Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Policies & Practices For The Private Sector To Advance Women’S Economic Empowerment And Prevent Gender Based Violence In Post-Conflict Countries, Amina Helal

Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to investigate the role of the private sector in advancing women’s economic empowerment and gender-based violence prevention with a focus on post-conflict countries. It explores challenges facing them, and opportunities to be seized by governments and other stakeholders in this regard. The study also sheds light on the gap in the private sector’s awareness and commitment to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to implement the UN Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in post-conflict countries. It explores the different possible engagements of the private sector in response to the research question. The thesis also …

Synthesis Of Yaku'amide A Analogues And Progress Toward Synthesis Of Virosine A, Alexander S. Ramos

Theses and Dissertations

The first project in this dissertation endeavors to outline the total synthesis of yaku'amide A and its analogs. Yaku'amide A is a natural product comprised of dehydroamino acids, including E-dehydro isoleucine, and unprecedented Z-dehydro isoleucine. These amino acids present a significant challenge to their synthesis owing to their unsymmetrical nature. To simplify the synthesis process, we synthesized analogs by substituting the E and Z dehydroamino acids with symmetrical subunits. This substitution facilitated the synthesis process and enabled us to obtain a similar three-dimensional structure to that of the natural product. Furthermore, biological testing of the simplified analogs revealed potency similar …

Design And Fabrication Of Transparent Ultrasonic Transducers For Optoelectronic Applications, Stephen Colby Warren

Theses and Dissertations

Acoustic levitation utilizes general principles of ultrasonics to trap particles in midair without external support. This is done by creating an array of ultrasonic transducers to propagate sound waves to a focused point in space. In order to optimize the particle trap it is necessary to design transducers that can produce enough sound to create pressure pockets. In this work I examine the fundamental principles of acoustics by testing the sound pressure levels (SPL) of a known transducer in both air and water mediums. A comparison between domed and bimorphed transducers are also examined. Experimentation was performed on the feasibility …

Lcc Mse Walls, Joel Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Lightweight cellular concrete (LCC) is mainly a mixture of water, cement, and foam bubbles. LCC generally has a cast density between 20-60 pcf and an air content between 49-84%. LCC is often used as a fill material because it has a low unit weight which reduces settlement. LCC is increasingly being considered as a backfill behind Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls and embankments. Although engineers are using LCC in MSE walls or free face walls (MSE wall without the concrete panels or reinforcements), there is presently a lack of information regarding the performance and behavior of LCC to guide them. …

Student Thinking Driving Collaboration And Teacher Knowledge, Rachel Cheney

Theses and Dissertations

The study in this paper examined how teachers engaged in their structured Professional Learning Community (PLC) time in a manner that focused their work on student mathematical thinking. The participants included two third-grade teachers and two fourth-grade teachers engaged in an alternative PLC process during their collaboration time. Interviews were conducted and focused on how the teachers thought about student thinking as the driving force of their collaboration. The teachers found their PLC time was more focused, student thinking led the discussions and lessons, they were more responsive to student needs, and their own mathematical understanding increased. The teachers also …

An Assessment Of Sentencing Disparities By Race In The State Of Arkansas, Viola Schaeffer

Theses and Dissertations

Past research has found that there are often disparities in sentencing outcomes due to extralegal factors such as race, gender, age, socioeconomic status, education level, and geographic location. The most prominent and widely studied of these factors, however, is race. Specifically, studies have shown that minority offenders (e.g., African Americans) were more likely to receive a lengthier sentence than their White peers. The purpose of this thesis is thus to examine if there is racial bias in sentences levied to violent offenders in Arkansas. This is be done by analyzing sentencing data from the Arkansas Office of the Courts between …

