Digital Commons Network^™

Characterizing Resting Cerebral Blood Flow In Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder With Arterial Spin Labeling, Hannah R. Wild

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and ritualistic behaviors (compulsions) profoundly impacting daily functioning and quality of life. Neuroimaging studies using various techniques have revealed inconsistent resting cerebral blood flow (rCBF) patterns in OCD patients, particularly within the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuit and sensorimotor network. Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) MRI offers a promising, noninvasive method for directly measuring rCBF. This study, using data from the Yale HCP Trio study, analyzed unmedicated OCD patients and healthy controls, who underwent two consecutive resting pulsed-ASL scans. OCD patients with lower obsessional severity exhibited higher perfusion in the pre- and …

The Experience And Regulation Of Posttraumatic Shame Among Women With Interpersonal Trauma Histories, Jordyn M. Tipsword

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Posttraumatic shame – an emotion stemming from harsh attitudes about the self after trauma – is central to PTSD for many women following physical or sexual assault or abuse (interpersonal trauma [IPT]). However, knowledge of the frequency, intensity, and stability of shame in the daily lives of women post-IPT is lacking. Additionally, while some work has explored shame-specific emotion regulation (ER), or processes aimed at changing emotional responses, it remains unclear which ER strategies are effective in reducing shame, and the role of PTSD severity in shame regulation also remains unexplored. This project explored daily experiences and regulation of posttraumatic …

Extracellular Free Water As An Imaging Biomarker Of Neuroinflammation, Cristina N. Pinheiro

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Older adults experience a chronic state of heightened immune response referred to as “inflammaging” which can be observed by detecting levels of proinflammatory cytokines in blood serum. These proinflammatory cytokines are secreted in the central nervous system and may also enter the brain through the blood brain barrier. Previous literature has suggested that extracellular free water, a magnetic resonance imaging metric, may allow us to detect alterations in the extracellular space which are thought to correlate with inflammation in the central nervous system. This study examined the correlation between two proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and TNFα, collected longitudinally and cross-sectionally imaged …

A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy As A Strategy To Promote Tobacco Treatment Equity At Cancer Center Cessation Initiative Sites, Marguerite A. Webster

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a safe, efficacious smoking cessation treatment for cancer patients; however, equitable access is limited due to insurance gaps. Offering free NRT to patients with cancer has potential to increase tobacco treatment engagement and promote equity. This mixed-methods study aims to describe how some Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I) sites implemented free NRT within their tobacco treatment programs (TTPs) to inform future development of equitable TTPs. Participating sites’ (N=9) TTP and patient population characteristics were assessed via survey and analyzed with descriptive statistics. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 individuals and analyzed using directed …

Fluctuations In Alcohol Impairment Of Working Memory Across The Menstrual Cycle, William Mcgarrigle

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Behavioral endocrinology studies in women suggest that higher circulating levels of the ovarian sex hormone estradiol (E2) may be linked to better working memory performance, especially under conditions of cognitive impairment (e.g., age-related cognitive decline). Phases of the menstrual cycle characterized by different levels of E2 may therefore influence the degree to which women are vulnerable to alcohol impairment of working memory. The current thesis used a within-subjects design to test the hypothesis that women are less sensitive to acute alcohol-induced impairment of working memory when E2 is elevated during the menstrual cycle. A sample of 75 premenopausal women completed …

Disinhibition And Bac Estimation As Predictors Of Risky Driving Behavior While Intoxicated, Sarah Heymsfeld

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Alcohol-related driving fatalities persist as a public health problem in the United States. Recent studies have begun focusing on driver risk-taking as a factor in DUI occurrences and consequent driving fatalities. Key factors that could contribute to risky intoxicated driving are a lack of self-awareness concerning intoxication levels and consequent risk in addition to alcohol-induced increases in the driver’s impulsivity. Fifty young adult drivers received 0.65 g/kg of alcohol (target BAC = 80 mg/dl) or a placebo in a counterbalanced order on two different days and performed a simulated driving test that measured driver risk-taking as reduced distance to other …

