Digital Commons Network^™

Thermal Analysis Of Combustion Synthesis Of Fealxoy Catalysts For Dehydrogenation Of Fossil Fuels, Laura Alejandra Martinez Espinoza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The growing demand for hydrogen as a clean energy carrier highlights the need for its alternative production method with reduced CO₂ emissions. Microwave-assisted thermocatalytic dehydrogenation of fossil fuels offers a promising solution for clean hydrogen production, with FeAlxOy nanocomposites acting as efficient catalysts due to their thermal stability, catalytic activity, and microwave-absorption properties. FeAlxOy nanocomposites, fabricated by solution combustion synthesis (SCS), have shown good microwave-absorption and catalytic properties. However, the effects of synthesis parameters such as fuel type and Fe:Al molar ratio on the SCS process and properties of the final material are not well understood. The SCS process involves …

The New Anthropocentrism: The Problem Of Water Conservation And Water Justice, Benjamin Stuart Milam

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

My objective with my thesis is to argue for and reinforce a type of anthropocentrism that is both environmentally conscious and consumable for an audience that is not necessarily well versed in philosophical literature. In the first chapter I go over philosophical frameworks, such as Anthropocentrism and Biocentrism, and why I believe they do not meet both of those criteria listed. After that I discuss New Anthropocentrism, coined by Clive Hamilton, and why I believe that a slightly modified version possesses qualities that I believe are needed for the crisis at hand. In chapter 2 I use that framework and …

Production Of Labiodental Fricative /V/ In Heritage Speakers Of Spanish, Andrea Michelle Nunez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

AbstractThe present study investigates the factors that influence Heritage Spanish speakersâ?? production of the allophone [v]â??namely its corresponding orthography ( vs. ), the phonological context in which it is produced (VCV vs. NCV, where V = vowel, C = consonant, N = /n/), and participantsâ?? language dominance (Spanish vs. English). More specifically, this study seeks to determine whether, for these Spanish speakers, [v] contrasts with /b/ (hence, /v/) or is an allophone of /b/. Standard Spanish does not have /v/, but it has â??an orthographic form of /b/, which in turn has (at least) two allophonic realizations: [b] after nasals …

Navigating Social And Academic Spaces As A Non-Traditional Student In A Doctoral Program: An Autoethnography, Luz Elena Nieto

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This autoethnography examines my personal, professional, and academic experiences throughout my educational journey, aiming to address gaps in scholarly literature relevant to non-traditional students at all educational levels, particularly at the doctoral level. As a non-traditional student, I have encountered significant challenges during my academic career. I have often felt like an outsider due to my age, generational gap, and educational background. The impostor phenomenon has intensified my feelings of being an outcast, even though I have had a prosperous professional career. I have drawn upon my memories, reflections, narratives, scholarly literature, documents, and personal artifacts to provide a comprehensive …

Investigating A Study Abroad Program As A Reflective Development Of Intercultural Competence For Students In A Hispanic-Serving University, Akindele Ogunleye

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation project investigates the broad problem of evaluation and effectiveness that have diminished the opportunities that study abroad can potentially offer as part of higher education in the U.S. The research aim was to develop a reflective plan of implementing study abroad to achieve the transformation of intercultural competence of students of higher education in a Hispanic university. The research questions were deduced from a combination of views from literature since the 1920s affirming study abroad as elitist endeavor, female, liberal arts and academically weak. Using a quantitative data methodology, the study were collected data from students who participated …

The Influence Of Pitch Type (Fastball, Curveball, And Change-Up) On The Contralateral Trunk Tilt In Adolescent Pitchers, Arlene Nichole Perez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Baseball participation has grown, with over 15.59 million players aged six and older in 2021. Pitching relies on effective coordination of the kinetic chain to transfer forces and generate ball velocity. While trunk rotation during pitching has been studied, contralateral trunk tilt across pitch types remains underexplored. This study investigated differences in hand velocity, stride length, and contralateral trunk tilt between fastball, curveball, and change-up pitches in 16 adolescent pitchers ages 15-18. Motion data were collected using a seven-camera system interfaced with Theia 3D. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant difference in hand velocity between fastball and change-up (p = …

Ni Uno Mas: A Critical Examination Of Zero Tolerance Policies, Marcos Eduardo Peã±A

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study investigates the impact of zero-tolerance policies on minority students, emphasizing the school-to-prison pipeline (STPP). Using a qualitative methodology and testimonios, the study reveals how these policies, initially aimed at severe offenses, have disproportionately targeted minor infractions among ethnic minority students, exacerbating systemic inequities. Through a comprehensive literature review and personal narratives, the research highlights the cultural mismatch between strict disciplinary measures and the lived realities of these students, shedding light on the profound consequences these policies have on their educational journey and personal development. The findings underscore the urgent need for policy reform, advocating for restorative justice practices …

