Digital Commons Network^™

Screening For Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Ray Tw Lum, Jacky Yk Ho, Simon Cy Chow, Takuya Fujikawa, Randolph Hl Wong

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a silent disease with indolent progression, but it is potentially lethal once its complication with acute aortic syndrome occurred. Hypertension, smoking and atherosclerosis had all along been recognized as the major risk factors for the etiology of TAA. However, with the advancement in genomic technology, we have gained a better understanding on the contribution of the hereditary components in the genetically triggered thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (GTAAD). From the literature, around 20% of patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) have a positive family history. Therefore, if these atrisk patients can be identified …

Poldarking The Past: Contested Heritage, Tourism And Identity In Post-Mining Cornwall, Alexander Rowe

Plymouth Business School Theses

This thesis aimed to examine representations of Cornish identity and Poldark at heritage sites in Cornwall and how the local communities responded to these fictionalised representations. This thesis adopted an interpretivist qualitative approach. In total, 37 semi-structured interviews were conducted with local residents, heritage professionals and other associated tourism stakeholders. A further 21 online interviews were conducted with tourists. These interviews were triangulated with a range of documentary sources. Data collected from the interviews and documentary sources were analysed using a thematic analysis framework.An original contribution of the thesis was the conceptualisation of ‘imaginative heritage dissonance’ which combines the notions …

Competencies And Capabilities As Determinants Of Digital Entrepreneurship: An Empirical Validation, Arvind Gudi, Ravi Chinta, Alan Jin

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

This study aims to examine the influence of digital competencies and awareness of digital capabilities on digital entrepreneurial drive in the pre-startup stages of hi-tech businesses. Based on primary data from a sample of 357 respondents, we tested the hypothesized relationships for direct and interactive effects on digital entrepreneurial drive. Our results show that digital competencies and awareness of digital capabilities influence entrepreneurial aspiration and commitment in the pre-startup phase. We use the digital entrepreneurship framework by Recker and von Briel (2019) as the theoretical foundation and demonstrate a novel approach to expand the dimensions of digital enabler, digital outcome, …

What Can We Learn From A Co-Creation Journey For A Quick Scan Digital Transformation Maturity Assessment Tool For Development Ngos?, Anand Sheombar

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

This paper describes the approach and lessons learned from a co-creation process with Dutch development NGOs to create a practical and easy-to-use assessment tool for practitioners to assess the organisation's maturity level of digital transformation. For this study, we applied a design science research methodology, specifically a six-step co-creation approach suitable for developing maturity models. The digital maturity assessment tool (quick scan) created is a domain- specific digital transformation maturity tool for development NGOs rather than a generally applicable tool. This artefact was evaluated using an eight-point Requirements framework for the development of digital maturity assessment tools. By developing a …

Early Technology Exposure And Academic Performance In Generation Alpha: Reduced Attention Span And Ability To Multitask, Sanjana Gupta

UROP Posters

The increasing prevalence of handheld devices in the lives of young children inspired this research, particularly regarding their potential impact on attention spans and cognitive development in Generation Alpha. Early exposure to tablets and smartphones before the age of seven coincides with critical periods of neuroplasticity, during which the brain is highly receptive to environmental influences. This matters because attention and cognitive skills formed in childhood lay the foundation for academic success and long-term personal development, and the shift toward digital learning platforms in schools may have significant consequences.

This study aimed to investigate whether early exposure to handheld devices …

Rocketship Education: An Exploratory Public Policy Case Study, Vladimir Gresham Ivanovic

Dissertations

This dissertation is an exploratory case study of the finances of the Rocketship charter school chain, especially those related to real estate. Rocketship is a not-for-profit charter management organization, one of the first in Santa Clara County, California. This study seeks to determine if the financial transactions related to Rocketship charter schools yield profits for investors, despite Rocketship itself being a non-profit entity, and if they do, how and where do they do so. In order to characterize fairly and completely the profits of Rocketship Education itself and Rocketship-related entities, this study uses publicly available documents to track money flowing …

In Their Words: Voices Of High School Graduates Who Were Labeled English Learners, Yolanda K. Jimenez

Dissertations

This research captures the experiences of high school graduates who were labeled English Learners while they were enrolled in a public high school in the greater Sacramento area of California. The study examined what these bilingual high school graduates report as beneficial and detrimental experiences faced while completing the course requirements for high school graduation. This study builds on research that includes secondary classroom teachers and their perceptions of English Learners, classroom teaching and learning, and experiences of emergent bilingual students. The study expands the body of research and informs praxis pertaining to supporting emergent bilingual students as they attempt …

