Digital Commons Network^™

Design And Development Of A Clinical Decision Support System For The Diagnosis Of Parkinson’S Disease Using Artificial Intelligence, Saravanan S

Theses and Dissertations

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a degenerative neurological condition marked by motor symptoms like tremors, bradykinesia, and stiffness. It is observed that early and precise diagnosis of this disease is crucial, as that will have a significant impact on effective disease management and intervention. This thesis explores the technical feasibility of applying AI techniques to recognize patterns from spiral and wave drawings, which are usually a unique signature type for PD patients.

The focus of the work is to diagnose the disease through novel deep transfer learning techniques, to diagnose the severity of the disease, and also to develop effective model …

Exploring The Impact Of Collaborative Communities Among High School Principals, William T. Sherwood

Theses and Dissertations

Principals of large high schools are faced with a job that is constantly increasing in demands and complexity; with few options for highly relevant professional development, good resources to aid in problem solving, and/or effective supports for social/emotional well-being. In this qualitative case study, I examine four different school districts involving 20 principals from large high schools that are involved in different iterations of collaborative communities (CC). Participants were interviewed regarding their perceptions of the benefits and challenges of the CC in which they were engaged. Participants also shared the practices and protocols present in their CC contributing to those …

Raising Hope: A Preliminary Investigation Of Hope-Strengthening Parenting, Anna Sellers Calley

Theses and Dissertations

Hope Theory defines hope as a cognitive-motivational process of seeking and obtaining goals through agency thinking and pathway building, with substantive connection to many desirable outcomes. While hope is theorized to begin developing early in life, this assumption has never been empirically investigated. This is due to limitations in established hope measurement. There is an additional gap in the research surrounding the role of parents in the development of hope. In this study, I address each of these gaps by utilizing a novel measure of hope in early childhood and running a multiple linear regression model to investigate potential connections …

Design And Validation Of Sensing Knee Sleeve Rehabilitation Device Utilizing Large Deflection Strain Gauges, Kurt Christian Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures are increasingly common in the US and globally. However, rehabilitation outcomes may be negatively affected by limited access to physical therapy and patients' tendency to not fully adhere to recommended exercises between therapy sessions. This study aims to develop a remote system to aid rehabilitation, building upon recent sensor development at Brigham Young University, providing physical therapy-like biofeedback during unsupervised at-home exercises. The system developed by this research consists of three primary components: (1) a sensor array for measuring leg/knee biomechanics, (2) a machine learning algorithm to predict knee flexion angle from the sensor data, …

Modeling Advancement In Spacefaring Through Deep Learning, Peng-Hung Tsai

Theses and Dissertations

Predicting advancement in space exploration technology allows space agencies and companies to strategically allocate resources, prioritize missions, and explore collaborations on complex projects. This foresight acts as a roadmap for future exploration, making the best use of valuable resources. The present study employs spacecraft lifetimes as an exemplar of technological progress and proposes a novel forecasting model based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks. Existing research often suggests an increasing exponential relationship between technology performance and time (the generalized Moore's Law). However, applying this model directly to spacecraft lifetimes has a limitation. Spacecraft lifespans are unknown at launch, and recent …

An Agent-Based Modeling Of Permafrost Melting And Virus Exposure Due To Climate Change, Nishat Ara Mozid

Theses and Dissertations

Climate change has affected human life and natural system significantly. Particularly, there is specific evidence of change in the Arctic region for climate warming. One of the consequences of climate change is the process of permafrost degradation and thawing rate of active layer. Permafrost is defined as frozen grounds that exists at a temperature of or below 0℃ for at least two consecutive years, consists of ice and novel pathogens which are frozen for a long time. Anthrax may cause a serious threat for local environment and livestock due to permafrost melting. The study introduces an agent-based modeling of permafrost …

Modeling Knowledge Graphs And Its Applicability In Multi-Source Social Network Data, Abiola Sylvester Akinnubi

Theses and Dissertations

Social network analysis is becoming more relevant with the rise of Large Language Models and other AI frameworks, particularly as online content creation surges. However, analyzing social network data from different platforms to study online opinions and influence campaigns remains challenging. Even more complex is the concept of multi-source social network analysis. Knowledge graphs, an essential part of Web 4.0 and crucial in information modeling and encoding, offer a unique solution. They allow for a more concise encoding of relationships between entities and related discussions. However, there is limited investigation into using multi-source data for examining online information campaigns and …

Potential Contributions Of Xenobiotics To P-Glycoprotein Clearance Of Amyloid Β-Peptide From The Brain, Joseph Jr Asante

Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an example of a neurodegenerative disease, mostly age related and characterized by cognitive decline. Currently there is no effective treatment that can prevent or slow progression of the disease. Roughly 95% of cases are sporadic, with unknown etiology. A distinguishing characteristic of the Alzheimer’s brain is the presence of amyloid plaques, with their constituent amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides implicated in causing synaptic dysfunction, memory impairment, and neurotoxicity. Although extensive research has explored the role of Aβ peptides in AD, understanding their metabolism in health versus disease remains insufficient. P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a member of the ATP-binding cassette transporter …

Clarifying The Welcoming Certification Process; Contrasting Two Central Illinois Communities, Ian Murphy-Pociask

Theses and Dissertations

The election and subsequent immigration policies of the Trump Administration 2016-2020 had implications for how local governments and communities responded to immigration legislation proposing tighter control of immigration enforcement in the interior United States. Executive Order 13768 authorized the hiring and training of an additional 10,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to enforce immigration policy in the interior. Among many other responses of local governments to federal immigration policies, a Georgia-based, Tennessee-founded national non-profit, Welcoming America, offers communities and local governments certification as official welcoming cities based on standardized criteria. Since 2017, Welcoming America has recognized local governments and communities …

Caring Until It Hurts: A Survey Of Compassion Fatigue And Moral Injury Among Wild Animal Caregivers And Its Implications For Animal Welfare In Zoos, Aquariums, Rehabilitation Centers, And Sanctuaries, Nadiya L. Delgado

Theses and Dissertations

Caregivers for captive wild animals are fundamental to the overall care, welfare, and conservation of animals in their charge, fulfilling diverse and critical roles. Caring for others, whether humans or animals, exposes caregivers to compassion fatigue – a state of emotional and physical exhaustion resulting from prolonged empathetic engagement with those they assist, and moral injury – psychological distress that arises from actions, or the lack of them, which violate one's moral or ethical code. This distress can manifest as intense feelings of guilt, shame, or a sense of betrayal by oneself or others. These phenomena are pertinent in environments …

Sex Differences In The Diets Of Forest-Dwelling Baboons (Papio Anubis), Kara Hartunian

Theses and Dissertations

The ability to eat and switch between many food sources is an adaptative feeding strategy utilized for meeting nutritional needs across different environments, seasons, and physiological conditions. Baboons (genus Papio) excel at both dietary flexibility and foraging selectively, and consequently have one of the most widespread geographic distributions in the Order. To further expand to our understanding of baboon feeding ecology, I analyzed foraging activity and the nutritional characteristics of the diets of the relatively understudied rainforest baboons (Papio anubis) living in Kibale National Park, Uganda. I also investigated if there are differences in food type choice …

Assessment Of Tripeptides Self-Assembly & Er Stress On Cell Viability And Exosome Secretion In Mda-Mb231, Azmat Parveen

Theses and Dissertations

This study delves into the effects of tripeptides KYpF and WYpK(NBD) on MDA-MB-231 cells, uncovering KYpF's ability to reduce cell proliferation and exosome secretion in peptide treated cells. Conversely, WYpK(NBD) demonstrated significant toxicity at 10 μM. These insights pave the way for optimizing peptide-based cellular treatments for exosome secretion purposes.

Enhancing The Visual Environment Of Indoor Housed Laboratory Cynomolgus Macaques (Macaca Fascicularis) To Reduce Stress And Maladaptive Behavior, Jeannine C. Rodgers

Theses and Dissertations

Nonhuman primates housed in indoor laboratory environments are generally exposed to nondescript background visual stimuli. This environment is not ideal for species whose primary sensory modality is visual. To provide a more naturalistic visual environment that would potentially improve their welfare, this study assessed the efficacy of a passive natural visual stimulus in the reduction of stress and stereotypy and agonistic behaviors in a cohort of four (2 male, 2 female) Cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) housed in an indoor laboratory facility in New York City. The macaques were exposed to four different videos depicting scenes of natural landscapes that were …

Envelope Of Ruin : Material And Spatial Responses Of New York City Homeless To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kyle C. Maxey

Theses and Dissertations

This paper attempts to understand human material responses to catastrophic urban collapse. Using Henri Lefebvre's theories of spatial production and the history of a section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) this paper develops a theoretical framework for understanding the dynamics present in the creation of an urban ruin. Through the observation of homeless material responses, particularly the construction of encampments under the BQE, during the COVID-19 pandemic "lock-down" in New York City, this thesis illustrates how populations respond to urban ruin and social collapse. Moving forward, this paper hopes to serve as a synthesis of urban theory and archeological observation …

Electrifying Choices: Decoding Electric Vehicle Adoption And Policy Incentives In America, William T. Ball

