Digital Commons Network^™

Funded To Win? Super Pacs And Electoral Advantage In The Southeast, Kyle Winstead

Honors Theses

2010 saw the introduction of a new player on the field of electoral finance, the super PAC. This introduction came with much controversy due to the widespread fear that super PACs could undermine the election system by giving wealthy individuals or organizations an undue influence. The literature on super PACs influence on the electoral system is inconclusive, with different studies having mixed results, meaning more information needs to be gathered. In this paper, I attempt to learn more about super PACs influence, particularly on congressional elections, by examining the results of congressional elections across three states: Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. …

Microbial Guardians Of The Savannah: Unraveling The Gut Microbiome For African Carnivore Conservation, Laura E. Peirson

All NMU Master's Theses

Non-invasive fecal sampling is essential for wildlife gut microbiome (GMB) research, yet field conditions often limit preservation options. I compared gut bacterial communities in paired fecal samples preserved in stabilization tubes and air-dried in paper bags collected from anesthetized African lions (Panthera leo) and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) in Etosha National Park, Namibia. Additional opportunistic samples from carnivore kill sites were also analyzed. No significant differences in alpha or beta diversity were detected between preserved and dried samples, although bacterial beta diversity differed between preserved and opportunistic samples (PERMANOVA). Core bacterial communities remained consistent across sample …

Creative Writing Is (Process, Inquiry, Conversation) Hard: Bringing Information Literacy To The Blank Page, Ashley Roach-Freiman, Paige Chant

University Libraries Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

2024 Eacts/Eactaic Guidelines On Patient Blood Management In Adult Cardiac Surgery In Collaboration With Ebcp, Filip Casselman, Marcus Lance, Aamer Ahmed, Alice Ascari, Juan Blanco-Morillo, Daniel Bolliger, Maroua Eid, Gabor Erdoes, Renard Haumann, Anders Jeppsson

Anaesthesiology, East Africa

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Experiences Of White Female Elementary School Teachers Who Promote Racial Equity And Justice In White Schools, Meredith Valentine

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In this qualitative study, I conducted semi-structured interviews of six white, female elementary school teachers to better understand how and why they enacted principles of racial equity to challenge the status quo of whiteness with their predominantly white middle-class students and school community. Teachers felt they lacked a formal, structured education to feel confident in their teaching of racial and social justice concepts. Teachers used other forms of social justice teaching that they were more experientially familiar with, such as gender equity, language diversity, and (dis)ability, as a catalyst to discuss topics of racial justice. Each educator navigated their classroom …

Advanced Specificity And Sensitivity Studies Relative To A Research Use Only Transcription-Mediated Amplification-Based Assay For Treponema Pallidum Rna Detection, Trinity Krueger, Grace Kadonsky, Elizabeth Thelen, Amanda Zapp, Josephine Moore, Ahmet Muslu, Allan Pillay, Irene A. Stafford, Erik Munson

Clinical Lab Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Preliminary experimentation has suggested that a research-use-only real-time transcription-mediated amplification assay for Treponema pallidum (RUO T. pallidum TMA) yields instances of T. pallidum nucleic acid detection that coincide with non-treponemal serology in men who have sex with men (MSM) at increased risk for sexually transmitted infection. To further characterize the specificity of RUO T. pallidum TMA testing, 3,586 rectal swab specimens reported as “not detected” by the assay generated a mean endpoint FAM fluorescence of 637.5 units. Introduction of Treponema denticola, Treponema phagedenis, and Treponema refringens nucleic acid into matrices generated mean endpoint FAM fluorescence ranging from 620.7 …

Prevalence And Risk Factors Of Cerebral Microhemorrhages And Superficial Siderosis In Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults: Analysis From The Chariot-Pro Substudy, Sujin Kang, Dimitra Kafetsouli, Jamie Ford, Janice Wong, Luc Bracoud, Joyce Suhy, Parthenia Giannakopoulou, Chinedu Momoh, Tom Russ, Craig Ritchie