How Can We Do Better? Understanding Student Experiences And Support Needs During And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kevina M. Brown

Dissertations

This dissertation study aimed to provide opportunities for students at San José State University (SJSU), to share about their experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic and to provide feedback and recommendations regarding resources and culturally engaging supports on campus. The research inquiry involved survey and interview methodology to gain insights into student experiences pertaining to financial and mental health challenges and academic disruption and social isolation during the beginning, middle and end of the pandemic, as well as their engagement with resources and supports provided on campus. Recruitment was done by flyer distribution throughout campus and via email distribution to students …

Queer A.F.: Queer Educators In Affinity Family Personal-Professional Development, James Egisto Aguirre

Dissertations

Scholarship shows that affinity groups are spaces of support, learning, and healthy career development that are responsive to the needs of a particular marginalized community. The concept of heteroprofessionalism– the implicit or explicit pressure/s queer educators feel to fit within the proverbial cisgender/heterosexual (cishet) box–is but one of a myriad issues and pressures affect queer educators across the nation. This study brings queer educators from one school district together to unpack their experiences through the lens of heteroprofessionalism. Via queer theory, qualitative, written response data was collected and subsequently analyzed in three, half-day sessions offered in spring 2024. Thirty participants …

Middle-Range Scores From The Patient Determined Disease Steps Scale Reflect Varying Levels Of Walking Dysfunction In Multiple Sclerosis, Robert W. Motl, Whitney Neal, Deborah Backus, Jeffrey Hebert, Kevin K. Mccully, Francois Bethoux, Prudence Plummer, Alexander V. Ng, John Lowman, Hollie Schmidt, Robert Mcburney, Gary R. Cutter

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a leading cause of neurological disability among young and middle-aged adults worldwide, and disability is measured using a variety of approaches, including patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) such as the Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) scale. There is limited evidence for the validity of inferences from the middle-range of scores on the PDDS (i.e., 3 “gait disability” – 6 “bilateral support”), but that range of scores seemingly represents moderate disability characterized by varying levels of walking dysfunction.

Purpose

The current study examined whether the middle-range of scores from the PDDS reflect varying levels of walking …

Food Studies En Español: Investigación Actual En Gastronomía Y Comunicación, Yanet Acosta, Rebecca Ingram

Spanish: Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

On The Use Of The Local Reflection Coefficient To Assess The Diffuse Field Sound Absorption Coefficient Of A Porous Material, Franck Sgard, Noureddine Atalla, Olivier Robin

Études primaires

The diffuse field sound absorption coefficient (SAC) of a sound absorber can be obtained from an average over the incidence angles of the oblique incidence plane wave SAC. The plane wave SAC can be derived from the plane wave complex-valued reflection coefficient defined as the ratio of the reflected sound pressure at a given point on the material surface to the incident sound pressure at the same point. In practice, the material is excited by a monopole, and the reflection coefficient becomes a local quantity which is a function of the source height and the radial distance from the source. …

Optimal Nonparametric Range-Based Volatility Estimation, Tim Bollerslev, Jia Li, Qiyuan Li

Research Collection School Of Economics

We present a general framework for optimal nonparametric spot volatility estimation based on intraday range data, comprised of the first, highest, lowest, and last price over a given time-interval. We rely on a decision-theoretic approach together with a coupling-type argument to directly tailor the form of the nonparametric estimator to the specific volatility measure of interest and relevant loss function. The resulting new optimal estimators offer substantial efficiency gains compared to existing commonly used range-based procedures.

Obiemi (2024), Elena Cosío Lasic

Grado en Diseño de Moda

El creciente interés por formas de vida más pausadas y en contacto con lo natural conlleva a una necesidad de estudiar la naturaleza y cómo ésta nutre a la vida humana. El objetivo general de este trabajo es crear una colección de moda que se inspire en la naturaleza y que sea sostenible e innovadora. Este estudio tiene como objetivo identificar cómo los dos conceptos de biomimética y biofilia se manifiestan en la arquitectura y en la moda y qué posibilidades abren en esta última. Para la metodología de este proyecto se han analizado colecciones de moda y obras arquitectónicas …

Brave, El Musical (2024), Esther García Serrano

Grado en Diseño de Moda

Como trasladar el vestuario de una animación a la realidad, sin perder la esencia de cada personaje y el mundo en el que se basa la película, es el principal problema que se abordará en esta investigación. Este estudio tiene como objetivo hacer una propuesta completa centrándose en el diseño de vestuario para la creación de un musical además de recrear la estética de la película. Se analizó la indumentaria escocesa y medieval con documentos escritos de expertos en historia del arte y se analizaron datos conformando el éxito de este tipo de proyectos en Madrid. La investigación proporciona información …

