Digital Commons Network^™

Individual Differences In Perspective-Taking During Language Comprehension, Kanan Benjamin Luce

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has found mixed results for a link between executive function and perspective-taking. One proposed reason for this is that perspective-taking during comprehension tasks may not be internally reliable. This dissertation presents two large individual differences experiments with multiple perspective-taking during comprehension and executive function measures. We aimed to see (1) whether people were consistent in their ability to take perspectives during comprehension, (2) if the typical tasks used in this area were reliable, and (3) whether executive function measures predicted perspective-taking ability. We found a lack of reliability of some of the most commonly used perspective-taking during comprehension …

Parent Facilitation Of Child Emotion Regulation In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Aimee K. Rovane

Theses and Dissertations

Parents play a substantial role in their children's emotional regulation (ER) abilities, promoting both adaptive and maladaptive development. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have difficulties regulating their emotions, manifesting in externalizing behavioral issues (Mazefsky & White 2014). Though there are many similarities to parents of typically developing (TD) children, parents of children with ASD facilitate their children's ER development (i.e., emotion socialization) in response to unique challenges, often developing resiliency but other times contributing to their children’s dysregulation and behavioral challenges. Using Morris et al.'s (2007) Tripartite Model of Family Impact of Children's Emotion Regulation and Adjustment as …

The Effect Of Visual Feedback On Vocal Compensation Abilities In Individuals With Post-Stroke Aphasia, Marissa Rylee Olson

Theses and Dissertations

Speech production is a complex and highly organized process comprised of various sensory and perceptual components. Post-stroke aphasia can impair speech production abilities by interrupting individuals’ ability to detect and correct speech errors and produce their targeted behavior. Contemporary models of speech production aim to understand the relationship between sensory systems and the human ability to produce perceptually accurate speech. This study seeks to understand the relationship between visual feedback and vocal compensation abilities in individuals with post-stroke aphasia to determine the effectiveness of incorporating visual feedback into therapeutic expressive language intervention. It was hypothesized that that the multi-sensory experimental …

The Parental Well-Being Gap Before And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Morgan Renee Koziol

Theses and Dissertations

Prior research has examined the emotional costs and benefits associated with parenting. In general, this body of literature finds that parents experience lower levels of subjective well-being compared to non-parents—a phenomenon referred to as the parental well-being gap. There is evidence that this parental well-being gap has narrowed or disappeared altogether in more recent years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to parents that may have resulted in a widening or reopening of this gap once again. This project aims to test this possibility by drawing on data from The General Social Survey that capture the survey year prior …

Advanced Prognostic Modeling For Breast Cancer Patients: Leveraging Data-Driven Approaches For Survival Analysis, Theophilus Gyedu Baidoo

Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer is the second most prevalent form of cancer in women in the United States. Each year, about 264,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women and of this number, about 42,000 women lose their lives as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early detection and effective treatment are crucial for improving survival rates and reducing mortality. This study aimed to explore the influential factors that may risk the survival of women with the disease and compare their predictive abilities using several error and performance metrics. The study uses a dataset from the National Cancer …

Tio2 Coating Methods On Sb2o3 And Their Use As Anode Material In Lithium-Ion Batteries, Kithzia Czarina Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis is concentrated on the development of TiO2Sb2O3 composite material through the hydrolysis of TiCl4 to be applied as anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Antimony (Sb) has been a material of interest due to its high capacity and good chemical properties. The TiO2 accommodated the harsh volume expansion that Sb encounters during the alloying process while still preserving the high capacity offered by Sb. Its electrochemical performance exhibited a stabilized capacity of 523 mAhg-1 after reaching 40 cycles with a capacity loss of 2.4% till reaching 100 cycles. High reversible capacity characteristics were present with an initial capacity …

Examining The Psychological Outcomes Of Decent Work: An Extension Of The Psychology Of Working Theory, Zachary Hesson

