Digital Commons Network^™

The Association Of Adult Medicaid Beneficiaries’ Characteristics And Their Experience During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Frank R. Tortorella

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the United States’ safety net program, Medicaid, for low-income individuals affecting access to care, increasing enrollment, and requiring new approaches to care delivery. The literature shows that beneficiaries’ personal characteristics influence their healthcare experience. This study investigated the association between Medicaid beneficiary characteristics and experience with their Medicaid health plan, examined if COVID-19 negatively impacted experience, and tested if COVID-19 moderated the relationship between beneficiary characteristics and experience.

Methods: The research sample was 76,976 adult Medicaid beneficiaries who voluntarily completed the annual Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) health plan surveys in 2018 …

Futurist, Fang Wang, Katey Price, David L. Groves

Visions in Leisure and Business

No abstract provided.

The Fermat Quartic X4 + Y4 = 2m In Quadratic Number Fields, Jayanth Athipatla

Mathematics Faculty Publications

In this paper, we generalise to the family of Fermat quartics X4+Y4=2m,m∈Z, a result of Aigner [‘Über die Möglichkeit von x4+y4=z4 in quadratischen Körpern’, Jahresber. Deutsch. Math.-Ver. 43 (1934), 226–228], which proves that there is only one quadratic field, namely Q(−7−−−√), that contains solutions to the Fermat quartic X4+Y4=1. The m≡0(mod4) case is due to Aigner. The m≡2(mod4) case follows from a result of Emory [‘The Diophantine equation X4+Y4=D2Z4 in quadratic fields’, Integers 12 (2012), Article no. A65, 8 pages]. This paper focuses on the two cases m≡1,3(mod4), classifying for m≡1(mod4) the infinitely many quadratic number fields that contain solutions, …

Exploring Different Metal-Oxide Cathode Materials For Structural Lithium-Ion Batteries Using Dip-Coating, David Petrushenko, Thomas Burns, Paul Ziehl, Ralph E. White, Paul T. Coman

Faculty Publications

In this study, a selection of active materials were coated onto commercially available intermediate modulus carbon fibers to form and analyze the performance of novel composite cathodes for structural power composites. Various slurries containing polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), active material powders, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and carbon black (CB) were used to coat carbon fiber tows by immersion. Four active materials—lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), and lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA)—were individually tested to assess their electrochemical reversibility. The cells were prepared with a polymer separator and liquid electrolytes and assembled in 2025-coin …

Transcriptomic And Epigenomic Profiling Of Immune Cells Responses To Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection In The Brain, Xiaoke Xu

Theses & Dissertations

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is an enveloped retrovirus that significantly impairs the human immune system. A common complication of HIV-1 infection is HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), which, prior to the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART), led to considerable morbidity and mortality due to untreated neuropsychiatric manifestations. Although ART has substantially reduced the incidence of HIV-associated dementia (HAD), approximately 50% of people living with HIV (PLWH) continue to experience milder forms of HAND. The CNS is seeded by HIV during the acute phase of infection. Once in the brain, HIV targets and activates resident immune cells, primarily microglia and …

A Replication And Extension Of The Enhanced Choice Model For Children Who Exhibit Challenging Behavior, Jessica Tran

Theses & Dissertations

Rajaraman et al. (2022) first introduced the Enhanced Choice Model (ECM) as an intervention that incorporates assent within the treatment framework. Shortly after, Staubitz et al. (2022) and Rajaraman et al. (2024) added to the literature available specifically regarding the ECM. Despite the initial successes of the ECM, it has only been applied to nine individuals. Of these, only two needed some form of modification to the treatment model. The criteria for these modifications was not specified within previous literature. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was twofold. First, we extended previous research by evaluating systematic modifications to the …

Revisiting Android Permission Evolution Through Temporal Analysis: A Data-Driven Study Of Behaviors And Implications, Ali Al Kinoon

