Digital Commons Network^™

"It's Relationship Building": A Case Study On The Institutional Work Of Postsecondary Disability Services Directors., Taylor L. Pratt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nearly 21% of undergraduate students reported having some type of disability according to the most recent data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) for the 2019-2020 academic year. Changes in federal legislation have increased college access for disabled individuals over time; however, college students with disabilities persist at lower rates compared to their peers without disabilities. At the same time, little is known about the work of postsecondary disability services (DS), which are the primary support services for students with disabilities on college campuses. I addressed this gap in the literature by conducting a qualitative, single case study …

That Limbless Sign The Thesis Document., Donna R. Charging

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Native American Art resists all attempts by non-Natives to define, restrain, and replicate it. THAT LIMBLESS SIGN is a concrete substantiation of this quality of resistance through the scope of language. Native Art indicates a continuity, not of tradition, but of people. In THAT LIMBLESS SIGN, Native people become signs; that is, inimitable cipher devices of the real, living members of tribes who remain in the United States of America. Language is one of the last refuges of Native existence because it represents the point of power where Native realities cannot be transcribed into a superficial, indelible system such as …

Fingerprinting Cinematic Soundtracks: Examining Identity In Film Music Through Gender And Temporality., Sarah Elizabeth Moser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the soundtracks of six Hollywood films and their treatments of two factors of cinematic identity – gender and temporality. Six case studies are used throughout the thesis using an original analytic system I designate as Fingerprinting, which examines film using a five-tier, intersecting system on both the macro and micro level. The gender chapter analyzes Weird Science (1985) and Pretty Woman (1990) in order to demonstrate the utility of the cinematic soundtrack in constructing new frameworks of gender expression within fictional media. The temporality chapter uses four case studies - Easy Rider (1969), Eddie and the Cruisers …

Phenomenological Study Of The Impact Of Stress And Burnout After Covid-19 On Educators: Supporting Teachers In Resiliency And Facilitating Adversarial Growth Post-Pandemic., Rebecca Hicks-Hawkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

COVID-19 has not only caused anxiety and fears among teachers for their own health and that of their families; they are also facing increased responsibility. Planning periods had been replaced with coverage periods, where teachers must teach other classes when their colleagues are out—often due to illness—because the supply of substitute teachers cannot meet the demand (Barton & Dickason, 2022). Teaching is a demanding profession, and there will always be stress associated with a job where so many external factors come into play (Hansen, 2013). However, in the face of adversity some teachers were thriving. They are showing up and …

Examination Of Solutrean Lithic Technology At The Vale Boi Site, Southwestern Portugal., Jordan Durham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During the Last Glacial Maximum (27 – 19 ka), much of northern Europe became uninhabitable as icesheets expanded causing populations to withdraw into refugia around south-central Europe. Southwestern Iberia served as an ecological refuge for hunter-gatherer populations due to favorable climate and resource availability. Solutrean (25 -19 ka) techno-complex represented shifts in human adaptations and new social configurations in Iberia. Lithic analysis of 1380 artifacts from Solutrean, Layer 3 Terrace, at the Vale Boi site (southwestern Portugal) permitted insights into hunter-gatherer cultural adaptations reflected in technological behavior. Major conclusions are: (a) Solutrean techno-complex at Vale Boi utilized expedient tool production …

Development Of A High-Resolution Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy Apparatus For The Study Of Methane And Other Astrochemical Molecules., S M Shah Riyadh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research documents steps towards building a novel spectroscopic technique, namely, cavity-enhanced double-resonance (CEDR) spectroscopy, for investigating methane (CH₄) and other molecules with significance in astrochemistry. These efforts focus on tackling the complexities of their ro-vibrational energy levels and the inefficiencies in analyzing vibrational spectra, particularly for molecules with high symmetry and strong intramolecular interactions. In the CEDR spectroscopy, the first photon, generated by a continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator (CW-OPO) locked to a Doppler-free saturation absorption line, excites the molecule from its ground level to a selected excited ro-vibrational (rotational-vibrational) level, e.g., that of the asymmetric CH-stretch mode. …

In-Training Explainability Frameworks To Make Black-Box Machine Learning Models More Explainable., Asuman Cagla Acun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite ongoing efforts to make black-box machine learning models more explainable, transparent, and trustworthy, there is growing advocacy for using only inherently interpretable models for high-stake decision-making. Post-hoc explanations have recently been criticized for learning surrogate models that may not accurately reflect the actual mechanisms of the original model and for adding computational burden at prediction time. We propose two novel explainability approaches to address these limitations: pre-hoc explainability and co-hoc explainability. These approaches integrate explanations derived from an inherently interpretable white-box model into the learning stage of the black-box model without compromising accuracy. Unlike post-hoc methods, our approach does …

