Mixture Effects On Metal Accumulation In The Asian Clam, Corbicula Fluminea, Mark A. Huff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Field collected Corbicula fluminea were exposed to trace level copper, lead, and zinc with the aim of examining the preferential accumulation between the soft tissue and shell. Metal levels were based on those in a permitted industrial effluent. At 1X effluent and 2X effluent exposure levels, copper was found to preferentially accumulate in the clam soft tissue, lead was found to preferentially accumulate in the clam shell, and zinc was found to excrete back into the diluent after preferentially accumulating in the clam soft tissue. When exposed as a mixture at 1X effluent levels, copper and lead were found to …

Exploring Factors Influencing Care And Outcome Among Stroke Patients In Tennessee, Omodele Agbejimi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in Tennessee. Socioeconomic variables influence the delivery of stroke treatment and its outcomes. Despite advances in acute stroke care, the burden of stroke keeps increasing. This study aimed to explore literature on factors contributing to stroke care and outcomes in the U.S., assess the determinants of stroke patients’ outcomes, and examine the geographical disparities in stroke hospitalization and stroke death rate and their association with stroke care accessibility in Tennessee.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted using socio-ecological models to explore literature on factors contributing to stroke care and outcomes. A …

The Diversity Of Our Weightlifting Uniforms: A Qualitative Analysis Of The Experiences Of Gender And Sexual Minorities In Gyms, Rachel M. Schott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gender and sexual minority (GSM) populations experience significant mental and physical health disparities compared to their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts. A particularly understudied modality that may contribute to these disproportionate health outcomes is decreased engagement in physical activity (PA). Gyms are a primary source for PA, yet understanding GSM experiences in these spaces is relatively understudied. The purpose of the present study is to better understand the experiences of GSMs in gym spaces with an emphasis on barriers and facilitators to their engagement. We conducted semi-structured phone interviews among self-identified gender and sexual minorities across the U.S. Thematic analysis was used …

The Intersection Of Appalachian Identity And Gambling Behavior, Noah S. Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relation between Appalachian identity and gambling behavior among students in central Appalachia (n = 395). One-way ANOVAs revealed no significant differences in engagement, F(2, 392) = 0.65, p = .523, or severity, F(2, 392) = 0.33, p = .718, across identification groups. Moderated regression showed that identity did not significantly moderate the engagement–severity relation (B = 0.073, p = .099), though engagement itself was a strong predictor of harm (B = 0.696, p < .001, R² = .521). Negative affect predicted both engagement (B = 0.074, p = .001) and severity (B = 0.069, p = .001), while identity remained non-significant. Logistic regression found that identity predicted gambling engagement (Exp(B) = 1.18, p = .034) only when controlling for severity. These findings relay the importance of empirical efforts in Appalachia and suggest that Appalachian identity may not be an independent risk factor in gambling behavior.

Administrator Perceptions Of Title I Parent And Family Engagement Practices And Policies During Covid-19, Rebekah Owens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine Title I administrator perceptions of facilitating parent and family engagement practices and policies prior to, during, and post Covid-19. The literature shows one of the leading factors in a child’s academic learning is family engagement (Henderson & Mapp, 2002). The Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships highlights ways in which administrators and school staff can be successful in engaging families and building strong partnerships by meeting four different capacity skills. Data collection strategies included semi-structured, one-on-one interviews, via Zoom video or audio interview, observation, document review, and field notes. Analysis of data …

Evaluating Online Autism Information: A Content Analysis Of Language, Quality, And Interventions, Jada R. Beal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The internet is a widely used source of autism-related information, yet previous studies demonstrate that the quality, accuracy, and language used in such content remain inconsistent. This study conducted a content analysis of 356 autism-related internet sources obtained from top Google search results, examining their use of neurodiversity-affirming language, the quality of health-related information, and the inclusion of evidence-based interventions. Results showed that medical model language and person-first terminology were more common than neurodiversity-affirming language. Sources targeting caregivers were significantly more likely to use medical model language than those aimed at autistic adults. Only 12.92% of sources included quotes or …

Dealuminated Metakaolin In Supplementary Cementitious Material And Alkali-Activated Systems: A Review, Amany G. Micheal Prof., Mostafa Adel Elsebaei Eng., Maria Mavroulidou Prof., Maria Centeno Assoc. Prof., Rabee Shamass Senior Lec., Ottavia Rispolio Mrs.

