-term implications of using memory enhancement. People often share the events that occur in their everyday lives to others in the form of stories. This research was designed to determine if people will alter the way they share previous events to create a specific impression. It is possible that using the impression management strategy of memory enhancement will create long lasting changes to the actual memory of the event. This was tested in an experiment in which participants were put …


Energy And Performance Balancing Architecture For Asynchronous Data Processing Platforms, Chien-Wei Lo Aug 2017

Energy And Performance Balancing Architecture For Asynchronous Data Processing Platforms, Chien-Wei Lo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The semiconductor industry has been increasingly focused on the energy consumption and heat generation in CMOS-based integrated circuits (ICs) for its dominating impact on the system performance and reliability. Without clock-related timing constraints, asynchronous circuits have demonstrated unique flexibility in performance-energy tradeoffs compared to synchronous designs. This dissertation work presents the architecture capable of balancing energy and performance for asynchronous digital signal processing circuits using the Multi-Threshold NULL Convention Logic (MTNCL). Architecture implementing user-configurable adaptive dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) and data processing core disabling based on the detection and parameterization of system throughput are developed for MTNCL parallel homogeneous and …


The Effect Of Blinded Hydration State On Thermoregulation And Performance In Male Cyclists, Jon David Adams Aug 2017

The Effect Of Blinded Hydration State On Thermoregulation And Performance In Male Cyclists, Jon David Adams

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of these studies was to observe the effect of dehydration on exercise performance while subjects were blinded to their hydration status. Methods: Study 1: Seven male cyclists (weight: 71±8 kg, body fat: 14±6%, VO2peak: 59.4±6 ml∙kg-1·min-1) exercised for 2 hours on a cycle ergometer at 55% VO2peak, in a hot-dry environment (35°C, 30% rh), with a nasogastric (NG) tube under euhydrated (EUH-NT) and hypohydrated (DEH-NT) conditions. In both trials, thirst was matched by drinking 25 mL every 5 min. In the EUH-NT trial sweat losses were fully replaced via the NG tube. Following the 2 hours of …


Near Surface Geophysics For Lithostratigraphic Interpretation At Pedro, Benton County, Arkansas, Matthew David Ruggeri Aug 2017

Near Surface Geophysics For Lithostratigraphic Interpretation At Pedro, Benton County, Arkansas, Matthew David Ruggeri

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The roadcut on highway 412 near Pedro, Benton County, Arkansas (MArkUP site L15), has been of geological interest since its excavation in the 1980s. The roadcut is located within the Springfield Plateau and displays formations of Lower Mississippian age. The roadcut contains three mound-like features believed to be olistoliths. This thesis research work adds geophysical evidence to the geological exposure at the site. The purpose of this research is to answer the question of whether near surface seismic methods can be used to extend information at the Pedro outcrop below the ground surface. Specifically, can the top of the Middle …


Structural Characterization Of Bacterial Collagenases, Ryan Bauer Aug 2017

Structural Characterization Of Bacterial Collagenases, Ryan Bauer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Clostridium histolyticum secretes collagenases ColG and ColH to cause extensive tissue destruction during myonecrosis. The collagenases are multi-domain enzymes consisting of a N-terminal collagenase module, s1, polycystic kidney disease (PKD)-like domains (s2 in ColG; s2a and s2b in ColH) and collagen-binding domains (CBD) (s3a and s3b in ColG; s3 in ColH). The individual CBD and PKD-like domains chelate calcium to modulate stability and domain rearrangement. Though used by bacteria to break down collagen in the extracellular matrix during infection, therapeutic use of the enzyme to break down excess connective tissue has been approved by the FDA. Meanwhile, the use of …


The Bicycle, The Unsuitable Substitute:A Feasibility Study Based In Fayetteville, Ar Using A Bicycle As A Year-Round Replacement For An Automobile, Jamey Voorhees Aug 2017

The Bicycle, The Unsuitable Substitute:A Feasibility Study Based In Fayetteville, Ar Using A Bicycle As A Year-Round Replacement For An Automobile, Jamey Voorhees