A Qualitative Inquiry Into The Intersectionality Of Race, Gender, And Social Networks In Stem Education., La'ree Alexandria Shontee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the intersectional experiences of Black women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education by focusing on the strategic utilization of social capital to navigate systemic barriers and challenges. The unique struggles faced by Black women within predominantly white and male-dominated STEM programs are addressed in this study. Drawing on a growing body of literature, this research diverges from prevailing narratives of disinterest in or departure from STEM programs and instead illuminates proactive strategies employed by Black women. Through an exploration of social capital - encompassing networks, resources, and support systems - this study offers a comprehensive …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Social Capital And Its Influence On Baccalaureate Degree Completion Of First-Generation African American Men At The University Of Louisville., Joseph Marshall Goodman Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation was designed to examine influences which various forms of social capital have on post-secondary degree attainment of first-generation individuals who self-identify as African American men. Additionally, the sample population consisted of Black men who successfully matriculated to earn baccalaureate credentials across differing academic disciplines at a public historically White institution located in the mid-south region of the United States. The research data was extracted from one-on-one, semi-structured interviews using authentic dialogue through open-ended questions. Theoretical paradigms of the study involved a phenomenological approach and an ontological philosophical assumption, integrated with critical theory, critical race theory and social …

The 2022 Symposium On Dementia And Brain Aging In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: Highlights On Research, Diagnosis, Care, And Impact, Raj Kalaria, Gladys Maestre, Simin Mahinrad, Daisy Acosta, Rufus Akinyemi, Suvarna Alladi, Ricardo Allegri, Faheem Arshad, Wambui Karanja, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

Two of every three persons living with dementia reside in low- and middle-incomecountries (LMICs). The projected increase in global dementia rates is expected toaffect LMICs disproportionately. However, the majority of global dementia care costsoccur in high-income countries (HICs), with dementia research predominantly focus-ing on HICs. This imbalance necessitates LMIC-focused research to ensure thatcharacterization of dementia accurately reflects the involvement and specificities ofdiverse populations. Development of effective preventive, diagnostic, and therapeu-tic approaches for dementia in LMICs requires targeted, personalized, and harmonizedefforts. Our article represents timely discussions at the 2022 Symposium on Demen-tia and Brain Aging in LMICs that identified the foremost …

A Systematic Review Of Mental Health Of Women In Fragile And Humanitarian Settings Of The Eastern Mediterranean Region, Fauziah Rabbani, Aysha Zahidie, Amna Siddiqui, Sanam Shah, Zul Merali, Khalid Saeed, Mohamed Afifi

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: The increasing emergencies and humanitarian challenges have worsened the mental health condition of women in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Aim: To assess the prevalence, determinants and interventions to address mental health among women in fragile and humanitarian settings in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Methods: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis guidelines, we reviewed 59 peer-reviewed published studies (PubMed, IMEMR) and grey literature (WHO/IRIS) from January 2001 to February 2023, focusing on women's mental health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. We then conducted a descriptive analysis of the sociodemographic characteristics.

Results: Among …

How Do Nuclear Isomers Influence The Gamma-Ray Bursts In Binary Neutron Star Mergers?, Maria Babiuc-Hamilton, Joseph I. Powell

Physics Faculty Research

Neutron star mergers are astrophysical “gold mines,” synthesizing over half of the elements heavier than iron through rapid neutron capture nucleosynthesis. The observation of the binary neutron star merger GW170817, detected both in gravitational waves and electromagnetic radiation, marked a breakthrough. One electromagnetic component of this event, the gamma ray burst GRB 170817A, has an unresolved aspect: the characteristics of its prompt gamma-ray emission spectrum. In this work, we investigate that gamma-ray spectra in such GRBs may be influenced by de-excitations from isomeric transitions. Our study begins with a review of current knowledge on GRB structure and of r-process nucleosynthesis …

Reliability Of Expert Judgement Elicitation In The Field Of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, Vinith Gajendra

Master’s Theses - College of Engineering

This thesis examines the reliability and validity of expert judgment in Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), particularly how judgments differ when experts are informed versus uninformed about context-specific details. The investigation centers on developing and testing performance metrics for expert judgments to evaluate their effectiveness in MCDA settings, where decision-making often depends on the accurate interpolation of missing or incomplete data.