Architectural Engineering

This paper presents a comprehensive review of dealuminated metakaolin (DK), a hazardous industrial by-product generated by the aluminium sulphate (alum) industry and evaluates its potential as a component in cementitious systems for the partial or full replacement of Portland cement (PC). Positioned within the context of waste valorisation in concrete, the review aims to establish a critical understanding of DK formation, properties, and reactivity, particularly its pozzolanic potential, to assess its suitability for use as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM), or as a precursor in alkali-activated cement (AAC) systems for concrete. A systematic methodology is used to extract and synthesise …

Epidemiology And Risk Factors Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (Mrsa) Infections In A Tertiary Care Hospital In Saudi Arabia: An 8-Year Retrospective Analysis, Jawharah S. Alhazmi, Ameera S. Al-Khaldi, Naoufel M. Kaabia, Nabiha A. Bouafia, Yasser K. Mohammed, Abdulrahman N. Odayani

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To control the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in healthcare institutions, understanding its local epidemiology is essential. We aimed to investigate the epidemiological, clinical, and bacteriological features of MRSA cases and compare their origin (hospital-acquired versus [vs.] community-acquired) and patient age (pediatric vs. adult). Methods: A retrospective survey was conducted using the electronic database of all MRSA cases reported to the Infection Prevention and Control Center at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia from 2012 to 2020. We collected epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological data and performed comparative analyses between groups using appropriate statistical tests. Results: Among …

Effectiveness Of Epid-Based In-Vivo Dosimetry With Epigray® Software For Head And Neck Vmat Treatments, Ghassan Al-Murshedi, Yasmin Md. Radzi, Azhar Abdul Rahman

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of in-vivo dosimetry (IVD) utilizing an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) in conjunction with EPIgray ® software (DOSIsoft, Cachan, France) for assessing the accuracy of dose delivery for the patient when undertaking head and neck (H&N) treatments. Methods: Using cross-sectional analysis, data were collected from the linear accelerator of twenty patients undergoing (H&N) radiotherapy treatments using the Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) modality from June 2019 to October 2023 at Gleneagles Hospital Penang, Penang, Malaysia. EPIgray ® software reconstructed the delivered dose based on EPID images. These reconstructed doses were compared with the planned …

Computational Learning Across Biological And Industrial Systems: Bayesian And Segmentation Models For Epigenomic And Manufacturing Data, Prosenjit Roy

All Theses

In this thesis, we made a complete dual-domain investigation using a machine learning approach into two different scientific areas which were epigenetic analysis of seal species and pore identification in the work of additive manufacturing. The study showcased the flexibility and strength of modern computational tools in addressing complicated issues in various biological and industrial systems. We further investigated the epigenetics by using the Bayesian Neural Network and other machine learning methods to conduct a study on the DNA methylation pattern within three pinniped species (the northern elephant seal, Hawaiian monk seal, and Weddell seal) with perfect precision on species …

Research On The Relationship Between Manufacturing Process Digitalization And Product Quality Performance: A Case Study Of Discrete Manufacturing, Baozhong Zhang

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The study aims to explore the impact of digital transformation on product quality in discrete manufacturing enterprises. As the global economy and technology rapidly advance, the manufacturing industry faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Digital transformation has emerged as a key strategy for tackling these challenges and has become a significant trend in the manufacturing industry. The discrete manufacturing industry, which demands high product quality, faces even greater challenges in digital transformation. However, if discrete manufacturing enterprises successfully navigate this transformation, they can significantly improve quality, gain a competitive edge, and unlock even greater opportunities for their business.

