Digital Commons Network^™

The Genre Of The Near Future: Kim Stanley Robinson's New York 2140, David Sergeant

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This essay explores Kim Stanley Robinson’s fiction of the near future, New York 2140 (2017) and how its treatment of time and history relates to its generic identity. By imbricating present and future, New York 2140 resembles not so much science fiction, the genre commonly associated with the future, as the historical novel, inheriting from its nineteenth-century exemplars and moving beyond its postmodern incarnations. New York 2140 also proves innovative in its treatment of the relationship between individual and general, particular and universal, which has always been central to critical and creative treatments of the historical novel. Robinson’s text shows …

Integrating Outdoor Learning Into The Curriculum: An Exploration In Four Nations, Ra Passy, P Bentsen, T Gray, S Ho

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

Introduction This paper explores an increasing awareness among policy-makers that learning outside can provide beneficial experiences for pupils in compulsory education. It has arisen from the work undertaken during a three-year UK Economic and Social Research Council International Networking and Partnership Award (ES/J019445/1), in which colleagues from Australia, Denmark, England and Singapore met regularly to discuss learning outside, to theorise activity and to disseminate research undertaken in each nation.

Women’S Gainful Employment In ‘Gher’ Farming System (Prawn–Carp–Rice Integrated Culture) In Bangladesh: Trends And Determinants, S Rahman, Bk Barmon

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

© 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG. The paper examines trends in women’s gainful employment in ‘prawn-carp’ and ‘high yield variety (HYV) rice’ enterprises of the ‘gher’ farming system and jointly identifies the determinants of employing female and male labor in these enterprises using a farm-level panel data of 90 producers covering a 14-year period (2002–2015) from southwest Bangladesh by applying a multivariate Tobit approach. Results revealed that women’s gainful employment and real wage increased significantly with a substantial reduction in wage gap between female and male labor. The decision to employ female and male labor was found to be positively …

Palaeoenvironmental And Tectonic Significance Of Miocene Lacustrine And Palustrine Carbonates (Aït Kandoula Formation) In The Ouarzazate Foreland Basin, Morocco, Sarah J. Boulton, Justin H. Vandevelde, Stephen T. Grimes

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Ouarzazate Basin is the southern foreland basin to the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco. The sedimentary fill records a sequence dating from the Eocene to Pleistocene that records the interplay between tectonics and climate. This study presents the first stable isotope and facies analyses of the Middle to Late Miocene Aït Ibrirn lacustrine Member (Aït Kandoula Formation). These data test whether the basin was internally draining and enable the development of palaeoenvironmental models for the Middle to Late Miocene. Five sedimentary facies of lacustrine and palustrine limestones are interbeddded with extensive sequences of palaeosols and fluvial sandstones and conglomerates, …

Landslide Detection Using Remote Sensing Methods A Review Of Current Techniques, Sumanth Varma Byrraju

Theses and Dissertations

Landslides are among the most dangerous natural disasters, as they generally follow other major disasters thereby causing significant damage to already weakened systems. In the U.S. alone they cause an excess of 1 billion in damages and an average 25-50 deaths annually(USGC). Remote sensing techniques for landslide monitoring and prediction has gained popularity in recent years since it enables hazard mitigation. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry is among the remote sensing techniques used. DInSAR is an advanced interferometric technique which uses radar sensors to estimate the phase of a given area from which the landslide activity can be predicted. The …

Jukebox Musicals, Kimberly Braun

Theses and Dissertations

This masters thesis explores the jukebox musical as an art form and includes the script and next steps for a solo show about the work of Joni Mitchell.

Acoustoelastic Metamaterial With Simultaneous Noise Filtering And Energy Harvesting Capability From Ambient Vibrations, Fariha Mir

Theses and Dissertations

Harvesting unused and untapped energy from ambient vibration noise and acoustic sound waves is an emerging field of research in the recent years. Utilization of the energy with a wide band of the frequency spectrum from the vibrational sources alone stands as one of the most promising ways to power small electronic devices, smartphones, local structural health monitoring (SHM) sensors and home and workshop appliances. Various sources of ambient vibration and acoustic noise can be found around us in our everyday life. These sources are abundant in almost all the engineering industries and manufacturing facilities for example in aerospace, mechanical …

Cooperative Lewis Pairs Based On High-Valent Early Transition Metal Halides And Synthesis Of Their Nitride Complexes, Md. Mamdudur Rahman

Theses and Dissertations

Herein, we report the activation of relatively strong C–H and C–O bonds under mild conditions by a cooperative interaction of TaCl5 and PPh3. An unprecedented activation of nitrile adducts of high-valent transition metals with the formation of novel zwitterionic imido complexes was observed. The scope of the reaction includes a range of substituted unactivated nitriles including the C–H bond activation of both aliphatic and aromatic nitriles.

