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Electophorectic Deposition For Novel Nanodecorated Electrodes Towards Thermally Charging Supercapacitor (Tcsc), Ashish Thakur

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Theses - Archive

Thermally Self-Charging Supercapacitors (TSCS) are a promising new technology that can harvest waste heat to produce electrical energy. The Soret effect is exploited wherein ion separation due a temperature gradient leads to a potential difference. Here, we use electrophoretic deposition (EPD), a room-temperature, scalable, universal technique, to obtain CNT decorated electrodes for fabrication of such TSCS devices with ionic liquid electrolyte. We further show that precise control over deposition parameters can be used for optimization of TSCS performance metrics. TSCS devices were tested by several characterization standards, indicating the superior performance of nanodecorated electrodes obtained by EPD.

Thermal Damage And Mechanical Failure Analysis Of Polymers, Tina Ko

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Theses - Archive

As the demand for more intricate and precise components increases, polymers continue to stand out for their flexibility, durability, and adaptability across numerous applications. From aerospace to biomedical engineering industries, polymers are valued for their versatility and customizability, enabling the creation of complex geometries or achieving specific material properties. Since polymers are widely used, analyzing their thermal and mechanical properties is essential to understand their behavior under high-energy exposure or defects. Two types of polymers were analyzed: Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and 3D-printed digital materials. This thesis investigates the mechanical and thermal response of polymers through two distinct studies. The first part …

Dynamics Of Separated Flows In Diffusers With Vortex Generators, Sandeep Eldho James

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Flow through curved diffusers is complicated due to the possibility of flow separation and secondary flows. Vortex generators (VGs) are a class of passive flow separation control devices used to improve the flow quality in curved diffusers by suppressing flow separation. However, the literature review demands an in-depth investigation on the physical mechanisms related to flow separation control. Thus, this study aims to improve the understanding of the underlying flow physics associated with VG-induced flow separation control in confined flows. The chosen geometry for this study is a well-documented asymmetric diffuser which exhibits a mild flow separation.

The theoretical formulation …

Generalizable Fugitive Carrier Method For 3d Printing Of Hydrogels, Hakan Arslan

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Hydrogels, with physical characteristics resembling biological soft tissues, hold great potential for bioinspired and biomedical applications. However, using them in additive manufacturing systems has challenges because of their poor mechanical and rheological properties. In response to these challenges, we introduce a fugitive carrier method, a novel and generalizable approach for materials incompatible with pneumatic-based extrusion three-dimensional (3D) printers. Our developed fugitive carrier method allows the 3D printing of a broad spectrum of hydrogel precursors with low viscosity while retaining their inherent properties. This technique has been successfully demonstrated by creating biomimetic structures with anisotropic and programmable systems utilizing temperature-sensitive hydrogel …

Quantitative Modeling Of Micro Discharge And Oxide Growth In Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation Of Titanium, Kingsley I. Ochiabuto

Material Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) has been extensively applied in the past to improve the tribological properties of titanium and its alloys allowing their widespread use in industrial applications. However, the complete PEO mechanism of action remains unclear. While there are several mathematical models providing useful insights into the PEO process, they do not fully incorporate the effect of applied potential on the outcomes of PEO. In this work, we develop an experimentally informed computational model by expanding on the dielectric breakdown model. We incorporate experimental data to extract key parameters, exploring the iterative dependency of the oxide thickness and ionic …

Machine Learning-Based Methodology For Multi-Objective And Multi-Design Variable Optimization Of Finned Heat Sinks And Evaluation Of Electrochemical Additive Manufactured Heat Sink Designs For Single-Phase Immersion Cooling, Joseph F. Herring Ii

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Traditional air-cooling along with corresponding heat sinks are beginning to reach performance limits, requiring lower air-supply temperatures and higher air-supply flowrates, in order to meet the rising thermal management requirements of high power-density electronics. A switch from air-cooling to single-phase immersion cooling provides significant thermal performance improvement and reliability benefits. When hardware which is designed for air cooling is implemented within a single-phase immersion cooling regime, optimization of the heat sinks provides additional thermal performance improvements. This work investigates performance of a machine learning (ML) approach to building a predictive model of the multi objective and multi-design variable optimization of …

