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Assessing The Influence Of Native And Invasive Grasses On The Behavior Of Aedes Aegypti In South Texas, Emily Medelez

Theses and Dissertations

Invasive grasses in South Texas can have widespread negative effects, displacing native species, reducing biodiversity, and posing risks to public health. These grasses may flourish in moist, shaded environments, which not only support their growth but also creates habitats favorable for mosquito activity. This can increase the population and alter the behavior of mosquitoes, potentially raising the risk of disease transmission. In this thesis, I look at the behavior of mosquito species Aedes aegypti, primary vector of the yellow fever virus. I analyzed the influence of oviposition, flight and resting behaviors. I tested the relative attraction of Aedes mosquitoes …

Microwave-Assisted Green Synthesis Of Spiroindolinopyranopyrazoles, Esther Owusu

Theses and Dissertations

Green Chemistry, usually known as sustainable chemistry, is widely implemented worldwide to safeguard human health and the environment. Recent investigations in organic synthesis and chemical transformation have demonstrated that green chemistry techniques are significantly reducing both chemical waste and reaction time. In order to fulfill this ecological requirement, it is crucial to lessen the utilization of perilous solvents and noxious chemicals, while also creating innovative reaction methods that decrease the production of trash. The implementation of such methodologies can greatly enhance the field of green chemistry. A more environmentally friendly synthetic method was utilized to generate spiro chemicals and their …

Learning-Based Feature Identification For Rendezvous And Capture Of Non-Cooperative Space Objects, Trupti Mahendrakar

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) and Active Debris Removal (ADR) have attracted increasing interest due to growing concerns about space debris. This debris poses a significant risk to spacecraft, as collisions can catastrophically end missions and potentially trigger a cascading chain reaction of more debris. Space debris ranges from tiny paint chips to large non-functional spacecraft and even launch vehicle components. One way to mitigate the formation of additional space debris is to reduce the total number of large non-cooperative resident space objects present in operational orbits. This can be achieved through two approaches: de-orbiting these objects as part …

Demonstrating Feasibility Of Ultrasound-Sensitive Microbubbles Delivery To Treat Disruptions In The Blood Brain Barrier Endothelium, Rubens Jourdain

Theses and Dissertations

Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) is one of the main causes of dementia. VCID is caused by age and other genetic factors that lead to disruptions in the blood brain barrier (BBB) and allow blood components to enter the brain. The currently available treatments of VCID include opening the BBB with high-frequency-ultrasound to deliver drugs to the brain. However, this only treats the already developed disease. Consequently, we developed a new drug delivery system whose goal is to restore the brain capillary endothelial cells (BCEC) lining the blood vessel. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility …

A Comparative Analysis Of Early Algebraic Thinking Activities From U.S. And Singapore Primary Textbooks, Christian Joel Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

Many studies highlight the challenges students face when transitioning to algebra at the secondary level. Introducing algebraic concepts and fostering algebraic thinking at the primary level can help mitigate these difficulties. Prior to formal algebra instruction, early algebra can be cultivated as a mode of thinking known as algebraic thinking. Several international curricula, such as Singapore Math, incorporate early algebraic thinking into the early stages of schooling. Singapore Math, renowned for its high performance in international assessments, has been widely adopted by schools seeking to replicate its success.

This study compares two primary-level mathematics curricula—CCSSM-aligned textbooks and Singapore Math—specifically focusing …

Synthesis Of Photocleavable Molecules For Neurological Applications, Nishal Madujith Egodawaththa Arachchilage Don

Theses and Dissertations

In recent biomedical research, the precise control of molecular dynamics through light activation has emerged as a powerful tool, particularly in the field of neurobiology. This approach involves the use of photocleavable cages or photoprotective groups (PPGs) that are chemically tethered to biologically active molecules such as neurotransmitters or calcium chelators. These cages remain inert until exposed to specific wavelengths of light, typically in the visible range, triggering the release of the active compound with high spatiotemporal precision.

