Digital Commons Network^™

Horizontal Subcontracting And The Global Factory, Peter J. Buckley, Michael Murphree, John Anderson

Faculty Publications

The focus of this article is the examination of the factors that trigger the addition of horizontal subcontracting to the structure of global factories. Horizontal subcontracting takes place when one firm is contracted to produce a given item, fills as much of the order as they are able to based on their available capacity, and subsequently subcontracts the remainder to a qualitatively identical firm. We find that similar entrepreneurial backgrounds of contract manufacturers lead to strong business ties in the same industry and stage of production; low-cost, used production machinery and inexpensive factory rent lead to low barriers to entry; …

Studying Hilbert’S 10th Problem Via Explicit Elliptic Curves, Debanjana Kundu, Antonio Lei, Florian Sprung

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

N. García-Fritz and H. Pasten showed that Hilbert’s 10th problem is unsolvable in the ring of integers of number fields of the form Q(p–√3,−q−−−√) for positive proportions of primes p and q. We improve their proportions and extend their results to the case of number fields of the form Q(p–√3,Dq−−−√) , where D belongs to an explicit family of positive square-free integers. We achieve this by using multiple elliptic curves, and replace their Iwasawa theory arguments by a more direct method.

Interprofessional Curriculum Delivery: Experience Of A Primary Care Education Program, Jessica A Davila, Nancy D Harada, Kathryn Wirtz Rugen, Stuart C Gilman, Shubhada Sansgiry

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Few post-graduate training programs offer a comprehensive curriculum that includes structured clinical experiences to teach interprofessional care. To address this need, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Academic Affiliations funded the Centers of Excellence in Primary Care Education (CoEPCE) from 2011-2019 to provide interprofessional curricula for health profession trainees (HPTs), including physician residents, nurse practitioner residents, pharmacy residents, and psychology residents. We examined changes over time in curricular domains, system impacts, and program practices based on HPT survey data and the qualitative evaluation of narrative feedback. An annual survey was administered to participants. Indirect standardized ratios were …

Optimizing Customs Efficiency: Detection For Illicit Shipments In Cargo, Ohood Alharbi

Theses

Aim- The study aimed for creating a machine learning algorithm which succeeded customs control procedures through estimating shipments being either illicit or non-illicit. The study aimed at boosting the level of accuracy in determining the critical shipments, which would in turn, increase customs productivity, minimize false positive and false negative, as well as augment security and ensure the smoothness of trade flow, amid a palpable surge in importation rates. Methods- The study implemented the CRISP-DM methodology (Cross-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining), which has a well-structured approach of achieving standard data mining solutions. At the beginning, the efforts have been …

Pines For Progress: Empowering Rural Nicaraguan Villages, Paige Smith

Theses

In January 2023, I traveled with Linking Hands for Learning to live with host families and build a school in El Carrizo, Nicaragua, and spent time with the children in the village, even taking the same hikes through the mountain paths they traverse each day to attend school. Inspired by the resourcefulness and resilience of Nicaraguan culture, I returned to Rochester, NY focusing my MFA industrial design thesis project on addressing the pressing needs of these underprivileged communities. I aimed to develop a solution that could be manufactured locally (without electricity, running water, power tools, or modern-day shipping), utilizing materials …

Using Behavioral Skills Training Within The Pyramidal Training Model To Teach Caregivers A New Skill, Caitlyn Hutton

Thesis Projects

This experiment contains data on using behavioral skills training (BST) and the pyramidal model to teach caregivers a skill. Caregivers were composed of four registered behavior technicians (RBTs). Baseline sessions (Pre-BST) were completed before the introduction of the intervention. Caregivers A and C were taught first how to implement the DRI until mastery, then how to implement BST, and finally implemented BST with Caregivers B and D. Social validity questionnaires were given to all caregivers upon completing the experiment regarding the skills they learned. The results indicated that Caregivers A and C could teach caregivers B and D until mastery. …

Divergent Biophysical Responses Of Western United States Forests To Wildfire Driven By Eco-Climatic Gradients, Surendra Shrestha, Christopher A. Williams, Brendan M. Rogers, John Rogan, Dominik Kulakowski

Geography

Understanding vegetation recovery after fire is critical for predicting vegetation-mediated ecological dynamics in future climates. However, information characterizing vegetation recovery patterns after fire and their determinants over large geographical extents is limited. This study uses Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) leaf area index (LAI) and albedo to characterize patterns of post-fire biophysical dynamics across the western United States (US) and further examines the influence of topo-climatic variables on the recovery of LAI and albedo at two different time horizons, 10 and 20 years post-fire, using a random forest model. Recovery patterns were derived for all wildfires that occurred between 1986 …

Consumer Protection And Investment Crowdfunding: Comments At The Future Of Startup Finance: A Symposium On "Investment Crowdfunding", Todd Zywicki