Power Of Perception: The Role Of Perceived Caregiver Mindset Beliefs On Undergraduate Student Academic Engagement, Katherine R. Tanaka

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Promoting academic engagement is vital for college student success. Researchers have explored factors like growth mindset, the belief that intelligence can improve with effort, as a driver of academic engagement. Beyond personal mindset, students’ perceptions of key social influences, such as caregivers, also play a role. This study examined how undergraduate students’ own mindsets and perceptions of their caregivers’ mindsets relate to four components of academic engagement: behavioral and emotional engagement, and behavioral and emotional disaffection. Data from undergraduates (N = 1417) were analyzed using surveys, descriptive statistics, hierarchical regression, and exploratory moderation. Students generally reported both a personal …

Cognitive-Behavioral Effects And Sex Differences In Alcohol Use, Mia Radevski

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Addiction models (e.g., iRISA model) suggest that excessive substance use can result in behavioral consequences such as decreased response inhibition and increased salience attribution toward alcohol cues. The primary goal of this project was to explore potential sex differences in these characteristics of addiction. This dissertation is comprised of two separate but related studies. Study 1 investigated sex differences in inhibitory control and attentional bias. The central hypotheses are 1) women who reported heavy-drinking would display greater disruptions in behavioral inhibitory control following alcohol-related cues, 2) men who reported heavy-drinking would display greater attentional bias toward alcohol-related cues, and 3) …

Menstrual Cycle Phase And Hormonal Effects On Emotional Eating In Females With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Urveesha Nirjar

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Previous research has shown that cyclical fluctuations in ovarian hormones can predict changes in ADHD symptoms as well as eating behaviors, particularly emotional eating across the menstrual cycle. Previous studies have so far only examined the effects of estrogen (E2), progesterone (P4) and cycle phase in predicting individual symptoms or disorders such as ADHD or eating disorders or related behaviors separately. The aim of this study is to examine how emotional eating is influenced by naturally occurring hormonal and cycle changes in a sample overrecruited for ADHD. Seventy-eight individuals (assigned female at birth) with menstrual cycles overrecruited for ADHD provided …

Weathering The Storm: Risk And Resiliency Factors In Transgender And Gender-Diverse Youth, Haley R. Hedrick

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Compared with their cisgender peers, transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth face unique and significant risk factors and are at increased risk for health disparities due to intersectional psychosocial factors including high prevalence of childhood trauma, discrimination and minority stress, societal stigma, and lack of access to competent, comprehensive, gender-affirming healthcare. A total of 180 participants were included in the current study, comprised of a clinically-derived sample of TGD youth aged 8–20 years (M = 14.42, SD = 2.17), and their parents. The current study examined risk and resilience variables relevant to TGD youth, with specific focus on adverse childhood events, …

Accidental Corporate Social Norms, David Kwok

American University Business Law Review

Corporations deliberately attempt to shape social norms through advertising, publicity, and political contributions. This paper considers the threat of corporations’ accidental influence on social norms and expectations. When corporations have accidents, we frequently focus on direct harms: an oil platform may catch fire and explode, leading to environmental and human losses. These accidents may also impact social norms, though. If users stay with a dominant social networking firm despite repeated data privacy breaches, for example, people might come to accept a lack of data privacy. Dominant firms may inadvertently facilitate rapid reshaping of societal expectations. Judicial recognition of this threat …

High-Frequency Traders: How The Sec Can Tighten Regulation While Maintaining The Benefits Of A Competitive Market, John I. Sanders

American University Business Law Review

In 2010, the so-called “Flash Crash” of the U.S. stock market brought the overlooked practice of high-frequency trading into the spotlight for the first time. Initial efforts to study and curtail the practice, including a transaction fee pilot attempted by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2018, have been unsuccessful. After outlining the substantial benefits market participants gain from the activities of high-frequency traders, this article argues that there are three potent and readily available tools for limiting the harmful excesses of those traders: (i) aggressively bring market manipulation charges under § 9(a)(2) of the Exchange Act against those who …

Rediscovering Adam Smith: An Inquiry In The Rule Of Law, Competition, And The Future Of The Federal Trade Comission, Melissa Holyoak, Christopher G. Mufarrige

American University Business Law Review

It is my privilege to be here to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (³CEI´), along with the 300th birthday of Adam Smith. For decades, CEI has been at the vanguard of free-market advocacy, and it is wonderful to combine CEI's anniversary with a celebration of Adam Smith. I will start with a standard disclaimer: The views I express today are my own. They do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC or ³Commission´) or any other commissioner.

