Digital Commons Network^™

Juror Perceptions Of Interview Quality From Child Victims With Autism, Megan Blackburn

Theses and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can affect multiple memory abilities, including episodic memory, source monitoring, and relational processing. The possibility of these memory deficits can affect how a child with ASD testifies in court if they are the victim or witness to a crime. These testimonies are especially crucial for Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) cases where one of the biggest challenges is the lack of physical evidence in most cases, which leads to an abundance of trials relying on the initial forensic interview with the victim and victim testimony. Due to this, and the increased chance of affected memory abilities, it …

The Impact Of Clinician Attachment Style On Burnout And Job Satisfaction: Introducing Mindfulness As A Mediator, Jill Marie Calderon

Theses and Dissertations

Attachment style is theorized to develop in childhood, as a result of the bonds that develop between child and caregiver. The research has shown individuals with an insecure attachment style are more at risk for job burnout and less satisfied with their jobs. This study proposed, mindfulness may be the internal process influencing the relationship between attachment style, burnout and job satisfaction. Mindfulness is defined as paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally and has found to be positively correlated with secure attachment styles. Additionally, mindfulness has shown to have a negative relationship with burnout and a positive …

The Art And Science Of Transition: A Descriptive Case Study Between A Two- And A Four-Year Institution, Kaylyn Marie Bondy

Theses and Dissertations

The vast majority of students who enroll in a two-year college intend to earn a bachelor’s degree. However, only about 14% transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree within six years (Jenkins & Fink, 2016). The need to increase the number of bachelor’s degree holders (Torpey, 2018), and the increasing number of students beginning at two-year institutions demands the creation of smoother transfer pathways (Handel, 2013). Vertical transfer students comprise a majority of transfer-related studies, however, little research has focused on the efficiency and efficacy of that process (Gard, Paton, & Gosselin, 2012). Institutions can strengthen transfer student resources with a …

Mountain Lions In North Dakota: A Public Opinion Survey, Theodore A. Darnell

Theses and Dissertations

Breeding mountain lion (Puma concolor) populations currently inhabit the western portion of North Dakota. In recent years, apparent increases in human-lion interactions across North Dakota, and other Midwest states, have challenged wildlife managers who strive to balance biological and social carrying capacities of these animals. In 2019, we surveyed 2,000 residents of North Dakota, USA, using a self-administered mail survey to discern knowledge of and attitudes towards mountain lions, and to explore whether the presence of these animals would influence decisions to recreate in western North Dakota. Our questionnaire included 12 questions designed to ascertain respondent attitudes towards mountain lions. …

Carbon-Dioxide Pipeline Infrastructure Route Optimization And Network Modeling For Carbon Capture Storage And Utilization, Karthik Balaji

Theses and Dissertations

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is a technology value-chain which can help reduce CO2 emissions while ensuring sustainable development of the energy and industrial sectors. However, CCUS requires large-scale deployment of infrastructure for capturing feasible amounts of CO2 that can be capital intensive for stakeholders. In addition, CCUS deployment leads to the development of extensive pipeline corridors, which can be inconsistent with the requirements for future CCUS infrastructure expansion. With the implementation and growth of CCUS technology in the states of North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah in mind, this dissertation has two major goals: (a) to identify …

A Critical Race Examination Of The Lived Experiences Of Persistent African American Students At A Predominantly White Community College, Elena Favela Naca

Theses and Dissertations

For well over a century, African Americans have fought for equal rights to employment, prosperity, political power and freedom. Earning an education was the way forward. Over time, legislative and institutional policies have created greater access to education for racialized individuals. Yet, African American students remain the most underserved population, and among the lowest in degree attainment across ethnic groups. Decades of research literature places blame on students and families, highlighting student deficiencies. Far fewer explanations in the literature point to institutional barriers that perpetuate practices that place African American students at a disadvantage. Critical Race Theory (CRT) offers a …

Automation And Visualization Of Program Correctness For Automatically Generating Code, Jason Michael Hicks

Theses and Dissertations

Program synthesis systems can be highly advantageous in that users can automatically generate code to fit a wide variety of applications from high-level specifications without needing any low-level programming skills or knowledge of which type of data structures and algorithms should be used. NASA has developed and uses two of these systems, AUTOFILTER and AUTOBAYES. Though much is gained in terms of time and cost efficiency in the use of these systems, they suffer from an issue that is inherent in all code generator systems, the verifiability of the correctness of the generated code against the input specifications. Many times, …