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Mexican Money Laundering In The United States: Analysis And Proposals For Reform, Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, Charles Lewis, William R. Yaworsky

Anthropology Faculty Publications

This article explains some of the mechanisms through which corruption by high-level Mexican politicians and other organized crime members is facilitated in the United States through money laundering operations. The analysis is based on information contained in court records related to key money laundering cases, as well as in news articles and reports from law enforcement agencies. These materials highlight the interrelationships among U.S. drug use, cartel activities in Mexico, human rights abuses, Mexican political corruption, and money laundering in the United States. This work demonstrates the pervasive use of legitimate businesses and fronts in the United States as a …

J. S. Bach's Use Of The Oboe Family In His Cantata Works, Benjamin Newman

Senior Honors Theses

J.S. Bach used more idiomatic practices for the oboe family in his vocal works. Bach combined his own musical inspirations with the practices used by other composers, giving the oboe a greater variety in its orchestral roles. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate Bach’s use of the oboe family in some of his cantatas and vocal works. This thesis provides an overview of the historical context of Bach’s works for oboe, a brief biography of the composer, information about the development of the oboe family, and relevant musical analyses featuring the oboe family from selected Bach works. An …

The Technical Code For Worship: Inquiry Of Technological Use In Corporate Musical Worship, Rayah Smith

Senior Honors Theses

There are many people who have researched and written on the topic of technology in corporate musical worship. The research reveals eight biblical principles for the use of technology in those contexts as follows: technology in corporate musical worship is meant to be practical; is meant to help the Church communicate; is meant to be driven by the Holy Spirit; is meant to be intentionally efficient; is meant to encourage a unified heart of worship to God; is meant to communicate the gospel; is meant to reflect and amplify God; and is meant to be done with hearts pleasing to …

Using Chatgpt With Novice Arduino Programmers: Effects On Performance, Interest, Self-Efficacy, And Programming Ability, Donald M. Johnson, Will Doss, Christopher M. Estepp

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

A posttest-only control group experimental design compared novice Arduino programmers who developed their own programs (self-programming group, n =17) with novice Arduino programmers who used ChatGPT 3.5 to write their programs (ChatGPT-programming group, n = 16) on the dependent variables of programming scores, interest in Arduino programming, Arduino programming self-efficacy, Arduino programming posttest scores, and types of programming errors. Students were undergraduates in an introductory agricultural systems technology course in Fall 2023. The results indicated no significant (p < .10) differences between groups for programming rubric scores (p = .50) or interest in Arduino programming (p = .50). There were significant differences for Arduino programming self-efficacy, (p = .03, Cohen’s d = 0.75) and Arduino posttest scores, (p = .03, Cohen’s d = 0.76); students in the self-programming group scored significantly higher on both measures. Analysis of students’ errors indicated the ChatGPT group made significantly (p < .01) more program punctuation errors. These results indicated novice students writing their own programs developed greater Arduino programming self-efficacy and programming ability than novice students using ChatGPT. Nevertheless, ChatGPT may still play an important role in assisting novices to write microcontroller programs.

Credentialing Exam Hesitancy In Dietary Management Certificate Program Graduates: A First Look At Perceived Barriers, Sona Donayan

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

Certified dietary managers (CDMs) lead their food services team by ensuring food quality, safety, and palatability while applying nutrition principles to food purchasing, storage, preparation, and service. Despite labor shortages and forecasted growth in both healthcare and food services management jobs, approximately 30% of credentialing exam candidates forego their exam within the first year after completing a didactic career technical education program approved by the Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals. Moreover, very few return to pursue their exam after the first year. This study explored, through the lens of the theory of planned behavior, the perceived obstacles contributing to …

Preparing Students For Adulthood: Comparing The Experiences Of Degree And Non-Degree Seeking Graduates, Lacee R. Boschetto, Brian K. Warnick

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

The role of secondary education is critical to preparing graduates for adulthood. This study explored the transition experiences of high school graduates and factors that impacted their preparation for adulthood. This descriptive study focused on the experiences of degree and non-degree-seeking graduates. Surveys were distributed to students enrolled in a general education course at a state university and marketing research participants not enrolled in post-secondary programs. The survey sought to identify overall preparedness, responsibilities deemed necessary to teach in high school, and influence factors that prepared them for adulthood. The overall findings displayed that graduates seeking degrees felt more prepared …

The Biltmore Forest School And The Establishment Of Forestry Education In America, Dan Barry Croom

