Digital Commons Network^™

Characterization Of Arterial Flow For Junctional Bleeding Control, Nick Bosio

Master's Theses

This study investigated reducing volumetric flowrate under steady flow conditions by varying lengths of compression with constant cross-sectional area and varying cross-sectional area reduction with constant length in order to better understand how to control junctional hemorrhaging. The hypotheses of this study were that length reduction will have little effect on volumetric flowrate and that cross-sectional area reduction would need to be approximately 80 percent in order to obtain bleeding control. The study found that length reduction has little effect on changing the flowrate. However, in order to obtain at least 80 percent reduction in flow, the area needs to …

Damage Detection In Textile Composites Via Piezoelectric Admittance Methods, Sazid Irfan Ahmed

Master's Theses

Structural health monitoring of aerospace structures is becoming vital as lightweight composite materials are increasingly used in aero-structures. Composites have various types of failure modes, which make it even more important to identify fault or damage compared to isotropic materials. Therefore, on-site health monitoring is one of the most preferred methodologies for detecting internal crack or damage at its initial stage to enhance operating safety and reduce repair cost. Recently, piezoelectric transducers are on high demand for on-site health monitoring because of its high bandwidth sensitivity. They simultaneously perform as actuators and sensors and embedded in the structure for real …

Sweden's Great Escape: Industrialization And The Changing Productivity Cost Of Winter, Charlotte Taylor, Jesse Anttila-Hughes

Master's Theses

We combine a paleoclimate reconstruction of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)- a key determinant of Scandinavian winter intensity- with four centuries of historical production data from Sweden, to examine the changing influence of climate variability on production over time. We find the colder, drier winters associated with the negative phase of the NAO led to reduced economic production for much of Swedish history, and that this relationship changed with development: during industrialization, Sweden underwent a transition from ‘level’ effects, where harsh winters lowered average incomes, to ‘growth’ effects, where it reduced growth in improving living standards. Post-industrialization, neither ‘level’ nor …

Bi Or Multilingualism And Its Curriculum For Children With Sli, Jeongmin Ryou

Master's Theses

The purpose of this project, which is based on SLI children age 3-6, is to inspect the possibility of bi- or multilingualism on SLI children and to create a curriculum, which consists of six modules, accordingly. It includes a variety of visual and auditory materials for each module, offers well-tailored daily lesson, and helps children with SLI learn the target language simply and easily. This project provides tips for teachers and can be also referenced when a teacher creates his or her own curriculum. Each module is flexible and should be tailored to the individual, while also being facilitated to …

Boosting Demand For Biofortified Foods: The Case Of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Bread In Tamale, Ghana, Tchassanty Ouro-Gbeleou

Master's Theses

Abstract: In the context of introducing biofortification of staple crops as a food-based approach to combat micronutrient malnutrition in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), we carried out a survey in Tamale, Ghana to elicit consumers’ preference of and willingness to pay for one of the highly nutritious biofortified staple crop processed product: the Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) bread. Our results indicate that scores of respondents in the sample show preference for OFSP bread. The most important determinants of OFSP bread preference are its sweet taste and soft texture and consumers are willing to pay 0.634 pesewas more for the attribute …

An Economic Valuation Of Biodiversity: Measuring Willingness-To-Pay For Quinoa Conservation In Peru, Craig Scott

Master's Theses

Peru is facing increasing homogenization of traditional crops as a result of international market pressures. Destruction of the genetic resource base creates vulnerability to disease, climate, and pest shocks which threaten food security and the economic future of Peru’s agricultural sector. This paper aims to determine whether informational priming on the non-market value of national identity is sufficient to change the willingness to pay for agro biodiversity programs among the Peruvian general population in both urban and rural areas. A choice set willingness to pay experiment combined with choice rankings and randomized priming measures how much individuals are willing to …

Incentives And Teacher Effort: Evidence From Lagos, Nigeria, Simileoluwa Adebajo

Master's Theses

According to recent research (Hattie, 2003), teachers contribute to around 30% of the overall variation in student achievement and success – more than any other influencing factor. This study seeks to understand how different types of incentives (monetary, near monetary and non-monetary incentives) influence the “effort” of public school teachers as perceived by the students in Lagos, Nigeria using a novel measurement tool – the teaching effectiveness survey – to measure the teachers’ outcomes. Using a randomized field experiment where students evaluate the changes in their teachers’ effort with a standard teaching effectiveness survey and differences in differences estimation, we …

Cultural Imperialism, Tv And Children Spectatorship In Contemporary Ghana., Aba Micah