Investigating The Impact Of Transcription On Mutation Rates, Sarah Patterson

Theses and Dissertations

tRNA genes are highly transcribed and perform one of the most fundamental cellular functions. Although a universal pattern observed across all three domains of life is that highly transcribed genes tend to evolve slowly, tRNA genes have been shown previously to evolve rapidly. This rapid sequence evolution could result from relaxed selection, increased mutation rate, or a combination of both. Here, we use mutation-accumulation line sequencing data to show that tRNA genes accumulate more mutations than other gene types. Our results indicate that this elevated mutation rate is a consequence of both elevated transcription-associated mutagenesis and a lack of transcription-coupled …

The Development Of A Young Adults Cancer Patient Peer Match Application, Mojde Kalantari

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the challenges and needs of young adult cancer patients, along with potential online resources to aid them, that includes social media, public and private organizations, and mobile applications. The focus of this research narrows down to communication and social networking mobile applications, particularly those with peer matching features. Although there are only three social apps in this category, a comprehensive analysis was undertaken. The research aims to underscore the need for a dedicated mobile application that connects young adult cancer patients with the same diagnosis. In response to this need, a mobile app named "YA Peer Match" …

Once Upon A Time, Again: Exploring The Function Of Fairy Tale Retellings, Mackenzie A. Parsons

Theses and Dissertations

With the invention of the printing press, fairy tales became limited by the idea of an "original" (Pettitt, 2009; Blamires, 2003). However, in the past century, the retelling and changing of fairy tales has become incredibly popular in all forms of media, such as print, film, ballet, musicals, etc. Despite Western populations' familiarity with these tales, the demand for such retellings continues to rise, with the storytellers finding great financial success with each "new" version they provide. Researchers have many varying opinions on the reasons for such intense responses to retold fairy tales, but there is a gap of research …

Evaluation Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flight Parameters That Impact Stockpile Volume Computations, Nicole Marie Hastings

Theses and Dissertations

Stockpile volumes are monitored by their companies as the product (i.e., aggregate, soil) is moved in and out of the facilities to ensure minimal product loss. Companies are mandated to report product movement to the government to ensure that the aggregate and soil is going where it is supposed to go. Many tools are used to monitor stockpile volumes including truck scales (to weigh incoming and outgoing trucks), light detection and ranging (LiDAR), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) equipment, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry. These processes give a good estimate of stockpile volumes. Errors in these estimates typically come …

A Tunable System For High Frequency Bioimpedance Plethysmography, Daniel H. Tebbs

Theses and Dissertations

Bioimpedance measurements are useful for determining a variety of biological conditions. By accounting for small impedance variations due to the arterial pulse, the effect of the blood can be studied more closely. The quasi-circulator system presented enables monitoring of pulsatile impedance changes with input frequencies above 1 MHz. The adjustable Rmatch allows for dynamic tuning of the system to increase sensitivity. By tuning Rmatch to be near the match point, the pulsatile signal in the output magnitude can be amplified, and tuning Rmatch to be at the match point causes the pulsatile signal in the output phase to be amplified. …

Combined Design And Dispatch Optimization For Nuclear-Renewable Hybrid Energy Systems, Daniel Clyde Hill

Theses and Dissertations

Reliable, affordable access to electrical power is a requirement for almost all aspects of developed societies. Challenges associated with reducing carbon emissions has led to growing interest in nuclear-renewable hybrid energy systems (N-RHES). Much work has already been done in suggesting and analyzing various N-RHES using a variety of optimization techniques and assumptions. This work builds upon previous techniques for simultaneous combined design and dispatch optimization (CDDO) for hybrid energy systems (HES). The first contribution of this work is the development and application of sensitivity analysis tailored to the combined design and dispatch optimization problem. This sensitivity analysis cover uncertainty …

Simulating Incident Management Team Response And Performance, Daniel Jarvis

Theses and Dissertations

The effectiveness of Incident Management Teams (IMT) in reducing the duration and impact of traffic incidents is well-documented. The capacity of large-scale simulation models to illustrate the negative effects of these incidents on vehicle delays and excess user costs (EUC) is also widely recognized. However, there is a gap in research integrating large-scale simulation modeling with IMT performance analysis. This study uses the Multi-Agent Transport Simulation (MATSim) framework to simulate the impact of incidents and evaluate the performance of IMT across the regional network of Utah's Wasatch Front, analyzing their operation in various hypothetical situations. Our findings validate the role …

