Digital Commons Network^™

Behavior Analytic Food Reinforcement Use And Guidelines In Interventions For Children With Autism, Christopher Rogers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Reinforcers create opportunities to increase behaviors in applied behavioral analysis, with healthy and unhealthy foods offering high reinforcing value. The use of food raises ethical and health concerns, so researchers and behavior analysts often avoid food reinforcement altogether. Kronfli et al. (2024) indicate healthy food alternatives bring about similar rates of responding as snack foods, potentially reducing ethical and health concerns. This research presents the question: To what degree are food reinforcers used in behavioral interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder? This review analyzes behavioral research articles containing the words “food,” “edible,” “autism,” and “children” in the context of …

Recent Advancements Of Applied Robotics In Construction Project Management: A Life Cycle Perspective, Yifan Wang, Xiaoyu Hou, Tan Chen, Bo Xiao

Michigan Tech Publications

Robotic applications in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operation (AEC/O) industry have advanced rapidly, driven by innovations in sensing, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation. Yet, despite notable progress, existing studies are often confined to isolated systems, specific technologies, or individual project phases. This fragmentation has resulted in a diverse but disjointed body of knowledge, underscoring the need for a comprehensive synthesis that connects emerging practices into a holistic perspective. This study presents a systematic review of 315 peer-reviewed publications from 2016 to 2025, examined through a life cycle lens. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative analysis with qualitative discussion is employed …

Hydrodynamic Contrast Recanalization-Facilitated Rotational Atherectomy To Treat A Heavily Calcified Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion, Som P Singh, Mustafa Al Qaysi, Angelo Nascimbene, Mauro Carlino, Salman A Arain

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for heavily calcified chronic total occlusion (CTO) remains among the most challenging procedures in interventional cardiology. Hydrodynamic contrast recanalization (HDR) is a novel crossing technique for CTO that uses intraplaque contrast microinjections in the proximal CTO to facilitate the passage of polymer jacketed wires. The use of HDR combined with rotational atherectomy (RA) during CTO PCI in heavily calcified arteries has not been described.

CASE SUMMARY: A 72-year-old man with refractory angina was referred for revascularization of a chronically occluded ramus intermedius. The presence of heavy calcium and flush occlusion of the left main artery …

Co-Production Of A Mobile Application For Parents Of Acutely Ill Children Under Five: ‘Ipoorly Child Symptom Checker, Sarah Neill, Amy Rathbone, John Downey, Monica Lakhanpaul, Matt Carey

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Acutely ill children under five years of age are frequent and increasing users of urgent and emergency care services despite there being no increase in acuity of presenting illnesses. This raises concerns about parents’ level of knowledge and confidence in assessing the severity of symptoms of acute illness, despite the abundance of digital information available. MethodBuilding on prior work to co-develop the content for a mobile app for parents of acutely ill children, we co-designed the iPoorly child symptom checker app using an experience based co-design methodology with seven parent and seven health professional patient and public involvement representatives. The …

Programmable Acoustofluidic Engineering For Creating Gradient Biomaterials, Jujing Lu, Ye He, Jianping Xia, Mingyuan Liu, Joseph Rich, Ke Jin, Ruoyu Zhong, Kaichun Yang, Jiao Qian, Ying Chen, Ke Li, Zhiteng Ma, Tony Jun Huang

Faculty Publications

Gradient biomaterials that exhibit spatially varying physical, chemical, or biological properties can be used in various applications such as tissue engineering, organoid development, mechanobiology, and spatially controlled drug delivery. However, current fabrication methods often suffer from limited gradient precision, restricted material compatibility, and poor reproducibility. Here, we introduced gradient regulation via acoustofluidic dynamic engineering (GRADE), a programmable system to generate high-fidelity gradient biomaterials across different material systems. By incorporating focused interdigital transducers with the pulsed surface acoustic wave actuation, GRADE can achieve tunable and directional acoustic streaming (0 to 22 millimeters per second), which allows accurate regulation of the gradient …

40 Priority Questions To Advance Understanding Of The Risks And Opportunities Of Uk Marine Heatwaves, Zoe Jacobs, Kathryn E. Smith, Jules B. Kajtar, Dan A. Smale, Pippa J. Moore, Fabrice Stephenson, Michael T. Burrows, Caroline Rowland, Richard Renshaw, Sophy Oliver, Martyn Jakins-Pollard, Freya Ivy Palmer, Alice Kloker, Craig Baker-Austin, Bryony Townhill, Sian Rees, Sarah Coulthard, Ekaterina Popova

