Digital Commons Network^™

The Complexities Of Conscience: Reconciling Death Penalty L Aw With Capital Jurors’ Concerns, Meredith Martin Rountree, Mary R. Rose

Buffalo Law Review

Jurors exercise unique legal power when they are asked to decide whether to sentence someone to death. The Supreme Court emphasizes the central role of the jury’s moral judgment in making this sentencing decision, noting that it is the jurors who are best able to “express the conscience of the community on the ultimate question of life or death.” Manylower courts nevertheless narrow the range of admissible evidence at the mitigation phase of a capital trial, insisting on a standard of legal relevance that interferes with the jury’s ability to exercise the very moral judgment the Supreme Court has deemed …

Resource Gaps For Minority Entrepreneurs: A Study Of 3 Cities, Merissa Piazza, Iryna Lendel, Shneur Kushner, Jack Yochum

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

This study aims to assess minority resource gaps in entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) in three cities across Ohio: Cleveland, Toledo, and Dayton. This report seeks to answer two main research questions: 1) What are the local factors of EEs that drive growth for minority entrepreneurs? And 2) Across three sites in Ohio, what are the gaps in access to different resources for minority entrepreneurs in the ecosystem? This report covers the first year of this project’s findings as the project team engaged with all three region’s ecosystems in 2021.

A Preliminary Investigation Into The Effects Of Lucilia Sericata (Meigen) Blow Fly Larval Feeding On Sharp Force Trauma (Sft) Wound Patterns In Decomposing Bones Of Sus Scrofa Domesticus, Erica L. Klafehn

Student Theses

An important aspect of forensic investigations involves the characterization and analysis of bone related trauma as this can provide valuable information regarding the manner and circumstances of death. Bone trauma can be classified into three main categories, which include Sharp Force Trauma (SFT), Blunt Force Trauma (BFT), and Gunshot Trauma. Previous experiments have explored SFT on flesh and bones, specifically made with knives or saws, coupled with various microscopic analytical methods. Minimal research has been done integrating both a forensic entomology and forensic anthropology approach, so it is imperative to understand previous literature detailing the behaviors of insects (blow flies), …

Tavr In Older Adults: Moving Toward A Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment And Away From Chronological Age: Jacc Family Series, Joy M Schmitz, Scott D Lane, Michael F Weaver, Ponnada A Narayana, Khader M Hasan, Delisa D Russell, Robert Suchting, Charles E Green

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cocaine use continues to be a significant public health problem with limited treatment options and no approved pharmacotherapies. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) remains the mainstay treatment for preventing relapse, however, people with chronic cocaine use display cognitive impairments that are associated with poor response to CBT. Emerging evidence in animal and human studies suggests that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR- γ) agonist, pioglitazone, improves white matter integrity that is essential for cognitive function. This project will determine whether adjunctive use of pioglitazone enhances the effect of CBT in preventing relapse during the early phase of recovery from cocaine use disorder. This …

The Relationship Between The Practice Of Martial Arts, Anxiety, Wellness, And Self-Efficacy, William K. Knight Jr

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Although anxiety is a frequently researched topic, the growing numbers of diagnosed cases and the state of the present outcomes warrant the study of alternative approaches to address the causes and conditions of its prevalence, as well as possible adaptive strategies and tactics to improve outcomes for clients with anxiety. Counseling distinguishes itself in part due to its focus on well-being rather than mere alleviation of diagnosed symptoms. As such, it may be useful to measure the likelihood of some strategies and tactics associated with improved well-being in attempting to reduce symptoms of anxiety.

This study measured the practice of …

Ecological Factors Influencing Population Dynamics Of The Mississippi Sandhill Crane, Grus Canadensis Pulla, Henry W. Woolley

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

My dissertation encompasses three studies involving ecological factors influencing the Mississippi sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pulla) population at Mississippi Sandhill National Wildlife Refuge. To examine influences on the historical population I studied trends in nesting, number of chicks fledged annually, and their environmental and biotic drivers during 1991-2018. I expected precipitation to be positively associated with population measures and drought, extreme heat, and predation to be inversely related to population measures. To examine the influence of current habitat food production on the crane population I quantified measures of production in 2018 and 2019 and their relationship to time …

Parents Of Children With Hearing Loss: Meeting Parents’ Needs And Concerns Through The Early Intervention Process, Sara Chaddock

