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Design, Modeling, And Experimental Development Of Nanoscale Confinement Structures On Planar Silicon-Based Microelectrode Arrays For Single-Entity Electrochemical Sensing, Parinaz Eskandari

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Electrochemical sensing is widely used for chemical and biological detection due to its high sensitivity, label-free operation, and compatibility with miniaturized electronic systems. However, conventional microelectrode platforms operate in an ensemble-averaged regime in which the measured current represents the collective response of many molecules interacting with the electrode surface. This ensemble averaging masks localized nanoscale electrochemical events and limits the ability to detect rare interactions, such as single molecules or nanoparticles. Achieving single-entity electrochemical detection therefore requires strategies that confine electrochemical reactions to nanoscale regions while maintaining compatibility with scalable planar microfabrication.

This dissertation investigates nanoscale electrochemical confinement on planar …

Mechanical Fractionation Of Wheat Middlings For Application In Pyrolysis And Animal Feed, Okwudili I. Obiakor

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Wheat middlings are grain byproducts that are underused for bioenergy production despite having a high lignocellulose content. Its use as a feedstock for catalytic pyrolysis depends on effective and sustainable fractionation to enhance efficiency and product yield. This study tested mechanical pre-fractionation (sieving and air classification) to reduce ash content of certain fractions to < 1% for catalytic pyrolysis and enrich nutrient levels of other fractions for feed applications. Wheat middlings were separated into 11 fractions using screen sizes from 106 µm to 1651 µm, and the composition of each fraction was characterized (ash, protein, structural carbohydrates, lignin, starch, and simple sugars). For cyclone separation, a full factorial design was used to study the effect of air velocity (15,18, 20 m/s) and feed rate (33, 35, 38 kg/h) on the amount of material collected in the underflow and overflow, and the composition of these fractions was characterized. Sieving showed a pronounced segregation of ash content, from 4.5% to 6.5% in wheat middlings fractions, with 5.7% being the lowest for coarse fractions which has higher lignocellulose content, and 4.5% in the fine fraction (150-212 µm). The same defined enrichment was observed in all nutrients except for protein. Starch enrichment zone were defined in the fine fractions (212 µm and below), for structural carbohydrates and lignin in the coarse fractions (600 µm and above), and for ash in coarse fractions (1180-1651 µm). In contrast, protein content was not significantly different between various fractions (p value=0.787). The fiber rich fraction (> 600 µm), suitable for pyrolysis, which have a composite ash value of 6.0% can be sorted and mixed with intermediate fractions to reduce ash to 5.3% and the remaining fractions rich in digestible nutrients used for animal feed formulation. Compared to sieving, cyclone separations did not …

Associations Between Contralesional Neuroplasticity And Motor Impairment Through Deep Learning-Derived Mri Regional Brain Age In Chronic Stroke (Enigma): A Multicohort, Retrospective, Observational Study, Gilsoon Park, Mahir Khan, Justin Andrushko, Nerisa Banaj, Michael Borich, Lara Boyd, Amy Brodtmann, Truman Brown, Cathrin Buetefisch, Adriana Conforto, Steven Cramer, Michael Dimyan, Martin Domin, Miranda Donnelly, Natalia Egorova-Brumley, Elsa Ermer, Wuwei Feng, Fatemeh Geranmayeh, Colleen Hanlon, Brenton Hordacre, Neda Jahanshad, Steven Kautz, Mohamed Salah Khlif, Jingchun Liu, Martin Lotze, Bradley Macintosh, Feroze Mohamed, Jan Nordvik, Fabrizio Piras, Kate Revill, Andrew Robertson, Christian Schranz, Nicolas Schweighofer, Na Jin Seo, Surjo Soekadar, Shraddha Srivastava, Bethany Tavenner, Gregory Thielman, Sophia Thomopoulos, Daniela Vecchio, Emilio Werden, Lars Westlye, Carolee Winstein, George Wittenberg, Jennifer Ferris, Chunshui Yu, Paul Thompson, Sook-Lei Liew, Hosung Kim

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Stroke leads to complex chronic structural and functional brain changes that specifically affect motor outcomes. The brain predicted age difference (PAD) has emerged as a sensitive biomarker of both sensorimotor and cognitive function after stroke. Our previous study showed a higher global brain PAD associated with poorer motor function after stroke. However, the association between local stroke lesion load, regional brain age, and motor impairment is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations between focal lesion damage, regional brain PAD in both hemispheres, and motor outcomes in chronic stroke, and to identify key predictors of motor impairment.