Shame Clogs The Arteries Of Love: How To Love In The Face Of Shame And Conditions Of Oppression, Theodore J.M. Siasat

CMC Senior Theses

Love and shame, on its face, are at odds with one another. Love tends to foster connection while shame makes one want to hide and isolate oneself. This thesis aims to resolve this tension, particularly in cases of mistaken shame, where the ashamed agent need not feel ashamed, such as in cases of internalized racism, sexism, etc. To do so, this thesis begins by exploring similar cases of love driving people away, looking at (1) love under conditions of oppression and (2) love as seen in Vida Yao’s “Grace and Alienation,” where she is also concerned with ashamed beloveds. …

Creditors Have Standing To Bring Derivative Actions Against Delaware Llcs In Bankruptcy, John D. Hayes Jr.

Bankruptcy Research Library

(Excerpt)

Delaware limited liability companies ("LLCs") are "creatures of contract" and their corporate structure may vary to resemble corporations, partnerships, or a mix of both. Managers of LLCs—like a director or officer of a corporation—owe fiduciary duties to the entity and its members. Generally, the entity has standing to pursue breach of fiduciary duty claims. It is well established that creditors of a corporate debtor may have standing to pursue breach of fiduciary duty claims against directors through derivative actions. Under Delaware law, the applicable statute does not confer standing for creditors of Delaware LLCs to bring derivative actions on …

How Sexual Health Knowledge Can Affect The Reproductive Behaviors Of Ethnic Minority Women, Bansari Modi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Health knowledge plays a large role in health outcomes, especially those of racial and ethnic minorities. There is a lack of literature discussing the relation between sexual health knowledge obtained during adolescence and the reproductive behaviors of minority women later in life.

Purpose: To examine the association between sexual health knowledge during adolescence and subsequent contraception use among racial and ethnic minority women in adulthood.

Methods: Data from Waves I, III, and IV of the National Longitudinal Study if Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) was used to explore the relation between adolescent health knowledge and subsequent contraception use …

The Five-Step Writing Process, Andrew P. Johnson

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

This is an excerpt from my book, Johnson, A. (2024). Being and becoming teachers of writing: A meaning-based approach. Routledge. It should be out in March.April of 2024.

https://www.routledge.com/Being-and-Becoming-Teachers-of-Writing-A-Meaning-Based-Approach-to-Authentic/Johnson/p/book/9781032355726

Relative Impact Of Economic Policy Uncertainty And Mortgage Rates On The Supply Of New Homes For Sale In The United States, Jaclyn M. Devylder-Gaidish

Doctoral Dissertations (DBA)

This paper analyzes the changeable impact of economic policy uncertainty and mortgage rates on the supply of new homes for sale in the United States. The homes supply is proxied by the ratio of new homes for sale to new houses sold. The analysis utilizes monthly data from January 1985 to November 2023. The relationship is assessed using least square regression with second order autoregressive correction as well as Bai-Perron multiple breakpoint regression for structural breaks and Markov switching tests for state-dependency. The results demonstrate a significant direct correlation between economic policy uncertainty and housing supply, but only during the …

Economic Policy Uncertainty And Its Impact On Unemployment Rates Among U.S. Ethnic Groups, Melody Shirley Nimoh

Doctoral Dissertations (DBA)

