Digital Commons Network^™

Interactions Of The Sars-Cov-2 Viral Genome 3’-Untranslated Region With Viral And Host Rnas, Caleb Frye, Mihaela Rita Mihailescu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the characterization of RNA-RNA interactions within the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome and with host microRNAs. As the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), SARS-CoV-2 has evolved rapidly since its appearance. This has warranted prompt characterization of the virus particularly of its single stranded RNA (ssRNA) genome. By using a combination of bioinformatics, biophysics, and/or biological assays, we analyzed the SARS-CoV-2 viral genomic RNA and uncovered interactions of genomic RNA with host RNAs, highlighting an underutilized method of targeting RNA viruses. We showed here that the conserved elements in the viral genomic …

Philosophical Hermeneutic Approaches To Communication Studies, David Errera

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation proposes the viability of philosophical hermeneutics as a theoretical framework for communication studies. It has five chapters that each develop this argument. The first chapter provides an overview and justification for the dissertation along with a review of the historical development of philosophical hermeneutics. This provides a sense of general themes and the theoretical basis for philosophical hermeneutics. The second chapter sets out to expound on the viability of philosophical hermeneutics to inform communication research as a form of research praxis. This chapter develops the three main themes from philosophical hermeneutics that this dissertation proposes to integrate into …

Evaluating The Implementation Of Community Schools’ Strategies To Address Post-Pandemic Student Mental Health, Dawn Gordon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research explores the systemic and structural barriers affecting the effectiveness of community schools, particularly in providing mental health services and support, with a specific focus on how principals have responded to these needs in the post-COVID-19 era. Employing qualitative methods, including focus groups with principals from schools implementing the community schools’ model, the study identifies three major themes: difficulties with lead agency collaboration and coordination with host schools, systemic and structural barriers to effective functioning, and holistic approaches to enhancing student support and well-being with mental health.

Difficulties with lead agency collaboration and coordination reveal how inadequate communication and …

The Ethical Contributions Of Nudges To Healthcare, Ian Doherty

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

“The Ethical Contributions of Nudges to Healthcare” examines the ethical use, implications, and rationale for using nudges in healthcare. The use of nudges in healthcare are being empirically examined. This leaves much to be examined from the ethical perspective. To examine the ethical perspective, the dissertation lays out how nudges interact with and enhance the biomedical principles of autonomy and beneficence. The dissertation then turns to clinical ethics. Nudges, more specifically the framing effect, are paired with trust in the patient-physician relationship to discern how best to aid a patient in his or her medical decision-making. The dissertation then investigates …

How Do Expert Forensic Evaluators Do It? A Qualitative Study Exploring Forensic Evaluators’ Lived Experiences Conducting Psychosexual Evaluations Of Sex Offenders With Suspected Autism, Jessica K. Gazzola

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative inquiry utilized semi-structured interviews with eight expert forensic evaluators to explore their lived experiences engaging in psychosexual evaluations of sex offenders with a suspected diagnosis of autism. The purpose of this study was to identify current best practices, principles, and challenges faced by forensic evaluators when assessing sex offenders with a suspected diagnosis of autism. The results provide a variety of autism-specific screening tools and assessments used by forensic evaluators in their psychosexual evaluation process. Four emergent themes were developed using a descriptive phenomenological approach and social constructivist framework. These themes encompass forensic evaluators’ role in conducting psychosexual …

College Instructors’ Experiences Of Online English As Second Language (Esl) Teaching And Learning Environments, Jianan Zhou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates college ESL instructors' experiences in teaching online ESL courses. It explores the differences in teaching focus and online modes for teaching speaking, listening, reading, and writing courses. It also investigates how ESL instructors' perceived level of technology competence varies across different online teaching modes and examines how teaching and learner engagement strategies differ depending on the instructional modality. Key findings include the observation that both BICS and CALP were prevalent in online reading courses. Although no significant difference in technology competence between asynchronous and synchronous modes was found, it was shown that instructors used more synchronous modes …