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Malicious applications continue to pose significant privacy and security risks within the Android ecosystem, often exploiting user permissions and obscuring data collection practices behind opaque privacy policies. To address these challenges, this dissertation presents a comprehensive framework for enhancing Android app security through dataset construction, permission behavior analysis, and privacy policy classification. The framework systematically investigates key issues such as dataset fidelity, permission misuse, model performance, and the alignment between declared and actual data practices. Through a combination of empirical analysis and machine learning techniques, this work advances the development of more transparent and secure mobile applications. The first part …

Analyzing The Global Changes In The Seasonal Cycle Of Sea Level, Storm Surge, And Ocean Waves, Amanda Barroso

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Changes in the seasonal cycle of extreme sea level components can modulate the flooding risk along coastlines. This dissertation evaluates the changes in and potential co-occurrence of the seasonal cycles of mean sea level, storm surge, and ocean waves. Seasonal cycles characterize the generally expected climate conditions throughout the year with distinct high and low patterns. These regular and predictable cycles have shown non-stationarity in some locations across the globe. This means the timing of the expected peak may shift to occur earlier or later. Shifts in the timing of the maximum sea level impact coastlines with increased risk of …

Numerical Evaluation Of A Novel Transpiration Cooling Scheme For Use In Dynamic Control Of Atmospheric Entry System, Caroline J. Anderson

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Future space exploration missions require sustainable, efficient thermal protection systems for atmospheric entry, instead of disposable ablative shields. Transpiration cooling has interest as a long studied method but never used for missions to date, prompting further study to address concerns of flow transition downstream. In consideration of additional need for aerodynamic maneuvering for greater landing accuracy, a novel asymmetric scheme of transpiration cooling is presented as a method of using onboard coolant to meet entry trajectory maneuvering requirements. This numerical study creates a coupled model of vehicle-scale flow domain and material-scale thermal response to converge on accurate vehicle surface values.

Design And Development Of A Laser Diagnostic System For Ammonia And Nox Measurements In A Toroidal Jet Stirred Reactor At Atmospheric Pressure, Marzuqa Ahmed

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The need for more sustainable fuel alternatives in the modern aircraft industry is growing. SAF is the current sustainable fuel in use, but still produces harmful carbon emissions. A promising alternative to SAF is ammonia, which produces zero carbon emissions. By decomposing ammonia (NH₃) into its constituents of N₂ and H₂ using a chemical catalyst, a hydrogen-ammonia fuel mix is created. H₂/NH₃ mixtures still have the desired characteristic of burning without carbon emissions, but are less reactive than pure hydrogen. Additionally, ammonia is a widely used compound, so infrastructure already exists for production, …

Morphology, Evolution And Host-Driven Convergence In Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea), Davide Dal Pos

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Understanding the functional and evolutionary significance of morphology is fundamental to interpreting the tree of life. In recent years, emerging tools have enabled broad-scale analysis of discrete morphological data and facilitated the study of entire phenomes, helping to re-establish morphology as a central component of evolutionary research. These advances allow us not only to examine individual traits in detail but also to compare them across taxa and explore their evolutionary trajectories. This approach is particularly critical when studying hyperdiverse groups that exhibit both high levels of morphological convergence and complex life cycles intricately tied to host use. A prime example …

Scalable Embedded Parallel System With Implementation Of Multi-Node Encryption, Binh Pham

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovative technologies promote a demand for high-performance processing systems, underscoring the importance of parallel computing. As a result, the application of parallel systems has spread across various domains. Most of the existing parallel systems are implemented on Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), which require complex designs and adjustments from the user and are often costly despite some performance benefits. This work explores an alternative approach by implementing a parallel system with a distributed memory protocol on affordable and commercially available microcontroller platforms to provide a scalable and cost-effective system. The proposed parallel system …

Marine Ecosystem Services Disruption And Social Violence, Rafael Hurtado-Valdivieso

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Over the past century, human activities have profoundly altered ocean and coastal ecosystems, significantly impacting communities whose livelihoods depend on these environments. This dissertation explores how disruptions in marine ecosystem services contribute to the emergence of social violence in coastal communities, with a specific focus on the Colombian Caribbean. While prior research suggests a potential link between environmental degradation and conflict, empirical evidence remains limited and inconclusive. This study addresses that gap through a multi-method, interdisciplinary approach that integrates environmental science, political science, and computational modeling to examine the mechanisms linking ecosystem disruption to social violence.

