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The Gray Bird Sings: The Extraordinary Life Of Betty Kwan Chinn (Second Edition), Karen M. Price Ph.D.

Trade & Scholarly Monographs

“Touched by childhood tragedy, Betty Chinn brings hope to those who have fallen on hard times. Left homeless as a child in China, Chinn became mute. When she came to America, she found both her voice and her mission: aiding those without shelter on our own shores. ” -Barack Obama, awarding Betty the Presidential Citizens Medal

As a child during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, she was separated from her family, imprisoned, and ruthlessly tortured. As an immigrant to the United States, she worked tirelessly to shelter and feed thousands in her community. How she survived monstrous conditions, challenged impossible odds, …

Prioritization Of Risks Detected In Comprehensive Audits Using Neutrosophic Topsis And Hausdorff Distance, Sol David Lopezdominguez Rivas, Dixie Marisol Lopezdominguez Rivas, Leili Genoveva Lopezdominguez Rivas

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study addresses the phenomenon of prioritization of risks during large-scale audits as risks evident in the complicated environment and uncertain information are challenging to mitigate. The importance of the topic is that for complicated entities with high uncertainty, high impact, and low/high probability of audit detection, proper allocation in this resource sensitive 21st century is needed for effective audit. The literature demonstrates means to assess and rank risk for subsequent corrective actions that traditional statistical methods cannot capture. The developed hybrid model combines Random Forest, fuzzy logic, and neutrosophic logic are used to process homicide data, demographic variables, and …

Evolutionary Optimization Of Interdisciplinary Methodological Strategies Using Neutrosophic Genetic Algorithms To Develop Artistic Drawing Based On Text Comprehension, Yadyra De La Caridad Pinera Concepción, Nelly Hodelín Amable, Elizabeth Esther Vergel De Salazar, Braulio David Murillo Sánchez, Karla Yerina Toalombo Mancilla

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This research constructs aims to address a current pedagogical issue in art teaching—what are the most effective and efficient interdisciplinary interdisciplinary methodological combinations for development of art drawing from a text based on understanding the text. This is a current problem of pedagogical practice as it applies to today's classrooms because the simultaneous combination of linguistic and artistic, expressive capabilities will help cultivate the diversification of creative and critical thinking processes. This problem is not extensively explored within the literature—but noted gaps and inadequacies suggest that such an interdisciplinary approach has not been assessed, especially since few researchers seek to …

Representation Of Motivational Dynamics In School Environments Through Plithogenic N-Superhypergraphs With Family Participation, Nelly Hodelín Amable, Elizabeth Esther Vergel De Salazar, Martha Gloria Martínez Isaac, Olivia Catalina Olavarría Sánchez, Johanna Mariuxi Solís Palma

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

The study aimed to expand on motivational phenomena that transpires at the school level via Plithogenic n-SuperHyperGraphs via family guidance as one of the dominant features in establishing effective school/motivational environments. The study was conducted via a mixed-method quantitative and qualitative approach, including a questionnaire sent to parents/students, semi-structured interviews with teachers, and an observational approach for the grounded theory. All data were reflected via Plithogenic n-SuperHyperGraphs due to the interconnectedness of phenomena of motivation and pedagogical approaches and family guidance. The analysis of the study suggests that more motivated students are those who have more guided parents as they …

A Shattered World: Jews And Israel After October 7, Michael Berenbaum, Gilbert N. Kahn

The Jewish Role in American Life: An Annual Review

October 7, 2023, was a watershed event in contemporary Jewish history. What took place on that date challenged the two most basic assumptions of post-Holocaust Jewish life: that the future security of the Jewish people would be assured by an independent Jewish state backed by an army, and that the freedom for Jews in the Diaspora to live as Jews would be secured by democratic rights and liberties. The pogroms of October 7 and the worldwide explosion of antisemitism that followed—even preceding Israel taking military action against Hamas—challenged both assumptions. The Israel Defense Forces could not prevent a slaughter from …

