Digital Commons Network^™

Examining The Effects Of Video Self-Modeling With Goal Setting On Third-Grade Students' Oral Reading Fluency, Sara Sleiman Tellaoui

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Video self-modeling (VSM) is an intervention based on Bandura’s (1999) theory of observational learning, which assumes that children learn a target behavior by observing a more competent model. VSM is assumed to provide an effective model from which children can learn given that the learner and model are the same person but differ only in their skills. More recently, studies have explored the effectiveness of VSM as an intervention for oral reading fluency (ORF) and showed promising results. Goal setting (GS) is another intervention that has been found to be effective in increasing students’ performance by motivating them to meet …

Exploring The Epitranscriptomic Response To Senolytics And Senomorphs In Cellular Models Of Aging, Emily Benson

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

In senescence that occurs with aging, cells stop dividing and initiate a pro-inflammatory program called the senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP). SASP can lead to cell damage and has been linked to age-related conditions such as cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and osteoarthritis. The epitranscriptome regulates translation through post-transcriptional RNA modifications and can control when and how much of protein synthesis occurs. Several tRNA modifications that include 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl (mcm⁵U), 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thiouridine (mcm⁵s²U), and mcm⁵Um (5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2′-O-methyluridine) are linked to the translation of enzymes involved in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS), …

Studies In Three-Component Modification Of Lysine, Investigating Reversible Potential Of An Intricate Bicyclo [3.3.1] Nonane Scaffold, Ryan Bartlett

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Synthesis of small-molecule conjugates capable of selective attachment to a peptide/protein backbone paves way for new therapeutic applications of protein modification. Sufficient inhibition or installation of function requires extensive design so the compound may identify and attach to the intended site. The utility of such an approach has prompted a number of applicable strategies and has rendered the development of new modification scaffolds less necessary. On the other hand, covalent modification to the biologics with ability to remove the conjugate via stimulus is underdeveloped, amplifying a current need to investigate the reversible potential for conjugation and deconjugation techniques in regard …

Re-Globalizing Yorkville: The Languages On Shop Signs In A Non-Migrant Neighborhood, Lisabeth G. Dashman

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The term “linguistic landscape” is used to describe the usage and placement of language in public places of a specific geographic area, such as on buildings, street names, pedestrian notices, vehicular warnings, and advertising billboards. Studies of a space’s linguistic landscape typically involve an accounting and analysis of the visible signs and/or the presentation of bystanders’ or researchers’ thoughts and observations. This study instead probes the intentions of the sign creators: the owners of the façade sign and the business it advertises. The façade sign, often called the shop sign, is frequently the first image for a business that a …

The Importance Of Ice Microphysics In Storm Electrification, Yichen Cai

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Evanescent but powerful, lightning is the vast scale release of storm energy from accumulation of minuscule cloud particle interactions. Although lightning occurrence seems random, thunderstorms “electrify” themselves in methodical ways and show structured patterns. This study explores the role of ice microphysics in thunderstorm charging and discharge through numerical simulation.

A squall line has been simulated ideally and realistically with generally consistent conclusions. Drastically different amount of lightning was produced when using three different microphysical models: Depending on the choice of charging scheme, the National Severe Storm Laboratory (NSSL) two-moment model appropriately captures or overestimate the amount observed by the …

Protecting Foreign Victims Of Trafficking In Iceland: An Interpretive Analysis Of Policy Efforts, Hlin Saethorsdottir

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Social justice and human rights are fundamental principles of social work. Today’s globalized world requires social workers to expand their local perspectives and to be alert to the negative sides of globalization, such as trafficking in person (TIP), which affects all countries around the world. TIP is a severe form of exploitation and a grave human rights violation (Jones et al., 2007). Iceland has been categorized as a transit and destination country for foreign victims who are mainly trafficked for sexual and labor exploitation (U.S. Department of State, 2016b).