For neurotransmitter systems, such as glutamate (Glu), which plays a critical role in synaptic transmission and memory formation, researchers have developed novel …

The Lasting Psychological Effects Of Juvenile Arrests, Nadia Olivia Bortolin

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the enduring psychological consequences, specifically depression and anxiety, stemming from juvenile arrests and their influence on adulthood. Literature has demonstrated impacts on juvenile arrests from cultural, socioeconomic, family dynamics, and environmental elements. This study addresses a notable gap in understanding the long-term impact on mental health and employment. Research indicates a sensitivity to outcomes based on the age of arrest, with early adolescent arrests having profound effects on development and an increased likelihood of subsequent criminal activities. Developmental and risk factors, such as socioeconomic challenges and pubescent difficulties, contribute to persistent delinquent behaviors into adulthood. Some studies …

Novel, Ultra-Fast Electrochemical Sensors For The Enhanced Detection Of Neurotransmitters And Toxic Heavy Metals In Aqueous Solutions, Noel Manring

Theses and Dissertations

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are a growing global health concern, affecting millions of people worldwide. NDDs arise from the progressive loss of neuronal cell function, ultimately leading to cell death. Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers in the brain, have also been linked to NDDs. Despite various treatments and medications aimed at alleviating physical and mental symptoms, there is currently no cure or means to halt disease progression. While the exact pathogenesis of NDDs remain poorly understood, cognitive decline is largely attributed to brain volume reduction, particularly in the hippocampus. Clinical studies suggest that environmental factors, such as exposure to …

A Machine Learning Approach For Survival Analysis Of Transplanted Kidneys Based On Donors’ And Recipients’ Factors., Alain Edward Despeignes

Theses and Dissertations

Over seven thousand people on average die each year in the United States waiting for an organ transplant due to the shortage of donated organs. With this alarming concern, efforts from the health organizations like the United Network Organ Sharing (UNOS) and government officials have considered avenues to remedy this distress, one of which is to investigate the characteristics among donors and recipients that affects the longevity of donated organs. The goal of this project is to investigate the survival time of transplanted kidneys from 1987 to 2018 with regards to the donors’ and the recipients’ characteristics including gender, ethnicity, …

Machine Learning Methods For Quantification Of Glacier Variations Through Satellite Imagery, Robert D. Breininger

Theses and Dissertations

Glaciers around the world have experienced a trend of recession within the past century. Quantification of glacier variations using satellite imagery is of great interest due to the importance of glaciers as freshwater resources and as indicators of climate change. The potential methods to quantify glacier variations with increasing complexity include detecting the terminus location, quantifying the glacier surface area, and measuring glacier volume. Although there are methods in literature designed purposefully for glacier area segmentation that have achieved acceptable results, they are often localized to the region where their training data were acquired and further rely on training sets …

Utilizing Self-Management Strategies To Increase Staff Productivity In An Aba Clinic, Jasmine Margarita Hernandez-Morris

Theses and Dissertations

In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), self-management is defined as an individual's behavior change strategies and tactics implemented to achieve a desired behavioral outcome. Both clinicians and researchers aim to develop and implement efficient self- management strategies that enhance staff performance, ultimately driving positive outcomes for the clients they serve. At this time, the research regarding the use of self- management strategies to increase staff fluency is limited. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of using self-management strategies to increase fluency in administering a verbal operant card set. Six staff members from an ABA clinic in Central Florida were recruited for …

Decoding Neural Networks: An Information-Theoretic Guide To Interpretability, Error Analysis And Efficiency, Mackenzie J. Meni

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses critical challenges in neural network design by leveraging entropy-based techniques to improve model efficiency, interpretability, and bias reduction. Focusing on the unique demands of computer vision applications, particularly object detection and classification for real-time systems, this work introduces a series of innovative methods centered on information theory. At the core of these methods is the Probabilistic Explanations of Entropic Knowledge (PEEK) framework, a tool developed to analyze and visualize entropy distributions across feature maps. PEEK offers insights into information flow within neural networks, making it possible to pinpoint layers that contribute meaningfully to decision-making or identify those …

