Digital Commons Network^™

Antimicrobial Activity And Mechanism Of Amyloid Proteins And Synthetic Conjugated Polyelectrolytes, Fahimeh Maghsoodi

Nanoscience and Microsystems ETDs

Although the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is still unknown, it is widely considered that the accumulation of amyloid plaques composed of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in the brain is linked to neurodegeneration. Co-localization of viral DNA with Aβ plaques, the association of brain infection and AD, and research indicating the protective effect of Aβ against bacteria and fungi in mice and human cells have led to the hypothesis that Aβ expression and deposition may be central to its function as an antimicrobial peptide (AMP). In my thesis research, we seek to elucidate how Aβ functions as an AMP …

Teachers Perceptions, Practices, And Needs Toward Inclusion In Physical Education, Adriana E. Lucero

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Central Tasks of Learning to Teach provided the theoretical framework for the first study involving one in-service elementary physical educator teaching integrated classes while reflecting on three major stages of the teacher’s career, (1) the preservice, (2) the induction, and (3) the continuing professional development periods. Data revealed the following four themes: (a) authentic field experiences in immersive environments; (b) practice teaching in integrated settings enhanced self-confidence; (c) comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of students; and (d) disposition toward support when teaching and professional work outside of the teaching space. The Situated Expectancy-Value Theory provided the theoretical underpinning to our second …

Analysis Of Ternary Chloride Salt Corrosion In High Nickel Alloys, Dimitri Madden, Gowtham Mohan

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

The United States Department of Energy seeks to improve the efficiency of concentrating solar power technologies by employing thermal energy storage with operating temperatures above 700°C. To meet these goals, the National Solar Thermal Test Facility at Sandia National Laboratories has considered the use of a ternary molten chloride salt for sensible heat storage systems. While favored for low cost, good heat transfer properties, and stability at high temperature, ternary chloride salt also exhibits high corrosive attack. Components of a chloride salt storage system would include piping, valves, tanks, pumps, receivers, and heat exchangers, which would be exposed to high …

The “Afro In Afrolatinidad”: Examining Afrolatinx Experiences Of Blackness Through And Afrolatin Critical Theory Of Race, Celine Maria Ayala Ph.D

Sociology ETDs

Scholars of Afrolatinidad across disciplines often use their work to highlight the diversity of the Latinx community (Cahuas, 2019). Those who highlight Blackness in Latinidad tend to do so by merging Chicanx, and other Latinx theories with theories of Blackness that are centered on African American experiences. Although important, these works only tell one side of a multivariant story. Using a critical, diasporic, intersectional theoretical approach, which I call an Afrolatin Critical Theory of Race (ACTR), along with 30 semi-structured in-depth interviews, I find that Afrolatinx folk navigate Blackness, educational attainment and language in ways that debunk the myth of …

The Gayborhood Was Never Here For Some Of Us! Health Consequences Of Racialized Exclusion Among U.S. Sexual Minorities Across The Lifecourse, Kasim Ortiz

Sociology ETDs

Sexual minorities exhibit elevated rates of cigarette smoking, although disparate patterns exist when examining racial/ethnic differences among sexual minorities in the United States. Evidence suggests examining differing neighborhood contexts may help illuminate drivers of tobacco-related outcomes among sexual minorities, especially with respect to racial/ethnic variations among this understudied population. Adapting a framework of whiteness and health, the current project examined the role of racial residential segregation and neighborhood disadvantage as neighborhood contexts significantly associated with cigarette smoking across the adult lifespan. Using data from the 2010 Social Justice Sexual Project, merged with U.S. Census data, I find that residing in …

A Multi-Institutional Phase 2 Trial Of Ablative 5-Fraction Stereotactic Magnetic Resonance-Guided On-Table Adaptive Radiation Therapy For Borderline Resectable And Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer, Kathryn Mittauer, Michael Chuong

All Publications

Purpose: Magnetic resonance (MR) image guidance may facilitate safe ultrahypofractionated radiation dose escalation for inoperable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. We conducted a prospective study evaluating the safety of 5-fraction Stereotactic MR-guided on-table Adaptive Radiation Therapy (SMART) for locally advanced (LAPC) and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC). Methods and Materials: Patients with LAPC or BRPC were eligible for this multi-institutional, single-arm, phase 2 trial after ≥3 months of systemic therapy without evidence of distant progression. Fifty gray in 5 fractions was prescribed on a 0.35T MR-guided radiation delivery system. The primary endpoint was acute grade ≥3 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity definitely attributed to …