Although much has been written on TIP, some scholars have pointed …

A Concept Of Producing Aluminum In-Situ On The Moon Through Molten Salt Electrolysis, Jacob N. Ortega, Jeffrey Smith, Fateme Rezaei, David Bayless, William Schonberg, Daniel Stutts, Daoru Han

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a concept of producing aluminum in-situ on the lunar surface, namely, the Lunar In-Situ Aluminum Production through Molten Salt Electrolysis (LISAP-MSE) method developed at Missouri University of Science and Technology. This paper aims to demonstrate the use of electro-deoxidation to reduce aluminum oxide (i.e., alumina) into aluminum and oxygen gas via electrolysis in a molten salt bath for the production of aluminum on the Moon. It is shown that with a steady supply of hydrogen chloride, this in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) method could supply several necessary materials consumed in the electro-deoxidation process except hydrogen chloride to produce …

Descriptive Statistical Analysis Of Experimental Data For Wettability Alteration With Smart Water Flooding In Carbonate Reservoirs, Muhammad Ali Buriro, Mingzhen Wei, Baojun Bai, Ya Yao

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Smart water flooding is a promising eco-friendly method for enhancing oil recovery in carbonate reservoirs. the optimal salinity and ionic composition of the injected water play a critical role in the success of this method. This study advances the field by employing machine learning and data analytics to streamline the determination of these critical parameters, which are traditionally reliant on time-intensive laboratory work. the primary objectives are to utilize data analytics to examine how smart water flooding influences wettability modification, identify key parameter ranges that notably alter the contact angle, and formulate guidelines and screening criteria for successful lab design. …

Progress Of Lisap-Mse: A Concept Of Producing Aluminum In-Situ On The Moon Through Molten Salt Electrolysis, Jacob N. Ortega, David Bayless, Daniel Stutts, Daoru Han, Todd P. Sander, Jeffrey Smith, Fateme Rezaei, William Schonberg

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a concept of producing aluminum in-situ on the lunar surface, namely, the Lunar In-Situ Aluminum Production through Molten Salt Electrolysis (LISAP-MSE) method developed at Missouri University of Science and Technology. This paper aims to demonstrate the use of electro-deoxidation to reduce aluminum oxide (i.e., alumina) into aluminum and oxygen gas via electrolysis in a molten salt bath for the production of aluminum on the Moon. It is shown that with a steady supply of hydrogen chloride, this in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) method could supply several necessary materials consumed in the electro-deoxidation process except hydrogen chloride to produce …

Prediction Of Carbonation Capacity Of Scms Using Ensemble Learning Method, Kangyi Cai, Jian Liu, Edward Mwanza, Mahelet G. Fikru, Hongyan Ma, Donald C. Wunsch

Economics Faculty Research & Creative Works

The utilization of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) subjected to carbonation processing represents a viable strategy to mitigate anthropogenic CO₂ emissions associated with concrete production, potentially contributing to the achievement of carbon neutrality. However, existing studies have limitations in effectively predicting the varying carbonation capacities of different SCMs, a gap that this research aims to address. Recent research efforts focused on the carbonation of waste-material-sourced SCMs are reviewed, along with a comparative discussion on diverse carbonation methods. A detailed data set encapsulating the properties of SCMs, and carbonation configurations was compiled. At the same time, six ensemble learning models were …

Defects Detection Of Concrete Bridge Decks Using Uav-Based Infrared Thermography, H. B. Zhang, Z. Zhou, G. Chen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Concrete bridges are vulnerable to both natural and man-made disasters, as well as aging and deterioration processes throughout their lifespan. Timely detection of defects in concrete structures is crucial for repair and decision-making purposes. However, traditional methods like visual inspection are time-consuming and expensive. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with infrared thermography (IRT) offer an efficient and cost-effective solution for detecting defects in concrete structures. This study presents passive and active IRT techniques for detecting common concrete defects, such as delamination and cracks. Principle and methods for quantifying these defects and evaluating the extent of damage are introduced. Experiments are …

The Effect Of Erector Spinae Plane Block On Postoperative Extubation Time And Laboratory Parameters In Open Heart Surgery: A Retrospective Study, Feyza Çalişir, Yavuz Orak, Ömer Faruk Boran, Metin Ege, Mehmet Emin Karabeki̇roğlu, Hilal Bi̇radli, Adem Doğaner