Master's Theses

A content and discourse analysis of television programs is performed to show that Ghanaians do enjoy their local programs but very little time is allocated for children’s content on both the public and private stations. Instead, foreign content has flooded the TV channels for both adult and children’s programs and this is concerning because culture is being lost amongst the new generation. Also, in an era where representation matters, African children should be represented in the media. This paper centers on cultural and media imperialism and representation of the African child in the media and we find that TV programs …

The Impact Of Goal Settings And Self-Help Groups To Support Small Businesses: Experimental Evidence Using Female Entrepreneurs In Abuja Nigeria., Nneoma Nwobilor

Master's Theses

Approximately 57% of women in Nigeria from age 15-64 are involved in some form of employment, but there are still 17 million unemployed women (World Bank, 2016). Most of these women are involved in informal entrepreneurship due to external constraints. According to the World Bank, women who have no access to schooling are forced to find informal work to provide for themselves and their families. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of goal settings and support groups on small businesses among female small-scale business owners in Abuja Nigeria. The research conducted uses the experimental design created by the Family …

The Causal Impact Of Cleft Lip And Palate Surgery On Psychological Wellbeing, Sam Manning

Master's Theses

Cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P) are birth conditions in which a newborn has an opening in the roof of their mouth or a slit in their upper lip. Left untreated, CL/P can lead to speech impediments and an unsightly orofacial deformity. However, a sequence of simple, common surgical procedures can restore function with minimal scarring. To date, the psychological effects of being born with CL/P have been investigated in the literature, but the restorative impact of CL/P surgery on psychological wellbeing has not been rigorously evaluated. This study uses a quasi-experimental approach to estimate the impact of being born …

Patriarchal Norms, Bargaining, And Gendered Attitudes On Intimate Partner Violence, Anna Eckenrode

Master's Theses

How do the underlying mechanisms of social norms and bargaining power relate to the acceptance of intimate partner violence within households? How do short run and long run determinants of gender norms affect attitudes toward IPV? This study begins to decompose the dynamics of the acceptance of IPV within couples using data from the Demographic Health Survey, as well as examine the relationship in the context of patriarchal societies using data from the Ethnographic Atlas. I find that females are more accepting than males of intimate partner violence, and females becoming more educated is associated with her being less accepting …

Using Monetary Incentives To Support Female Entrepreneurship: An Experimental Test Of Monetary Incentives In Abuja, Nigeria, Imuetinyan Aiguwurhuo

Master's Theses

Gender gaps in entrepreneurship are a major problem everywhere, but especially in developing countries like Nigeria. Women across the world face high levels of discrimination and abuse. The process of empowering women in a society has the potential to boost economic growth and development. Inspired by the success of the Family Independence Initiative (FII), we designed a field experiment to estimate the impact of using monetary incentives to motivate female entrepreneurs in achieving their goals in collaboration with the National Center for Women Development (NCWD) in Abuja, Nigeria. Our results suggest that being in a peer support group, setting a …

The Impacts Of Natural Disasters On Educational Attainment: Cross-Country Evidence From Macro Data, Lois Onigbinde

Master's Theses

Do natural disasters impact educational attainment? Education as a paramount factor of economic development suffers from the uncontrollable effects of these increasing events from storms to floods, earthquakes to wildfires. Globally, educational resources are destroyed, directly and indirectly, students and teachers are displaced or killed, parents’ income is affected because of natural disasters. Investments in human capital for rich- and low-income countries are exposed to the uneven impact of natural disasters that adjusts household and country-level decisions, leaving them to short and long-run losses. Exploring the influence of natural disasters on secondary school attainment across a sample of 85 countries …

Country Risk And Agricultural Productivity: An Efficiency Study, Tosin Babatunde

Master's Theses

Do the social, economic and political environment in a country affect agricultural efficiency? We address this question by estimating a stochastic frontier model of agricultural productivity in 138 countries from 1984 to 2013. By observing how the business condition, level of social harmony and quality of government in a country affect agricultural inefficiency, we find there to be a positive effect. However, land quality as quantified by percentage of land irrigated, and openness to global trade have a more positive effect on decreasing agricultural productivity. We also find that consistent with literature, former British colonies exhibit higher technical efficiency.