Brain and Mind Institute

Introduction: Cerebral microhemorrhages (CMHs) and superficial siderosis (SS) are relatively common side effects of anti-amyloid immunotherapies, termed amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA-H). They are also observed in treatment-naïve older adults. This study explored relationships with modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1414 cognitively unimpaired, treatment-naïve individuals aged 60 to 85 years from the Cognitive Health in Ageing Register: Investigational, Observational and Trial Studies in Dementia Research (CHARIOT): Prospective Readiness cOhort (PRO) SubStudy. Relationships between CMHs/SS and cardiovascular risk factors, amyloid beta (Aβ) load, apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 status, educational attainment, and white matter hyperintensities were …

27th Annual Open Government Summit: Your Guide To The Access To Public Records Act & Open Meetings Act (Powerpoint Slides) 08-01-2025, Attorney General State Of Rhode Island

School of Law Conferences, Lectures & Events

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Impact Of Inclusion Initiatives On The Retention And Engagement Of People Of Color In Nonprofit Organizations: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Kesha Carter

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the impact of inclusion initiatives on the retention and engagement of people of color (POC) in nonprofit organizations. Grounded in Ray’s (2019) theory of racialized organizations, this study examined how organizational structures and practices influence inclusive workplace cultures for POC employees. Although diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies have gained traction, many nonprofit organizations struggle to move beyond performative efforts and address the systemic inequities that shape POC experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 full-time POC employees working in nonprofit organizations across New York State to capture their lived …

Comparison Of Finite-Amplitude Acoustic Models: Single Equation Of Motion For Potential Vs System-Level Approaches, Mohammad Javad Mohaghegh Kojidi

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluates two finite-amplitude acoustic models, by solving the associated equations of motion (in potential form), and then compares the results with recent studies using hyperbolic system-level approaches. An implicit numerical method is employed to solve the second-order equations in one dimension. The performances of the Diaz et al. (2018) and Blackstock (1963) models in approximating the acoustic special case of the Euler system, via velocity profile plots and related metrics, are evaluated and compared. Working in the setting of the classical signaling problem with sinusoidal input, present results (using the single equation of motion approach) provide independent confirmation …

Analysis Of The Scleroderma / Systemic Sclerosis Etiopathology Using The University Of California At Davis (Ucd)-Ssc Chicken Line, Angeline E. Rodriguez

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Scleroderma/Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a multifaceted autoimmune disorder affecting approximately 300,000 people in the United States. Main features include vasculitis, immune dysfunction (innate and adaptive), autoantibody production, perivascular leukocyte infiltration, and extensive tissue fibrosis. The University of California, Davis (UCD) SSc chicken line was shown to exhibit all clinical and biological manifestations of human SSc. One early and distinctive clinical sign in both humans and UCD-SSc chickens is Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP), characterized by decreased blood flow in extremities and skin lesions. RP-like lesions develop in combs of UCD-SSc chickens within one- to two-weeks post-hatch, progressing from erythema and edema to …

Framing The Problem To Meet The Policy Solution: An Embedded Mixed Methods Case Study Of The 2017 Michigan Opioid Laws, Leandra Hawkins Burke

Dissertations

The opioid crisis presents a wicked problem for public administration. Hundreds of thousands of people have died from opioid overdoses in the United States, and countless others have experienced severe opioid-related physical, psychological, and socioeconomic harms. Countering the opioid crisis has been difficult due to interdependencies across different drugs and multiple pathways for abuse and dependence. Many scholars, health providers, and politicians have called for a broad public health approach to combat the opioid crisis, but the full expanse of what that would entail has not yet been realized. What has been demonstrated is that interactions targeting a single aspect …

The Impact Of Feedback Timing On Work Performance When There Is A Long Duration Between Sessions, Priyanka B. Dave

Dissertations

Performance feedback is a powerful tool central to many functions at work, as it guides, motivates, and rewards employees’ behaviors. To better understand the function of feedback, previous research has examined the impact of feedback’s timing (proximal to the previous per-formance versus proximal to the next performance) on the effectiveness of feedback. However, the findings have been mixed across studies. Studies with less than 1-day between session dura-tions tend to find no difference between after-session versus before-session feedback. However, investigations with multiple-day between session durations tend to find improved performance with before-session feedback. This study used a counterbalanced across-subject design …