METHODS: …

Artem: Enhancing Large Language Model Agents With Spatial-Temporal Episodic Memory, Cassandra Hui Ming Tan, Budhitama Subagdja, Ah-Hwee Tan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Current large language models (LLMs) exhibit significant deficiencies in episodic memory tasks including encoding, storing, and retrieving specific information from temporally dependent events over a long period of time. Recent approaches to handle memory tasks in LLMs, such as in-context learning, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and fine-tuning, may resolve the long-term retention issues, but are still inadequate to handle tasks requiring chronological awareness of the stored information. We introduce Agentic Retrieval with Temporal-Episodic Memory (ARTEM), a hybrid LLM-based agent architecture integrating LLMs with a self-organizing neural network named Spatial-Temporal Episodic Memory (STEM), designed to handle episodic memory tasks. Our approach employs …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Decline In Reading Scores Among Fourth- And Fifth-Grade Students, Brigetta Foules-Sims

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative instrumental case study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of the factors contributing to the decline in reading achievement among fourth- and fifth-grade students in a rural elementary school in a southern state. The study explored teachers’ perceptions of the causes of declining reading performance, the instructional challenges they encounter when addressing reading difficulties, and the resources and supports they believe are necessary to improve student outcomes.

Data were collected through semi structured interviews with eight certified fourth- and fifth-grade teachers. Five themes emerged from the data: (a) increasing academic demands reveal foundational reading gaps, (b) …

Exploring Relational Leadership And Psychological Safety During Ai Integration In The Workplace, Solmaz Kaynama

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study explores employee psychological safety, or its lack, during artificial intelligence (AI) integration in the workplace through a relational leadership lens. The population included employees of for-profit business corporations currently integrating or adopting AI technologies (N = 14). Participants completed in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Results showed eight themes: relational leadership creates a psychologically safe workplace climate; unsupportive and dysfunctional leadership erodes trust and psychological safety; psychological safety determines whether employees speak up openly or hold back; employees’ experience daily work through workplace culture, pace, and remote or hybrid conditions; AI may delivers immediate productivity benefits while introducing new psychological and …

Between Self, Family, And Becoming: Mindfulness And The Transition Experiences Of Latinx Clinical Counseling Graduate Students, Orlando R. Alvarez

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Latinx graduate students transitioning into their first semester of clinical counseling master’s programs often navigate substantial challenges as they embark on their academic journeys. While transitions into any new role can be difficult, the changes that accompany the beginning of a graduate program have been associated with increased role and identity strain, anxiety, depression, and feelings of fraudulence and imposterism, negatively impacting student success, performance, and attrition rates (Halladay et al., 2019; Murphy, 2021; Vidic & Cherup, 2019). Although mindfulness practices provide benefits for graduate student wellbeing, there is no current scholarship that has examined how mindfulness practices support Latinx …

Beyond The Diagnosis: A Qualitative Exploration Of Men Living With Hiv, David R. Romanelli

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of men (18+ years old) living with HIV to better understand how they navigate identity, mental health, relationships, and healthcare systems after diagnosis. The method included a qualitative thematic analysis with 10 participants. Eight themes emerged from the data: (1) reactions, reflections, and meaning-making after diagnosis; (2) managing medication, treatment, and co-occurring conditions; (3) stigma, disclosure, and negotiation of identity; (4) substance use, housing instability, and socioeconomic stressors; (5) navigating the changing HIV landscape; (6) experiences with family and intimate relationships; (7) implications for mental health counseling; and (8) the role of community …

The Effect Of Paternal Engagement On The Sexual Self-Concept Of Black Female Adolescents, Amelia Flynn

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Black women in the U.S. continue to experience disproportionately high rates of unintended pregnancies, with a 64% rate reported in 2011 (Finer & Zolna, 2016). Positive sexual self-concept (SSC) is linked to healthier sexual behaviors, yet research on SSC development has largely overlooked the role of fathers and systemic influences, particularly within Black families. Grounded in an ecological framework, this study examines the impact of father-daughter engagement on SSC among Black female adolescents, considering paternal residential status and socioeconomic class as key contextual factors. The study revealed that when middle class father-daughter engagement is high, daughters’ sexual self-esteem is lower. …