Theses and Dissertations

Countries, states, and municipalities are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector by leveraging policy incentives to promote electric vehicle (EV) adoption. I study the efficacy of state-level time-of-purchase rebate incentives in the United States between 2016 and 2022, and employ a generalized difference-in-difference two-way fixed effects model that enables causal inference. I find that EV rebate incentives cause an increase of 1 EV per 1,000 vehicles. EV rebate incentives also cause a decrease in gasoline powered vehicles by 3 vehicles per 1,000, and a decrease in diesel powered vehicles by 1 per 1,000. EV rebate incentives …

Mapping Urban Tree Canopy Using Publicly Available Satellite Data, Rosemary Mcguinness

Theses and Dissertations

This project addresses the need for accessible, cost-effective tools for quantifying spatial and temporal changes in tree canopy cover in urban areas. Urban tree canopy provides a wide range of ecosystem services, including lowering air temperatures, reducing pollution, and mitigating stormwater runoff. Cities around the world have placed the expansion of their urban forests at the center of their sustainability goals. Consistent and timely data on urban tree canopy is essential for urban greening initiatives to succeed. Existing methods of accessing information about urban tree canopy are highly technical, costly, and labor-intensive, while the freely available source of tree canopy …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Mental Health- A Comparison Between Gender & Race, Taliyah Quinn

Theses and Dissertations

My study will focus on the rise of mental health toward the African American, Latinx and Asian Americans communities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The spread of the virus, the high percentage rate of infections among minorities, isolation, quarantining and socio economic disadvantages played a major role in the increase of mental disparities.

Narcissus Goes Digital: The Impact Of Zoom’S Self-View Feature On Cognitive Load And Zoom Fatigue Among Those With High And Low Adhd Symptoms, Abigail Aris Weir

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with ADHD may be more vulnerable to an increased cognitive load during video conferencing (e.g., Zoom) due to the distracting nature of their reflection being displayed by the self-view feature. This feature, however, may also provide stabilizing effects by offering consistent visual feedback for self-monitoring, thus reducing anxiety.

Fibersheds: Textiles As The Basis For A New World, Rebecca John

Theses and Dissertations

The Fibershed movement seeks to develop bioregional fiber systems to cultivate natural fibers through regenerative agriculture. Through this, it seeks to revive domestic textile production as an alternative to the global textile industry. This thesis investigates the Fibershed movement at national and regional scales, and assesses how they position themselves as an alternative economy.

Historical & Contemporary Practices Of Seal Harvesting: Policy Implications For Revitalization Among The Taa-Laa-Wa Dee-Ni’, Paula Lynne Aubrey

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the contemporary practices of seal harvesting among Indigenous Peoples, with a special focus on policies that inform the revitalization of seal harvesting within the Taa-laa-waa Dee-ni’ (Tolowa) community of Northern California and Southern Oregon. The research is conducted by an Indigenous researcher seeking to further connect to traditional practices of her tribe, and this research places a strong emphasis on cultural sensitivity and ethical integrity. The study involves a dual methodology including a comprehensive literature review to understand the cultural and ecological significance of seal harvesting, and a policy artifact review to identify wise practices and policy …

Examining Correlations Of Historical Trauma And Ethnic Identification With Symptoms Of Depression In Native American College Students, Nerissa Dolney

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of how historical trauma and one’s degree of ethnic identity relate to symptoms of depression, due to controversy in the literature about such variables. Participants in this study self-identified as Native American, were over the age of 18, and were currently enrolled or have been previously enrolled at the University of North Dakota (UND). Participants completed a survey online via Qualtrics to gather information about their ethnic identity, frequency of historical loss thinking, and symptoms of depression. Historical loss thinking was found to be very prevalent among this sample, and …

A Thematic Analysis: A Lived Experience Raising A Child Diagnosed With A Neurodevelopmental Disability In A Rural Community, Matthew Kettelhake

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, about 17% of children between the age of 3 and 18 are diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disability (Zablowsky et al; 2019). About 14% of the population lives in a rural community (USDA, 2020). Being part of a rural community has additional challenges urban areas may not face (Sharpley et al., 1997; Hasting &Taunt, 2002; Gerstein et al.,2009; Dabrokska & Pisula, 2010). Parents of children diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disability also face additional challenges than raising a neurotypical child. This study explored the themes and commonalities that arise from raising a child diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disability …

Promoting Athletic Training Careers Among American Indian And Alaska Native Communities, Wyatt Whitegoat

Theses and Dissertations

Athletic training, recognized for its role in providing specialized healthcare services focused on prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries for the athletic population, represents a growing profession within the healthcare field. As the need and value of athletic training services continues to grow, it is imperative for academic and Federal institutions to adapt programs and policies that reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.