Parent Training In Video Modeling: Comparing Least To Greatest Supports, Janae Hammond Robbins

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines one type of parent training—Video Modeling (VM)—and how intense the training needs to be for a parent to learn this intervention effectively. The researchers observed three types of training: self-training, didactic training through a pre-recorded lesson, and one-on-one training. A repeated acquisition single case design across participants was used along with a control group. The participants included nine parents from the surrounding areas of Brigham Young University who were randomly selected for either the intervention group or the control group. Four of the five participants in the intervention or treatment group achieved mastery once they received didactic …

Dynamic Segmental Kinematics Of The Lumbar Spine During Diagnostic Movements, Paul Mcmullin

Theses and Dissertations

While lumbar kinematics can be measured in vivo, most measurements are invasive (such as percutaneous bone pins), provide high doses of radiation (such as biplane fluoroscopy), or are taken with the patient in a static position (such as MRIs). Recent work suggests that lumbar kinematics can be determined by dynamic measurements of epidermal strain in the lower back. This work aims to develop and examine a method of examining lumbar kinematics via optoelectronic motion capture utilizing skin-mounted markers in the lumbar region. Two studies were performed. One study examined lumbar epidermal strain in 28 asymptomatic subjects during diagnostic movements, while …

A Finite-State Morphological Analyzer For Q'Eqchi' Using Helsinki Finite-State Technology (Hfst) And The Giellatekno Infrastructure, Cody Scott Christopherson

Theses and Dissertations

Finite-state morphological modeling has been used in natural language processing for many years particularly when dealing with lower resource languages. The present study details the development of an open-source finite-state morphological model for the Q'eqchi' Maya language using Helsinki Finite-State Technology (HFST) and the Giellatekno infrastructure. This project represents the first comprehensive morphological analyzer for Q'eqchi' and sets a foundation for future work in data annotation for this language. The resulting transducer consists of 4,439 lexemes, 2,610 states and 9,558 transitions and covers between 75% and 85% of tokens in a Q'eqchi' corpus. The success of this project lays the …

"Social" Movements: A Trend Analysis Of The Role Of Social Media In Social Movements, Courtney Nelson Stubbs

Theses and Dissertations

The gay rights movement has been very active on social media throughout the years. Using a trend analysis this study aimed to answer how social media is being used during a social movement, how a social movement evolves on social media, and how social media is being used by organizations as a public relations strategy to create change in social movements. Overall, the findings revealed 11 different ways social media is being used during a social movement, which shows how important opinion leaders are in helping a social movement gain traction and create the desired impact.

Soft Robot Trajectory Generation: Enabling Soft Robot Arms To Reliably And Effectively Perform Real World Tasks Through Optimization, Haley P. Sanders

Theses and Dissertations

The robotic platform presented in this thesis is underdamped with high inertia and can store potential energy in its compliant joints, making it ideal for many different types of real-world tasks for which traditional rigid-robots are ill-suited. Some real-world tasks suited to soft robots include high impact tasks like hammering a nail into a wall or moving heavy objects with other robot or human teammates while using relatively little power. Some of the same characteristics which make soft robots useful, such as their underdamped, highly compliant joints, also make motion planning and control for soft robots difficult. In this thesis, …

La Efectividad En La Integración De Una Biblioteca Virtual En Una Biblioteca Escolar De Una Institución Educativa Privada En Puerto Rico, Racaly Hernandez Calderon

