Digital Commons Network^™

The Rhetoric Of Mathematical Logicism, Intuitionism, And Formalism, John Travis Shrontz

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Resource Nexus: Water, Energy, Food: Water Forum And Technology Roadmap, Rabi Mohtar, Rudolph A. Rosen

Water Resources Science and Technology Book and E-Book Publications and Reports (Archived)

The Texas A&M University System and Area 41 co-hosted with Texas A&M University-San Antonio the Resource Nexus: Water Forum. Centering on the WEF Nexus Initiative of Texas A&M University, the two-day event held November 17-18, 2015, in San Antonio, Texas, focused on expanding the scope of the Water, Energy, Food (WEF) Nexus dialogue. Topics included identifying and responding to local, state, national and global challenges and opportunities relative to water resources in research, education, outreach and policy implementation. Other topics included holistic solutions to water security in Texas, and engaging stakeholders at home and worldwide in dialogues that will lead …

Law Enforcement And Military Members: Engaging In The Community, Karen C. Kalmbach, Randy Garner

Psychology Faculty Publications (Archived)

This chapter seeks to assist law enforcement by providing an empirical review of research on the relationship between military service and risk of dangerousness—to self (suicide) or others (violent crime). Risk posed by military members is poorly understood and largely overstated by media reports. The following discussion will reveal that—notwithstanding the unique aspects of military culture and service—most risk factors for violence (towards self and others) are similar for both military members and nonmilitary alike. However, some aspects of military service, (e.g., combat exposure), may impact the behavior and thought processes of service members who come into contact with law …

Midwest Medical Center Employee Perceptions Of Workplace Breastfeeding Experiences, Michelle Ann Brown

Nursing

The privilege of motherhood establishes additional temporary occupational needs for women who choose to breastfeed an infant and continue full time employment. The purpose of the study was to assess the holistic needs of employed lactating women. A Perceptions of Workplace Breastfeeding Experiences Questionnaire (PWBE-Q) was developed using Bronfenbrenner’s theory of social ecology and implemented with employees working in a Midwest medical center. The study included a physical survey of the facility’s lactation rooms. Three designated lactation rooms were assessed. Ninety five employees responded to the survey. Study results determined the facility’s existing designated lactation space was functional. Employees perceived …

Compassion Fatigue In Critical Care Nursing And Development Of An Educational Module, Keshia Ryan Kotula

Nursing

Compassion fatigue is a troubling phenomenon which affects those in care giving roles, and nurses are especially susceptible. The first purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of compassion fatigue among critical care nurses. The study also examined which demographic characteristics would be associated with a higher level of compassion fatigue. Registered nurses (N=58) from two intensive care units completed the Professional Quality of Life Scale, Version 5 (ProQOL5) and a demographic questionnaire. Overall, the level of compassion fatigue was low as measured by the burnout and secondary traumatic stress subscales. The overall compassion satisfaction was low as …

Implementing Simulation Into Oncology Education, Megan Ruth Hills

Nursing

Nurses, who choose oncology, face complex challenges on a daily basis due to the disease itself and the effects of its treatment. The purpose of the project was to examine the effect implementing simulation into the education of oncology nurses, would have on participant confidence and perceived competence in caring for such complex patients. Two simulation scenarios based on oncologic emergencies were developed and incorporated into the education of oncology nurses at a Midwest hospital. Written pre- and post-evaluations were completed by simulation participants. The results revealed a positive increase in mean rating from pre- to postevaluation, ultimately indicating achievement …

Nursing Student Stress, Emily Pohribnak Kulland

Nursing

Nursing students experience multiple stressors as they are expected to apply theoretical learning and develop critical thinking skills while in the professional environment. Perceived overwhelming negative stressors can lead to absenteeism, job dissatisfaction, and a high employment turnover rate. This research compared levels of stress between sophomore, junior and senior nursing students at a public university and a private college, utilizing the Student Nurse Stress Index (SNSI, Jones and Johnson, 1999) and the Nursing Student Demographic Survey. Summary scores from the SNSI suggest that private college students report higher levels of stress than public students in four main areas including: …

Genetic Mapping Of Quantitative Trait Loci For Resistance To Wheat Tan Spot Using Two Bi-Parental Populations, Gayan Kanishka Kariyawasam