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to develop a deeper understanding of needs of parents of children with hearing loss during the crucial early years of a child’s life, to understand how those needs are met through birth-to-three Early Intervention programs, and to determine if parent identified needs align with the recommended practices for Early Intervention for children with hearing loss stated by the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) and the Joint Committee of Infant Hearing (JCIH). This study used a quasi-structured web-based survey with both closed and open-ended questions. Three themes emerged from this study: needs for supports for …

Effects Of Biological Cohesion On Wave Ripple Dynamics, Malcolm F. Cross

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In coastal environments, wave-generated oscillatory flow in the bottom boundary layer mobilizes sediment resulting in bedform generation and evolution. The presence of bedforms on the seafloor affects sediment transport, wave attenuation, and acoustic scattering. Many studies have examined the dynamics of sediment transport and the development of bedforms on the seafloor due to the interaction of waves and currents. However, these studies have relied heavily on laboratory experiments undertaken using sands with no biological influence. This research aims to understand the effects of increased cohesion within the sediment particles resulting from biological influences (e.g., extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)) on the …

Fast & Efficient Simulation For Long Polymeric Chains, Naeyma N. Islam

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Study Of Machine Learning-Based Approach For Network Traffic Classification, Kien Trang, An Hoang Nguyen

Knowledge Engineering and Data Science

Internet usage has increased rapidly and become an essential part of human life, corresponding to the rapid development of network infrastructure in recent years. Thus, protecting users’ confidential information when joining the global network becomes one of the most significant considerations. Even though multiple encryption algorithms and techniques have been applied in different parties, including internet providers, and web hosting, this situation also allows the hacker to attack the network system anonymously. Therefore, the significance of classifying network data streams to improve network system quality and security is attracting increasing study interests. This work introduces a machine learning-based approach to …

Cnn Based Face Recognition System For Patients With Down And William Syndrome, Endang Setyati, Suharyono Az, Subroto Prasetya Hudiono, Fachrul Kurniawan

Knowledge Engineering and Data Science

Down syndrome, also known as trisomy genetic condition, is a genetic disorder that affects many people. Williams syndrome is a hereditary disorder that can affect anyone at birth. It marks medical and cognitive issues, such as cardiovascular illness, developmental delays, and learning impairments. This is accompanied by exceptional verbal abilities, a gregarious attitude, and a passion for music. Down syndrome and William Syndrome are both genetic illnesses. However, it can be distinguished from the arrangement of chromosome 21. Down syndrome and William syndrome can also be identified by recognizing faces, or facial characteristics, such as observing particular facial features. Therefore, …

A Method For Visualizing Water Flow Through Modified Root Zones, Dallas M. Williams

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

As the number of impervious surfaces in urban environments increases, the ability of modified root zones to infiltrate water is becoming more important. Current methods of tracing water flow through soil profiles include excavating large pits in situ or analyzing soil cores in the laboratory with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. While useful, these methods may not be suitable for urban settings or practical in every laboratory. We propose a new method that is less invasive, does not require extensive technical equipment and can reliably trace water movement through the soil profile in order to calculate flow rate based …

Axon Initial Segment Morphology Across Typical Cortical Development And In Mouse Models Of Neurodevelopmental Disorders With A High Incidence Of Epilepsy, Rachel Ali Rodriguez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are commonly associated with a high incidence of epileptic seizures which result from excessive firing of neurons. The axon initial segment (AIS) is a neuronal compartment essential for the control of activity patterns of neurons. The AIS undergoes important modifications during development, but the molecular mechanisms that affect the development, morphology, and protein composition of the AIS are still not well understood. We examined AIS morphology of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) pyramidal neurons in wildtype mice across development and in two mouse models of NDDs. Results indicate restructurings at the AIS during typical development, some of which …

Physiological And Mechanical Comparisons Between Clipless And Flat Pedals, Katelyn Conroy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to investigate the physiological and mechanical comparisons between clipless and flat pedals. Participants (n=4) completed two at-home 20-minute FTP tests: using clipless and flat pedals using Zwift. The order of conditions were randomized for each participant. Participants used their personal Smart Trainers, clipless pedals, and cycling shoes while flat pedals were provided (Syun-LP, Road Bike Platform Pedals). Power, heart rate and cadence were recorded and used for analysis. All dependent variables were compared using paired t-tests. Power was significantly greater for clipless (226.7 ± 46.2 W) vs. flat (215.2 ± 41.8 W) pedals (p …

