Digital Commons Network^™

Historically Marginalized Groups In Psychological Science, Celeste Caviness

Open Access Dissertations

Over the past thirty years there has been a concerted effort to evaluate the inclusion of historically marginalized groups (HMG) – women, racial, ethnic, and sexual minorities, and low-income individuals – in research. This has been done through content analyses of research literature published in top-tier psychological journals. The purpose of this study was to examine the research literature to assess the degree to which the current literature includes ethnic, racial, and sexual minorities, women, and those of varying socioeconomic status and whether research questions focusing on historically marginalized groups are being examined within mainstream journals. Six issues from 2012 …

Validation Of A Social Skills Construct Using Multitrait Multimethod And Generalizability Approaches, Monica Mabe

Open Access Dissertations

Social skills are important components of social‐emotional functioning that allow children to be successful in school, both socially and academically. A single, agreed‐upon definition of social skills has not been identified in the literature, however, which has led to variations in the measurement and assessment of social skills. Issues of measurement may be linked to the ineffectiveness of school‐based social‐skills interventions. Commonly used conceptualizations and operationalizations of social skills are presented, as well as a review of issues surrounding social‐skills interventions. The use of a multitrait‐multimethod approach is presented for the use of establishing a unified set of social skills …

Pc Based Electrolytes With Lidfob As An Alternative Salt For Lithium-Ion Batteries, Brandon M. Knight

Open Access Dissertations

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been greatly sought after as a source of renewable energy storage. LIBs have a wide range of applications including but not limited portable electronic devices, electric vehicles, and power tools. As a direct result of their commercial viability an insatiable hunger for knowledge, advancement within the field of LIBs has been omnipresent for the last two decades. However, there are set backs evident within the LIB field; most notably the limitations of standard electrolyte formulations and LiPF₆ lithium salt. The standard primary carbonate of ethylene carbonate (EC) has a very limited operating range due to …

Firefighters’ Multimodal Literacy Practices, Timothy R. Amidon

Open Access Dissertations

This study explores the ways that firefighters’ utilize multimodal literacy practices to construct and communicate knowledge in environments where risk is present. Specifically, this dissertation sketches the interrelationships between alphabetic, aural, cognitive, gestural, kinesthetic, oral, tactile, spatial, and visual genres which evolve and circulate within embodied, analog, and digital media on firegrounds. A heuristic research methodology was constructed by borrowing and adapting components from extant multimodal and digital ethnography, community-based research, and writing activity and genre research. Using a range of emergent digital research methods, data was captured during six observational periods wherein 75 participants engaged in live-fire training activities; …

Intrapartum Nurses’ Beliefs About Childbirth: A Descriptive Qualitative Study In Nurses That Provide Care To Women In Labor And Birth, Sylvia P. Ross

Open Access Dissertations

In the United States, a large gap exists between what is known as best evidence in maternal-newborn health and the routine practices at the frontline of maternity care. Intrapartum nurses are uniquely positioned to promote practices that are evidencebased and support the normal physiologic process of birth. This qualitative study explored intrapartum nurses’ beliefs about childbirth and the influence of their beliefs on their clinical practice, particularly practices that promoted normal physiologic birth. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 intrapartum registered nurses using Rubin and Rubin’s (2012) responsive interview model. All participants practiced on a labor and delivery unit …

Incentives, Values And Provision Of Ecosystem Services And Restoration, Achyut Kafle

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation presents results from studies that empirically examine incentives, values and provision of ecosystem services and restoration employing both real-money field experiments and hypothetical stated preference mail surveys.

Manuscript I reports on a real-money discrete choice experiment (DCE) to assess values for ecosystem restoration efforts focused on non-native plants management in a nature reserve in southern California, USA. Employing a split sample design, participants’ values and preferences for ecosystem restoration projects are compared under a theoretically incentive compatible provision rule, i.e., a single decision-maker’s choice, against a non-incentive compatible provision rule, i.e., a plurality vote using three-option choices for …

The Anti-Epilepsy Potential And Antagonism Of The N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor By Diaminodiphenyls, Kyle Robert Scully

Open Access Dissertations

Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by the occurrence of seizures, which are periods of abnormally excessive synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. Affecting over 70 million people worldwide, many of whom do not respond to pharmacotherapy, there is a need for novel anticonvulsant compound discovery. Diaminodiphenyl compounds, a class of compounds shown to present anticonvulsive effects in vivo have been purported to exert their effects on the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAr); an excitatory, ionotropic receptor that is a key player in the functions of the glutamatergic system. The glutamatergic system is vital in the promotion of synaptic plasticity and has …

A Geochemical Investigation Of Oxygen Fugacity In The Marianas Subduction Factory, Maryjo N. Brounce