“Se Van A Trabajar, Pero Se Quedan A Vivir”: A Qualitative Exploration Into The Subjective Well-Being Of Mexican Women In A Migrant-Sending Community, Vanessa Saldivar

Master's Theses

The study of subjective well-being and migration are two fields that have increased in prominence in recent decades. However, in the area where the two fields intersect, significant gaps exist. Meanwhile, the majority of research on migration ignores those who stay, resulting in an unbalanced and incomplete understanding of the phenomenon of migration. Using an ethnographic and life history approach, this study explores the subjective well-being of women residing in the migrant-sending community of Tlachichila. Narratives from semi-structured interviews and participant observation field notes were analyzed thematically and emergent themes were identified. Findings suggest that despite the hardship that underscores …

The Composition Of Public Expenditure: Does It Matter For Economic Growth?, Valery Awuh

Master's Theses

Abstract: In the past, a lot of studies put more emphasis on the aggregate government expenditure as the primary driver of social and economic growth which is in the short term. The studies did not capture expenditures on infrastructure, education, and defense which are the disaggregate government expenditure that sustains both social and economic growth in the long term.

The objective of this study is to determine how the demand and supply side of government expenditure can impact on social and economic growth using 45 both advanced and emerging countries. It also wants to establish the expenses that have a …

Overlooking Men And Boys In Forced Criminality At The Border: A Content Analysis Of Human Trafficking Training And Awareness Materials, Eric Beasley

Master's Theses

Executive Summary

In the Post 9/11 era, where American security is intimately linked to a militarized border management system designed to protect the United States and its territories from threats of terrorism, illegal drugs, and illegal immigration, the media continues to perpetuate the 'Latino Threat Narrative'. The images and information offered to us for consumption help us construct an understanding of events, people, and places. This paper explores how the 'Latino Threat Narrative' and inherent gender biases shape how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) understands vulnerability and identifies human trafficking victims, particularly men and boys from Mexico and Central …

Political Revolutions And Women's Progress: Why The Egyptian Arab Spring Failed To Deliver On The Promises Of Women's Rights, Anne Song

Master's Theses

The mass participation of women in the 2011 Egyptian Arab Spring began what many thought would be a new feminist movement. As news cycles started showing the central role of women in the Arab Spring, many people including the women who demonstrated believed women’s rights were on the horizon. This study shows why the 2011 Arab Spring did not deliver on the promises of women’s rights in Egypt. Explaining the historical, religious, and societal influences on women’s rights in Egypt, and using data from the Arab Barometer and reports from the World Bank and UN, this study shows that the …

Seeing Red: Analyzing Iucn Red List Data Of South And Southeast Asian Amphibians, Alexandra Gonzalez

Master's Theses

In the midst of the sixth mass extinction event which is currently underway, it appears that amphibians are one of the most impacted vertebrates. Over 6,500 amphibian species are listed on the IUCN Red List (an assessment tool which provides species’ conservation status, perceived threats, and distribution range). While it is well-known that populations under multiple stressors are more likely to undergo significant declines, there are little to no resources available for visualizing how these threats may work synergistically and interact within a species’ range. This is especially the case for Southeast Asian amphibians, which much less attention has been …

Mineral Warfare: The Dark Side Of Technology And International Mediation, Priyanka Basnyat

Master's Theses

Conflict surrounding the extraction and trade of natural resources is not an uncommon phenomenon. Especially in the case of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has historically suffered from the negative impacts of the resource curse since their mineral wealth was first discovered by their Colonial administrators. The importance of Congo’s minerals has fluctuated over the years but has peaked during recent times, as their use in technological advancements are becoming more vital. The global demand for these mineral ores have sky rocketed and consequentially, the largely informal trade has benefitted certain rebel groups, playing a pivotal role in …

The Impacts Of Natural Disasters On Educational Attainment: Cross-Country Evidence From Macro Data, Lois Onigbinde

Master's Theses

Do natural disasters impact educational attainment? Education as a paramount factor of economic development suffers from the uncontrollable effects of these increasing events from storms to floods, earthquakes to wildfires. Globally, educational resources are destroyed, directly and indirectly, students and teachers are displaced or killed, parents’ income is affected because of natural disasters. Investments in human capital for rich- and low-income countries are exposed to the uneven impact of natural disasters that adjusts household and country-level decisions, leaving them to short and long-run losses. Exploring the influence of natural disasters on secondary school attainment across a sample of 85 countries …

Part 1: Synthesis Of 3,7 Dimethyl-7-Methoxyoctane-2-Ol (Osyrol) From Citronellol Utilizing The Wacker Process Part 2: Developing A Methodology For C(Sp3)-H Arylation On The Β Position Of A Carboxylic Acid Using A Removable Directing Group, Stephen Lo

Master's Theses

The synthesis of 3,7-dimethyl-7-methoxyoctane-2-ol (Osyrol), an important sandalwood odorant, from 3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-diene (dihydromyrcene) was recently accomplished by two groups, both utilizing a two-step epoxide formation and ring opening approach. Here, the synthesis of Osyrol from 3,7-Dimethyloct-6-en-1-ol (citronellol) is accomplished in a novel six-step approach. The key steps in this synthesis is the Wacker Oxidation of a terminal double bond followed by sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) reduction. Though most of the steps in this reaction scheme resulted in limited success, the key steps occurred with high yields.