Theses and Dissertations

Esta investigación fue diseñada para evaluar la efectividad en la integración de una Biblioteca Virtual en una biblioteca escolar. Para este proceso investigativo se utilizó el modelo de evaluación desarrollado por Kirkpatrick. Este modelo le presenta al investigador cuatro niveles de evaluación: reacción, aprendizaje, comportamiento y resultados. A través de este se puede identificar la efectividad de las acciones formativas. La muestra que se seleccionó fue una no probabilística por conveniencia. Por lo tanto, participaron 15 docentes que imparten cursos en la Escuela Intermedia de la institución privada localizada al norte de Puerto Rico. El diseño fue uno de corte …

The Effects Of Intermittent Fasting On Female Athletes: A Systematic Review, Courtnie Scarbrough

Theses and Dissertations

The intermittent fasting diet has a historical past, but recently, it has regained popularity as a weight loss strategy for the general public. Athletes have also picked up this specialized diet in search of a competitive edge. There are ample studies testing athletes of all levels, but most do not include females or report sex-specific results. This systematic review aimed to identify current research on the effects of intermittent fasting in the understudied population of female athletes. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted in three databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, …

A Thematic Analysis Of Religious Identity And Volunteer Motivation Among Emerging Adult Members Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Jennifer R. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought insight into the religious and cultural identity of emerging adults belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints(LDS) and the impact such identity had in relation to volunteering motivation. Participants included 24 emerging adult college students belonging to the Church. Thematic analysis was used to determine influencing factors that led to Church membership and how Church membership shaped self-perception. Participants shared volunteer experiences and motivation to volunteer in relation to Deci and Ryan’s (2000) self-determination theory (SDT) was examined. The motivation of relatedness was identified among 100% of participants as compared to competence (37.5%) and …

High Temperature Materials From Bis-Ortho-Diynylarene (Boda)-Derived Resins And Perfluorocyclobutyl (Pfcb) Aryl Ether Polymers, Ernesto Isaac Borrego

Theses and Dissertations

This work expands the current understanding of materials chemistry and engineering capabilities of two synthetic platforms: 1.) bis-ortho-diynylarenes (BODA) and 2.) trifluorovinylaryl ethers (TFVE). Each platform possesses a unique chemistry which paradoxically enables the development of high-performance materials therefrom while simultaneously retaining exceptional melt and solution processability. Leveraging the apparent dichotomy in properties (performance/processability) obtainable from these two synthetics platforms, we have pursued and achieved a practical approach to high-temperature resistant materials with an immense potential for technology transfer and commercialization:

1.) BODA-derived resins (BDR) constitute a versatile platform of melt-processable resins capable of rapidly producing high performance …

Radiative Alpha Capture On Carbon-12, Ling Gan

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we used Effective Field Theory (EFT) to calculate the radiative ALPHA capture on 12C . This reaction is considered the “holy grail” in nuclear astrophysics because it determines the relevant abundance of 16O and 12C . We considered the E1 transition from initial p-wave at energy around the Gamow energy E_G =0.3MeV.The theoretical formula for the cross section is obtained by fitting the EFT parameters to the phase shift and S-factor data. We find the Effective Range Expansion (ERE) parameters describing the ALPHA-wave phase shift are fine tuned. The shallow bound state and the resonance ALPHA-wave …

Hypothalamic Manipulation Of The Anuran Hpg Axis: Alternative Hormones And A Non-Invasive Administration Route For Amphibian Assisted Reproductive Technologies (Art), Erin Michelle Saylor

Theses and Dissertations

Amidst the amphibian extinction crisis, in situ and ex situ amphibian species conservation initiatives utilize assisted reproductive technologies for optimal genetic management of captive and wild populations. Development of effective, simple, low-cost methods for obtaining gametes for artificial fertilization, sperm biobanking, or natural breeding alleviates obstacles for institutions or programs to apply reproductive technologies. Objectives herein include investigating the efficacy of alternative hormones for inducing spermiation, an alternative hormone administration route for inducing ovulation, exploring the physiological effects of hormone therapy, and utilizing sperm from deceased animals for biobanking.