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Can a bicycle can be used in place of an automobile for everyday transportation and commuting needs? Fayetteville, Arkansas is a bicycle friendly and they plan continue to expand the current trail system improve other components in the future. Alternative transportation forms like the bicycle are important but only if bikes are integrated into traffic which needs to be done in some way that all involved understand their place in the system. By actively participating in this system I have attempted to show that a bicycle is just not feasible as a form of daily transportation in a city like …


Characterization Of Nanoparticles Using Solid State Nanopores, Santoshi Nandivada Aug 2017

Characterization Of Nanoparticles Using Solid State Nanopores, Santoshi Nandivada

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Solid state nanopores are widely used in detection of highly charged biomolecules like DNA and proteins. In this study, we use a solid state nanopore based device to characterize spherical nanoparticles to estimate their size and electrical charge using the principle of resistive pulse technique. The principle of resistive pulse technique is the method of counting and sizing particles suspended in a fluid medium, which are electrophoretically driven through a channel and produce current blockage signals due to giving rise to a change in its initial current. This change in current is denoted as a current blockage or as a …


Understanding Discourse Transition, Taylor Weeks Aug 2017

Understanding Discourse Transition, Taylor Weeks

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work is intended to explore and analyze the process of transition from one discourse to another different discourse.


Developing A Competency-Based Framework To Guide Elementary School Teachers' Efforts In Helping Bullied Children, Samantha Gregus Aug 2017

Developing A Competency-Based Framework To Guide Elementary School Teachers' Efforts In Helping Bullied Children, Samantha Gregus

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The current study aimed to develop a competency-based framework designed to assist elementary school teachers in their efforts to help bullied children. Drawing from extant research, Gregus and Cavell (2017) created an initial draft of the framework that contained 25 components representing a mix of knowledge, attitudes, and skills. In Study 1, I obtained input on the framework from practicing elementary school teachers (n = 26) and researchers who study school bullying (n = 14). Teacher input was gathered via a series of focus groups and researchers responded using an online survey. Both teachers and researchers viewed the framework positively …


The Parent/Teacher Relationship And The Effectiveness Of The Teaching Important Parenting Skills (Tips) Program For Enhancing Parents' Knowledge About Child Development, Meghan Anderson Aug 2017

The Parent/Teacher Relationship And The Effectiveness Of The Teaching Important Parenting Skills (Tips) Program For Enhancing Parents' Knowledge About Child Development, Meghan Anderson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Parent involvement in education has been highly encouraged because of its strong associations with positive developmental outcomes for children. Teaching Important Parenting Skills: TIPS for Great Kids! (TIPS) is a program in Arkansas that relays research-based information cards to parents through the support network of the teachers. This study examines how effective the TIPS program was in enhancing parent’s knowledge on child development and observes the influence of the parent-teacher relationship. Although no significant correlation was found between the parent/teacher relationship and parent knowledge, a significant correlation was discovered between the parent/teacher relationship and whether parents read the TIPS card …


Si-Based Germanium Tin Semiconductor Lasers For Optoelectronic Applications, Sattar H. Sweilim Al-Kabi Aug 2017

Si-Based Germanium Tin Semiconductor Lasers For Optoelectronic Applications, Sattar H. Sweilim Al-Kabi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Silicon-based materials and optoelectronic devices are of great interest as they could be monolithically integrated in the current Si complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processes. The integration of optoelectronic components on the CMOS platform has long been limited due to the unavailability of Si-based laser sources. A Si-based monolithic laser is highly desirable for full integration of Si photonics chip. In this work, Si-based germanium-tin (GeSn) lasers have been demonstrated as direct bandgap group-IV laser sources. This opens a completely new avenue from the traditional III-V integration approach. In this work, the material and optical properties of GeSn alloys were comprehensively studied. …


A Numerical Study Of The Interaction Between One Dimensional Carbyne Chain And Single Stranded Dna, Zeina Salman Aug 2017

A Numerical Study Of The Interaction Between One Dimensional Carbyne Chain And Single Stranded Dna, Zeina Salman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

resolution at the single nucleotide level when developing DNA sequencers. The purpose of this research was to numerically study the electrical properties associated with the interaction between 1D carbon chain, known as carbyne, and ssDNA. First, the electrical properties of the carbyne chain were calculated. Second, the electrical properties of the carbyne chain were calculated in the presence of different ssDNA bases. Analyzing the differences between the two cases led to determining the effects of these different bases on the electrical properties. The numerical simulation approach conducted in this research was based on the first-principle simulation. The first-principle simulation was …


