Digital Commons Network^™

Robustness Of Aging Transition In Competing Effect Of Heterogeneity And Symmetry Breaking Coupling, Gowthaman I

Theses and Dissertations

The knowledge of emergent dynamics and the mechanisms by which self-organizing complex systems operate is a perennially difficult problem that can be effectively resolved by employing an ensemble of coupled dynamical units as a framework. Several intriguing collective dynamical behaviors, such as synchronization, chimera, clustering, oscillation quenching, etc., have been reported using an ensemble of coupled oscillators. Failure or degradation in the performance of even one of the local oscillators in a network of oscillators can lead to cascading failures resulting in the collapse of the entire network such as power blackouts. Similar dynamics can also be observed among neuronal …

Why Take Ap? Access To High School Advanced Placement Courses Long-Term Impact On Career/Workplace Opportunities, Gina Marie Frasca

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to understand the long-term impact of providing access and equity to highly rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) coursework to underserved and/or underrepresented high school students, and its long-term impacts on career. Using a qualitative approach, this study explored the experiences and opportunities of 6 graduates from a rural public high school in New Jersey with open access to AP courses who are now in a career/workplace environment. All six graduates took at least one AP course while in high school, graduated between 2010 and 2016, and had two or more potential barriers to opportunity while attending high school …

Resisting Exploitation: A Study Of Karen Joyce Warren’S Ecofeminist Ethic In The Selected Indian Movies, Kogila S

Theses and Dissertations

According to Warren, “The exploitation of nature and animals is justified by feminising them; the exploitation of women is justified by naturalising them” (EPWP 27). Women and nature have the same right to live independently. They are not meant for exploitation. However, patriarchy has long exploited them.

The changes are happening only in the ratio, not in the act of controlling. This research aims to study the undervalued state of women and others in nature concerning Warren's eight features of ecofeminist ethic in Indian movies, namely Harish Ram L's Thumbaa (2019), Amit Masurkar’s Sherni (2021), and Rathindran Prasad R’s Boomika …

An Applied Mental Health Course And Student Well-Being, Alison Nicole Anglen

Theses and Dissertations

Addressing mental health concerns and promoting well-being is imperative for university students to function optimally and to succeed academically. The demand for mental health care is exceeding the capacity of traditional counseling center resources at universities, suggesting the need for innovative interventions that can serve a broader scope of students. There is emerging evidence suggesting that mental health can be addressed, and well-being improved through psychoeducation and applied skills taught in classroom settings. Objectives: To examine a Mental Health and Well-Being course at a large, private religious university and its relationship to students’ well-being. This will be measured by assessing …

High School Sport Participation: Effects On Students' Grit And Resilience, Rory Kekoa-Israel Waldman

Theses and Dissertations

Adolescence is a time of transition, growth, and identity exploration. Often this great time for growth is accompanied with an increase in stressors that can be detrimental to success and health, without the necessary coping mechanisms. It is a period of life where resilience and grit are extremely important. A post-traumatic growth definition for resilience allows for the possibility of a steeling effect, in which the resilience of an adolescent can grow and develop. Sport provides an ideal environment for the development of both grit and resilience by providing a safe environment for adversity to occur without detrimental consequences. In …

Takiri Ake Nga Haeata: Lighting A Path To Increased Indigenous Leadership In Aotearoa, Kaylee Ihimaera

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis addresses the underrepresentation of indigenous Māori people in leadership positions and pursues the need to develop a Māori leadership framework aimed at empowering the next generation of indigenous people. Several frameworks have attempted to exhibit Māori leadership dynamics, each offering unique insights into the cultural and relational aspects of Māori leadership. However, existing frameworks often exhibit limitations in fully encapsulating the breadth of Māori leadership values and practices, necessitating the development of a comprehensive Māori leadership model independent of Western frameworks. Through an extensive review of existing literature and engaging with Māori experts, I synthesized key insights to …

Information Geometric Approaches To Optimal Experimental Design And Reduced-Order Modeling In Ocean Acoustics, Jay C. Spendlove