Examination Of The Association Between Parent Beliefs About Injury And Supervision Behavior, Felicia Acelia Diaz

Dissertations

Unintentional Injuries are the leading cause of death for children in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2021). Several studies have indicated that caregiver beliefs (such as locus of control) are associated with children’s injury risk (Damashek et al., 2005), but few studies have examined whether caregiver beliefs about injury are related to caregiver’s injury prevention behaviors, such as caregiver supervision. Examination of caregiver beliefs regarding supervision revealed that caregiver’s degree of belief in the preventability of childhood injuries predicted self-report scores on several measures of supervision. Caregiver’s degree of …

Mechanistic And Evolutionary Insights Into A Group Of Nicotine And Hydroxynicotine Degrading Flavoenzymes, Zhiyao Zhang

Dissertations

Flavoprotein amine oxidases (FAOs) are key enzymes in various kinds of metabolic pathways, mediating redox reactions via flavin cofactors. While most FAOs function as oxidases that readily reduce oxygen to hydrogen peroxide, a few outliers of the FAO family act as dehydrogenases that suppress the reaction with oxygen. The molecular basis for this divergence in function remains poorly understood.

The work presented in this study investigates the fundamental mechanisms of how flavincontaining enzymes activate or suppress their reaction with different electron acceptors to achieve high turnover rates. The overall body of work is divided into three different sections that (1) …

Evaluating Consumer Preference And Willingness To Pay For Low Emission Electricity: Evidence From A National Choice Experiment In The Us, Bruktawit M. Ahmed, Mahelet G. Fikru

Economics Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study examines consumer preferences for renewable energy and carbon capture technologies through a choice experiment involving 1200 nationally representative respondents in the US. The analysis estimates willingness to pay (WTP) for increases in renewable energy content, carbon capture, and strategies for managing captured carbon, such as geological storage or industrial utilization. Results reveal a strong preference for low-emission electricity products, with WTP estimates ranging from $2.9 to $4.1 per month for a 10 % increase in renewable content and $0.50 to $2.3 for a 10 % increase in carbon capture. Respondents most preferred carbon capture and utilization for managing …

Insights From Swot Data On Transboundary Upstream-Downstream Impacts In The Nile Basin, Hesham Morgan, Wenzhao Li, Ali Elgendy, Surendra Maharjan, Rejoice Thomas, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

This study utilizes high-resolution data from NASA's Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission to investigate water dynamics and upstream-downstream impacts across key reservoirs in the Nile Basin. Focusing on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Rosaries Dam, Merowe Dam, and the Aswan High Dam, the analysis spans 15 months (August 2023 to October 2024). By systematically selecting 30 points across each reservoir, monthly boxplots of surface water elevation were generated, revealing significant temporal and spatial variability. The results show that GERD’s filling phase led to a steady increase in water levels (peaking at ~615 meters from June to October …

Interdisciplinary Studies At Grand Valley State: Brooks College At Twenty, Eric Covey

Grand Valley Reports and Histories

This study, focused chiefly on academic programs, begins with a brief outline of the history of the Cluster Colleges at Grand Valley State University and then goes on to detail how the arrival of a new provost in 2002 revived and reshaped the idea of an independent college dedicated to interdisciplinary experiments. It was written partially to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies.

Development And Validation Of A Baseline Clinical Tool For Primary Care Providers To Address Nicotine Delivery System Usage In Adolescents, Monica M. Janssen

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

Family practice providers are a pillar of the health care system as demonstrated through helping patients of all ages achieve health. Adolescents are a unique patient population in an age where they are moving toward adulthood, out of childhood, and vulnerable to influence. Providers could help adolescents shape their future in health through prevention. Preventative care including evidence-based evaluations and treatments could provide adolescents with a strong foundation in healthy adulthood. Adolescent electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use is a public health issue that increases the risk of nicotine addiction and long-term health consequences. Giving providers tools to assist in …

Identifying The Diagnostic Challenges And Indicators Of Orthostatic Tremor: Patient Perspectives, Diego Torresrussotto

All Publications

Background: The diagnosis of orthostatic tremor (OT) is challenging because of its non-specific symptoms and a broad range of differential diagnosis, resulting in a complex and lengthy diagnostic journey.

