Digital Commons Network^™

(No) Women On Track: An Exploration Of Women’S Experiences In Motorsports Through Poetry, Cole Pedro '24

Honor Scholar Theses

I don’t go to every single race, paint my face Ferrari red, or show up at the hotels of drivers like Charles LeClerc and Pato O’Ward in hopes of getting an autograph. However, I do love motorsports and have worked in the motorsports industry as a college program intern in the premium services department at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). Before working in the world of motorsports, I expected to nd an industry full of men and a need for masculine energy from any person who wasn’t a man. I had seen stories about and met men who would quiz …

Expanding Content In A Health Sciences Library Discovery Service: Changing The Default Search Scope In A Shared Consortium Environment, Sara Hoover, Brian Mcdonald, Jolinda Thompson, Deborah Wassertzug

Himmelfarb Library Faculty Posters and Presentations

No abstract provided.

A Chemical And Historical Analysis Of Beer: Discovering Brewing Styles And Beer Stages, Alexander Taylor '24

Honor Scholar Theses

This interdisciplinary project is designed to explore both the compositional qualities of beer during the brewing process and its impact on society from a cultural, economic, and social viewpoint. Comparing various styles of beer against each other in a historical, societal, and chemical lens allows for a deeper understanding of what creates a beer’s identity, and what makes it different from other styles. Here we analyzed two different styles of beer, a bock lager and a saison ale, in order to determine their chemical composition through their developmental stages to their final product. Based on previously published research and extended …

Using Multiple Methods To Explore Antiracist Practices In A Cross Institutional Online Community, Mark Diacopoulos, Amanda Burbage, Kristen H. Gregory, Mary F. Rice

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

In this chapter, four white, cis-gender, teacher-educators engaged in a multiple method, cross-institution online collaboration during the dual pandemic of Covid-19 and structural racism. Using a book club reading schedule, arts based responses, problem posing, and memory work, the authors examined their experiences and reactions to the pandemic and concurrent incidences of structural racism. Drawing inspiration from Robinson and Robinson’s (2022) Imagine If, followed by Kendi’s (2019, 2023) How to be Antiracist, the authors describe how their online collaboration influenced their understanding of their past, helped them to unpack considerations of present problems in their practice, and helped them consider …

Measuring Inclusive Leadership In Nonprofit Performing Arts Organizations, Thomas Abruzzo

Dissertations

Inclusive leadership is undoubtedly a practice to strive for, and few would argue against the value of leading inclusively. Yet, empirically, little is known about what constitutes effective inclusive leadership, especially in the context of nonprofit performing arts organizations. This sector is a particularly apt place to study and practice inclusive leadership because, in addition to the many benefits it provides, the nonprofit arts sector has problematic roots in terms of privileging a dominant social class by prioritizing certain art forms over others. For example, the popularity of the nonprofit form in the arts sector, when compared to for-profit or …

California School Psychologists’ Assessment Practices With Cld Students: A Phenomenological Study, Hector Manuel Teran Jr.

Dissertations

School psychologists are tasked with assessing students to qualify them for special education, typically using standardized tests. Standardized testing, like IQ testing, routinely used in the psycho-educational process, serves to justify prejudices, as they often mark people of color as intellectually inferior to White people. A closer look at school psychologists’ assessment practices with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students is necessary, as these students have historically been placed in special education at a higher percentage, likely due to misperceptions related to their race, ethnicity, or linguistic background. While IQ tests are regarded as tools that identify the needs of …

Artificial Intelligence's Ability To Detect Online Predators, Olatilewa Osifeso

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Online child predators pose a danger to children who use the Internet. Children fall victim to online predators at an alarming rate, based on the data from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. When making online profiles and joining websites, you only need a name, an email and a password without identity verification. Studies have shown that online predators use a variety of methods and tools to manipulate and exploit children, such as blackmail, coercion, flattery, and deception. These issues have created an opportunity for skilled online predators to have fewer obstacles when it comes to contacting and …

The Barriers To Natural Outdoor Spaces: Perspectives From People With Mobility Disabilities, Sierra Fields, Kailah Prince

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Past research has predominantly examined the accessibility challenges encountered in built environments, particularly in urban parks and playgrounds. However, there is a gap in understanding the experiences of individuals with mobility disabilities in natural outdoor spaces, particularly state and national parks (SNPs). This study aims to address this gap by investigating the experiences of individuals with mobility disabilities within SNPs. Through qualitative data collection methods, including in-depth interviews, this research explores the perspectives of seven individuals who have visited SNPs in the past decade. The major findings covered a range of topics, including demographics, personal experiences, transportation barriers, infrastructure accessibility, …

Deep Learning Using Vision And Lidar For Global Robot Localization, Brett E. Gowling

