Digital Commons Network^™

Sulfite-Activated Ferrate For Water Reuse Applications, Charles D. Spellman Jr., Sahar Da'er, Kaoru Ikuma, Isabella Silverman, Joseph E. Goodwill

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Ferrate is a promising, emerging water treatment technology. However, there has been limited research on the application of ferrate in a water reuse paradigm. Recent literature has shown that ferrate oxidation of target contaminants could be improved by “activation” with the addition of reductants or acid. This study examined the impact of sulfite-activated ferrate in laboratory water matrix and spiked municipal wastewater effluents with the goal of transforming organic contaminants of concern (e.g., 1,4-dioxane) and inactivating pathogenic organisms. Additionally, the formation of brominated disinfection byproducts by activated ferrate were examined and a proposed reaction pathway for byproduct formation is presented. …

Multifunctional Plasmonic And Magnetic Nanostructures Guided By Self And Directed Assembly, Muzahidul Islam Anik

Open Access Dissertations

Nanomaterials showed promising development and progress in biochemical field during the past couple of decades. Nanoparticles that can not only perform as one single task such as imaging contrast or drug delivery agent but also possess the ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously has the potential to be the next generations of nanoparticles. Multifunctional ability will allow to use reduced dosage of nanoparticles providing us control over nanoparticle induced toxicity during imaging and therapy. The synthesis of such multifunctional nanoparticles can be guided by utilizing self and directed assembly for various application ranging from in vitro non-invasive particle tracking to …

A Parametric Study On A Paper-Based Bi-Material Cantilever Valve, H. Heidari-Bafroui, Ashutosh Kumar, Amer Charbaji, Winfield Smith, Nassim Rahmani, Constantine Anagnostopoulos, Mohammad Faghri

Mechanical, Industrial & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

The novel paper-based Bi-Material Cantilever (B-MaC) valve allows the autonomous loading and control of multiple fluid reagents which contributes to the accurate operation of paper-based microfluidic devices utilized for biological and chemical sensing applications. In this paper, an extensive parametric study is presented to evaluate the effects of key geometric parameters of the valve, such as paper direction, cantilever width, paper type, tape type, and sample volume, in addition to the effects of relative humidity and temperature on the functionality of the B-MaC and to provide a better understanding of the rate of fluid flow and resulting deflection of the …

"Woman In The Mirror; Precious Child Of God Or Just A Rib?", Bonnie M. Orth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis entitled, “Woman in the Mirror: Precious Child of God, or Just a Rib?” is based on a request from colleagues to create a curriculum as a companion piece to the Rev. Dr. Kevin Frederick’s curriculum, “Men in the Mirror: Orienting Our Lives Toward a Christ-Centered Masculinity.” The curriculum will be used by pastors and pastoral counselors working with women who struggle with self-esteem and/or are victims of domestic violence. This thesis explores the problem that some women seem to lack a clear understanding of their position in the kingdom of God. Looking at how women understood God, their …

Using Heidisongs Music As An Instructional Tool In The Elementary School Classroom: A Case Study, Leia Denise Jobe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study is to understand how teachers use HeidiSongs music as an instructional tool in the elementary school classroom. HeidiSongs uses multisensory structured language education to teach by engaging multiple senses simultaneously to increase retention. The theories guiding this study include Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, which involves kinesthetic intelligences among other types of intelligences, and Krashen’s theory of second language acquisition. HeidiSongs uses both musical and kinesthetic activities to enhance literacy. The central research question focused on how teachers use HeidiSongs music as an instructional tool in the elementary school classroom. The sub-questions …

The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities And Attendance On Student Achievement At A Mississippi Community College, Amanda Hyde Marbury

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the impact of extracurricular activities and class attendance on student achievement in science courses at a Mississippi community college. Public colleges are dependent on state funding for survival, with one main criterion for determining that funding being the number of students enrolled. Students need to be successful in courses to keep up the retention and enrollment rates. Student success is potentially linked to class attendance and student involvement in extracurricular activities. Schools need to look at factors that might be affecting students’ performance in the classroom such as participation in extracurricular …