It's Funny When You Think About It: Formal Complexity And Emotional Engagement In Twentieth Century American Humor, Noel Stanger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is generally accepted by scholars of humor that humor requires an observer to take on a perspective of “critical distance” – or a perspective through which the observer can be critical of the target of humor. Consequently, work in the field is dominated by an assumption – whether implicit or explicit - that humor (and, especially, twentieth century American humor) necessitates that the observer disengages emotionally from the target of humor. In this project, I challenge this assumption and argue that humor has the potential to be extremely emotionally engaging. Focusing on written humor and building on both classic …

“Repeat A Little:” Time And Freedom In Deleuze’S Difference And Repetition, Mine Sak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, I examine Gilles Deleuze’s philosophy of time as presented in Difference and Repetition and use it to construct a concept of freedom, which is notably absent in his work. I argue that Deleuze’s exposition of the three syntheses of time provides significant insights for exploring the ontological possibility and structure of freedom. Through an analysis of his theory of the three syntheses of time, I investigate the meanings of agency, destiny, and choice within Deleuze's framework. I demonstrate that free choice necessitates both involuntary and creative action. Given the apparent tension between freedom and involuntariness, I explore …

The Ethics Of Involuntary Psychiatric Hospitalization: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Policies, Practice, And Ethical Oversight, Mariah Chobany

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As a specialized field of medicine, psychiatry presents unique ethical challenges and dilemmas distinct from other medical disciplines. A particularly complex aspect of psychiatric care involves the involuntary treatment of patients who may be unable to make informed decisions about their care or participation in research due to the debilitating effects of their psychiatric condition. This presents a significant challenge for providers and researchers, particularly concerning capacity issues and the informed consent process. Despite the intricacies and complexities of ethical dilemmas in psychiatric treatment and research, there is a notable lack of comprehensive guidance in policies and practices on addressing …

Method Development Of [3 + 2] Cycloadditions Using Tertiary Amine N-Oxides And Efforts Towards The First Total Synthesis Of Chrysosporazine D, Alexander Cocolas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen-containing heterocycles are ubiquitous in bioactive molecules, pharmaceutical drugs, and natural products. For this reason, finding new and efficient ways to make such compounds remains a high priority for the organic and medicinal community. Our current endeavors build upon previously established work by our group, where we generated 1,2-diamines by coupling commercially available aldehydes with trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in two steps. This route proved to be effective in generating 20+ novel 1,2-diamines and imidazolidines with a demonstrated ability to undergo transformations. Using this chemistry, we have developed a diastereoselective synthesis of 50+ novel 7-azanorbornanes using tertiary amine N-oxides …

The Ethical Requirements To Avoid Clinical Error Via Safety, Augustus Nweze, Augustus Ifeanyi Nweze Fr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Establishing safety programs across healthcare organizations will help to eliminate clinical errors and promote patient safety goals such as culture of quality and safety. Following the 1999 IOM Report, To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System, regarding the high rate of injuries and deaths due to medical errors, healthcare institutions and policymakers at all levels have continued to draw attention to patient safety programs. As a result, patient safety programs have been implemented nationally to avoid clinical error in healthcare. Regulatory agencies like The Joint Commission, which oversees the voluntary accreditation of hospitals in the U.S. continues to …

Efficient Development Of Density-Insensitive Near-Infrared Methods For In-Line Drug Content Monitoring In Continuous Powder Streams, Natasha L. Velez-Silva

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A well-defined action plan to respond effectively to sudden changes in product demand is critical for preventing drug shortages within the pharmaceutical industry. An effective way to increase the output of a continuous manufacturing (CM) process is through flow rate adjustments. However, robust analytical methods must be in place to ensure consistent analytical performance across varying flow rates. Existing approaches for mitigating the physical effects of flow rate on Near-Infrared (NIR) measurements are often burdensome. Thus, efficient robust modeling strategies that reduce the current calibration burden and ensure model insensitivity to the physical variations in CM systems are needed. In …

Saudi And American Students’ Motivation And Anxiety In Online Collaborative Learning In The United States, Nawal Alqarni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research study aims to explore motivation and anxiety Saudi and American students in online collaborative learning environments through online courses in U.S. universities and how they relate to their academic performance.