Computational Investigation Of Boundary-Layer Transition Mechanisms In A Blunt Cone, Arturo Rodriguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In this study, we have performed two-dimensional steady-state hypersonic CFD and one-and-two-dimensional steady-state heat conduction numerical simulations. We are using them to guide and study hypersonic boundary-layer transition ground testing physical experiments to be performed at Holloman High-Speed Test Track. We use surface heat transfer and fluid flow spot signatures to identify fluid flow regimes using laminar and turbulent numerical simulation solvers to understand boundary-layer transition thermocouple temperatures and fluid flow-forming structures. We have also analyzed the fluid flow in the geometries to be inviscid. We passed the CFD solution into the boundary-layer Harris code developed by NASA to explore …

Blood And Ink: Revenge In Contemporary Fiction, Shadia Sobers

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

They say that revenge is a dish best served cold and that it is sweet, but what about the flavors in between? It is sweet at times, with a hint of saltiness following close behind as you pucker your lips and swish your tongue around. Soon after, a sour taste comes out of nowhere before a tang of umami hits you at the end. The flavor varies from person to person, just as if seeking revenge in and of itself is morally correct.

We’ve seen revenge in countless forms of media: books, movies, and plays. Each takes a slightly different …

Constructing A Discourse Model Across Modalities In Bilinguals, Diana Uribe

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The present study aimed to explore whether discourse integration is affected by differences in modalities, and if the magnitude of the effect is modulated by language dominance for bilingual readers. Spanish-English bilinguals read and listened to pairs of passages describing two fake science facts, one of which was repeated across passages and the other revised in the second passage. The pair of passages were either in the dominant or less dominant language. The modality (audio or text) of each member of the passage pair was manipulated across four within-subject conditions. After the second passage of each pair, participants verbally recalled …

Tracking - Uh - Attention: Examining The Influence Of Filled Pauses During Speech Comprehension, Rachel Lynn Williams

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In this study, we investigated the temporal dynamics of attention during comprehension and the subsequent effects of changes in attention on speech production manipulated via the filled pause uh. Participants orally described a series of pictures (pretest description phase), then listened to a short informational passage and answered comprehension questions about the passage, and then orally described another series of pictures (posttest description phase). Participants completed this twice: the first passage included a dative structure alternation, and the second passage included a passive structure alternation. For each passage, half of the participants heard a passage with filled pauses included (present) …

Understanding The Factors Associated With The Targeting Of Prison Gangs By Specialized Gang Units (Sgus) In The United States, Bruno Aldair Zapata

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Specialized gang units (SGUs) are prominent in police departments in the United States with their sole purpose to respond to gang activity across the country. SGUs vary in the types of gangs they target, resources available, officer composition, and the types of enforcement activities they use. SGUs have encountered various controversies such as exaggerating the gang problem in the media, for distorted intelligence in their gang databases, and for racial stereotyping and harassment among Hispanics in particular. Research regarding SGUs is limited in general, but even fewer studies exist on the targeting efforts of prison gangs by SGUs. Prison gang …

Composition Studies At The Us-Mexico Border, José Luis Cano

Writing and Language Studies Faculty Publications

This essay discusses the conflict a compositionist from the US-Mexico border encounters in teaching composition amidst migration. Through autohistoriando, the author shares his experiences inside and outside of the composition course at this border to analyze and respond to this conflict.

2021 Carroll County Advisory Council Minutes And Agendas, Mikayla Cerney

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Drivers Of Variability In Surf Zone Habitat Use By Sandy Beach Fish: Unwitting Citizen Scientists Reveal Detailed Spatiotemporal Patterns, Ryan Hepburn, Tim Scott, Sam Prodger, Benjamin J. Ciotti

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Surf zones of sandy beaches are among the most heavily impacted aquatic ecosystems, yet are of criticalecological importance for inshore fish and fisheries. Knowledge of the drivers of fish habitat use in surf zones isneeded across broad scales to advise conservation and fisheries management, but sampling capabilities can belimited in spatio-temporal extent and resolution. The lesser weever Echiichthys vipera is a small, benthic,venomous fish that dominates surf zone fish assemblages in Northwest Europe and inflicts painful stings onbeachgoers. This study capitalises on an extensive record of E. vipera sting incidents to characterise variations insurf zone habitat use in relation to …

What Makes Depression Babies Different: Expectations Or Preferences?, Tomás Lejarraga, Jan K. Woike, Ralph Hertwig