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

In open heart surgery, sternotomy causes inflammation in tissues, and inflammation causes postoperative pain. This study aims to examine the effects of bilateral erector spinae plane (ESP) blocks on postoperative extubation time and laboratory parameters in open heart surgery.Materials and methods: The study was managed using retrospective data from 85 patients who underwent open-heart surgery. Patients who received intravenous analgesia and were transferred to the intensive care unit with intubation were included in the study. Two groups were formed: those who received preoperative bilateral ESP block (ESB) and those nonblock (NB). Statistical significance was investigated between ESB and NB in …

Evaluation Of Accompanying Allergic Disease In Children With Proven Drug Allergies, Şule Büyük Yaytokgi̇l, Kezban İpek Demi̇r, Özge Yılmaz Topal, Azize Pınar Metbulut, İlknur Külhaş Çeli̇k, Müge Toyran, Ersoy Ci̇velek, Emine Di̇bek Misirlioğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Data on the prevalence of allergic diseases in children with proven drug allergies are limited. We aim to evaluate thefrequency of allergic comorbidity in children with proven common drug allergies.Materials and methods: Children with drug hypersensitivity confirmed by diagnostic allergy tests at our center between January 2010and December 2020 were screened retrospectively. Patients with the most common drug allergies (due to antibiotics, nonsteroidalantiinflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], and antiepileptic drugs) were selected for analysis. Age, sex, the culprit drug, initial reactioncharacteristics, diagnostic test results, and the study physician who diagnosed concomitant allergic diseases were noted.Results: A total of 168 patients (boys, 51.2%) …

Method For Continuous Fabrication Of Multi-Functional Nanogels, Hu Yang, Da Huang

Patents

Nanogels and methods of synthesizing and using these nanogels are provided. The nanogels are formed by mixing a building block (e.g., polymer), crosslinker, preferably a target (e.g., biomedical compound or molecule), and a solvent in a multi-inlet vortex mixer, so as to cause the polymer and crosslinker to react and form a chemically crosslinked polymer network. In embodiments including a target, the target will be interspersed in and among that network and can be physically embedded and/or chemically bound therein.

Enhancing Writing Quality And Self-Efficacy Beliefs Through Process-Oriented Task-Based Instruction And Multiple Feedback Forms, Samira Moussaoui

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

Abstract:This article presents the research findings of a quasi-experimental study seeking to enhance the writing quality and self-efficacy beliefs of Algerian undergraduate learners. The study employed task-based writing instruction within the process approach framework, and various forms of formative feedback (self-, peer-, and teacher feedback). The sample comprised 24 English as a foreign language (EFL) undergraduate learners with an intermediate level in academic writing. Data were collected through pre- and post-intervention writing tests to assess the participants’ writing quality, as well as pre- and post-intervention surveys, along with post-hoc interviews, to measure their writing self-efficacy levels. The analysis of the …

Three-Dimensional Laser-Assisted Printing Of Structures From Nanoparticles, Heng Pan, Chinmoy Podder, Wan Shou, Xiaowei Yu

Patents

A method for manufacturing a component comprising bombarding nanoparticles in a dispersion with a laser to transform the ligand and cause the nanoparticles to drop out of the dispersion and deposit onto a substrate; and bombarding additional nanoparticles in the dispersion with the laser to transform the ligand and cause the nanoparticles to drop out of the dispersion and deposit onto the nanoparticles previously deposited out of the dispersion.

Microwave Imaging Using A Radially-Polarized Probe, Matthew Dvorsky, Mohammed Tayeb Al Qaseer, Reza Zoughi

Patents

A microwave and millimeter wave imaging system. In either a far-field or a near-field detection mode, a radially-polarized probe transmits an imaging signal along a predetermined scan path to detect a target in a sample. The imaging signal's orientation is independent of the target's orientation and changes at each target as the probe transmits the signal during scanning. A measurement system receives scattered waves reflected from the sample via a single channel and images the sample and the target based on the reflected waves independent of the orientation of the target.

