Digital Commons Network^™

Synthesis Of Biomass-Based Graphene Nanomaterials For Aqueous Heavy Metal Removal And Cement-Based Composite Property Enhancement, Tharindu N. Karunaratne

Theses and Dissertations

Utilizing biomass such as lignin, bamboo, soybean, corn stalk, rice husk, etc., as a carbon source to produce graphene-based nanomaterials has been reported recently. However, the potential of using such nanomaterials for engineering and environmental applications has not been realized. This dissertation investigates the use of graphene-based nanomaterials synthesized from using biomass as a carbon source for water remediation and cement-based composites’ (CBCs) property enhancement.

The first chapter introduces graphene and graphene-based nanomaterials, as well as the synthesis and application of graphene-based nanomaterials for removing heavy metals in an aqueous solution and for property enhancement in CBCs. The experimental investigation …

Unmanned Aerial System Integration Safety And Security Technology Ontology, Rebecca A. Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) is a versatile and essential tool for law enforcement, first responders, utility providers, and the general public. Integrating the UAS into the National Airspace System (NAS) poses a significant challenge to policymakers and manufacturers. A UAS Integration Safety and Security Technology Ontology (ISSTO) has been developed in the Web Ontology Language (OWL) to aid in this integration. ISSTO is a domain ontology covering aviation topics corresponding to flights, aircraft types, manufacturers, temporal/spatial, waivers and authorizations, track data, NAS facilities, air traffic control advisories, weather phenomena, surveillance and security equipment, and events, sensor types, radio frequency ranges, …

Macroecological Patterns Of Frugivorous Fishes’ Diversity (Serrasalmidae) In The Amazon Drainage Basin, Karold Vivianna Coronado Franco

Theses and Dissertations

The Amazon River drainage basin is known as the most biodiverse region in the world. Regarding freshwater fish, this region contains around 15% of the world's fish richness. The fish family Serrasalmidae have a variety of feeding preferences including Pacus (herbivores) and Piranhas (carnivores). Fruit eating fish species are evolutionarily the oldest species in the family and have a mutualistic interaction with flooded forests. Considering the diversity of feeding habits of the Serrasalmidae family, it represents an excellent model to study ecological questions related to factors that influence the spatial distribution of species and factors that contribute to the maintenance …

Automated Mapping Of Oblique Imagery Collected With Unmanned Vehicles In Coastal And Marine Environments, Jacob B. Freeman

Theses and Dissertations

Recent technological advances in unmanned observational platforms, including remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), have made them highly effective tools for research and monitoring within marine and coastal environments. One of the primary types of data collected by these systems is video imagery, which is often captured at an angle oblique to the Earth’s surface, rather than normal to it (e.g., downward looking). This thesis presents a newly developed suite of tools designed to digitally map oblique imagery data collected with ROV and sUAS in coastal and marine environments and quantitatively evaluates the accuracy of the …

Pairing And Rotation-Induced Nuclear Exotica In Covariant Density Functional Theory, Saja Teeti

Theses and Dissertations

Covariant density functional theory (CDFT) is one of the modern theoretical tools for describing the nuclear structure physics of finite nuclei. Its performance is defined by underlying covariant energy density functionals (CEDFs). In this dissertation and within the framework of the CDFT, different physical properties of the ground and the excited states of rotating and non-rotating nuclei have been investigated.

A systematic global investigation of pairing properties based on all available experimental data on pairing indicators has been performed for the first time in the framework of covariant density functional theory. It is based on separable pairing interaction of Ref.\ …

​​Evaluating The Utility Of Trial-Based Functional Analyses Of Inappropriate Mealtime Behavior: A Comparison Of Identified Functions Across Functional Analysis Methods, Meredith Huff Staggers

Theses and Dissertations

A critical first step in addressing problem behavior is to identify the function of the problem, or reason for engaging in the problem behavior, using systematic assessment procedures known as a functional analysis (FA). The literature consistently demonstrates the effectiveness of FAs, and variations of FAs (e.g., trial-based functional analysis [TBFA]) for assessing a variety of topographies of problem behaviors across populations, age groups, and settings; however, the use of TBFAs for assessing the function of inappropriate mealtime behavior (IMB) has been documented in the literature only once. The purpose of the current study was to contribute to the research …

Predicting How Science Self-Efficacy And Identity Contributes To Postsecondary Stem Degree Selection, Bo Jason Hayes

