Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Urban Borders On Synanthropic Mesopredator Movement And Risk Of Toxoplasma Gondii Infection In The Protected Lands Of Key Largo, Florida Usa, Kelly A. Crandall

Theses

Protected lands are an important source of food, shelter, and reproductive opportunities for wildlife, especially in urbanizing landscapes. When urban development abuts the edges of protected lands, synanthropic species can alter their foraging behaviors and movement to utilize human-supplemented resources throughout the urban-wild interface. Therefore, urban edges on protected lands can have pronounced effects on animal movement and ecosystem function. There is also increased risk of disease transmission where high densities of wild animals exist, or where domestic animals and wild species are interacting. In particular, members of the family Felidae, including domestic cats (Felis catus), can transmit the pathogenic …

Ecological Drivers Of Size And Predictors Of Potential Competition In Soricidae, Wesley B. Holland

Theses

The family Soricidae, encompassing shrews, represents a diverse group of small (head-body length 30-178 mm) omnivorous or carnivorous mammals distinguished by unique morphological and physiological traits. Ecologically, shrews are dominant small predators, significantly impacting invertebrate populations. Their foraging strategies are diverse, with species adapted to fossorial, psammophilic, scansorial, semiaquatic, semifossorial, and terrestrial guilds. High metabolic rates necessitate nearly constant food intake, influencing their prey selection and feeding behaviors. Physiologically, shrews exhibit adaptations for thermoregulation, with Soricinae generally having higher mass-specific metabolic rates compared to Crocidurinae, who can enter torpor to conserve energy. These metabolic differences are crucial for their ecological …

Impact Of Heat Treatment On Microstructure & Friction Performance Of Nasa Al 398 Alloy Rotors, Manjith Srinivas Koganti

Theses

Interaction of friction brakes with external environment can considerably influence their performance which could relate to friction instabilities and friction induced vibration and noise. The goal of this thesis is to optimize the mechanical properties of Al-alloy and address the friction, wear, and noise heat-treated rotors tested in scaled down SAE recommended testing procedure. The adopted T5 heat treatment process of Al-alloys involves a particular order of controlled heating and cooling steps designed to get specific microstructural changes within the alloy leading to optimized strength/hardness. Hardness is measured with Rockwell’s Hardness Tester. Artificial ageing at elevated temperature process is done. …

An Exploration Of Factors Driving Patterns Of Hybridization In Triodanis, Keegan Sean Mcconnell

Theses

Elucidating and preserving biodiversity is an essential component of biological research, yet many natural processes impede our ability to define basic patterns of biodiversity. Hybridization is a common process in flowering plants, with a range of outcomes that influence our understanding of species ecology and evolution. In many systems, factors that facilitate or prevent successful hybridization are poorly understood. In this study, I investigate various potential mechanisms driving patterns of hybridization between Triodanis biflora and T. perfoliata. Previous research in this system has documented extensive hybridization, but some work has also alluded to the potential role of the breeding system …

Cultivating Cross-Cultural Connections Through Language Learning Circles In Early Childhood Programs, Joy Lee Hernandez, Abha Gupta

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Spanish is the second most common language among US children aged 5–17, with 26.8% speaking it at home. To foster cultural understanding and promote positive relationships, it's crucial to introduce young children to different languages and cultures. Preschool language education can cultivate respect and empathy, building more inclusive communities. Culturally responsive education equips children with skills to value diversity, creating a harmonious cultural climate. This article highlights the importance of learning another language (e.g., Spanish) and introduces Language Learning Circles (LCC) for preschoolers. Research indicates ages 3–6 are optimal for language acquisition, emphasizing the need for early exposure to enhance …

Music And Dyslexia: Systemic Inequities And Educational Best Practices, Natalie Bonelli

