Digital Commons Network^™

Novel Conversations Across Neurotypes, Robert Bottalla

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Previous research has suggested that individuals with autism may struggle with a variety of conversation skills in comparison to their neurotypical counterparts (Morrison et al. 2020). Additionally, previous research has sought to examine conversational benchmarks for neurotypical individuals when conversing with novel conversation partners using a descriptive assessment (Hood et al. 2021). However, these results have not been extended to autistic populations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to conduct a descriptive assessment of conversational behaviors during conversations with a novel conversation partner for both neurotypical and autistic participants. Keywords: Autism, Conversation,

Social Experiences Within And Across Neurotype, Claudia Todd

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Previous research has suggested that some individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prefer interacting with individuals who share a similar neurotype, and that for some, cross-neurotype interactions present some social barriers and challenges (Crompton et al., 2020). To better understand social and conversational challenges, much research has focused on the challenges and deficits exhibited by those with ASD. However, there is not substantial research related to deficits across neurotype interactions (particularly with neurotypical individuals). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to conduct interviews using qualitative methods to explore social interactions within and across neurotypes for both neurodiverse and neurotypical …

Investigation Of Emissions Characteristics Of Natural Gas Engines With Prechamber Enabled Mixing Controlled Combustion, Johnathan Michael Ronsman

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Increasingly stringent emissions regulations have motivated the exploration of ways to decarbonize the internal combustion engine (ICE). Alternative fuels are of interest as they can easily be implemented with existing infrastructure. Among these alternative fuels, natural gas stands out due to its large abundance and high hydrogen-to-carbon ratio, which can significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Due to its low reactivity, most natural gas engines today are premixed lean burn spark ignited (SI) engines. These engines produce criteria pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO), but due to their premixed nature, also produce relatively large amounts of unburned methane …

Can Structural Transformation Happen Without Technical Change? The Case Of Singapore, Clarence Gabriel Fernandez

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

No abstract provided.

Comparing Goldin And The Philippines: Analyzing The Research Efforts In Women And Labor Economics Using Basic Text Mining Techniques, Arianna Liza Ortillan

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

No abstract provided.

Use Of Waffle Mattresses To Prevent Pressure Injuries, Brenda Kinning, Antonieta Laguna, Marian Mationg, Kimberly Martinez, Mary Pena, Divya Prakash, Norma Torres, Stephanie Wunderlich

Covenant Nurses Week 2024

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Directionality Effects In Three-Beam Coaxial Titanium Wire-Based Laser Metal Deposition, Remy Mathenia, Braden Mclain, Todd Sparks, Frank Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Coaxial wire-based laser metal deposition is a versatile and efficient additive process that can achieve a high deposition rate in the manufacturing of complex structures. In this paper, a three-beam coaxial wire system is studied, with particular attention given to the effects of the deposition direction and laser beam orientation on the resulting bead geometry symmetry. With the three-beam laser delivery, the laser spot pattern is not always symmetric with respect to the deposition direction. Single titanium beads are deposited in different directions and at varying deposition rates, and the bead profile is quantitatively scored for multiple symmetry measures. Through …

Analytical And Fem Models For Thermal Analysis And Residual Stresses Using Wire Arc-Based Welding And Additive Manufacturing Of Sus304, Muhammad Arif Mahmood, Usman Tariq, Mihai Oane, Frank Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Austenitic stainless steel, also known as SUS304, has a wide industrial application. The resultant residual stresses and deformation due to arc welding play a critical role in an in-service SUS04 part failure. Various experimental studies have been presented to predict residual stresses and part deformation. However, these techniques are expensive and time-consuming owing to the trial-and-error approach, limiting their application to industrial applications. Based on the emergent need, this study introduces two simulation models based on analytical and FEM techniques for thermal distribution and residual stress estimation. The experimentally calibrated models results have been implemented for SUS304 multi-pass arc welding. …

The Ecological Applications Of Δ17O: Validating A Novel Technique For Assessing Animal Metabolism And Water Intake, Zachary Taylor Steele

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Animals obtain water via different processes such as drinking, consuming food, and through metabolic processes like at the end of the electron transport chain when atmospheric oxygen is combined with hydrogen to form ‘cytochrome oxidase water’. Assessing animal water flux and metabolism has mainly been conducted via stable isotope analysis (SIA) of biological samples using hydrogen (²H) and oxygen isotopes (¹⁶O, ¹⁷O, and ¹⁸O; Δ¹⁷O), typically using enriched isotope tracers. However, natural abundance isotope modeling offers an approach for conducting SIA of biological samples that differs because it relies on the unique, …