Assessing Use Of Invasive Understory Plant Species By The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene Carolina Carolina) Within A Massachusetts Wildlife Management Area, Karoline Weston

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Eastern box turtles are facing population declines across their range due to habitat loss, vehicular strikes, and illegal collection. A lesser-explored aspect of eastern box turtle conservation is the role of non-native, invasive vegetation in shaping fine scale habitat use. Invasive vegetation can alter habitat structure and quality, yet its role in eastern box turtle behavior remains unstudied. To evaluate this relationship, I tracked 19 eastern box turtles via radio telemetry throughout the 2022 active season in a Massachusetts wildlife management area. My study addressed six questions: (1) Do eastern box turtles exhibit a preference for microhabitats containing invasive vegetation? …

How To Reduce Inpatient Violence: A Theory Synthesis From Four Models, Arthur Walker

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Working in an inpatient setting inherently involves an increased risk of violence. This violence can affect both staff and patients alike and can lead to psychological trauma, serious bodily injury, and even death. To mitigate this risk, many models for preventing inpatient violence have been proposed for hospitals to implement. However, the evidence for the efficacy of these methods is inconsistent, and the theoretical underpinnings are varied and slim. This dissertation seeks to improve these models by re-examining the theoretical structures for common themes of four models for inpatient violence reduction and proposing additional recommendations informed by this synthesis. First, …

Youth And Caregiver Expectations In Pediatric Concussion Recovery And Persisting Symptoms, Molly A. O'Reilly

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Concussions present complex diagnostic and treatment challenges, particularly for pediatric patients who may experience persisting symptoms. Psychological mechanisms, including patient expectations and beliefs about recovery and symptoms, play a critical role in shaping outcomes. However, there is limited research exploring these factors in pediatric populations, particularly using qualitative approaches. This study sought to address this gap by employing a qualitative phenomenological design with interpretive phenomenological analysis to examine the recovery expectations of pediatric patients with persisting symptoms following concussion, as well as caregivers’ perspectives. Using the nocebo effect as a conceptual framework, eight pediatric patients and their caregivers participated in …

The Gender Binary And Its Effects On Athletes And Society At Large As Described In Newspaper Accounts Of Competitors In The Summer 2024 Olympics, Neo Zheng

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this paper is to look at the impact of gendered language and gender rhetoric on the continued social maintenance of gender, especially as it relates to athletes. This project focuses on the patterns that arise in language of news articles on two female athletes participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics who are accused of being transgender or male, shedding light on how media outlets talk about the topic of gender in athletes specifically, and society itself more generally.

Survivors Of Historical Intergenerational And Familial Trauma Scale For Black American Descendants Of Enslaved People: A Development And Initial Validation Study, Loryn Chás Kimbrough

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Despite extensive research documenting cultural and racialized trauma, no validated assessment tool had previously captured the intrafamilial mechanisms of trauma transmission specific to the BADEP population, whose trauma lineage is rooted in slavery. The present study addresses this gap through the development and initial validation of the Survivors of Historical Intergenerational and Familial Trauma Scale (SHIFTS), a culturally grounded instrument designed to measure the transmission of historical trauma (HT) and ongoing intergenerational trauma (IGT) among Black American Descendants of Enslaved People (BADEPs). The SHIFTS examines how HT gives rise to the continued transmission of two interrelated legacies: survival-based and trauma-rooted …

Elucidating The Impacts Of Non-Covalent Interactions In Organic Materials Through A Multiscale Computational Approach, Sashen A. Ruhunage

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Noncovalent interactions (NCIs) in π-conjugated organic materials serve as tunable levers that influence molecular structure and intermolecular interactions in the condensed phase and, in turn, impact the electronic, optical, and mechanical properties of these materials. NCIs include attractive dispersion, electrostatic, and induction interactions, as well as repulsive exchange interactions. However, how to design materials with NCI considerations remains an open question across many fields. Here, we seek to provide an electronic and atomistic perspective on these interactions through multiscale simulations to aid materials design, processing, and performance optimization. In this study, we investigate NCIs and their effects across various systems …

Student Familiarity With The Periodic Table Of The Elements: Results From Cued-Recall And Eye-Tracking Assessments On Memory, Victor A. Okuo

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Learning element symbol–name associations and the spatial organization of elements on the periodic table is a foundational step in learning chemistry, supporting later understanding of chemical formulas, equations, bonding, and stoichiometry. Although students often rely on memorization strategies to learn periodic table content, this task is challenging due to the large number of elements and the apparent ambiguity in matching some element symbols to their names.