Theses and Dissertations

Decent work (DW) has important implications for several aspects of people's lives. There is significant research on the societal implications of DW, but there is scant research on th e individual outcomes that are associated with DW. Using the psychology of working theory (PWT) as a theoretical framework, I explore d how access to DW can impact meaningful work ( and life satisfaction through satisfaction of different work needs as well as whether work orientation moderates the relationship s between work needs and these two outcome variables. More specifically, this thesis contribute s to our understanding of the implications of …

Security Of Text To Image Conversions, Zobaida Alssadi

Theses and Dissertations

The use of images and icons to represent news or narratives has grown in popularity. Still, one critical problem is that they are not equivalent to language, making them vulnerable to adversary attacks. This study examines the impact of image-poisoning attacks based on polysemantic words and of image attacks based on cultural differences when converting text to images. Such attacks can lead to the loss of important information and create confusion and incorrect interpretations of the intended meaning, misinforming the general public. The study specifically focuses on possible effects in a news and story context. This study highlights the significance …

Complexity Leadership Theory: The Influence Of Enabling Leadership And Experiential Learning On Emergent Outcomes And Organizational Knowhow, Bruce William Rideout

Theses and Dissertations

As technology advances, businesses find that today's information age is increasingly complex. If an enterprise can prepare the workforce to succeed in a complex environment, it will have a competitive advantage. Complexity is characterized by unpredictability, no recognizable patterns, and nonlinear causes and effects, creating unique challenges for today's workforce. The core or overarching research question that guides the research is: In complex environments, what are the experiences of leaders and team members who use enabling leadership and experiential learning to influence emergent outcomes, and how does it create organizational knowhow? In this constructivist grounded theory study, the efficacy of …

Forecasting >100 Mev Sep Events And Intensity Based On Cme And Other Solar Activities Using Machine Learning, Daniel Lee Griessler

Theses and Dissertations

There is a severe risk for astronauts and machinery from high intensity Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) events which can be mitigated through accurate forecast of their presence and peak intensity. By using characteristics of CME and other space weather phenomena, machine learning techniques have the potential to classify and predict the peak intensity of SEP events. The extreme scarcity of SEP events in current datasets poses a challenge to traditional machine learning techniques. In this work, we first demonstrate classifier machine learning techniques that can achieve an F1 score of 0.800 in forecasting SEP events. We then propose techniques for …

Lessening Student Anxiety With Docker, Kourtnee Fernalld

Theses and Dissertations

Remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the educational landscape for hands-on Computer Science courses. This paradigm shift accelerated the transition from traditional in-person programming labs to decentralized student-provided resources. Even as students returned to in-person learning, many continued to rely on their personal computers rather than embracing university-provided labs. However, this shift to decentralized, heterogeneous environments introduces various information technology and instructional challenges. The recent emergence of lightweight, container-based virtualization presents a unique opportunity to address these challenges by offering standardized environments on decentralized platforms. To investigate this opportunity, we implemented lightweight virtualization for three undergraduate computer science courses …

Further Evaluation Of The Effects Of Music And Rird On Vocal Stereotypy, Keith Happel

Theses and Dissertations

Vocal stereotypy (VS), or vocalizations that are noncontexual or nonfunctional, is commonly exhibited in individuals on the autism spectrum. The nature of vocal stereotypy may pose an issue for some individuals, ranging from social ostracization to the inability to perform daily tasks. Previous research has shown that access to matched stimulation (e.g., music) and response interruption and redirection (RIRD), a form of punishment, are effective at decreasing vocal stereotypy (Gibbs et al., 2018). However, in the aforementioned study, researchers did not evaluate a less intrusive treatment in isolation prior to implementing punishment. The purpose of the current investigation is to …

The Role Of Tc-Ptp-Mediated Suppression Of Autophagy During Skin Carcinogenesis, Obed Asare