Intent Visualization In Human-Agent Teams, Rahul Tushar Mehta

Theses and Dissertations

Despite advances in autonomous systems, effective collaboration between humans and intelligent agents remains a significant challenge, particularly in shared-control scenarios. This study investigates how intent visualization affects human-agent collaboration in telecollaboration scenarios, examining its impact on team performance, operator trust, and workload. Using a custom simulation environment and Wizard-of-Oz methodology, we conducted an experiment with 13 participants who completed exploration tasks under two conditions: a baseline interface and an enhanced interface with intent visualization. Results showed that while intent visualization did not significantly improve objective performance metrics, it led to a 22.6\% increase in explicit disagreements between operators and the …

Loss Of Control In General Aviation: An Investigation Into The Mooney M20 And The Full Trimming Tail Design, Trenton Neil Wright

Theses and Dissertations

Loss of Control (LOC) in General Aviation (GA) remains one of the leading causes of aviation accidents, with 94% of all accidents in 2022 occurring in this sector, and 42% attributed directly to LOC [2][3]. This thesis focuses on the Full Trimming Tail (FTT) in Mooney aircraft, hypothesizing that the FTT design significantly increases the likelihood of LOC, particularly during go-arounds and touch-and-go landings. Prior studies have shown that certain trim systems can amplify pitch-up moments following rapid configuration changes, leading to stalls or LOC if not adequately managed by the pilot [23][24][25].

This research utilized a combination of logistic …

Breaking The Procrastination Barrier, Bianca Ebanks

Theses and Dissertations

Procrastination is a common barrier to productivity, impacting individuals' ability to achieve goals, especially in academic and professional settings. This study investigates a mixed-methods online intervention combining Behavioral Analysis (BA) principles with mindfulness exercises to reduce procrastination. The aim was to develop a human-centered, personalized intervention that utilizes behavioral reminders and mindfulness techniques to address procrastination in 43 participants. Participants' procrastination levels were assessed using the Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS), and interventions were tailored based on individual procrastination tendencies. Reminders were sent via email or text, with timing adjusted to participants’ specific needs. The intervention also included mindfulness exercises designed …

Redefining Research Impact: Developing And Evaluating Modified H-Indexes For Comprehensive Academic Assessment, Nash Mayhue Minton

Theses and Dissertations

In academic research, the h-index has gained prominence as a useful metric for gauging the impact and productivity of researchers. This thesis seeks to provide a general overview of the h-index by providing information on the positive applications that the h-index utilizes, as well as the faults and limitations that diminish its utility. This thesis aims to combat the bias of hyper-authorship, which inherently inflates researchers' h-indexes by disproportionately attributing credit to individuals in multi-author publications, as well as provide other indices that could prove to be a possible replacement index or to be used as a basis for creating …

Soil Biogeography And Community Assembly In Polar Regions, Jesse Jorna

Theses and Dissertations

The polar regions provide community ecologists with natural microcosms, that include reduced species diversity, steep environmental gradients and limited human perturbance. Soil biodiversity in the polar regions is poorly understood, and the driving forces behind community compositions can range in scale from glacial forces 20,000 years ago to the impact of a researcher's footstep. Here, we present the results of an investigation of the driving factors behind biodiversity in Arctic and Antarctic soils, with specific attention to the role of community assembly processes. We suggest a framework for investigating the effects of inter-bacterial community processes like facilitation and argue for …

Capturing Creativity: An Exploration Of The Positive Impact Of Art Integration In Elementary Education, Christina Zander

Theses and Dissertations

My thesis focuses on the necessity of including art in education and the positive impact integrating art has on students mentally and academically. Over the past 2 years, I have seen the major impact integrating art has on students and how essential it is to keep creativity in the classroom. My research explains how incorporating art helps increase both student engagement and retention of concepts. I have also studied how integrating art with mindfulness can help students develop essential SEL skills including emotion management. My research expands on how utilizing art allows individuals and students to better cope with challenges …