The research follows a …

Bridging Data Gaps And Forecasting Challenges In Water Quality Monitoring Using Deep Learning, Rohan Gudla

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Reliable water quality monitoring is critical for protecting public health and enabling sustainable environmental management. However, high rates of missing data often exceed 40% due to sensor failures and operational disruptions severely undermine the utility of environmental monitoring systems. To address this challenge, this thesis presents a three-stage deep learning framework designed to enhance the accuracy and resilience of water quality forecasting. First, a Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory model with Attention and Autoencoder Modules (BiLSTM-AAM) is introduced to impute long, irregular gaps in multivariate time series. Applied to real-world data from the St. Lucie River Basin, the model achieved a …

Enhancing Intelligent Transportation Systems: Scalability, Emulation, And Applications Of V2x Communication For Connected And Autonomous Vehicles, Ghayoor Shah

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The integration of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication is a key advancement for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs), enhancing the safety, efficiency, and intelligence of modern Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). While Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) rely heavily on onboard sensor data for situational awareness, they remain limited in non-line-of-sight scenarios, which can lead to critical driver errors and accidents. V2X communication extends this awareness by enabling real-time exchange of information beyond sensor range, improving decision-making and reducing collisions.

Two primary V2X technologies are Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) and Cellular-V2X (C-V2X). While DSRC, based on IEEE 802.11p, was initially prominent in research, C-V2X, standardized …

Accurate And Efficient Orbit Probability Approximation Framework For Space Situational Awareness, Pugazhenthi Sivasankar

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Uncertainty Propagation in astrodynamics has gained importance in space situational awareness (SSA) problems such as space debris tracking, collision avoidance, and Cislunar operations. In this dissertation, the technique of Orbit Probability Approximation (OPA) is developed. OPA propagates orbital uncertainty using Liouville’s theorem with different functional approximations. First, OPA is formulated with Chebyshev polynomials to propagate the uncertainty on a geocentric planar orbit problem and then validated using two sources of satellite data: GRACE navigation data from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) database, and FireOPAL ground-based observer provided by Lockheed Martin. In this validation process, OPA propagates uncertainty without using any …

Computational Approaches For Rna Structural Motif Analysis: Similarities, Variations, And Spatial Relationships, Md Mahfuzur Rahaman

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The three-dimensional structures of RNA play a critical role in understanding their functions. One way to study the RNA 3D structure is by analyzing recurrent segments within the loop regions of RNAs, known as RNA structural motifs. These motifs can be grouped into families based on their structural features. However, the inherent structural diversity presents challenges in characterizing the similarities, variations, and spatial relationships within RNA motif families. This dissertation presents three computational methods that together provide a comprehensive framework for RNA structural motif analysis. First, RNAMotifComp establishes and visualizes relational networks among structural motif families. By analyzing instances of …

From Failure To Fidelity: Enabling Scalable Sim2real Lidar Perception Through Realistic Digital Twins, Muhammad Shahbaz

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

LiDAR technology plays a key role in enabling intelligent perception across urban systems. Its ability to capture accurate 3D data regardless of lighting conditions makes it well-suited for applications in autonomous vehicles, traffic monitoring, security, and privacy-aware smart city infrastructure, offering advantages over camera-based systems in depth, precision, and reliability. However, scaling deployment faces substantial challenges due to the time, effort, and cost of gathering and labeling LiDAR data used to train and test perception algorithms. This dissertation addresses these challenges by tracing a comprehensive research trajectory from early failures to a successful, fidelity-driven solution. Initially, (1) it explores transfer …

"Please Hold Space For Them": The Role Of Mental Health Professionals In Supporting Bipoc Female Survivors Of Campus Sexual Assault, Brianna Josefine Ortega

Doctoral Dissertations

Campus sexual assault (CSA) remains a pervasive issue in the United States, disproportionately affecting women. Despite this, the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and other Persons of Color (BIPOC) women are often underrepresented in the literature, limiting understanding of how best to support them. Based on intersectionality theory, this qualitative study explores how mental health professionals (MHPs) support BIPOC female survivors of CSA. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six MHPs, and a thematic analysis framework uncovered seven key themes: disclosure (subtheme: barriers to disclosure), impacts of campus culture, fear and distrust, impact of campus sexual assault, coping, resources available for survivors, …