Master's Theses

As the field of mobile robotics rapidly expands, precise understanding of a robot’s position and orientation becomes critical for autonomous navigation and efficient task performance. In this thesis, we present a snapshot-based global localization machine learning model for a mobile robot, the e-puck, in a simulated environment. Our model uses multimodal data to predict both position and orientation using the robot’s on-board cameras and LiDAR sensor. In an effort to minimize localization error, we explore different sensor configurations by varying the number of cameras and LiDAR layers used. Additionally, we investigate the performance benefits of different multimodal fusion strategies while …

The Mathematics Of Financial Portfolio Optimization Incorporating Environmental, Social, And Governance Score Information, Ian Driskill

Master's Theses

We numerically investigate the effects that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scores have on portfolio optimization with Modern Portfolio Theory assumptions and how ESG scores correlate with the market returns of a rated company's stock. Additionally, we review and analyze a research paper published in the Journal of Financial Economics regarding ESG investing titled “Responsible investing: The ESG-efficient frontier” by Pedersen, Fitzgibbons, and Lukasz. Our overall goal is provide insight for socially responsible inclined investors, to help them understand what ESG scores tell us and how those scores may effect their overall investment returns."

Impact Of Perinatal Escitalopram Exposure On Adolescent Behavior, Jessica Bezenah - Bottorff

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Escitalopram (EST), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is an antidepressant frequently used during pregnancy, yet there is limited knowledge of its long-term effects on maternal use. Past studies suggest that maternal exposure may adversely affect the fetus, which may be due to the hyperserotonergic environment caused by the nature of SSRIs during early development. Modifications of the serotonergic system in offspring during certain critical periods of development may result in long-term behavioral and cognitive changes in adulthood. Further, recent human studies have demonstrated that prenatal exposure to SSRIs in humans may increase susceptibility to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and …

Archaeological Perspectives On Human-Horse Dynamics: Reexamination And Analysis Of The Ca-Sbr-2110 Collection, Gabrielle Nicole Carpentier

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In this thesis, I analyzed the CA-SBr-2110 collection which contains a human and a horse skeleton. The collection was excavated in 1965 from Yermo, California and is currently housed at San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands, California. This research explores human-horse relationships in an archaeological context. The human skeleton was not analyzed in this research due to unknown cultural affiliation and sensitivity towards potential indigeneity. My research examines the horse remains within this collection and utilizes radiocarbon dating on three samples. Dating two samples from the horse provided approximate dates of 1829–1900 cal AD and 1798–1942 cal AD while dating …

Hitting Snooze Amidst Virginia's Mental Health Crisis: The Shortcomings Of The Bed Of Last Resort And The Need For A Continuum Of Crisis Care, Mary C. Fritz

University of Richmond Law Review

In the early morning hours of February 21, 2022, a temporary detention order (“TDO”) was issued for a young girl from Giles County, Virginia, to admit her for psychiatric treatment during a mental health emergency. The minor, identified by the initials S.E., was staying at a residential treatment facility when Chester- field County police officers drove her to Chippenham Hospital for an evaluation. S.E. was to be transported to the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents in Staunton, Virginia, for treatment, but the center “asserted that it had no beds available and refused to accept S.E. as a patient.” Instead, …

Ncaa Di Student-Athletes’ Understanding Of And Attitudes Toward Mental Performance Services, Allison Rudisill

Honors Theses

Mental performance services are designed to assist student-athletes with psychological challenges affiliated with performance (McHenry et al., 2022). Currently, only 65 NCAA DI athletic institutions employ a psychological provider, with only 23.2% of those being mental performance consultants (MPCs; Jones et al., 2022). As student athletes are aware of the mental demand of sport (Bemiller & Wrisberg, 2011) and the NCAA begins to bring awareness to the importance of the mental well-being of the athlete (NCAA Transformational Committee, 2023), it is important to understand student athletes’ attitudes toward these services. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to learn about …

Neurodivergent Gaming: Critical Game Design And Scholarly Practice, Mary Samblis

Honors Theses

This showcase of interactive experiences is designed to simulate and explore the hidden struggles of neurodiversity using game mechanics. It draws on my personal experience as an individual on the autistic spectrum to explore the relationship between game forms, academic scholarship, and critical thinking. The showcase aims to demonstrate the scholarly side of video game development and what video games, as a medium, have the potential to become within academia. Unlike articles or videos, video games have the unique quality to be interactive and immersive, allowing designers to experiment with mechanics as a tool for creating thoughtful and reflective experiences. …

Gender, Body Shame, And Sexual Anxiety: A Mediational Model Among College Students, Allison Hanby