Fundamental Hydraulics Principles For Agricultural Systems Management And Technology, Robert M. Stwalley Iii, Roger Tormoehlen

Purdue University Press Books

Hydraulic systems have spread throughout modern technology, particularly in mobile equipment. The exercises presented in Fundamental Hydraulic Principles for Agricultural Systems Management and Technology are designed for the second-generation Parker Hydraulic Trainer to provide a basic understanding of hydraulic components and systems for technology and engineering students. Readers will learn how hydraulic pumps function, how linear actuators and their control circuits work, and how hydraulic motors operate and are controlled. Readers are also provided with the opportunity to attempt more advanced exercises. Aligned with beginning technology-based experiential hydraulics courses, this book emphasizes familiarity with common hydraulic components and circuit diagrams, …

Towards Spatial Inversion Of Aerial Gamma-Ray Survey Data For Measurement Of Naturally Occurring Radioactivity, Daniel A. Haber

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Aerial gamma-ray surveying (AGRS) is used in geologic and environmental contexts to provide data on the surface spatial distribution of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) or other gamma-ray-emitting isotopes. The standard data reduction workflow for AGRS data involves a process whereby pointwise gamma-ray spectral data are denoised, corrected for numerous sources of background radiation and aircraft height, and are finally converted to physical values by empirical conversion factors. The reduced pointwise data are then typically spatially interpolated to form a continuous surface map.

This dissertation introduces and explores a novel spatial inversion method for reduced AGRS data that considers aircraft …

Ankimedbench: Evaluating Hierarchical Medical Knowledge In Language Model Embeddings, Neel Patel

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Despite achieving over 90% accuracy on medical benchmarks, recent studies show physicians cannot effectively leverage language models to improve clinical reasoning. Current benchmarks test isolated factual recall, but clinical practice requires hierarchical navigation through diagnostic categories—starting broad and narrowing systematically from chest pain to cardiovascular pathology to myocardial infarction to specific STEMI types. Existing evaluations cannot measure whether models preserve this taxonomic structure essential for clinical reasoning.

We introduce AnkiMedBench, built from 16,512 medical flashcards used by students preparing for licensing exams. Cards are organized across six hierarchy levels spanning 16 broad medical specialties to 672 specific diseases and conditions. …

A Competency Based Pressure Injury Management Program, Madina Qadir

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This project aims to implement a simulation-based wound management program to address critical gaps in nurses’ competencies for managing pressure injuries (PIs). The initiative seeks to enhance nurses’ knowledge, clinical skills, and confidence in wound assessment and advanced therapies, fostering evidence-based practice and consistent care delivery. Effective PI management is vital for improving patient outcomes, reducing healing times, and minimizing complications. Yet, nursing education and competency gaps often lead to inconsistent care and increased healthcare costs. A structured competency-based pressure injury management (CB PIM) program integrates evidence-based didactic lectures and interactive simulation-based skills stations to cover essential topics, including wound …

Perceptions And Behaviors Of Female Title I Principals And Faculty Trust In The Post-Covid-19 Educational Environment, Jessica A. Robbins

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Faculty trust in principals is essential to a healthy school culture, yet it remains one of the most fragile and complex aspects of leadership, particularly in Title I schools (Tschannen-Moran, 2007, 2014; Tschannen-Moran et al., 2015). While trust has been widely studied, fewer investigations have focused on the specific behaviors female principals use to build trust in the post-COVID era (Berkovich, 2018; Bukko et al., 2021; Handford & Leithwood, 2013; Jeanquart-Barone, 2013; Zajda et al., 2023; Zheng et al., 2021). Research suggests that women in leadership must be deliberate in fostering trust, yet their behaviors are often judged more harshly …

“I Can Gossip With Anybody, I Can’T Chisme With Everybody”: Chisme, Gossip, And Identity In Latina-Americans, Alexa B. Romero