The cooperative action of a Lewis acidic high-valent transition metal halide (TaCl5 or NbCl5) and a weakly nucleophilic base (NEt3 or PPh3) leads to the deprotonation of a coordinated nitrile and subsequent rearrangement to …

Social Support: Who And What Types Matter For Early Adolescents’ Life Satisfaction, Kimberly G. Sitter

Theses and Dissertations

Trends in current psychological research suggest an increasing interest in indicators of well-being in youth, such as life satisfaction (LS). Studies indicate a strong association between LS and social support from different sources within an early adolescent’s social network. However, the unique contributions of specific types of supportive behaviors (within sources of social support) as they relate to development of early adolescent global LS have been largely overlooked. The current study sought to examine the unique contributions of social support types (emotional, appraisal, informational, instrumental) within three sources of support (parent, teacher, peer) to global LS in a sample of …

A Performance Guide And An Examination Of Selected Saxophone Works By Stacy Garrop, Yi-Chia Tu

Theses and Dissertations

In the past decade, there have been numerous new works written for the saxophone in a variety of styles, including pieces that utilize avant-garde and other contemporary techniques as well as traditionally tonal melodic and harmonic structures. This document explores five saxophone works composed by American composer Stacy Garrop and provides a brief analysis of Garrop’s compositional style. It examines how Garrop tells stories by using her own unique compositional style to make a connection with her audience and performers. Furthermore, this document includes a performance guide to help the saxophonist understand and master the techniques required to successfully perform …

Behavioral And Neurophysiological Correlates Of Sensorimotor Impairment In Aphasia, Lorelei Phillip Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Developing a clearer understanding of the basic impairments which underlie the behavioral characteristics of aphasia is essential for informing the development of targeted and effective treatment techniques. Impairments in sensorimotor integration have already been implicated in the repetition deficits common to individuals with aphasia, but much less is known about the extent to which these integrative deficits occur outside of conduction aphasia and how this manifests behaviorally in areas other than speech repetition. The goal of the present study was to examine these issues further by addressing the following aims: 1) To examine the behavioral and neurophysiological correlates of sensorimotor …

Possession Of Status Value: An Extension Of Status Value Theory, Nicolas L. Harder

Theses and Dissertations

Through what mediums is it possible to spread status? Prior research shows that status can be inferred from reward states, status and expectations can spread from one valued characteristic to another, and that differences in the status value of an object possessed by an individual can lead to differences in power during exchange interactions. However, it is not known if possession of these objects actually results in increased status and expectations for an individual possessing the status valued object. Building on Status Value Theory, Status Construction Theory, Reward Expectations Theory, and the Status Value Theory of Power, I construct a …

Finite Element Electromagnetic (Em) Analyses Of Induction Heating Of Thermoplastic Composites, Ankit Patel

Theses and Dissertations

Thermoplastic composites are in great demand for current and future manufacturing of aircraft and automotive industries. Induction heating and welding of thermoplastic composite laminates is of great significance. The non-contact method of heating and welding is being adopted in aircraft parts, engine parts, and turbine parts manufacturing among many other things. This thesis performs simulations and analyses of Electromagnetic (EM) induction heating of thermoplastic composites materials.

The induction heating and welding of thermoplastic composites in the presence of a susceptor alloy (called Monel) consisting of 67% nickel and 27% copper is studied using a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software. A …

Understanding The Strain Localization And Progressive Damage Growth At The Free-Edge Of Composite Laminates Using Digital Image Correlation, Addis Tessema

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the mechanics of Fiber Reinforced Composites (FRC) that guide the design and optimization of laminate structures, have attracted numerous researchers. For the last five decades, various analytical and numerical models have been developed to understand the damage and failure mechanisms in FRC. For long, Classical laminate plate theory (CLPT) has majorly been used as a theoretical guide in the design of composite structures. The CLPT framework is developed based on the consideration of an infinitesimal wide plate that depicts a planar stress condition. Thus, as it considers only the planar stresses, the out of plane interlaminar stresses are absent …

The Use Of Multi-Targeting Natural Products For The Treatment Of Cancer, Wesley Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

The paradigm shift in cancer treatments from traditional chemotherapeutics to targeted therapies has rapidly improved prognoses for patients for whom cancer was once a death sentence. This is especially true in the case of targeted immune therapies which activate the body’s own natural defense system to fight cancer. Despite these advances, however, cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the United States. The promise of targeted therapeutics has faced significant hurdles in providing effective cancer treatments, namely the limited percentage of susceptible cancers for each treatment, high cost burden, high toxicities, and significant risk of treatment induced resistance. …

Emergent Properties And Applications Of Self- Assembled Benzophenone-Containing Materials, Baillie A. Dehaven