Plant Pathology

Tan spot, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr), is an economically important disease on both common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and durum (T. turgidum L. ssp. durum). Genetics of resistance to tan spot is complicated and needs to be further investigated for breeding cultivars with more complete resistance. The objective of this study was to map and characterize genetic resistance in two wheat bi-parental popuations. In Louise × Penawawa population, four quantative trait loci (QTL) were identified and the major race-nonspecific QTL, designated as QTs.zhl-3BL, was shown to have epistatis and additive effect on Ptr ToxA-Tsn1, Ptr ToxC-Tsc1 interactions, respectively. Nine …

Phenotypic Characterization Of Leptosphaeria Maculans Pathogenicity Groups Aggressiveness On Brassica Napus, Julianna Franceschi Fernández

Plant Pathology

One of the most destructive pathogens of canola (Brassica napus L.) is Leptosphaeria maculans (Desm.) Ces. & De Not., which causes blackleg disease. This fungus produces strains with different virulence profiles (pathogenicity groups, PG) which are defined using differential cultivars Westar, Quinta and Glacier. Besides this, little is known about other traits that characterize these groups. The objective of this study was to characterize the aggressiveness of L. maculans PG 2, 3, 4, and T. The components of aggressiveness evaluated were disease severity and ability to grow and sporulate in artificial medium. Disease severity was measured at different temperatures on …

Armstrong State University 2015 Fact Book, Armstrong State University

Armstrong Office of Institutional Research: Armstrong Fact Books (Archived)

No abstract provided.

How Can Sustainable Design Insure Resiliency Through The Biodiversity Of A Boomtown, Jesse M. Riley

Natural Resources Management

Presently the state of North Dakota is enjoying tremendous economic expansion as well as an increase in population. The development of the Bakken Oil formation has introduced a new set of opportunities and presented a new set of challenges. By studying past boomtowns, ecology, and design, a path for planning, recruitment and maintaining communities with a sustainable approach can be explored. The purpose of this research is to guide current and future stakeholders in the area of energy development communities and wise growth planning. The many articles and books that are devoted to social science, ecology, design and population recruitment …

Synthesis, Characterization, And Modeling Of New Molecule-Based Magnets, Christopher Samuel Olson

Materials and Nanotechnology

The chemical bond and its role as a mediator of magnetic exchange interaction remains an important aspect in the study of magnetic insulators and semiconductors. The M[TCNE] (M = transition metal, TCNE = tetracyanoethylene) class of organic-based magnets has attracted considerable interest since VII[TCNE]x (x ~ 2) exhibits one of the highest critical temperatures for its class – Tc ~ 400 K – in addition to highly spin-polarized conduction and valance bands (Eg ~ 0.5 eV), thus foreseeing potential spintronic application. The magneto-structural factors underlying this exceptional behavior remain elusive, however, due to the amorphous nature of the material. To …

The Free And Restricted Diffusion Of Silicon Nanocrystal Clusters, Ahmed Bahgat Elbaradei

Materials and Nanotechnology

Biological applications for silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) have recently gained more attention because of silicon’s low toxicity. But, to be able to use SiNCs in applications such as biological sensors, labeling or drug delivery we need to understand their transport in different environments and their interaction with cell membrane. I will review some different methods for the synthesis of, and I will give an accounting of encapsulating SiNCs with PEGylated phospholipids to make them soluble in water. I also studied the free diffusion of these micelles in water, as well as their restricted diffusion and interaction with giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). …

Sensecluster For Exploring Large Data Repositories, Yousra Harb, Surendra Sarnikar, Omar F. El-Gayar

Research & Publications

Exploring and making sense of large data repositories has become a daunting task. This is especially the case for end users who often have limited access to the data due to the complexity of the retrieval process and limited availability of IT support for developing custom queries and reports based on the data. Consequently, traditional interfaces are no longer meeting these requirements. Instead, novel interfaces are required to fully support the sense making process. In this paper, we followed a design science approach and introduced a query clustering system (Sense Cluster) that could serve as a quick exploration tool for …

Wetland Restoration Techniques And Associated Costs In Southeastern North Dakota, Travis Gene Strehlow

Natural Resources Management

Degraded wetlands are a common occurrence throughout the Prairie Pothole Region of the United States. Many restoration attempts have been conducted to restore these unique ecosystems to their previous conditions. However, many restored wetlands fail to regain the appearance and functions of natural wetlands. Two studies were completed in southeastern North Dakota to determine if restoration of these areas is possible. Research objectives were to; (1) determine if one year of glyphosate application is enough to impact a soil seedbank of a previously cultivated wetland, and (2) estimate costs of three different vegetation restoration methods to better understand cost/benefit ratios …