The study utilized a quantitative approach for data collection through an online survey of 99 Saudi students and 39 American students who were enrolled in U.S. universities. The results showed that there was no significant difference in motivation scores between undergraduate Saudi students and their American counterparts. Nor was a significant difference observed in motivation scores between graduate Saudi students and graduate American students. The data also indicated …

Investigating Anomalous Experiences In Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, Pavan Brar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The self-disorder model provides a phenomenological framework for understanding how the core symptoms of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSDs) are rooted in an instability of minimal selfhood. This instability involves a range of ‘anomalous experiences’: transformations in an individual’s perceptual field and sense of being an agent of action. The explanatory value of this theoretical model can be summarized in two claims about the role of anomalous experiences in self-disorders: (1) anomalous experiences express a common trait-like disturbance that is characteristic of SSDs, and (2) anomalous experiences contribute to the progression of self-disorders into SSDs. Although hypotheses consistent with the first …

School System And Student Performance: Examining Science And Mathematics Achievement In Pakistan, Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta, Sohail Ahmad, Aisha Naz Ansari

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Public and private school systems are the two largest providers of formal school education in Pakistan, differing significantly in their governance, resources, and practices. While previous studies showed differences in Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs), often favouring private schools, these comparisons remained largely descriptive. This paper compares elementary grade students’ performance in mathematics and science between public and private schools in Pakistan, accounting for factors such as grade level and geographical region. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 15,391 students from grades 5, 6, and 8, selected through a multistage sampling technique from a total of­­ 153 public and private schools …

Data-Driven Mechanism Design: Jointly Eliciting Preferences And Information, Dirk Bergemann, Marek Bojko, Paul Dütting, Renato Paes Leme, Haifeng Xu, Song Zuo

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

We study mechanism design when agents hold private information about both their preferences and a common payoff-relevant state. We show that standard message-driven mechanisms cannot implement socially efficient allocations when agents have multidimensional types, even under favorable conditions. To overcome this limitation, we propose data-driven mechanisms that leverage additional post-allocation information, modeled as an estimator of the pay-off relevant state. Our data-driven mechanisms extend the classic Vickrey-Clarke-Groves class. We show that they achieve exact implementation in posterior equilibrium when the state is either fully revealed or the utility is linear in an unbiased estimator. We also show that they achieve …

Angela Reading V. North Hanover Township New Jersey

2024 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Amir Wiley V. Support Magistrate Of East Orange

2024 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Fateen Groce V. Mcgoldrick

2024 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Kenneth Konias, Jr. V. Pennsylvania Department Of Corrections

2024 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Rebecca Leonard V. Secretary Pennsylvania Department Of Human Service

2024 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Joseph Lukuta,Iii V. Lena Angelella

2024 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Disgusted Judges And Domestic Violence, Jessica Miles

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

An Optimization Framework For Data Enrichment: A First Principles Approach To Designing Optimal Smoothers And Splines, Griffin Michael Kearney

Dissertations - ALL

We develop a general framework for state estimation in systems modeled with stochastic dynamics and noisy measurements. Our approach is based on maximum likelihood estimation and employs a variety of techniques from optimization theory including the calculus of variations and discrete optimization to derive optimality conditions for many different types of problems. We make no rigid assumptions on the form of the mapping from measurements to state-estimate or on the distributions of the random processes, making the framework more general than existing techniques such as splines, Kalman smoothing or Gaussian Process Regressions, which are subject to limiting restrictions and modeling …

Studies Towards The Synthesis Of A Simplified Forskolin Core And Phomactin A, Fortune Ononiwu