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis demonstrates the application of information geometry to problems in underwater acoustics. Information geometry combines the fields of information theory and differential geometry by interpreting a multiparameter model as a Riemannian manifold in an ambient data space. Information geometry tools are especially powerful in context of problems of experimental design and model selection in ocean acoustics. The application area specifically considered in this research is geoacoustic inversion, where seabed parameter values are inferred from acoustical data. Chapter 2 contains a paper submitted to the Journal of Theoretical and Computational Acoustics, which introduces information geometry tools such as the model …

Sex Influences Of Age Of Onset And Duration Of Illness On Patterns Of Cortical Thickness In Individuals With Schizophrenia, Rachael Olivia Slate

Theses and Dissertations

Given that the manifestation of schizophrenia varies by sex, it is hypothesized that the interaction between diagnosis and sex significantly influences brain structure and is believed to be a crucial factor in understanding the neurobiology of schizophrenia. While much is known about cortical thickness mapping of the condition, there is currently no work that has assessed how changes to the cortical mantle relate to important clinical features of schizophrenia that vary by sex, such as age of illness onset (AOO) or duration of illness (DOI). This study utilized a sex-wise approach to examining cortical thickness alterations in men and women …

Reducing Water Footprint In Portland Cement Concrete Manufacturing, Mohamed Nagy

Theses and Dissertations

Despite water covering roughly 71 percent of the Earth's surface in various forms, including oceans, seas, ice caps, glaciers, lakes, and atmospheric moisture, there is a looming crisis concerning freshwater availability. Wastage occurs across diverse sectors such as households, commercial establishments, industries, agriculture, and transportation hubs. For instance, an average household squanders around 70 gallons (265 liters) of water per day. Moreover, the concrete industry significantly contributes to water consumption, utilizing approximately 16.6 × 109 m³ annually, with each square meter of construction requiring about 410 liters of water. This wastage occurs throughout the concrete manufacturing process, prompting the …

Potential Value Of Brazzein-Yeast As A Broiler Chicken Feed Additive, Lauren Ruth Neuleib

Theses and Dissertations

A variety of flavors, including sweeteners, have been used in animal feeds to improve feed palatability and increase feed intake by livestock (Chen et al., 2020). While many of these sweeteners are found in the form of carbohydrates, brazzein is a sweet-tasting protein. This study was conducted to identify the potential of brazzein to influence feed intake by livestock, using poultry as a model. The preliminary study's purpose was to develop methods appropriate for the subsequent feeding study. In the preliminary study, eight pens of five birds were fed one of four treatment diets: Control or the Control plus one …

Optimization Of A Sers-Based Vertical Flow Immunoassay Utilizing A Plasmonic Syringe Filter For Rapid Biomarker Detection And Quantification, Anthony Abeiku Amissah

Theses and Dissertations

Many current diagnostic tools for accurate disease detection and quantification are often tedious and involve multiple complex steps. Consequently, there is a critical need for alternative point-of-care devices that are affordable and deliver rapid and reliable results. Recently, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has emerged as a highly effective analytical method, enhancing Raman scattering of molecules adsorbed onto nanoparticles and allowing for low-level detection and quantitative chemical analysis. In this study, we employ SERS to develop a rapid diagnostic test using human immunoglobulin G (hIgG) as a model biomarker because it is abundant in human serum, cheap, readily available, and well-understood. …

Experimental Investigation On Mechanical Properties Of Pla Reinforced By Bamboo Fiber/Montmorillonite Clay Hybrid Composites And Analysis Of Machining Characteristics, Nirmal Kumar K

Theses and Dissertations

The study presents a comprehensive investigation into the development, characterization, and machining analysis of novel bio-based polymer hybrid composites comprising Polylactic acid (PLA), bamboo powders (BP), and montmorillonite clay particles (MMT). Initially, the hybrid composites were fabricated using a solvent-free stir casting process, optimizing the weight percentages of BP and MMT to enhance mechanical and thermal properties.