The study combines …

Computational Fact-Checking With Limited Resources, Fengzhu Zeng

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The rapid dissemination of information through online platforms has sparked widespread concern about the propagation of misinformation. Manual fact-checking by pro- fessional fact-checkers is time-consuming and lacks scalability to address the vast volume of daily information. Consequently, computational fact-checking, driven by automated techniques in natural language processing (NLP), has garnered interest as
a potential solution. However, computational fact-checking faces critical challenges limited resources, particularly due to the issues of data scarcity and computing resource constraints. One key challenge is data scarcity, which arises from the constant generation of new information and emerging events on social media. This scarcity manifests in …

Ev Charging Management In A Real-Time Optimization Framework Considering Operational Constraints, Hilmi Cihan Güldorum, Ayşe Kübra Erenoğlu, İbrahim Şengör, Barry P. Hayes, Ozan Erdinç

Department of Computer Science Publications

The electrification of transportation plays a central role in the decarbonization of energy systems. Although electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to reduce energy related emissions, the increasing demand imposed by large scale EV adoption presents serious challenges for distribution systems (DSs), which were not originally designed to accommodate such loads. This study proposes a mixed integer quadratically constrained programming (MIQCP) framework to optimize the operation of an EV parking lot (EVPL) under DS constraints. The model compares three widely adopted objective functions: minimization of active power loss, charging cost, and uncontrolled charging impact, which is represented by minimizing the total …

Human Resource Management And Black Teachers’ Employee Experience In K-12 Urban Public Schools, Danielle Renee Cooper-Williams

Dissertations

National teacher data indicate that publicly funded schools in the United States struggle to retain Black teachers in high-need urban areas and in comparison to other groups (Carver-Thomas & Darling Hammond, 2017). This qualitative investigation employed case study methodology. The case study focused on one school within a charter management organization (CMO), exploring interactions among Black teachers and their supervising administrators at the site and management organization levels. The study was organized around concepts articulated at the nexus of teacher retention scholarship and human resource management theory, two bodies of literature yet to be substantially integrated to understand Black teachers’ …

Do Themes Improve Visitor Outcomes In Interpretive Programs?, Amber K. Hawes

All Theses

Thematic interpretation is widely promoted as being integral to an effective interpretive program. Some studies have suggested that thematic interpretation may enhance visitor outcomes; however, park visitor demographics have changed over the last decade, and others have suggested alternative approaches. In this study, we systematically observed live interpretive programs at 330 programs at 52 National Parks across the United States, monitored the extent and characteristics of theme usage, and collected visitor surveys immediately following each program. We used these data to determine the influence of the presence and characteristics of themes and theme questions on visitor outcomes. The results suggest …

Post-Harvest Storage Of Fuzzy Cottonseed: Quality, Airflow Modeling, And Energy Use, Elijah T. Porter

All Theses

Fuzzy cottonseed is a valuable byproduct of the cotton ginning process. When cottonseed exits the cotton gin, it often retains high temperatures and moisture contents. Once in a storage facility, the cottonseed needs to be conditioned for safe storage. The overall objectives of this study were to analyze quality changes in cottonseed according to storage conditions, determine the airflow resistance properties of fuzzy cottonseed, develop a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of a representative cottonseed storage facility, and analyze cottonseed aeration fan strategies, runtimes, and costs. Changes in quality dictate the allowable storage time for cottonseed and are impacted by …

Computational Study Of Nonlinear Electrokinetic Phenomena In Shear-Thinning Fluids, Wai Yuen Leung

All Theses

Electrokinetic phenomena have been widely used for fluid pumping and particle manipulation in micro/nanofluidic systems. They refer to the motion of fluids or particles in response to an electric field because of the spontaneous formation of an electric double layer at the fluid-solid interface. Understanding electrokinetic phenomena in micro/nanochannels is critical for a wide range of applications across various engineering fields, such as disease diagnostics, contaminant treatment and cell analysis. To date, numerous studies have been reported on electrokinetic phenomena in Newtonian fluids, where the classical Helmholtz-Smoluchowski theory indicates a linear relationship between fluid electroosmosis/particle electrophoresis and electric field. However, …

Life Cycle Assessment Of The Cultivation Of Lettuce In A Hydroponic System Using The Nutrient Film Technique, Raquel Jordan

