Digital Commons Network^™

A Longitudinal Study Of The Negative Impact Of Falls On Health, Well-Being, And Survival Among Older Adults: An Examination Of Protective Psychosocial Mediators, Harpa Lind Jonsdottir

Theses and Dissertations

Falls can have detrimental effects on older adults’ physical and psychological health, and survival rates. However, there appears to be a protective psychosocial mediator that may lessen the negative impact of experiencing a fall on health and well-being. The psychosocial factors examined as mediators of the falls - health and well-being relationship in this study were dispositional optimism and perceived control. Participants were 232 community-dwelling older adults, age 68 or older. This study was linked to a longitudinal study including data collected in 2008 and 2010 (Grand Cities Healthy Aging Study (GCHAS). Measurements of dispositional optimism, perceived control, self-rated physical …

Validating Precipitation Phase Measurements From Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar On Gpm Core Observatory Satellite, Benjamin Lott

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project is to validate precipitation measurements from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory (GPM-CO) satellite. The GPM-CO satellite is being used to detect falling rain and snow. Being able to detect rain builds off the success of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), which provided reasonable rainfall estimates when compared to ground-based radars. Detecting falling snow was a key GPM-CO requirement that was to be met within three years the satellite’s launch date of 27 February 2014. In this project, ground observations from Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) and Automated Weather Observing Station (AWOS) was …

Perceptions Of Dress Code Compliance, Kristen Nicole Leighton

Theses and Dissertations

Recent media coverage of middle and high school dress code controversies has called into question the fairness of such regulations on students’ clothing. The current study investigated gender differences in reactions to dress code violations and how reactions varied based on the race of the student who violated the dress code. The current study also explored how individual differences in hostile sexism, benevolent sexism, and social dominance orientation influenced judgments about dress code violations. Judgments about dress code violations were not found to vary based on the gender of the participant or race of the target. Social dominance orientation, however, …

Functionalization Of Cyclopalladated Ligands Using Secondary Phosphines And Meta-Chloroperoxybenzoic Acid, Jonathan Kukowski

Theses and Dissertations

Cyclopalladation of organic ligands followed by reactions at the C–Pd bond with MPR2 (M = Li, K, or H) or other reagents (e.g. oxidants) is a desirable strategy for the synthesis of hemilabile bidentate ligands due to the large library of known cyclopalladated complexes (CPCs). This dissertation is composed of three projects on the functionalization of cyclopalladated ligands.

In the first study, a new method for (sp3)C–P bond formation using diphenylphosphine was studied. Conditions for the synthesis of aminophosphines were optimized for the reactions of dinuclear chloro-bridged (sp3)C–Pd CPCs and HPPh2. The best yields were obtained with 9 equivalents of …

Contextual Factors Related To Stereotype Threat And Student Success In Science Technology Engineering Mathematics Education: A Mixed Methods Study, Lindsey Leker

Theses and Dissertations

Stereotype threat is a widely researched phenomenon shown to impact performance in testing and evaluation situations (Katz, Roberts, & Robinson, 1965; Steele & Aronson, 1995). When related to gender, stereotype threat can lead women to score lower than men on standardized math exams (Spencer, Steele, & Quinn, 1999). Stereotype threat may be one reason women have lower enrollment in most science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors, hold a smaller number of STEM careers than men, and have a higher attrition rate in STEM professions (Hill, Corbet, & Rose, 2010; Picho & Brown 2011; Sorby & Baartmans, 2000). Most research …

Theory And Application Development Of Electronic Structure Methods Involving Heavy Computation, Run Li

Theses and Dissertations

The propargyl radical, the most stable isomer of C3H3, is very important in combustion reactions. However, theoretical calculations have never been able to find a strong absorption around 242 nm as seen in experiments. In this study, we calculated the electronic energy levels of the propargyl radical using highly accurate multireference methods, including multireference configuration interaction singles and doubles method with triples and quadruples treated perturbatively [denoted as MRCISD(TQ)], as well as second and third order generalized Van Vleck perturbation theories (GVVPT2 and GVVPT3). Calculations indicate that this absorption can be solely attributed to a Franck-Condon-allowed transition from the ground …

