Multiphysics Transport In Porous Thermal Protection Systems: Experimental Characterization Of Gas Permeability And Radiative Properties, Yejajul Hakim

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Porous thermal protection systems (TPS) used in hypersonic vehicles exhibit coupled gas and radiative transport across multiple regimes and length scales. Accurate performance prediction requires reliable characterization of permeability, slip-flow behavior, and radiative transport properties, particularly for low-permeability and charred materials where existing data are limited. This dissertation presents experimental methods for characterizing multiphysics transport in porous TPS materials. A modular flow system was developed to measure permeability and slip behavior in both virgin and charred materials under relevant environments. A transient pressure decay method enables accurate permeability estimation in low-permeability regimes and provides insight into effective pore structure. Results …

Reciprocity-Based Transfer Function Techniques For Acoustic Source Reconstruction, Spring Isolator Characterization And Structural Damping Assessment, David Pum Thian Lal Paite Neihguk

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Reciprocity implies that a system responds identically when the source and receiver positions are interchanged. This dissertation applies this principle to address three practical challenges in noise and vibration characterization, where conventional approaches are limited by inaccessible interfaces, constrained excitation conditions, or metrics that do not fully capture vibroacoustic behavior.

The first study develops and validates an inverse method to characterize ducted acoustic sources using acoustic free velocity. Acoustic reciprocity is applied to simplify transfer function measurements. The method is extended to large cross-section ducts, where the source is reconstructed as a collection of point sources along a plane. Validation …

Process-Guided Learning Via Data-Driven Modeling And Controller Synthesis, Benton Clark

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

This work introduces process-guided learning, a framework in which process characteristics and learning algorithms are combined in the modeling process of engineering applications with the aim of uniting traditional and data-driven modeling and control techniques. Traditional engineering methods using simplified analytic models fail to capture the increasing complexities of engineering problems with sufficient accuracy to achieve modern requirements. More advanced modeling and control techniques using high-fidelity models often produce a computational burden that is infeasible for real-time solutions. Data-driven modeling offers a simple and flexible algorithm for producing real-time capable, high-fidelity models, but naive implementations lack the physical constraints of …

Molecular Mechanisms And Metabolic Consequences Of Glucocorticoid Resistance, Genesee J. Martinez

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Glucocorticoids are vital steroid hormones that govern metabolism, stress responses, and immune functions through intricate, tissue-specific mechanisms, both genomic and non-genomic. These hormones bind to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which then acts as a transcription factor to modulate gene expression. Chronic elevation of glucocorticoid levels may lead to glucocorticoid resistance, resulting in adiposity, inflammation, and insulin resistance, thereby adversely affecting multiple metabolic tissues. Whether produced endogenously or administered exogenously, excessive, chronic glucocorticoid concentrations impair glucocorticoid signaling. Although there are two primary isoforms of the receptor, GR⍺ and GRβ, only GR⍺ interacts with glucocorticoids.Through the research conducted in this dissertation, we …

Expanding The Role Of Muscle Stem Cell Fusion In Muscle Under Hypertrophic Stimulus, Jensen Goh Zhong Sheng

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Muscle stem cells (MuSCs) are a unique stem cell population that can activate in response to both injury and growth stimuli. Studies on muscle regeneration have shown MuSC activation follows a uniform progression through proliferation, differentiation, and fusion. Therefore, to determine whether MuSC replication is a prerequisite for differentiation under hypertrophic stimulus, I used a lineage-tracking mouse model (Pax7^rtTA; TRE-H2B-GFP) to label MuSC nuclei and simultaneously tracked DNA synthesis via EdU incorporation. This dual-labeling approach allowed us to not only distinguish MuSC-derived nuclei but also demarcate which MuSC had proliferated prior to fusion. I then employed a mechanical …

Breaking The Cycle: Financial Abuse And Mental Health Outcomes Among Women Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence Through The Abc-X Model Of Family Stress, Angel Martinez-Johnson`

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The present study examined the relationship between financial abuse and mental health outcomes among women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) with particular attention to the roles of perceived financial knowledge and resilience. Guided by the ABC-X Model of Family Stress, this study explored whether these perceived resources function as mediators in the association between financial abuse and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Findings indicated that financial abuse was significantly associated with increased psychological distress across all three outcomes. Although perceived financial knowledge and resilience were significantly related to certain mental health outcomes, analyses did not …

The Impact Of Technology On The New Product Development Process For Intimate Apparel, Cassie M. Lambert

Theses and Dissertations--Retailing and Tourism Management

The purpose of this research was to provide a better understanding of how 3D CAD Software impacts the New Product Development Process of Intimate Apparel.  As a category, Intimate Apparel falls behind other categories in adopting new technology.  Interviews were conducted with industry professionals to explore their adoption and use of 3D CAD Software.  Two case studies were also conducted to compare the adoption strategies of a small and a large company.  Data coding of the interviews and case studies revealed similar relationships and common themes across all participants.  Findings show that the strategic implementation of 3D CAD Software reduces …

