Digital Commons Network^™

The “Forgotten Man” Of Washington: The Pershing Memorial And The Battle Over Military Memorialization, Andrew S. Walgren

Theses and Dissertations

The current debates over the transformation of Pershing Park in Washington, D.C., into a national World War I memorial have reignited century-old concerns about how to properly memorialize military figures. The park, originally conceived as a memorial to General John Pershing and the men of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I, had fallen into disrepair, and many within the federal government wanted to redevelop the park in time for the World War I Centennial in 2018. Popular commentators have pointed to National Park Service budgets cuts and the decline of “great man” memorials as the primary culprits behind …

Heteroglossia And Polyphony In Le Chat Du Rabbin By Joann Sfar, Brian Boomhower

Theses and Dissertations

According to Will Eisner, “comics communicate in a ‘language’ that relies on a visual experience common to both creator and audience. Modern readers can be expected to have an easy understanding of the image-word mix and the traditional deciphering of text. Comics can be ‘read’ in a wider sense than that term is commonly applied” (Eisner, 1). In this research, I examine Bakhtin’s theories of heteroglossia and polyphony within Joann Sfar’s Le Chat du Rabbin (2002-2006). By taking a closer look at ‘language’ in Le Chat du Rabbin, both textually and visually, I apply Bakhtin’s theories of heteroglossia and visual …

The Informational And Emotional Support Needs Of Grandparents Of Children With Pompe Disease, Natasha Lousie Rudy

Theses and Dissertations

The complex roles and experiences of grandparents of children with various diagnoses have been described, but previous studies have not investigated the roles and experiences of grandparents of children with treatable, Mendelian conditions such as Pompe disease. The availability of treatment and heritable nature of Pompe introduce the possibility for unique grandparent roles, experiences and needs. This is a particularly timely investigation given the advent of newborn screening for Pompe. This study aimed to characterize grandparents’ roles and involvement, identify grandparents’ information and emotional support needs, and explore the psychosocial impact felt by grandparents of children with Pompe. An online …

Rallying Education Activism From The Grassroots Up: A Case Study Of The South Carolina Education Improvement Act Of 1984, Sally Saunders Huguley

Theses and Dissertations

With the 1983 publication of A Nation At Risk that warned of the “rising tide of mediocrity” in American public education, southern governors took the lead in proposing reforms to their states’ lagging education systems. Among those was South Carolina Governor Richard W. Riley, who proposed public school reform legislation funded by a statewide one cent sales tax increase within the difficult context of a legislative election year. Facing stiff opposition to the tax increase from the South Carolina General Assembly, Riley launched a statewide grassroots effort to pressure the Legislature to enact the 1984 Education Improvement Act (EIA) and …

Radioactive Dixie: A History Of Nuclear Power And Nuclear Waste In The American South, 1950-1990, Caroline Rose Peyton

Theses and Dissertations

“Radioactive Dixie: A History of Nuclear Power and Nuclear Waste in the American South, 1950-1990,” examines the political, social, cultural, economic, environmental, and technological dimensions of the nuclear industry in the American South. Today, the US South contains more nuclear reactors than any other region and much of the nation’s radioactive waste. In “Radioactive Dixie,” I argue that this regional distinction resulted from a decades-long effort by southern politicians, industry figures, and government officials to transform the American South into a nuclear-oriented region. Waving the atomic talisman, the nuclear industry served as one pivotal part in a larger project of …

Teacher Perceptions Of Fostering Student Engagement Through The Use Of The Tprs World Language Instructional Method, Cederia Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

Student engagement among male students in the elementary setting is vital to academic achievement. In the world language classroom, the TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling) method’s visual and bodily kinesthetic nature have the potential to appeal to the natural learning styles of elementary male students therefore increasing student engagement. In this qualitative study, I construct and analyze teacher surveys in regards to their perceptions of student engagement among elementary male students when the TPRS method is implemented. I identify common themes in the survey results and analyzed surveys for saturation. Identifying the common themes provided valuable insight in …

Rational Design And Synthesis Of Pt/Silica-Alumina Metal-Acid Bifunctional Catalysts, Jadid Ettaz Samad

Theses and Dissertations

In the domain of rational catalyst design and synthesis, Strong Electrostatic Adsorption (SEA) has been applied with tremendous potential and use. In this study, SEA method has been advanced to thick slurries as well as to mixed oxide systems with a view to synthesizing stable, active and selective catalysts fine-tuned for specific applications.