Human-Bear Conflict In North America (1880-2020): A Comprehensive Analysis Of Patterns, Outcomes And Interactions, Cody Robert Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Human-bear (Ursus spp.) conflict (HBC) is an important issue facing wildlife managers across North America. It is essential that we understand the factors associated with HBCs in North America so that wildlife managers can make appropriate, science-based recommendations about how to avoid, and if necessary, survive such incidents. To that end, we present this comprehensive analysis of > 2,100 HBCs in the United States and Canada, ranging from 1880 to the present. This analysis includes the three native North American bear species: black bears (Ursus americanus), grizzly bears (U. arctos), and polar bears (U. maritimus) and assesses the role that twelve …

Enhancing Muscle Health And Modulating Immune Response With Galectin-1 In Lgmd2b/R2 Models, Stefannia Esparza Pulido

Theses and Dissertations

Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2B/R2 (LGMD2B/R2) is a type of dysferlinopathy, a progressive muscle-wasting disorder caused by mutations in the dysferlin gene. Hallmarks of the disease include chronic inflammation, impaired muscle regeneration, and eventual muscle degeneration. Currently, no FDA-approved therapies are available for dysferlinopathies. Recombinant human Galectin-1 (rHsGal-1) has shown multiple roles in maintaining skeletal muscle homeostasis, promoting muscle repair, enhancing myogenesis, and modulating inflammation by downregulating the NF-κB pathway. The ability of rHsGal-1 to modulate the immune response is particularly promising for therapeutic applications in patients with LGMD2B/R2. In this study, we evaluated the effects of rHsGal-1 in a …

Effect Of Roadway Lighting On Safety In Utah, Samuel Lewis Runyan

Theses and Dissertations

A significant portion of severe crashes and severe crashes involving vulnerable road users, 29 percent and 39 percent respectively, occur at night in Utah, despite roughly only 25 percent of traffic occurring at night. Nighttime crash causes are less understood than daytime crashes as there are fewer nighttime crashes, but it is generally assumed that increasing street lighting can help mitigate these crashes. To test this assumption, the Utah Department of Transportation was interested in developing Crash Modification Factors (CMFs) specific to the state of Utah which correlate the quantity and quality of light to crash outcomes, to observe how …

Identifying Redundant Audio Content Over Cloud Environment Using Deduplication Techniques, Venkatesh K

Theses and Dissertations

Cloud computing has become an integral part of modern internet-based services, with users relying heavily on cloud environments as primary storage solutions. However, the exponential growth in data volume presents a challenge (i.e) the proliferation of duplicated content within cloud repositories. Deduplication techniques provide a promising approach to mitigate this issue. This research focuses on detecting redundant audio content within a cloud environment, specifically targeting the sharing of extensive audio files, such as those in Waveform Audio File Format (WAV). The study proposes the Refined Super Subset Identification Algorithm (RSSIA) to efficiently identify redundant content and segments within existing audio …

Aircraft Control, Collision Avoidance, And Remote Autonomy In Scenarios With Ground Radar Information, Jaron Charles Ellingson

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have become integral to various modern applications, including package delivery, security, medicine, and recreation. The autonomous operation of UAS significantly enhances their utility by improving performance and reducing operator workload, enabling collaborative missions such as boundary detection, border protection, and target tracking. To ensure safe integration of UAS, more work needs to be done in the areas of control, estimation, collision avoidance, path planning, hardware implementation, and autonomous practices in general. For this dissertation we chose to focus on the critical areas of control, collision avoidance, and remote autonomy. Our research is motivated by the need …

Lost, Or Found? Seeking And Preserving The Education Of Artisanal Arts, Jennie Doezie

Theses and Dissertations

Crafts and the artisanal arts have a complex relationship with art and art education. Nevertheless, hands-on crafts have an important and often overlooked contribution to visual art education. In addition to their value as cultural icons, the artisanal arts can contribute to cognitive development, emotional well-being, and mental health. The practice of a craft can balance some of the negative effects of 21st century screen culture. This thesis explores the following regarding crafts education: its value, its relationship to traditional art education, and its future potential. In addition to the traditional elements of literature review and research methodology, this thesis …

