Digital Commons Network^™

Velocity Model For Co2 Sequestration In The Southeastern United States Atlantic Continental Margin, John Ollmann

Theses and Dissertations

The sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2) is emerging as a major player in offsetting anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. With 40% of the United States’ anthropogenic CO2 emissions originating in the southeast, characterizing potential CO2 sequestration sites is vital to reducing the United States’ emissions. The overall goal of this research project, funded by the Department of Energy, is to estimate the CO2 storage potential for the Southeastern United States Atlantic Continental Margin. Previous studies find storage potential in the Atlantic continental margin. Up to 16 Gt and 175 Gt of storage potential are estimated for the Upper Cretaceous and Lower …

Generating Strong Diversity Of Opinions: Agent Models Of Continuous Opinion Dynamics, Christopher W. Weimer

Theses and Dissertations

Opinion dynamics is the study of how opinions in a group of individuals change over time. A goal of opinion dynamics modelers has long been to find a social science-based model that generates strong diversity -- smooth, stable, possibly multi-modal distributions of opinions. This research lays the foundations for and develops such a model. First, a taxonomy is developed to precisely describe agent schedules in an opinion dynamics model. The importance of scheduling is shown with applications to generalized forms of two models. Next, the meta-contrast influence field (MIF) model is defined. It is rooted in self-categorization theory and improves …

Turizmi Si Burim Potencial Për Zhvillim Lokal Ekonomik Në Komunën E Prizrenit, Dua Karabaxhaku

Theses and Dissertations

Ky dokument analize i cili është zhvilluar në kuadër të punimit të diplomës, në Fakultetin për Menaxhment, Biznes dhe Ekonomi, të universitetit UBT, do ta elaborojë ndikimin e turizmit si kategori ekonomike dhe burim potencial për zhvillim lokal socio-ekonomik dhe kulturor të komunës së Prizrenit,duke e zabtuar në një metodologji tri dimensionale të analizimit të gjendjes së përgjithshme aktuale në sektorin e zhvillimit ekonomik, rëndësinë e turizmit si kategori e rëndësishme ekonomike, dhe si ndikon turizmi si burim potencial për zhvillim ekonomik dhe në sektorët e ndryshëm në Kosovë, me theks të veqant në komunën e Prizrenit.

Qëllimi i kësaj …

Ekosistemi I Zonës Së Blinajës Dhe Funksionalizimi Urban, Florim Gashi

Theses and Dissertations

Mundësitë për investime në zonat e përshatshme për turizëm dhe mundësia që ato të sjellin përfitime dhe të jenë të vetëqëndrueshme janë të limituara në Republikën në e Kosovës. Mirëpo në veçanti, Rezervati i Blinajës do të mund të ishte një mundësi e mirë dhe shembull i suksesit për projekte të ngjajshme në të ardhmën. Ky hulumtim është përpjekje që të dëshëmohet se ndërlidhja e ekosistemit, gjeografisë, natyrës si dhe projekti arkitektonik i dizajnuar nga autori në funksion të kësaj, synon që përmes të dhënave burimore por edhe atyre sekondare të dëshmojë që Blinaja është investim real në të ardhmën …

A Methodology For Evaluating Relational And Nosql Databases For Small-Scale Storage And Retrieval, Ryan D. Engle

Theses and Dissertations

Modern systems record large quantities of electronic data capturing time-ordered events, system state information, and behavior. Subsequent analysis enables historic and current system status reporting, supports fault investigations, and may provide insight for emerging system trends. Unfortunately, the management of log data requires ever more efficient and complex storage tools to access, manipulate, and retrieve these records. Truly effective solutions also require a well-planned architecture supporting the needs of multiple stakeholders. Historically, database requirements were well-served by relational data models, however modern, non-relational databases, i.e. NoSQL, solutions, initially intended for “big data” distributed system may also provide value for smaller-scale …

Anthropogenic Impacts On Wildlife Mortality And Vertebrate Scavenging Communities, Jacob Earl Hill