The main objective was to synthesize metal-acid bifunctional catalysts with controlled ratio and proximity between metal and acid sites in order to analyze their effects on a bifunctional reaction. At first, the difference in charging behavior of silica and alumina in solution was used to selectively deposit …

Evil Men Have No Songs: The Terrorist And Literatuer Boris Savinkov, 1879-1925, Irina Vasilyeva Meier

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is devoted to the works of the legendary terrorist mastermind Boris Savinkov (1879-1925), who planned notorious political assassinations at the turn of the twentieth century even as he took part in the leading literary circles of his day. This work situates Savinkov in what Mikhail Bakhtin defines as a “chronotope,” a time-space module that I label “Revolutionary Apocalypse.” I compare the development of revolutionary myths of martyrdom in Revolutionary Russia for both Savinkov and his contemporary Maria Spiridonova to analyze the redefined notions of love, truth, and sacrifice among the Russian intelligentsia that turned these Russian revolutionary terrorists …

Neuro-Fuzzy Classification Of Felsic Lava Geomorphology At Alarcon Rise, Mexico, Christina Hefron Maschmeyer

Theses and Dissertations

The Alarcon Rise is the only submarine oceanic spreading ridge setting where rhyolitic lavas have been found. This intermediate-rate spreading ridge provides a unique natural laboratory for studying the geomorphology of felsic submarine lava flows at oceanic spreading ridges. Seafloor observations of felsic lava indicate the flow morphology differs from typical submarine basaltic lava at the few other oceanic spreading ridges where differentiated compositions have been recorded. Morphologic variation between mafic and felsic lava flows, especially rhyolites, was also observed at Alarcon Rise.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute conducted mapping surveys with autonomous underwater vehicle D Allan B. in …

Progesterone-Only Oral Contraceptive Pill, Breast Cancer, Heart Disease, And Stroke, Marsha Ema Samson

Theses and Dissertations

There is evidence from earlier studies that oral contraceptive pills may be a risk factor for certain chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer. Previous studies mainly focus on the estrogen component of combined (estrogen+ progestin) oral contraceptives (COCs) due to their popularity. This focus limits our understanding of progestin-only contraceptives and its relationship to commonly occurring chronic diseases. To provide insight into alternative methods of oral contraception, this dissertation explores the relationship between progestin-only oral contraceptive (POC) pills and heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer. We hypothesize that women using POCs are less likely to have certain …

Uptake Of Nanoparticles By Vibrio Gazogenes, Shonda Renee Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Vibrio gazogenes, a Gram-negative species of marine bacteria, was capable of transporting 20 nm (diameter) surface-carboxylated, polystyrene, fluorescent FluoSpheres® microspheres (excitation/emission = 505/515) through the outer membrane, which was indicated by a detectable decrease in the fluorescence intensity of the nanoparticles in the culture medium. A mechanism of transport was investigated involving the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) protein transporters that traverse the outer membrane. Inhibition of the ABC transporters did not prevent the entry of the nanoparticles into the cell, suggesting there was an alternate mechanism of transport. The addition of nanoparticles to the culture medium also did not provide any …

Preliminary Evaluation Of "Footprints": Motivational Interviewing To Promote Cognitive-Behavioral Skills, Academic Outcomes, And Academic Protective Factors In Middle School Students, John Terry

Theses and Dissertations

There are high levels of unmet need in youth mental health services. To address this gap there is an increasing emphasis on multi-tiered systems of support involving promotion/prevention (Tier 1), early intervention (Tier 2) and intervention (Tier 3) to promote positive emotional/behavioral functioning in students. While research on these multi-tiered frameworks is increasing, there remains a relative dearth of empirically supported and feasible early intervention Tier 2 programs. To help address this gap, we developed the Tier 2 program, Footprints, which utilizes two Motivational Interviewing sessions to promote engagement in six group-based modularized Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy sessions and aims to enhance …

Improved Assessment Of The Magnitude And Acceleration Of Prehistoric Earthquakes In The South Carolina Coastal Plain, Emad Gheibi

Theses and Dissertations

Seismically-induced soil liquefaction is one the most hazardous geotechnical phenomenon that can cause loss of life and devastating damage to infrastructure. Proper estimation of critical ground motion parameters (e.g. peak ground acceleration and earthquake magnitude) is vital for seismic design of new structures and retrofit of existing structures, especially in regions such as the South Carolina Coastal Plain (SCCP) where the frequency of re-occurrence of large earthquakes is low (studies of paleoliquefaction features have revealed seven, large, prehistoric earthquakes occurring within the last 6000 years) and the locations of potential sources are not exactly known. Moreover, due to mechanical and …

Adaptive Skill Trajectories In Infants With Fragile X Syndrome, Kelly Elizabeth Caravella

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined longitudinal trajectories of adaptive behavior in infants with fragile X syndrome (FXS), compared to typical development (TD) and infant siblings of children diagnosed with autism (ASIBs). Additional analysis were conducted to examine the differences in trajectories for males and females with FXS, and to identify if a profile of strengths and weaknesses appeared across domains by 24 months in males with FXS. Participants included 76 male infants assessed up to 4 times between 6 and 24 months of age. A sample of 12 females with FXS was also included for the comparative sex analysis. Infants with FXS …