School of Psychology

People who have experienced a financial crisis have been found to take less financial risk in their future lives. What causes this behavior? Have “depression babies” become more risk averse or are they more pessimistic about future market returns, that is, a preference or a belief change? To find out, we manipulated how experimental investors learned about a crisis – by experiencing it first-hand or by learning about it from graphs – and examined their subsequent propensity to take financial risk. Investors additionally revealed their expectations about the market by making incentivized predictions about its future value. Our findings replicated …

Interactional Ordering: Reconstructing Lon Fuller's Theory Of Private Law, Shyamkrishna Balganesh

Faculty Scholarship

While Lon Fuller is best remembered for his contributions to the fields of general jurisprudence and contract law, his work in each has long been seen as unrelated to the other. This Article shows that in a significantly underappreciated body of work, Fuller did connect the two and, in the process, developed the outlines of a robust theory of private law, best characterized as “interactional ordering.” Driven by Fuller’s efforts to develop a jurisprudence of form that was derived from conventionalism and natural law thinking, interactional ordering sees all normativity as originating in horizontal interactions between individuals in society, seeking …

Incremental Nicotinic Acid Supplementation To Preweaned Dairy Calves: Effects On Growth, Blood Metabolites, Purine Derivatives And Indirect Rumen Development, Tamanna Islam

Master's Theses and Capstones

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the dose response of nicotinic acid (NA) on body growth, blood glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations, and urinary purine derivatives (PD) excretion in preweaned dairy calves. A total of 40 (22 male and 18 female) Holstein dairy calves averaging initial body weight 42.5 ± 5.60 kg (mean ± SD) were blocked by birth and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 levels of NA: (1) 0 g/d (CON), (2) 2 g/d (2NA), (3) 4 g/d (4NA), and (4) 6 g/d (6NA). Following parturition, calves were separated immediately from their dams before suckling and …

A Volumetric Model Of Ree And Other Critical Element-Bearing Underclay Deposits In The Eckley Mine Area, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Harrison Spiller

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Eastern Middle Anthracite Field in southern Luzerne County, Pennsylvania was investigated for potential quantities of critical minerals, including rare earth-bearing minerals (REE) present in underclay deposits associated with coal measures of an existing anthracite coal mine. This work is built on Department of Energy/National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE/ NETL) 2016 work on samples from the Eckley Mine near Hazelton, Pa. which discovered elevated contents of some critical minerals in core from a single wellbore. This thesis reports on new and additional information collected from that area through geological field work, detailed conventional core descriptions, stratigraphic cross sections, and spectral …

First Latter-Day Saint Women Baptized In Europe And Oceania: Ann Cottam Dawson (1785-1849) And Terii (Ca. 1800-Ca. 1860), Robyn Shahan Spears

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a study in the backgrounds, Latter-day Saint conversions, and ministries of two early nineteenth-century women: Ann Cottam Dawson in Lancashire, England and a woman known simply as Terii on the island of Tubuai in the Austral Islands (now French Polynesia). Because these two women did not leave behind diaries, this study relies upon evidence such as missionary diaries, newspapers, church records, vital records, genealogical records, sermons, and even a mutiny narrative. The discussion is organized in three parts: Dawson’s biography, Terii’s biography, and a comparison of the two. Both women fed and housed the missionaries, performed women’s …

Comparing And Evaluating Models Of Tile-Assembly Using Intrinsic Simulation, Daniel Hader

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Tile-assembly studies abstract models of computation inspired by advancements in the emerging field of DNA-nanotechnology, where synthetic strands of DNA are used as building blocks for microscopic structures. These DNA strands can be made to combine into structural units with selectively sticky sides that abstractly resemble Wang tiles. However, unlike Wang tiles, an assembly process is modeled where tiles combine one-by-one to form larger assemblies according to matching rules based on their sticky sides. While in practice, these tile-assembly models have seen use in designing DNA nano-structures, the mathematical study of their theory has revealed an exciting interplay between geometric …

Exploring The Impact Of Generative Ai Prompt Engineering In Higher Education: A Study In Undergraduate And Graduate Business Analytics Courses, Jana Gastineau

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The rapid evolution of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) presents a transformative opportunity in higher education, offering new pathways for learning through personalized feedback, interactive environments, and support for complex tasks. This quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of targeted GenAI prompt engineering instruction on knowledge acquisition, prompt writing skills, and confidence levels among undergraduate and graduate students in business analytics courses at a research university. A pre-test and post-test design measured changes across knowledge acquisition, prompt writing proficiency, and GenAI confidence and usage. Findings revealed a mixed impact on knowledge acquisition, with undergraduates showing minor improvements and graduate students experiencing declines …

Towards Robust And Fair Vision Learning In Open-World Environments, Thanh-Dat Truong