Theses and Dissertations

Roads cause substantial wildlife mortality, but there is currently limited understanding of the relative magnitude of this mortality source. There are also substantial gaps in knowledge concerning the ecological ramifications of carrion introduced to the environment from vehicle collisions and in particular how vertebrate scavengers may consume carrion resulting from vehicle collisions. Although a variety of factors influence scavenger use of carcasses, the mechanisms influencing competition for this resource between obligate and facultative scavengers have not been thoroughly explored. I conducted a global synthesis of mortality of terrestrial vertebrates documenting 42,755 mortalities of known cause from 120,657 individuals representing 305 …

Evaluation/Refinement Of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda (J.E. Smith), Thresholds, In Mississippi Whorl Stage Field Corn And Grain Sorghum, Keiton Lanier Croom

Theses and Dissertations

During 2016 and 2017, studies were conducted to determine the effects of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) on both damage and yield of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench and Zea mays (L.) when infested during the whorl stage. Results from damage ratings suggest that as the amount of overall plants infested increased, overall damage rating increased. However, yield results suggested that there was no yield loss as percent infested plants increased. Other studies were conducted to determine the most sensitive vegetative growth stages of grain sorghum and field corn. Manual damage studies suggests that extensive damage to field corn during growth stages …

Adaptive Molecular Evolution And Biodiversity In Malaria Parasites, Haley Nicole Bodden

Theses and Dissertations

Haemosporidian parasites are the agents of malaria. Countless vertebrates are affected by haemosporidians each year. Haemosporidians have been shown to be evolving at rapid rates; leading to new species of haemosporidians being discovered and new host associations being made. Adaptive molecular evolution was detected in an important hemoglobin degradation gene, falcilysin. At multiple sites across multiple genes involved in important functions signatures of negative selection were detected. The signatures of selection across non-hemoglobin degradation genes were indicative of evolutionary conservation when compared to the more variable hemoglobin degradation genes. This is probably due to the important role the hemoglobin degradation …

The Cut And The Color Line: An Environmental History Of Jim Crow In The Deep South's Forests, Owen James Hyman

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation argues the South’s system of Jim Crow segregation, exploitation, disfranchisement, and violence was both embedded in and evolved through the successive reorganizations of the region’s forests. In turn, it tells a three-hundred-year history of black resistance and resilience in the forests of the Deep South. In the longleaf pine and bottomland hardwood forests along the Gulf of Mexico, water proved just as important as soil in determining the contours of the colonial and antebellum plantation regimes. This project follows the water to show how African Americans drew on deep environmental knowledge to form maroon communities in the colonial …

The Relationship Of Student Demographic And Academic Characteristics On Students' Success In High School Online Courses, Jerri Luemora Ward

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past decades, online learning has contributed to a large percentage of educational success in higher education and K-12 learning environments. It has not only allowed a number of opportunities for students to receive education due to flexibility, reachability, but also additional course offerings and educational advancement. As K-12 online learning has continued to soar as an option for educating students, concerns relating to students’ success in these courses have arose. Due to the concerns relating to student success, researchers have sought to determine what attributes can contribute to student success in online courses offered to students in elementary …

Settlement Patterns In Albania From The Iron Age Through Greek Colonization And Roman Integration (1100 Bc - Ad 395), Erina Baci

Theses and Dissertations

The Illyrians were an Indo-European group of people who once inhabited a large expanse of the western Balkans. As interactions with the Greeks and, later, the Romans increased, the traditional way of life and sociopolitical organization of the Illyrians were undoubtedly altered. This thesis takes a geospatial approach in order to address how interactions with other groups of people influenced Illyrian settlement patterns. Specifically, how Greek colonization followed by Roman incorporation affected Illyrian settlement patterns in Albania? Due to its peripheral location in the Mediterranean, Albania provides a unique case study for investigating colonization, integration, and interaction between different cultures.