Theses and Dissertations

One of the earliest indications that a student may be interested in STEM paths is the students’ own self-efficacy for science as well as how they may see themselves in a STEM career as part of their science self-identity (Schlegel et al., 2019). Currently, there is a need to contribute to research that can assist agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Education and the National Academy of Sciences in advising the nation, including high schools and postsecondary institutions on ways to increase the enrollment of students in STEM-related careers. This study examined the extent to which …

Eddy Current Defect Response Analysis Using Sum Of Gaussian Methods, James William Earnest

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a study of methods to automatedly detect and produce approximations of eddy current differential coil defect signatures in terms of a summed collection of Gaussian functions (SoG). Datasets consisting of varying material, defect size, inspection frequency, and coil diameter were investigated. Dimensionally reduced representations of the defect responses were obtained utilizing common existing reduction methods and novel enhancements to them utilizing SoG Representations. Efficacy of the SoG enhanced representations were studied utilizing common Machine Learning (ML) interpretable classifier designs with the SoG representations indicating significant improvement of common analysis metrics.

Dead Men Tell No Tales: How The British Empire Destroyed Pirates With Monstrous Legal Rhetoric, Ashley L. Nef

Theses and Dissertations

The state often enacts violence against marginalized groups by rendering them monstrous. The early eighteenth century saw early and stellar instances of this phenomenon in the way the British Empire pursued and executed pirates. These "golden age" pirates represented an extraordinary cross-section of marginalization politically, economically, socially, and otherwise, all of which threatened the political and social mores of Imperial Britain. In order to implement a policy and practice of pirate annihilation, British authorities constructed pirates as monstrous by racializing, dehumanizing, and emphasizing the supernatural quality of pirates. This study analyzes three eighteenth-century piracy trial transcripts--those of William Kidd, Stede …

"What Would It Mean For Us To Seem 'Good' To Each Other?": Contemporary Black Women+ On Fat Phobia And Misogynoir, Devon Ariel Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

White supremacy's impact on Black bodies is well-known. Starting with the enslavement of millions of Africans and their descendants, to Reconstruction, Jim Crow laws, the race-based War on Drugs, mass incarceration, police murders--and now, through fat phobia. Fat phobia--the hatred of and discrimination against fatness--is problematic for all bodies because it limits basic opportunities and privileges. However, it becomes particularly dangerous at the intersection of structural racism and misogyny. Francis Beale argues that as both Black people and women+, Black women+ carry a "double strike" against them; consequently, they experience both racism and misogyny, termed "misogynoir" by Moya Bailey. Language …

Developing Genotypic And Phenotypic Systems For Early Analysis Of Drug-Resistant Bacteria, Yesman Akuoko

Theses and Dissertations

Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria is a global health challenge with a projected fallout of 10 million deaths annually and cumulative costs of over 1 trillion dollars by 2050. The currently available tools exploited in the detection of bacteria or their DNA can be expensive, time inefficient, or lack multiplex capabilities among others. The research work highlighted in this dissertation advances techniques employed in the phenotypic or genotypic detection of bacteria and their DNA. In this dissertation, I present polymethyl methacrylate-pressure sensitive adhesive microfluidic platforms developed using a time-efficient, inexpensive fabrication technique. Microfluidic devices were then equipped with functionalized monoliths and …

Multicultural Analysis Of Topic And Emotion Drift On Youtube’S Recommendation System, Ugochukwu Olaitan Peter Onyepunuka

Theses and Dissertations

YouTube serves as a primary information source for many users, with its recommendation algorithm playing a vital role in video discovery and viewership on the platform. It determines what users are exposed to and is responsible for a significant portion (70%) of the content users engage with on the platform. It is therefore crucial to scrutinize recommendation systems to understand potential algorithmic biases that may spread disinformation. Previous studies have shown that the recommendation algorithm favors a small number of videos, creating mild ideological echo chambers. This study aims to investigate the extent to which YouTube's recommendation algorithm spreads disinformation …

"Making Munitions Is Woman's Job" Working In Connecticut Munitions Factories: Wwi Propaganda Campaigns, Karen E. Gionet Zentek

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I describe the government agencies that were created to develop propaganda advertisements geared to pressure Connecticut women into working in munitions factories during World War I, focusing specifically on Bridgeport. I deconstruct some of the images and rhetorical strategies used to create the “Making Munitions is Woman’s Job” newspaper advertisements, including the “Minute Women of Bridgeport” recruitment effort, both published in the Bridgeport Times and Evening Farmer newspaper.