This study explores students’ recall of element names when given element symbols as cues and their knowledge of element locations on the periodic table when given element names as cues. The study also examines …

Amustaline/Glutathione Pathogen-Reduced Red Cell Hemoglobin Utilization In Complex Cardiac Surgery, Ian J. Welsby, Michael E. Sekela, Edward L. Snyder, James D. Gorham, John S. Mcneil, Kathy Liu, Stanley Bentow, Thomas Gniadek, Laurence Corash, Nina Mufti, Richard J. Benjamin

Surgery Faculty Publications

Background: The ReCePI randomized, controlled trial compared amustaline/glutathione pathogen-reduced (PR) and conventional red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in cardiac surgery. Study design and methods: We performed a post-hoc analysis of hemoglobin (Hb) utilization and safety outcomes. Hb content of study RBCs was measured at manufacture. Subject Hb levels, estimated blood loss and blood product use were recorded during and for 7 days post-surgery. Acute kidney injury (AKI) incidence was graded over 7 days, and adverse events were assessed for 28 days. Results: PR-RBCs contained 5.2% less Hb (mean [SD] Test 58.1 [6.5] g; Control 61.5 [6.8] g Hb, p <.001) due to manufacturing volume losses. Four hundred fifty-six PR- and 524 conventional RBCs were transfused to 159 Test and 162 Control subjects, respectively. Mean subject baseline and post-surgery Hb levels, and blood loss were not different between groups. Test subjects tended to require fewer total RBCs (3.5 [2.7] Test vs. 4.0 [3.5] Control, p =.08) resulting in 17.6% significantly less mean total Hb transfused (Test 203.2 g; Control 246.8 g Hb, p =.01). The proportions of subjects transfused with, and the number of platelet and cryoprecipitate units transfused were not different. Test subjects received less plasma (2.3 [1.8] units Test vs. 3.5 [3.8] Control, p =.03). Overall incidence of adverse events and AKI were not clinically different. Imbalances in AKI severity (Grade III Test 15/159 [9.4%]; Control 7/162 [4.3%], p =.07) may suggest under-transfusion in the highest-risk Test subjects. Discussion: Test patients required less transfused Hb than control subjects to maintain equivalent daily hemoglobin levels following similar blood loss.

Prolonged Invasive Mechanical Ventilation Is Associated With Decreased Survival After Lung Transplantation Among Recipients With Primary Graft Dysfunction, Meghan Aversa, Shaf Keshavjee, Tereza Martinu, Marcelo Cypel, Andrew T. Sage, Joshua M. Diamond, Jonathan P. Singer, Scott M. Palmer, Krishna Pandya, Edward Cantu, Jason D. Christie, Michaela R. Anderson

Surgery Faculty Publications

Introduction: Prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) after lung transplantation is an appealing early prognostic outcome as it can be reproducibly assessed both prospectively and retrospectively. Whether use of IMV at 72 h after lung transplantation is associated with post-transplant graft survival is unknown. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 1511 participants in the multi-center Lung Transplant Outcomes Group cohort (2011–2018). Using Cox proportional hazards models and restricted mean survival time, we investigated whether IMV at 72 h was associated with post-transplant graft survival. We secondarily evaluated whether IMV at 72 h was concordant with severe primary graft dysfunction …

Mouse Models For Post-Sepsis Syndrome, John Matthew K. Ang, Stephanie F. Mori, Erick Lewis, Maria E.C. Bruno, Arnold Stromberg, Hiroshi Saito