The study aims to investigate the transmission of Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) shocks on unemployment rates across different ethnic groups in the United States. The research employs econometric analysis such as regression modeling to determine the relationship between EPU and unemployment rates among African American, Hispanic or Latino American, and White American communities. The study estimates coefficient estimates for the lagged change in EPU and its impact on respective unemployment rates for each ethnic group. This shows that there are statistically significant positive relationships between EPU shocks and unemployment rates across all ethnic groups. An increase in EPU leads to …

A Signal Injection Attack Against Zero Involvement Pairing And Authentication For The Internet Of Things, Isaac Ahlgren, Jack West, Kyuin Lee, George K. Thiruvathukal, Neil Klingensmith

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Zero Involvement Pairing and Authentication (ZIPA) is a promising technique for auto-provisioning large networks of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices. In this work, we present the first successful signal injection attack on a ZIPA system. Most existing ZIPA systems assume there is a negligible amount of influence from the unsecured outside space on the secured inside space. In reality, environmental signals do leak from adjacent unsecured spaces and influence the environment of the secured space. Our attack takes advantage of this fact to perform a signal injection attack on the popular Schurmann & Sigg algorithm. The keys generated by the adversary with …

Synthesis Of Cationic Liposome Nanoparticles Using A Thin Film Dispersed Hydration And Extrusion Method, Alessandro Cazzolla, Julie Rose Mae Mondala, Janith Wanigasekara, Joanna Carroll, Noah Daly, Brijesh Tiwari, Alan Casey, James F. Curtin

Articles

Liposome nanoparticles can carry a wide range of therapeutic molecules including small molecules and nucleic acid-based therapeutics. Potential benefits include translocation across physiological barriers, reduced systemic toxicity, and enhanced pharmacokinetic parameters such as absorption, distribution, selective release and optimal elimination kinetics. Liposome nanoparticles can be generated with a wide range of natural and synthetic lipid-based molecules that confer desirable properties depending on the desired therapeutic application Nel et al (2023), Large (2021), Elkhoury (2020). This protocol article seeks to detail the procedures involved in the production of cationic liposomes using thin-film dispersed hydration method with an estimated uniform size of …

Review Of Detection Limits For Various Techniques For Bacterial Detection In Food Samples, Xinyi Zhao Nanolab Research Centre, Abhijnan Bhat, Christine O’Connor School Of Food Science And Environmental Health, James Curtin Faculty Of Engineering And Built Environment, Baljit Singh, Micra Biodiagnostics Technology Gateway And Health, Engineering & Materials Sciences (Hems) Research Hub, Furong Tian Nanolab Research Centre

Articles

Foodborne illnesses can be infectious and dangerous, and most of them are caused by bacteria. Some common food-related bacteria species exist widely in nature and pose a serious threat to both humans and animals; they can cause poisoning, diseases, disabilities and even death. Rapid, reliable and cost-effective methods for bacterial detection are of paramount importance in food safety and environmental monitoring. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (LFIA) and electrochemical methods have been widely used in food safety and environmental monitoring. In this paper, the recent developments (2013–2023) covering PCR, LFIA and electrochemical methods for various bacterial species …

Racial Preferences In Employment After Students For Fair Admissions V. Harvard, Michael Yelnosky

Law Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence To Improve Data Configuration & Accuracy In Modern Flight Management Systems, Sreeram Chittayil

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

AI (Artificial intelligence) can automate the process of generating optimized flight routes using real-time data, such as AIRAC (Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control), significantly reducing the time needed for flight management tasks. While AIRAC data typically takes up to 28 days to refresh, AI could condense this process to just minutes, enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring pilots have timely and accurate flight information. The research includes practical experiments, prototype code, and visual case studies to demonstrate AI's role in optimizing FMS functions while addressing issues related to data input errors and human intervention. Key findings from trials show the algorithm's …

Automatic Detection Of Birds In Images Acquired With Remotely Piloted Aircraft For Managing Wildlife Strikes To Civil Aircraft, Maurycio Rodrigues Oviedo, Flavio A. C. Mendonca Ph.D., Jose Cabrera, Cole A. Mcnall, Raymond Ayres, Ricardo Luís Barbosa, Rodrigo Gallis