Economic Development And Environmental Sustainability In The Gcc Countries: New Insights Based On The Economic Complexity, Suzanna Elmassah, Eslam A. Hassanein

All Works

The economic development and environmental sustainability nexus have long been a fiercely debated issue. Researchers have widely acknowledged the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis when evaluating this relationship. Recently, an emerging strand of research examined the EKC through the lens of the Economic Complexity Index (ECoI) as a broader measure of economic development. However, empirical evidence of the index’s environmental impact is still limited. Despite its growing prominence, no prior research has been conducted in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) using the ECoI, particularly in the EKC context. Furthermore, research comparing the ECoI differentiated impacts on Ecological Footprint and Carbon …

Understanding The Lived Experience Of The Embodiments Of Catholic Social Teaching By Doctoral Alumni From A School Of Education Of An Independent Catholic University: A Phenomenological Study, George Munjanattu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

This study set out to understand how the doctoral alumni from the School of Education of an independent Catholic university experience embodiments of Catholic Social Teaching in their everyday lived experiences. The conceptual framework of seven Catholic teaching embodiments allowed the researcher to explore the perspectives of the doctoral alumni about their experiences with their values and beliefs about family, community, solidarity, human dignity, different responsibilities in their lives, care for creation, and their current engagement with various social justice activities. This research was a phenomenological qualitative study using interviews and artifacts review. Twelve participants were interviewed to explore their …

An Analysis Of The Catalysts Of Parasocial Breakups, Hannah Flannery

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

This paper aims to explore a parasol phenomenon known as parasocial breakup. What happens when popular influencers become riddled with scandals, or a microcelebrity crush starts dating someone? Perhaps they are unfollowed, blocked, or ignored by their fans. The parasocial bond between influencer and viewer has cracked. What happens when a content creator changes their content, stops posting, or experiences a crisis? They may remove themselves from various social media platforms, post content that former viewers no longer enjoy, or shift their fan demographic drastically. This paper analyzes micro celebrities across four categories: those who have died, those who have …

Numerical Methods For Wave Turbulence: Isotropic 3-Wave Kinetic Equations, Steven Walton

Mathematics Theses and Dissertations

Wave turbulence theory has remained an active area of research since its inception in the early part of the last century. In the kinetic regime, the main objects of study are the wave kinetic equations. The breakthrough discovery of constant flux, time independent solutions by Zakharov in the late 1960's has allowed for the theories predictions to be verified both experimentally and computationally in a wide array of physical systems. However, there remain many open questions concerning the time dependent solutions of the wave kinetic equations. In this thesis, we aim to partially address this open area of the wave …

Connecting Social And Ecological Systems In Small-Scale Fisheries In The Philippines, Sara Eisler Marriott

Dissertations

Nearly 50% of all marine fish capture in the Philippines is from artisanal fisheries, most of which is un- or under-reported. As in many emerging nations around the world, the Philippines cannot fully address overfishing by managing only half of the catch that comes from commercial fisheries. Marine reserves are a popular governance strategy for conservation and of growing interest for fisheries management. Many marine reserves in the Philippines, however, are not considered effective. In 2014, Rare, an international NGO, implemented a community-based management program to increase the effectiveness of the marine reserves, and while it found biomass increased, there …

Knowing I Don't Know, Leo Justin Keiser

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

The Essence Of K-12 Teaching In A Catholic Archdiocese In Kentucky During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Danielle Atzinger Wiegandt

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic research showed that teacher attrition among new teachers (less than five years) was a problem for schools throughout the country and Catholic Schools were facing an even higher rate (Ingersoll, 2003). Research also shows that there are often cultural and structural components of Catholic schools that influence teachers to stay (Youngs, 2013; Convey, 2012, 2014). The COVID-19 pandemic forced the education system to pivot and teachers are expected to continue to have high standards for education while making these shifts.

In the early period of COVID-19 pandemic research was already suggesting attrition rates were rising …

From Spirit Toward Liberation: Msw Professional Portfolio, Claire Cw Compton

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Portfolio of work accomplished in Master of Social Work program. Includes the Five Elements of Advanced Integrated Practice (Finn & Molloy, 2021), 10 social work competencies, and four dimensions of practice.

