Digital Commons Network^™

Molecular Exploration Of Bioavailable Dissolved Organic Matter Across Aquatic Ecosystems, Yuan Shen

Theses and Dissertations

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in aquatic ecosystems is a large reservoir of reduced carbon that is mostly resistant to degradation. A small fraction of DOM cycles relatively quickly and is biologically utilized on timescales of days to months. This bioavailable DOM (BDOM) supports aquatic food webs, drives major elemental cycles, and is coupled to atmospheric CO2. Despite wide-ranging importance, bioavailability of DOM and its linkages to ecosystem properties (e.g., primary production, nutrients) are poorly characterized, particularly at the ecosystem level. Bioassay experiments are commonly used to determine BDOM, but this approach alters conditions and has limited spatial and temporal coverage. …

Glacial To Holocene Changes In Eastern Equatorial Pacific Deep-Water Chemistry And Circulation, Natalie E. Umling

Theses and Dissertations

It has been hypothesized that the oceans store CO2 during glacial periods and then release it to the atmosphere, causing the onset of warm interglacial periods (Sigman and Boyle, 2000). Documenting this past transfer of CO2 between the oceans and atmosphere is of utmost importance for better understanding the impact that anthropogenic CO2 has and will have on Earth’s climate. The last deglaciation is a good analogue to modern increases in CO2 and temperature and is recent enough to be studied using radiocarbon. This period provides important insights into the nature of climate changes during the transition from glacial to …

High School Science Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Effects Of One-To-One Computing Devices On Student Engagement, Herbert S. Bocchino Iii

Theses and Dissertations

The identified problem of practice for the present action research study centers on ways in which teacher-participants in a working class poor, rural, southern high school can use the iPads in daily science classroom activities to more effectively to engage these students in their classrooms and make the curriculum meaningful. Data in the form of classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, and teacher in-service seminars was collected over a six week period. The results of the present action research study indicate a need for more professional development for incorporating iPads into science coursework for these teacher-participants at RHS despite their claim that …

Analysis And Design Of A Highly Compact Ellipse-Shaped Ultra-Wideband Bandpass Filter (Uwb-Bpf) With A Notched Band, Xuetan Liu

Theses and Dissertations

Since the Federal Communications Commission’s endorsement of the frequency band of 3.1 – 10.6 GHz in 2002 to be unlicensed for wireless communication applications, various ultra-wideband bandpass filters (UWB-BPFs) have been proposed and designed. Different UWB-BPF configurations were presented in the past years to meet the very strict UWB-BPF specifications in terms of ultra-band requirement, low return loss, high rejection in notched bands. However, most of the previous works are limited by large dimension size, complex geometry, and high production cost.

The major objective of this work is to design a highly compact, simple geometry, and low-cost UWB-BPF, which passes …

Detracking High School Physical Science Classes Through Teacher Efficacy: An Action Research Study, Vincent Scott Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

This study uses the action research method to determine whether students enrolled in a basic science course (Physical Science College Prep) can be successful learning more advanced material (Physical Science Advanced) by increasing teacher efficacy. Currently, there are three levels of Physical Science courses taught at the study school, a high school in South Carolina, USA. The most basic course, Physical Science College Prep, is comprised of 76% minority students, and 56% who receive a free or reduced-cost lunch. In the spring semester of 2017, a group of students (n = 14) completed two units of study: Unit One - …

Two Essays On Social Sharing Effects On Consumer Memories, Li Huang

Theses and Dissertations

Social sharing is universal in everyday life. Every day consumers share news, opinions, and personal experiences using different media, including face-to-face communications, cellphones, texting, email, and other social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter). Word-of-Mouth, a common type of social sharing has been found to be fundamental to marketing and has been shown to significantly impact firms’ sales and revenues. However little is known about the effects of WOM on consumer memories. Since consumer memory is an important variable in marketing due to its significant impact on consumer judgments and decisions, my dissertation addresses this gap and examines the effects of …