Open Access Dissertations

Oxygen fugacity is a fundamental thermodynamic property that describes reduction-oxidation (redox) equilibria in the solid Earth. It controls material transfer from the interior to the exterior of the planet by dictating the speciation of multi-valent elements (e.g., Fe, V, S). Oceanic crust ages and oxidizes as it moves from spreading centers to subduction zones, where it returns to the mantle in modified form. Subducting slabs release H₂O-rich fluids and SiO₂-rich melts to the mantle wedge in subduction zones, contributing significantly to the isotopic and major, trace, and volatile element composition of arc and back-arc magmas, however …

A Case Study Of Student And Teacher Relationships And The Effect On Student Learning, Patricia Brady Gablinske

Open Access Dissertations

This research study explored the affective domain of teacher-student relationships using a single case study design. This single case study produced a synthesis of information that guides a classroom teacher in the development and maintenance of her relationships with her students. The resulting analysis and interpretation provided a description of major themes that developed regarding strong teacher student relationships, as well as, specific components to the interactions considered essential for the student’s learning environment.

The outcome of this study is an account of experiences and procedures that guide the development and maintenance of relationships between a teacher and her students. …

Using Activated Carbon To Enhance The Vocs And Heavy Metals Removal Of A Porous Asphalt Pavement System, Hui Chen

Open Access Dissertations

Two different porous asphalt pavement systems (PAPS) were designed to enhance the removal of VOCs (dichloromethane and toluene) and heavy metals (cadmium, copper and lead) from roadway runoff. These two PAPS utilized granular activated carbon (GAC) additions to the conventional PAPS. One PAPS, the CPP system (carbon in porous pavement), had GAC added directly to the top porous asphalt mix, and the other PAPS, the CCA system (carbon in coarse aggregates), had GAC added to the sub-base filter course below the porous asphalt layer. The removal of selected VOCs and heavy metals through the CPP and the CCA systems was …

Values And Services Of A Protected Riverine Estuary In East Africa: The Wami River And Saadani National Park, Catherine Grace Mcnally

Open Access Dissertations

The dialogue pertaining to the management of riverine and coastal ecosystems has evolved over the past decade to consider ecosystem goods and services due to their ability to link ecosystem structure and function to human well-being. Ecosystem services are “a wide range of conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species that are part of them, help sustain and fulfill human life” (Daily et al. 1997 p.2). Ecosystem goods emerge from ecosystem services and are defined as “organisms and their parts and products that grow in the wild and … are used directly for human benefits” (Daily et …

Improvements And Applications Of State-Of-The-Art Numerical Models For Simulating Tsunami Hazard, Tayebeh Sadat Tajalli Bakhsh

Open Access Dissertations

The large recent catastrophic events of Indian Ocean with over 300,000 fatalities in 9 different countries and the 2011 Tohoku tsunami in Japan with about 20,000 fatalities and over $100B damage to the Japanese economy, have shown the limitations of some of the modeling approaches used in the past and have stimulated the development of both new models and novel modeling methodologies. In this thesis, some improvements in tsunami modeling is contributed, in part to better simulate tsunami generation by the co-seismic seafloor displacement caused by megathrust earthquakes like the one in Manuscript 1 (Pure and Applied Geophysics, 170, …

The Effects Of Alcohol And Attention On Eye Movements, And Choice Reaction Time, Rouba A. Youssef

Open Access Dissertations

This study examined the time course of alcohol's effect on two tasks performed concurrently, and on the tradeoff between them. It was hypothesized that alcohol impairs attentional focus, as well as the accuracy and reaction time to make directional choices, and so would induce a more severe tradeoff between tasks performed concurrently.

Equipment used in the study consisted of a device used to monitor eye movements, left and right light stimuli and a breathalyzer to measure blood alcohol levels. The sample for this project consisted of 46 men and women, between the ages of 21 and 30 years old. All …

Fate And Removal Of Contaminants In Urban Environment, Varun K. Kasaraneni

Open Access Dissertations

Stormwater runoff from impermeable surfaces, such as roads, roof tops, and parking lots, is a cause of non-point source pollution problem. Sources such as fossil fuel combustion, automobiles, and other human and animal activities introduce high concentration of organic, inorganic and pathogenic contaminants in to environment. Stormwater runoff carrying these contaminants when untreated has the potential to impair water quality in the receiving water bodies such as surface and ground waters. The existing treatment systems are not reliable and needed improvements in order to meet water quality standards. Determining the levels and sources of contamination in an environment can help …

Impact Of Tropical Cyclones On Ocean Heat Content And Transport, Michael R. Bueti

Open Access Dissertations

Strong surface winds of a hurricane locally cool the surface and warm the subsurface waters via turbulent mixing processes. While the surface cool anomalies generally decay in roughly a month, the warm subsurface anomalies can persist over a seasonal cycle. We examine questions related to the magnitude and cumulative footprint of subsurface warm anomalies forced by tropical cyclones during the combined global tropical cyclone seasons, making use of a global ocean model forced by tropical cyclones.