The Experiences Of Teachers In Predominantly Black Schools, Kennetra Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers want to be in schools where their identities are authentically affirmed. However, some educators in predominantly Black schools perceive that they are not always afforded the same level of value and respect as their colleagues in mostly White or mixed schools. Instead, teachers in predominantly Black schools seem to have experiences associated with frustrations that often go unheard of or dismissed for various reasons. Schools with predominantly Black student populations are often associated with challenges in retaining teachers, commonly referred to as teacher retention or teacher turnover. This turnover can have an impact on the academic progress of the …

Development Of An Automated Delivery System To Apply Copper Sulfate Crystals Using Precision Dry Fertilizer Application Technology, Kevin Charles Wise

Theses and Dissertations

The digenetic trematode, Bolbophorus damnificus, poses a substantial threat to catfish aquaculture, causing significant economic losses. Infestations lead to suppressed feed consumption, secondary bacterial infections and poor production performance. Survey data reveals widespread infestation in the in the southeastern United States. Current control strategies involve the application of a concentrated copper sulfate solution to reduce snail populations which serve as the first intermediate host of the trematode life cycle. This study aimed to improve treatment efficacy by developing a granular copper sulfate application system. A modified Gandy fertilizer applicator, equipped with a programmable control system, demonstrated accurate distribution of copper …

Explainable Intrusion Detection Systems Using White Box Techniques, Jesse Ables

Theses and Dissertations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has found increasing application in various domains, revolutionizing problem-solving and data analysis. However, in decision-sensitive areas like Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), trust and reliability are vital, posing challenges for traditional black box AI systems. These black box IDS, while accurate, lack transparency, making it difficult to understand the reasons behind their decisions. This dissertation explores the concept of eXplainable Intrusion Detection Systems (X-IDS), addressing the issue of trust in X-IDS. It explores the limitations of common black box IDS and the complexities of explainability methods, leading to the fundamental question of trusting explanations generated by black box …

Influence Of Periodic Stitching On The In-Plane And Out-Of-Plane Mechanical Properties Of Polymer Composites, Radwa Alaziz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to investigate the influence of stitching architectures by using different stitching periodic patterns on the in-plane and out-of-plane mechanical properties. By using the inherent periodic architecture of these composites, their mechanical properties may be tailored for specific applications. Composite structures are extensively used in several industries such as aerospace, automotive, sports, and construction due to their many advantages, which include tailorable mechanical properties, high strength-to-weight ratios, and high specific stiffness. However, due to their low interlaminar tensile strength, composites are prone to delaminations, which can degrade the overall mechanical performance of the structure. Through-thickness …

Examining The Impact A Bus Driver Attendance Incentive Program Had On Bus Driver Attendance In A Rural Mississippi School District, Samuel B. Allison

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the impact of a bus driver attendance incentive program implemented in a rural Mississippi school district with the aim of improving bus driver attendance rates. There is a shortage of bus drivers across Mississippi which has made bus driver attendance paramount. Bus driver absenteeism causes disruptions in student transportation services and affects overall school operations. To address this problem, a rural Mississippi school district introduced a bus driver attendance incentive program that provided financial incentives for bus drivers who maintained perfect attendance rates each month.

The research methodology involved collecting and analyzing attendance data for bus drivers …

Sign-Symmetry And Frustration Index In Signed Graphs, Abdulaziz Alotaibi

Theses and Dissertations

A graph in which every edge is labeled positive or negative is called a signed graph. We determine the number of ways to sign the edges of the McGee graph with exactly two negative edges up to switching isomorphism. We characterize signed graphs that are both sign-symmetric and have a frustration index of 1. We prove some results about which signed graphs on complete multipartite graphs have frustration indices 2 and 3. In the final part, we derive the relationship between the frustration index and the number of parts in a sign-symmetric signed graph on complete multipartite graphs.