Surgery Faculty Publications

Background – Sepsis survivors commonly suffer from chronic Post-Sepsis Syndrome (PSS). To understand the mechanisms of PSS, it is critical to utilize appropriate animal models. While cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) is a widely used model of sepsis, a concern exists regarding its suitability for studying long-term outcomes. Alternatively, we previously optimized a highly reproducible murine cecal slurry (CS)-injection model of sepsis. The objective of this study was to compare the suitability of CS and CLP models for investigating PSS. Methods – Male 4-month-old C57BL/6 mice were divided into 7 groups: (1) Naïve control; (2) Sham: laparotomy control; (3) CL: …

Assessing Sustainable E-Cigarette Prevention Messaging In Public Health Communication, Addo Anim Adinkrah

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This study examines the sustainability of e-cigarette or vaping prevention messaging on X (formerly Twitter) and the message-design strategies used by public health institutions to maintain message visibility over time. Using the McGuire Communication/Persuasion Model and Media Framing theoretical frameworks, the research employs a qualitative thematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach to analyze 506 tweets from official accounts affiliated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The findings reveal that prevention messages are sustained through repeated core warnings and reinforcement of institutional authority rooted in scientific and …

Identifying Maltreatment Classes And Their Associated Psychological Outcomes From Childhood To Adolescence, Colleen Bartlett

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Previous research has consistently shown that experiencing maltreatment has significant, negative effects on youth’s psychological health; however, research on the psychological impact of maltreatment is often limited by challenges in accurately capturing children’s maltreatment experiences, as most children who are exposed to maltreatment experience multiple types of maltreatment. The present study utilized latent class analyses (LCAs), a person-centered, data-driven approach to empirically identify patterns in children’s maltreatment experiences at ages 3, 5, and 9. Maltreatment class indicators included frequency of behaviorally approximated emotional abuse, physical abuse, and neglect. Following the LCAs, associations between maltreatment class membership and youth internalizing and …

Longitudinal Dechirping Of Electron Beams Using Negative Identity Drifts In A Transverse Deflecting Cavity-Based Chirper, Alex Desimone

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Electron beam chirping for bunch compression is commonly achieved through off-crest acceleration in radio-frequency accelerating cavities. While it is effective, this method reduces average beam energy and introduces nonlinearities in the beam's longitudinal phase space, which can degrade beam quality in applications such as X-ray free electron lasers. An alternative chirping scheme has been proposed, in which accelerating cavities operate on-crest while transverse deflecting cavities generate the required longitudinal chirp. However, the efficiency of this approach and its impact on beam quality have not been systematically investigated, and the previously proposed dechirping scheme for this system is experimentally impractical. This …

Application Of Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry For Screening Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors, Diksha Gautam

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) is a novel ambient ionization method that allows chemical and biological samples to be rapidly analyzed with little preparation being required. In this paper, PS-MS was set up and streamlined as an acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-monitoring platform in addition to screening an existing and newly produced AChE-inhibitors. The detection of the substrate, acetylcholine (m/z 146), and the AChE catalysis product, choline (m/z 104) was performed without applying chromatographic separation or derivatization to the dried paper substrates. Assay conditions were optimized in a systematic way, to develop a robust MS-compatible enzymatic workflow.

Calibration curves for both, acetylcholine and …

Role Of The Osaa Transcription Factor Gene In Development, Secondary Metabolism And Virulence In The Mycotoxigenic Fungus Aspergillus Flavus, Farzana Ehetasum Hossain

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Aspergillus flavus colonizes oil-seed crops, contaminating them with aflatoxins; highly carcinogenic mycotoxins that cause severe health and economic losses. Genetic studies may reveal new targets for effective control strategies. Here, we characterized a putative WOPR transcription factor gene, osaA, in A. flavus. Our results revealed that osaA regulates conidiation and sclerotial formation. Importantly, deletion of osaA reduces aflatoxin B1 production, while, unexpectedly, transcriptome analysis indicated upregulation of aflatoxin biosynthetic genes, suggesting post-transcriptional or cofactor-mediated regulation. Cyclopiazonic acid production also decreased in the absence of osaA. In addition, the osaA mutant exhibited upregulation of genes in the imizoquin and aspirochlorine clusters. …

Nutritional Niche Separation Amongst Sympatric Threatened Lemurs: The Role Of Micronutrients In Food Selection And Implications For Physiological Health, Maire K. O'Malley