Simulations of the 2004-2005 tropical cyclone season are conducted with and without tropical cyclone wind forcing, blended with the daily Coordinated Ocean-ice Reference Experiments …

Transcriptional Regulation Of Aldo-Keto Reductase 1d1, Leila Valanejad

Open Access Dissertations

Bile acids are physiological detergents and surfactants with recently identified roles as signaling hormones. Maintenance of physiologically normal bile acids levels is fundamentally important as a deregulation within the bile acid synthesis pathway has the potential to result in an unbalanced bile acid pool. This may result in any number of pathological down stream effects and can exacerbate various diseases and disorders. Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and cholic acid (CA) are two major primary bile acids in humans with CDCA being more hydrophobic and toxic than CA. Aldo-keto reductase 1D1 (AKR1D1) and 12-alpha-hydroxylase (CYP8B1) are the two key enzymes responsible for …

Developing A Test For Random Number Generators Using A Simulation Of The Hierarchical Potts Diamond Model At The Critical Point, Joshua W. Liberty

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation uses the hierarchical q-state Potts model at the critical point to develop a new random number generator test. We start with an exposition of renormalization group approach by means of which one can numerically exactly compute the free energy, specific heat and susceptibility of large, but finite lattices. We then show that generalization of these standard techniques allows one to also compute probability distributions related to the energy and the order parameter.

The various computed quantities can be compared with Monte Carlo estimates of the same quantities. We demonstrate that the structure of the hierarchical lattices used allows …

Nuisance American Alligators: An Investigation Into Trends And Public Opinion, Cord B. Eversol, Scott E. Henke, Jacob L. Ogdee, David B. Wester, Amos Cooper

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The population rebound of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis; hereafter, alligator), with the rapid growth of populations throughout its range, has caused an influx of human–alligator conflicts. We quantified 5,838 nuisance alligator reports from 2000 to 2011 to develop more site-specific strategies of management and to determine where management should be focused to minimize the conflict. We also surveyed the general public’s attitude toward and knowledge of alligators (n = 98) as a technique to better understand human dimensions of nuisance alligator management in Texas. Counties that received the largest numbers of nuisance alligator reports were Jefferson (16%), Fort Bend …

Testing Systems Of Avian Perch Deterrents On Electric Power Distribution Poles In Sage-Brush Habitat, James F. Dwyer, Kerrin W. Doloughan

Human–Wildlife Interactions

In Lincoln County, Washington, USA, greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) are managed as reintroduced and augmented populations, respectively. Predation by raptors and corvids is a concern, particularly where utility poles may provide hunting perches near leks (i.e., breeding areas). Perch deterrents may offer a mitigating strategy if deterrents reduce the frequency or duration of perching. To investigate the effects of various perch deterrents, we deployed deterrents on 5 power poles retained for use in this study when 33 poles were removed from occupied grouse habitat. We rotated deterrents among poles every 15 to 28 …

An Evaluation Of Two Traps And Sets For Trapping The Plains Pocket Gopher, Stephen M. Vantassel, Andrew J. Tyre, Scott E. Hygnstrom

Human–Wildlife Interactions

We investigated the efficiency of DK-1 and Macabee® pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) traps placed in lateral tunnels in both open and closed tunnel sets in rangeland and nonirrigated alfalfa fields in Nebraska. We observed no statistical difference between the traps in capture efficiency when used in open, versus closed, tunnel sets. Trapping of pocket gophers was more effective in rangeland (probability of capture in a single tunnel system using 3 traps; 63%) than nonirrigated alfalfa fields (26%). We did not determine whether this variance was due to behavioral differences between Geomys bursarius and Geomys lutescens. We found …

Wildlife Markets In South China, Alex T. Chow, Szeman Cheung, Peter K. Yip

Human–Wildlife Interactions

China is one of the largest consumers of wild animals for food and traditional Chinese medicine in the world. A large volume of illegal trade has been recorded in the primary cities, such as Hong Kong and Guangzhou, but the wildlife markets in secondary Chinese cities have not been investigated. This study was carried out in 7 cities in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. Wildlife trade data were collected using semi-structured interview, observation, and market survey. The study documented the selling of 97 animal species, >7,000 individuals. The most frequently used animal groups by quantity were reptiles (51%), followed by birds …

Determination Of Residue Levels Of Alpha-Chloralose In Duck Tissues, David A. Goldade, Randal S. Stahl, John. J. Johnston

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Alpha-chloralose (AC) is used to capture nuisance waterfowl so that they can be relocated. Concerns for food safety limit its use prior to or during the waterfowl hunting season. To determine its half-life in tissue, we administered AC to adult male (n = 7) and female (n = 5) mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) via oral gavage. A gel capsule containing 100 μCi of radioactive AC (14C-AC) and sufficient nonlabeled AC to produce a dose of approximately 30 mg/kg was given to each duck.The ducks were euthanized at 2, 6, 10, and 18 hours postdosing …