A Mixed-Methods Study To Examine Protective Behavioral Strategies For Simultaneous Alcohol And Cannabis Use In College Students, Jennifer Lynn Shipley

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

State-level cannabis legalization is becoming more common in the United States. With the rise of cannabis legalization, cannabis use among college students has increased and young adults’ perceptions of the harms associated with cannabis use have decreased. Moreover, simultaneous use of alcohol and cannabis (so that their effects overlap; SAM) is prominent in the college student population. Negative consequences related to SAM use are greater than those for alcohol or cannabis single-substance use. Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are robust predictors of reduced harm, and critical components for efficacious interventions for reducing alcohol and cannabis use and their related harms. PBS …

Explainable Artificial Intelligence: Methods And Evaluation, Gayane Grigoryan

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A wide array of techniques within explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) have been developed to measure the importance of features in machine learning models. A notable portion of these methods draws upon principles of cooperative game theory (CGT), with the Shapley value emerging as a widely used solution concept. Despite the rising prominence of the Shapley value, other promising solutions from cooperative game theory—such as the Nucleolus, Banzhaf power index, Shapley-Shubik power index, and solutions to conflicting claims problems—have been comparatively overlooked, even though they hold significant potential. In this dissertation, multiple XAI methods based on these other CGT solutions are …

Development Of A Conceptual Framework For Complex System Governance (Csg) Performance Measurement, James Hartwell Rutherford

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Within the Complex System Governance (CSG) paradigm, system performance is regulated by nine metasystem governance functions, which provide control, communication, coordination, and integration. However, CSG has lacked a fully developed model or language to richly articulate system performance at a conceptual level. The purpose of this research was to develop a systems theory-based conceptual framework to measure the performance of CSG metasystem governance using an inductive research design.

Although ‘good performance’ may seem like an obvious idea, the current literature on performance measurement across many disciplines and contexts contains vastly inconsistent uses of the word ‘performance.’ Both researchers and practitioners …

Harnessing Social Media For Disaster Response: Intelligent Identification Of Reliable Rescue Requests During Hurricanes, Wael Khallouli

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Hurricanes pose a significant threat to both human lives and infrastructure. Decision-makers face substantial challenges during such events, as they must act quickly to address victims’ needs. Social media platforms provide a valuable source for quick and real-time information. Recent hurricane events have shown that people turn to social media to call for help when official communication channels, such as 911, are overwhelmed. However, extracting actionable information from the massive number of messages posted on social media is challenging. Furthermore, verifying social media messages posted by the public is a critical concern for disaster response practitioners, making them hesitant to …

Zero Dynamics Attacks On Unknown Bilinear Systems: Vulnerability And Detection, Mohammad Aminul Haq

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Critical infrastructure requires a safe and secure operating environment because of its significant impact on society. Its large-scale size and distributed sensors and actuators make it vulnerable to cyber-physical attacks. A zero dynamics attack is a type of cyber-physical attack where an adversary keeps the output of the target constant (classically zero), while forcing some of the internal states to deviate from their nominal values. Most of the existing work in the literature assumes the system dynamics are linear and available to an adversary. The first goal of this dissertation is to show that an adversary can successfully execute a …

Privacy-Preserving Deep Learning Framework For Iot Malware Detection, Sabbir Ahmed Khan

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

Cyberattacks on IoT devices are accelerating at an unprecedented rate, largely driven by IoT malware activities. The IoT malware attacks typically comprise three stages: intrusion, infection, and monetization. Existing IoT malware detection methods fail to identify malicious activities at the intrusion and infection stages and thus cannot stop potential attacks timely. In our research, we have leveraged power side-channel information as input to our deep learning model to identify malware at early stages of intrusion on IoT devices. But, deploying a resource-intensive deep learning model on highly resource-constrained IoT devices is a significant challenge. Consequently, utilizing a Machine Learning as …

Young Driver Training And Socioeconomic Status: A Human-In-The-Loop Driving Simulator Evaluation, Jeffrey Edward Glassman

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Previous research consistently shows that young drivers are poor at anticipating latent hazards on the roadway compared to more experienced drivers. The Road Awareness and Perception Training (RAPT) program is a driver training program that aims to accelerate young drivers’ learning of hazard anticipation (HA) skills. More recent research has started showing evidence that RAPT may be even more effective at reducing accidents for young drivers with a lower socioeconomic status (SES), though the direct impact of RAPT on HA skills in the driver population is yet unclear. The current experiment thus directly evaluated the effectiveness of RAPT on the …

Associations Between Combat Exposure, Moral Injury, And Suicidality Among U.S. Military Members: The Moderating Impact Of Positive Rumination, Jeffrey M. Gabelmann