Structural, Functional, And Behavioral Alterations To The Dopamine System In The Female Hiv-1 Transgenic Rat, Robert Francis Roscoe Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

HIV-associated cognitive disorders continue to affect approximately 25 million individuals worldwide, and its prevalence is expected to increase as the lifespan of HIV-1 infected individuals continues to improve. The HIV-1 transgenic rat expresses 7 of the 9 genes that encompass the virus, and is an appropriate model for studying chronic HIV-1 infection at a level that is controlled through combined antiretroviral therapy. Psychostimulant abuse is known to exacerbate HAND symptomology, but the psychostimulant methylphenidate is a first line of treatment for HIV associated cognitive inhibition. Dopamine transport abnormalities in the HIV-1 Tg rat have been well characterized through behavioral testing; …

Motivations In Exercise, Amanda Dufner

Theses and Dissertations

College students exercise for a variety of reasons, but specific differences in their motivations and perceptions have not been extensively studied. PURPOSE: The main purpose was to see if students whose primary reason for exercise is to lose fat (FATCON), gain muscle mass (MUSC), or maintain health (HLTH) had differences in their exercise motivations, social physique anxiety, and body image self-perceptions.

A secondary purpose was to explore if the participants’ supplement use reflected their exercise priorities.

METHODS: Data were collected at a university Wellness Center, or from exercise classes. Participants (N = 216) completed a packet of four questionnaires: Multidimensional …

Concealing Stigmatized Sexual Orientation, Accepting Versus Non-Accepting Attitudes, And Ego Depletion, Nicole Gigi Giordano

Theses and Dissertations

The current study was designed with the aim of increasing the understanding of

how concealing or disclosing a stigmatized sexual identity to a perceived accepting/non- accepting person affects ego depletion. Ego Depletion, (Baumeister, 1998) refers to the idea that certain tasks exhaust a limited pool of cognitive resources. Previous literature has explored how concealing a stigmatized identity is ego depleting; however, an examination of the relationship between ego depletion and the concealment of the specific identity as a sexual minority has not yet been explored. LGBQ individuals are often faced with the challenge of navigating social situations to determine if …

Impact Of Seasonality On Agricultural Productivity In Bangladesh, Mohammad Gulam Mostofa

Theses and Dissertations

This paper studies the impact of seasonality on agricultural productivity in Bangladesh for the period of 1980-2013 for 7 regions. This study exploits regional fixed effect to estimate the impact of both observed and unobserved effects on agricultural productivity in order to control for regional differences. I used a panel dataset for the fixed and random effect regression model to control omitted variables bias and endogeneity. Findings from this study expressed that the effects of all the climate variables are not significant to rice, wheat, and pulse yield. Maximum temperature and minimum temperature wet for rice, minimum temperature dry and …

Can You Really Predict Markets With Twitter?, Christopher Plenzick

Theses and Dissertations

In this paper, I attempt to apply an emotional proxy derived by applying

the Affective Norms for English Words (ANEW) to messages posted to the

Twitter social networking service in order to forecast the movement two stock

market indices: the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and the CBOE

Volatility Index (VIX). In contrast to previous works, I have compared the

results of various forecast models employing different sentiment variables, as

well as comparing the neural network approach to more standard logistic re-

gression. Additionally, several of the models used employ an as-yet unique

sentiment proxy, focusing on the average of …

A Dual-Level Approach To Enrollment Management, Jason Trainer

Theses and Dissertations

Increasing institutional dependency on tuition revenue paired with rising political pressures towards student success outcomes has many institutions turning to enrollment management (EM) to improve their institution’s enrollment outcomes. EM is a comprehensive and inclusive process focused on achieving the optimum recruitment, retention, and graduation institutional outcomes. The academic community remains at the epicenter of this EM process. Chief enrollment officers failing to create an institutional partnership with the academic community will unlikely attain desired enrollment outcomes.

This study seeks to assist institutions by assessing how a “shared sense of responsibility” for enrollment outcomes is developed through the eyes of …

Academia Meeting The Needs Of Industry: A Case Study Of Developing A New Degree Program For Petroleum Engineering, Rosemary Vogt

Theses and Dissertations

The recent oil boom in western North Dakota’s Bakken formation in the Williston Basin resulted in numerous opportunities for skilled professionals (for which an academic credential is required) in petroleum engineering. Oil and gas industries operating in the state approached leaders at the University of North Dakota (UND) with the request to develop a petroleum engineering program for the purpose of contributing to the need for a skilled workforce in the state. In 2012, the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education approved a new Department of Petroleum Engineering at the University of North Dakota. What is unknown or understood …

The Effects Of Resistance Training Programs On Physical Self-Perceptions In College Females, Kelsey Lauren Zachman

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of resistance training on females’ self-perception. Introduction: It is generally accepted that exercise enhances physical self-perceptions, but the impact of resistance training programs on females’ self-perceptions is unclear. Because exercise is an important public health behavior, and because physical self-perceptions have motivational implications, this study has potential to add knowledge that is relevant to exercise promotion. Purpose: The primary aim of the study was to explore the effect of two different types of resistance training programs on physical self-perceptions of college age females. Methods: Participants (n=30) were randomized to muscular strength, muscular endurance resistance training groups or a …

In The Wake Of The End Of The World: Stories, Cayla M. Fralick

Theses and Dissertations

This collection of short stories came about from my growth as a passionate but imperfect feminist, reflecting on the place I call home—how the South and its politics shape us and how I learned to shape myself.