Managing Dietary Nonstructural Carbohydrates In Insulin Dysregulated Horses: Pasture, Long-Stem Forage, And Restrictive Grazing Strategies, Morgan J. Askins

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Insulin dysregulation (ID) is a complex endocrine disorder, impacting a large percentage of the equine population. ID is the defining characteristic of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). Within the various classifications of EMS horses, the commonality is ID and their higher risk of laminitis. To mitigate insulin response and laminitis risk in ID horses, current management focuses on restricting pasture exposure and feeding low nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) rations. Minimal studies have evaluated how ID horses respond to pasture of various NSC, long-stem forages, and restrictive grazing strategies. Providing horse owners and managers with improved nutritional management recommendations for ID horses with …

Equid Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) Evolution & Genome Organization, Lauren C. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

The evolution of modern horses has a well-documented fossil record and has long been of interest to the genetics community. Although non-caballine equids (e.g. zebras, donkeys, and asses) can hybridize with horses, the resulting offspring are typically infertile. Despite these reproductive barriers, genomic analyses reveal regions of high sequence similarity among equid species. This dissertation investigates the role of historical introgression in the evolution of modern Equus species. The first chapter re-evaluates earlier findings derived from a limited horse population and a single reference genome. The variants of the identified regions were pushed through Ensembl’s Variant Effect Predictor to assess …

Between The Rails: Experiential Education And Its Impact On Compliance And Consistency In Racetrack Surface Management, Heather Mackenzie

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Recent regulatory requirements within the Thoroughbred racing industry have increased expectations for consistent collection and reporting of racetrack surface data. Despite clear standards, implementation in daily operations remains inconsistent, highlighting a gap between regulation, knowledge, and practice. This study examined the impact of an experiential education curriculum on racetrack personnel’s self-efficacy and reporting consistency.

Using a quantitative design, data were collected through pre- and post-surveys measuring self-efficacy and records of the number of days surface data were entered. Descriptive statistics, paired-samples t-tests, and effect size analyses were used. Results showed a statistically significant increase in self-efficacy (p < .001) with large effect sizes, indicating meaningful gains in confidence and comfortability. Reporting consistency did not show a statistically significant change (p = .885).

Overall, experiential education …

Understanding Knowledge And Perceptions Of The Beef Industry On A Land-Grant University Campus, Allison E. Reaves

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

A well-researched phenomenon in the agricultural industry is the effects of constant innovation coupled with an increasing divide between producer and consumer. This issue has been presented as especially prevalent within animal agriculture and the beef industry, a predominant concern considering Kentucky’s agricultural commodities. This study (n = 31) utilized a mixed-methods approach to understand the knowledge, perceptions, and behavior of beef consumers on a land-grant university campus. Methodologies included Python’s DeepFace emotion recognition, semi-structured interviews, and the JMALI agricultural literacy assessment. Findings revealed participants to be below expected agricultural literacy levels of high school graduates (M=11), with no …

A Quality Improvement Project: Nurse-Led Nutritional Support To Reduce Missed Chemotherapy Appointments, Eva Balboa

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Introduction/Background

Malnutrition affects approximately 43% of cancer patients nationally and is associated with missed chemotherapy appointments, treatment interruption, and poor clinical outcomes. At a 30-chair outpatient cancer center in South Texas, a retrospective chart review revealed that 45% of patients experienced malnutrition-related symptoms contributing to appointment disruptions. Despite evidence-based recommendations for routine nutritional screening and support, no standardized protocol existed at this site.

Objectives

 The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement a nurse-led nutritional support protocol and evaluate its effectiveness in (1) reducing the missed chemotherapy appointment rate from 10% to 5%, (2) achieving 100% compliance with …

A Guideline For Underserved Adult Residents In Need Of Affordable Transportation Access To Healthcare, Tammie E. Walker

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Background

During the development of the 2022 Tarrant County Public Health Community Health Assessment, two gaps were identified that contribute to disparities: transportation and access to healthcare in areas of high need (Y. M. Wingate, Ed.D., Community Health Assessment Division Manager, Tarrant County Public Health, personal communication, June 20, 2025). As of 2017, 5.8 million individuals reported delaying medical care due to a lack of accessible transportation in the U.S. (Wolfe et al., 2020). The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) of 2022 reported that 5.9% of residents living in the West South-Central region, which includes Texas, found that, within the …

Toward A World History Of Pre-Modern Coin Imitations, Niv Horesh

Comparative Civilizations Review

Among historians, it has become axiomatic that coinage over three millennia served three purposes: as a medium of exchange, as a store of value, and as a unit of account. The communicative aspects of coinage, i.e. the imagery it carries often by way of issuer propaganda, have been of less interest even if it remains the mainstay of numismatists. But in the world of numismatics, globally framed studies of imagery or iconography are rare. This article is aimed at correcting this imbalance, at least provisionally. It will explore the main archetypes of coinage imitation by way of inferring commonalities or …