Core Values In Public Administration And Policy: Three Levels Of Evaluation In The Public Sector, Emily Brandt, Alejandro Rodriguez, Karabi Bezboruah, Emily Nwakpuda

Public Affairs Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation is composed of three separate but interrelated papers that examine the role of core values in public administration and public policy and how they show up at the societal, bureaucratic, and individual levels to inform the identification of the use of values, engaging proper awareness of how these values impact public sector actions, and how individuals can engage the right values frameworks in the face of conflict in various public and public service contexts. The first paper takes a societal look at core values via a systemic literature review on American morality policies; policies that inspire great debate …

The Interplay Of Rightsizing And Growth Strategies In Legacy Urban Communities, Alfonso Riera

Planning Dissertations - Archive

This research investigates the rightsizing strategies of a mid-sized, shrinking city in Ohio, to explore the tensions and complexities that rightsizing efforts introduce into the urban governance landscape. The questions that guide this research draw on the theories of rightsizing to reveal the ways in which rightsizing efforts implemented by city officials enabled economic revitalization as well as cultivated a pipeline to urban growth efforts. The research findings contribute to our understanding of rightsizing by revealing the ways that shrinking cities struggle to fully adopt rightsizing as its own end goal, rather than a means to a growth-oriented urban landscape. …

Teacher Self-Efficacy In The Wake Of Natural Disaster, Megan L. Mccleskey

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

This study examines teacher self-efficacy after natural disasters, analyzing qualitative data from 10 high school educators from urban, suburban, and rural areas. Using qualitative methodology, interviews were conducted to investigate the impact of natural disasters on teachers’ professional confidence. Findings suggest that natural disasters influence teachers’ self-efficacy, affecting instructional planning and relationship building with students, colleagues, and administrators. This research contributes to understanding how educational institutions can better support teachers in crisis, offering actionable recommendations for professional development and administrative support.

Human System Composite Performance Measures: General Systems Performance Theory Insights, Lawrence Disalvi

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

Composite Performance Measures (CPMs) of human performance are widely employed in applications that range from mundane to life-changing, yet they are frequently presented without explanation or reference to theoretical underpinnings. The conceptual soundness of a widely used CPM approach, based on additive combination of constituent components, has been called into question by Kondraske. He argues the relevance of General Systems Performance Theory (GSPT) and performance capacity envelope concepts when applied to multidimensional CPM measures.

To obtain evidence-based answers to assertions regarding CPM types and rationale employed in medical and non-medical contexts, a Systematic Descriptive Review was conducted. Separately, the GSPT-based …

Patterns Of Gifted Program Participation In Elementary School, Marisa B. Saenz

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

High-achieving students of color and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds continue to fall behind their White peers and are not reaching their full academic potential. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of student socio-demographic characteristics, teacher beliefs and classroom practices, and school climate on the retention of high-achieving elementary school students identified as gifted. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory was used to propose an analytical framework for the study to help understand and interpret how these factors influence student participation patterns in gifted programs as described by the giftedness typology of stoppers, jumpers, continuers.

The results of …

Social-Emotional Learning In High School: How High Schools Engage, Educate, And Empower Youth, Jessica L. Atkins

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

In recent decades, the mental health needs of youth have increased, as has interest in social-emotional learning (SEL) in K-12 schools. SEL instruction has been proposed as a way to meet these growing needs while schools struggle with shortages of school-based mental health professionals. While extensive research has been conducted regarding SEL, the majority of these studies have focused on structured programs in preschool and elementary-level populations. As a result, students at the secondary level, particularly those in high school, have received limited attention. In this dissertation, I present my research that explores SEL at the high school level.