Objective: The aim was to assess the diagnostic delay in OT and to identify key clinical indicators as reported by patients.

Methods: In 2019, the American OT community developed and distributed a web-based survey titled "Symptoms and Diagnosis of Orthostatic Tremor (OT)." The survey included questions on demographics, the diagnostic process, and symptomatology.

Results: An international cohort of 360 OT patients participated in the study, of which 147 with electromyography (EMG)-confirmed …

Negative Affect And Cannabis Use Outcomes In College Students: The Mediating Effect Of Protective Behavioral Strategies, Morgan Haga

Master's Theses

Particularly considering the ongoing changes in legalization, there has been a growing prevalence of cannabis use among college students. Similarly, students have endorsed increased mental health concerns following the COVID-19 pandemic. Resulting in a cycle of harmful use, research has supported a positive relationship between negative affect and cannabis-related negative outcomes. Protective behavioral strategies for marijuana (PBSM) have been successful in reducing cannabis-related negative outcomes; however, the frequency and utility of PBSM use for students experiencing increased negative affect is unknown. Participants included 330 college students (M_age = 19.17) from 12 U.S. universities who were predominately White non-Hispanic …

Predominant-Dominant Chains In Japanese Video Game Music, Evan R. Davis

Master's Theses

The short looping forms in Japanese video game music feature rapid modulations based on common chord progressions that necessitate contextual readings of harmonies in various keys to isolate how they manipulate tonal space. One such progression used by Japanese game music composers utilizes chains of predominant-dominant chords to move key centers by conflating function in minor-third related keys. These triumphant sounding transitional phrases are uniquely valuable in a medium dominated by stories of heroism and fighting authorities both earthly and divine. Building on the functional framework of 19^th century theorists and existing popular music research, two models are created …

Forgotten Landscapes: Using Original Land Surveys To Understand The Historic Distribution Of Cane Brakes In Wayne County, Ms, Chad Mackness

Master's Theses

This study investigates the historical presence and ecological significance of Arundinaria gigantea (giant cane) in 1810, Wayne County, Mississippi, using original survey documents. These records provide rare quantitative insights into the distribution of cane brakes, revealing that A. gigantea possibly represented up to 44% of the surveyed landscape, likely second only to Pinus palustris (longleaf pine).

This research involved digitizing historical surveyors' notes, transcribing them into a structured format, and extracting spatial data for GIS analysis. The methodology developed for this research can be used to ensure the preservation and usability of these historical documents for future research. …

Using Inquiry Classroom Experiences To Correct Student Misconceptions In Elementary Science: An Action Research Study, Hope A. Ellison

Master's Theses

Misconceptions in elementary science education can significantly hinder students' ability to construct accurate and lasting conceptual understandings. Grounded in the constructivist learning theory, this quasi-experimental study investigates how inquiry-based instruction influences the identification and correction of third-grade students’ misconceptions in science, specifically in the domains of energy, force, and matter. Using a pre- and post-test design, along with data derived from daily teacher field notes, the research was conducted with a sample of fifteen third-grade students at a public elementary school in Mississippi. The results, discussed in the methods section, revealed a statistically significant improvement in students’ conceptual understanding following …

Female Preference And Prezygotic Isolation In The Fundulus Notatus Species Complex, Emilee K. Holderness

Master's Theses

Understanding how reproductive isolation arises between closely related species is central to evolutionary research. Hybridization is widespread across taxa and shaped by interactions among environmental factors, evolutionary history, genetic compatibility, and behavior. These forces often operate nonlinearly across space and time, yet mate choice is frequently assessed under artificial conditions that may not reflect natural behavior. To address this limitation, female mate preference was investigated within the Fundulus notatus species complex, where F. notatus and F. olivaceus hybridize at varying rates across replicate contact zones. Using a free-choice design, behavioral trials were conducted with individuals from populations characterized by high …