Enhanced Bottom Anode Monitoring In Dc Electric Arc Furnaces Using Fiber Optic Sensors, Yeshwanth Reddy Mekala, Rony Kumer Saha, Ogbole Collins Inalegwu, Muhammad Roman, Farhan Mumtaz, Rex Gerald, Jeffrey D. Smith, Jie Huang, Ronald J. O'Malley

PSMRC Faculty Research

A pin style bottom anode employs conductive steel rods that serve as the pathway for the high electrical power through rammed refractory at the bottom of a DC Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Anode wear during operation is important to monitor, as anode replacement is expensive and impacts EAF productivity. Liquid steel penetration into the un-sintered refractory layer can result from rapid electrical power ramp-up, dips in furnace temperature, or operating the anode for too long between EAF campaigns. In extreme cases, the liquid steel may penetrate the bottom of the furnace when anode wear progresses too close to the bottom …

Wills & Trusts, Gerry W. Beyer

SMU Annual Texas Survey

This article discusses developments relating to the Texas law of intestacy, wills, estate administration, trusts, and other estate planning matters during the Survey period of December 1, 2022, through November 30, 2023. The reader is warned that not all newly enacted statutes or decided cases during the Survey period are presented, and not all aspects of each statute or case are analyzed. You must read and study each statute or case’s full text before relying on it or using it as precedent. The discussion of most cases includes a moral, that is, the important lesson to be learned from the …

Real Property, J. Richard White, Amanda Grainger

SMU Annual Texas Survey

No abstract provided.

Freedom To Give, Devise, And Bequeath, Raymond C. O'Brien

Scholarly Articles

The ability to freely give, devise, or bequeath property is commonly thwarted by persons granted standing to contest formalities and intentionalities of wills, tortious interference with an expectancy, and expanding concern over intervivos gifts and trusts due to increasing elder financial abuse. Nonetheless, there is an expanding class of older, wealthy, and independent-minded donors who seek an effective means by which they may give their wealth to whomever they wish and bypass expensive legal fees, protracted litigation, loss of privacy, and the emotional drama of court proceedings. This Article offers a suggestion of how to restrict the possibility of contest …

Occupational Therapy Educators’ Self-Efficacy To Teach In A Blended Curriculum, Inti A. Marazita, Amy Adcock, Mary Shotwell

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Educational trends have influenced occupational therapy education as evidenced by the adoption of new teaching methods such as blended learning. Blended learning is a combination of both synchronous and asynchronous learning that occurs online as well as portions of the learning occurring in a brick-and-mortar. As more occupational therapy programs design their curriculum to include blended learning, it is essential to understand occupational therapy educators' self-efficacy related to their skills and capabilities to teach in such an innovative format. Little is known regarding occupational therapy educators' self-efficacy to teach in a blended curriculum. This qualitative study aimed to examine the …

Is Chunking Multimodal?: Music Reading Expertise Effects On Eye Movements During A Cross-Modal Visual Search Paradigm, Nicole Arco

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Experts show performance advantages during visual search due to their extensive experience with domain-specific stimuli. Experts form memory representations for meaningful visual patterns, called chunks, that group together multiple chess features. Prior work suggests that the ability for experts to precisely encode a search template facilitates visual search performance (e.g. Hout & Goldinger, 2015). In music, expert musicians might also form chunks (see e.g., Maturi & Sheridan, 2020), although it is unclear what constitutes a chunk in music. The current study addressed the possibility that chunks are multimodal by introducing a new auditory-visual cross-modal version of the visual search paradigm …

Datum–Wise Learning And Inference For Supervised Classification, Sachini Piyoni Ekanayake Ekanayake Mudiyanselage

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Traditional supervised classification typically involves assigning a label to a single variable, considering a common subset of features for all the instances, and employing a single classifier. However, in many real–world applications like behavioral analysis or insurance recommendation, a data instance is described by a set of related variables such as physical activity and emotion, or driving quality and accident severity. At the same time, these variables are not directly observable but can be inferred via noisy but costly features. Specifically, access to all features is prohibitive due to cost, invasiveness, or limited resources. Finally, while using a single classifier …