Christian Devotional Meditation And Holistic Well Being, Raymond D. Paxton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Holistic well-being is a concept that implies humans are multidimensional and require a broad approach to help them achieve life contentment and satisfaction. Spirituality, relationships, emotional functioning, and biology all play a part in achieving this life balance and satisfaction. Interpersonal neurobiology suggests that early life experiences can contribute to underdeveloped brain structures resulting in the diminished ability to form meaningful attachment relationships that help foster contentment as an adult. This ability to engage in positive and supportive relationships has impact on life and holistic well-being. Further, the inability to form close relationships, engage, and emotionally connect with others has …

The Student Voice: Perception Of Students’ Representation Of Themselves In The Secondary Band Curriculum, Lori Schwartz Reichl

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As the United States becomes more socially and culturally diverse, there is a greater need for diversity and inclusivity in music education. This goal can be challenging as the classical traditions of westernized music often dominate music classrooms and performing ensembles. The secondary band curriculum is no exception. Despite numerous sources stating that students must perceive a representation of themselves in an educational curriculum, secondary band students have yet to be surveyed about their perceptions of the music curriculum in which they are engaging daily. Educators must understand if students see themselves reflected in the curriculum. This reflection can be …

How Utilizing An Online Holistic Social Media Group Impacts Symptoms And Quality Of Life In Individuals With Anxiety, Sherri Ann Walker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The continuum between health and illness is a dynamic state influenced by stress. People are complex beings designed with interrelated parts composing a unique whole. Stress's disruption in the homeostatic balance can result in disease states in the body, mind, soul, and relationships. Panic disorder is one of these manifestations. This disorder causes physical and cognitive symptoms which impair quality of life. Although evidence-based treatments exist for panic disorder, barriers are evident for effective dissemination. This phenomenological study explored the experience of six individuals with anxiety disorder in a 30-day holistic, online social media group. Throughout the study, interviews and …

African American Spirituality, Marital Satisfaction, And Internalized Racial Oppression, Tiara Monique Mcintosh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Internalized racism was the topic of the current study. The emphasis of this study was on how African Americans deal with cultural racism and how it impacts their daily lives. One example of early internalized racism is Black teenage girls' dissatisfaction with their skin tones (Pyke, 2010). Internalized racial prejudice manifests itself in the adoption of American ideals of beauty, the devaluation of one's community, and the adoption of unhealthy habits (Campon & Carter, 2015). African Americans are a mixed group of people of many different backgrounds. The historical and contemporary links that link African countries American couples include marital …

Assessment Of Scientific Payload Carrying Spirulina Onboard Blue Origin’S New Shepard Vehicle, Pedro J. Llanos, Morgan Shilling, Kristina Andrijauskaite, Kody Kidder, Vijay V. Duraisamy

Publications

The research team at ERAU and UTHSCSA analyzed the effects of suborbital flight stressors and various light conditions (red, white, no light) on the Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina), onboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard vehicle. Commercially available cyanobacterium species were cultivated and closely monitored in mother colonies several months before the suborbital flight mission. The aim of this study was to estimate the biomass production and growth as a potential dietary alternative for prospective human spaceflight's life support system. Spirulina samples were flown in a NanoLab with adjacent avionics supporting the light conditions and sensors to monitor the temperature, relative humidity, and …

How Single Mothers Navigated Changes In Role Strain And Role Conflict In Rural Areas During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Scott Miller

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Removing Carbon Dioxide Through Artificial Upwelling And Downwelling: Legal Challenges And Opportunities, Romany M. Webb, Korey Silverman-Roati, Michael B. Gerrard

Faculty Scholarship

A 2022 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that, to keep global average temperatures within 1.5oC above pre-industrial levels, emissions must reach net-zero by mid-century. The report concluded that achieving net-zero emissions will require the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere “to counterbalance hard-to-abate emissions” from sectors like agriculture, aviation, and shipping. The report further noted that, if deployed at large scales, carbon dioxide removal (“CDR”) could also be used to achieve net negative emissions and thus effectively reduce the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide.