Serpentinization And Synthesis: Searching For Abiotic And Biotic Non-Volatile Organic Molecules In The Subsurface Of The Atlantis Massif, Katherine A. Hickok

Theses and Dissertations

High concentrations of hydrogen created during serpentinization can promote the formation of abiotic organic carbon molecules such as methane, formate, and short chain hydrocarbons and, in laboratory experiments, larger molecules containing up to 32 carbon atoms. Subsurface archaeal and bacterial communities can use these reduced compounds for metabolic energy. International Ocean Discovery Project Expedition 357 drilled 17 boreholes into the Atlantis Massif with the goals of investigating carbon cycling and the presence of life in a zone of active serpentinization. The expedition recovered multiple lithologies including gabbros, basalts, carbonate sands, and serpentinites. A subset of contrasting lithologies were analyzed for …

Association Between Diabetes And Cancer In Indian And Us Populations Using Longitudinal Study Design, Shraddha S. Vyas

Theses and Dissertations

Background: There is growing evidence of association between diabetes and cancer. No studies have been conducted in India evaluating this association. With the current epidemiologic, nutritional and economic transition in India, it becomes extremely important to examine this association in an Indian population. Additionally, difference in association exists based on different cancer subtypes. Research has shown that diabetes is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. However most of these studies suggest detection bias to be one of the probable reasons for this association. Additionally, the common risk factors shared by both these conditions are considered to one of …

Geometric Influence On Electronic Properties: Graphene With Antidots, Two-Dimensional Electron Gas And Three-Dimensional Carbon Nanostructures, Lei Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Geometric influence on electrical and magneto transport properties has been investigated in three types of systems: (i) Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms; (ii) Two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in AlInN/GaN heterostructure; and (iii) 3D carbon nanostructures, a special type of three-dimensional materials with spherical voids. Due to unique structures and energy dispersion relations, these three systems demonstrate distinct physical properties.

AlInN is the newest and amongst the widest band gap semiconductors. The 2DEG in AlInN/GaN heterostucture displays long transport lifetime along with conventional behaviors, including Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillation and weak localization. From SdH oscillation, the effective mass of …

Cocoa And Carbon: Remedying Forest Governance Through Community Participation In A Redd+Pilot In Ghana, Manali Baruah

Theses and Dissertations

Global loss and degradation of forests are well documented, and the potential role of forests in climate change mitigation is widely recognized. While forests are key to human well-being, forest resource management in the developing world is fraught with governance challenges. Despite policy discourses that emphasize the importance of local participation in the management of forest resources, it is rarely practiced. Many national governments and non-governmental organizations have set up efforts around the collaborative management of forest resources with local communities to tackle forest loss. However, the operationalization of participatory principles and the effectiveness of these collaborative initiatives are not …

Association Of Gestational Weight Gain During Twin Gestations And Adverse Maternal Outcomes, Kerry Spillane

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To examine the association between gestational weight gain (GWG) in twin gestations and the odds of adverse maternal outcomes.

Setting and Participants: Study population included 3,081 women with a twin gestation delivered between 23-42 gestational weeks from 19 hospitals across the United States (2002-2008) participating in the Consortium on Safe Labor (CSL) study.

Main Outcomes: Main outcomes of interest included: gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and cesarean delivery.

Methods: Quantile regression estimated the 25th and 75th percentiles of total GWG, respective of pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational age at delivery, and was used to create our new total GWG …

Implementing The Constructed Scaffold Model: Hands-On Activity Units For Advanced Placement Calculus, Susan Scott

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present action research study is to describe a hands-on activity model, named the Constructed Scaffold Model (CSM), used in an Advanced Placement Calculus class in a southeastern United States suburban high school. Data were collected over an 8-week period during the spring 2017 semester. The teacher-researcher developed a pretest and posttest to describe the CSM’s impact on 10 student-participants in her Advanced Placement classroom. Repeated measures t-tests were used to determine the effect of the CSM on the student-participants’ test scores. Additional qualitative data were collected from field notes, student surveys, a focus group, and student …