My Path To Advanced Practice, Hannah Oiselle Knisley

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Approaches And Tools To Solving Complex Problems In Private Land Conservation, John T. Curnyn

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

The central theme throughout my four portfolio pieces is: approaches and tools that can be used to address complex problems involving private land conservation. I consider the broader human and environmental community health to be factors in successful private land conservation. The first portfolio piece examines a number of studies of conservation easements implemented to improve water quality, as well as their utility in avoiding land use conflict. My second portfolio piece is a reflective paper on my experience conducting a stakeholder assessment for the organization OneMontana. The assessment focused on creating a shared understanding of the issues related to …

Strength As A Function Of Liquid Water Content In Different Snow Types - Results From Field Experiments Using A Blade Hardness Gauge, Mikael Schlumpf

Civil Engineering ETDs

The rapid weakening of snow layers that locally accumulate infiltrating liquid water is a well-known mechanism for wet slab avalanche formation. To quantify this process and improve the prediction of these destructive avalanches, a blade hardness gauge (BHG, a.k.a thin blade penetrometer) and SLF snow sensor were used to take 349 targeted paired measurements of strength and LWC, respectively, in the snow above 19 artificially wetted capillary barriers. Using a multiple regression analysis, we develop an expression for the blade hardness of manually wetted snow as a function of LWC, crystal form, and blade hardness prior to wetting. To understand …

Automated Subfield Volumetric Analysis Of Amygdala, Hippocampus, And Thalamic Nuclei In Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Arichena Manmatharayan, Michael Kogan, Caio Matias, Mashaal Syed, India Shelley, Amar Chinni, Kichang Kang, Kiran Talekar, Scott H. Faro, Feroze B. Mohamed, Ashwini Sharan, Chengyuan Wu, Mahdi Alizadeh

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Purpose: Identifying relationships between clinical features and quantitative characteristics of the amygdala-hippocampal and thalamic subregions in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) may offer insights into pathophysiology and the basis for imaging prognostic markers of treatment outcome. Our aim was to ascertain different patterns of atrophy or hypertrophy in mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) patients and their associations with postsurgical seizure outcomes. To assess this aim, this study is designed in 2 folds: (1) hemispheric changes within MTS group and (2) association with postsurgical seizure outcomes.

Methods and materials: 27 mTLE subjects with mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) were scanned for conventional 3D …

Costs And Benefits Of Authentication Advice, Hazel Murray, David Malone

Department of Computer Science Publications

Authentication security advice is given with the goal of guiding users and organisations towards secure actions and practices. In this article, a taxonomy of 270 pieces of authentication advice is created, and a survey is conducted to gather information on the costs associated with following or enforcing the advice. Our findings indicate that security advice can be ambiguous and contradictory, with 41% of the advice collected being contradicted by another source. Additionally, users reported high levels of frustration with the advice and identified high usability costs. The study also found that end-users disagreed with each other 71% of the time …

Additive Manufacturing Of Lightweight Concrete Mixtures, Kourosh Rashidi

Civil Engineering ETDs

Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is an innovative technique that is increasing its popularity in many industries including construction. 3D printing is related to the layer wised manufacturing or additive construction of any simple to intricate geometry from a digital file. The construction industry has a high potential for using 3D printing technology. However, one of the critical factors in the adaption of additive manufacturing in the construction industry is achieving a printable concrete mix design. This research aims to design printable mixes of lightweight concrete that could be effectively used in the 3D printing of walls or …

3d Printing Of Earthen Materials: Toward The Carbon-Zero Construction, Shiva Bhusal

Civil Engineering ETDs

In recent years, digital manufacturing techniques in the architecture and construction industry have rapidly gained attention, especially with 3D printing, also called additive manufacturing. The use of cement has been common in modern construction and is now being explored for 3D printing. However, due to cement's contribution to approximately 7 percent of global carbon emissions and its high cost, research on sustainable and greener materials has gained attention. Previous studies on alternative construction have examined the mechanical and rheological properties of soil mixes, but not much attention has been given to printability evaluation, shrinkage, and cracking, which can affect the …

Determining The Utilization Of Trial-Based Functional Analyses In A Clinical Setting, Cayla Thomas

Thesis Projects

The functional analysis (FA) methodology is the gold standard of functional assessments to inform function-based interventions in applied behavior analysis. Behavior analysts report underuse of the FA methodology in clinical practice due to lack of time and resources and safety concerns. The trial-based FA (TBFA) is a brief form of the FA that is conducted in the natural environment and to date has mainly been conducted in classrooms. When compared with a standard FA, TBFAs take less consecutive time to complete, there are fewer instances of maladaptive behavior, data collection is simpler, and data analysis requires less expertise. The current …