Sensitivity Of Cross-Tropopause Convective Transport To Tropopause Definition, Emily Maddox

Theses and Dissertations

An idealized three-dimensional cloud-resolving model is used to investigate the sensitivity of cross-tropopause convective mass transport to tropopause definition. A ten-hour simulation is conducted to encompass the growth and decay cycle, with focus on irreversible transport above the tropopause. Six previously published tropopause definitions are evaluated. These definitions include specific values of altitude, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) temperature lapse rate, potential vorticity, stratospheric tracer concentration, static stability, and curvature of the Brunt-Vaisala Frequency. This investigation highlights the challenge of defining a tropopause during active deep convection, and demonstrates the need of clearly communicating calculation methods and threshold choices in the …

Failure Analysis Of Rotating Equipment Using Vibration Studies And Signal Processing Techniques, Ashkan Nejadpak

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis focuses on failure analysis of rotating machines based on vibration analysis and signal processing techniques. The main objectives are: identifying machine’s condition, determining the faults specific response, creating methods to correct the faults, and investigating available statistical analysis methods for automatic fault detection and classification. In vibration analysis, the accelerometer data is analyzed in time and frequency domain which will determine the machine’s condition by identifying the characteristic frequencies of the faults. These fault frequencies are specific for each type of machine’s faults. Therefore, they are referred to as faults’ signatures. The most common faults of the rotating …

The Impact Of The 340b Drug Pricing Program On Post-Launch Drug Prices, Bryan Temples Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Government mandated drug-pricing policies are an understudied—but potentially significant—factor in the price of drugs. The 340B program is one of the more controversial government-mandated prescription drug discount programs. Proponents argue that the program helps health care systems cover the cost of care they provide for low-income patients. Critics argue that the program unfairly benefits certain health care systems by assuring them lower drug prices, drives consolidation and reduces competition in the health care market, and drives up the cost of drugs. Despite this last claim, there is very little evidence that the 340B program actually impacts post-launch drug prices (i.e., …

Young Children's Articulations Of Their Metacognitive Processing During Play, Dawnita S. Nilles

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative research study was to hear young children’s descriptions of their metacognitive processes. Research has shown that play is the foundation of a child’s learning and numerous studies show that play affects all areas of a child’s development. Despite this, at the time of this study, there appeared to be a scarcity of published literature in which young children were interviewed about the metacognitive processes they use while playing. Children have been found to describe their thinking through non-verbal cues. They also have been able to articulate their knowledge and understanding, analyze, and evaluate the …

Oil Generation Rate Index Using Arrhenius Equation For Bakken Formation, Chioma Judith Onwumelu

Theses and Dissertations

Oil generation rate index is important in considering oil well performance. An oil generation rate index was estimated for ten wells in the Bakken Formation in the North Dakota portion of the Williston Basin. Activation energies consistent with a fixed frequency factor (1x10-14/sec) and estimates of the current temperature within the Bakken Formation were used to calculate a reaction rate. The reaction rate was converted into a generation rate index by multiplying the reaction rate by the mass of crackable kerogen derived from programmed pyrolysis (SRA) S2 analyses and bulk density logs. The programmed pyrolysis temperature of 435у, production index …

Residual Deficits Observed In Athletes Following Concussion: Combined Eeg And Cognitive Study, Tamanna Tabassum Khan Munia

Theses and Dissertations

The neurocognitive sequelae of a sport-related concussion and its management are poorly defined. Emerging evidence suggests that the residual deficits can persist one year or more following a brain injury. Detecting and quantifying the residual deficits are vital in making a decision about the treatment plan and may prevent further damage. For example, improper return to play (RTP) decisions in sports such as football have proven to be associated with the further chance of recurring injury, long-term neurophysiological impairments, and worsening of brain functional activity.