The Perceptions Of Students On A Cooperative, Gamebased Learning Latin Curriculum: An Action Research Study, Jason Dean Blackburn

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study describes the impact of Operation LAPIS, a cooperative gamebased Latin 1 curriculum, upon student perceptions in a large suburban high school in South Carolina. The game served as an introduction to Latin grammar, vocabulary, and the daily life of a Roman teenager for 15 Latin 1 students who participated in the study. Syntax, vocabulary acquisition, and cultural studies are essential standards-based elements of learning Latin. Students were surveyed regarding their opinions on the game’s approach to grammar, vocabulary, Roman daily life, and game-based learning in general. These surveys produced a quantitative data set that allowed the …

A Virtual Learning System’S Impact On Student Achievement In A Secondary Biology College Preparatory Course; An Action Research Study, Jamie Ankney Whitlock

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research study was to describe the effectiveness of a virtual learning system (VLS) on college preparatory biology students’ pre- and posttest scores. Data were gathered from observations of students using the VLS for video lectures, practice tests, reviewing, and other online simulations in the spring of 2017. Data were also collected using a pretest and a posttest designed by the participant-researcher before and after the implementation of the VLS. A t test was used to analyze the pre- and posttest quantitative data, and the constant comparative method was used to analyze the qualitative data from …

Distributed Optimization Method For Intelligent Control Of Dc Microgrids, Yuanyuan Fan

Theses and Dissertations

Most of the distributed energy resources, loads and energy storage systems in a DC microgrid are equipped with power electronic converters. With the integration of advanced power electronics devices, a microgrid is able to utilize a broader range of technologies in its design and operation. A key feature of power electronic converter based systems is the ability to direct energy flow within a system with their coordinated operation. A system level control is needed for coordination where converters execute reference points dictated by a system-level control in order to achieve system level goals. System goals can be expressed as a …

Governing Terrorism Through Preemption: A Comparative Analysis Of Radicalization In Three Western Liberal Democracies, Derek M.D. Silva

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, issues related to terrorism and counterterrorism are increasingly being understood through the construct of ‘radicalization.’ At its most basic level, radicalization is most often conceptualized as a transition from “normal,” conventional political, religious or otherwise ideological beliefs towards extremist views and ultimately violence. The process is now adopted by governmental officials and politicians, police authorities, journalists, and even scientists to justify various forms of governmental intervention, such as policing, social and public policy, education, and surveillance. Notably missing from the scholarly literature is a distinctly sociological understanding of the implications of the proliferation of radicalization discourse in …

Simulation-Based Interprofessional Education In A Rural Setting, Ann D. Scott

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a simulation-based IPE experience for pre-licensure nursing, pharmacy, and medical students on a rurally-located campus. Using a mixed-methods, explanatory sequential approach, this project: 1) examined the feasibility of implementing a simulation-based IPE experience using telehealth tools; and 2) evaluated student perceptions of inter-professional teamwork, roles and responsibilities, and patient outcomes for collaborative practice, both pre- and post-scenario.

Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS. Results revealed 94% agreed/strongly agreed the IPE experience resembled a real-life situation. 100% of nursing/medical students and 80% of the pharmacy students indicated they …

Nondestructive Evaluation And Health Monitoring Of Adhesively Bonded Composite Structures, William Walker Roth

Theses and Dissertations

As the growth of fiber reinforced composite materials continues in many industries, structural designers will have to look to new methods of joining components. In order to take full advantage of composite materials, such as increased stiffness, decreased weight, tailored material properties and increased fatigue life, mechanical fasteners will need to be replaced by adhesive bonding or welding, when possible. Mechanical fasteners require the drilling of holes, which damages the laminate and becomes the source of further fatigue damage. Also, an increase in laminate thickness or inclusion of other features is required for the material to withstand the bearing stress …

Paleodemographic And Biochemical Analysis Of Urbanization, Famine, And Mortality, Brittany S. Walter