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The rapid increase of large-scale data and high-performance computational hardware has promoted the development of data-driven machine vision approaches. Advanced deep learning approaches have achieved remarkable performance in various vision problems and are closing the capability gap between artificial intelligence (AI) and humans. However, towards the ultimate goal of AI, which replicates human ability in visual perception tasks, the machine vision learning methods still need to address several ill-posed challenges. First, while the current vision learning methods often rely on large-scale annotated data, the data annotation process is a costly and time-consuming process. Second, the unfaired predictions produced by vision …

Addressing Cybersecurity Data & Workforce Scarcity With Troy: Testbed For Resilient Operational Systems, Henry Oliver Schmidt

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Machine learning has seen an explosive rise in the past decade. Companies, organizations, and governments are racing to pursue the advancements and insight provided by machine learning powered tools. However, to get effective and meaningful insights from machine learning models a significant amount of detailed data is required to train them. This poses a problem in fields where data is not openly available, such as cybersecurity. Entities are often unwilling to give out network or system data to the public for machine learning and cybersecurity research since that data can contain sensitive or proprietary information. The risk simply outweighs the …

Investigating Consumer Perception And Wine Quality Impact On Alternative Packaging On Grape (Vitis), Mark Walker Bartz

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The grape (Vitis species) and wine industry has major global economic impacts but faces issues with sustainability. The use of glass bottles for wine production is environmentally unsustainable due to energy-intensive manufacturing and poor recycling rates. However, wine consumers tend to associate glass bottles with higher quality over alternative wine packaging materials such as aluminum, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and flexible bags/pouches. Since wine price and packaging influence consumers perception of wine quality, wine producers need to understand consumers to maximize profits. Thus, the overall objectives of this research were to investigate consumer perception and wine quality impact of alternative …

Enhancing Selection Intensity With High-Throughput Phenotyping Data In Plant Breeding, Ashmita Upadhyay

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Genomic prediction (GP) has proven to be an essential tool to accelerate the cultivar development pipeline by predicting the performance of un-phenotyped lines in the field of plant breeding. However, the prediction accuracy is bounded by the heritability of the target trait, limiting the efficiency of the single-trait GP model. To overcome the limitation, a multi-trait genomic prediction model using high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) data can be used to leverage secondary traits to boost the predictive ability of the target trait. This study aimed to assess the efficiency of the multi-trait (MT)- GP model powered by HTP derived secondary traits in …

A Cmos Ldo Voltage Regulator For Low Power Applications, Nicolaus Vail

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the design, simulation, layout, and testing of a low dropout linear voltage regulator (LDO) in a 180 nm CMOS process. The LDO is intended for use in low-power, battery-operated applications, and it has an adjustable output for a variety of different implementations. It can supply up to 100 mA of current, which is enough to power many small electronic circuits. It has a dropout voltage of 150 mV, and it consumes less than 200 μA of current during operation, which is on par with many commercial regulators. The line regulation is also comparable to commercially available LDOs, …

I'M Just Me: The Rhetorical Study Of Veterans’ Experiences Of Academic Labels In College Classrooms, Taylor Weeks

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This project seeks to provide a glimpse into the impact of academic labels on student veterans via the student veterans' own voices. This project reflects on and builds from previous research projects that involve transition theories and pedagogical theories in the field of writing studies as well as veteran studies that involve student veterans. Through a locally situated multi-case study qualitative approach using questionnaires and interviews, I examine to what extent do academic labels have on student veterans from the student veterans’ own voices. Finally, I offer implications of this project for writing instructors, administrators, and future researchers involving student …

Wind Tunnel Investigation Of The Along-Wind Dispersion In Finite-Duration Neutrally Buoyant Gas Releases, Daniel Williams

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the along-wind dispersion of hazardous gas releases within a turbulent boundary layer using controlled experiments in an ultra-low-speed wind tunnel, recognizing the limitations of numerical modeling and field tests. This study utilizes a neutrally buoyant gas mixture and dual Flame Ionization Detectors (FIDs) to capture representative, repeatable data on gas cloud behavior over finite durations. Ensemble averaging of 65 trials across varying release durations and downwind distances provided detailed insights into gas dispersion and the distinct time phases within finite-duration releases. Analysis revealed that along-wind dispersion coefficients depend on turbulence and vertical wind shear, with normalized coefficients …

Intersectionality And Career Persistence Of African American Women In Cybersecurity Careers: A Narrative Inquiry, Monica Marquita Jones Prewitt

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this narrative inquiry is to examine the experiences of African American women working in cybersecurity, a male-dominated field. An intersectional lens will be used in the study to provide insight into their positionality as women of color in a male-dominated career field. The study will examine the stories of the women who persisted in the field and the existing influences or interventions that supported their retention. This pre-registered study will provide the framework for this study to be completed at the University of Arkansas. The researcher will use a descriptive phenomenological approach and semi-structured interviews to understand …