Honors Theses

Previous research on sexual anxiety among emerging adults has consistently reported gendered differences in sexual anxiety levels with women reporting significantly higher levels of sexual anxiety than their male peers. As sexual anxiety is linked to several aspects of sexual functioning and enjoyment, this gendered discrepancy bears further investigation. Past literature has explored factors that may be influencing sexual anxiety in emerging adults, and body shame has emerged as a potential contributing factor. Using Objectification Theory as a basis, this study seeks to understand the coexisting relationships between gender, body shame, and sexual anxiety. This study hypothesizes a model wherein …

“Ufo Reports Swamp Mississippi”: Media Coverage Of The 1973 Pascagoula Alien Abduction, Jane Fort

Honors Theses

On October 11, 1973, Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker reported that they were taken aboard an unidentified flying object (UFO) in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Hickson and Parker’s abduction is now known as one of the most famous extraterrestrial encounters in the United States. In 1973, Hickson and Parker’s story captivated the media’s attention, and fifty years later, in 2023, UFOs are still widely reported on. This thesis utilizes the first-hand narratives from Hickson and Parker’s individual books to provide a detailed retelling of what happened on October 11. This thesis then analyzes the media coverage of the Pascagoula alien abduction in …

Side Channel Detection Of Pc Rootkits Using Nonlinear Phase Space, Rebecca Clark

Honors Theses

Cyberattacks are increasing in size and scope yearly, and the most effective and common means of attack is through malicious software executed on target devices of interest. Malware threats vary widely in terms of behavior and impact and, thus, effective methods of detection are constantly being sought from the academic research community to offset both volume and complexity. Rootkits are malware that represent a highly feared threat because they can change operating system integrity and alter otherwise normally functioning software. Although normal methods of detection that are based on signatures of known malware code are the standard line of defense, …

Impostor Phenomenon, Perfectionism, Psychological Distress, And Burnout In Pre-Health Undergraduate Students, Victoria Lee

Honors Theses

Preparing for a career in the healthcare field is incredibly strenuous and demanding, and previous research endeavors have demonstrated that students in professional healthcare programs show an increased susceptibility to impostor phenomenon, perfectionism, psychological distress, and burnout. Previous studies have indicated a possible link between impostor phenomenon, perfectionism, psychological distress, and burnout; however, these studies only considered two or three constructs at a time in graduate students (Rosenthal, et al., 2021; Seong, et al., 2020; Garratt-Reed, et al., 2018). The current study’s purpose was to investigate the whether or not impostor phenomenon, perfectionism, and psychological distress could be potential predictors …

Measurement Of The Branching Fraction Of Y(4s), B^0b^0 At Babar, Daniel B. Johnson

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Development And Validation Of A Noninvasive, Portable, And Low-Cost Device To Detect Peripheral Artery Disease, Julia Louise Nelson

Honors Theses

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a progressive cardiovascular condition characterized by atherosclerosis in the extremities. It affects up to 10 million adults in the United States and is associated with an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke. Up to 50% of people with PAD are asymptomatic and undiagnosed. This presents the need for a rapid, inexpensive, and noninvasive screening tool that can be easily used to diagnose PAD. We developed a device, REFLO (Rapid Electromagnetic FLOw device), to detect low blood flow and diagnose PAD. The device uses lowpower radio frequency energy (35 GHz) to heat the skin and …

Interspecific Venom Variation Among Three Microsympatric Scorpion Species Facilitates Niche Partitioning, Diplocentrus Lindo, Vaejovis Intermedius, Centruroides Vittatus, Anne Elizabeth Thaxton

Honors Theses

Scorpions are globally distributed and very well known for their use of venom for prey capture and defense. Despite their abundance and high number of species, very little is known about the venom used by scorpions, and how the components of venom work to maximize the success of the individual. The venom of a species is directly produced by the venom gland, which can be found at the very end of the tail in the telson. To further our understanding of scorpion venom, we generated the first venom gland transcriptomes for three species from three different families, Centruroides vittatus, Diplocentrus …

Year-Round Co2 Emissions From The Drawdown Area Of A Tropical Reservoir: Strong Seasonal And Spatial Variation, Ícaro Barbosa, José R. Paranaíba, Sebastian Sobek, Sarian Kosten, Rafael M. Almeida, Vitor Duque, Natália Mendonça, Nathan Barros, Raquel Mendonça

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Highlights

• Drawdown areas emitted 80% of reservoir CO2 with just 1/5 area.

• Emissions from reservoir shorelines near forests were greater than from areas near grassland.

• CO2 emissions increase with the distance from the water.

• Estimates of reservoir drawdown CO2 flux vary by ∼ 300 % across the seasons examined here.

• There was no discernible difference in CO2 emissions between day and night-time.

• A significant increase in CO2 fluxes was observed 30 min after a rewetting event.