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Numerous studies have documented the risk for suicide among recent-era veterans with combat experience. Recently, moral injury has emerged as a possible contributor to suicidality in veterans. To that end, no study has approached the combat exposure-moral injury-suicidality link with a focus grounded in positive psychology. Specifically, the present study explored whether positive rumination, or the reflection on positive emotions and moods, may buffer the deleterious effects of potentially traumatic experiences in warzones on moral injury and suicidality. This study was a secondary analysis of 250 current or former U.S. military members (M_age = 33.3 years) who had …

The Shared Experiences Of Novice, Full-Time Allied Dental Community College Educators, Misty L. Mesimer

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

A well-prepared oral healthcare workforce is essential to the overall health of the general population. A knowledgeable and qualified workforce would be non-existent without strong academic programs and faculty to prepare oral health professionals. For over 20 years, the dental and allied dental educator workforce has been a concern for the oral health professions. Since most allied dental education programs are based in community and technical colleges, it is crucial to thoroughly understand the transition experiences of faculty teaching at these institutions. It is only through application and use of this knowledge that these faculty can be recruited, supported, and …

Anther: Cross-Pollinating Communities Of Practice Via Video Tutorials, Adam G. Emerson, Shreyosi Endow, Cesar Torres

Association of Computing Machinery Open Access Agreement Publications-Archive

Communities of practice (CoPs) play a crucial role in cross-pollination and learning within various skill-based and craft domains. These communities often share common materials, concepts, and techniques across related practices. However, due to their insular nature, exchanging knowledge between CoPs has been challenging, leading to fragmented knowledge marked by difering vocabularies and contexts. To address this issue, we introduce Anther, a system designed to highlight shared concepts and semantic overlap between distinct CoPs. Anther projects concepts onto a 2-dimensional space, providing users with comprehensive, contextual, and conceptual views. We conducted a user study, demonstrating Anther’s efectiveness in aggregating and disseminating …

Geo-Slam: Using Geometric Hierarchies To Support Localization And Mapping In Forest Environments, Daniel Castellarin

Theses

Robust mapping and localization can be challenging in environments like forests where easily observable landmarks are virtually indistinguishable from each other. In such environments, GPS or robot odometry may also be compromised by the landscape, tree cover, or method of locomotion. Prior work discussed a method for creating geometric hierarchies to describe the relative positions of unlabeled landmarks. Notably, the polygons from these hierarchies were used to perform accurate place recognition from observations containing partial overlap and sensor noise. Here, we use geometric hierarchies to perform robust data association for collections of virtually identical 2D landmarks in direct support of …

Digital Transformation Of The Accounting And Audit Industry In Kosovo, Lis Musa

Theses

This capstone project analyzes how Kosovo's audit and accounting industry is being affected by digital transformation. Its aim is to explore how digitalization affects skills gaps, job accuracy, company costs, and productivity in different sectors at a time when technological breakthroughs are drastically changing industry. Professionals from Big 10 accounting and audit firms as well as a local Kosovo accounting business were interviewed to gather insights on the potential and difficulties brought about by digital tools and technologies. Research findings show that digital transformation is considerably bridging the skills gap in the industry, imposing constant professional development and adjustment to …

Implications Of Ai Adoption On Kosovo’S Tech Smes, Agullina Shllaku

Theses

This study explores the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on small and medium-sized tech enterprises (SMEs), namely the extent to which these SMEs are investing in AI technologies, and how that will impact the organizational structure of those SMEs. While most of Kosovo’s tech SMEs have started to engage with AI to some extent, the demand for such services is much lower compared to global levels. This study identifies investment strategies prominent in SMEs, as well as their initiative to internal restructuring instead of hiring. Through a mix of qualitative and quantitative data, this study generates relevant insights from employees …

Souls Of Plants, Yuanyuan Li

Theses

In creating fictional relationships with organisms within the plant world, I design jewelry and wearable sculptures that heal the individual, by relating to the poetic and peaceful nature of plants. The works involve the use of metal crochet, forging, screen printing, and fabric dying to create my relationship with plants, through narrative, and nostalgic stories. These stories between me and plants began in my childhood and continue to this day.