Percepción De Docentes En Integración De Herramientas Tecnológicas Utilizando El Modelo Picrat En Una Institución De Nivel Superior, Marangely Perez Montalvo

Theses and Dissertations

Este estudio tuvo como propósito analizar la percepción de los profesores sobre el modelo de integración tecnológica PICRAT y cómo este evalúa los niveles de reemplazo, amplificación y transformación que se le realizan a las herramientas tecnológicas para lograr una interacción pasiva, interactiva y creativa con el estudiante durante el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje. Se utilizó un enfoque cuantitativo con un diseño transeccional no experimental con un alcance descriptivo y correlacional. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 23 profesores universitarios que imparten al menos un curso de manera remota en el nivel académico de maestría con especialidades en Ciencias de …

Three Essays On New Issues In Corporate Finance, Abdullah Shoeb

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on three new issues in corporate finance, each aiming at different aspects of a firm's behavior. First, I propose a novel way to classify domestic manufacturing firms based on their level of financial constraint. Using the operating cash flow ratio as my new measure, I find that the behavior of constrained and unconstrained firms differ significantly, unlike existing constraint measures from the literature. My results indicate that constrained firms cannot engage in equity recycling, have a higher sensitivity to cash flow, use the proceeds from the sales of their fixed assets in R&D, and cannot change leverage …

The Major Choice Experience And Motivation Of Women Who Are Nontraditional Students In Male Dominated Majors, Erin Flowers

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe the major choice experience and motivation of nontraditional female students in male dominated majors. A transcendental phenomenological method was used to answer the central research question: how do women who are nontraditional students enrolled in male dominated majors at two-and four-year institutions of higher education perceive and describe their experience and motivation when choosing their major? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women who are nontraditional students in male dominated majors and, after analysis of that data, six themes emerged. One key finding of this study is the major choice experience for women …

Media And Stereotypes On Interethnic Communication: A Study Of Framing African American-Hispanic Romantic Relationships In Film, Franca Titilope Afolabi

Theses and Dissertations

Portrayals of race in the media have received increased scrutiny from scholars over the past many years. While much attention has been paid to news, few analyses have examined film. This study was designed to add to the current study on interracial relationships. By concentrating on the representation of romantic relationships between racial minorities in situational films, this study aims to expand on existing content and examine the portrayal of African American-Hispanic interracial romantic relationships. A content analysis of three interracial films was performed resulting in 68 interactions coded. Results indicate that African American-Hispanic relationships are underrepresented in film compared …

Why Do College Students Have A Linkedin Account And How Do They Use It?, Faith Okeh

Theses and Dissertations

College students increasingly turn to LinkedIn to build their professional networks and find internships and jobs in today's competitive job market. LinkedIn is a social networking site for professionals, and it allows users to create profiles, connect with other professionals, and share their work experiences. College students can use LinkedIn to connect with alums, professors, and other professionals in their field. They can also use LinkedIn to research companies and find job postings. In addition, LinkedIn can be used to network with potential employers and learn about career opportunities. This thesis will explore why college students have LinkedIn accounts and …

Dad Talk: Father-Child Communication When A Parent Has Cancer, Elizabeth A. Reed

Theses and Dissertations

Most individuals are impacted by a cancer diagnosis, in fact 54% of Americans say they or someone in their immediate family has been diagnosed with cancer at some point (CBS Interactive, 2017). While most Americans have a family member with cancer, most research has been done to understand the mother-daughter relationship during such a time. Unfortunately, there is little research regarding father-child communication during a cancer diagnosis, and father-child communication is understudied. The father-child dyad is an important relationship that impacts a child throughout their lives (Fellers & Schrodt, 2021). To further understand these relationships and how cancer may impact …

Thermal Atomization Of Impinging Drops On Superheated Superhydrophobic Surfaces, Eric Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Drop impact on a surface has an effect on nearly every industry and this impact may have adverse effects if not controlled. Superhydrophobic (SH) surfaces have been created with the extreme ability to repel water. These surfaces exist in nature but may also be fabricated using modern techniques. This thesis explores heat transfer from these SH surfaces to drops impacting them. This thesis is devoted to increasing the breadth of knowledge of thermal atomization during drop impingement on superheated SH surfaces. When a water drop impinges vertically on a horizontal superheated surface, intense atomization can occur. The atomization is caused …

Experiences Of Youth In Confinement: Pathways Of Racial-Ethnic Disparities In Juvenile Corrections, Kimbla Newsom

Theses and Dissertations

Of the vast body of research focusing on the racial and ethnic disparities (RED) phenomenon in the juvenile justice system, much of the attention has been at critical points of system contact such as arrest and disposition, while overlooking what happens within critical stages such as confinement facilities. This dissertation investigates the ways in which youth experiences in juvenile confinement facilities differ across racial and ethnic groups. Findings reveal that race and ethnicity is a significant predictor of a youth experiencing more control-oriented interventions, longer lengths of stay in confinement, and fewer connections to reentry services. The dissertation concludes with …

Framework For Applicability Of Fidic Red Book (1999) For Contracts Governed By Law No. 182 Of The Year 2018 For Regulating Contracts Concluded By Public Entities, Fredy Ayad

Theses and Dissertations

An administrative contract is a type of contract that the administrative body enters in order to achieve a public interest. In Egypt, administrative contracts are governed by Law No. 182 of the year 2018 for Regulating Contracts concluded by Public Entities, which has been promulgated in October 2018. This Law includes several mandatory rules, which will govern over any conditions in the construction contract.

