Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding The Public Perception Of Selective Breeding Practices In Rhode Island Oyster Aquaculture, Nathan M. Brown

Open Access Master's Theses

Selective breeding is a common practice within oyster aquaculture and is used to improve growth rates as well as reduce the negative impacts of water temperature rise, ocean acidification and disease among oysters. What is lesser understood is the public perception of the use of selective breeding in oyster aquaculture. A total of 81 Rhode Island residents responded online concerning how they perceived selective breeding in Rhode Island as well as what types of oysters they preferred. Multiple 5-point Likert scale questions and discrete choice experiments were used to better understand these perceptions. A majority of those who responded view …

The Initial Response Of The United States’ Textile Recycling Industry To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Rosemary Leger

Open Access Master's Theses

The fashion industry is cited as a major contributor to global pollution. The urgent need for a reversal of climate change has led the textile and apparel industry to assess what opportunities exist to convert to greener, less damaging solutions. The recycling of existing textiles and textile waste into yarns and fabrics would reduce the need for raw materials as well as divert millions of tons of textile waste from landfill. Just as these advancements are being made and consumers are beginning to invest in more responsible textile products, the COVID-19 pandemic occurs, and global markets come to a halt. …

Reclaiming Black And Indigenous Ecologies On Block Island Through Oral History And Ethnography, Adrian Cato

Open Access Master's Theses

Public memory on Block Island largely ignores Black and Indigenous labor, life, and legacy. Reclaiming the past and present narratives of Black and Indigenous peoples on Block Island challenges historical erasure; their experiences can then become a meaningful part of the collective public memory of the region. Black and Indigenous women are a key aspect of erased and reclaimed memory, often tasked with maintaining place for their families over generations, upholding their connection to their land and their history - depended upon to maintain and pass down tradition. Developing new memory worlds would mean recognizing the contributions of Black-Indigenous peoples, …

The Air That We Breathe: Neutral Pfas In Indoor And Outdoor Air, Maya Erin Morales-Mcdevitt

Open Access Master's Theses

Neutral, volatile perfluorinated alkyl substance (PFAS) precursors, such as fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), perfluorooctane sulfonamides (FOSAs), and perfluorooctane sulfonamide ethanol (FOSEs) are industrial (by)products that are commonly present in indoor environments, and have been found in urban, industrial, and even rural locations. They have also been detected in remote regions, such as the Arctic, suggesting that these compounds are transported long distances in the. However, measuring volatile and neutral PFAS in air and water has proven to be challenging. Therefore, in order to accurately measure these compounds in different indoor and outdoor environments from urban, rural, industrial and remote regions, we …

Executive Functioning In College Students With Comorbid Anxiety And Depression Symptoms, Lauren Thompson

Open Access Master's Theses

Few studies have investigated how comorbidity, the presence of two or more distinct disorders in an individual, is related to executive functioning impairments. Executive functioning consists of cognitive processes that control planning and goal-oriented behavior and contribute to perceived quality of life, physical health, and job performance. Impairments in executive functioning in young adults are associated with poorer academic performance and psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety. The present study investigated whether A) college students with symptoms characteristic of comorbid major depressive disorder and anxiety would self-report impaired executive functioning and a lower grade point average (GPA) compared to …

Know Before You Go: Understanding Boaters’ Attitudes, Knowledge And Behaviors Associated With The Rhode Island No Discharge Zone And Marine Pump-Out Facilities, Lauren Elizabeth Farnsworth

Open Access Master's Theses

Rhode Island was the first state in the nation to designate all waters a No Discharge Zone (NDZ) which makes it illegal for boaters to release treated or untreated sewage from their vessels into state waters. Yet, there is little understanding of recreational boaters’ perceptions and behaviors associated with the NDZ, and what factors might influence these behaviors. This study explores how Rhode Island boaters who have vessels with marine sanitation devices (MSDs) comply with the NDZ program, support the program, and perceive its effectiveness, as well as the factors that relate to these variables. Data were gathered through an …

Analyzing Hsp104 Chaperone Function In Disassembly Of Amyloid Aggregates In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Yeast Model System, Negar Rahmani

Open Access Master's Theses

There are millions of people affected by neurodegenerative diseases worldwide, and currently there is no presented treatment for neurodegenerative disease, and the treatments available are only to stop symptoms or manage disease progress. Therefore, developing a novel treatment or cure for these diseases has become an urgent matter to the world. However, this only happens when there is a deep understanding of the causes and mechanisms of each disease. A pathological hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases is the accumulation of protein aggregates containing an amyloid conformation. These amyloid fibers are comprised of misfolded proteins that are rich in beta-strands and arrange …

Supporting Public Speakers Online: A Virtual Speaking Center Intervention, Lindsay Jordan Lachapelle

Open Access Master's Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed changes in workplace and classroom communication, forcing immediate adaption to online video-conferencing with limited preparation. Through a multi-step survey, this study investigates student perceptions of their preparedness for presenting online speeches and the gaps in their competencies; uses best practices from the public sector to create a targeted speaking center intervention with the goal of aiding students in effective online communication; and collects data about high communication apprehensives (CAs) and high computer-mediated communication apprehensives (CMCAs) and their interaction with video-conferencing platforms.