Theses and Dissertations

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation can distort cellular homeostasis and predispose the skin to carcinogenesis. Amongst the deteriorating effects of the sun’s UVB radiation on cellular homeostasis is the formation of DNA photoproducts such as cyclobutene pyrimidine dimers. These photoproducts can cause significant changes in the structure and conformation of the DNA, inducing gene mutations which may accumulate to trigger the formation of skin cancer. Photoproducts are typically repaired by nucleotide excision repair. Notwithstanding, when the repair mechanism fails, apoptosis ensues to prevent the accumulation of mutations and to restore cellular homeostasis. We have identified T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TC-PTP) as …

Optimizing Convolutional Neural Networks For Transient Detection In Optical Astronomy With Augmented Datasets, Wendy Mendoza

Theses and Dissertations

We present a technique for optical transient detection using artificial neural networks, particularly a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), a deep learning algorithm. This method analyzes images of the same area of the sky captured by several telescopes, with one image serving as a reference for a probable transient’s epoch and the other as an image from a previous epoch. We train the CNN on simulated sources and test it on actual image data samples using data from the Dr. Cristina V. Torres Memorial Astronomical Observatory and Sloan Digital Sky Survey. This autonomous detection method replaces the standard procedure, which involves …

Using Deep Learning For Encrypted Traffic Analysis Of Amazon Echo, Surendra Pathak

Theses and Dissertations

The adoption of the Amazon Echo family of devices in modern homes has become very widespread at the current time, with hundreds of millions of devices sold. Moreover, the global smart speaker market size is growing vigorously and is projected to continue to bigger. Smart speakers allow users hands-free interaction by allowing voice control, promoting human-computer interaction to greater avenues. Though smart speaker can be useful assistant, it has some serious security concerns that need to be studied. In this study, an analysis of the security and privacy concerns of smart speakers is presented along with a passive attack, namely …

Identification Of Heart Disorders With Symbolic Aggregate Approximation, Moses K. Owusu

Theses and Dissertations

This project is an application of the Symbolic Aggregate Approximation (SAX) to 1000 fragments of ECG signals for 45 patients (42% females aged between 23 and 89 years and 58% males aged 32 to 89 years) using data obtained from the MIH-BIH Arrhythmia database to recognize cardiac health disorders. Data include a normal sinus rhythm, pacemaker rhythm and ECG readings for 15 heart disorders, making 17 in total. The aim is to use SAX to classify heart disorders using ECG signal, that analyzes QRS-complexes by first splitting the time series into smaller equally sized segments using the Piecewise Aggregate Approximation …

Initial Investigation Of Using The Waste Rubber Tires As A New Sustainable Material For Electric Conductive Rigid Pavement, Islam Radwan

Theses and Dissertations

The accumulation of snow on roadway surfaces has the potential to result in deadly accidents and financial damage. Traditional de-icing procedures, which include the use of chemicals or salt and the use of heavy machinery, may have a negative effect on the environment and the structural integrity of highway infrastructure systems, and they are not sustainable at all. In addition, these methods are considered labor-intensive and dangerous, especially in crowded areas. The use of heated pavement systems (HPS), which can be in the form of hydronic (HHPS) or electrically conductive concrete (ECON), has gained popularity in recent years as a …

The First Peoples Of The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas And Northern Mexico: An Interdisciplinary Approach To Defining The Paleoindian Period, Starr Elena Hein

Theses and Dissertations

The archaeological record of the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas and northern Mexico is poorly understood. There are few excavated sites at which Paleoindian cultural materials have been found, and in these cases the context is uncertain. In order to better understand the Paleoindian period, projectile points that reside in private collections are documented, and the time period they are assigned to, based on absolute dating from surrounding regions, is used to cross-date local materials. This is limited by the lack of named typology for Upper Paleolithic materials in the Americas. Clovis is well represented in the Lower Rio …

Impacts Of Land Use On Stormwater Runoff In The Lower Rio Grande Valley And Improving Long Term Municipal Stormwater Management Systems, Maria Vanessa Pruneda