Despite ongoing efforts, which should not be minimized, to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the athletic training profession, significant progress remains limited, particularly in increasing representation of American Indian and Alaska Natives (AIANs). …

Unveiling Facilitators And Barriers Of Breastfeeding Initiation And Continuation And Designing Culturally Tailored Intervention For African American Mothers, Nadia Boahemaa Kyeremeh

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the determinants of breastfeeding initiation and continuation among African American women in the United States and evaluates the effectiveness of an intervention using WordPress to disseminate culturally relevant breastfeeding information to African American women. First, secondary data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) was used to test factors influencing breastfeeding initiation and continuation among White and Black women. The results showed that the foreign-born (vs. US-born) status, residing (vs. non-residing) with grandparents, and strong (vs. weak) cultural identity were positively associated with breastfeeding initiation and continuation across racial groups. Based on the secondary …

Enumeration Of Level-K Hypertriangulations, Patrick J. Kaylor

Theses and Dissertations

Triangulations are a classical object in discrete and computational geometry that finds it uses in many other fields, including numerous applications. In this thesis we approach the question of enumerating all hypertriangulations of a point set, the family of tilings introduced by Olarte and Santos in 2022 as induced projections of hypersimplices. Unfortunately, the usual approach to enumeration of trinagulations using flips may not work for hypertriangulations as flip-connectivity is only conjectured for that family even in the two-dimensional case. As a result, we develop a DFS-based algorithm and present its Python implementation that enumerates all hypertriangulations of small point …

Evolving Community Preparedness: Analysis Of United States Pandemic Health Disaster Readiness, Jessy Rugeyo

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown substantial gaps in counties' preparedness and response capacity across the United States. This study analyzes the relationship between county-level pandemic preparedness and confirmed COVID-19 cases using secondary data from the FEMA's National Household Survey (NHS) and county-level COVID-19 data from the CDC. The data show a negative relationship between preparedness levels and COVID-19 positive rates, highlighting the necessity of proactive readiness measures. Individual risk assessment, motivation for preparedness, and socioeconomic variables have a major influence on confirmed cases. Higher levels of education, income, and preparedness are associated with lower positive rates, emphasizing the importance of …

Breaking Barriers: Factors Contributing To Successful Employment Outcomes For Black Males With Mental Health Diagnosis And Undergoing Vocational Rehabilitation, John C. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Black males with mental health diagnoses face substantial barriers to gaining and maintaining employment. Tailored employment support services may help increase employment access, yet utilization remains low among this demographic area. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study is to explore the employment challenges for Black males with mental health diagnoses in the US. This quantitative study will utilize a data mining approach drawing from an ex post facto national rehabilitation services dataset. Archival data will be extracted from the Rehabilitation Service Administration 911 (RSA-911) database. Descriptive statistics will first profile the extracted sample of vocational rehabilitation clients on demographic variables. …

Examining Tele-Mental Health Utilization In North American Indigenous Communities, Elleh A. Driscoll

Theses and Dissertations

Tele-mental health delivery reported by clinicians in Indigenous communities before, during, and after the pandemic has largely remained unexplored across psychology literature. Tele-mental health (TMH) is the utilization of technology tools to communicate and treat clients (Riding-Malon, 2014). TMH (i.e. mental health services accessed via zoom, telephone, etc.) is associated in recent research with effective rates for mental health care treatment comparable to in-person rates for both immediate and long-term outcomes (McCord, 2020; Lin, 2021). The current study examined self-reported mental health clinicians (n=104) serving North American Indigenous clients on a variety of TMH factors during and after the COVID-19 …

Examining Mental Health Professionals' Attitudes Towards Individuals With Rural Accents, Emily Heavner

Theses and Dissertations

Bias against people from rural areas is ingrained in American culture, and stereotypes that people from rural regions are backwards, uneducated, and unintelligent are prevalent (Fulkerson & Thomas, 2016; Hartman et al., 2023; Howley, 2009; Shirley, 2010). Many people from rural areas have accents that mark them as coming from a rural region (Flanigan, 2000). Research suggests that accent is a reminder that the speaker is from a different cultural group than the listener, triggering biases and stereotypes about the speaker (Chakraborty, 2017). Because accent and rural culture are not often discussed as part of multicultural competence, many mental health …

Reimagining Non-Credit Higher Education: The Impact Of Non-Credit Short-Term Accelerated Postsecondary Workforce Training At Santa Fe Community College, Monique Anair

Theses and Dissertations

An estimated five million Americans participate in non-credit college and university classes annually. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) does not require the reporting of non-credit student postsecondary enrollment, which means there is a lack of data about non-credit higher education. This qualitative case study provides a deeper understanding of 14 student experiences at Santa Fe Community College who participated in non-credit, short-term, accelerated workforce training programs. The findings reveal that students who engage in Santa Fe Community College’s non-credit postsecondary opportunities, are low-wage or unemployed working age adults who value short-term non-credit programs because they lead to higher …