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Wildlife strikes represent a significant threat to aviation safety and economics, as evidenced by notable incidents such as the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in 2009. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acknowledges this growing concern, as evidenced by its report on Wildlife Strikes to Civil Aircraft in the United States from 1990 to 2019.To address the need for improved risk management, airports conduct Wildlife Hazard Assessments (WHA), a laborious process typically relying on visual identification by Qualified Airport Wildlife Biologists (QAWB). However, technological advancements, such as Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and machine learning (ML), offer promising solutions to …

Performance Prism: A Comprehensive Framework For Performance Measurement In Aircraft Maintenance, Mohammed Timjerdine, Saoudi Taibi, Younes Moubachir

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Aircraft maintenance is governed by rigorous safety requirements and high operational complexity, demanding robust performance measurement frameworks to ensure optimal maintenance practices. This paper investigates existing performance measurement methodologies within the sector, highlighting their limitations and the need for a more structured evaluation system. Through this critical analysis of current literature, the paper proposes the Performance Prism (PP) framework as a novel and potentially robust solution for assessing and enhancing aircraft maintenance performance. Because the PP framework integrates multiple dimensions of evaluation, it provides a holistic assessment of aircraft maintenance performance, thereby enhancing reliability, efficiency, and overall effectiveness. Using examples …

Just Culture In Aviation: A Metaphorical Study On Aircraft Maintenance Students, Ramazan Çoban, Cengiz Mesut Bükeç

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Just Culture, a sub-dimension of safety culture, has been a prominent and debated topic in aviation safety in recent years. Just culture signifies a work environment where employees are motivated to provide essential safety-related information, but a clear distinction must be made between acceptable and unacceptable behaviours. The aim of this study is to examine the fundamental characteristics of just culture in the aviation sector. The phenomenology method, one of the qualitative research designs, has been adopted in the study. Purposeful sampling was used in the selection of participants, with the sample consisting of 78 students studying in the aircraft …

Managing Uncertainty In The Airline Industry: The Interaction Of Strategic Flexibility, Organizational Learning, And Dynamic Capabilities, Mehmet Sahin Durak, Ferhan Sengur Prof. Dr.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The airline industry is one of the sectors characterized by being highly competitive, dynamic, and uncertain. In addition, the constantly renewed, growing structure and vulnerability to conjuncture of the sector usually renders the sector unstable and unpredictable. In such this environment, one of the most important strategic tools airline companies can use to keep their activities sustainable is increasing their strategic flexibility levels. In this context, this study aims to reveal whether dynamic capabilities mediate the relationship between organizational learning and strategic flexibility in the airline industry. In the research model, the Process Macro plugin, which was developed by Hayes …

The Impact Of Thunderstorms On Take-Off Data In South Africa, Quinton Jacobs Mr.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Aviation and meteorology are entwined disciplines, as aviation occurs in the atmosphere. Prevailing weather conditions at take-off are of utmost importance to aviation. This determines the payload of the aircraft and runway in use. Forecast verification is essential to aviation as it determines the quality of the forecasting products. The tolerances for take-off data are stringent and slightly relaxed tolerances are used in South Africa by mutual agreement.

There are six aerodromes in South Africa where Take-off Data are produced, in varying climatic conditions as South Africa is in both the tropics and midlatitudes. Thunderstorms are a common occurrence over …

A Scale Development Study For Evaluating The Competency Perception Of Air Traffic Controllers, Arif Tuncal, Ertan Çinar

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Ensuring the competencies that influence the performance of air traffic controllers is a key priority for the aviation sector in terms of flight safety. Notwithstanding the efforts of international organizations, the absence of a statistically valid and reliable scale in the academic literature for the measurement of air traffic controllers’ competency perceptions signifies a notable gap. The aim of the study was to develop a scale for measuring air traffic controller competency. The study sample comprised 482 air traffic controllers. Following semi-structured interviews and document analysis, an item pool was established, ensuring content validity through expert input, with a CVR …