Abstract

A growing body of literature points to drawdown areas as important sources of atmospheric CO2 within reservoirs. Yet seasonal and temporal patterns of …

Teacher Job Satisfaction: Working Conditions, Satisfaction, And Commitment To Stay In The Profession, Mary G. Hicks

College of Education

A nationwide teacher shortage has been a problem in our country for many years. Teacher vacancies continue to be plentiful, but enrollment in teacher preparatory programs continues to decline. The study aimed to investigate low teacher retention in rural Alabama schools. Through the lens of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, this study examined teacher perception of job satisfaction and how working conditions and demographic details impacted teachers' intention to remain in the field of education. This quantitative study was completed in three rural North Central Alabama school districts. The data revealed the school administrator's critical impact on her building, the importance …

Perceived Barriers Of Early Mobilization In The Intensive Care Unit, Melissa Sonderman, Emily Miles, Joshua Ferge

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Purpose

Early mobilization of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients can improve patient outcomes but also includes barriers to implementation. Nebraska Medicine has continued to have ongoing quality improvement initiatives like the ABCDEF liberation bundles and early mobilization that have been attempted but have never fully come to fruition. This project surveys Nebraska Medicines ICUs staff to better understand attitudes, knowledge and behavior regarding early mobilization using a validated tool. The aim was to identify barriers, so the organization could better understand the needs of ICU staff for future implementations of early mobility and related assessment tools.

Materials and Methods

A …

Filling The Bathymetric Gaps: Toward Quantifying And Characterizing Uncertainty In Interpolated Bathymetry, Elias Opeyemi Adediran

Master's Theses and Capstones

The oceans remain one of Earth's most enigmatic frontiers, with approximately 75% of the world's oceans still unmapped to modern standards. To overcome this, interpolation serves as the primary method for creating seamless coverage from incomplete coverage hydrographic data sets and is essential for creating a seamless digital bathymetric model (DBM) compiled from sparse bathymetric datasets and set-line spacing surveys. While methods for quantifying the uncertainty in depth measurements are well-researched, interpolation introduces unqualified depth uncertainties. This study aims to estimate and characterize these uncertainties which are essential to nautical charting, and navigational safety, and important in many other fields.Organized …

Yoga And Advaita Vedanta: A Study Comparing The Ontological And Epistemological Foundations Of Two Astika Schools Of Indian Philosophy, Devkamal Dutta

Master's Theses and Capstones

The central aim of this thesis was to examine the ontological and epistemological foundations of two schools of Indian philosophy – the Yoga School and the Advaita Vedanta School, in order to understand their points of convergence as well as divergence. I engaged in this inquiry by studying sutras from one foundational text of each school: Patanjali’s Yogasutras and Adi Shankaracharya’s Atmabodha, and by subjecting the sutras to scrutiny, to understand each school’s ontological and epistemological foundations. To do so, I chose the Triputi Framework, which is an ontological-epistemological framework from a third school of Indian philosophy, the Mimansa School. …

The Design And Characterization Of An Enhanced Reference Termination Board For Mipi, Matthew Corso

Master's Theses and Capstones

The Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) is a collection of protocols primarily used for connecting cameras and displays to processors in mobile devices. These links are asymmetrical in nature. Large amounts of data are sent in one direction and smaller amounts in the other. The speeds at which these protocols operate are continually increasing with each new revision of the specifications. The design of Automated Test Equipment (ATE) used to qualify new transceivers is rapidly falling behind in capability compared to that of the transceivers being currently developed. This thesis explores the design process for a passive M-PHY termination board …

Feminism In The Anti-Nuclear Movement: Three Women's Quest To Re-Make Society, Sarah Doenmez

Master's Theses and Capstones

In the 40 years between 1974 and 2014, the anti-nuclear movement arose in New England, shook the dominant political forces, changed the culture, and achieved significant victories. Although they are usually not recognized as the power behind anti-nuclear and environmental activism, in fact, I contend that a certain group of women motivated by a second wave ecofeminist vision of peace were and have remained the core of this work in New England. Their fight against patriarchal systems shaping their individual lives extended to a larger commitment to build communities and imbue institutions with a new value system that would nurture …

Fate Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances In A Wastewater Treatment Facility Using A Novel Membrane Bioreactor, Lindsay Ann Guertin

Master's Theses and Capstones

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a broad class of chemicals known for their environmental persistence and unique thermal and chemical stability which has led them to be used in a variety of products including paper, carpets, clothes, cosmetics, food packaging, kitchen ware, chrome plating, and aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs). Their resistance to biochemical degradation has led regulators to be interested in reducing PFAS loads to the environment and sources that humans are exposed to (e.g. drinking water). Recent studies have shown that concentrations of some terminal PFAS increase after secondary (biological) wastewater treatment indicating that precursor compounds are …