Implementing The Safe System Approach At Intersections In Utah, Ian Patrick Macgregor

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the principles and elements of the Safe System Approach, a new paradigm in roadway safety. A compendium of practice was created to determine recommendations on how to implement the Safe System Approach at intersections and observe how other jurisdictions are implementing it. Several strategies identified include the Safe Systems at Intersections (SSI) methodology, Safe System Alignment Frameworks, Vision Zero communities, incorporating the Safe System Approach into the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) or Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), mandating the Safe System Approach be considered in all projects, and the Organizational Safety Culture Self-Assessment. These policies do …

Barbie, Taylor Michelle Gale

Theses and Dissertations

The stereotypes placed over men and women throughout various forms of media, including film and TV, song, printed media, and even through objects like toys, have a large impact on society as a whole. Kumari and Joshi (2015) explain that media plays an important role in sharing information concerning what deems to be the fabric of contemporary culture, which can aid in changing, or perpetuating long standing societal norms. This study identifies how Greta Gerwig's Barbie (2023) approaches the themes of the portrayal of women in the media through the Barbie film, examining themes such as objectification, self-objectification, and the …

Computational Study Of The Evolution Of The Grain Boundary Network During Anisotropic Grain Growth, Jose Nino

Theses and Dissertations

The grain boundary network (GBN) of polycrystalline materials changes during grain growth, affecting the material's properties. This research presents the results of fully anisotropic grain growth simulations. We perform simulations using three GB energy functions: an energy function that considers a GB's 5 degrees of freedom, the Read-Shockley model, and isotropic. We analyze the impact of these energy functions on the morphological evolution and various microstructural statistics, such as crystallographic texture and triple junction distribution. The results demonstrate that while individual grain evolution varies with GB energy function, certain microstructural statistics reach similar steady states across different models. In addition, …

"We Are All About Equality": D/Deaf Inclusivity In Little Wimmin, Ruth Ann Leber

Theses and Dissertations

Figs in Wigs integration of a British Sign Language interpreter in their performance of Little Wimmin is a compelling example of inclusive theatre for D/deaf audiences. By examining the works of foundational D/deaf studies scholars Neil Glickman and Paddy Ladd alongside the works of contemporary D/deaf scholars such as Tom Humphries, Carol Padden, and Michael Richardson we can gain valuable insight into the evolution of the D/deaf culture and identity. This paper will refer to diversity scholar Susanne Ricee when defining the difference between accommodation, access, accessibility, and inclusivity. It will explore the current advantages and limitations of D/deaf accommodations …

An Arkansas Boy’S Vietnam War, Isaac D. Wolter

Theses and Dissertations

The Vietnam War was an inescapable part of life for Americans in the 1960s. This thesis serves to tell the story of one Arkansas boy’s life who serves as a microcosm of the American boys sent overseas to fight in a war that they largely did not understand. The information within the project is drawn from primary source materials collected by the Jacksonville Museum of Military History and the possessions of John Wayne Acosta sent home from Vietnam. Secondary sources serve to complement the class and personal struggles John Wayne had to deal with in volunteering and then re-upping to …

Rare Sugars And Dairy Ingredients: A Synergistic Pairing For The Reduction Of Food Waste And Sugar Consumption, Melinda Michelle Moss

Theses and Dissertations

In the future, sustainability in the dairy industry will require creative and scale-able solutions for better utilization of the primary solid component in milk: lactose. One promising avenue of “up-cycling” underutilized lactose is converting it to valuable rare sugars. Rare sugars like D-tagatose and D-allulose are increasing in popularity extremely quickly. D-tagatose and D-allulose are hexose sugars, D-allulose being an epimer of D-fructose and D-tagatose an isomer of D-galactose. They have excellent functional properties in food systems with clean sweetness profiles similar to sucrose. Critically, they also have excellent nutritional characteristics, such as low caloric values and low glycemic indices. …