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

As individuals adjust to their belonging to two distinct cultures, there are various ways of adapting to their navigation of the two cultures (Berry, 1980). The way(s) an individual chooses to adjust to their two cultures can have varying effects on identity. When directly translated, chisme (Spanish) means gossip. Although the two include overlap in function and uses, chisme offers unique purposes for the Latinx community and further, Latina-Americans (González Ybarra & Player 2024; Gutierrez, 2017; Uribe, 2025). By using the communication theory of identity (Hecht, 1993) the purpose of this thesis was to investigate the role of chisme and …

Understanding The Musical Theatre Female Mixed Belt Through The Lens Of The Operatic Tenor: A Comparative Study, Courtney Schwalbe

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since its emergence in the early 20th century, the female belt voice has become central to musical theatre, yet it still receives less systematic attention than classical singing in both scholarship and collegiate pedagogy. This document frames the contemporary female belt, especially the high or mixed belt, in dialogue with the Western operatic tenor to demystify belt production for teachers trained in classical vocal pedagogy. Drawing on historical context, voice science, and applied pedagogy, the study compares defining characteristics, vocal challenges, registration, and resonance strategies across the two traditions. Both voices extend chest-dominant qualities above the primary register transition and …

Building Your Epic Life: Your Journey, Your Way, Your Masterpiece, Luciano Castillo

Purdue University Press Books

Building Your Epic Life empowers young people to understand that failure is an inevitable—and essential—part of the journey to success. The author shares his own challenges and struggles, showing that no path to success is linear and without setbacks. The book teaches the value of building a healthy body, mind, and spirit, and includes exercises that offer actionable plans for individuals to realize a meaningful, self-defined life based on their core values. A proven roadmap workbook and short lectures guide readers through a series of practical steps to discover their purpose, vision, and understand the value of mentorship—and why each …

Decisions That Shape Supply Chains, Nicole J. Olynk Widmar, Michael L. Smith, Erin Robinson

Purdue University Press Books

What drives consumer decisions, and how do those decisions ripple through our food and agricultural systems? In Decisions That Shape Supply Chains, readers are invited to look beyond conventional models of behavior and explore the complex, sometimes counterintuitive factors influencing real-world consumer choices. Drawing on behavioral science and applied research, this volume examines how decisions made in grocery aisles, drive-through lines, and online shopping carts ultimately inform what gets planted, processed, packaged, and promoted across the food-supply chain. From attitudes toward GMO foods to parenting as a form of consumerism and emotional decision-making under stress to the environmental tradeoffs consumers …

Markets We Thought We Knew, Nicole J. Olynk Widmar, Michael L. Smith, Erin Robinson

Purdue University Press Books

Markets We Thought We Knew explores the evolving nature of markets and how they shape—and are shaped by—consumer behavior. From essential life necessities such as water to everyday commodities and products including locally sourced foods, this book covers a variety of topics and invites readers to examine a diverse range of markets through a reflective lens. By revisiting past market dynamics and real-world examples, readers are encouraged to rethink how preferences are formed, how opinions shift over time, and how value is assigned—sometimes in unexpected ways. What insights might you gather from a deeper understanding of local and global markets, …

150 Years Of Purdue Engineering: Celebrating Our Consequential Impact On The World, Arvind Raman, Jim Small

Purdue University Press Books

Since its founding 150 years ago, Purdue University’s College of Engineering has profoundly shaped and improved the world, amassing breakthroughs spanning nearly all facets of society. Highlighting the indomitable spirit, ingenuity, and achievements of more than 100 Boilermaker alumni and faculty members, 150 Years of Purdue Engineering describes the program’s journey to become one of the most consequential engineering colleges in the United States. Richly illustrated with archival and contemporary images, this book includes stories that focus on Purdue innovators who have created everything from the barcode and the electronic TV receiver to the soft-serve ice cream machine and artificial …

Soil And Water Education For Grades 3-12, Natalie J. Carroll, Christian Y. Oseto, Timothy J. Gibb