A New Diagnostic Method For Distinguishing Binary From Single Supermassive Black Holes Using Broad Emission Lines, Ziming Ji

Theses

During cosmic timescales, supermassive binary black holes (SMBBHs) form by galaxy mergers, where each galaxy hosts a supermassive black hole (SMBH) at its center. By studying SMBBHs, we can gain insights into galaxy evolution and black hole growth. However, the typical separation between black holes in SMBBHs is usually below 1 pc, making them difficult to resolve using direct imaging or photometry. To be able to distinguish binary black holes (BBHs) from typical AGN powered by single black holes (SBHs), we conducted this research project to develop a new diagnostic method to identify a unique feature of SMBBHs, which can …

The Effect Of Angiogenesis On Thermal Properties Of In-Vivo Human Tissue, Shriya Musuku

Theses

Bioheat transfer is the study of heat transfer in biology. There are several sources of heat in biology including external ones such as surgical applications of heat, or internal ones like cancer tissue. Blood flow networks affect both types of processes and are often generated during disease phenomenon through a process called angiogenesis. This affects the properties of the tissue. Several attempts were made to model flow and heat transfer within various tissues through physical measurements or computer simulations. Both types of models used bioheat transfer models do not consider the geometry of vasculature at its most fundamental level. The …

Simulation Of A Single Photon Counting Photonic Spectrograph For Direct Imaging Of Exoplanet Atmospheres With The Habitable Worlds Observatory, Edwin Alexani

Theses

NASA’s highest-priority future flagship astrophysics mission is a large infrared/optical/ultraviolet (IR/O/UV) telescope, the first in a series of new Great Observatories recommended by the 2020 Decadal Survey. The current concept for this telescope is the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), drawing on past design projects such as LUVOIR and HabEx. A key goal for HWO is to identify habitable exoplanets. The HWO will obtain spectra and direct images of distant, dim worlds, necessitating highly sensitive instruments. The HWO will require a coronagraph that achieves a 10^−10 contrast ratio to suppress the starlight and reveal terrestrial exoplanets. The detector’s dark current and …

A Spectroscopic Search For Recoiling Supermassive Black Holes In Nearby Active Galaxies, Emily Temple

Theses

It is hypothesized that following a galaxy merger the two central supermassive black holes (SMBH) become a binary system, eventually coalescing due to emission of gravitational waves. This coalescence results in a single black hole, with an accretion disk shining with high luminosity that photoionizes the surrounding gas. Therefore, the newly merged SMBH is visible as an active galactic nucleus (AGN). However, the gravitational waves are emitted anisotropically by the binary as it inspirals, resulting in a recoil kick. This ejects the newly merged SMBH from the AGN’s center of the galaxy. The SMBH oscillates around the galaxy’s center of …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Cobalt-Based Complexes And Metal-Organic Frameworks For Hydrogen Evolution Catalysis Under Acidic Conditions, Elizabeth A. Tonsel-White

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

The synthesis of two cobalt(II) complexes: the novel complex [Co(phen)₃]₂[Co(pytc)₂]•16.25H₂O 1 and the previously reported [Co(bpy)₃](OH)₂•7H₂O 2, along with a cobalt(II/III)-containing MOF, Co-PPF2, previously reported as well, was achieved. These complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography, microscopy, conductivity measurements, TGA, SEM, CV , and UV-visible , and FTIR spectroscopies. From the CV scan rates, diffusion coefficients for complexes 1 and 2 were determined to be 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹ and 4.8 × 10⁻⁷ cm² s⁻¹. Electrocatalytic studies with complexes 1 and 2 revealed insights into the mechanistic aspects of …

Use Of Ultrasound For Identification Of Musculoskeletal Injury In Active Populations, Kathleen Karen Hogan

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Lower extremity tendinopathies and fasciopathy conditions are prevalent amongst sedentary individuals,^1,2 athletes,^3,4 elite runners,^5,6and military personnel⁷ and can lead to chronic disability and reduction in quality of life. ^8,9 Both tendinopathy and fasciopathy are thought to be mechanical in nature and caused by acute or chronic overloading leading to a disruption in the uniformity of the soft tissue structure. Ultrasound imaging has gained popularity in the last decade among many sports medicine clinicians to gain information regarding tissue structure for musculoskeletal injury (MKSI) management. Ultrasound imaging allows for the evaluation of in-vivo structures and at …

Two Essays On Labor Heterogeneity, Enxi An

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

Labor heterogeneity limits firm flexibility, subsequently affecting a firm's capacity to adapt and grow within a dynamic economic landscape and to formulate effective financial strategies. Firms with high labor heterogeneity tend to incur significant labor adjustment costs, making it costly and challenging to adjust their workforce in response to economic changes. While retaining skilled labor can be advantageous in preserving valuable human capital, it also incurs considerable economic costs that significantly influence firms' financial strategy and decision-making processes. This dissertation comprises two essays that explore the implications of firms' dependence on skilled labor.

The first essay empirically investigates how labor …