American Muslim Women’S Experiences With Pregnancy And Childbirth In The United States Healthcare System, Salema Mohamed

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Muslim women adhere to specific religious beliefs and practices, which can inform their healthcare decisions and requirements during pregnancy and childbirth. Despite an increase in the Muslim population in the U.S., there is currently limited research on Muslim women's maternity care and experiences. To address the gaps in knowledge, this study explored Muslim women’s experiences with pregnancy and childbirth in the U.S. Data consists of interviews from 20 Muslim women who had pregnancy and childbirth in the U.S. A thematic analysis was used to analyze and report the findings. The findings revealed that modesty was a significant concern during pregnancy …

“Rights Not Rescue”: How Stigma Influences Harmful Legislation Toward Sex Workers In The Deep South, Abigail Mckenzie Conover

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

In the United States, while prostitution or sex work is not explicitly illegal at a federal level, certain characteristics have been criminalized, mainly in indirect ways. This is significant when considering the different ways that sex work is regarded (both positively and negatively) at an institutional level. The current study examines the potential correlation between structural/institutional stigma regarding sex work/sex workers and legislation meant to directly or indirectly harm sex workers. The overall goal of this research was to answer the following question: How does structural/institutional stigma against sex workers present itself in legislation? To accomplish this, I conducted a …

The Association Between The Social Determinants Of Health And Shared Decision Making: An Investigation Of The National Survey Of Children's Health, Vernon T. Headley

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Objective: Shared decision-making (SDM) is defined as a clinical approach that allows both physicians and patients to communicate on the best treatment options that will improve the patient's overall health outcomes. Shared decision-making plays a vital role in how parents engage with their physicians regarding the healthcare needs of their children. This dissertation assessed the association between the social determinants of health and shared decision-making regarding children’s health-related issues.

Methods: The data for the current research were the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), combined 2017-2020. The dependent variable was shared decision-making and included discussing treatment options, raising concerns regarding …

Podcast Narratives Of Cybercrime Perpetration, Rebeka Rocco

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The growth of the internet and cybertechnology has created the opportunity for new types of crime. Given the recency of these developments, little is known about cybercrime perpetration and there is scant existing data gathered from those who have perpetrated cybercrime. This project applied thematic analysis to 30 episodes of a popular podcast focused on cybercrime to explore pathways men take to committing and continuing to commit cybercrimes against networks and information, financial cybercrime, and sales of products on illegal online marketplaces. Findings suggest that podcast narratives of perpetration reveal shifting motivations, gradual immersion in online deviant and criminal communities, …

Nueva Metodología De Análisis Para Determinar El Delito Ambiental De Ecocidio Por Glifosato En Cultivos Permanentes De Coca En Colombia, Rosalina González Forero, Jerry H. Kavouras, Érika González Ruiz

Biology Department Faculty Articles

El crimen organizado transnacional ha sido nefasto para el territorio colombiano, en especial el asociado a la producción de coca en la última década, lo que ha generado impactos económicos y sociales debido al aumento del conflicto e inseguridad en las zonas de influencia del cultivo. Esto se debe a que en el 2023 se tenían 230 000 hectáreas sembradas, lo que representa el 20 % de la superficie del país, con un impacto ambiental no cuantificado en términos penales. Este requiere de acciones de entidades estatales, así como de cooperación internacional, para adaptar estrategias y poder judicializar estos delitos …

Settlement Calculation Method For Composite Foundations Reinforced With Geo-Encased Stone Columns, Long Jun, Tan Jingpeng

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Geo-encased stone columns (GESCs ),known for their cost-effectiveness and simple construction,are widely employed in the reinforcement of soft soil foundations in practical engineering,and the analysis of their settlement serves as a crucial foundation for the design process.However,existing research mainly focuses on experimental and numerical methods,with relatively limited progress in theoretical calculations.Based on the load transfer mechanism of GESC-reinforced composite foundations and the bulging deformation of the pile body within a certain depth of the pile top under vertical loading,the reinforced zone was divided into a bulging section and a non-bulging section,and the total settlement of the pile was regarded as …