Utilizing empirical research methods, the study systematically tests the accuracy of expert judgments by creating experimental conditions that mimic real-world data scenarios. This involves the preparation of multiple datasets, including basketball statistics and occupational safety metrics, where controlled missing values …

A Land-Use Planning Framework For Commercial Small Hub Airports For The Adoption And Storage Of Liquid Hydrogen Fuel, Panambur Rachan Rao

Master’s Theses - College of Engineering

The objective of this research is to develop a land-use framework for the adoption of Liquid Hydrogen fuel storage in commercial small hub airports.

Gender Equality Threatened: A Digital Communication Analysis Of Spanish Right-Wing Political Parties, Daisy Rehbock

International and Global Studies Undergraduate Honors Theses

Spanish right-wing political parties have become incredibly active on social media within the last decade, especially with the creation of the ultra-right wing party Vox, which now has the most followers of any Spanish political party across all social media platforms. The usage of social media by right-wing political parties is a populistic approach that allows politicians to connect directly to their voter base instead of utilizing more ‘elitist’ forms of media. This paper is focused on analyzing the rhetoric of two right-wing Spanish political parties, Vox and Partido Popular, in order to gauge their stances and impacts on gender …

The Purepecha And Food Sovereignty, Andrea Abarca

International and Global Studies Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis will focus on the food sovereignty of the Purepecha of Michoacan. I will explore their culture and how their relationship with food shapes them. I will look into the effects of neoliberalism, and how it puts the food sovereignty of the Purepecha in danger. With this, I will compare the resistance to this issue with another indigenous community and see how these uprisings bring hope to restoring their sovereignty.

Implications Of The 2023 Flood On The Lower Diamond Fork River, Ut, Christian J. Stewart

Watershed Sciences Student Research

The lower Diamond Fork River is located on publicly accessible land owned by the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission and the United States Forest Service. It is located a 30 minute drive away from the Provo-Orem Metropolitan Area and the stream runs parallel to the Diamond Fork Road, giving anglers convenient access to several miles of publicly fishable stream. The focus of this study is the lower Diamond Fork River between US Highway 6 and the Diamond Fork Campground, UT (Figure 1).

Edra 55: Bibliography, Tamara Karr

Bibliographies

edra 55: Human-Centric Environments

How To Invest In Healthy Relationships, Brad Hinman

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

Amphipathic Hybrid Cyclic-Linear Peptides As A Drug Delivery System, Jonathan Moreno

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Amphipathic Hybrid Cyclic-Linear Peptides as a Drug Delivery System by Jonathan A. Moreno Peptides

[RW]₄ and [R₅W₄] have been previously identified as molecular transporter Cell Penetrating Peptide (CPP) and antimicrobial agents, respectively. These peptides consisted of alternating and non-alternating arginine (R) as positively charged residues and tryptophan (W) as hydrophobic residues. Herein we report the synthesis of two hybrid amphipathic cyclic-linear cell-penetrating peptides [RW]₄K-AH135 (1) and [R₅W₄]K-AH135 (2) composed of [RW]₄ and [R₅W₄] and a linear peptide AH-135 (Ac)NH-RWLRRWLRWWRR-COOH. The …

Approvals, Utilization, And Cost Of Biologics For The Treatment Of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Roya Hosseini

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Introduction: RA treatment has been revolutionized by the development and approval of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). However, the approval status, utilization, and high cost of bDMARDs pose challenges in RA management.

Objectives: This dissertation evaluated the association between the utilization of bDMARDs and the sociodemographic characteristics of the RA patient population. It also identified the FDA approval status of bDMARDs and assessed the annual cost of bDMARDs used in RA treatment, evaluated the factors explaining annual cost at market entry.

Methods: In the retrospective analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from 2010-2021, the population includes RA patients …

Mechanistic Study Of Antimicrobial Cyclic Peptide [R4w4] Antibacterial Effectiveness Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (Mrsa), Ajayi Akinwale

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are being explored as a potential solution to combat antibiotic resistance, as they have shown promise in reducing susceptibility to antibiotics. This study explores if [R₄W₄] peptide is bacteriostatic or bactericidal using modified two-fold serial dilution and evaluates synergism of gentamicin and [R₄W₄] against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by checkered board assay. The MRSA resistant to [R₄W₄] and possibility with other antibiotics was evaluated with serial passage. Moreover, we investigated the mechanism of action of [R₄W_{4 …}

Perceptions Of Metabolic Syndrome Management Utilization In Relation With Patient Characteristics And Health-Related Quality Of Life, Olajide Adekunle