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are periods of anomalously warm sea temperatures that are becoming increasingly recognised as ocean stressors. Globally, MHWs have impacted marine ecosystems, with significant socioeconomic implications for coastal communities and industries. The unprecedented MHW that occurred in the waters surrounding the UK and Ireland in summer 2023 highlighted a crucial gap in our understanding of the region-specific characteristics of MHWs and their impacts on marine ecosystems, the services they underpin, the blue economy and society. Using diverse expert opinion, we propose 40 priority questions for interdisciplinary research in the UK that must urgently be addressed to prepare for …

Tests Without Borders: A Global Approach To Measuring Visualization Literacy, Olivia A. Guess

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Visualization literacy assessments shape how we understand people's ability to interpret data, yet most existing instruments embed Western datasets and assumptions that limit their relevance for global audiences. This thesis argues that because data is personal, assessments must also be culturally grounded. We introduce a unified framework for adapting the Mini-VLAT into 22 regionally responsive short-form assessments, each retaining the structure of the original test while incorporating datasets and scenarios tailored to specific regions around the world. To demonstrate how such adaptations can be customized and validated, we present a detailed case study of a Ghana-adapted Mini-VLAT, developed in collaboration …

Fpga-Accelerated Computational Photon Counting, Chibueze Onyeador

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) is a powerful tool for biomedical re- search. It leverages fluorescence of biological samples to visualize and characterize biological dynamics and molecular interactions. FLIM utilizes fluorescence lifetime, the average time a molecule stays in its excited state after absorbing a photon, to investigate the dynamics of biological samples.

Ultra-fast and precise (ps-ns) timing fluorescence acquisition techniques suffer from different trade-offs. Some methods suffer from high dead times, decreased accuracy in fluorescence lifetime calculations, and high data volumes and transfers. Finding a new method that can provide the best performance while experiencing low dead times, adequate …

Investigating The Differential Effects Of Narrativization And Causal Structure Of Stories On Memory, Savannah J. Born

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Narratives are an effective stimulus-type for studying memory, as they can closely replicate how we use our memories in daily life. A key feature of narratives is the cause-and-effect structure between events, and previous research has found that events that are part of a causal chain are more often remembered and rated as important compared to events that are not part of a causal chain. However, there has not been a systematic investigation of the effects of varying narrativity and causality across a stimulus yet. This study aimed to address this gap by manipulating two factors: 1) the narrative vs …

Parametric Control And Amplification In Superconducting Quantum Systems: From Entanglement Probes To Pt-Symmetric Architectures, Chandrashekhar Rao Gaikwad

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The precise control, entanglement, and measurement of quantum systems are central challenges in realizing scalable quantum information processing. This dissertation investigates how parametric modulation and engineered nonlinearity can be harnessed to both manipulate and measure superconducting qubits with high fidelity. In one part, controlled parametric drives are used to generate entanglement between qubit pairs and employ their joint states as probes of environmental dynamics. This approach enables the exploration of the non-Markovian nature of quantum environments, revealing how memory effects influence qubit coherence and energy relaxation. In a separate but conceptually related study, the same principle of parametric driving is …

Expansion Limits Of Meshed Split-Thickness Skin Grafts, Haomin Yu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Split-thickness skin grafts are widely used to treat chronic wounds. Procedure design requires surgeons to predict how much a patch of the patient's own skin expands when it is meshed with rows of slits and stretched over a larger wound area. Accurate prediction of graft expansion remains a challenge, with current models overestimating the actual expansion, leading to suboptimal outcomes. Inspired by the principles of mechanical metamaterials, we developed a model that distinguishes between the kinematic rearrangement of structural elements and their stretching, providing a more accurate prediction of skin graft expansion. Our model was validated against extensive data …

Development Of A Multispectral Collagen Detection Dermatology Device For Delineation Of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers, Anmol Jarang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

To diagnose and manage skin disease, clinicians primarily use visual inspection aided with dermatoscopes, which are cross-polarized magnifiers. In recent years, digital cross polarized multispectral imaging systems have been developed to quantitatively assess skin disease. For example, systems like the one developed by Yaroslavsky et al., which utilize red and blue filters, can non-invasively assess the collagen network in the dermis(Yaroslavsky et al., 2003). Visualization of collagen network disruption can make it easier to visualize the boundaries of skin cancers like keratinocyte carcinoma, and therefore easier to excise completely. Current systems use external bandpass filters in front of cameras to …

Incidence Of Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis Lameness In Commercial Duck Flocks In Mojokerto, Indonesia, Andi Asnayanti, Siti Azizah, Anif Mukaromah Wati, Ahmad Ridwan, Ahmad Arman Dahlan, Dinda Rosalita, Anh Dang Trieu Do, Adnan Alrubaye

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness is an infection of opportunistic bacteria in the structural skeletal bones impacting multiple animal species, particularly poultry species. BCO lameness results in significant financial losses to industrial poultry production and increases the risk of foodborne illnesses, posing a major threat to consumers' food safety. As BCO lameness is an inherent risk of fast body weight gain in poultry species, especially broiler chickens, abundant studies have been conducted in broilers and turkeys. Nevertheless, BCO lameness incidence in ducks remains elusive. Thus, this is the first survey investigating the prevalence of BCO lameness cases in ducks. …