Identifying Risk Factors For Ptsd Symptom Clusters In Maltreated, Multiracial Youth Using Nonparametric Modeling, Mallory Constantine

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Multiracial youth are one of the most at-risk racial groups for child maltreatment. Multiracial individuals are also more likely to report mental health concerns than other racial or ethnic groups. This study aimed to identify demographic and psychological risk factors that are unique to multiracial, maltreated youth with respect to PTSD symptoms (i.e., re-experiencing, hyperarousal, avoidance) through classification and regression tree (CART) analyses. Participants included 99 multiracial, maltreated youth directly following their placement in an emergency group shelter due to substantiated maltreatment. The first hypothesis was that female gender, English first language, questions related to guilt and self-blame, and depressive …

How Do Beliefs Come Into Play? An Examination Of The Influence Of Core Conceptions On Science Teachers’ Inquiry Lesson Plan Designs, Mehmet Fatih Dulger

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Teaching science through inquiry-based methodologies has been advocated by several governmental and professional organizations (National Research Council [NRC], 2000; NGSS Lead States, 2013); however, their use is not widespread. Why is this? What science teachers do in their classrooms is shaped by their beliefs, especially their beliefs about the nature of science, about the goals and purposes of school science and the goals of teaching science, and about the teaching and learning science. By critically examining these core conceptions and their influence on teacher lesson planning, this study aims to shed light on the role conceptions play when teachers design …

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds As Precursors To Disinfection Byproducts, Padmanabhan Krishnaswamy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Disinfection of drinking water is crucial for providing a safe potable water supply. Some of the most common disinfectants employed are chlorine, chloramines and ozone. While these disinfectants successfully inactivate pathogenic microorganisms, they simultaneously react with inorganic or organic precursors to form toxic byproducts, most commonly referred to as disinfection byproducts (DBPs). While there is a wide variety of organic matter and disinfection byproducts known, in this study we have looked into the potential of certain quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) to act as precursors to form DBPs, namely trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetonitriles (HANs) and nitrosamines.

The ubiquitous nature of QACs in …

The Influences Of Medicaid On Mental Health Practitioners, Matthew Mohan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Medicaid is the largest publicly funded health insurance program which influences the mental health practitioners’ treatment of low income individuals (Altman & Frist, 2015; Rowland et al., 2003). To understand how Medicaid influences mental health practitioners, this study utilizes institutional theory by using the five propositions from Lammers and Barbour (2006) to analyze how Medicaid’s communicative practices influence mental health practitioners who treat those who are in poverty. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 mental healthcare practitioners who accepted Medicaid: two psychologists, five social workers, one psychiatrist, and two psychiatric nurse practitioners. The results demonstrate how mental health practitioners respond …

Feasibility And Efficacy Of Virtual Darkness In Reducing Intra-Individual Sleep Variability Among Young Adults With Insomnia, Samantha Nicole Sherwood

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

BackgroundInsomnia impacts 30% of people and is associated with increased risk for medical and psychiatric illness. However, pharmacological treatments for sleep yield mixed results and often result in undesirable side effects indicating a need for novel insomnia interventions. Sleep patterns also demonstrate high intra-individual variability which may be associated with greater daytime impairment, and sleep-wake cycles are strongly affected by the timing of exposure to blue-green wavelength light. Virtual darkness, a novel intervention, blocks blue wavelength light from reaching the eye to simulate actual darkness on retinal cells sensitive to light. Therefore, the purpose of the current study is to …

Hybridity, Ecocriticism, And Feminist Perspectives In She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power, Sarah Warso

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Children’s cartoons are growing increasingly nuanced in the twenty-first century. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018) is an animated television series targeted towards young girls that includes themes of ecocriticism and feminism. The show does this by introducing cyborg, or hybrid, characters. My research explores how cyborg identities in children’s media and their feminist, ecocritical meanings in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. The cyborg, as a feminist mythic hero, breaks down binaries and recodes communication between opposing forces. The She-Ra is filled with characters that inhabit multiple identities. The main character, Adora, identifies as both a former Evil …

A Discipline In Search Of A Voice: A Corpus Linguistic Study Of Evaluation Scholarly Literature, Aaron Wilson Kates