A Comparative Analysis Of New York Times' Vietnam War Coverage: Pre-And Post-Pentagon Papers' Release, Khanh Do

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Digitizing Historical Resources On The Ohio & Erie Canal, S. Victor Fleischer

University Research

Louis Baus, photographer, shot numerous scenes along the Ohio & Erie, Miami & Erie, and the connecting feeder canals. This collection of over 400 photo negatives portrays a sense of canal life during the late 1800s to early 1900s. Found in this collection are images of canal boats, crew and passengers, as well as various locks, businesses and homes along the canal ways.

The Challenges And Rewards Of Carrying Out Qualitative Research On The Police In The African American Community, Daniel K. Pryce, Ingrid Phillips Witaker

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

In this paper, we discuss the challenges and rewards of carrying out qualitative research on the police in the African American1 community. Using data drawn from interviews with seventy-seven African American adults in Durham, NC, we found that community member hostility toward research(ers) and fear of both neighbors and the police lowered African Americans’ willingness to be interviewed about their perceptions of and experiences with U.S. police. These findings were observed primarily in public housing and middle-income communities. On a positive note, we found that greater awareness of policing issues increased African Americans’ willingness to participate in research about the …

Teaching Dobbs To Disrupt U.S. Hegemony And Build Feminist Solidarities, Derek P. Siegel

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

The Dobbs decision has created both opportunities and challenges in the classroom. On one hand, Dobbs animated student interest, increasing awareness of reproduction. On the other hand, media coverage of Dobbs primed students—particularly those who had not been exposed to reproductive justice—to think about abortion access in isolation from other topics and from an exclusively U.S. perspective. In this article, I discuss my experience teaching Politics of Reproduction in Fall 2022. Among other goals, I wanted to expose students to La Marea Verde, or the “Green Wave,” of countries expanding abortion access in Latin America. By teaching Latin American abortion …

Examining U.S. National Trends In Adult Mental Illness And Naturalistic Psychedelic Drug Use, Daniel Grossman

All ETDs from UAB

Psychedelic drugs have gained prominent attention in recent years for their therapeutic potential in treating mental illness in clinical settings. Concurrently, population studies show increasing prevalence and notable demographic changes among naturalistic psychedelic users, as well as mixed associations between different types of naturalistic psychedelic use and mental health. However, despite this ongoing cultural shift, little is known about temporal changes in the mental health profiles of naturalistic psychedelic users at the population level. This thesis examined national trends in the association between past year naturalistic use of LSD, MDMA, and DMT/AMT/Foxy and past year mental illness among US adults, …

The Freshman Life And Student Health (Flash) Study: Using Social Network Analysis To Understand How Obesity And Stigma Impact Emerging Adult Health, Alena C. Borgatti

All ETDs from UAB

Both racial discrimination and weight stigma have been identified as risk factors for poorer mental, physical, and social health. College students are vulnerable to the effects of stigma, as they greatly value peer acceptance and friendships during a pivotal time of emotional and health behavior development. The present study was the first to use social network analysis to examine the impact of weight and racial discrimination on the development of college social relationships and how these experiences influence students’ physical and mental health. 1330 participants (69% of on-campus freshmen) completed a brief survey on social networks, physical health, mental health, …

Use Of Psilocybin And Other Classic Psychedelics In Fibromyalgia: A Survey Study, Kathleen Hodgin

All ETDs from UAB

Psilocybin and other classic psychedelics may have potential for treatment of fibromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and other symptoms including fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and sleep problems. In this exploratory, descriptive study, an online survey was distributed among individuals with fibromyalgia to gather reports of any changes in pain related to past classic psychedelic use. Sixty-four participants with fibromyalgia completed the study, with most having used psilocybin mushrooms or LSD. In addition to recreational use and other reasons, use of psychedelics for mental health or pain-related reasons was frequently endorsed. Of the participants who reported experiencing any …

The Role Of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors In Inflammatory Airway Diseases, Molly Easter

All ETDs from UAB

Chronic inflammation plays a role in the development and progression of airway diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis (CF). COPD is caused primarily by chronic cigarette smoke exposure. Conversely, CF is a single gene disorder caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR). Although the causes of COPD and CF are different, there are common pathological features. Studies show that chronic inflammation plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of both COPD and CF. Moreover, chronic inflammation induces ageing-associated pathomechanisms like cellular senescence, which exacerbates chronic inflammation. Previous work demonstrates that …