A variety of CDR techniques, both terrestrial and ocean-based, have been …

Experimental Study Of Wall Bounded Harbor Seal Whisker Inspired Pin Geometries, Anish Prasad, Mark Ricklick

Publications

Conventional cylindrical/elliptical pins are one of the most widely used geometries in convection cooling systems and are used in the internal cooling of gas turbine blades and other applications, as they promote better heat transfer at the expense of large pressure losses and unsteadiness in the flow. The need to reduce pressure drop and maintain the heat transfer rates are a pressing requirement for a variety of industries to improve their cooling efficiency. One such prominent field of research is conducted in optimizing the design of pin geometries. In this study, a harbor seal whisker inspired geometry is being studied …

The Potential Roles Of Broccoli Sprouts (Bsp) And Green Tea Polyphenols (Gtps) In Prevention Of Mammary Cancer, Itika Arora

All ETDs from UAB

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Based on the American Cancer Society statistics, in 2021 1,806,590 new cancer cases and 605,520 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the United States. Amongst all, breast cancer (BC) is one of the most prevalent cancers that occurs in women. Various lifestyle factors such as alcohol intake, smoking, an unhealthy diet and physical inactivity may result in increased rates of BC risks (cancer-transition) by inducing mutations in DNA. Numerous epidemiological studies indicate that a diet rich in green tea polyphenols (GTPs), and/or cruciferous vegetables such as …

Characterization Of The Phenotype And Functional Properties Of Myeloid Subpopulations In Chronic Inflammatory Conditions, Krystle Leandra Ong

All ETDs from UAB

Myeloid cells represent a subset of leukocytes traditionally recognized as first responders to acute inflammatory stimuli. In recent years, there has been a growing appreciation of the role of myeloid cells as critical regulators of the immune system in disease pathogenesis and progression. Chronic inflammatory diseases including viral infections, autoimmune diseases, and malignancies are frequently associated with altered myelopoiesis characterized by a profound shift in the myeloid cell phenotype and function. The work presented in this dissertation provides an insight into dysregulated myelopoiesis and myeloid heterogeneity in multiple myeloma (MM), human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), and coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). We identify …

The Role Of Nitric Oxide And Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate Signaling In Arteriovenous Fistula Maturation, Maheshika S. Somarathna

All ETDs from UAB

Vascular access is the single most important component of the hemodialysis procedure and the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the most preferred type. However, 60% of AVFs created fail to mature successfully for dialysis use (AVF maturation failure). AVF maturation failure is primarily the result of 1) intimal hyperplasia formation (IH) and 2) poor vascular outward remodeling. Currently, a major unmet clinical need in the field is the lack of effective therapies to treat/prevent AVF maturation failure due to the poor understanding of molecular mechanisms. This proposal is designed to: 1) elucidate the pathologic significance of nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic …

Life-Space Mobility In The Older Adult, Community-Dwelling Cancer Survivor In The Deep South: A Secondary Data Analysis, Richard A. Taylor

All ETDs from UAB

By 2040, the U.S. is projected to have 26.1 million cancer survivors; 73% of these will be over 65 years old. Much is known about life-space mobility (LSM) in patients with non-cancer serious illnesses. Restricted LSM affects every aspect of an older adult’s life; their independence, autonomy, and quality of life (QOL). To date, there are no studies examining LSM in older cancer survivors. Therefore, we examined LSM, factors that affect LSM, and the relationship between LSM and QOL in older cancer survivors using existing data from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Study of Aging (SOA) (NIA AG15062). …

The Roles Of Repressive And Activating Epigenetic Factors In Vertebrates Neural And Neural Crest Development, Saeid Mohammad Parast