Theses and Dissertations

Exponentially noticeable growth in population and land development in the Lower Rio Grande Valley has directly influenced growth in urbanization. Urbanization is the leading cause for lower pervious cover, and the increase in storm water runoff. The increase of storm water runoff leads to excess flooding areas and higher peak flows. The overflow flows freely and is exposed to contaminants, affecting the consumption and use factors. The changes of land use have a direct relationship with impervious cover limitations and individual site retentions. This study will assess the relationship between stormwater quantity and land use in the Lower Rio Grande …

Defect-Based Approaches To Achieving Robust Modes In Hermitian And Non-Hermitian Systems, Fargol Seifollahi

Theses and Dissertations

A hallmark of topological physics has been its ability to facilitate wave propagation control and confinement. This thesis will be focused on wave localization and the existence of robust modes for one of the earliest and most important models of topological insulators, known as the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model. The first chapter covers some of the fundamental topics including the general SSH Hamiltonian, as well as the concept of bulk-boundary correspondence, winding number and distinction between the topologically trivial and non-trivial phases. We investigate the existence of two almost-zero energy states for a finite-sized topologically non-trivial SSH array which are exponentially …

Utrgv Edinburg Campus Two-Dimensional Flood Modeling For Development Of Flood Inundation Map, Roxana Tello

Theses and Dissertations

Severe flooding is a natural hazard worldwide, potentially subjecting people to life threatening situations and leaving infrastructure vulnerable to structural damage or complete destruction. The common threat of flooding poses constant challenges for state and local agencies in identifying flood risks and proposing the necessary mitigation improvements. Developing hydraulic models to predict the hydrological interactions and identify areas at risk is a beneficial tool for urban planning. The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) is a rapid growing region in South Texas along the border of Mexico and west of the Gulf of Mexico. The LRGV has historically suffered through various …

A Data-Driven Method For Damage Detection In An Open Deck Steel Truss Railroad Bridge Under The Moving Train Load, Mahesh Pokhrel

Theses and Dissertations

Open-Deck (OD) steel truss railroad bridges are one of the most common types of railroad bridges in the United States. They are, however, significantly vulnerable to the dynamic effects of moving train load. In the long run, these dynamic effects cause fatigue damage to the structural members. The damage in most of the railroad bridges are monitored by visual inspections which are sometimes unreliable and inconsistent due to human error. This study explores the identification and classification of damage to an open deck railroad bridge from both time-domain (statistical features) and time-frequency domain features (Hilbert-Huang Transform) extracted through acceleration response …

Biochar Reduces The Pupation And Eclosion Of A Specialist (Manduca Sexta) And A Generalist Pest (Spodoptera Frugiperda), Nischal Wagle

Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1: This chapter incorporates detailed information about the biochar concept, its production, composition, and properties, harmful arthropods and their damage, the effect of soil on the arthropod community, and the application of biochar on arthropod control.

Chapter 2: The comprehensive lab experiment was conducted with modified pupation media enriched with walnut shell biochar (Chapter II) to evaluate the effects of biochar on the pupation and eclosion success rates of a specialist (Manduca sexta) and a generalist pest (Spodoptera frugiperda). We found that the biochar treatment led to a significant reduction in pupal mass, adult mass, adult wingspan, body length, …

Analyzing The On Source Window Of Supernova Sn2019ejj With A Multi Layered Signal Enhancement Algorithm With Coherent Waveburst And A Convolutional Neural Network, Michael Gale Benjamin

Theses and Dissertations

Core collapse supernovae (CCSN) are highly anticipated sources of gravitational waves during the fourth observation run (O4). CCSN signals are weak and unmodeled and the rate of occurrence in our galaxy is very low. Because of this, they provide a greater challenge to detect than previously detected GW sources. CCSN simulations are used to test the detection pipeline in the event a CCSN is detected. CCSN GW signals are often indistinguishable from the noise sources present in GW data. We present a multi layered signal enhancement pipeline which we have applied Machine Learning (ML) techniques. We have used a Convolutional …