The Role Of Candidate Gender And Political Support: An Experimental Approach To Understanding Voter Perceptions And Support For Female Presidential Candidates, Jenna Nichole Laurin

Theses and Dissertations

Female candidates are at a disadvantage in the political sphere, facing underrepresentation and stereotype hurdles at all levels of elected office. While female candidates have overcome some of these obstacles and won elections at the state and local levels, there has never been a female candidate elected President. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether female and male candidates are judged differently on measures of competence, warmth, traits, and willingness to vote. Employing a 2 (candidate gender) x 2 (participant gender) x 2 (candidate party) manipulation, 370 participants read a fictitious article about Presidential candidates and rated …

Bio-Regenerative Life Support Systems Functional Stability And Limitations, A Theoretical Modeling Approach, Curt I. Holmer

Theses and Dissertations

Experiments with Ecological Closed Life Support Systems (ECLSS) for moderate sized crews have shown instability when supporting crews over long periods of time required for deep space travel. Tests such as Russia’s BIOS series, NASA’s Lunar-Mars Life Support Test Project (LMLSTP), ESA’s Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative (MELiSSA), and Japan’s Closed Ecology Experiment Facilities (CEEF) have shown that microalgae and higher plants combined with physical-chemical material converters can be a successful part of a Biological Life Support System or a Closed Ecological Life Support System. LMLSTP, MELiSSA, and CEBAS experiments as well as commercial Ecosphere products have proven stability at …

Detection And Characteristics Of Blowing Snow At Mcmurdo Station, Antarctica During The Aware Field Campaign, Nicole Loeb

Theses and Dissertations

Blowing snow is an impactful process in cold climates that affects regional thermodynamics, radiation properties, and the surface mass balance of snow. Though it has significant climatic impacts, the process is still poorly understood and not widely included in weather and climate models. In 2016, the AWARE Field Campaign saw the deployment of a large suite of in situ and remote sensing instruments to McMurdo Station, Antarctica allowing for investigation of blowing snow. A ceilometer-based blowing snow detection algorithm used elsewhere in Antarctica is applied to data from AWARE, yielding a blowing snow frequency of 14.1% compared to 8.2% as …

Influences On The Development Of Ethical Decision-Making In Speech-Language Pathology Students: A Phenomenological Study Of Graduate Students And Clinical Supervisors, Joni K. Mehrhoff

Theses and Dissertations

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) serve as members of the interprofessional team for complex patients. As such, SLPs are required to uphold ethical practices and respond to the needs of patients, their families, healthcare organizations, and the interprofessional team. Speech-language pathology graduates are part of the ethical healthcare team during clinical experiences. Yet, limited research is available to define the development of student ethical decision-making. The purpose of this study was to explore what influences SLP graduate students and clinical supervisors ascribe to in the development of ethical decision-making. Participants included five SLP graduate students and six SLP clinical supervisors from accredited …

The Role Of A Principal In Creating A School Climate In Which New American Students Thrive: An Ethnographic Case Study Of A Midwest Magnet School, Attia Noor

Theses and Dissertations

This ethnographic case study used the lens of multiculturalism to examine the role of a school principal in creating a climate in which New American students can thrive. Three discrete data gathering methods were utilized in this study including policy documents obtained from the school district website and the school, a two week period of in-school observations, and interviews of the principal and school staff members selected through purposive sampling. A focus group interview of parents was also used for data collection. Data were analyzed by using a constant comparative method to explore the meanings educators had attached to their …

Evaluation Of Gas Hydrate In Gas Pipeline Transportation, Paschal Ogadi Mokwenye

Theses and Dissertations

Hydrate formation and deposition is an inherent problem in the gas production industry. It causes plugging in pipelines and damages to equipment such as pumps and separators. The safest and most cost-effective strategy in preventing hydrate formation is predicting their formation temperature or pressure. This study involves the development of an empirical model to calculate the hydrate formation temperature by carrying out nonlinear regression on 460 experimental data points using MATLAB software. The values were compared to five other reputable models. The model showed superior accuracy in calculating the reference experimental temperature over the other models. Also, the model produced …

Student Athlete Perceptions On Coaches' Relationships Impacting Continued Participation In High School Athletics, Mark Allen Rerick