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

The Biltmore Forest School, despite its unusual existence within the affluent Biltmore Estate, played a crucial role in the early 20th-century American forestry movement. Founded by Carl A. Schenck and supported by George Vanderbilt II, the school aimed to educate foresters and promote sustainable forest management. However, many aspects of the Biltmore experiment failed due to the new and untested nature of forestry science in America. This experiment exposed a fundamental divide in forestry education, with Gifford Pinchot advocating for conservation-centered teaching while Schenck believed in the economic viability of lumber production. Ultimately, the Biltmore Forest School offered valuable vocational …

Longitudinal Effects Of Adolescent Digital Media Use On Sleep, Cardiometabolic Health, And Mental Health, Caroline Watson

All ETDs from UAB

Background Digital media use has become an integral part of society and may contribute to adverse physical and mental health outcomes, particularly among adolescents. However, few studies have examined the longitudinal effects of adolescent digital media use across the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. As adolescents present as a highrisk group for the adverse effects of digital media use on mental and physical health, the present studies identified digital media use trajectories from adolescence into young adulthood and examined these trajectories as predictors of sleep duration, cardiometabolic health, and mental health outcomes in young adulthood. Methods Participants (Mage=15.53; 56.86% …

Physical And Optical Properties Of Material Used For Injection Molding, Nadia Christine Farias Machado

All ETDs from UAB

Background: This project investigates the materials used in injection molding dental resin composites which involves injecting flowable composite into a clear mold. Understanding the physical and optical properties of both the resin composite and the clear mold material is crucial for successful clinical outcomes. For the clear mold material, its translucency, curing light transmission, and rigidity are vital factors. Correlations may be present between trans-lucency and curing light transmission. For the resin composite, comparing wear, hardness, translucency, radiopacity, shrinkage stress, flexural strength, and modulus will affect mate-rial performance. Finally, the depth of cure of the material will be dependent on …

Psychometric Evaluation Of A Perceived Barriers To Medication Adherence Instrument And Association Between Perceived Barriers And Patient Characteristics, Lynn Andreae

All ETDs from UAB

Medication adherence is an important component of diabetes management, yet nonadherence is common and has substantial patient and economic costs. In order to achieve meaningful improvements in medication adherence, clinicians and researchers need good ways of both identifying those at risk of nonadherence and ascertaining the specific reasons driving nonadherence in those patients. Current options for self-reported medication adherence are limited in their vulnerability to response bias, which may lead to overestimation of adherence. A measure that assesses perceived barriers to medication adherence may be a useful alternative, as it may identify patients at risk of nonadherence while reducing socially …

Soap Dispensing Machine, Katherine Field, Manny Goncalves, Samuel Greene, Joshua Lehane

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

Team 11 was the Soap Dispensing Machine project, sponsored by the nonprofit organization named The Everyday Eco-Warriors and Dr. Vinka Craver. The goal of the project is to innovate the current machine used in Mexico, the organization that created the machine named EcoTech, and to implement the newer model of the machine in a community in the United States. By creating a new machine that is more customizable, it can be implemented in communities around the world, which is why this is a collaborative project with a group in Ghana named KNUST. The goal of Team 11 is to increase …

Final Design Report: Universal Biaxial Tensile Testing Apparatus, Josh Benros, Kenneth Tobin, Julia Moore, Brett Wotherspoon

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

The goal of our project is to design an attachment compatible with the Instron 5586 Uniaxial Tensile Testing Machine to be used in the mechanical testing lab at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) to conduct Digital Image Correlation (DIC) testing on hyperelastic materials. The team was tasked with creating an original design that provides simultaneous and equal tension along two axes of the specimen while being subjected to a machine that only provides tension along one axis. To obtain optimal test results using our design, the tensile forces that our design applies need to not only be equal and …

Motivic Device Approaches In Baroque Partita Vs. Romantic Character Pieces, Chanmi Jeong

Research Papers

This research paper will demonstrate two approaches to the use of repeated motifs in two particular compositional forms from the Baroque and the Romantic periods: the “Partita” and the “Character pieces.”

The first method, found in the Baroque Partita, uses repeated motifs to organically link various movements in a composition. The second method, found in the Romantic character pieces, uses repeated motifs to evoke a particular character or build a narrative. The different usage of these two methods is rooted in the origin of the particular forms used in each period. Additionally, knowledge of their historical background in these distinct …

The Relationship Between Discharge Planning, Satisfaction, And Readmission In Home Care Patients, Dawn A. Hohl

Dissertations

Many factors influence, and research supports a linkage, between a patient's perception of the hospital experience, the subsequent transition home, and hospital readmission. The problem is that when the patient perceives discharge planning to be inadequate, dissatisfaction and rehospitalization occurs. Unfortunately, predictors that create a satisfying patient transition from the hospital to home with home care are neither well studied nor well understood. This quantitative, nonexperimental, correlational design using survey methodology examined whether the type of hospital and discharge planning predict home care satisfaction, and whether home care satisfaction, and home care coordinator attendance of Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) rounds predicts …