This …

Algorithm Development For Analysis Of Optical Time-Series Data Generated By Biomodal Optical-Electrical Nanopore Sensor, Yu-Shiuan Huang

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Nanopore biosensors have played an essential role in the scientific investigation of DNA, RNA, proteins, and other bio-analytes. Traditional nanopore biosensors detect variations in electrical current conductance caused by the analyte blocking the current passing transiently through a nano-sized aperture, i.e., the nanopore. This electrical data provides information about the amount of current blockage when the analyte is inside the nanopore and the time it takes for analytes to travel through the nanopore (translocation time). The translocation time of analytes in standard nanopore measurements is typically very short, usually tens of microseconds, limiting the accuracy of measuring the analytes’ characteristics. …

Computational And Experimental Analysis Of Silica Nanoparticles Under Dc And Ac Electric Fields Using A Self-Induced Back Action Actuated Nanopore Electrophoresis (Sane) Sensor, Homayoun Asadzadeh, Scott Renkes, George Alexandrakis, Minjun Kim, Scott Turpin

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

In this dissertation I have studied a novel single-molecule nanosensor that integrates a Solid-State Nanopore (SSNP), milled in silicon nitride with a Double Nanohole (DNH) nanoaperture, milled in gold. This device leverages Self-Induced Back-Action (SIBA) for optical trapping with ssNP electrical sensing and is called the SIBA-Actuated Nanopore Electrophoresis (SANE) sensor. My lab has previously shown that simultaneous acquisition of bimodal optical and direct current (DC) electrical signatures enables more detailed characterization of nanoscopic analytes compared to using electrical data alone, which are typically collected by ssNP sensors. In this work I have first studied by COMSOL Multiphysics simulations the …

Development Of Anti-Microbial Nanocoatings On Metallic Surfaces To Prevent Infections, Luis Fernando Soto Garcia

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

Healthcare-associated infections have a prevalence of about 7% in the United States and up to 50% in some developing nations. They not only present a constant risk for inpatients and healthcare workers but are also a serious challenge to human health services worldwide. These infections can be transmitted via contaminated non-critical surfaces like doorknobs and bedrails, which are routinely cleaned with low-level disinfectants approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, this strategy has limited efficacy since recontamination occurs, resulting in these surfaces again becoming vectors of infection. In this work, we addressed this issue by developing a self-disinfecting nanocomposite …

Exploring Black Women Initiative Programs At Community Colleges: Potential Possibilities For Institutional Support, Erin K. Lewis

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

The existing literature lacks sufficient exploration of Black women’s experiences of a sense of belonging in institutional-sponsored programs centered around their Black and Woman identities at community colleges. Using a collective case study qualitative methodology, the purpose of this study was to understand Black women's experiences of a sense of belonging in institutional-sponsored initiative programs centered around their Black and woman identities at community colleges. The research question guiding this study is: How do Black women experience a sense of belonging in initiative programs centered around their Black and woman identities at community colleges? And to what extent? The conceptual …

School Copaganda In The Us South: Tinsel, Twinkle, And Police-Youth Programming, Hannah Carson Baggett, Kaitlyn Selman

Faculty Publications - Criminal Justice Sciences

Told in schools across the US for decades, Officer Friendly is a story about policing. Through the literal reading of books like Miss Frances’ 1953 Your Friend the Policeman, visits from McGruff the Crime Dog, and even the ever-expanding TikTok world of dancing SROs, the story remains the same: police keep us safe from the bad guys. In this paper, we draw on data from school and police social media accounts in a community in Alabama to expose the bad faith underpinnings of this story, and how it functions through ‘friendly’ police-youth programming in schools. This story relies on at …

Explaining The Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence Victimization And Human Immunodeficiency Virus Status In Transgender And Nonbinary Individuals, Kimberly A. Ingold, Brent Teasdale