The reliability of traditional cognitive assessment tools is debatable, and thus attention has turned to …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Max Ceramics (Maxcers), Johnny Carl Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

This research has focused on the design and development of novel multifunctional MAX reinforced ceramics (MAXCERs). These MAXCERs were manufactured with 1-50 vol% ratios of ceramics to MAX phases. Chapter II reports on the synthesis and tribological behavior of Ti3SiC2 matrix composites by incorporating (1 and 6 vol%) Al2O3, (1 and 5 vol%) BN, and (1 and 5 vol%) B4C ceramic particulate additives in the matrix. All the composites were fabricated by pressureless sintering by using ~1 wt% Ni as a sintering agent at 1550 oC for 2 hours. SEM and XRD studies showed that Al2O3 is relatively inert in …

Stigma And Restoration Of Civil Rights To Felons, Kimberly Paige Pithey

Theses and Dissertations

Millions of people in the United States are banned from basic civil rights including participation in voting, jury duty, applying for government assistance, and owning a firearm because they have had a felony conviction. There is limited research on attitudes regarding the restoration of civil rights to felons. This thesis uses Goffman’s theory of stigma to examine whether public support for the restoration of rights to felons is associated with knowledge of felony convictions and whether an individual knows someone with a felony conviction. This study used an online survey of college undergraduates (N = 362) to explore two hypotheses …

Optimal Control Of Induction Machines To Minimize Transient Energy Losses, Siby Jose Plathottam

Theses and Dissertations

Induction machines are electromechanical energy conversion devices comprised of a stator and a rotor. Torque is generated due to the interaction between the rotating magnetic field from the stator, and the current induced in the rotor conductors. Their speed and torque output can be precisely controlled by manipulating the magnitude, frequency, and phase of the three input sinusoidal voltage waveforms. Their ruggedness, low cost, and high efficiency have made them ubiquitous component of nearly every industrial application. Thus, even a small improvement in their energy efficient tend to give a large amount of electrical energy savings over the lifetime of …

The Effect Of Perpetrator Remorse, Victim Gender, And Photographer On Victim Blame In A Case Of Nonconsensual Photograph Sharing, Katlin J. Rhyner

Theses and Dissertations

Emotional expression is often used as a way to determine a person’s intent for social situations. In a courtroom, when a perpetrator expresses (or fails to express) remorse, not only the perception of the perpetrator may be altered, but also the perception of the victim. This difference may especially be the case in a situation where the victim is viewed as having a high level of culpability for the crime, such as if the victim took the picture and sent it. Furthermore, the gender of the victim of the crime may influence how the victim is perceived, such that women …

The Role Of Α-Synuclein In Brain Lipid Metabolism And Inflammation, Drew R. Seeger

Theses and Dissertations

Alpha-synuclein (Snca) is a small cytosolic protein that is ubiquitously expressed in the nervous system and comprises 0.5-1% of all cytosolic protein, but its biological function is poorly understood. Although Snca function has been studied in lipid metabolism, the function of Snca in brain lipid metabolism under inflammatory conditions is yet to be elucidated. We utilized several model systems including primary cultured astrocytes and microglia, Snca deficient and mutant knock-in mice, and a radiolabeled free fatty acid steady state-kinetic mouse model to determine Snca role in neuroinflammation. Herein, we have determined several major roles of Snca during inflammation: (i) dBcAMP …

Modification Methods For Soil And Water Assessment Tool (Swat) Performance In Simulating Runoff And Sediment Of Watersheds In Cold Regions, Bahareh Shoghli

Theses and Dissertations

Streamflow predication is an important task in water management studies. It is needed in the operation and optimization of water resources and flood control projects. The accuracy of these predictions has a great influence on the water resources management and decision making processes. Various models and tool packages have been developed for simulation and prediction of streamflow. Among them, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is one of the most widely used models, which was originally developed to predict the impacts of land management on water, sediment and agricultural chemical yield in large watershed simulations. Results of the SWAT …