Artificial Intelligence And African Studies, Gloria Emeagwali

Comparative Civilizations Review

African Studies is a conglomerate of multidisciplinary academic fields that include paleontology, history, literature, linguistics, philosophy, African Traditional Religion and theology, art, and Afrofuturism, as well as African Indigenous Knowledge Systems. This paper focuses on the latter, namely African Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIKS), and African Studies, in general, from the viewpoint of two chatbots, namely, ChatGPT-4, and DeepSeek v.3. Do these models make a break with Eurocentrism and prevent unbiased information on AIKS? Are the underlying conceptual issues underpinning AIKS fully grasped, and if so, what are some relevant examples of this accomplishment? How do these programs respond to specialized …

Books Of Interest Spring 2026

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

End Matter

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

Extending Norbert Elias: Adjacency And The Dynamics Of Civilizations, Arthur Michelino

Comparative Civilizations Review

Civilizations have rarely been approached as systems of interdependence and strain. Most modern theories have oscillated between cyclical visions of rise and fall and static conceptions of blocs defined by cultural essence. Both perspectives have offered sweeping interpretations, but both also detached civilizations from the environments of pressure and interaction in which they have always existed. To reframe civilizations as relational processes requires both recognition of their internal dynamics and attention to the external conditions that compel their transformation.

An Exploration Of Vicarious Trauma In The Integrated Trauma Team, Victoria L. Hadix

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study aimed to explore the impacts of self-care, coping skills, and resilience on the perceptions of vicarious trauma by members of the trauma team in a small community hospital in the Northeastern United States, through the use of qualitative methodology and a semi-structured interview. The goal of this study was to gain an understanding of the mental health factors impacting health care professionals functioning in the fast-paced, demanding environment of the emergency room. Furthermore, the study explored health care professionals’ perceptions of the integrated trauma team and the relationships between individual and team-based characteristics. This study helped increase understanding …

“They Don't Care If I'M Here Or Not”: The Impact Of Exclusionary Discipline On Black Boys In Elementary Schools, Arielle Gulley

DSW Capstone Projects

Disproportionate and exclusionary school discipline practices continue to affect African American boys as early as elementary school, with significant implications for their mental health, academic engagement, and long-term educational trajectories. This capstone project examines how racially biased discipline contributes to disparities in belonging, emotional well-being, and student-teacher relationships, and advances the need to reframe discipline as a site of mental health intervention rather than punishment.

The systematic literature review synthesizes peer-reviewed research to examine the relationship between exclusionary discipline and mental health outcomes among African American boys in elementary settings, with particular attention to patterns emerging in early educational environments. …

Lumbosacral Orthosis Can Improve Postural Control In Older Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain, Régis M.-L. D'Assomption, Christian Lariviere, Hakim Mecheri, Suzy Ngomo, Rubens A. Da Silva

Études primaires

Background

Older adults with chronic low back pain may report poor postural control and increased fall risks. Possible key mechanisms are altered lumbar spine proprioception, stiffness and mobility, which could be enhanced through lumbar stabilization approaches. The purpose of this study was thus to evaluate the immediate effects of two lumbar stabilization approaches on postural control measures, namely a lumbosacral orthosis and the abdominal drawing-in maneuver.

Methods

57 older adults (> 65 yrs): 22 with chronic low back pain and 35 healthy controls performed two trials (30 s) of a semi-tandem balance task on a force platform, while three experimental …

Lack Of Player Protection Revealed Under Mlb’S Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault And Child Abuse Policy And Necessary Changes To Avoid Arbitrary Disciplinary Actions., Maureen J. Camacho

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Telemedicine Fraud: Exposing Vulnerabilities And Recommended Solutions, Evander Tang

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Reforming The No Surprises Act: Addressing Structural Deficiencies To Protect Patients From Unexpected Medical Bills, Elvin Migirov

Student Works

No abstract provided.

The First Amendment: Sacrificing The Well-Being Of Minors For The Absolutism Of Freedom Of Speech, Nikki Carr

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Court Of Arbitration For Sport: A Flawed But Necessary System That Will Shape The Future Of The Olympic Games, For Better Or For Worse, Michael Digeronimo

Student Works

No abstract provided.

The Court Of Arbitration For Sport: An Investigation Into Its Issues And Solutions Which Can Restore Its Legitimacy As “The Supreme Court Of Sports.”, Alex Kingsley

Student Works

No abstract provided.

The Color Of Innovation And Law: An Analysis Of Racialized Populations Adversely Impacted By Structural Inequities In Intellectual Property Law And Biometric Technologies, R.S. Rowe

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Liability Of Employer Organizations In Relation To Abuse Committed By Employees: The Nassar Usa Gymnastics And Michigan State University Abuse Scandal, Julia Rossinow

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Improving The Game: How Removing Health And Safety Protocol From Nfl Collective Bargaining Agreements Can Serve To Benefit Players And The League Altogether, Randall Lazzaro

Student Works

No abstract provided.