All Theses

Hydroponic systems are an emerging method of soilless crop cultivation typically done inside a greenhouse where nutrients are delivered dissolved in water rather than being supplied from the soil. Potential benefits of hydroponic systems include reduced irrigation requirements, higher crop yield per area, and the ability to grow crops year-round in nontraditional areas such as urban settings, cold climates, and sites with contaminated soil. However, hydroponic systems tend to have high energy requirements for lighting and climate control, which can yield significant environmental impacts. To explore the environmental impacts of cultivating lettuce in a nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system, …

The Development And Application Of A Method To Simulate Commotio Cordis Inducing Impacts For The Evaluation Of Football Chest Protective Equipment, Bianca J. Henline

All Theses

As one of the most widely played and watched contact sports in the United States, football presents a significant risk of blunt chest trauma. Thus, effective chest protection is essential to prevent rare but fatal injuries like commotio cordis. Despite this, current test methods for certifying chest protective equipment fail to account for injury metrics relevant to commotio cordis events. Recent literature identifies rib deformation and viscous criterion as critical predictors of commotio cordis, yet these metrics are not adequately addressed in the existing testing standard. Furthermore, this standard exclusively assesses chest gear specific to baseball and lacrosse through projectile …

The Effects Of Incremental Application Of Chemical Defoliants On Cotton Fiber Quality, Aashish Karki

All Theses

Leaf shedding is a natural process as cotton matures; however, this does not synchronize with harvest timing; therefore, defoliants are used to remove these leaves and improve harvestability of the bolls. A tractor-mounted boom sprayer is typically used to apply defoliants. However, this approach results in low penetration to the bottom canopy, poor defoliation, and, consequently, lower fiber quality. An autonomous robotic spraying system equipped with pulse width modulation technology enables targeted side-spraying of defoliants, overcoming the limitations of conventional over-the-top applications. However, limited information on staggered defoliation timing and its effect on cotton fiber quality is available. Thus, field …

Did California's Mental Health Services Act Improve Mental Health? Evidence From Self-Reported Data, Bennett Rider

All Theses

This analysis evaluates the impact of California’s Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), which was implemented in 2006 to increase access and improve quality of mental health care for Californians. Difference-in-differences analyses were applied to evaluate the impact of the MHSA on the number of poor mental health days in the past month (PMHDs) that survey respondents had self-reported, relative to a control group with similar pre-policy trends. Using survey data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), this study found that the MHSA’s full implementation is associated with California respondents reporting 0.118 fewer poor mental health days in the …

Mission-To-Designs: Automating Uav Conceptual Design Generation, Nana A. Adjei

All Theses

The conceptual design stage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is an exploratory phase where designers are tasked with developing and evaluating a wide range of viable design concepts, considering different geometries and configurations based on mission requirements. The goal is to identify the most suitable design after the exploration for further development and progression to the next phase. Several tools and frameworks have been developed to assist designers in this stage, each offering unique capabilities, but all with the common aim of aiding in the efficient development and evaluation of conceptual designs. This is important in the UAV design process …

Small Stream Restoration In The Piedmont Of South Carolina: Comparison Of Evaluation Tools And Water Quality’S Effects On Salamanders, Camryn Lachica

All Theses

For many years, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) used the Guidelines for Preparing a Compensatory Mitigation Plan worksheets to guide pre-restoration evaluation and determine post-restoration mitigation credits in South Carolina. Recently, the USACE in South Carolina transitioned to the Stream Quantification Tool (SQT), which provides a more comprehensive assessment framework. Our first objective was to compare these assessment methodologies across different landscape types to determine what the SQT adds to mitigation calculations that were not considered in prior worksheets. We evaluated 16 streams in the Piedmont of South Carolina, with four replicates each of forested, suburban, urban, …

Biological Hydrogen Process Improvements By High Temperature Simultaneous Saccharification And Fermentation, Frank W. Jeffries V