Crown Fatigue Resistance And Enamel Wear Of 3d Printed Resin Compared To Lithium Disilicate, Pranit Vasant Bora

All ETDs from UAB

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the wear characteristics and fatigue resistance of two dental crown materials: SprintRay Ceramic Crown, a 3D-printed resin material, and IPS™ e.Max CAD, a lithium disilicate material. Methods: This study evaluates wear and fatigue characteristics of dental crowns made from Ceramic Crown (SprintRay) and IPS e.max CAD LT (Ivoclar). For fatigue testing, custom fatigue devices were utilized to subject the crowns to cyclic loading, simulating occlusal forces. The specimens underwent 100,000 cycle intervals until 1.5 million cycles at a load of 40N of fatigue loading, with inspections conducted for signs of debonding, …

Genotype And Sex Specific Effects Of Methionine Restriction On The Life And Healthspan Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Joshua Robert Smith

All ETDs from UAB

Reduced dietary intake of the amino acid methionine has been reported to significantly extend the lifespan of common laboratory model organisms including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Mus musculus, and Drosophila melanogaster. Methionine restriction (MR) has also been achieved via non-dietary means such as metabolite supplementation and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. MR along with protein and calorie restriction are known as dietary interventions capable of producing pro-longevity benefits through regulation of nutrient sensing pathways. Recent studies in model organisms have also identified beneficial effects of a low methionine diet on aging-associated phenotypes and markers of overall healthspan. However, the effects of this intervention on …

Predicting Maximum Concentric And Eccentric Squat Strength From Maximum Isometric Squat Strength, Michael A. Dunn

All ETDs from UAB

Resistive squat exercise is a well-established technique to enhance the strength of muscles and bone of the back in humans. Such type of exercise could prove highly beneficial for individuals with pathological condition of the back such as osteoporosis. Notably, the rehabilitation programs aimed at strengthening the muscles and bone of the back require the knowledge of the patient’s one repetition maximum (1RM). Finding the 1RM squat value could lead to injury due to the higher weights involved. In addition, testing for 1RM could be not feasible in older populations or young population with chronic back conditions The isometric squat …

A Thematic Analysis Of Health Literacy And Education Disparities Regarding Medical Needs For Transgender Individuals, Rachel Mcmullen

All ETDs from UAB

Transgender individuals experience many challenges within the healthcare system including discrimination, socioeconomic struggles, financial strains, a lack of educated healthcare providers, and a health system framework that makes it even more challenging for them to receive their medical needs (Korpaisarn and Safer). One contributing factor to this lack of education is that on average medical schools in the United States only spend approximately five hours total on the health needs related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals (Miller et al.). Another contributing factor is the stigma around LGBTQ individuals within the medical community. The stigma is concerning …

3d Microtissue Model Of The Aged Ovarian Tumor Microenvironment, Peyton Clark

All ETDs from UAB

Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer deaths for women, primarily due to treatment resistant and/or recurrent disease. Most cases of ovarian cancer are not diagnosed until distant metastases have formed, which drastically reduces overall survival. The median age at diagnosis is 63 and most cases occur in patients who are peri- and post-menopausal. There is a critical gap between the clinical presentation of ovarian cancer and the preclinical models used to study the disease. Most preclinical in vivo investigations use mice who are between 6 and 12 weeks old, which corresponds to roughly a 20-year-old human. Therefore, …

Barbara Dane: The Forgotten Activist, Jacob Kennedy

All ETDs from UAB

Barbara Dane is best understood as an unsung hero of the New Left and Folk Revival because since her graduation from high school in 1945, she has used every resource at her disposal to support and grow various movements. She has picketed for the labor movement, canvassed for the Progressive party, traveled to Mississippi to perform for the civil rights movement and SNCC, marched for peace as part of the anti-war movement, and performed and advocated for the Feminist movement throughout her lifetime. Dane has traveled the globe from war-torn Prague in 1947, Cuba in 1966, and Northern Vietnam in …

Filing The Serial Numbers Off: The Role Of The Author In Fanfiction Published As Original Fiction, Lauren Mcinnis

All ETDs from UAB

With the increase of authors altering and publishing fanfiction as original works of fiction, the practices and attitudes of fan communities cross over into the realm of traditional fiction. Throughout its history, fandom is a community built on the shared love of a piece of media or celebrity. The importance of community appears in fanfiction through Author’s Notes and comments sections; both of which traditionally published novels generally lack. When authors choose to make the transition to traditional publication which provides legitimacy that fanfiction lacks, they must remove most of their own identity and the fan-community that they originally relied …