Purdue University Press Books

Soil and Water Education for Grades 3–12 was written for youth who enjoy learning about science and two critical natural resources: soil and water. Level 1 introduces basic terms and concepts, and is intended for youth in grades 3–5. Activities focus on understanding important soil and water processes. Designed for students in grades 6–8, Level 2 offers readers more concrete examples of advanced soil and water concepts. The exercises in Level 3, which is geared toward grades 9–12, are divided into sections based on how readers might use the information they have learned, placing them in the shoes of homeowners, …

From Transparency To Complexity: Enhancing English Reading Skills In Turkmen-Speaking Adults, Mahrijemal Taganova

Education Dissertations

The recent increase in Turkmen immigration to the United States has highlighted

significant challenges these immigrants face due to language barriers, despite their high

educational qualifications and professional backgrounds. This study investigates whether a linguistics-based approach to reading instruction can improve English literacy among Turkmen-speaking adults.

Drawing on a comprehensive review of empirical studies, this paper evaluates the impact

of phonological awareness on reading and listening skills, the role of orthographic knowledge in

decoding and spelling, and the importance of morphological awareness for vocabulary

development and reading comprehension among EFL (English as a foreign language) learners. The analysis reveals that …

Soil Fertility Forecasting With Neutrosophic-Based Uncertainty Management, Franklin Parrales-Bravo, Roberto Tolozano-Benites, Dayron Rumbaut-Rangel

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study presents a machine learning framework that combines Random Forest classification with neutrosophic logic to predict soil fertility from 16 physicochemical properties. The model achieves robust classification accuracy (95%) while introducing a novel uncertainty quantification mechanism through neutrosophic truth (T ), indeterminacy (I) and falsity (F ) values derived from prediction probabilities, assigning high-confidence (T = 0.9) to probabilities ≥0.9, indeterminacy (I = 0.3) to borderline cases (0.5≤p

Objective Vs. Perceived Maternal Smartphone Use And Observed Mother-Infant Interaction Quality, Alison K. Ventura, Lara N. Wolfers, Sarah M. Coyne, Rachel Pfafman, Sabrina Uva, Karla I. Ceja Almontes, Aniruddha S. Shinde, Adam M. Galovan, Brandon Mcdaniel

Health Services and Informatics Research

Introduction:

Prior research links maternal smartphone use to reduced sensitivity and responsiveness to infant cues, but emerging evidence suggests that mothers' perceptions of their smartphone use - such as feelings of empowerment or distress - may also shape the quality of mother-infant interactions. This study examined how both objective and perceived smartphone use related to mother-infant interaction quality in naturalistic settings.

Method:

Participants were 147 mother-infant dyads from a longitudinal study of smartphone use and infant development. When infants were 2 months old, mothers completed 5 days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA), reporting time spent with their infant, perceived smartphone-related …

Examining Aba Classroom Paraprofessional Training Methods In New Jersey, Melina Campos

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In recent years, paraprofessionals have become an integral part of educational teams, particularly in classrooms supporting students with disabilities (Giangreco et al., 2010). Their role has been crucial in ensuring that students received necessary academic and social support. This study evaluated the training provided to paraprofessionals in New Jersey, specifically those working in applied behavior analysis (ABA) classrooms. By surveying paraprofessionals on training that they receive and assessing how training influenced their self-perceived knowledge and skills, the study offered insight into how well-prepared these educators felt to support students with disabilities. A total of 57 participants completed the survey. When …

Impact Of Postoperative Intraocular Pressure Spikes On Outcomes Following Goniotomy: A Comparative Study Of Surgical Techniques, Wesam S. Shalaby, Steven L. Chang, Julia Yu, Teresa Horan, Sagar Shah, Shahin Hallaj, Marlene Moster, Reza Razeghinejad, Daniel Lee, Michael Pro, Aakriti Shukla, Ping Huang, Jonathan S. Myers, Tina Xia, Dilru Amarasekera

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

AIM AND BACKGROUND:To compare postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) spikes and 1-year surgical success among goniotomy procedures: Kahook Dual Blade (KDB), OMNI, bent ab interno needle goniotomy (BANG), and gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-center, retrospective chart review included glaucoma patients ≥18 years, who underwent goniotomy from January 2021 to December 2022 with ≥3 months of follow-up. Primary outcomes were IOP spikes (≥10 mm Hg increase within 3 months) and 12-month surgical success (≥20% IOP and/or ≥1 medication reduction without further surgery). Secondary outcomes included IOP and medication changes.