Petrographic And Chemical Analysis Of Grinding Stones Collected By The Shkodra Archaeological Project, Zhaneta Gjyshja

Theses and Dissertations

The Shkodra Archaeological Project (PASH) took place in northern Albania, particularly in the Shkodra region. PASH focused on analyzing human settlements and social behaviors, from prehistory to modern times. This thesis focuses on the study of grinding stones collected by this project during excavation and survey. This study incorporates macroscopic, petrographic and chemical analyses to source these grinding stones and compares them with sourced samples collected in South Albania to answer questions about raw material selection and social interactions. It was found that, based on their chemical and petrographic properties, grinding stones collected by PASH are different from those collected …

The Catalyst Effect Of Historic Preservation: A Spatial Analysis Of The Impact Of Historic District Designation On Housing Renovations In New York City, Ali R. Mostafa

Theses and Dissertations

The constraints on property use along with the economic merits of historic districts are critical points in the debate over preservation policies. Improving the existing housing stock is a substantial economic activity and a significant part of the nation’s overall construction industry. The purpose of this study is to present an empirical analysis of the relationship between historic district designation and renovation decisions. The results of the analysis found that historic preservation does not inhibit the renovation activity of single-family homeowners. However, contrary to the claims made by proponents, it does not give a powerful incentive for owners in undesignated …

An Ecological And Distributional Analysis Of Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus Longaeva), Gregory Watson Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the impacts of climate change is critical for improving the conservation and management of ecosystems worldwide. Ecosystems vary along a precipitation and temperature gradient, ranging from tropical jungles to arid deserts. The Great Basin is a semi-arid eco-region that is found within the western United States. Plant communities within the Great Basin range from sagebrush valleys to sub-alpine conifer forests found at high elevation areas. It is predicted that the Great Basin will experience prolonged periods of drought, more intense fires, and greater variability in average annual and monthly precipitation, all in response to changes in climate patterns. At …

Species Delimitation Predictions Using Mitochondrial And Nuclear Dna Sequences From The Heteromys Pictus-Spectabilis Species Complex, Joanna Rosa Bateman

Theses and Dissertations

Heteromys pictus-spectabilis is a species complex within the subfamily Heteromyinae (Family: Heteromyidae) that is distributed along the western and southern Mexican coast and surrounding environments. Currently, the species complex is accepted as being 2 separate species (H. pictus and H. spectabilis), but this also renders H. pictus paraphyletic. Therefore, the species complex requires re-evaluation in order to resolve the paraphyly. Mitochondrial DNA sequences from a previously existing ~720 specimen database compiled by Victoria Vance were used in conjunction with new nuclear DNA sequences sequenced for the purpose of this study to generate multiple phylogenetic trees via the software programs RAxML, …

Composition Of The Community Of Small Mammals In The Great Basin Desert, Samantha Elizabeth Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

Small mammals are a keystone guild in arid ecosystems; often exhibiting top-down control of the diversity and structure of plant communities. However, changing climate, shifting fire regimes, and the invasion of exotic plants are modifying the structure of arid systems. Environmental changes in these arid systems are likely altering small mammal communities, and therefore, their ecological role. We examined two aspects of the community composition of small mammals in the Great Basin: changes in community composition since large scale sampling of the region began in 1930, and the current population of a sensitive species of small mammal, the dark kangaroo …

Modeling Coastal Vulnerability For Insight Into Mangrove And Coral Reef Conservation Efforts In Cuba, Maria Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

Cuba’s expansive coral reefs and mangrove habitats provide a variety of ecosystem services to coastal communities including nursery grounds for fisheries, shoreline stability, and storm and flood protection. While Cuba’s coastal habitats are some of the most preserved in the Caribbean, they are under increasing threat of degradation from the impacts of climate change, increased tourism, and coastal development. With the goal of sustainable development, Cubans need to assess the storm and flood protection benefits these coastal habitats provide, and integrate this information into future expansion and management plans within the National Protected Areas System (SNAP). Using the open source …