This study hypothesizes that if computer-mediated communication skills (CMC skills) share a negative relationship with …

Characterizing The Seasonal And Environmental Effects On High Frequency Acoustic Fish Tag Detection In Shallow Water Settings, Jacob Bonney

Open Access Master's Theses

Networks of high frequency (69kHz) acoustic fish tracking tags and receiver arrays are commonly used by marine biologists and fisheries management programs to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of a marine species. Despite the widespread use of these networks for monitoring fish movement ecology, there is often limited information to inform suitable receiver array spacing for optimal detection probability, or confidence estimates in tag detections. This is further confounded by the effects that seasonal and environmental changes can have on acoustic propagation. To evaluate these effects, the effective range of high frequency acoustic transmitters for medium and large fish …

The Sustainable Jewelry Context In Brazil, Lauren Machado

Open Access Master's Theses

While prior studies have reported unsustainable practices in the jewelry industry, consumers are becoming increasingly conscious about brands’ sustainable behaviors (or lack of) (Abdelmeguid et al., 2019; Kutter & Castilhos, 2017). Brazil is an important landmark in the jewelry business, and it is one of the world’s most important gem suppliers (Boehm, 2012). Therefore, the Brazilian jewelry industry is facing the need to adapt and behave sustainably (Severo et al., 2017). Since a lack of sustainability knowledge is often referred to be the one of biggest barriers towards more sustainable consumption (Tseng & Hung, 2013), it …

To Be Or Not To Be? Trans And Gender-Diverse Identity Negotiation In Caregiving Institutions, Lilith Green

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Prior research on gender diverse caregiving experiences focused mostly on binary transgender perceptions, either treating non-binary people as an afterthought or excluding them altogether. Though non-binary identities are beginning to gain attention in current research, not enough attention has been given to the complex identity processes and discourses that non-binary people must navigate in caregiving encounters. This research sought to bridge that gap in knowledge by comparing and contrasting the ways binary transgender and non-binary people do gender in these encounters. Through 21 in-depth life history interviews, the researcher documented the ways binary transgender and non-binary people adhered to or …

The Art Of Humorous Song: Examining Humorous Songs Through The Lens Of Selected Song Sets, Andrew Lee Harper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Humor is a universal human emotion, with many proven positive effects. These proven positive effects are invaluable to a vocal artist in reaching an audience. This document starts with an introduction to humorous art song. Following this is a critical defense of its inclusion in modern concert programming by exploring the effective use of humor in entertainment, clinical psychology, and business.Specific humorous art song sets are analyzed to validate this repertory as effective and legitimate. Performance options, text analysis, form, and score analysis were included. In the first section, Craigslistlieder by Gabriel Kahane (2009) and Another Reason I Dont Keep …

Undergraduate Student Perceptions Of The Qualities Of Effective Online Software Instructional Video, Chelsy Hooper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Undergraduate university students experience a knowledge gap when required to use unfamiliar software applications without the benefit of direct instruction. As a solution, students often turn to online support, particularly video, but little is known about students perceptions of the effectiveness of support videos. As libraries are a principle resource on campus where students can seek additional academic help, library staff can benefit from a study of student perceptions of the effective qualities of online instructional support video for software knowledge development. Understanding student perceptions can increase the effectiveness of library staff instructional video and improve the knowledge gap of …

Inservice Teachers Perceptions Of Barriers To Information Literacy Instruction In Poverty Environments, Brian Taylor Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The application of information literacy (IL) skills is essential for K-12 students to succeed academically and in life (Yu et al., 2016). It thus follows that K-12 students need teachers who can teach IL concepts effectively. This is even more true for learners growing up in poverty who already face many barriers to their achievement. Due to a variety of barriers including a lack of understanding of the term IL, limited training and a lack of personal IL capabilities, teachers do not consistently and effectively provide IL instruction for their students (Lee & Lee, 2014; Shannon et al., 2019; Wang, …

First Destination Survey 2021: For Degrees Awarded December 2020-August 2021, Hart Career Center, Illinois Wesleyan University

First Destination Survey

[from the email sent by Warren Kistner] "The Hart Career Center is responsible for producing an annual First Destination (graduate) survey that tracks the post-graduate activity of our students within a six-month window of commencement. Following this collection period, we work to produce a report that provides our university community with vital information about the success of our graduates and allows us to address questions posed by prospective students and families. I am pleased to share our report for the class of 2021. Based on data obtained for 90.5% of our graduates, 96.8% are either employed or in graduate/professional school …