Theses and Dissertations

Supramolecular assembly of benzophenone through urea hydrogen bonding interactions facilitates the formation of remarkably persistent triplet radical pairs upon UV-irradiation at room temperature, whereas no radicals are observed in solution. The generation of organic radicals is correlated to the microenvironment around the benzophenone carbonyl, the types of proximal hydrogens, and the rigid supramolecular network. High-Field EPR and variable temperature X-band EPR accompanied by simulations suggest a resonance stabilized radical pair through hydrogen abstraction. Previous work has shown that UV-irradiation of self-assembled benzophenone bis-urea host results in low quantities of radical pairs that can be used to enhance NMR signals …

A Litigation Analysis Of The Extraterritoriality Of U.S. Federal Laws In International Education, Sara M. Easler

Theses and Dissertations

U.S. higher education institutions and international educators have sought to improve the level of engagement and participation in education abroad among undergraduate college students as well as to diversify the types of available experiences and the students that benefit from them. Yet, this programmatic investment in international education and study abroad has occurred without fully understanding the discrimination and litigation risks of such endeavors. This study examines the relevant federal statutes and their interpretation as defined by trial outcomes and Office of Civil Rights (OCR) opinions in an effort to inform the field of international education and its practitioners of …

Development Of Acceptor-Integrated Crystalline Organic Materials, Brandon Yarbrough

Theses and Dissertations

We report the first example of fullerene-containing porous covalent-organic scaffold, which combines not only crystallinity and porosity, but also integrates the intrinsic properties of a redox-active buckyball, along with the ability to tune electronic properties. Thus, the presented studies not only demonstrate the possibility of merging the strong electron accepting properties of fullerene-based derivatives with the versatility of covalent-organic frameworks (COFs), but also begin the class of crystalline, entirely organic, donor-acceptor fullerene COFs through covalently modifying the channel walls. These studies could foreshadow new avenues for buckyball utilization for applications ranging from organic photovoltaics to molecular electronics.

Modeling And Loss Analysis Of Sic Power Semiconductor Devices For Switching Converter Applications, Soheila Eskandari

Theses and Dissertations

Since its inception, power electronics has been to a large extent driven by the available power semiconductor devices. Switching power converter topologies, modes of operation, switching frequencies, passive filtering elements are chosen based on the switching and conduction characteristics of power semiconductor devices. In recent times new wide bandgap power semiconductor devices, such as SiC MOSFETs, are emerging with superior performance as compared to conventional silicon devices.

In switching power converter design, power losses of the power semiconductor de- vices play a crucial role in determining the physical characteristics of power converter systems in terms of size, weight, efficiency and, …

“Philosophical Treatises On Life And Death”:Newspaper Coverage Of A Controversial Brain Death Case, Khadija Ejaz

Theses and Dissertations

The central concern of this multi-method research project was to investigate newspaper coverage of the controversial brain death case of Jahi McMath. This represents the first study of sense-making of the case in the news media, positioning it at the intersection of science communication and critical qualitative inquiry. First, framing theory was used to guide a textual analysis of 81 newspaper articles from high-circulation newspapers in California. This revealed four frames that first created uncertainty about brain death, thereby permitting two competing frames of Jahi being alive and also being dead to co-exist before merging into a frame that further …

The Big Five Personality Types And Music Performance Anxiety In Collegiate Piano Students, Lindsey Brooke Chattin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine if relationships exist between the Big Five personality types and levels of music performance anxiety (MPA) in collegiate piano majors. Fifty-five (N = 55) collegiate music majors enrolled in private lessons in the fall 2017 semester participated in this quantitative study. Participants completed a survey consisting of three sections: demographic questions, the “International Personality Item Pool Big Five Factor Markers” questionnaire (Pettersson and Turkheimer, 2010), and the “Three-Dimensional Performance Anxiety Inventory” (Cheng, Hardy, and Markland, 2009).

The questionnaire had three primary focuses: (1) to collect demographic data and information of collegiate …

Effect Of Severe Economic Recession On The Psychological Distress: Evidence Of Modifying Effect Of Risky Behaviors And Insurance Status, Lumi Bakos

Theses and Dissertations

The investigation identified the effect of the 2007-2009 economic recession on the level of psychological distress (PD) as modified by engaging in risky behaviors and insurance status. The objective was to determine if engaging in risky behaviors and insurance status had an impact upon the level of psychological distress experienced during a recession; the timeframe for the study is 2007 representing pre-recession to beginning of recession year, to 2009 representing the recession year, to 2012-2013 representing post-recession years. The study involved the use of a nationwide non- institutionalized adult population, the Mental Health and Stigma optional module found in the …

Expanding Immediate Postpartum Contraceptive Options: South Carolina’S Medicaid Policy, Amy Mattison-Faye