A Spatial And Temporal Analysis Of San Juan Red Ware, Robert Jacob Bischoff

Theses and Dissertations

San Juan Red Ware was widely distributed throughout the Four Corners region of the U.S. Southwest between about AD 750 and 1100. Prior research indicates this ware is a marker of identity and was likely associated with feasting and other communal activities. A study of the distribution of this ware indicates that it was traded widely, but with significant variation in relative quantity between sites. This variation is likely caused by unequal access to this ware due either to a lack of access to the necessary exchange networks or by a conscious decision to not participate in the exchange of …

Future Melting Away: Water Stress As A Threat To Human Security In Bangladesh And The Role Of International Community, Farzana Afroz Chowdhury

Theses and Dissertations

Bangladesh is considered as one of the frontline states in the global climate change; its policy agendas attempt to respond to the perceived security threats emanating from such changes. Water stress is one of the key problems the country is facing. Yet, links between glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, Bangladesh’s climate, growing water stress, and its implications for human security have seldom been studied. Drawing on the concepts of climate change, human security and water stress, the thesis examines the causes of Bangladesh’s freshwater crisis and its contribution to the human insecurity. Here in this study, the influence of …

The Old Versus The New Equestrian Circus: Demonstrating And Promoting Equine Welfare, Veronica Painter

Theses and Dissertations

Circus is an art form that was originally considered as a humanitarian art, promoting equine welfare by shedding a new light on the horse and human relationship. During a time where horses were used for war, work, and transportation; fancy riding and liberty stood as the framework for a new togetherness between man and beast. The animal activist revolution centered on exotic animals in circus, yet the effects of these demanding pressures caused a major blow to the equestrian circus. This comparative study examines possible improvements to the industry in order to keep this art alive. Keeping up with eclectic …

The Beef Basin Occupation As An Extension Of The Northern San Region: An In-Depth Analysis Of The Ceramics In Beef Basin, Utah, Jaclyn Marie Eckersley

Theses and Dissertations

This paper is a summary of the methods and key results of my analysis of 7,997 sherds from 14 sites in Beef Basin, Utah. I discuss physical attributes of the collection, the results of mean ceramic dating, the results of neutron activation analysis, and the results of refiring a sample of nips in an oxidizing atmosphere. I briefly summarize the architecture at each site , as well as possible Fremont cultural material found in and near Beef Basin. I conclude that Beef Basin was likely occupied in the early Pueblo III period and that the occupation was sudden and brief. …

Human-Centered Design Of A 3d-Augmented Strategic Weather Management System For The Aviation Community, Sébastien Léonce Paul Boulnois

Theses and Dissertations

Convective weather is one of the main causes of accidents in the National Airspace System according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The purpose of this research, aligned with current NextGen research efforts, was to determine how weather information, presented in 2D and/or 3D, and associated with interaction features, could impact airline pilots’ weather-related situation awareness and decision-making capabilities. Human-Centered Design principles, along with Design Thinking, were used and led to the design of a 3D-Augmented Strategic Weather Management System aiming to satisfy this research question. The system is called “Onboard Weather Situation Awareness System” (OWSAS) in the scope of this …

Bacteriophages For Treating American Foulbrood And The Neutralization Of Paenibacillus Larvae Spores, Thomas Scott Brady

Theses and Dissertations

The causative agent of the most devastating honeybee disease, American foulbrood (AFB), is the spore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. To prevent AFB outbreaks beekeepers prophylactically treat their hives with antibiotics even though it decreases the overall health of uninfected hives. A new treatment for AFB is needed due to recent legislation against using antibiotics, antibiotic resistance developing in P. larvae, and the resilience of P. larvae spores. Bacteriophages, or phages, are an attractive alternative to traditional antibiotics because of their specificity and ability to evolve alongside their target bacterium. In this study, two phage cocktails were developed for the …

From Borderlands To Border Islands: Intersections Between Anzaldúa's Chicana Feminist Theory And U.S. Latina Literature From The Hispanic Caribbean, Cristina Gonzalez Martin