Information Access For Infrastructurally-Challenged Environments And Beyond Through Mutually Aware Spectrum Sharing Technologies, Karyn Doke

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum is scarce and to make it available for new mobile wireless services, regulators are forced to re-allocate spectrum from existing services or develop mechanisms to share spectrum with new entries. Television White Space (TVWS) and Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) are two examples of recently commercialized spectrum sharing technologies. TVWS enables sharing among fixed wireless broadband technologies (secondary users) and terrestrial TV broadcast services (primary users). CBRS enables spectrum sharing among 5G/LTE (secondary users) and naval radar (primary users). With both technologies, a central database determines when it is safe for secondary users to operate …

Essays On Public Finance And International Finance, Deepti Sikri

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The first chapter examines New York State's Fiscal Score Monitoring program to find the effect of two quality labels on school district outcomes: fiscal stress scores, reflecting the budget solvency, and environmental stress labels reflecting economic and demographic conditions. Using the NYS school district data from 2013-22, I employ the regression discontinuity design to find the effect of stress labels, in response to the political pressure on district finances, housing, and school outcomes. I find the effect of fiscal stress label is limited, leading to a decrease in the fund balance ratio and an increase in the tax rate. However, …

Assessing Associations Between Emergency Room Visits For Respiratory And Cardiovascular Diseases And Criteria Air Pollutants Exposure In New York State, Tamba Solomon Lebbie

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Abstract

Air pollution is a major environmental health hazard for the general population. Approximately 90% of the global population is at risk of both indoor and outdoor air pollution, and it accounts for an estimated 7 million premature deaths every year according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Multiple studies including epidemiological and molecular analyses have confirmed the negative effects of air pollutants on human health even at levels within the WHO guidelines. This study examines the health impacts of releases of criteria air pollution from point sources in New York State (NYS). There is evidence from population studies that …

Optimizing The Community Health Worker (Chw) Program In Belize And Understanding Its Unique Intermediary Position Within The Health System: Perspective From The World Health Organization (Who) Health Systems Approach, Andrei R. Chell

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Human resources for health (HRH) are the backbone of a well-functioning and resilient health system. Issues related to HRH recruitment, retention, planning, leadership and governance have been amplified by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and have posed additional and unprecedented challenges in many countries. Community health workers (CHWs) in particular, are uniquely positioned to be frontline health care workers (HCWs) that are considered a vital link between communities and the formal health system. Globally, the benefits of CHW programs have been well documented, and there is substantial evidence of the efficacy and effectiveness of these programs. However, countries are …

Pdgfra And B Copositive Fibroblasts Drive Fibrosis In Mouse Salivary Glands Through Tgfβ Signaling, Renae Williams Atkinson

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Fibrosis is of significant concern to the medical community as numerous disease processes are characterized by progressive fibrosis leading to organ damage. We begin the process of examining the mechanism of fibrosis to salivary gland hypofunction and briefly consider Sjögren’s Disease (SjD). Method: We employed single-cell RNA sequencing data from a reversible mouse salivary gland injury model and from NOD/ShiLtJ mice, a model of secondary SjD. We performed treatment comparisons with the help of Seurat dotplots and UMAPS. Using differential gene expression analysis and the publicly available R packages: clusterProfiler, WikiPathways and Cytoscape, we identified the processes and pathways …

Ribosome Hibernation Factor Induces Antibiotic Persisters Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis In Neutrophil-Rich Lung Lesions, Jamie Corro

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the etiological agent of tuberculosis, is a prescient global health threat and the leading cause of death by an infectious agent. Treatment of Mtb infection involves administering 2-4 antibiotics for a minimum of 6 months. This extended drug regimen is required to target a subpopulation of persistent bacilli. As their name implies, these bacteria can “persist” by acquiring nonhereditary and transient antibiotic tolerance. Although the precise mechanism is unknown, it’s often attributed to slowing cellular growth and metabolic processes. During zinc deprivation, bacteria can remodel their ribosomes by replacing their zinc-binding paralogues containing the CXXC motif (C+) …