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Chicanas' Experiences In An Educational Leadership Doctoral Program Within The Context Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jazmin Carrera-Blas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to our society on a global scale. While the is literature that alludes to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on Ed.D. students, women, and people of color, research focusing on Chicana or Mexican-American female scholar-practitioners is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study is to explore, highlight, and add to the literature on the experiences of Chicana or Mexican-American female scholar-practitioners who were involved in any of the dissertation stages, such as capstone, dissertation research, or dissertation writing during the COVID-19 pandemic.This qualitative research employed a testimonio methodology guided by the Chicana …

Addressing The Mathematical Achievement Gap Through Improvements In School Facilities: The Case Of Fort Bend Isd School District In Texas, Damian K. Viltz

All Dissertations

In 1966, Americans were introduced to the term achievement gap by James S. Coleman, a Johns Hopkins sociologist. Coleman et al.’s (1966) study explained most of the gap between the achievement of America’s White and Black students. Since that study was published, scholars have identified strategies to close the achievement gap. Accordingly, my research investigated the possibility of using the quality of school facilities as a potential strategy to enhance learning equity across racial categories. My findings may fuel policies targeting the development of local communities through inclusive learning achievements.

My empirical methodology was sustained by an expanded theoretical framework …

Barriers To Telemedicine: Factors Influencing The Adoption Of Telemedicine, Carleton T. Brown

All Dissertations

Telemedicine is a rapidly evolving health treatment capability that offers an efficient and cost-effective alternative to conventional medical care. Providing access to alternative medical treatment may mitigate the population’s stress on the medical infrastructure in the upcoming decades. This study investigated the factors influencing patient adoption of telemedicine, including patient experiences and economic considerations. A quantitative survey explored patient population’s intention to utilize telemedicine, focusing on factors influencing the patients’ decision-making processes. Analyzing the survey results, the researcher focused on five main variables: exposure to telemedicine, age, loss of income, trust in doctors, and time lost. The research findings offer …

What Are The Potential Drivers Of Nil Perception Among Student-Athletes?, Fred E. Washington

All Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the impact of the NCAA's Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy on student-athletes' college choice. By synthesizing existing academic literature on NIL and college choice models, the study established a comprehensive theoretical framework. The research employed quantitative methods, gathering data through a survey to explore their perceptions and experiences with NIL. The analysis revealed that NIL significantly influenced college selection, with factors such as scholarship type, sport type, and geographic background of the athletes playing crucial roles. Interestingly, most respondents were aware of NIL policies before starting their college search. Demographic insights showed a slight female majority …

Game-Theory Application In Co-Resident Security Of Function-As-A-Service Cloud Environments, Damon L. Alsup

All Dissertations

The cloud is a shared computing environment with a value beyond the sum of its parts. The number of customers that data-centers can serve, comparative advantages, and the ability to manage depreciation allow computing at economies of scale. The cloud allows for every element of factors of production to translate into goods and services. This shared environment spans across a vast clientele, introducing self-sustaining security risks. The vulnerabilities extend beyond the traditional gaps in computer security, through exploitation of the cloud’s efficiency structures.

Shared computing resources enable the existence of co-resident attack vectors on cloud platforms. This study considered the …

Soil Inversion To Ameliorate Soil Water Repellence, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

One-off soil inversion results in the burial of the water repellent topsoil in a layer that is typically a depth of 15 to 35 cm and brings to the surface a layer of wettable subsoil.

Other benefits include burial of herbicide resistant weed seeds, removal of compaction, improved access to nutrients, reduced disease risk, and incorporation of soil amendments such as lime.

Soil inversion should always be done when the soil is wet to more than the depth of inversion, and a crop or cover can be sown to reduce the risk of wind erosion.