Forecasting The Spread Of Raccoon Rabies Using A Purpose-Specific Group Decisionmaking Process, Aaron M. Anderson, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Richard B. Chipman, Todd Atwood, Tyler Cozzens, Frank Fillo, Robert Hale, Brody Hatch, Joanne Maki, Olin E. Rhodes, Erin E. Rees, Charles E. Rupprecht, Rowland Tinline, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Dennis Slate

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and USDA Wildlife Services (WS) have been involved in an oral rabies vaccination (ORV) program for raccoons (Procyon lotor) that has slowed the westward spread of raccoon rabies. The objective of this study was to forecast the spread of the disease if an ORV zone was not maintained. A group decision-making process was designed to address the forecasting problem and was implemented using a group of 15 experts and 4 support personnel at a meeting at the USDA National Wildlife Research Center. Ten expansion regions were constructed that described the spread of …

Scarred For Life: The Other Side Of The Fence Debate, Paul F. Jones

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Reducing The Potential For Human–Snake Encounters In A Recreational Park, Evin T. Carter, Omar Attum, Bryan C. Eads, Andrew S. Hoffman, Bruce A. Kingsbury

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Parks and outdoor recreation areas often struggle to balance management for outdoor recreation with the protection of native flora and fauna. Additional complications can arise for land managers when recreation occurs in areas shared with wildlife that are perceived by humans to be dangerous. Despite these issues, many parks may inadvertently increase the potential for human–wildlife encounters through the creation of artificial forest gaps used for recreational purposes. We determined the potential for human encounters with venomous copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix) at a recreational park in southern Indiana before and after several simulated closures of recreational forest gaps. …

Effects Of Removal On A Lightly Exploited Coyote Population In Eastern Nevada, Patrick J. Jackson

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Coyote (Canis latrans) removal is a common, yet controversial, management practice to increase game populations throughout the West. I studied the effect of removal on coyote populations in eastern Nevada from 2004 to 2008 and reviewed 27 available publications to determine the level of human exploitation on my study populations. Removals were performed by USDA Wildlife Services (WS) to benefit game populations and involved the use of trapping, neck snaring, and ground and aerial shooting. To determine if the removal had an effect on the coyote populations, I measured 3 parameters: the presence or absence of skewed sex …

Effectiveness Of A Simulated Pack To Manipulate Wolf Movements, Christine M. Anhalt, Timothy R. Van Deelen, Ronald N. Schultz, Adrian P. Wydeven

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Bioboundaries, also called biofences, are deterrents that attempt to exploit certain innate behaviors to exclude wildlife from target areas. We hypothesized that human-deployed scent marks and playbacks of foreign howls could simulate a territorial gray wolf (Canis lupus) pack impinging on a resident pack, thereby causing the resident pack to move. During summer 2010, we deployed a simulated-pack bioboundary near 3 wolf packs in northern Wisconsin and monitored their movements relative to 3 wolf packs experiencing a sham treatment, to control for effects of human presence. We analyzed wolves’ locations (≥1 location per week) and used linear models …

American Black Bear–Apiary Conflicts In Michigan, Beverly K. Mckinley, Jerrold L. Belant, Dwayne R. Etter

Human–Wildlife Interactions

American black bear (Ursus americanus) damage to apiaries can result in substantial economic loss. We used records of black–bear apiary conflicts collected by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to characterize damage in the Upper and Northern Lower peninsulas of Michigan from April 2003 to May 2011. Most conflicts occurred between May and July, and the number of conflicts decreased across years. The number of reported conflicts was directly correlated with bear population size. However, we found no positive association between numbers of reported conflicts with bear condition as indexed by winter severity and hive abundance. Intolerance toward …

Soil Quality Manipulation To Reduce Bird Presence At Airports, Theresa K. Johnston, Bruce Branham, Jeffrey Brawn

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Aviation safety is an important concern in wildlife management as bird strikes risk human lives and result in costly damage. Habitat management can decrease bird abundances locally at airports. We tested soil manipulation as a technique to reduce local bird presence by establishing experimental plots with either intact topsoil or “stripped” subsoil with the aim of decreasing foraging substrate for birds. We estimated invertebrate abundance, and observed bird presence from 2006 to 2008. More birds visited topsoil plots (151.5 birds/ ha/hour) than subsoil plots (72.7 birds/ha/hour). Topsoil plots supported a greater biomass of invertebrates than subsoil plots ( = 0.39 …

In Defense Of Field Experiments: Response To Askham And Godfrey (2014), Charles D. Dieter, Cody S. Warner, Curiong Ren

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.