All Theses

The hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga neapolitana is established as a versatile organism for fermentative hydrogen (H₂) production. Batch experiments were carried out to investigate the cell yield, product yield, and kinetic parameter values for individual media containing five carbohydrates. The highest H₂ yield of 15.56±0.31 mmol-H₂/g-carbohydrate was reported for glucose medium. H₂ yield was measured to be 14.51±0.38, 14.44±1.15, 11.88±0.84, and 11.53±0.73 mmol/g for media containing xylose, cellobiose, arabinose and xylan respectively. Acetic acid yield followed a similar trend, where the obtained values were 0.470±0.01, 0.462±0.04, 0.431±0.01, 0.409±0.03, and 0.406±0.01 g-acid/g-carbohydrate for glucose, cellobiose, xylose, …

Certified Computation Of Julia Sets Via Numerical Methods, Hannah Kaufman

All Theses

The chaotic and fractal nature of Julia sets makes them difficult to graph. This research aims to provide graphical approximations of Julia sets with known and guaranteed levels of accuracy. We implement three methods to approximate Julia sets with c values chosen from the main cardioid of the Mandelbrot set. Each method utilizes different properties of these Julia sets. The exclusion method makes use of the fact that a Julia set of this type is topologically a circle. Attracting and repelling fixed points are used to find a region on the interior of the Julia set and a region on …

Wires, Roads, And Real-World Challenges: An Interdisciplinary Case Study Bridging Roadway And Electric Utility Design, Juliann A. Lloyd

All Theses

Electric utilities are a foundational component of modern society and depend heavily on civil engineers for planning, design, construction, and maintenance. However, educational content related to this industry is often underrepresented in civil engineering programs. To bridge this gap, a case study activity was implemented in two transportation engineering courses at Clemson University. The case study introduced students to the integration between electric utility infrastructure and roadway design by simulating a realistic and common conflict scenario faced by Departments of Transportation (DOTs) nationwide.

Students were placed in interdisciplinary teams, with each member assigned a specialized role such as Land Agent, …

3,5-Dihydroxy-4-Isopropylstilbene (Tapinarof) Is A Partial Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Agonist In Fish, Conner A. Dicks

All Theses

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand activated transcription factor that is essential in regulating development, immune homeostasis, and drug and xenobiotic metabolism. Activation of the AHR by specific ligands results in its translocation to the nucleus where it induces a myriad of gene products, including cytochrome P450 (CYP) drug metabolizing enzymes (e.g., CYP1A1) and other components of the chemical defensome, as well as inflammatory control. Interestingly, the AHR can bind a wide variety of endogenous and xenobiotic ligands which are able to induce unique downstream effects dependent on cell type, inflammatory context, and ligand stability. The AHR is …

Optimizing Park Locations While Considering Resident Behavior, Lu Liu

All Theses

Urban parks and green-spaces significantly enhance community well-being by improving physical health, mental wellness, and environmental quality. Given these extensive benefits, ensuring fair and widespread access to urban parks represents a critical priority in urban planning. Despite the advantages of parks, optimizing their location poses unique and complex challenges distinct from traditional facility location problems, such as those involving emergency services or schools. The core distinction arises from the decentralized nature of residents’ park selection behaviors. Unlike centralized allocations typically managed by public administrators, park usage decisions are driven by individual preferences and behaviors. This decentralized decision-making introduces two additional …

Heat Storage Using High Temperature Borehole Heat Exchangers, Jack Horvath

All Theses

The use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power is growing, and with it comes an increased need to store excess energy when it is generated and release it on demand. Moderate temperature thermal energy storage in the subsurface is widely used to heat buildings, but high temperatures, greater than 120℃, are required to power generators that convert stored heat to electricity. High temperature heat can be generated from solar collectors or other means and then transferred to the subsurface using borehole heat exchangers (BHE). A BHE consists of a closed-loop pipe system used to circulate a …

Expandable Tissue Engineered Living Pulmonary Heart Valve For Pediatric Patients, David Podolsky

All Theses

Cardiovascular disease is an extremely deadly disease that affects people throughout the world. It is the leading cause of death worldwide, affecting over a quarter of the population.1 Some forms of cardiovascular disease directly affect the heart valves and their function. Surgery or a replacement device are the most common current treatment options. These treatments are effective in addressing heart valve diseases in adults, but they are less effective when used for children patients. This creates a need to develop a solution for the child population.

Congenital heart defects are structural abnormalities that often lead to infant mortality.2,3 Pulmonary valves, …