An Enactivist Model Of Improvisational Dance, Christian Spiros Motsenigou Kronsted

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Despite its centrality in all human cultures and throughout human history, philosophy of mind and cognitive science have historically had very little to say about vernacular dance. Vernacular dances are cultural dances, the ones we do at parties, clubs, rituals, festivals, competitions, in the studio, and sometimes at home in the mirror. Vernacular dances are, as I argue, forms of life. Despite its importance, most of our current frameworks within the philosophy of mind and cognitive science still treat dance as an afterthought. This dissertation argues that representational and computational philosophy of mind and cognitive science cannot adequately account for …

Three Essays On Ceo Narcissism, Ronei Da Silva Leonel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Upper echelons theory focuses on executives as a source of heterogeneity in firms strategic actions and performance, as executives characteristics (e.g. experience, personality, and values) inform the decision-making process, influencing how executives see, perceive and understand environmental stimuli. In recent years, the degree of narcissism CEOs hold has emerged as an important personality trait that can explain how CEOs influence a variety of firm outcomes. Nevertheless, there is a plethora of equivocal findings in which narcissistic CEOs are associated with contrasting outcomes (e.g., positive and negative firm performance, corporate social responsibility and misconduct). In this three-essay dissertation, I draw from …

Implementing A Community Of Inquiry Professional Development Course To Improve Adjunct Facilitation Of Online Courses, Stephanie Shipley Markowitz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Community colleges are experiencing an influx of online course enrollments. To meet this demand, colleges are hiring adjunct faculty who are experts in their field of study. Unfortunately, most adjunct instructors have no teaching experience or training, especially within online learning environments. To facilitate an effective online learning environment that promotes student learning, community college online adjunct faculty need formal educational experience or professional development (PD) that focuses on the facilitation of critical thinking and community within an online environment. The Community of Inquiry (CoI) Model provides a foundation upon which to build a PD course to train faculty who …

Mason Bates: Rusty Air In Carolina For Wind Ensemble And Electronica, Nakia Maurice Medley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Medley, Nakia Maurice. DMA. The University of Memphis. May 2021. Mason Bates: Rusty Air in Carolina for wind ensemble & electronica. Major Professor: Albert T. Nguyen, DMA.Frederick Fennell established the standard instrumentation for the wind ensemble in 1952 with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, providing composers and conductors the op- tion of using more or fewer instruments. As with anything new, a period of expansion and development can be expected. Development years of The Wind Ensemble Con- cept initially spanned over four decades. With the advancement of technology along with innovative composers, we are able to experience the wind ensemble with …

Storytelling Health: A Content Analysis Of Narrative Transportation And Identification Cues In Direct-To-Consumer Advertisements, Stephanie Lynn Montgomery

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Using qualitative content analysis, I studied the visual and verbal narratives in DTCAs and analyzed transportation and identification cues that are described in narrative persuasion. My DTCAs were mined from the top ten programs (Neilsen Ratings), during the last three months of originally aired shows of the 2016 and 2018 season. All of the narratives are either a classic drama or vignette and are messages that communicate wellness or a restoration of health. Other results show a distinct difference between the narratives that are communicated visually versus verbally, with the majority of transportation and identification cues contained in the visual …

The Association Of Gendered Racism And Resilience On Sense Of Belonging And Academic Self-Efficacy In Black Women At Predominantly White Institutions, Kanesha La'shunta Moore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The current study examined the moderating effects of resilience on the relationships between gendered racism and sense of belonging and gendered racism and academic self-efficacy for Black women at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). Data from 118 Black women (22.9%, undergraduate students, 26.5% graduate students, and 50.6% alumni/graduated students) were collected from PWIs across the United States and analyzed using PROCESS 3.2 for SPSS. Gendered racism was negatively associated with both sense of belonging and academic self-efficacy, and resilience did not moderate the relationships between the predictor and outcome variables. Findings from this study contradict previous literature by indicating that resilience …

John Mackey's Places We Can No Longer Go: A Discourse And Analysis, Jonathan David Nash

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

John Mackeys Places we can no longer go is a work of significant proportion, and has been met with high praise and frequent performances by some of the nations highest ensembles. The purposes of this dissertation are 1) To provide Historical information on the genesis of the work through interviews with the composer, John Mackey, the creator of the text, Dr. Abby Jaques, and the premiering vocalist, Lindsay Kesselman; 2) to provide an analysis of how the piece functions and provide insight to the significant context of the piece. The first chapter details biographical information that is important to the …