The Tyger And The Lamb: Exploring The Relationship Between Text And Music In Selected Contemporary Choral Settings Of Two Poems By William Blake (1757-1827), Erik Andrew Zinter

Music

Texts have been influencing composers of choral music for centuries. Some composers manipulate the text through the use of form and compositional technique, whereas others rely on highlighting specific words. Still others work to convey emotions or to conjure aural images for the listener. Expressive poetry, such as The Tyger and The Lamb, two poems by William Blake (1757-1827), has inspired several composers to set these texts to music, among them John Tavener (1944-2013), René Clausen (b. 1953), and Andrew Miller (b. 1983). This dissertation focuses on the choral settings of Blake’s The Tyger and The Lamb by these three …

Folk Song In The Wind Band Music Of Haydn Wood: Mannin Veen And A New Performing Edition Of The Seafarer, Adam Charles Hollingsworth

Music

Nestled between England and Ireland, one can find a tiny island called the Isle of Man, or more simply, Mann. One of its most famous musical representatives is composer and violinist Haydn Wood. In an effort to preserve and promote the fine music and culture of the Isle of Man in general, and the work of Haydn Wood in particular, the author analyzed two wind band works written by the composer. Mannin Veen draws directly on the musical heritage of Mann. The Seafarer, which has been out of print for many years, does not use Manx musical traditions directly, but …

Deregulation, Distrust, And Democracy, Lindsay Wiley

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

Environmental, public health, alternative food, and food justice advocates are working together to achieve incremental agricultural subsidy and nutrition assistance reforms that increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables. When it comes to targeting food and beverage products for increased regulation and decreased consumption, however, the priorities of various food reform movements diverge. This article argues that foundational legal issues, including preemption of state and local authority to protect the public's health and welfare, increasing First Amendment protection for commercial speech, and eroding judicial deference to legislative policy judgments, present a more promising avenue for collaboration across movements than discrete …

Restoring The Fact/Law Distinction In Patent Claim Construction, Jonas Anderson

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

INTRODUCTION: Two decades ago, the Supreme Court sought to promote more effective, transparent patent litigation in Markman v. Westview Instruments1 by ruling that "the construction of a patent, including terms of art within its claim, is exclusively within the province of the court."'2 In so doing, the Court removed interpretation of patent claims from the black box of jury deliberations by holding that the Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial did not extend to patent claim construction. Failing to find clear historical evidence of how claim construction was handled in 179 1,' the Court turned to "the relative interpretive …

Giving As Governance: Philanthrocapitalism And Modern-Day Slavery Abolitionism, Janie Chuang

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

This Essay examines the potential influence of a new breed of actor in the global antitrafficking arena: the venture philanthropist, or "philanthrocapitalist." Philanthrocapitalists have already helped rebrand "trafficking" as "modern-day slavery," and have expressed their ambitions to lead global efforts to eradicate the problem. With their deep financial resources and access to powerful networks, philanthrocapitalists hold tremendous power to shape the future trajectory of the antitrafficking movement. this Essay warns, however, against the possibility that philanthrocapitalists could also reconfigure the landscape of global antitrafficking policymaking, marginalizing or even displacing other actors' efforts to address the problem.

Cumulative Contribution Of Child Maltreatment To Emotional Experience And Regulatory Intent In Intimate Adult Interactions, Sabrina R. Liu, Marc S. Schulz, Robert J. Waldinger

Psychology Faculty Research and Scholarship

Research and theory suggest that child maltreatment is linked to experiencing heightened levels of negative emotion, greater need to control these emotions, and difficulty in interpersonal relationships as adults. This study examined links between experiencing multiple types of child maltreatment and intentions to control emotion during charged discussions with intimate partners in adulthood, and whether the link is mediated by hostile and sad-anxious emotions. Ninety-seven couples were recruited from the community, with an oversampling of adults with histories of child maltreatment. In addition to reporting on maltreatment history, couples used video recall to rate their level of negative emotions and …

Measuring Emotion Regulation And Emotional Expression In Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review, Tânia Brandão, Rita Tavares, Marc S. Schulz, Paula Mena Matos

Psychology Faculty Research and Scholarship

The important role of emotion regulation and expression in adaptation to breast cancer is now widely recognized. Studies have shown that optimal emotion regulation strategies, including less constrained emotional expression, are associated with better adaptation. Our objective was to systematically review measures used to assess the way women with breast cancer regulate their emotions. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Nine different databases were searched. Data were independently extracted and assessed by two researchers. English-language articles that used at least one instrument to measure strategies to regulate emotions in women with breast cancer were included. Of …

Factors Influencing Self-Care Behaviors Of African Americans With Heart Failure: A Photovoice Project, Aimee Woda, Ruth Ann Belknap, Kristin Haglund, Margaret Sebern, Ashley Lawrence

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to understand the influences of heart failure (HF) self-care among low income, African Americans.