Study On Deformation Characteristics Induced By Deep Foundation Pit Excavation Sharing Diaphragm Wall With Existing Subway Station, Ling Tonghua, Zou Nanwei, Zhou Kun, Feng Wei, Wu Xing, Zhang Liang

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To investigate the deformation induced by deep foundation pit excavation sharing a diaphragm wall with an existing subway station,this study took the foundation pit project of Gongming Square Station of Shenzhen Metro as an example.A three-dimensional numerical model was established by FLAC3D software to analyze the deformation characteristics of the surrounding ground surface,retaining structures,and the subway station during the excavation process.In addition,field monitoring was conducted to measure the vertical and horizontal displacements of the pit sidewall and the subway station sharing the diaphragm wall.The results show that after excavation,the ground surface settlement behind the retaining wall exhibits an approximately elliptical …

Study On Chloride Ion Diffusion Behavior In Cracked Cement Mortar With High Fly Ash Content, Liu Yang, Mao Shengzhe, Lu Naiwei

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to explore the diffusion behavior of chloride ions in cracked cement mortar with high fly ash (FA) content,this study fabricated cement mortar specimens with different FA contents and crack widths by artificially prefabricating cracks.The chloride ion content in cracks was measured after natural soaking for 30 days and 60 days.The results show that the cracks accelerate the diffusion of chloride ions in cement mortar.The increase in the diffusion coefficient caused by 0.05 mm and 0.1 mm cracks is similar,while that caused by a 0.2 mm crack is significantly higher.After 30 days of soaking,the chloride ion content of the …

Relationship Between Fractal Characteristics And Shear Strength Of Highway Spoil Site Materials, Luo Shixin, Luo Hongming, Zou Fei, Cai Lei

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Highway spoil features a wide range of particle sizes and poor gradation,and their strength characteristics serve as key factors affecting the stability of spoil slopes.To explore the relationship between fractal characteristics of particle size and strength,this study examined 21 spoil sites along the Guizhou section of the Duyun ‒ Shangri-La Expressway.Based on the field investigation,particle size analysis tests,and laboratory shear tests,the particle composition and shear strength parameters of spoil were obtained.Based on fractal theory,the fractal characteristics of particle size under different gradation scaling methods were analyzed,and the relationship between shear strength parameters and the fractal dimensions of particle size was …

Research On Improvement Of Adhesive Properties Of Asphalt And Granite Gravel, Li Yu, Zhang Yingxue, Qiu Chao, Wang Mo, Liu Li

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In view of the poor adhesion of acidic granite gravel and asphalt and the shortage of alkaline stone in asphalt pavement in China ’s expressway construction,this study evaluated the improvement effects of schemes,including single use of amine anti-stripping agent DRD-K 1,single use of non-amine anti-stripping agent AMR- 3,single use of cement,and combined use of anti-stripping agent and cement,on the asphalt-aggregate adhesion properties.Through the tests of three major indexes before and after asphalt aging,aggregate adhesion test,and improved water immersion method,the adhesion of asphalt was evaluated,and the optimal amount for use was proposed.The results show that the non-amine anti-stripping agent AMR- 3 …

Factors Influencing Fatigue Damage In Manufactured Sand-Based Ecological Self-Compacting Concrete Pavement, Fu Suanzi, Li Hongyan

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Ecological-self-compacting concrete (Eco-SCC ) pavements offer advantages such as reduced cement consumption,lower carbon emissions,and improved economic performance.However,their durability has not been sufficiently studied.Based on the literature review and fatigue test data,the fatigue parameters of Eco-SCC were determined using the Chaboche damage evolution model.A finite element model of fatigue damage in Eco-SCC pavement structures was established to compare the fatigue damage distribution under different loading positions,identify the unfavorable loading positions,and analyze the influence of slab thickness and modulus on the durability of Eco-SCC pavements.SCC plate thickness and modulus on the durability of Eco-SCC pavement.The results show that fatigue damage under different …