Investigating Speech Rate Alignment In Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury, Megan Battles Parsons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The alignment of verbal and nonverbal behaviors is important for conversation. Research has shown that interactive behavior alignment is commonly impaired following a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and the ability for an individual with TBI to align their speech rate with their conversational partners can be affected. This non-convergence of speech rates can lead to negative social outcomes, including perceptions of decreased social connectedness and decreased willingness of conversational partners to engage in conversation. Despite these negative outcomes, researchers have yet to discover a therapeutic technique to increase speech rate convergence, and in turn, lead to positive social outcomes during …

Exploring New Approaches To The Problem Of Plant Awareness Disparity In Undergraduate Students, Kathryn Mckenna Parsley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Plant awareness disparity (PAD, formerly plant blindness) is the tendency not to notice plants in ones environment. PAD is made of four components: attention (not noticing plants), attitude (not liking plants), knowledge (not understanding why plants are important), and relative interest (being less interested in plants than in animals). This can lead to a host of misconceptions regarding plants, such as plants do not evolve, or that humans do not need plants. Previously, many interventions have been suggested to address PAD in undergraduate students. However, the success of these interventions cannot be fully determined without a way to measure PAD. …

The Experiences Of Psychologists Working In Federal Policy Positions, Kimberly Lauren Adams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

APA has long emphasized the importance of psychologists involvement in federal policy work and in recent years the number of psychologists choosing to make careers in this field has increased. Despite the growth of policy work as a vocation for psychologists, there is little empirical research looking into the experiences of psychologists who enter this career. Eight license eligible psychologists were interviewed about their experiences working on policy within the federal government and interview data were analyzed using grounded theory methodology. The core category that emerged from this study was, Psychologists are well-suited to work in federal policy development; however, …

Factors Associated With E-Cigarette Quit Intention And Behavior Among Adolescents In The United States, Nikhil Ashok Ahuja

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Adolescent e-cigarette use has reached an epidemic level in the United States (US). It is therefore critical to encourage adolescents to quit e-cigarettes. The present research draws upon the Stages of Change (SOC) of the Trans-theoretical Model (TTM) and the Socio-Ecological Model to examine: 1) the association of socio-ecological factors with the SOC for intention to quit e-cigarettes among US adolescents; 2) the transitions across stages of e-cigarette quitting and its association with socio-ecological factors; and 3) the association of socio-ecological factors among US adolescents who quit using e-cigarettes (quitters) vs. those who did not quit (non-quitters). We conducted one …

The Roles And Functions Of The Virtual School Counselor, Latraci Aldridge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

As technology increases, so does the integration of technology in educational settings. That integration also extends to school counseling and the field of counseling in its entirety. The purpose of this study is to compare the role and functions of an online and traditional setting school counselor. Due to virtual/online school counseling still being in the early stages, there is limited research about what a virtual school counseling program looks like or the academic outcomes for students enrolled in virtual schools. As more virtual schools emerge, it is imperative that we investigate the best practices for online school counseling. Should …

Hyporheic Exchange Flow In River Bars: Depicting Travel Times At High Temporal And Spatial Resolutions, Eatedal Alqusaireen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The movement of river water into subsurface, near-streambed sediments and its return to the main channel after relatively short travel pathways is known as Hyporheic Exchange Flow (HEF). Hyporheic exchange brings both solutes and particles into high specific surface area environments, where they suffer biogeochemical transformations which impact a streams water quality and ecology. These processes, which are the basis for the self-purification capacity of river systems, depend on the quantity and travel time of flow within the sediments. Most previous research has focused on the net, larger-scale exchange processes between stream water and sediments, but not on the flow …

The Influence Of Footwear Longitudinal Bending Stiffness On Running Economy And Biomechanics In Older Runners, Richard Beltran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Footwear longitudinal bending stiffness manipulated with carbon fiber inserts has shown conflicting findings on running economy in young runners. Given the lower ankle torque and power observed in older compared to young runners, more footwear bending stiffness could benefit running economy of older runners as it is expected to attenuate age-related changes in biomechanical function related to economy. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of running footwear longitudinal bending stiffness manipulated using carbon fiber inserts on running economy and biomechanics of older runners. Nine runners over 60 years (four women) completed five-minute running bouts at their …

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activation And Its Role In Skin Physiology And Toxicology, Jyoti Bhuju

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a persistent organic pollutant that causes toxicity by activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). Activation of the AHR has been linked to an increased risk of developing skin diseases including chloracne and atopic dermatitis (AD). We investigated the effects of perinatal exposure to TCDD on the development of the epidermal barrier and the susceptibility to skin diseases in C57BL/6J mice. Mice were exposed in utero to 5 g/ kg bw TCDD on embryonic day 12 and the cutaneous effects were studied from postnatal day 1 (P1) through adult life. TCDD-exposed pups exhibited diffuse epidermal hyperplasia at birth; …