Faculty Publications - Criminal Justice Sciences

Study Questions: Previous research has shown that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization are correlated. Furthermore, it has been consistently reported that transgender individuals are at an increased risk of experiencing IPV victimization and testing positive for HIV compared to cisgender individuals. However, past research examining the potential explanations for the correlation between HIV status and IPV victimization in transgender individuals using a large and inclusive sample is nonexistent. Subjects: A total of 12,592 transgender and nonbinary individuals from across the United States were included in the analyses. Methods: Through a bivariate probit analysis of …

Net-Zero Home Race: Gamification For Learning Energy Consumption Merit, Terry E. Payne

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Buildings have contributed significantly to carbon emissions over the past decades, amplified by rapid construction growth. To address this, sustainable concepts like energy efficiency and financial planning for home retrofitting have become essential in promoting environmentally conscious practices. NZHR was created as a gamified experience to help bridge the gap between education and motivational enjoyment. Testing the game demonstrated participants' ability to learn and understand the importance of strategic thinking with home retrofit upgrades. Gamification principles such as the Octalysis and Bartle test were incorporated into the design process to construct a well-rounded game that provides intrinsic and extrinsic principles. …

Experimental And Finite Element Investigation Of Shear Transfer Mechanisms And Capacity Of Continuous Post-Tensioned Concrete Beams In One-Way Slab Buildings, Suman Rijal

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This study investigates the shear behavior and resistance mechanisms of continuous post-tensioned beams commonly used in one-way slab buildings. Combining experimental and analytical methods, the research focuses on the targeted failure regions of prestressed and non-prestressed continuous beams to gain deeper insights into their shear behavior. The large-scale specimens used in this study featured realistic parabolic tendon profiles and an average prestress level comparable to that used in actual construction. The experimental program includes three test series, with beam designs and setups refined for each series based on observations of shear crack development and progression in the preceding series. This …

Assessing The Seismic Performance Of 45 Ft And 65 Ft Special Truss Moment Frames (Stmfs) Designed With Proposed 2027 Aisc Seismic Provisions Using Nonlinear Time-History Analysis, Vesal Shakibaie

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This thesis presents a comprehensive investigation into the seismic design and performance of Special Truss Moment Frames (STMFs) with long spans, focusing on two configurations: STMFs with Vierendeel panels and those with X-braced diagonals in the special segment. The study assesses two case studies with spans of 45 ft and 65 ft, analyzing their behavior under Design Basis Earthquake (DBE) and Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) scenarios. The structures were designed according to the latest proposed 2027 revision of the AISC Seismic Provisions, which includes significant changes compared to the published 2022 version. Nonlinear time-history analysis and nonlinear static (push-over) analysis …

Critical Convergence: Mapping The Boundaries Of How Faculty Interrogate Whiteness In The Geoscience Educational Landscape, James E. Hobbs

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

This study examined the role of faculty members in interrogating whiteness within geoscience education. The dominant reliance on whiteness as the primary way of knowing in geoscience education has long perpetuated a singular perspective that serves as a mechanism for reinforcing existing power structures rooted in white supremacy. Drawing on tenets from Critical whiteness Studies, Curriculum Theory, and Transformative Learning Theory, this research investigated U.S. higher education faculty members' strategies and challenges in disrupting whiteness within the geoscience curriculum.

Through critical qualitative narrative inquiry, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with geoscience faculty members across multiple institutions across the United …

Behind The Scenes: Instructional Coaches’ Perceptions Of Curriculum Leadership Development, Cora C. Garner

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

Since the 20th century, instructional coaching has influenced curricular and pedagogical practices that impact student achievement in K-12 schools; however, the existing literature provides minimal evidence of their experiences in curriculum leadership development. To fill the research gap, this study explores instructional coaches’ perceptions of their professional learning related to curriculum development and leadership. The research questions included (1) How do ICs perceive professional learning opportunities for curriculum leadership? and (2) How do instructional coaches describe the development of their curriculum coaching knowledge and practices? Upon applying the conceptual framework, which included the Saylor et al. (1981) curriculum development model …