Background

Compared to all other racial groups, African Americans have the highest risk of developing HF, coupled with high mortality and morbidity rates.

Methods

Using the photovoice method, participants related important lifestyle factors through photography. The participants and researcher met for reflection and discussion 2 h per week for six weeks.

Results

Four themes emerged: family support gives me the push I need, social interaction lifts me up, improving my mind to lift depression can improve my heart, and …

The Cost Of Opportunity: Student Debt And Social Mobility, Daniela Kraiem

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

No abstract provided.

The Road Was Paved With Good Intentions, Kristina Dreifuerst, Suzie Kardong-Edgren

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

The Uncertain Future Of The Corporate Contribution Ban, Richard Briffault

Faculty Scholarship

Concern about the role of corporate money in democracy has been a longstanding theme in American politics. In the late nineteenth century, the states began to adopt laws restricting the use of corporate funds in elections. The first permanent federal campaign finance law – the Tillman Act of 1907 – targeted corporations by prohibiting federally-chartered corporations from making contributions in any election and prohibiting all corporations from making contributions in federal elections. Subsequently amended, continued, and strengthened by the Federal Corrupt Practices Act of 1925, the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, and the Bipartisan …

Parental Regulation Of Online Behavior And Cyber Aggression: Adolescents’ Experiences And Perspectives, Sara Goldstein

Department of Family Science and Human Development Scholarship and Creative Works

The present study examines adolescents’ experiences with, and perspectives about, parental regulation of internet-based peer socialization including cyber aggression. Adolescents (N = 110) were surveyed about technology use, electronic device ownership, and the extent to which parents place restrictions on, and/or monitor, their cyber behavior. Adolescents were also asked about their experiences with parental regulation of cyber aggression, and these responses were compared to experiences with other forms of aggressive behavior (relational and overt). Perceptions of legitimacy of parental authority were also compared for online and offline aggression, and for acts typically considered to be within the personal domain. Adolescents …

Enhancing Generalisation In Biofeedback Intervention Using The Challenge Point Framework: A Case Study, Elaine Hitchcock, Tara Mcallister Byun

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Biofeedback intervention can help children achieve correct production of a treatment-resistant error sound, but generalisation is often limited. This case study suggests that generalisation can be enhanced when biofeedback intervention is structured in accordance with a "challenge point" framework for speech-motor learning. The participant was an 11-year-old with residual /r/ misarticulation who had previously attained correct /r/ production through a structured course of ultrasound biofeedback treatment but did not generalise these gains beyond the word level. Treatment difficulty was adjusted in an adaptive manner following predetermined criteria for advancing, maintaining, or moving back a level in a multidimensional hierarchy of …

Validating And Optimizing A Crowdsourced Method For Gradient Measures Of Child Speech, Tara Mcallister Byun, Elaine Hitchcock, Daphna Harel

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

There is broad consensus that speech sound development is a gradual process, with acoustic measures frequently revealing covert contrast between sounds perceived as identical. Well-constructed perceptual tasks using Visual Analog Scaling (VAS) can draw out these gradient differences. However, this method has not seen widespread uptake in speech acquisition research, possibly due to the time-intensive character of VAS data collection. This project tested the validity of streamlined VAS data collection via crowdsourcing. It also addressed a methodological question that would be challenging to answer through conventional data collection: when collecting ratings of speech samples elicited from multiple individuals, should those …

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of A Truancy Reduction Program For Middle And High School Students, Jan R. Parrish

Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized a mixed methods design. The study was carried out in two phases. In the first phase of the study, a secondary data analysis of data were collected from a sample (n = 390) of middle and high school students who participated in a truancy pilot program launched during the 2012-2013 school year with follow-up services provided through June 2014. The sample was divided into two groups (treatment and control). The treatment group was diverted from court referral and participated in an intervention consisting of in-home counseling and case management services. The control group was referred to …