Evaluating The Feasibility Of Digital Twin Adoption For Mep Systems, Tejas Adana

Theses

MEP systems dominate building operational costs, yet facility teams continue battling reactive maintenance cycles that result in unexpected equipment failures, emergency callouts, and continuous energy inefficiencies. Digital twin technology presents a practical solution by creating live virtual replicas that shift operations from firefighting breakdowns to anticipating issues before they escalate. However, adoption remains limited due to fragmented implementation guidance, short-term validation studies, and minimal research addressing emerging market contexts. This research employs a grounded approach combining systematic literature analysis, candid discussions with MEP engineers and facility managers across UAE commercial properties, and practical prioritization frameworks assessing real-world impact against implementation …

Short-Term Tillage Effects On Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Global Warming Potential From Soybean In Southeast Arkansas, Lauren Gwaltney, Kristofor R. Brye, Della Lunga Diego, Jonathan B. Brye, Trenton Roberts, Samuel B. Fernandes, Michael B. Daniels

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Reduced tillage (RT) is a common conservation agriculture practice, generally regarded to be a valuable greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation approach through increasing soil carbon (C) stocks. However, direct GHG measurements from RT compared to conventional tillage (CT) treatments can vary greatly depending on site-specific soil properties and management practices. The objective of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of RT on soil-to-atmosphere carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes and emissions, global warming potential (GWP), yield, and emissions intensity (EI) throughout the 2024 soybean (Glycine max) growing season in a southeast Arkansas production field. Bulk …

Surgical Revision In The Presence Of An S. Aureus Infection Increases Virulence Factor Expression And Activates A Multi-Tissue Inflammatory Response, Carly J. Smith, Arianna J. Moniodes, Amanda R. Watkins, Autumn G. Melvage, Thomas P. Thompson, Eirene Choi, Abigail A. Lucas, Brendan F. Gilmore, Thomas P. Schaer, Noreen J. Hickok, Theresa A. Freeman

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Replacing implanted medical hardware due to infection often requires one or more revision surgeries. Each surgery triggers a tissue injury response and disrupts the established bacterial biofilm. However, the complex tissue response to reinjury and biofilm disturbance is not well understood. Our results show that with an existing infection, immunological niches such as the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and circulating blood further upregulate pro-inflammatory programs in response to revision. Rather than reducing bacterial burden, this heightened inflammation provokes virulence factor expression and tissue damage, including bone osteolysis and muscle fibrosis. While muscle fibrosis appears transient and begins resolving by 14 …

Plan Your Way To Tenure And/Or Promotion, Wendy Doucette, Jill Cirasella

Journal of Graduate Librarianship

In this editorial, we share our best advice for preparing the dossier necessary for professional advancement. While our advice is unavoidably shaped by the specifics of our experiences and universities, we believe most of it is broadly applicable to academic librarians in general. We cluster our advice into three categories: framework and planning, building your portfolio, and ongoing recordkeeping. We hope this “from the ground up” presentation will help those new to academic librarianship, though it’s never too late for more experienced librarians to (re)consider their own approaches.

Pedagogies Of Peace And Justice In Integrated Israeli-Palestinian Youth Programs, Tchelet L. Tutman, Aviv Cohen

Peace and Conflict Studies

This qualitative study investigates how pedagogical choices in Israeli-Palestinian peace education programs shape the enactment of educational aims related to citizenship, justice, and democratic engagement. Drawing on interviews, observations, and document analysis from four educational organizations working with Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel, the study explores how educators navigate core dilemmas including whether and how to address the conflict directly, contend with language asymmetries, respond to participant resistance, and facilitate dialogue during periods of political violence. The analysis develops four pedagogical models: Neither-Nor, Both-And, Encounter, and Conflict Without Meeting, which capture distinct strategies for balancing intergroup interaction with engagement …

Beyond Gun Control: How March For Our Lives Frames Gun Violence Prevention As Positive Peace, Ashley E. Nickels, Amanda D. Clark

Peace and Conflict Studies

March for Our Lives (MFOL) is a youth-led social movement that has redefined the framing of gun violence prevention, expanding it beyond policy-focused gun control efforts to a broader vision of positive peace. Rather than positioning gun violence solely as a matter of firearm regulation, MFOL constructs it as a structural justice issue, linking it to systemic inequities such as racial oppression, economic inequality, and political disenfranchisement. This study examines how MFOL’s movement framing reshapes understandings of gun violence prevention by emphasizing community transformation, intersectional justice, and collective safety. Drawing on framing theory, we analyze how MFOL presents gun violence …