Caution - Deep cultivation can …

Interpretations Of Aesthetic Experience And Its Enactment In High School Visual Arts Education, Kenneth Albert Dore

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation sought to identify interpretations of Aesthetic Experience (AE) of high school visual arts teachers and purposes of its facilitation in their classrooms. Five high school visual arts teachers within a large school district in West Texas were interviewed. A qualitative Hybrid Phenomenological Method was utilized to analyze the data consisting of a descriptive and an interpretive approach. The descriptive approach highlighted common and unique characteristics of aesthetic experience as interpreted by the teachers. An interpretive approach was also employed utilizing Aesthetic Critical Pedagogy, Feminist Theory, and Aesthetic Theory frameworks along with my 20-years-experience as a visual arts teacher. …

Determining Heterogeneous Growth Rates Of Brucite On Magnesia Using Multiharmonic Qcm-D And X-Ray Scattering Methods, Pedro Josue Hernandez Penagos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Earth’s temperature has increased in the last six decades mainly due to the emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2). Mineral looping using magnesium oxide (MgO) is a promising approach for direct air capture (DAC) of CO2 from the atmosphere at the GtCO2/yr scale. The presence of humidity during the carbonation process will lead to a reaction between the MgO and water resulting in magnesium hydroxide formation, Mg(OH)2, growing over the MgO surface forming a shell-like structure. The influence of temperature and relative humidity variation on heterogeneous nucleation and crystal growth kinetics of Mg(OH)2 on MgO is not …

Robust Multivariate Estimation And Inference With The Minimum Density Power Divergence Estimator, Ebenezer Nkum

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The estimation of the location vector and scatter matrix plays a crucial role in many multivariate statistical methods. However, the classical likelihood-based estimation is greatly influenced by outliers, potentially leading to unreliable decisions. Hence, a fundamental challenge in multivariate statistics is to develop robust alternatives that can maintain performancein the presence of outliers and deviations from the assumed data distribution. Unfortunately, methods with good global robustness often substantially sacrifice efficiency. To address this, we propose the adoption of Minimum Density Power Divergence (MDPD) estimation, a well-established robust technique known for its efficiency and statistical robustness to outliers and model violations. …

Computational Investigation Of Layered N_((2-X) ) Ni_((2-Y) ) Co_Y Teo_6 (X = 0.0 - 0.5, Y = 0.1 - 0.25) For Sodium-Ion Battery Cathodes, Daisy Jennifer Lopez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Sodium-ion batteries have been a source of interest since the 1980's. In 1991, lithium-ion batteries became commercialized and gained popularity, which left studies on sodium-ion batteries behind until recently. The compound Na2Ni2TeO6 shows promise and was the principal material studied in this investigation. The goal of this project was to develop sodium-containing novel layered honeycomb oxides for battery cathodes. Density functional theory calculations for three different sodium sites (i.e., Na1, Na2, and Na3) in Na2Ni2TeO6 were conducted. Our results indicate that Na atoms in the Na1 site are energetically more favorable than the ones either in Na2 or in Na3 …

Decision-Making In Rats: Effects Of Drug Abuse, Safa Binte Hossain

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Decision-making is a critical cognitive function, often impaired by substance abuse. Understanding the underlying mechanisms in both human and animal models is essential for developing effective treatments. This thesis aims to study approach-avoid decision-making in rats and focuses on the impacts of oxycodone self-administration and alcohol abuse on approach-avoid decision-making.We hypothesize that oxycodone self-administration will alter decision-making in female rats, revealing sex differences and distinct psychometric functions, alcohol habituation will similarly affect decision-making in male rats. The study involved 23 Long Evans rats (11 males and 12 females) for decision-making behavioral study connecting multiple levels of rewards and costs combinations. …

Method Development For The Quantification Of Critically Valuable Elements In Permian Basin Produced Waters, Carley Oliver

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Produced waters (PW) are a major byproduct of the oil and gas industrial hydraulic fracturing processes that create a major waste disposal issue with a need for disposal, treatment, and reuse method developments. The current primary disposal method is subsurface injection, which can lead to high pressures in the subsurface. PWs are often highly saline from mineral leaching due to long residence in subsurface reservoirs. According to the USGS National Minerals Information Center, bromine, calcium chloride, iodine, lithium, magnesium, and sodium chloride have been found in and extracted from these domestic subsurface brines, suggesting that there may be other economically …