Integrating Geriatric Content Into Traditional Undergraduate Baccalaureate Nursing Curriculum, Gina B. Diaz

Dissertations

Geriatric content in baccalaureate nursing curriculum is essential. Nursing students need the knowledge, skills, and attitude in providing quality care to older adults. The goal of this project was to integrate geriatric content into the traditional undergraduate (TUG) baccalaureate nursing curriculum. This was completed by providing a 16-week didactic learning experience in the classroom and clinical experiences in the community setting and long-term care facility. Fourteen TUG baccalaureate nursing students from a private college participated in the project. Results indicate that the integration of geriatric content into baccalaureate nursing curriculum increases students' knowledge and skills and enhanced attitude towards older …

Water Banking As A Strategy For The Management And Conservation Of A Critical Resource: A Case Study From Tunisia's Medjerda River Basin (Mrb), Aymen Sawassi, Roula Khadra, Brian Crookston

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The increasingly adverse impacts of climate change (e.g., rainfall patterns, droughts, and floods), coupled with the ever-increasing water demands, are often translated into a contingent liability for water users' communities. Additional complexities arise due to competing priorities, water rights, and transboundary water sources. Therefore, conventional water management practices should shift toward more comprehensive and responsive integrative approaches, even for systems with limited data. Furthermore, water managers must prioritize dynamic and interactive management techniques for existing systems. One such management technique is water banking, which is the focus of this study. Herein, a dynamic interactive water allocation model, which encompasses the …

The Brief (Edition #33, May 2024), William & Mary Law School

The Brief

No abstract provided.

Commercial Enablers Of China’S Cyber-Intelligence And Information Operations, Ethan Mansour, Victor Mukora

Military Cyber Affairs

In a globally commercialized information environment, China uses evolving commercial enabler networks to position and project its goals. They do this through cyber, intelligence, and information operations. This paper breaks down the types of commercial enablers and how they are used operationally. It will also address the CCP's strategy to gather and influence foreign and domestic populations throughout cyberspace. Finally, we conclude with recommendations for mitigating the influence of PRC commercial enablers.

Provider Perceptions Of Pediatric Obesity Management In The Primary Care Setting, Rina Edelson

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Background: Childhood obesity is a critical public health issue. The primary care setting provides an accessible avenue for management. However, primary care physicians report significant barriers to success in treating this condition.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare clinician perception of pediatric overweight and obesity management before and after implementation of a standardized treatment protocol based on the clinical practice guidelines released by the American Academy of Pediatrics in January 2023.

Design/Methods: This study was deemed exempt by the Institutional Review Board. A survey was created by the study team to assess 5 domains: disease knowledge, current …

Experiences Of Cisgender Mental Health Professionals Providing Services To Transgender Or Gender Nonconforming Individuals Who Voluntarily Engage In Sex Work, Rachel Renee Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Understanding mental health needs and increasing awareness of services is critical for the wellbeing of populations served in mental health treatment, including minority subpopulations such as transgender or gender nonconforming sex workers. Further exploration of this topic is needed and the lack of it is a critical gap in multicultural mental health service provision. The purpose of this heuristic study was to explore the meaning of cisgender mental health professionals’ experiences while working with transgender or gender nonconforming sex workers, identifying themes for potential education, training, and supervision topics to increase cultural competency when providing services to the population. Six …

Finding God In All Things: Contemplation And Action In Karl Rahner And Bernard Lonergan, Henry O. Widdicombe

School of Theology and Seminary Graduate Papers/Theses

This thesis aims to explore the Ignatian influence that Karl Rahner and Bernard Lonergan share as a way of comparing the two figures and, consequently, articulating a transcendental theological anthropology that expresses the insights of both and complements each with the other. What emerges from an investigation of the Ignatian roots of Rahner and Lonergan is an awareness of two distinct categories within human experience, an inward dimension wherein psychological and spiritual movements are discerned and an outward dimension where the terms of those movements are worked out—what the Christian tradition has often termed “contemplation” and “action.” For Ignatius, Rahner, …

Case Study Analysis: Exploring Johnson & Johnson's 1982 Tylenol Contamination Crisis And Ongoing Talcum Powder Crisis Through The Six Principles Of Crisis And Emergency Risk Communication, Caroline Tibbs

Honors Theses

In 2002, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed a new field of communication, called Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC). With the creation of this new field, the CDC developed a streamlined CERC guidebook in order to provide a standard for the crisis communication strategies and responses of specifically healthcare organizations, but any organization can benefit from utilizing the CERC framework. The CDC also identified six key principles of CERC, which are as follows: response time (“be first”), accuracy (“be right”), credibility (“be credible”), having empathy (“express empathy”), promotion of actions (“promote actions”), and respectfulness (“show respect”). …