Women As Strategic Partners In Peacebuilding And Social Cohesion In Rural- Based Mining Areas: The Case Of Wards 1 And 2 Insiza District, Matebeleland South In Zimbabwe, Dumisani Maqeda Ngwenya, Sikhathele Mathambo

Peace and Conflict Studies

This article discusses the efficacy of the “women as strategic partners in peacebuilding” program, under the broader overarching Building Resilience, Inclusiveness, Social Cohesion and Healing Project, which is a response to the gendered conflicts and violence caused by the presence of artisanal mining in two wards of Insiza District, Matebeleland South in Zimbabwe. The intervention was premised on strengthening women’s capacity to create safe platforms for inclusive dialogue, consensus-building and decision making to address conflicts and creating a conducive environment for collaboration and trust, to enhance social cohesion and build a more peaceful society. Peace committees (PCs) established by Emthonjeni …

Healing Through History, Nancy Baker Jones

Journal of Texas History

This is the written transcription of the author’s closing plenary address to the inaugural conference of the Alliance for Texas History, May 17, 2025. Its purpose is to put into both broad and personal historical contexts the events of 2023 and 2024 that led to the founding of the Alliance for Texas History. It concludes that, despite the difficulties of those events for her and for many other historians of Texas, history offers a potentially healing context for moving forward.

The Chinese Reception Of Ellen G. White, Christie Chui-Shan Chow

Ellen White Issues Symposium

No abstract provided.

Desire And Worship In The Desire Of Ages, David A. Williams

Ellen White Issues Symposium

No abstract provided.

Plurality Of Unfallen Worlds: Ellen White And Extraterrestrials, Jud Lake

Ellen White Issues Symposium

No abstract provided.

Critical Assessments Of The Bible And The Writings Of Ellen G. White, Alberto R. Timm

Ellen White Issues Symposium

No abstract provided.

A Content Analysis Of Spanish Language Curriculum In Texas, Sarah Moore, Jessica Sanchez, Sarah Herrera

Journal of Global Awareness

The shortage of Spanish-speaking social workers is significant in the United States, especially in border states such as Texas. Experts are calling for Spanish language training in social work education. However, it is unclear whether social work programs are incorporating Spanish into their curriculum at a pace needed to keep up with demand. Using conceptual content analysis, this article examines the frequency of Spanish language courses relevant to social work education across Texas.

Trustworthy Ai: Prohibited Practices, Ethical Principles, And The Identification Of Problems, Anna Karmańska

Journal of Global Awareness

The following considerations arise from the study of texts of documents of a legal nature and from the author’s judgments. They do not present the results of the author’s own empirical research; however, they constitute a factual study that is important for their undertaking in the next step. Having given concern but also hopes for AI, the author focuses her attention on issues that, not only in her opinion, have a strong bearing on the preservation of humanity in a digital environment and at the same time with technocratic features. These issues (prohibited practices, high-risk systems, and ethics) related to …

Cost-Effective Photogrammetry Techniques For Surveying, Recording, And Documenting Stone Circles In County Wicklow, Maurice Murphy Dr., Garrett Keenaghan, Alain Chenaux

Journal of Academic Research and Innovation

This article presents the application of cost-effective photogrammetry techniques for surveying, recording, and documenting stone circles in County Wicklow using two case studies. The article explains, that, while digital photogrammetry may seem accessible, understanding its technical aspects is crucial to achieving accurate results and that a fundamental grasp of the photogrammetry process is necessary for genera􀆟ng precise 3D models of heritage objects and structures. The first case study presents details of the methods for capturing data and uploading it to create 3D models. The second case study demonstrates how to utilise the 3D survey for digital reconstruction and the potential …

Current State Of Art Historic Building Information Modelling, Conor Dore Dr, Maurice Murphy Dr

Journal of Academic Research and Innovation

In an extensive review of existing literature a number of observations were made in relation to the current approaches for recording and modelling existing buildings and environments: Data collection and pre-processing techniques are becoming increasingly automated to allow for near real-time data capture and fast processing of this data for later modelling applications. Current BIM software is almost completely focused on new buildings and has very limited tools and pre-defined libraries for modelling existing and historic buildings. The development of reusable parametric library objects for existing and historic buildings supports modelling with high levels of detail while decreasing the modelling …

Publication Overview, Maurice Murphy Dr., Anne Murphy (Editor) Dr., Garrett Keenaghan Dr.

Journal of Academic Research and Innovation

Recent years have seen considerable advances in methods for virtual representation, digital recording, and documentation of built heritage. Despite these technological developments, the cultural heritage sector in Ireland has yet to fully embrace and integrate these innovations into standard practice. A clear gap remains between research-driven advancements and practical, widespread application within heritage organisations and among professionals. Bridging this gap is essential to ensuring that new approaches become embedded in the everyday workflows of the sector.