Acute Changes In Inflammatory Biomarkers Expression Following Cosmetic Surgery With Use Of Compression Garment, Michael James Sanchez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is an acute phase response to physiological conditions such as infection, tissue injury, and tissue stress and malfunction (Medzhitov, 2008). Inflammation caused by surgical trauma (tissue injury) elicits a myriad of responses by the patient that is experienced far past the operation. It is estimated that American individuals will undergo nine surgeries throughout an 85 year lifespan (Lee & Gawande, 2008). Focus on surgical recovery modalities has grown over the past few decades. The use of compression garments (CG+) following surgery has been shown to be successful in preventing deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolisms, as well as aiding …

Improving Cyber Defense Using Detailed Bayesian Models Of Attacker Reconnaissance., Nazia Sharmin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The continued success of cyber-attacks motivates the need for continued innovation in cyber defense. In particular, there is a need for novel methods to mitigate attacker reconnaissance, usually the first stage in planning an attack. One of the few general approaches in this stage is using deception and information manipulation to affect what the attacker can learn about a system or network. Existing work in moving target defense, game-theoretic models of cyber deception/camouflage, and adversarial learning has provided a framework for optimizing deception strategies. However, most of the current literature is based on limited models of how attackers actually perform …

Design Of Engineered Nanomaterials For Pfas Adsorption And Catalytic Degradation From Relevant Environmental Conditions, Sheng Yin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of artificially made chemicals whose carbon chains are fully or partially fluorinated. Due to their persistent and pervasive distribution and their adverse effects on human health, the removal of PFAS from the environment has been the focus of current research. This project explores the use of engineered nanomaterials for the effective removal of PFAS through various adsorption and catalytic degradation methods. First, a comprehensive review of recent studies highlights the significant potential of various nanomaterials, including carbon-based, non-metal, single-metal, and multi-metal nanomaterials, for PFAS remediation. These materials are evaluated for their performance, …

Upscaling Sapflow Measurements To Footprint Transpiration Estimations In The Jornada Experimental Range, New Mexico, Usa, Habibur R. Howlider

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study proposes a new method for computing transpiration across an eddy covariance footprint using field observations of plant sap flow, phytomorphology sampling, uncrewed aerial system (UAS) digital image processing, and eddy covariance micrometeorological measurements. The method is applied to the Jornada Experimental Range, New Mexico where we address three key questions: (1) How do daily summer transpiration rates of Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and Creosote (Larrea tridentate) individuals of different ages compare? (2) How can the contributions of plants of varying sizes and ages be integrated for terrain-wide transpiration estimates? (3) What is the contribution of transpiration to total evapotranspiration …

Effective Strategies Respiratory Managers Use To Reduce Burnout And Retain Respiratory Therapists, Candi Nelson Tucker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Respiratory therapists (RTs) have one of the highest organization turnover rates in the healthcare industry. Turnover is important to RT managers because they often lack strategies to retain therapists. Grounded in the job embeddedness theory, the purpose of this qualitative, pragmatic inquiry study was to identify and explore strategies that healthcare managers use to reduce burnout and turnover to facilitate the retention of RTs. The participants were five respiratory managers in five acute care hospitals in an eastern U.S. state. Data collection included semistructured interviews and the review of publicly available data from the hospitals’ websites. Data were thematically analyzed, …

Higher Education Leader Perceptions On Increasing Doctoral Program Completion Rates, Leila Abouzaki

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study is that the completion rates of doctoral programs in the United States range as low as 40%. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of higher education leaders (HELs) on their successes and challenges in increasing completion rates in their doctoral programs. The list of values model by Hanson et al. provided a conceptual framework to describe and seek to understand the different factors related to retention and time to degree and suggests interventions to increase candidates’ likelihood of degree completion. The key research questions explored HELs’ perceptions of their …

“We Need To Wake Our World Up”: Collegiate Athletes’ Communicative Constitution Of Activism, Lillian B. Feder, Diane L. Jackson, Sean M. Eddington