Theses and Dissertations

Offering contraceptives is essential to allow women the opportunity to plan for pregnancy and help prevent mistimed or unintended pregnancy. Intrauterine devices and implants, also known as long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC), are the most effective methods of contraception. South Carolina Medicaid in 2012 launched an innovative policy expanding contraceptive access and coverage for women delivering in hospitals to have the option to receive a LARC immediately postpartum. However, in order for this policy to be successful, it relies on the capacity of hospitals and providers to adopt and implement without assistance. Identifying the provisions necessary in order for successful policy …

The Impact Of A Science Fair On High School Students’ Feelings Of Self-Efficacy In Stem, Nathaniel P. Wharton

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this present action research study was to describe secondary students’ feelings of self-efficacy in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through a curriculum linked to a science fair project, the teacher-researcher focused on student-participants’ perceptions of perseverance and task completion linked to STEM courses and postsecondary STEM careers. A Likert scale pretest (n=44) and posttest (n=33) based on Bandura’s model of four categories of self-efficacy (mastery experience, vicarious experiences, verbal/social persuasion, and emotional/psychological states) was administered to middle to low income students at a high school in Pennsylvania in the fall of 2018.). Data was also collected …

Three-Dimensional Plasma Cell Survival Microniche In Multiple Myeloma, Katrina A. Harmon

Theses and Dissertations

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable malignancy characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of long-lived plasma cells (PCs) in the bone marrow (BM), which constitute at least 10% of BM cellularity. Normally, long-lived plasma cells make up less than 1% of BM cells. Plasma cells become neoplastic when a clonal PC population produces a monoclonal immunoglobulin protein. A diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is made when there is an increase in monoclonal PCs within the BM, but less than 10%, and the patient does not present with end-organ damage, which is associated with active MM. Though not considered …

Effect Of Trb3 On Skeletal Muscle Mass Regulation And Exercise-Induced Adaptation, Ran Hee Choi

Theses and Dissertations

Skeletal muscle, which composes over 40% of body mass, is responsible for daily locomotion and energy metabolism. It is a malleable tissue that can adapt its structure and function in response to internal and external environmental stimuli. Changing muscle mass and energy substrate utilization is a common skeletal muscle adaptation in response to various pathological conditions, including type 2 diabetes and obesity. Failure to maintain skeletal muscle mass and function has been correlated with increasing morbidity and mortality, as well as poor quality of life. Hence, maintenance of skeletal muscle integrity is a recommended strategy in achieving better quality of …

Impact Of Glutathione Transporters On Subcellular Glutathione Pools And Cell Survival In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Crystal Conaway Mcgee

Theses and Dissertations

Thiol-disulfide redox homeostasis is integral for maintaining the redox status of proteins and other thiol-containing molecules within cells. Mitochondria are particularly vulnerable to disruptions in redox balance, due to production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during oxidative metabolism. Among the many antioxidants and detoxifying enzymes existing in mitochondria, glutathione (GSH) has proven to be critical for the preservation of function and structural integrity of the organelle. Therefore, our studies are aimed at elucidating the factors that control mitochondrial GSH metabolism in the model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast). A critical component of understanding subcellular GSH homeostasis is identifying routes of …

Successful Pressing Sequences In Simple Pseudo-Graphs, Hays Wimsatt Whitlatch

Theses and Dissertations

Motivated by the study of genomes evolving by reversals, the primary topic of this thesis is “successful pressing sequences” in simple pseudo-graphs. Pressing sequences where first introduced by Hannenhali and Pevzner in 1999 where they showed that sorting signed permutation problem can be solved in polynomial time, therefore demonstrating that the length of a most parsimonious solution to the genome in- version only rearrangement problem can be determined efficiently.

A signed permutation is an integer permutation where each entry is given a sign: plus or minus. A reversal in a signed permutation is the operation of reversing a subword and …

Development Of Models For Road-Rail Intermodal Freight Network Under Uncertainty, Md Majbah Uddin

Theses and Dissertations

Freight activities are directly related to a country’s Gross Domestic Product and economic viability. In recent years, the U.S. transportation system supports a growing volume of freight, and it is anticipated that this trend will continue in the coming years. To support the projected increase in freight volume, an efficient, reliable, and low-cost freight logistics system is necessary to keep the U.S. competitive in the global market. In addition, intermodal transport is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to shippers, and this trend is likely to continue as state and federal agencies are considering policies to induce a freight modal shift …

Consideration Of /ˈMem(Ə)Rē/: A Solo Performance Project, Elizabeth Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations

On February 18, 2018, I performed a solo show in conjunction with my MFA cohort. This solo show, titled /ˈmem(ə)rē/, was written and produced by myself and dealt with a woman’s search through her memories to find something she’s been missing. Over the course of this paper, I discuss the genesis of the central theme, the evolution of each frame, as well as the success and failures of the piece during performance. I conclude by determining whether or not a re-mounting of this work would be beneficial in the future and examining what I learned in the process of …