Theses and Dissertations

Urbanization is a transitional period often associated with deteriorating population health and increased mortality, as the rapid increase of population density in urban centers facilitates the transmission of infectious diseases, unsanitary living conditions, and precarious food supplies. Research on the transition to an urban environment in the past offers a temporal depth to our understanding of the consequences of urbanization that cannot be accomplished through examination of contemporary populations. This project integrates paleodemographic (hazard analysis) and biochemical (stable isotope analysis) approaches to examine the health and diet of inhabitants in late medieval England (c. 1120-1539 CE), specifically the relationship between …

Determination Of Polarization Transfer Coefficients And Hyperon Induced Polarization For Quasi–Free Hyperon Photoproduction Off The Bound Neutron, Colin Gleason

Theses and Dissertations

The spectrum of the excited nucleon (N*) states provides key information on the relevant degrees of freedom within the nucleon. The determination of the N* spectrum requires an extensive set of high–quality experimental observables for a large number of nuclear reactions over a broad kinematic range. In particular, measurements of polarization observables of strangeness photoproduction are of high importance as many of the resonances that are predicted by quark models, but not observed in pion– nucleon channels, are expected to couple strongly to kaon–hyperon (KY) channels. While in the last decade a large body of polarization and cross–section data has …

Polymer Grafted Nanoparticles For Designed Interfaces In Polymer Nanocomposites, Mohammad Mohammadkhani

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents the design, synthesis, and characterization of polymer nanocomposite interfaces and the property enhancement from this interface design. Through the use of reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization for the grafting of polymer chains to silica nanoparticles, the surface of silica nanoparticles can be manipulated to tune the properties of nanocomposites by controlling the interface between the particles and the polymer matrix.

In the first part of this work, compatibility of 15 nm silica nanoparticles grafted with different alkyl methacrylates with linear low density polyethylene was investigated. SI-RAFT polymerization of hexyl, lauryl, and stearyl methacrylate on silica …

Maternal Physical Activity And Cardiorespiratory Fitness During Pregnancy And Its Relation To Infant Size, Samantha M. Mcdonald

Theses and Dissertations

Recent evidence indicates that U.S.-born infants are larger today compared to 20 years ago. A strong determinant of neonatal size is maternal body mass, where larger mothers deliver larger infants. Consistent evidence indicates that higher levels of maternal physical activity (PA) during pregnancy reduce the risk of delivering a larger infant. However, this protective effect has only been demonstrated in normal weight pregnant women. Little is known about the relationship between maternal PA and neonatal size in overweight or obese pregnant women. Moreover, no studies have examined the association between maternal cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), an indicator of habitual PA, on …

A Comprehensive Evaluation Of Hybrid Wetting Configurations On Dropwise Condensation, Karim Khazal Egab

Theses and Dissertations

The heat transfer during condensation on a surface depends on the pattern design of the surface, which can highly influence hydrophobic/hydrophilic wettability. In this study hybrid pattern designs were studied. The relationship between the droplet dynamic and the hybrid pattern design can alter the drainage rates, droplet departure frequencies, and the condensation heat transfer rates. Therefore, two series of hybrid patterned surfaces have been designed, developed, and tested during condensation of water vapor on horizontal copper tubes, and compared to complete dropwise and complete filmwise condensation samples. This is to investigate the design that provides the maximum improvement in the …

The Impact Of A Reflective Practice Series On The Awareness Level Of Six Teacher Candidates At A Public University In The Southeast, Lindsay M. Sturkie

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impact of a Reflective Practice Series (RPS) on the awareness level of preservice teachers enrolled in a field experience course in a teacher education program at a university in the southeast United States. This study took place during the Fall 2016 semester with six participants, two early childhood majors, two elementary majors, and two middle level majors. Data were collected through pre- and post-questionnaires, course assignments, and field observations. The results revealed that the teacher candidates were able to make connections between theory and reflective teaching, had varying viewpoints about the process of reflection, and most …