Computer Simulation Of Pore Migration Due To Temperature Gradients In Nuclear Oxide Fuel, Ian Wayne Vance May 2017

Computer Simulation Of Pore Migration Due To Temperature Gradients In Nuclear Oxide Fuel, Ian Wayne Vance

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A phase-field simulation model is being presented that captures the thermal-gradient-driven migration of pores in oxide fuel associated with fuel restructuring. The model utilizes a Cahn-Hilliard equation supplemented with an advection term to describe the vapor transport of fuel material through the pore interior due to gradients in vapor pressure. In addition, the model also captures changes in a migrating pores’ morphology. Simulations demonstrate that the model successfully predicts pore migration towards the hottest portion of the fuel, the centerline. The simulations also demonstrate changes in pore shape that are in agreement with previous experimental observations. Initially isotropic pores are …


Making Sense Of Nonsense, Parker Boales May 2017

Making Sense Of Nonsense, Parker Boales

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A paradox of simultaneous sincerity and humor, Making Sense of Nonsense attempts to identify deficient systems upon which we rely daily. Systems of logic, text, and visual language are all rife with flaws solely because their source--humankind--is irrevocably bound to error. This is not to say that these systems cannot be improved; on the contrary, a rigorous investigation of these systems allows one insight into their mechanics to the end that one endlessly questions the very foundation of the mode of communication being used. Materials and discarded objects such as vintage tools, automotive parts, spray paint, string, furniture, plastic, S&M …


Feasibility Of Additive Manufactured Materials For Use In Geotechnical Laboratory Testing Applications, Matthew P. Watters May 2017

Feasibility Of Additive Manufactured Materials For Use In Geotechnical Laboratory Testing Applications, Matthew P. Watters

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The factors affecting the positive volumetric strain, or dilatancy, typically observed in response to shearing of a dense granular material have long been investigated; however, there still lacks a direct relationship between particle shapes and the resulting dilatant response. The typical Mohr-Coulomb strength parameter associated with granular material is known as the effective friction angle (φ’). For a dense granular assemblage, the peak friction angle has been described as being comprised of a dilatant friction angle (φ’d) component and a critical state friction angle (φ’cv) component. While the topic of dilatancy and factors (both inherent and extrinsic) affecting its behavior …


Development Of A Multiband Remote Sensing System For Determination Of Unsaturated Soil Properties, Cyrus D. Garner May 2017

Development Of A Multiband Remote Sensing System For Determination Of Unsaturated Soil Properties, Cyrus D. Garner

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A multiband system including active microwave sensing and visible-near infrared reflectance spectroscopy was developed to measure unsaturated soil properties in both field and laboratory environments. Remote measurements of soil volumetric water content (θv), soil water matric potential (ψ), and soil index properties (liquid limit [LL], plastic limit [PL], and clay fraction [CF]) were conducted. Field-based measurement of θv was conducted using a ground-based radar system and field measurements within 10 percentage points of measurements acquired with traditional sampling techniques were obtained. Laboratory-based, visible and near infrared spectroscopy was found to be capable of obtaining empirical, soil specific regression functions (partial …


Trihalomethane, Dihaloacetonitrile, And Total N-Nitrosamine Precursor Adsorption By Carbon Nanotubes: The Importance Of Surface Oxides And Pore Volume, Erin Needham May 2017

Trihalomethane, Dihaloacetonitrile, And Total N-Nitrosamine Precursor Adsorption By Carbon Nanotubes: The Importance Of Surface Oxides And Pore Volume, Erin Needham

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As drinking water sources become increasingly impaired, enhanced removal of natural organic matter (NOM) may be required to curb formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) upon chlor(am)ination. While carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can adsorb NOM, their properties for DBP precursor adsorption have not been elucidated. Nine types of CNTs were assessed for trihalomethane (THM), dihaloacetonitrile (DHAN), and total N-nitrosamine (TONO) precursor adsorption. Batch isotherm experiments were completed with lake water and, to simulate an impaired condition, effluent from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Adsorption varied with CNT type and dose, with TONO precursors having the highest percent removals from WWTP effluent (up …