Simulating Boundary Crossing Supercells Using A Non-Hydrostatic Cloud Model, Aaron Keith Scott

Theses and Dissertations

Supercell thunderstorms are among nature’s most powerful phenomena. Particular environmental conditions are strongly correlated with peak supercell and tornado strength. However, supercells may experience changes within the near-storm environment during their lifecycle. For example, a storm may cross a preexisting outflow boundary from previous convection; thus, the storm will experience changes in the environmental thermodynamic and wind profiles. The purpose of this study is to determine what happens to the low-level mesocyclone immediately after crossing a boundary, analyze storm sensitivity to differing boundary crossing times, and show how the vorticity processes change as a storm moves from one environment to …

Quantification Of Lignin Hydroxyl Containing Functional Groups Via 31p{1h} Nmr Spectroscopy And Synthesis Of Lignin Degradation Standards, Joshua E. Schumaker

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this thesis is on the structural characterization of lignin, a complex phenol-based heteropolymer. In the first part of the study, functionalization of lignin and its known degradation products by 2-chloro-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane (TMDP) and analysis by 31P NMR spectroscopy was investigated. Chemical shifts of derivatized alcohols, phenols, and carboxylic acids were determined that allowed for qualitative characterization of lignin. This approach was further applied for the quantitative analysis of OH-containing groups present in lignin employing the internal standard. Lignin samples, fractionated by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) based on molecular weights, were derivatized by TMDP and characterized by 31P NMR …

Performance Analysis Of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (Ads-B) And Breakdown Of Anomalies, Asma Tabassum

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis work analyzes the performance of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data received from Grand Forks International Airport, detects anomalies in the data and quantifies the associated potential risk. This work also assesses severity associated anomalous data in Detect and Avoid (DAA) for Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The received data were raw and archived in GDL-90 format. A python module is developed to parse the raw data into readable data in a .csv file. The anomaly detection algorithm is based on Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) ADS-B performance assessment report. An extensive study is carried out on two main types of …

Epigenetic Remodeling As A Mediator Of Environmental Toxicant Exposure In The Brain, Christopher David Walden

Theses and Dissertations

Natural toxins and artificial toxicants are abundant throughout our environment and may play an integral role in remodeling our epigenome and in the development of neural diseases. Exposure to heavy metals and organic pollutants, such as DDT and its derivatives, have been linked to neural disease. Additionally, there are links between direct exposure, in both adults and children, to short-lived pesticides and neural diseases. While the link has been established, understanding the root cause has yet to be elucidated. One increasingly relevant field offering promise in achieving this goal is epigenetics. Epigenetic remodeling is one potential mechanism by which environmental …

Mechanic/Maintenance Training And Certification Program, Ted W. Boehm, Jim Handy

JTRP Technical Reports

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is divided into six districts, with district offices located in La Porte, Fort Wayne, Crawfordsville, Greenfield, Vincennes, and Seymour. Each district includes multiple vehicle maintenance shops (totaling 32 shops at the launch of this project). Each maintenance shop has multiple mechanics (totaling 151 mechanics at the launch of this project). The mission of these shops and mechanics is to maintain INDOT’s fleet of vehicles, including snow removal equipment, mowing equipment, paint striping equipment, transportation vehicles, and various other equipment.