RESULTS: Among 247 eyes (107 KDB, 63 OMNI, 77 …

Multicriteria Prioritization Of Geospatial Data Sources Using The Neutrosophic Hierarchical Analytic Process In Spatial Ontologies, Manuel Enrique Puebla Martínez

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

The need for an automatic fusion of heterogeneous, generally untrustworthy geospatial sources into spatial ontologies necessitates prioritization when conflicts arise or lower qualities emerge. Unfortunately, most existing literature does not offer systematic, evaluative, analytical criteria for determining the trustworthiness and polyhedral quality of such sources, which, in turn, causes quality deficiencies in spatial relations of the final product. Here we offer a methodology based on the Neutrosophic Hierarchical Analytic Process to derive the aforementioned prioritization including considerations such as geometric accuracy, existence and accessibility of metadata, frequency of updates, and topological correctness. A calibrated, reliability-testing approach was applied to two …

Artificial Intelligence In Cuban Audiovisual Production: An Approach To Technological Sovereignty Evaluated Through Neutrosophic Pest-Foda Analysis, Natalia Del Carmen Díaz Riverón

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This article aims to respond to the need to generate a public policy for the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) use in Cuban audiovisuals from technological sovereignty through a neutrosophic PEST-SWOT analysis. After a theoretical-contextual study composed of the history of AI, its scientific and technological bases and the ethical and regulatory issues of use, international experiences and studies and the current state of affairs in Cuba (comprised of technology based barriers, training impediments and absence of a specific regulatory approach), the research takes place through triangulation via a mixed-methodology where theoretical and empirical approaches are integrated with neutrosophic PEST-SWOT …

A Visual Aid-Based Model For Constructing The Concept Of Probability For Students Aged 9 To 11, Validated Using Neutrosophic Plithogenic Statistics, Nela Del Rocío Sánchez López, Diana Carolina Pérez Duarte, Luis Fernando Pérez Duarte

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This article discusses a research endeavor whose intent was to further develop statistical reasoning by formulating probability notions for 9-11-year-old learners. The probability endeavor is formulated through a union of narrative, problem-solving and visual approaches. Action research allowed for formulation and implementation within a school setting, satisfactorily proving success in developing learners' abilities to think logically and critically. Results indicate a statistically significant probability of appropriating the notion of probability based on neutrosophic plithogenic statistics which assessed the degree of truth, indeterminacy, and falsity of student answers which ultimately promote rational decisions in uncertain situations. It's recommended that the union …

Neutrosophic Statistical Analysis Of Temperature And Precipitation Variability Over Four Decades In The City Of Pucallpa, Peru, Noé Klever Guadalupe-Baylón, Edgar Juan Diaz-Zúñiga, Moisés Amancio Cueva-Muñoz, Nadia Masaya Panduro-Tenazoa, Noé Ramírez-Flores, Franz Orlando Tang-Jara, Carlos Ricardo Guerra-Pinedo

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study analyses the spatiotemporal variation of temperature and rainfall in Pucallpa (1984-2024) and its relationship with El Niño and La Niña phenomena and urban expansion. Monthly meteorological data from the UNU-SENAMHI station, weather, ENSO indices, and Landsat imagery were used to calculate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as an indicator of vegetation cover. Missing data were processed through interpolation, and linear regression analysis, the Mann-Kendall test, and Spearman correlation adapted to interval-valued data were applied to evaluate trends and statistical associations. Our findings highlight the combined influence of global climatic factors and local transformations on the microclimate of …