All ETDs from UAB

The vertebrate nervous system comes from specific regions of the ectoderm that comprises of the neural plate and the neural crest. Although genetic mechanisms governing vertebrate neural development have been investigated in depth, there is a knowledge gap regarding the roles of epigenetic mechanisms in this process. As epigenetic modulators, the COMPASS (also known as SET1/MLL complex) and HP1 proteins are responsible for regulating chromatin accessibility to transcription factors. COMPASS is responsible for deposition of activating histone H3K4 methylation marks at promoters and enhancers and thus creates open chromatin domains. The critical structural and regulatory subunits of COMPASS, Dpy30 and …

The Integrative Systeomics Framework To Prioritize Genes And/Or Pathways In Skin Imflammation, Bharat Mishra

All ETDs from UAB

The accelerated growth in sequencing technology assisted us to explore the bio-logical systems comprehensively through a top-down approach rather than the conven-tional bottom-up approach. The top-down approach is a part of systems biology that gen-erates massive data that has driven this course of investigation to decipher the system-wide genetic perturbations. To reduce the complexity of humongous datasets, the graph (network)-based techniques facilitate the easy handling, analysis, and interpretation of biological associations. Networks are the graphical representation of nodes (biomole-cules) and edges (associations/interactions). The most common biological networks are correlation-based gene co-expression network (GCN), gene regulatory network (GRN), and protein-protein interaction …

Removing Carbon Dioxide Through Ocean Fertilization: Legal Challenges And Opportunities, Korey Silverman-Roati, Romany M. Webb, Michael Gerrard

Faculty Scholarship

Carbon dioxide removal (“CDR”) will be needed, alongside deep emissions cuts, to achieve global temperature goals. According to a 2022 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to keep global average temperatures within 1.5°C above preindustrial levels, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions must reach net-zero by mid-century. Scientists have proposed a number of land- and ocean-based CDR techniques. This paper focuses on ocean fertilization, which involves adding iron or other nutrients to the ocean to stimulate the growth of phytoplankton that uptake carbon dioxide and convert it into organic carbon. The hope is that the organic carbon …

Psychological Safety In The Russian Language Classroom, Kelly Knickmeier Cummings, B. Amarilis Lugo De Fabritz, Tia-Andrea Scott, Nsikakabasi Ekong, Isabella Mason

Russian Language Journal

This article seeks to join the ongoing, vibrant discussion about how to foster inclusivity in our classrooms and build a pipeline of Russian language students that is more reflective of the demographic fabric of the United States. Three BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) third-year Russian language students and their instructors at Howard University collaborated as coauthors. We drew from the field of organizational behavior to consider the relevance the concept psychological safety may have for second language acquisition (SLA), and we begin to assess its utility in the Russian language classroom.

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease After Receiving The Second Dose Of Pfizer-Biontech Covid-19 Vaccine, Andrea J. Folds, Melanie-Belle Ullrich, Sann Htoo, Anjeza Chukus

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Emerging Technologies And Approaches For In Situ, Autonomous Observing In The Arctic, Craig M. Lee, Michael Degrandpre, John Guthrie, Victoria Hill, Ron Kwok, James Morison, Christopher J. Cox, Hanumant Singh, Timothy P. Stanton, Jeremy Wilkinson

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Understanding and predicting Arctic change and its impacts on global climate requires broad, sustained observations of the atmosphere-ice-ocean system, yet technological and logistical challenges severely restrict the temporal and spatial scope of observing efforts. Satellite remote sensing provides unprecedented, pan-Arctic measurements of the surface, but complementary in situ observations are required to complete the picture. Over the past few decades, a diverse range of autonomous platforms have been developed to make broad, sustained observations of the ice-free ocean, often with near-real-time data delivery. Though these technologies are well suited to the difficult environmental conditions and remote logistics that complicate Arctic …

The Rumertime Process As A Protective Factor In School Attendance Problems, Yvonne Larrier, Monica Allen, Arline Edwards-Joseph, Geneva Fleming, Vanessa Kelleybrew