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

This study examines National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletes’ experiences engaging in activism through the lens of the communicative constitution of organizations. Specifically, we investigated the modalities and approaches collegiate athletes employ in their activism. Findings indicate that collegiate athletes gravitate toward online and offline channels, and fiscal, ideological, and organizational activities as modalities for their activist efforts. We also uncovered that collegiate athletes’ inclination to call-in versus call-out is characterized by their willingness to engage with the recipients of their cause-related messages. This inquiry demonstrates the discursive and material nature of collegiate athlete activism, highlighting the call-in …

Evaluating The Impact Of An Experimental Intervention On Reducing Social Anxiety Through Impression Efficacy Changes, Alexandria Dismuke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social anxiety is a prevalent and harmful experience, predicting negative outcomes even for those not reaching clinical levels. While evidence-based treatments are well-documented for Social Anxiety Disorder, simple and accessible interventions for subclinical samples are a valuable endeavor for research. The current study aimed to test an experimental task for reducing social anxiety through increasing participants’ impression self-efficacy. A secondary goal was to explore the impacts of and responses to positive and neutral feedback. The primary hypothesis was that condition would predict changes in social anxiety indirectly through changes in impression self-efficacy. Participants (n=127) completed a structured interaction with a …

Effect Of Chemical Enhancers On Transdermal Delivery Of Amiloride For Management Of Resistant Hypertension, Oluwatosin Tabitha Leshaodo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Amiloride, a diuretic used for managing resistant hypertension, is hindered by low oral bioavailability and Gastrointestinal side effects, impacting patient compliance. This study investigates transdermal delivery as an alternative to reduce pill burden and improve adherence. Using dermatomed porcine ear skin, the research examined the passive transdermal delivery of amiloride and the effect of various chemical enhancers, including oleic acid, oleyl alcohol, tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, individually or in combination. A validated High-Performance Liquid Chromatography method, adhering to Internal Council for Harmonized guidelines (ICH), was employed for quantitative analysis. In vitro permeation studies, conducted using porcine skin and …

Enhancing Ethical Competency: A Review Of Ethical Instruction For Law Enforcement, Alexis Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As public confidence in policing has dropped, demand for ethical behavior from law enforcement officers has grown, and correspondingly, a better understanding of ethics training and ethical acquisition processes has become paramount. Though much literature exists on related topics, understanding of the ethics training for law enforcement officers as it currently exists, has remained murky. This research aimed to gain a better understanding of ethics training for law enforcement in the United States, and as such, to fill the aforementioned gap in the literature. Four research questions were explored in this study including the understanding of current pre-service and in-service …

Trauma Informed Schools: Investigating K-12 Educator Perceptions From Professional Learning To Implementing Practices, Kelsey Cupp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to further the understanding on how access to trauma-informed professional learning changed research-based practices in classroom and school-wide settings in K-12 schools. The guiding question for this quantitative study was: How has trauma-informed professional learning influenced changes in research-based practices in school-wide and classroom settings in K-12 schools? This research assessed the perceptions of elementary, middle, and high school teachers in one school district to investigate access to trauma-informed professional learning and potential changes in research-based practices in school-wide and classroom settings. Participants were teachers, in Northeast Tennessee, employed in urban schools implementing …

Spaces Of Progress And The Challenge Of “Mindfulness” In A Postcolonial World, M. Satish Kumar

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

Progress implied both change and improvement in the colonial and postcolonial world. Such a concept of progress came to be enshrined in specific geographical places. The notions of development and underdevelopment in the postcolonial context thereafter supplanted this idea. Over time, while the structures of colonial domination dissolved, those of embedded regional inequalities came to be deeply entrenched, thereby urging for Thich Nhat Hanh’s approach to “mindfulness” in a “postcapitalist,” postcolonial world. The key question is whether postcolonialism has reached an impasse in its delivery and deployment of ideas across the widening gulf between the spaces of progress and stagnancy. …