Dissertations - ALL

Oxadecalins are privileged scaffolds found in various natural products that show biological activity, such as platelet aggregating factor antagonism and activation of adenyl cyclase. As such, various synthetic methods such as intramolecular substitution reactions and [4+2] cycloadditions have been developed for the construction of these important intermediates. Studies towards the synthesis of a simplified core of the labdane diterpene, forskolin, are described. Forskolin is the only known supplement to naturally raise cAMP levels, thereby displaying important pharmacological properties. The synthetic route described features a Lewis acid catalyzed dihydropyrone Diels-Alder reaction for rapidly assembly of the ABC tricycle. Modified Saegusa-Ito oxidation …

I Want To Love How I Do Learn: A Phenomenological Study Of Adult Learners With General Learning Disabilities And Their Goals For Postsecondary Education, Diana Muller Katovitch

Dissertations - ALL

A subset of individuals with learning disabilities is currently prevented from accessing postsecondary education; these individuals experience general learning disabilities, or GLD (Greenspan, 2017, p. 117). GLD is not a formal disability category in K-12 special education; individual students might not be eligible for academic supports and accommodations in K-12 or in postsecondary education based on this description. Individuals with GLD encounter significant barriers both accessing and finding success in postsecondary education. Qualitative research involving adults with GLD is lacking in available literature, as is theoretical analysis of their experiences. My research is a phenomenological study based on the experiences …

On Physical Processes That Work Like Learning Algorithms, Vidyesh Rao Anisetti

Dissertations - ALL

Adaptive behavior is a widespread phenomenon observed in both living and non-living systems, manifesting in diverse forms such as the directional growth of plants in response to sunlight and the directed aging of materials. Such diversity demands a physics-based approach. Thus, the emerging field of physical learning aims to explain these phenomena by drawing analogies between adaptive processes in nature and learning in neural networks, motivating the central question of this thesis: Can physical processes in nature function like learning algorithms? A typical learning algorithm involves two fundamental steps: signaling and weight up- dating. In the Part I of the …

On The Use Of Introspection In The Study Of Consciousness, Yaojun Lu

Dissertations - ALL

For the past half century, introspection has once again become a trusted source of knowledge in the study of consciousness. Some philosophers reflect on their own consciousness to draw metaphysical conclusions; some psychologists hypothesize observable regularities of consciousness by collecting introspective reports. They operate under the doctrine that first-person perspective provides a privileged access to the conscious mind. This dissertation is a critical examination of the use of introspection in the scientific and metaphysical study of consciousness. I first develop classic criticism of the privileged access, with a diagnosis of the failure of introspective psychology and a reflection on the …

Modeling And Algorithms To Simplify Complex Multi-Clock/Edge Timing Constraints In High Performance Synchronous Digital Circuits, Nagbhushan Veerapaneni

Dissertations - ALL

Complex timing constraints that refer to multiple clocks and/or edges are often used in the design of modern high-performance processors. Such constraints complicate downstream algorithms such as logic synthesis and lead to inefficiencies. The complexity of the overall CAD system can be reduced considerably if we can optimally transform the timing constraints so that they refer only to a single clock and edge. In this dissertation, we show how to model these multi clock/edge timing constraints and describe algorithms to reduce the number of reference clocks/edges. We first introduce the concept of timing specification transformation and define optimality. We formulate …

Enhancing Graph Neural Networks By Editing Graphs, Jiayu Li

Dissertations - ALL

Graphs are pervasive in both the natural world and various domains of science and engineering. Numerous advanced classifiers, such as Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), have been developed to perform node classification on these graphs. However, as graphs become denser with an increasing number of edges, GNNs often suffer from suboptimal generalization performance due to the presence of task-irrelevant connections. These redundant connections can introduce noise, consume excessive computational resources, and degrade performance. Identifying and preserving critical connections in large-scale graphs, while pruning unnecessary ones, is crucial for enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of GNNs in node classification, particularly for GCNs. …