Mechanical tests, including tensile, flexural, and impact tests, along with thermal analysis using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, were conducted to evaluate the performance of the composites. In the subsequent phases, advanced machining techniques were employed to analyze the machining characteristics of …

The Planning Strategy For Electric Vehicle Charging Stations In The Road Transportation Network Synchronized With The Distribution Network, Muthukannan S

Theses and Dissertations

Electric vehicles (EVs) are recognized as a potentially effective solution to the environmental crisis and fuel deficit that modern metropolises are currently experiencing. Meanwhile, the expansion of EVs and their haphazard charging would negatively affect the road transportation network (RTN) as well as the electric distribution network (EDN). The proper infrastructure for the electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) will enhance the effective utilization of energy of both the networks.

This research work proposes a two-phase planning strategy for deploying Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS), considering both static and dynamic factors. The strategy uses a hybrid PSO-DS algorithm which is a …

Facets Of Neuroticism As Predictors Of Heart Rate Variability And Psychological Distress, Mikel Cressman

Theses and Dissertations

Heart rate variability (HRV) and personality are related to both physical and mental health outcomes. Previous research has found a relationship between neuroticism and distress while the findings on the relationship between neuroticism and HRV are mixed. Studying the facets of neuroticism may provide a more nuanced view of the effects of personality on HRV and distress. Previous research has suggested that the vulnerability facet of neuroticism appears to be uniquely related to the cardiovascular response to stress. This study's first hypothesis is that individuals with higher scores on the vulnerability facet will have lower heart rate variability. The second …

Redefining The Scope Of The Curtius Reaction Via A Dehomologation Of Carboxylic Acids Bearing An Alpha Leaving Group. Determining The Stereoelectronic Limitations Of The Crimmins Anti-Selective Asymmetric Glycolate Aldol Addition Reaction., Joy Odeh

Theses and Dissertations

The Curtius rearrangement is an important synthetic transformation in organic chemistry and is named in honor of Theodore Curtius who developed this reaction in the late 19th century. The rearrangement involves the conversion of a carboxylic acid into a primary amine through an isocyanate intermediate. The isocyanate is formed by the thermal decomposition of an acyl azide intermediate formed from the carboxylic acid starting material. The thermal decomposition is accompanied by the migration of the substituent bound to the carboxyl group of the acyl azide. When exposed to different nucleophiles, these isocyanates can then be converted to the corresponding amines, …

From Viral Rumors To Fact-Checked Information: The Influence Of Social Media Platforms And Fact-Checking Organizations On Public Trust During The Covid-19 Crisis, Chinyere Linda Agbasiere

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic not only disseminated a viral health threat worldwide but highlighted the rapid spread of misinformation, commonly called an "infodemic." This study investigates the influence of social media and fact-checking organizations in shaping public trust and information consumption during the pandemic. Utilizing a mixed-method approach of surveys and interviews, I analyzed 9 interviews. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) and Owen's (1984) principles of recurrence, repetition, and forcefulness, and three main themes were developed inductively. The findings reveal that while social media was a primary source of information, it also served as a …

Investigating The Role Of Betrayal Blindness Between High Betrayal Trauma And Dating Violence Among Young Mothers Maltreated As Children, Lauren Catherine Wallace

Theses and Dissertations

Young mothers experience greater rates of dating violence (DV) victimization and perpetration compared to their non-parenting, female peers as well as older mothers (Joly & Connolly, 2016). Child maltreatment is a salient predictor of DV victimization and perpetration (Li et al., 2019; Murphy et al., 2020). According to Betrayal Trauma Theory (BTT), child maltreatment perpetrated by a close loved one, such as a parent or primary caregiver, is defined as a high betrayal trauma (Freyd, 1996). Young mothers who experienced a high betrayal trauma may endorse betrayal blindness as a way to cope with abuse from their caregiver (Freyd & …

Machine Learning Approaches To The Exploration Of Ammonia Synthesis Catalysts Utilizing Experimental Data, Rasika Jayarathna

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional heterogeneous catalyst discovery process relies upon human expert-guided experiments based on domain knowledge and human intuition supported by catalyst characterization. However, this process is time and resource-consuming and suffers from human bias. Machine learning (ML) models trained on experimental data have the potential to significantly accelerate this discovery process by guiding experiments to optimize the catalyst performance and increase the understanding of the catalysts. Ammonia synthesis catalysts are a class of catalysts widely investigated in the literature, which has generated decades of experimental data. Moreover, ammonia has been gaining attention since it can be used as a carbon-free next-generation …