Determination And Validation Of High-Pressure Equilibrium Adsorption Isotherms Via A Volumetric System, Hind Jihad Kadhim Shabbani

Theses and Dissertations

Adsorption equilibrium isotherms for N2, CO2, and CH4 on zeolite 13X were investigated at three different temperatures (25.5, 50.5 and 75.5 ̊ C) and a pressure range of (0-6.89475) MPa for CH4 and N2 and in the range of (0-4.82633) MPa for CO2 using built in volumetric apparatus. The results were validated using with a volumetric system (ASAP) at the same temperatures and a pressure up to (160-110) KPa respectively. The experimental results were correlated using three process Langmuir (TPLM). The correlated isotherms were then used to calculate the isosteric heat of adsorption for the three gases on 13X. The …

Las Metamorfosis De Jordi Grau. Cine, Crítica Social Y Transformación Cultural En España (1962-1976), Hugo Pascual Bordón

Theses and Dissertations

This project focuses on the cultural transformation taking place in Spain in the period between 1962 and 1976, examined through the works of filmmaker Jordi Grau (Barcelona, 1930). This research invites the opportunity to assemble a cultural study that includes subjects such as national identity, realist film aesthetics, avant-garde films, and horror films. In addition, it observes some of Grau’s work in conjunction with gender studies and pop culture.

The thesis of this project is that Jordi Grau directed films encompassing different genres in a short period of time; all while assuming and adapting to the changes of his sociopolitical …

Children’S Obesogenic Behaviors During Summer Versus School, Keith Brazendale

Theses and Dissertations

Emerging evidence shows children gain 3-5 times the amount of weight and lose cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) during summer compared to the 9-months of the school year. Notably, this trend is more pronounced in children who are already overweight or obese going into summer and/or from low-income ethnic minority households. There is little evidence to investigating the underlying mechanisms driving the pronounced occurrence of these negative health outcomes during summer.

The purpose of this dissertation as a whole was to investigate children’s obesogenic behaviors (physical activity, sedentary/ screen time, sleep, and diet) during summer versus school, and compare any differences in …

Stilbenes: Therapeutic Interventions Targeting Amyloid Β Protein Aggregation In Alzheimer’S Disease, Yiying Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and accounts for 60-80 % of all dementia cases. In the United States, AD is ranked as the 6th leading cause of death and it is the only one among the top 10 that cannot be prevented, treated or even slowed. All FDA approved drugs focus on attenuating the symptoms for a limited time by regulating neurotransmitters without any intervention with the underlying disease process. A major player in the initiation and development of this debilitating disorder is the misfolding and subsequent aggregating of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide. This aggregation process …

The Nature Of Power And Corruption In Plato And J.R.R. Tolkien, Lily Howard-Hill

Theses and Dissertations

In the collected dialogues of Plato, Plato sets out his arguments on democracy, power, and free-will through Socrates’ interactions with his interlocutors. His understandings of morality and justice suggest that a good and moral person is the foundation for successful societies. In The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and other tales, Tolkien offers a different lens through which to observe philosophical and ethical concepts. Plato’s morality is centered around the organization and the structure of the soul. The soul is ruled by virtues which include justice and knowledge. Here, I present an analysis of key Platonic concepts by offering …

Framing Marijuana: A Study Of How Us Newspapers Frame Marijuana Legalization Stories And Framing Effects Of Marijuana Stories, Hwalbin Kim

Theses and Dissertations

The current study was initially designed to look at how the issue of marijuana legalization was presented in U.S. newspapers and how news frames could influence the audiences’ attitudes or behavioral intentions. To investigate these questions, two different types of research methods were employed: content analysis and experiment. Using framing theory as a theoretical framework, this study found that marijuana legalization has been largely described as a legislation issue or a law enforcement issue, and medical benefit and medical risk were most frequently mentioned attributes to support and oppose marijuana legalization. Findings indicated that news frame could influence the public’s …