Material Reliability For A Molten Chloride Salt System, Aaron A.H. Overacker

Nuclear Engineering ETDs

Energy efficiency and cost reduction can both be improved upon using overall higher temperatures for the working fluid. This interest is shared in both nuclear energy as well as concentrated solar power. To achieve higher temperatures would require industry to change working fluids. The United States Department of Energy set out a goal of operating concentrated solar to above 700℃. This would help reduce the cost by having more efficiency in the thermal energy storage, while not a concern for nuclear, these high temperatures can reduce the safety risk and pressure use with the implementation of molten salts. The National …

An Analysis And Examination Of Consensus Attacks In Blockchain Networks, Thomas R. Clark

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

This paper examines consensus attacks as they relate to blockchain networks. Consensus attacks are a significant threat to the security and integrity of blockchain networks, and understanding these attacks is crucial for developers and stakeholders. The primary contribution of the paper is to present blockchain and consensus attacks in a clear and accessible manner, with the aim of making these complex concepts easily understandable for a general audience. Using literature review, the paper identifies various methods to prevent consensus attacks, including multi-chain networks, proof-of-work consensus algorithms, and network auditing and monitoring. An analysis revealed that these methods for preventing consensus …

An Overview Of Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Searching For Balance Between The Positive And Negative Effects, Courtney K. Fusting

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) is the behavior of taking on extra roles in the workplace outside of one’s explicit duties. There are many reasons why one may be motivated to aid his/her organization in this way. Motivation may come through one’s personal values towards volunteerism, desire to build social capital, increase in self-esteem and flow, or even due to the commonality of organizational citizenship behavior among the workplace culture. Contributing to one’s workplace through OCB has the potential to positively impact an individual. However, taking on too many extra roles in the workplace can become detrimental. Role overload, stress, and …

An Overview Of The Life And Works Of J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, And A. Dvořák, Colten Shockley

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

The violin works of J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, and A. Dvořák are amongst the most demanding pieces from the violin repertoire. The purpose of this thesis is to give a historical context and an analysis of the pieces by these composers, which I performed for my graduate recital. Also, I will explain the music in detail by describing how each piece is played in their particular era and how each piece found their way to the standard repertoire of the violin. Bach, Mozart, and Dvořák are three of the most important figures of Western Music who provided different musical styles …

Density And Nest Success Of Shrub-Dependent Birds On Formerly Strip-Mined Lands, Luke Headings

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

As bird populations continue to decline across North America, it is important to understand the benefits that disturbed habitats can have for breeding birds. One of the major land disturbances and causes of habitat loss in the United States is surface mining, which often results in altered vegetative communities. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the relationships between bird populations, habitat, previous and current land use, and densities of invasive plant species on formerly strip-mined land. Due to the proliferation of invasive shrub species in post-mined landscapes, we sought to determine the effects of post-mined habitat features …

Selected Elementary Music Educators’ Perceptions Of Curriculum, Scheduling, And Workload, Mara Nowlin

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Elementary music is a field that many people would agree is important, but the subject does not always get an equal opportunity when stacked up against subjects that are regulated with standardized tests, such as math or language arts. I set out to study elementary music programs in the region where I am employed (the Four State Region of Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma) in the Midwest. Some questions I sought to answer were what types of elementary music curricula are available and popular, and how districts come to select their music curriculum. Additionally, I wanted to examine the school …

Study Of A Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Using A Biobased Polyurethane As A Thermosetting Resin, Teddy Mageto

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer composites (CFRP) have garnered increasing interest in recent years especially in the aerospace and automobile industries where they are gradually replacing metals as structural materials. This is owing to their light weight, high strength, high modulus, and excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Polymers are typically used as thermosetting resins in these composites. However, the synthesis of polymers currently is conducted via petrochemical processes which leads to adverse effects on the environment. To this end, in this work a biobased Polyurethane (PU) was used as a thermosetting resin in a CFRP. The biobased PU was synthesized by the reaction …

The Railsplitter And The Pathfinder: The Relationship Between Abraham Lincoln And John C. Frémont, Kourtney Yantis

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

This study serves as an analysis of the connections between Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States and John Charles Frémont as a Civil War general. Lincoln’s position within history is solid, unlike that of John C. Frémont. The thesis will elevate Frémont to a higher status as a historical figure by arguing that the emancipation edict that he issued for Missouri in August of 1861 would influence Abraham Lincoln’s preliminary emancipation proclamation of September 1862, even though Lincoln repealed Frémont’s decree. In biographies of each man, their interactions are merely a small part of the stories of their …