The FIDIC Red Book 1999 is widely used in Egypt and the Middle East in private sector and is currently also being utilized by governmental bodies. However, some contractors are not aware of the major deviations …

The Revolting Monster - A Consideration Of Existentialist Themes In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Through A Comparison To Albert Camus' The Stranger, Felipe Rodriguez Ii

Theses and Dissertations

This Master’s thesis is concerned with analyzing key themes and ideas in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein through an existentialist lens which is made possible through a comparison to themes and ideas in Albert Camus’ The Stranger. I aim to make a contribution to my field by fulfilling a comparison that has long been made since the late 1960s when conversations about British Romanticism and Existentialism were still common. The purpose of my first chapter is to elucidate a new argument about the relationship between these two novels. There is a discernable element of Camusian Revolt exhibited by the Creature in …

The Role Of Developmental Stage, Compensatory Support, And Coping In The Relationship Among Adverse Childhood Experiences, Mental Health, And Resilience In Emerging Adults, Melanie Abbondola

Theses and Dissertations

Children and adolescents who experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) often must deal with mental and physical effects lasting well into adulthood. However, much research shows ACEs are related to poorer mental and physical health in adulthood. Much less work has focused on the psychological and social resources that can create resilience. This study examined how compensatory social support and coping strategies potentially moderate the relationship between ACEs and mental health outcomes, and if the age/developmental stage at which the ACEs occurred, and the frequency and intensity of the ACEs affected mental health. Self-report data were obtained from 241 emerging adults, …

The Effect Of Word Predictability On Proofreading Accuracy And Reading Time, Sam Prasad

Theses and Dissertations

Proofreading, or reading with the purpose of finding and correcting errors, has been used in psycholinguistic research to study the relationship between bottom-up and top-down cognitive processes. The current study examined the effects of word predictability on reading time using a word-by-word self-paced reading (SPR) task. A sample of 102 native English speakers read sentences containing letter transposition errors in predictable and unpredictable contexts. Half of the sentences were followed by a question asking if there was an error in the sentence they had just read. Participants’ accuracy in detecting the errors and the time they spent reading the error-bearing …

Devil In The Details: Witchcraft In Reformation England, Angela A. Luna

Theses and Dissertations

An analysis of the English Reformation’s impact on perceptions of witches and the transformation of witchcraft as a crime prosecutable in courts of law. It demonstrates English diabolism characterized by the use of animal familiars, body markings, and pacts with the Devil, which helped to shape the English witch trials.

Self-Employment Industry Selection: An Evaluation Of Wealth And Demographics On Industry Choice In The U.S., Samuel Ramirez

Theses and Dissertations

This paper evaluates the impact of financial resources and demographics on industry choice by self-employed business owners. I use a multinomial logistic regression to estimate the probability of having a business in a particular industry. The results suggest that entry into industries are hampered by financial constraints and social barriers.

What Could We Be? A Queer Latinx Mennonite Memoir, Daniel Shank Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

This memoir depicts the racism and queerphobia of the author's Mennonite upbringing and how they have unlearned that upbringing to live an intersectional queer Latinx Mennonite life.

Someone Will Remember Us / I Say / Even In Another Time, Paul Anagnostopoulos

Theses and Dissertations

Paul Anagnostopoulos’s paintings and vases use mythological melodrama in a contemporary context to portray vivid images of queer life in the wake of homophobic erasure and tragic loss. “someone will remember us / I say / even in another time” traces his aggregate interests in Greco-Roman cultures and art history.

The Chicana Mural Movement: A Reclamation Of Mesoamerican Iconography, Jennifer Vander Els

Theses and Dissertations

An examination of the deployment of indigenous Mexica iconography by Chicana artists during the Chicano Mural Movement. The ethno-national concept of Aztlan, corn and Corn Women, and the deities Coatlicue and Coyolxauhqui were restructured in Chicana murals to uplift and recognize the achievements of the women of the Chicano community.