Association Between Workplace Training Design And Student Experience, Jonmichael M. Mcburnett

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

ABC (pseudonym) developed the Design Quality Checklist (DQC), so the organization could adopt a set of quality standards for workplace training courses to improve student experience of training. However, the organization cannot determine if the instructional quality criteria that comprise the DQC were developed using rigorous, evidence-based methods for instrument construction unless there is some alignment between the DQC tool and the student experience ratings of workplace training. This study aims to examine the relationship between student experience outcomes in professional development training courses and the DQC instrument used to evaluate them, as to validate the usefulness of the DQC …

Beyond The Visual: The Impacts Of Urban Soundscapes On Landscape Design And User Experience, Beth Sipzner

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

The purpose of this research is to examine how visual stimuli affect an individual’s perception of the soundscape. Soundscapes are the acoustic environment perceived by people, whose character is determined by the action and interaction of natural and human factors (Maffei & Masullo, 2019), also understood as the overall sound environment perceived by people. By understanding user perception and preferences, designers can create more aesthetically pleasing spaces that align with the sounds of urban life. The research poses two questions: (1) What are aural and visual elements that impact urban soundscape experiences? and (2) How do aural and visual stimuli …

Cultivating Change: Enhancing Urban Agriculture Through Landscape Architecture Design, Patricia Cerda

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

The objective of this research is to examine the advantages of applying landscape architecture design principles to urban agriculture landscapes. The study investigates the current and past instances of implementing agriculture in urban areas to comprehend how they benefit the community and local environment and create a connection between people and the food they consume. The study aims to explore how landscape architecture can be efficiently applied to urban farming practices to establish a meaningful and sustainable connection between individuals and their food. The study will be guided by three research questions: (1) What are the environmental benefits associated with …

Sporadic Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma With Somatic Tsc2 Mutation: A Case Report, Ali H. Alassiri, Turki M. Alfayea, Tariq I. Aljared, Khaled R. Alenezi

Neurosciences

Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) is a rare circumscribed astrocytic glioma that occurs in approximately 25% of all tuberous sclerosis (TSC) cases. Herein, we discuss an atypical presentation of SEGA, including the genetic alterations, impact on clinical presentation, and the determinants of each medical and surgical treatment option. A 14-year-old girl presented with intermittent headache and a right intraventricular mass originating near the foramen of Monro. The tumor’s proximity to critical structures necessitated maximum safe resection, which improved her symptoms. Histological findings indicated SEGA, and genetic sequencing revealed a TSC2 mutation. However, complete clinical and radiological evaluations failed to reveal …

Surveilling Disability, Harming Integration, Prianka Nair

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Guideline For Management Of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome In A Southern California Jail, Tchuisse Hermione

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: In the United States, 52.8% of Americans aged 18 and older consume alcohol, with 29.5 million suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD). In Los Angeles, 69.8% of Angelinos aged 12 and older suffer from AUD, and 33% of annual arrests are due to alcohol and other drugs. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) develops after abrupt cessation of heavy drinking and is a common occurrence among incarcerated people when newly arrested, resulting in $1.3 billion in healthcare costs. Management of AWS using a fixed-dose therapy of benzodiazepines will improve the utilization of healthcare services in the correctional setting.

Objectives: The project …

Implementation Of A Surgical Safety Bundle For Colorectal Surgeries, Christopher Larrow

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Objective: Implementing a safety bundle checklist to provide interventions for the modifiable risk factors identified in patients scheduled for colorectal surgery can lower the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) and costs for both the patient and the organization.

Methods: This was a quality improvement project that utilized the implementation of the surgical patient safety system (SURPASS) bundle in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO) surgical safety checklist. Patients who were inpatient and scheduled for colorectal surgery (elective and non-elective) were identified; colorectal surgeons, anesthesia providers, hospitalists, and inpatient staff were provided with education on the SURPASS bundle. Pre- …