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis studies three texts by three U.S. Latina authors from the Hispanic Caribbean through the lens of Chicana feminist border theory. The works analyzed are How the García Girls Lost Their Accents (1991) by Dominican author Julia Alvarez, Dreaming in Cuban (1992) by Cuban-American novelist Cristina García, and the memoir Almost a Woman (1998) by Puerto Rican author Esmeralda Santiago. The theoretical framework used is Gloria Anzaldúa’s Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza. The objective is to show how these texts manifest the formation of a hybrid, diasporic, in-between identity that corresponds with Anzaldúa’s definition of mestiza consciousness or la …

Chamaecrista Fasciculata In Tallgrass And Sand Prairies: The Potential For Differential Responses, Robert W. Philips

Theses and Dissertations

Successful establishment of a diversity of native species has become an important goal for restoration site managers to achieve, however as seed sources for a species may occur in habitats with different abiotic and biotic characteristics. Consequently, seeds from different sources may vary in their success in a restoration. Chamaecrista fasciculata, a native prairie species, occurs in two divergent prairie types - tallgrass and sand prairies. Tallgrass prairies have a moist soil with dense vegetation; in contrast, sand prairies have a well-drained sandy soil with sparse vegetation. I propose differential selection acting on populations in these prairie types would affect …

Help, Museum Needed: Building A Digital Museum For Lincoln County, Arkansas, Hunter Alane Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

Lincoln County, Arkansas, is a small county in the southeastern sector of Arkansas that lacks a museum dedicated to its history. With Lincoln County lacking the funds to purchase/build a physical space that is on-par with current museum standards, a museum building is an impossibility at this point. Yet, the older generations that are full of knowledge about the history of the county are fading away. To preserve past and future history, a new spin on a museum had to be accomplished. The spin was creating a digital museum. This study goes in-depth on the creation of a digital database …

Crossing Of English- Speaking Expatriates Into Galician On Facebook And How Their Stance Taking Indexes Their Identity, Patricia Mrozek

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the use of linguistic resources to take both affective and epistemic stances by English speaking expatriates currently or previously residing in the autonomous community of Galicia. In turn, I consider what those stances index about the identity of the speakers. The historical background outlines how the Galician code came to become stigmatized. As a stigmatized code, one linguistic resource of particular interest to this study is crossing as defined by Rampton (1999, 2009). Crossing and other linguistic resources used such as metalinguistic talk, become to carry indexes through repeated stance-taking moves. Dubois' (2007) stance triangle is the …

The Political Economy Of Migrant Smuggling: The Case Of Conflict In Mali, Thomas Hinkel

Theses and Dissertations

The extensive human smuggling networks that have emerged around North Africa and the Sahel have inaugurated a significant shift in the economic landscape of a region that has traditionally been characterized by the gray economy and precarious political arrangements. Ample and detailed research has been produced that highlights how militia groups and non-state actors have been tapping into these flows (via taxation of routes and racketeering against non-armed smuggling enterprises) in order to fund their various projects. The way in which this new economic landscape is affecting local political arrangements is a heretofore little considered, yet highly consequential, development of …

The Viability Of A Fully Fledged Inflation Targeting Regime In Egypt, Sarah Samy Farid

Theses and Dissertations

Inflation targeting (IT), in simplistic terms, is a monetary policy regime that is based upon the commitment of a country’s monetary authority to meeting predetermined, quantitative targets for the annual rate of inflation. IT has attained popularity and widespread acclamation amongst policymakers in the international context over the past three decades. Since Egypt initiated a new economic and structural reform program supported by the Extended Fund Facility from the IMF in November 2016, the search for a new nominal anchor for the Egyptian economy has been underway. In this regard, the new objective seems to be a temporary switch to …

The Effect Of Foreign Aid On Foreign Direct Investment Iinflows: Evidence From Africa, Joseph Michael

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the impact of foreign aid on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa. Since there is no consensus in the literature regarding the effects of foreign aid on FDI in developing countries, the thesis examines the empirical relationship between foreign aid and FDI in Africa covering 41 African countries between 1995 and 2015. The analysis controls for market size, level of development, economic trade openness, political stability, and natural resources dependency. The model is estimated using a dynamic panel of System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation to address endogeneity problem. The model is applied to panel data …