Development Of Protein-Polymer Core-Shell Nanoparticles (Ppcs-Nps) As Efficient Vehicles To Deliver Therapeutic Agents Across Blood Brain Barrier (Bbb), Napat Tandikul

Theses and Dissertations

Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) plays a main role as selective barrier which controls and limits access of chemicals, molecules and therapeutic agents from blood to brain. The BBB endothelial cells are connected by Tight Junctions (TJs) which close intracellular spaces between the endothelial cells and block the free diffusion of substances, therefore many potential drugs for treating human brain diseases cannot reach the brain in sufficient concentration. Recently, many studies have thrown an interest in development of nanoparticles for delivering drugs and imaging agents across BBB. Our research group has developed protein-polymer core-shell nanoparticles (PPCS-NPs) which demonstrate great potential for …

A Vulnerability-Driven Cyber Security Maturity Model For Measuring National Critical Infrastructure Protection Preparedness, Bilge Karabacak, Sevgi Ozkan Yildirim, Nazife Baykal

All Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Critical infrastructures are vital assets for the public safety, economic welfare and national security of countries. Cyber systems are used extensively to monitor and control critical infrastructures. A number of infrastructures are connected to the Internet via corporate networks. Cyber security is, therefore, an important item of the national security agenda of a country. The intense interest in cyber security has initiated research focusing on national cyber security maturity assessments. However, little, if any, research is dedicated to maturity assessments of national critical infrastructure protection efforts. Instead, the vast majority of studies merely examine diverse national-level security best practices ranging …

Regulatory Approaches For Cyber Security Of Critical Infrastructures: The Case Of Turkey, Bilge Karabacak, Sevgi Ozkan Yildirim, Nazife Baykal

All Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Critical infrastructures are vital assets for public safety, economic welfare and/or national security of countries. Today, cyber systems are extensively used to control and monitor critical infrastructures. A considerable amount of the infrastructures are connected to the Internet over corporate networks. Therefore, cyber security is an important item for the national security agendas of several countries. The enforcement of security principles on the critical infrastructure operators through the regulations is a still-debated topic. There are several academic and governmental studies that analyze the possible regulatory approaches for the security of the critical infrastructures. Although most of them favor the market-oriented …

Front Matter

SMU Law Review

No abstract provided.

Information Needs And Information Sources Of Patients Diagnosed With Rare Cancers, Dana L. Ladd

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

INFORMATION NEEDS AND INFORMATION SOURCES OF PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH RARE CANCERS

By Dana L. Ladd, Ph.D., MS, SLIS

BACKGROUND: Approximately 25% of all cancers diagnosed are considered rare. Patients may face many significant challenges including difficulty obtaining information about their rare conditions. Patients often have high information needs and may seek desired information from a variety of informational sources including healthcare providers, media, print, government and non-profit organizations in order to meet their needs. Accessing reliable consumer-level information can be challenging and often information needs are unmet. Dissatisfaction with health information provision can result in negative health-related outcomes and …

The Instructional Technology Resource Teacher: A Descriptive Case Study Of Deployment, Use, And Perceptions, Mary Sepelyak

Theses and Dissertations

This case study describes one professional development approach to support technology integration at all public schools in one large county in central Virginia. Using data obtained from daily time logs, the frequency of Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT) use by classroom teachers was analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to describe overall percentage of ITRT use, the various types of professional development requested by teachers, the consistency of those activities over time, and if the frequencies of activities varied as a function of school level, Title I status at the elementary level, or subject area taught by teachers at the secondary …

The New Gatekeepers: How Blogs Subverted Mainstream Book Reviews, Rebecca E. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Book reviewing has a fraught history in the United States. Reviewers have long been accused of not being analytical enough. It should be no wonder then with the emergence of social media that online book reviewing has become increasingly popular. Online reviewers, especially book bloggers, are no literary gatekeepers in their own right, shaping the tastes of readers across the world. Book blogs in particular pay special attention to titles which have long been derided by institutions such as libraries, academia, publishers, and bookstores. These literary gatekeepers typically ignore romance, fantasy, mystery, science fiction, young adult fiction, comic books, and …