In the second chapter, the effects of 2-aminophenyl-1H-pyrazole (2-APP) as a removable directing group …

Individualizing Care For Pediatric Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Perioperative Services, Erin Scheller

Master's Theses

This research explores solutions for individualizing and improving care for pediatric patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Perioperative Setting of an Outpatient Surgery Center. Specifically, it seeks to determine if providing parent and staff resources on Autism Spectrum Disorder is significantly helpful in increasing confidence in the staff by the parents and the staff themselves. Participants included thirty-five surveyed families who had pediatric patients visiting perioperative services and staff who work on the unit. Methods used include information dissemination with the use of printable and online evidence-based resources, an in-person education event for staff, and a pilot study of …

Don’T Worry Be Happy: Analysis Of Happiness As An Economic Measurement, Kofi Boadu

Master's Theses

Everyone wants to be happy. Happiness however never seems to be a national goal. A possible answer is that happiness is subjective and on its own may not be reflective of the economic status of a country. Therefore, should people’s happiness should be treated equally with other traditional economic measurements? This cross-country level study looks at the relationship between happiness and traditional economic measurements; mainly GDP per capita. Questions concerning whether GDP per capita indeed captures the overall well-being of a citizen and happiness’ eligibility as an economic measurement are addressed. Findings confirm that happiness and GDP per capita are …

What’S At Steak? The Political Discourse Of Emissions Intensity And Implications Of Animal Agriculture, Kalyn Simon

Master's Theses

This thesis analyzes the international discourse of greenhouse gas emissions in relation to livestock production. Specific government ministries, research institutes, and multilateral organizations are framing a new strategy to mitigate emissions by using emissions intensity metrics. Emissions intensity is a ratio comparing emissions produced per unit of animal product as oppose to measuring absolute emissions. This research is acknowledged as a win-win scenario which allows for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions while continuing production more efficiently. This thesis outlines the emergence of this metric in international discourse and the implications this shift has on the livestock sector globally. Ultimately, …

Development Of Tools For A 3d Reconstructed Intracortical Volume Around Microelectrode Arrays, Aparna Nambiar

Master's Theses

Extensive research using penetrating electrodes implanted in the central and peripheral nervous systems has been performed for many decades with significant advances made in recent years. While these penetrating devices provide proximity to individual neurons in-vivo and perform effectively for several months, they are prone to failure over a year and longer. 2D Histology studies using serial tissue sections have been extremely insightful over the years in identifying and quantifying most of these factors such as astrocytic scar formation, microgliosis, and neuronal death, around the implant sites. However, there are significant limitations of 2D histological studies in providing a holistic …

Epidemiology Of Sudden Death In Organized Youth Sports In The United States, 2007-2015, Brad D. Endres

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Mindfulness And Implicit Political Intergroup Bias, Joel Devonshire

Master's Theses

As a conceptual replication of Tincher, Lebois, and Barsalou (2016), I investigated the effects of a brief mindfulness intervention on two measures related to intergroup bias: language abstraction and the differential attribution of uniquely-human emotions to different groups. In Experiment 1, 207 politically liberal or conservative participants were randomly assigned to a mindful attention, immersed attention, or no instruction condition. Participants were exposed to a series of visual and auditory stimuli, including several pictures of valenced behavior performed by an ingroup or an outgroup member. They were also asked to indicate which emotions are characteristic of typical ingroup and outgroup …

The Physiological And Perceptual Effects Of Wrist Cooling During Exercise In A Thermal Environment, Andres Almeraya

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Nexrad-Based Sub-Daily Intensity Duration Frequency Curves Over Conus, Daniel Mcgraw

Master's Theses

The establishment of design storm parameters is a critical step in hydrologic design and flood-risk management. Intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves are commonly used as they yield the expected intensity of a given storm duration and frequency of occurrence. Due to the long record length and reliability of the data, rain gauges have been used historically to generate at-point IDF curves. However, limitation in gauge coverage or distribution can result in uncertainties in IDF generation from the data interpolation methods. A potential solution to this limitation is the incorporation of radar-based Quantitative Precipitation Estimates (QPEs) in deriving IDF relationships. Radar-based estimates offer …