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Challenges in managing MetS include untreated risk factors and ineffective management, resulting in poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A significant factor contributing to these challenges is the underutilization of management services, possibly due to patients' perceptions of disease management resource utilization (PMU). Therefore, understanding patients' PMU is crucial for improving health outcomes. The study investigated PMU, explored PMU predictors, and investigated the impact of PMU and patients’ demographics on HRQoL. Using a cross-sectional design, data on perceptions of healthcare, medication, and pharmacy service utilization, prior experience with pharmacy services, demographics, and HRQoL were collected from adult individuals with obesity …

De-Escalating The United States-China Trade War Using A Global Conflict Resolution Methodology Framework, Angelina Kapp

Undergraduate Honors Theses

How can the United States and China collaboratively de-escalate their current trade relationship using a conflict resolution methodology to foster economic growth and foreign investor confidence in the evolving landscape of global trade? This paper will serve as a guide to those wanting to gain a comprehensive understanding of the macroeconomic causes and impacts of the contentious trade war between the U.S. and China. The year 2018 can be attributed to the start of the war when then-President Donald Trump implemented tariffs on Chinese goods and products. These back-and-forth financial and economic measures have been continually imposed to this day …

(R2082) Two New Operations And Extended Modal Operators On Bipolar Pythagorean Fuzzy Matrices, S. Sriram, K. Sivaranjani

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

In this paper, two novel binary operations concerning bipolar Pythagorean fuzzy matrices are delineated. Several algebraic properties, such as commutativity and associativity, are explored. Additionally, extended modal operators for Bipolar Pythagorean fuzzy matrices are introduced. Subsequently, these methodologies are applied to a decision-making scenario wherein a scoring matrix is formulated and alternatives are ranked according to their cumulative score values.

Understanding Bicycle Signal Operations And Leading Bicycle Interval (Lbi) Implementations, Yaye Keita, Shubhankar Shindgikar

CUTR Internal Grant Research Program

Bikes are among the sustainable modes of transportation and bicycling can help decrease congestion, reduce emissions, and enhance health. Due to their numerous benefits, they are currently one of the promoted modes in the United States. Yet, bicyclists are vulnerable roadway users and are subject to safety concerns. The safety challenges faced by bicyclists are more evident when looking at serious crashes. Although only 1.9% of total crashes are bicycle related, bicycle crashes account for 5.6% of fatal crashes (Alluri et al., 2017).

For years, Florida has had the largest number of bicyclist fatalities in the nation. As a result, …

The Power Of Empowerment: What Happens When We Include Patients In Nutritional Decision-Making, Katarina Konstantino Bsn, Julia Vaughan Bsn, Jennifer Hillyard Bsn

Nurse Residency

In hospitalized patients, how do personalized meal selections impact patient satisfaction and overall quality of life during hospital stays?

What Stories Do Rural Youth Tell About Future Orientation In Their Communities? Implications For Rural Positive Youth Development, Hannah Joy Falcone

Master's Theses and Capstones

It is a tale as old as time; rural youth have a well-developed pattern of outmigration from their hometowns, largely driven by aspirations of achieving education or specialized career opportunities available elsewhere. This qualitative study explores the positive youth development (PYD) experiences of youth living in rural, northern New England communities, including how interactions with rural school, community and work engagement, and experiences out in nature are described as important in future orientation in rural spaces. Virtual interviews were conducted with 18 youth (ages 14-19). Qualitative themes were developed through an inductive coding strategy, alongside a deductive structured coding strategy …

Fate Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances In A Wastewater Treatment Facility Using A Novel Membrane Bioreactor, Lindsay Ann Guertin

Master's Theses and Capstones

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a broad class of chemicals known for their environmental persistence and unique thermal and chemical stability which has led them to be used in a variety of products including paper, carpets, clothes, cosmetics, food packaging, kitchen ware, chrome plating, and aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs). Their resistance to biochemical degradation has led regulators to be interested in reducing PFAS loads to the environment and sources that humans are exposed to (e.g. drinking water). Recent studies have shown that concentrations of some terminal PFAS increase after secondary (biological) wastewater treatment indicating that precursor compounds are …

Nonprofit Cybersecurity: Nist Csf 2.0 As Exemplar Of The Zero-Trust Model, Ariel Maxwell Grad

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis investigates the integration of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF) within nonprofit and small organizations to enhance cybersecurity posture. Amidst increasing cyber threats, especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic where nonprofit tech adoption allowed organizations to keep serving their communities during country-wide lockdowns [10], and cybercrime surged by 600% [2], the necessity for robust cybersecurity in nonprofits has never been more critical. This study aims to evaluate current cybersecurity practices, specifically Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adoption across varying nonprofit sizes, and assess the applicability of ZTA and NIST CSF. …