Spatiotemporal Modulated Non-Hermitian Structures And Their Application In Photonic Devices, Amir Targholizadeh

Theses and Dissertations

Periodically refractive index modulation has been known as a novel method to introduce non-reciprocity in optical lattices inspiring many works to propose on-chip optical components such as optical insulators and amplifiers. This type of modulation by coupling two waveguide propagating modes, let them exchange a population called photonic intraband transition. This modulation type also can be applied to the imaginary part of the refractive index, which perturbs the absorption in the waveguide. Non-hermitian physics is a promising field that studies physical effects in such systems without energy conservation. These systems have degeneracy points called Exceptional points in which two or …

Exploring The Localization Of Light In Discrete Systems With Conducted Symmetries, Aria Hajikhani

Theses and Dissertations

Controlling the localization of light has been studied through many approaches and has become a subject matter of interest due to potential applications in various fields. In this thesis, we will explore discrete systems with conducted symmetries, in both quantum and classical aspects, to establish a deeper understanding of light localization. First, we investigate atom-light interactions through exploring the Jaynes-Cummings model. We then introduce coupled cavity arrays (CCAs) where photons can hop between neighboring cavities and each cavity in the array may interact with one or more atoms. Specifically, we focus on systems in which one two-level atom is connected …

Image Segmentation With Human-In-The-Loop In Automated De-Caking Process For Powder Bed Additive Manufacturing, Vincent Opare Addo Asare-Manu

Theses and Dissertations

Additive manufacturing (AM) becomes a critical technology that increases the speed and flexibility of production and reduces the lead time for high-mix, low-volume manufacturing. One of the major bottlenecks in further increasing its productivity lies around its post-processing procedures. This work focuses on tackling a critical and inevitable step in powder-bed additive manufacturing processes, i.e., powder cleaning or de-caking. Pressing concerns can be raised with human involvement when performing this task manually. Therefore, a robot-driven automatic powder cleaning system could be an alternative to reducing time consumption and increasing safety for AM operators. However, since the color and surface texture …

Navigating Context And Perception: A Qualitative Study On Instructional Coaching, Christie Lizette Esparza

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the perceptions of instructional coaches in order to understand the ways in which context influenced their view of their roles and how they supported teacher growth. The theoretical and conceptual foundations for this study include a distributed perspective, a phenomenologically informed lens, and a pragmatic worldview. The sample consisted of 9 elementary instructional coach participants from different content areas and programs provided within the site. Semi-structured interviews, a focus group, and a review of the district’s instructional coaching program documents were used, and thematic analysis led to four findings that encompassed the contextual conditions that …

Soil Moisture Dynamics In Cover Cropping Systems: From Local To Global Scales, Manish Gautam

Theses and Dissertations

Cover cropping systems, which have gained recognition for their ability to enhance soil health and promote sustainability are also associated with potential risks related with declining soil moisture and pose a dilemma for farmers considering the adoption of cover crops in water deficit semi-arid settings worldwide. To address this pressing issue, we conducted a participatory cover cropping trial in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) region, encompassing four different farms and supplemented this experiment with a meta-analysis to answer our soil moisture and climate parameters and quantify the impact of cover crops on soil moisture levels. The findings revealed that …

Tamaulipan Thornforest Restoration: Factors Influencing Restoration Outcomes And Impacts Of Cover Crops During Replanting, Jerald T. Garrett

Theses and Dissertations

Though the rate of deforestation has slowed in recent years, it remains a primary cause of land cover change within forest ecosystems. The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas (LRGV) has lost nearly 95% of its native thornforest since the early 1900’s due to agricultural and urban expansion. The focus of this study is to assess the current vegetative state of restored thornforest sites located in the eastern LRGV and to evaluate the use of cover crops during replanting of native seedlings. Our assessment of restored thornforest sites revealed actively restored sites demonstrated higher overall averages of richness, abundance, and diversity …