Classification Of Cases Of Animal Abuse In Ecuador Using Indetermsoft And C4.5 Algorithms, Viviana Del Rocío Marfetan Marfetan, Lesly Gissela Tipanguano Chicaiza, Styven Andrés Pila Chicaiza, Estephany Monserrath Ojeda Sanchez

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This dissertation aimed to determine the classification of animal abuse within Ecuador by severity, context, and solution through the application of IndetermSoft and the statistical-neutrosophic C4.5 algorithm to classify the uncertainty associated with judicial and administrative efforts for animal protection for domestic dogs and cats. The approach was qualitative and documentary, analyzing judicial sentences, citizen complaints, and municipal ordinances within the three largest Ecuadorian cities of Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca to acquire the determination of classifications of animal abuse, subsequent sanctions, and follow-ups. A modeling of IndetermSoft ensembles assessed the indeterminacy of subsequent actions, and inputted into IndetermSoft and the …

A Neutrosophic Random Forest Approach For Preeclamptic Risk Prediction With Uncertainty Quantification, Franklin Parrales-Bravo, Rosangela Caicedo-Quiroz, Lorenzo Cevallos-Torres, Leonel Vasquez-Cevallos, Dayron Rumbaut-Rangel

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study presents a novel integration of Random Forest with neutrosophic logic to improve preeclampsia risk prediction while quantifying prediction uncertainty. Using clinical data from 352 patients, the model achieved 72.73% accuracy with high sensitivity (0.898) in identifying control cases, though with lower specificity (0.235) for preeclampsia detection. Key predictors identified were birthweight and hypertension his- tory, aligning with clinical knowledge. The neutrosophic framework successfully categorized predictions into truth (T), indeterminacy (I), and falsity (F) components, revealing that 90% confidence predictions showed T = 0.9 while uncertain cases (0.5 ≤ p < 0.9) demonstrated elevated indeterminacy (I = 0.3). The main contributions include: 1) an interpretable uncertainty quantification method for clinical predictions, 2) validation of key risk factors through feature importance analysis, and 3) a practical framework for identifying cases requiring additional clinical evaluation. This approach demonstrates significant potential for enhancing decision-making in maternal healthcare.

Triadic Dynamics Of Clinical Decisions In Apical Surgery Based On Neutrosophic N-Alectic, Emma Arroyo Lalama, Edison Haro Pujos

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study explored the creation of a clinical decision-making model in apical surgery via Neutrosophic N-Alectic, blending affirmative (operate), negative (observe), and neutral (retry conventional endodontics) based on equivocal findings to offer potential solutions to the presentation of periapical lesions. The methodology consisted of dialectic considerations of previous surgeries retrospectively, meaning attributable elements such as lesion severity and response to previous treatment were assessed via a neutrosophic approach to assess the degree of truth, degree of falsity and degree of indeterminacy across all treatment options. The main findings are the neutrosophic model assists in determining the best decisions based on …

A Neutrosophic–Fsqca Framework For Strategic School Management: Superset And Coincidence Analyses Of Student Social Competence, Claudio Ruff Escobar, Jorge Ruff Faundes, Marcelo Ruiz, Cristián Cornejo, Aleksandra Michenkova, Luis Benites, Juliana Vassileva, Alexis Matheu Pérez

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study proposes a neutrosophic–fsQCA framework to analyze strategic school management under conditions of uncertainty. Using data from 20 educators at the Colegio Bicentenario Louis Pasteur in Ecuador, neutrosophic Likert scales were applied to capture perceptions of interpersonal communication (IC), social interaction experiences (SIE), self-esteem and self-efficacy (SS), and their influence on students’ social competence (ECS). The neutrosophic triplets (T, I, F) were transformed into fuzzy sets through a fuzzification process, enabling subsequent Qualitative Comparative Analysis. Two complementary procedures were conducted: a superset analysis to assess necessary and sufficient conditions, and a coincidence analysis to explore overlap among conditions. Results …