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Madagascar’s biodiversity is heavily affected by anthropogenic change and consequently, conservation management plans need to reflect current research to protect biodiversity. Primate nutritional ecology offers valuable insights into ecology, evolution, health, habitat requirements, social behavior, and conservation management strategies. Macronutrients (fat, carbohydrates, and protein) provide consumers with energy whereas micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are essential to metabolic processes but are frequently overlooked. This study provides a novel examination of dietary niche separation by comparing mineral consumption between three sympatric species differing in feeding strategies: 1) Grey Bamboo lemur (Hapalemur griseus), a bamboo specialist, 2) Diadema sifaka (Propithecus diadema), a folivore, …

An Integrated Pull System Framework For Disassembly Industries: Bridging The Supply-Demand Mismatch In Duck Meat Processing, Hongchao Yu

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Disassembly-based production systems, such as duck meat processing, face inherent operational challenges due to one-to-many production structures, short product shelf life, and volatile customer demand. A single carcass must be processed into multiple products at largely fixed biological ratios, while demand varies across products and over time. This supply-demand mismatch frequently leads to simultaneous surplus and shortage, resulting in unstable shipment schedules, excess inventory, and unavoidable waste. Traditional order-driven pull systems typically respond to orders independently and are limited in their ability to coordinate these interrelated effects.

This dissertation develops an integrated pull system framework for perishable disassembly processes, using …

Instruction Vs. Infrastructure: Asymmetric Returns In U.S. Higher Education, Shaibu Yahaya

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Despite massive increases in funding, U.S. higher education degree output has stagnated—a paradox often attributed to external cost pressures like Baumol’s cost disease. This paper tests an alternative hypothesis: that internal resource misallocation, specifically the accumulation of noninstructional liabilities, actively crowds out educational productivity. Using a panel of 26,603 institution-year observations, I estimate the university production function via a fixed-effects Poisson specification, adjusting all financial inputs using the Higher Education Price Index. The results expose a stark asymmetry in productive returns: a 10% increase in instructional spending drives a 1.76% increase in degree production (β = 0.176). In contrast, the …

Gcn5l1-Mediated Lysine Acetylation Regulates Mitochondrial Dysfunction In The Aged Heart, Jackson Edmond Stewart

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

For over a century, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been and remains the leading cause of death globally. CVD risk and severity increase significantly with advanced age, and mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of aging. Furthermore, mitochondrial health is crucial for cardiac function, as one-third of total cardiomyocyte volume is occupied by mitochondria in order to meet the high energy demand of contractile and relaxational function. It is thus crucial that we understand the pathological mechanisms driving mitochondrial dysfunction in aging and how this contributes to age-associated cardiovascular disease. The current manuscript aims to fill this knowledge gap …

The Dual-Factor Model (Dfm) Of Mental Among Appalachian Youth, Mawyah Adel Bashatah

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background. Adolescent mental health is a critical public health concern, particularly in rural Appalachian communities where rates of depression, anxiety, and substance use exceed national averages and access to mental health resources remain severely limited. Traditional mental health frameworks rely predominantly on the identification and reduction of psychopathological symptoms, neglecting the independent contributions of positive well-being to adolescent risk and resilience. The Dual-Factor Model (DFM) of mental health offers a more comprehensive alternative by simultaneously assessing subjective well-being (SWB) and psychopathology, classifying individuals into four distinct groups: Complete mental health, Vulnerable, Symptomatic but content, and Troubled. Despite the DFM’s growing …

Feasibility Study Of Concurrent Removal Of Organics And Ammonium Using An Iron Dosed Upflow Anaerobic Sludge-Blanket Bioreactor, Morgan Elizabeth Amos

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Aerobic microbial reactions have commonly been utilized in treatment processes to oxidize and remove organics and nitrogen through aeration, using processes such as nitrification that converts ammonium (NH₄⁺) into nitrite (NO₂^-) and nitrate (NO₃^-). Anoxic microbial reactions like denitrification often require organic compounds as an external source to chemically reduce the oxidized nitrogen (NO₃^- and NO₂^-) to nitrogen gas (N₂) for nitrogen removal from the liquid phase. These mainstream processes have a high chemical cost and energy footprint which results in an increased release …