Dissertations

Linguists use the concept of discourse community (DC) to describe the speech of groups of people associated by some extrinsic purpose or interest (Swales, 1990). One defining feature of a DC is a shared lexicon. Scriven (1994), in his discussion of evaluation as a discipline, addresses the need for evaluation to have a “core subject” which would then allow, among other things, the development of “concepts and language to deal with core problems,” while noting that there exists a definite lack of clarity of language among evaluators (p. 147). Christie and Rose (2003) suggest that the lack of clarification around …

Ultra-Conformal Skin Electrodes With Synergistically Enhanced Conductivity For Long-Time And Low-Motion Artifact Epidermal Electrophysiology, Yan Zhao, Song Zhang, Tianhao Yu, Yan Zhang, Guo Ye, Han Cui, Chengzhi He, Wenchao Jiang, Yu Zhai, Chunming Lu, Xiaodan Gu, Nan Liu

Faculty Publications

Accurate and imperceptible monitoring of electrophysiological signals is of primary importance for wearable healthcare. Stiff and bulky pregelled electrodes are now commonly used in clinical diagnosis, causing severe discomfort to users for long-time using as well as artifact signals in motion. Here, we report a ~100 nm ultra-thin dry epidermal electrode that is able to conformably adhere to skin and accurately measure electrophysiological signals. It showed low sheet resistance (~24 Ω/sq, 4142 S/cm), high transparency, and mechano-electrical stability. The enhanced optoelectronic performance was due to the synergistic effect between graphene and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), which induced a high …

Metacognition, Social Cognition, And Mentalizing In Psychosis: Are These Distinct Constructs When It Comes To Subjective Experience Or Are We Just Splitting Hairs?, P. H. Lysaker, S. Cheli, G. Dimaggio, B. Buck, K. A. Bonfils, K. Huling, C. Wiesepape, J. T. Lysaker

Faculty Publications

Research using the integrated model of metacognition has suggested that the construct of metacognition could quantify the spectrum of activities that, if impaired, might cause many of the subjective disturbances found in psychosis. Research on social cognition and mentalizing in psychosis, however, has also pointed to underlying deficits in how persons make sense of their experience of themselves and others. To explore the question of whether metacognitive research in psychosis offers unique insight in the midst of these other two emerging fields, we have offered a review of the constructs and research from each field. Following that summary, we discuss …

Label-Free Characterization Of Organic Nanocarriers Reveals Persistent Single Molecule Cores For Hydrocarbon Sequestration, Terry Mcafee, Thomas Ferron, Isvar A. Cordova, Phillip D. Pickett, Charles L. Mccormick, Cheng Wang, Brian A. Collins

Faculty Publications

Self-assembled molecular nanostructures embody an enormous potential for new technologies, therapeutics, and understanding of molecular biofunctions. Their structure and function are dependent on local environments, necessitating in-situ/operando investigations for the biggest leaps in discovery and design. However, the most advanced of such investigations involve laborious labeling methods that can disrupt behavior or are not fast enough to capture stimuli-responsive phenomena. We utilize X-rays resonant with molecular bonds to demonstrate an in-situ nanoprobe that eliminates the need for labels and enables data collection times within seconds. Our analytical spectral model quantifies the structure, molecular composition, and dynamics of a copolymer micelle …

Nutrient Content And Stoichiometry Of Pelagic Sargassum Reflects Increasing Nitrogen Availability In The Atlantic Basin, B. E. Lapointe, R. A. Brewton, L. W. Herren, M. Wang, C. Hu, D. J. Mcgillicuddy, S. Lindell, F. J. Hernandez, P. L. Morton

Faculty Publications

The pelagic brown macroalgae Sargassum spp. have grown for centuries in oligotrophic waters of the North Atlantic Ocean supported by natural nutrient sources, such as excretions from associated fishes and invertebrates, upwelling, and N₂ fixation. Using a unique historical baseline, we show that since the 1980s the tissue %N of Sargassum spp. has increased by 35%, while %P has decreased by 44%, resulting in a 111% increase in the N:P ratio (13:1 to 28:1) and increased P limitation. The highest %N and δ¹⁵N values occurred in coastal waters influenced by N-rich terrestrial runoff, while lower C:N and …