Theses and Dissertations

The researcher’s purpose for this study was to review and analyze student-athlete perceptions of their high school athletic experience based on one school district’s collected data. This research provides athletic directors knowledge and direction to better define the philosophy, goals, and organizational structure of their athletic departments. Using quantitative and qualitative data, the researcher examined secondary data collected to identify reasons student-athletes participate in athletics as well as understand why some student-athletes may not continue their participation in high school athletics. The researcher also explored the contrasting goals of privately run sports clubs and high school sponsored athletic programs and …

How Affect Rhetoric And A Changing Digital Landscape Shape Youth Digital Social Movements Of The Twenty-First Century, Amanda Frances Pasierb

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores three youth digital social movements, which have taken place throughout the twenty-first century: the Invisible Children movement of Uganda, the Bring Back Our Girls movement of Nigeria, and the Never Again movement of the United States. Using rhetorical analysis of each movement, I explore the relationship each has with youth, digital, social movement, and activism. Specifically, I seek to answer the following research questions: (1) with youth in the forefront of each movement, how have the movements utilized affective rhetoric to promote and gain support, and (2) how have youth digital social movements evolved throughout the twenty-first …

Transitions In Tumultuous Times: Teachers’ Experiences With Distance Learning Amidst The Covid-19 Pandemic, Lisa Ross-Hain

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 prompted the first nationwide extended educational disruption, resulting in many challenges for teachers as they were forced to a distance teaching and learning model. Educators modified curricular content, delivery, and assessment methods to accommodate and engage learners and maintain academic expectations while at the same time attempting to mitigate undue stress for their students. Teachers met this task with little to no adaptive expertise to draw from, as few had previous experience with distance teaching. Constructivist theory guided this qualitative study exploring teachers’ experiences in distance learning through a lens of adaptive …

Design Of Spouted Fluidized Bed Computational Models For Advanced Energy Applications, Ryder Shallbetter

Theses and Dissertations

Fluidization process technology has been widely studied since its first commercial uses during the 1920s. Initially, developmental progress was slow as fluidized beds are complex in design and often hard to scale up in size. However, with the emergence of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), researchers were able to simulate wide ranges of fluidization and create new fluidization designs to help solve complex problems. This study aims to determine if CFD can be effective in designing spout-fluid beds with draft tubes for advanced energy applications. CFD has been employed for studying the fluidization characteristics, design, and optimization of spouted beds. However, …

Modelling Of A Microgrid Using Z Notation, Binisha Shrestha

Theses and Dissertations

A Microgrid is a group of electrical sources and connected loads that operate energy grids in grid-connected or islanded mode. Microgrid usage has increased recently due to improved technology andthe effectiveness of renewable energy sources. To produce a balanced and stable power supply frommicrogrids and meet the load demand is a challenging research area in both the electrical engineering and software engineering fields. This work presents a formal model for representing the microgrid system to prevent failure or inconsistencies in the power generation and usage. A methodology for creating a formal model for a microgrid is a critical approach to …

The Influence Of High Intensity Turbulence And Secondary Flows On Slot Film Cooling Over An Aft Loaded Vane, Loren Soma

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to experimentally investigate the effects of high turbulence and secondary flows on slot film cooling over an aft loaded vane (turbine blade) with a large leading edge. Turbine nozzle component cooling methods are challenged by very high combustor discharge temperatures, turbulence effects, and high acceleration requiring cooling methods to provide reliable and acceptable component life. Throughout the development of gas turbines, film cooling has become one of the most prevalent techniques to protect high pressure turbine airfoils and endwalls. Film cooling works by supplying a film of cooler than the freestream gas onto the …

Application Of Formal Specification Technique To Microgrid Representation, Maksym Tkach

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses formal specification techniques to analyze and model a microgrid. A microgrid is a small, local electrical grid, often supplied by a single generator, that can connect to the larger electrical grid, but can also disconnect from it, going into “island mode.” Thanks to the growth in renewable energy, microgrids represent a growing segment of the electrical power generation domain. And like any member of the domain they are safety-critical systems, meaning that even a small mistake in their implementation risks damage to life and property.Formal specification is a way to abrogate the risks of safety critical systems …

Uncertainty Quantification And Economic Dispatch Models For The Power Grid, Arun Sukumaran Nair