At the time of the launch of this project, it was recognized that there was …

Learning Module On Electric Motors Modeling, Control, And Testing (Lm-Emmct), Ana Djuric, Vukica M. Jovanovic, Ece Yaprak, Wen Chen

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The objective of this paper is to develop and integrate a learning module on Electric Motors Modeling, Control and Testing (EMMCT) into the Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) programs. Preparing future engineers to work in highly automated production requires proper education and training in mechatronics theory and applications. Although Engineering Technology programs at various universities offer various courses related to the controls, electrical motors, and automation, they are not including the same methods when it comes to the selection of appropriate electrical motor for a specific application in mechatronic system. MET student do have exposure to …

Flipped Classroom As Blended Learning In A Fluid Mechanics Course In Engineering Technology, Orlando M. Ayala, Otilia Popescu, Vukica M. Jovanovic

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Flipped classroom has gained attention in recent years as a teaching method in which the time allocated for introducing new concepts and the time used for practicing them are inverted, in order to provide more time for problem based learning and class interaction under direct supervision of the instructor. The implementation of this teaching method is comprised of two main components, the pre-class activities, which consist of individual student work and are largely based on pre-recorded videos, and in-class activities, which are group activities supervised by the instructor. This paper discusses the implementation of the flipped classroom method in a …

Predictors Of Attitudes Of Private School Teachers Toward Inclusion Of Students With Special Needs In New Mexico, Debbra O'Hara

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Teachers’ attitudes toward inclusion of students with special needs affect communication with students, curricular decisions, selection and implementation of teaching strategies, and professional development needs. Most research in the United States has focused on the attitudes of public school teachers who must follow federal special education law and regulations, though international research on inclusion has included studies of both public and private school teachers’ attitudes. Private school teachers experience differing conditions (legal, economic, organizational, philosophical, etc.) and may hold differing attitudes toward inclusion from those of their public school peers. Determining these attitudes will help private school personnel to address …

The Financial Crisis And Credit Unavailability: Cause Or Effect?, Steven L. Schwarcz

Faculty Scholarship

Although the relationship between credit availability and financial decline leading to the global financial crisis was somewhat interactive, a loss of credit availability appears to have caused the financial crisis more than the reverse. The potential for credit unavailability to cause a financial crisis suggests at least three lessons: (i) because credit availability is dependent on financial markets as well as banks, regulation should protect the viability of both credit sources; (ii) diversifying sources of credit might increase financial stability if each credit source is robust and does not create a liquidity glut or inappropriately weaken central bank control; and …

The Law Of Interpretation, William Baude, Stephen E. Sachs

Faculty Scholarship

How should we interpret legal instruments? How do we identify the law they create? Current approaches largely fall into two broad camps. The standard picture of interpretation is focused on language, using various linguistic conventions to discover a document's meaning or a drafter's intent. Those who see language as less determinate take a more skeptical view, urging judges to make interpretive choices on policy grounds. Yet both approaches neglect the most important resource available: the already applicable rules of law.

Legal interpretation is neither a subfield of linguistics nor an exercise in policymaking. Rather, it is deeply shaped by preexisting …

Relationships Among Health Counseling Training Experiences And Time Engaged In Counseling, Percentage Of Patients Counseled, Practitioner Confidence, And Perceived Importance, Stephen Edward Lupe

Theses and Dissertations

In the current healthcare system, the need for collaborative care is higher than ever. With current reforms in reimbursement and healthcare policies, it is becoming increasingly necessary for psychologists and other practitioners to break ranks with their traditional roles and to participate as a part of a multidisciplinary team that works in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. This study aims to look at the health counseling behaviors of psychologists and graduate psychology students from an APA accredited clinical psychology graduate program. It aims to examine the relationships among health counseling training variables and time spent engaging in health counseling, highest …

Arithmetic | Algebra, Samar Elhitti, Marianna Bonanome, Holly Carley, Thomas Tradler, Lin Zhou

Open Educational Resources

Arithmetic | Algebra provides a customized open-source textbook for the math developmental students at New York City College of Technology. The book consists of short chapters, addressing essential concepts necessary to successfully proceed to credit-level math courses. Each chapter provides several solved examples and one unsolved “Exit Problem”. Each chapter is also supplemented by its own WeBWork online homework assignment. The book can be used in conjunction with WeBWork for homework (online) or with the Arithmetic | Algebra Homework handbook (traditional). The content in the book, WeBWork and the homework handbook are also aligned to prepare students for the CUNY …