Development Of Anti-Fibrotic Agents For Potential Use In Glaucoma Filtration Surgery To Prevent Scar Formation, Nikhala Shree S

Theses and Dissertations

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness with irreversible vision loss. It is marked by the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells, which results in optic nerve head damage. Intraocular pressure (IOP) is a prime risk factor of glaucoma controlled by various treatment regimens i.e., medication, laser, and/ or surgery. It is reported that longterm exposure to anti-glaucoma medications (AGM) may subtle the surgical success rate leading to postoperative fibrosis. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is a growth factor that plays an important role in the development of glaucoma and promotes fibrosis.

This study is aimed at developing peptides to …

Efficient Machine Learning On Scientific Data Using Bayesian Optimization, Rui Xin

Theses and Dissertations

Deep Learning is pivotal in advancing data analysis across various scientific fields, from genomics to materials discovery. Despite its widespread use, efficiently learning from limited data and operating under resource constraints remains a significant challenge, often limiting its full potential in environments where data is scarce or resources are restricted. This dissertation explores Active Learning and Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) powered by Bayesian Optimization to enhance the efficiency of machine learning across multiple disciplines. It focuses on algorithm optimization and data management through three interconnected studies. In the first study, we investigate how data management technique - active learning helps …

Therapeutic Potentials Of The Gut-Brain-Microbiota Axis For Prevention And Treatment Of Motivational Deficits In Ecohiv Infected Rats, Mason T. Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

People living with HIV begin to experience gastrointestinal disturbances as early as 6 months after initial infection. Regardless of adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), the gut microbiome of people living with HIV maintains a state of dysbiosis throughout the rest of their lives, providing potential for a novel target for improving the lives of those living with HIV. The present study investigated the impact EcoHIV and cocaine have on the gut microbiome of F344/N rats. Fecal samples were collected from 20 female and 20 male animals at baseline, following self-administration of cocaine, and following inoculation with EcoHIV or Saline. …

Neurocognitive Processes As Longitudinal Predictors Of Reading Fluency, Jody Samuels

Theses and Dissertations

Reading fluency involves a complex interaction of different cognitive skills and abilities that develop with instruction and practice and relies on the automaticity of many distinct reading skills (e.g., pacing, word recognition, expression, phonological awareness). Fluent reading frees cognitive resources, such as working memory, for more advanced components of reading including comprehension and synthesis (Kim & Wagner, 2015; Samuels, 2006). Though early identification of students with fluency challenges is critical for providing evidence-based intervention, most screeners assess skills that are dependent upon instruction (e.g., letter identification, sound-symbol correspondence), delaying opportunities for identification. The current study examines the utility for including …

Multi-Scale Deep Representation Learning In Synthetic Biology, Xiaoyi Liu

Theses and Dissertations

Synthetic biology advances and combines the expertise of engineers and biologists, bridging the gap between engineering and natural life. Synthetic biology has been generally categorized into two broad branches by developing new biological components, networks, and systems to reprogram organisms. The first branch involves using synthetic molecules to mimic natural biological functions. The second branch focuses on assembling natural biological components in novel ways, aiming to produce systems with unique, practical functions. Thus, the de novo engineering of biological modules and synthetic pathways is used in related practical bioengineering applications, such as drug-targeting strategies and microbial product manufacturing. Therefore, synthetic …

Association Of Hiv Status And Other Minoritized Identities With Psychiatric Diagnoses Among Transgender And Gender Diverse Individuals In The All Of Us Research Program, Fanghui Shi

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people, whose gender identities or expressions differ from the sex assigned at birth, are disproportionately affected by adverse health outcomes, including various psychiatric diagnoses such as depression, anxiety, stress, and substance use disorders. The Gender Minority Stress Model emphasizes that TGD people face both proximal stressors at a personal/individual level (e.g., internalized stigma) and distal stressors at a societal level (e.g., discrimination) due to their minority status, which largely contributes to their increased risk of psychiatric diagnoses. Despite these health disparities, there is a paucity of gender identity data collected in large population-based health …

Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Interactions With Foodborne Pathogens And Impact On Plant Productivity In A Model Hydroponic System, Esther Titilope Oginni

Theses and Dissertations

Food production is a global problem, and this has been further compounded with changes in weather patterns necessitating the need for a sustainable approach to production. Chapter 1 introduces the broad concept of the Control environment agriculture (CEA) and then narrows it doe to the hydroponic system its food safety risks. The CEA has been employed alongside conventional practices methods to improve meet the demand for food without placing pressure on the land available. Foodborne outbreaks have been recorded in the production medium and are therefore susceptible to contamination. In Chapter 2, the study focused on using Lactobacillus rhamnosus and …

Viewing Ir Through A Unicolonial Lens: A Case Study On The Effects Of Cultural Recognition On State Behavior, Andrew Viera

Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis utilizes the concept of unicoloniality, a process found within several ant species, to analyze the aggressive behavior and alliance-forming behavior of states. Through the unique lens of ant colony behavior, this study creates a new variable for quantifying culture that measures whether two states can recognize each other based on their cultural identity. Utilizing this noble variable, a logistic regression model was run to test the impact of cultural recognition on state behavior. The results indicated that cultural recognition had no effect on the decision of a state to join an alliance or engage in a militarized …

Interleukin 24 Induces Apoptosis Through Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Beta Inactivation In Prostate Cancer Cells, Sual J. Lopez, Moira Sauane

Theses and Dissertations

Interleukin 24 (IL-24) is a tumor-suppressing protein currently in clinical trials. IL-24 induces cancer-specific apoptosis by activating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitochondria dysfunction. We have previously demonstrated that IL-24 leads to apoptosis in cancer cells by protein kinase A (PKA) activation in human breast cancer cells. To further understand the mechanism by which IL-24 induces apoptosis, I analyzed the role of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3), a highly conserved and normally active serine/threonine kinase in cancer cells and downstream target of PKA. The work reported here provides direct evidence that GSK3 was inhibited following IL-24 treatment in human prostate cancer …

Cultural Selection Of Ethical Self-Control Toward Sustainability, Michael Jonathan Passage

Theses and Dissertations

This study consisted of three experiments to improve our understanding of the conditions that foster cooperation related to sustainability. In Experiment 1, participants completed a demographic questionnaire and an environmental and social discounting task. Results (a) support the utility of the environmental discounting task; (b) suggest responding to the discounting task is dissimilar; and (c) show that responding to hypothetical consequences on the social discounting task correlates to actual responding. Experiment 2 evaluated whether interlocking behavioral contingencies (by microculture members) associated with sustainable and non-sustainable aggregate products (Condition A & B) could be selected by cultural consequences (i.e., 20¢ toward …

Assessing The Gut Content Of Styela Plicata: A Benthic Filter Feeder In The Indian River Lagoon, Honor Lily Triumph Edmands

Theses and Dissertations

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) has experienced declining water quality due to human activities involving nutrient input, leading to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). The Living Docks program affixes oyster mats to dock pilings to promote the settlement and recruitment of benthic filter feeders for water quality improvement. However, questions remain about filtering efficiencies of organisms that make up the mat communities, and whether organisms remove harmful species from the IRL. The pleated sea squirt, Styela plicata, is a common oyster mat resident. The goal of this thesis was to investigate what phytoplankton and bacteria S. plicata consumes, and if …

Beta Lactams Anticancer Effect On Human Breast Cancer, Mcf-7 Cell Line, Ailis A. Abalos

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer is a disease where abnormal cells replicate uncontrollably in that same region and/or other parts of the body. One in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer, thus making it the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Chemotherapy, is the utilization of medicinal compounds (drugs) to treat cancer. While most are nonspecific and target both cancer and healthy cells, more emphasis is on developing drugs with specificity (only target tumor cells) and low toxicity. Interestingly, Beta Lactams (β-lactams) have emerged as a class of compounds that are effective in the treatment of various cancers. The benefits …