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The RUMERTIME Process (RP) is a five-step culturally responsive social-emotional, problem-solving, prevention-intervention strategy used to educate, equip, and empower students, educators, and families. The RP equips individuals with the abilities to recognize, understand, manage, express, and reflect on their thoughts, interactions, mindsets, and emotions (RUMERTIME) in relation to themselves, others, and the daily life challenges they face within multiple systems and settings. The RP is embedded within the Cultivating SEEDS System framework (CSS) and is utilized to equip culturally diverse communities, inclusive of students, family members, educators, and administrators, with the social-emotional skills to effectively solve student attendance problems (SAPs). …

Prediction Of Formation Conditions Of Gas Hydrates Using Machine Learning And Genetic Programming, Anupama Kumari, Mukund Madhaw, Vishnu S. Pendyala

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The formation of gas hydrates in the pipelines of oil, gas, chemical, and other industries has been a significant problem for many years because the formation of gas hydrates may block the pipelines. Hence, the knowledge of the phase equilibrium conditions of gas hydrate became necessary for the economic and safe working of oil, gas, chemical industries. Various thermodynamic approaches with various mathematical techniques are available for the prediction of formation conditions of gas hydrates. In this chapter, the authors have discussed the least square support vector machine and artificial neural network models for the prediction of stability conditions of …

Exclusion Cycles: Reinforcing Disparities In Medicine, Ana Bracic, Shawneequa L. Callier, Nicholson Price

Articles

Minoritized populations face exclusion across contexts from politics to welfare to medicine. In medicine, exclusion manifests in substantial disparities in practice and in outcome. While these disparities arise from many sources, the interaction between institutions, dominant-group behaviors, and minoritized responses shape the overall pattern and are key to improving it. We apply the theory of exclusion cycles to medical practice, the collection of medical big data, and the development of artificial intelligence in medicine. These cycles are both self-reinforcing and other-reinforcing, leading to dismayingly persistent exclusion. The interactions between such cycles offer lessons and prescriptions for effective policy.

The Everyday First Amendment, Leonard M. Niehoff, Thomas Sullivan

Articles

On June 26 and June 27, 2019, some twenty contenders for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States participated in two evenings of political debate. The outsized group included Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who was struggling to gain traction with voters. Shortly after the debate, while many viewers were conducting online searches to learn more about the candidates, Google temporarily suspended her campaign’s advertising account.

Google claimed that the interruption occurred because an automated system flagged unusual activity on the account. But Gabbard did not accept this explanation; she believed that Google deliberately had tried to undermine …

Suspect Classifications, Immutability, & Moral Responsibility, Michael Gentithes

Akron Law Faculty Publications

Immutability is an important thread in equal protection jurisprudence.1 It helps explain when a government classification is constitutionally suspect, requiring courts to evaluate that classification under the exacting strict scrutiny standard.2 Recently the Supreme Court, though not expressly relying on equal protection arguments to reach its holding, has suggested that sexual orientation is an immutable trait of the sort that traditionally triggers strict scrutiny when the government relies upon it.3 But the suggestion that sexual orientation is immutable, and thus subject to strict scrutiny, has not found wide acceptance across the judiciary. Furthermore, the scientific evidence surrounding sexual orientation is …

Assessment Of Potential Augmentation And Management Strategies For Razorback Sucker Xyrauchen Texanus In Lake Mead And Grand Canyon: A 2021 Science Panel Summary, Casey A. Pennock, Phaedra Budy, Scott A. Bonar, Thomas E. Dowling, Keith B. Gido, Eliza I. Gilbert, Brian R. Kesner, Craig P. Paukert, Michael C. Quist, Julie Stahli, Thomas F. Turner, David L. Ward

Ecology Center Publications

Razorback Sucker Xyrauchen texanus is a large-bodied, long-lived species endemic to the Colorado River Basin. This species historically ranged throughout the basin from the Colorado River delta in Mexico to Wyoming and Colorado. Currently, the species persists ,in a small portion of its historical range with the help of intensive management efforts including augmentation. Recruitment to adult life stages is extremely limited in the wild, but is documented consistently in Lake Mead. Research and monitoring efforts in Lake Mead are ongoing since 1996 and have recently expanded to include the Colorado River inflow area and portions of lower Grand Canyon. …