Theses and Dissertations

The modern power grid is constrained by several challenges, such as increased penetration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER), rising demand for Electric Vehicle (EV) integration, and the need to schedule resources in real-time accurately. To address the above challenges, this dissertation offers solutions through data-driven forecasting models, topology-aware economic dispatch models, and efficient optional power flow calculations for large scale grids. Particularly, in chapter 2, a novel microgrid decomposition scheme is proposed to divide the large scale power grids into smaller microgrids. Here, a two-stage Nearest-Generator Girvan-Newman (NGGN) algorithm, a graphicalclustering-based approach, followed by a distributed economic dispatch model, is …

Montana Coaches' Perceptions On Including Transgender Athletes In High School Interscholastic Sports And Its Effect On Team Chemistry, David L. Woods Ii

Theses and Dissertations

The eligibility of transgender students to participate in high school athletic sports is a polarizing topic in the United States of America. Questions of fairness within each competitive sport, along with precedents set in law and policy, both by the United States and by International Sporting Organizations such as the International Olympic Committee, shape arguments for or against transgender high school students' eligibility. Each state faces the decision of whether to base high school transgender athletes' eligibility in high school sports according to their gender identity, or their sex assigned at birth.

The study aimed to identify Montana high school …

Experimental Acquisition Of An Endwall Heat Distribution In A Linear Turbine Cascade, Maliha Yel Mahi

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this research is the experimental acquisition of endwall heat transfer distributions for an aft loaded vane with a large leading edge. This study will investigate endwall heat transfer distributions over five inlet turbulence levels ranging from intensities of 0.7% through very high turbulence levels as high as 17.4%. The investigation will be conducted at three varying Reynolds numbers based on true chord length and exit conditions ranging from 500,000 to 2000,000. The infrared thermography technique will be applied to the acquisition of the endwall heat transfer data due to the full surface image which can be developed …

Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery In Tight And Shale Reservoirs Using Surfactants And Supercritical Co2, Shaojie Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

The tight and shale oil reservoirs have been becoming increasingly important energy resources. However, the flow and storage mechanisms of oil in tight and shale reservoirs are still ambiguous. The inorganic pores, organic pores, and kerogen skeleton in shale oil reservoirs can store hydrocarbons. Besides, the oil recovery of tight and shale oil reservoirs is extremely low even with the assistance of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. The surfactants and CO2 are commonly used to enhance the oil recovery in tight and shale reservoirs. A comprehensive review of CO2 and surfactants EOR is shown in Chapter Ⅱ.

The spontaneous imbibition …

Challenges In Quality Care Delivery In Tertiary Health Facilities In North-Central Nigeria, Thomas Terlumun Torkula

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increasing mortality rates in tertiary healthcare hospitals in developing countries, such as Nigeria, have given growing concerns about the quality of healthcare services delivered in these hospitals. The purpose of this study was to examine the challenges of quality healthcare delivery in tertiary healthcare hospitals in North Central Nigeria, using a quantitative method. A total of 255 respondents, comprising medical, paramedical staff, and patients, from 3 tertiary hospitals were included in the study. The Healthcare Quality Assessment Questionnaire was used to collect data. Chi-square and analysis of variance were used to test the hypotheses. Results of the study showed …

Catholic And Evangelical Religious-Political Narratives About The Contraceptive Coverage Requirement Policy, Leah Marie Silverman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The intersection of religion and politics results in “wicked” policy problems for which evidence-based solutions are hard to find. An example is the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive coverage requirement (CCR). Evidence suggests that women and society benefit from increased access to contraceptives, but religious freedom objections have been effective in litigation to limit the CCR's reach. The purpose of this study was to explore the narrative elements and strategies used by Catholic and Evangelical stakeholders regarding the CCR, contraceptives, and religious freedom. Social constructionism and the narrative policy framework (NPF) provided the foundation for the study. Data collection included legal …

Megachurches And Social Engagement: Public Theology In Practice [Review] / Cartledge, Mark J., Sarah L. B. Dunlop, Heather Buckingham, And Sophie Bremner., Gerson Santos

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

Book Review

Jesus And The Forces Of Death: The Gospels’ Portrayal Of Ritual Impurity Within First-Century Judaism [Review] / Thiessen, Matthew., Roy E. Gane

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

Book Review

Introduction To The Hebrew Prophets [Review] / Nogalski, James D., Oliver Glanz

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

Book Review

Conceptualizing Past, Present, And Future: Proceedings Of The Ninth Symposium Of The Melammu Project Held In Helsinki / Tartu, May 18–24, 2015 [Review] / Fink, Sebastian, And Robert Rollinger, Eds., Felipe Masotti

Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)

Book Review