Accurate Diagnosis Of Colorectal Cancer Based On Histopathology Images Using Artificial Intelligence, K. S. Wang, G. Yu, C. Xu, X. H. Meng, J. Zhou, C. Zheng, Z. Deng, L. Shang, R. Liu, S. Su, X. Zhou, Q. Li, J. Li, J. Wang, K. Ma, J. Qi, Z. Hu, P. Tang, J. Deng, X. Qiu, B. Y. Li, W. D. Shen, R. P. Quan, J. T. Yang, L. Y. Huang, Y. Xiao, Z. C. Yang, Z. Li, S. C. Wang, H. Ren, C. Liang, W. Guo, Y. Li, H. Xiao, Y. Gu, J.P. Yun, D. Huang, Z. Song, X. Fan, L. Chen, X. Yan, Z. Li, Z.C. Huang, J. Huang, J. Luttrell, Chaoyang Zhang, W. Zhou, K. Zhang, C. Yi, C. Wu, H. Shen, Y.P. Wang, H.M. Xiao, H.W. Deng

Faculty Publications

Background: Accurate and robust pathological image analysis for colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis is time-consuming and knowledge-intensive, but is essential for CRC patients’ treatment. The current heavy workload of pathologists in clinics/hospitals may easily lead to unconscious misdiagnosis of CRC based on daily image analyses.

Methods: Based on a state-of-the-art transfer-learned deep convolutional neural network in artificial intelligence (AI), we proposed a novel patch aggregation strategy for clinic CRC diagnosis using weakly labeled pathological whole-slide image (WSI) patches. This approach was trained and validated using an unprecedented and enormously large number of 170,099 patches, > 14,680 WSIs, from > 9631 subjects …

Osmr Signaling Induces Tamp-Specific Bbb Dysfunction Following Autoimmune-Mediated Neutrophil Recruitment, Travis Scott Wertz

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Integrity of the brain microvessels that form the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is maintained through fine-tuned regulation of endothelial tight junction proteins, chiefly represented by claudin 5 and the tight junction-associated MARVEL protein (TAMP) occludin. Under proinflammatory conditions in autoimmune-mediated multiple sclerosis (MS), autoreactive effector T cells are activated in white matter regions of the brain and spinal cord and release cytokines to recruit circulating neutrophils that, in turn, release neurotoxic substances. Lack of tight junctions in peripheral blood vessels allows neutrophils to exit blood vessels unhindered, but BBB tight junctions must first be downregulated before neutrophils can transmigrate into the …

Corporations Without Representation: The Constitutionality Of Gender Diversity Mandates, Talley Ransil

Utah Law Review

Biases and structural barriers contribute to the glacial pace at which women are represented on corporate boards. Even though companies with at least one female board of director outperform companies with no female directors, women only held 20% of board of director positions in 2019. Companies nationwide would not reach gender equality in the boardroom for decades without legally enforceable gender diversity requirements. In response, California Senator Jackson proposed SB 826—requiring California-based publicly held corporations to include at least one woman on their board of directors. However, conservative legal organizations filed lawsuits claiming California’s gender diversity mandate violates the California …

Effect Of Hydrogen Peroxide On Algae And Microcystin In Control And Lake Waters, Tatiana Castillo Hernandez

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Cyanobacteria are photo-autotrophic organisms with a worldwide distribution, which can result in Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) producing toxins. One of the most common strains of cyanobacteria is Microcystis, which produces the most abundant cyanotoxin, microcystin. In this study, we analyzed the effect of H₂O₂ on algae and microcystin using both lake and reagent grade water. The first objective was to determine the effect of H₂O₂ on algae and cyanobacteria in lake water that was nutrient enriched. The second objective was to detect the effect of H₂O₂ at oxidizing microcystin in …

Using Dynamic In Vivo Kinematics For Subject-Specific Calibration Of Knee Ligament Parameters, Stephen Nelson

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

In vivo clinical studies are the optimal way to investigate the biomechanical outcomes of new prosthetic devices. This particular style of testing can be difficult and, in certain cases, unethical to perform. The testing of unproven devices, surgical techniques, and materials put patients at risk from unanticipated outcomes in how these devices respond to the in vivo environment and patient-specific loading conditions. Biomechanical computational models were developed to provide validation to new devices prior to clinical testing. Computational models for use in optimizing knee prosthetics frequently include ligament representations, but these representations have inherent uncertainty due to wide intersubject variation …