Behind The Trend: An Examination Of Primate Content On Tiktok, Kelsie K. Strong, Lilith A. Frakes, Jessica A. Mayhew, Chelsea J. Thompson, Caroline P. Ratliff

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Social media platforms today are teeming with images of wildlife as pets, and studies have emerged investigating the role social media plays on the public's perception of primates and their desirability as pets. This study explores the presentation of nonhuman primates and video engagement, defined as user interactions through likes, comments, shares, and views, on the social media platform TikTok. We examined 1378 videos from 173 different TikTok content creators sharing primate videos. Most content depicted primates within a household (43.1%), indicating they are often shown in the context of being pets. This is cause for concern because the portrayal …

Formation Of Inclusive Competence Of Future Special Education Teachers, Gulbanu Ashimkhanova, Akbota Autaeva, Anar Rakhmetova, Gulmira Tussupbekova, Kanat Sadykov

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: This study aims to explore the phenomenon of inclusive competence as an integral trait of today’s educators.

Methods: The scientific research involved surveying students from pedagogical universities as well as using methods of analysis and synthesis, generalization, systematization, comparison, and classification.

Results: The concept of inclusive competence is understood as the degree of skills and knowledge required to fulfil pedagogical responsibilities within an inclusive educational environment. Key elements of inclusive competence, such as cognitive, motivational, reflexive, and operational components, have been identified and have the following functions:

• · Cognitive elements enable teachers to develop a comprehensive understanding of pedagogical …

Coupling Effect Of Abrasion And Erosion On Ultrahigh-Performance Seawater-Sea Sand Concrete, Dawei Ding, Wei Zhang, Lanqin Wang, Hongyan Ma, Biqin Dong, Song Han, Hongjian Xu, Dongshuai Hou

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Preparing ultrahigh-performance seawater-sea sand concrete (UHPSSC) to mitigate the scarcity of freshwater and river sand resources has generated considerable recent research interest. However, the deterioration mechanisms of UHPSSC under the effect of abrasion and erosion remain unstudied. In this paper, the underwater steel ball method was conducted to evaluate the impact of seawater, sea sand, steel fiber, and seawater abrasion on the abrasion resistance of UHPSSC. Then the stress erosion models of calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) were constructed to investigate the degradation mechanisms of UHPSSC under the effect of external stress and seawater erosion. The results show that the application of seawater …

Stabilization Of Cr³⁺ Using Iron Rich Slag-Derived Phosphate Cement: An Integrated Solution For Heavy Metals And Hazardous Solid Wastes, Ting Huang, Hongyan Ma, Zhongqiu Luo, Xintao Zhou, Zhengqing He, Peiwen Lv, Xiunan Cai, Pingyan Wang

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A novel iron-based phosphate cement (IPC), derived from iron-rich smelting slag (ISS), was developed as a sustainable and efficient binder for the stabilization/solidification of trivalent chromium (Cr³⁺). The mechanical properties, hydration behavior, microstructure, leaching toxicity, chromium chemical forms, and environmental safety of chromium-stabilized iron phosphate cement (CIPC) were thoroughly evaluated. The results showed that, with a mass ratio of ISS to ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) of 2.0, and even with the addition of 20 % chromium nitrate nonahydrate (CN), the compressive strength of CIPC reached 4.2 MPa after curing for 28 d. Furthermore, chromium leaching was well below …

Evaluation Of The Impact Of Project-Based Vocational Learning Programs At Vocational Schools, Muhammad Sadam Rizkylillah, Soeprijanto Soeprijanto, Muksin Muksin

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study evaluates the impact (effectiveness and outcome) of project-based vocational learning program in Electrical Power Installation programs (TITL) at vocational schools in Tangerang, Indonesia. Using the Goal Free Evaluation model and a mixed-methods approach, quantitatively, the study found that 93,93% of the program ran well. It identified 33 positive impacts that matched the program's goals, 2 negative impacts, and 6 unexpected positive outcomes for students such as curiosity, confidence, safety awareness, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and honesty. Addressing high vocational graduate unemployment, this research fills a gap by focusing on real impacts rather than predefined goals. The program is recommended to …