Digital Commons Network^™

Automating Lackenby's Method: The Design Of A Set Of Scripts To Execute Lackenby's Method With Mcnaull's Expansion In Rhinoceros 3d, Mara E. Kramer

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In vessel design, modifying the design of a preexisting hull is a common practice to save time and labor compared to designing a hull from scratch. This can be achieved either by manually adjusting the hull model in a 3D modeling software or by systematically adjusting certain vessel parameters using an algebraic method. However, these methods are time-intensive and do not fully utilize the capabilities of modern software. To address this issue, this paper presents a set of Rhinoscript and Python scripts that automate part of the hull modification process using Lackenby’s method with McNaull’s expansion. The developed code utilizes …

Therapeutic Approaches To Working With Perinatal Loss Clients: A Grounded Theory Study, Heather H. Olivier

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Perinatal loss (i.e., miscarriage, stillbirth, termination, and infant death) is commonly referred to in the literature as an invisible loss, non-loss, and even medical event. It is an ambiguous loss exhibiting the dialectical contradiction between the physical absence and psychological presence of the baby accompanied by disenfranchised grief, a reaction to a loss that is unacknowledged by society. Despite the likelihood of mental health clinicians working with clients who have experienced perinatal loss, there has yet to be a therapeutic model designed specifically for the unique grief and trauma reactions presented in this population. Existing grief models do not address …

Sachsenhausen, “More Of The Same”: The Transition Of A Nazi Concentration Camp Into A Soviet Special Camp, Douglas C. Molin

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Totalitarian use of the concentration camp to subjugate and control its citizens was exemplified on a massive scale with the world’s most oppressive twentieth century regimes, Nazi Germany, and the USSR. While evolved from very different political origins, concentration camps were the primary instrument within each nation’s security services resulting in human misery and death on a massive scale. One camp, Sachsenhausen, near Berlin was especially prominent, designed and constructed in 1936 as a model camp with the IKL eventually housed adjacent to it. In May 1945 the Soviets invaded Germany, and within months Sachsenhausen was utilized by the …

A Cross-Disciplinary Approach To Stage Design, Kimberly (Adachi) Pimentel

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

When designing for theater, inspiration, and ideas can come from a wide array of resources and play analysis. This thesis includes the combined method of technical lighting and scenic design for the production of Is God Is, by Aleshea Harris. Presented are approaches to script and character analysis, the incorporation of a diverse range of research, the production process, and a post-production analysis. Also included in this paper are theater design theories, visual references, a light plot, a lighting map, ground plan, and insight behind the design choices.

Hydrological Modeling For The Impact Of Predicted Climate Change And Urbanization: A Case Study Of The Lower Mississippi River Basin, Amelie E. Lagarde

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippi River Basin is the United States’ largest watershed and consists of many subbasins. Each subbasin has hydrological processes including flow rate, evapotranspiration, and groundwater flow. It is important to understand how these processes change through shifts in weather, time, and land use. This study uses the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to predict how changes in temperature, rainfall, and land use can change hydrological processes responses. This study concludes that, for the studied subbasin, a high representative concentration pathway (RCP) will result in lower flow rates and ground water flow as well as higher evapotranspiration by the …

Reading The Room: Memory, Dwelling, And The Everyday, Sara R. Hardin

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In any space, there is a residue that coats the present with a patina of memory. Creating layered imagery in dream-like paintings and prints, I use the domestic realm as a metaphor for the internal world of the mind, memories, and private thoughts, including them in compositions with symbols like the boundaries of windows, doors, and gates. These metaphorical structures also portray outward identities, which guard inner emotions. The conceptual aspects of these compositional elements weave together memories of the past and places of the present into a unified whole.

I began graduate school at the beginning of the COVID-19 …

A Cultural Legacy Of Resiliency: Black Male Teacher Retention In K-12 Classrooms, Mtichell Brookins

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Only 18% of the nation's teaching force are minorities, with 2% being Black male teachers (National Center for Education Statistics, 2013). Black educators have the lowest retention rate and the highest departure rate (Snyder et al., 2014). There is limited empirical research that explores turnover patterns and organizational conditions that impact Black male educators’ decisions to remain in the field (Achinstein et al., 2010; Johnson et al., 2005; Kirby et al., 1999). As a result, this qualitative study is imperative in that it contributes to a body of literature that explores aspects and experiences of Black male teachers in K-12 …

Perceptions Of Sub-Saharan African International Students In United States: Mental Health Concerns And Help-Seeking Behavior, Adekemi L. Ekanoye

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

International students face a lot of challenges while studying abroad, with or without the supportive system that their families provide. Sub-Saharan Africa international students consists of 3.7 percent of the population, which indicates a 2.1 percent increase prior to previous year. While in the host country, this population is saddled with the self-responsibilities of maintaining their values, cultural identities, personality, language ability, self-perceptions, and attitudes. African international students adopt a masking behavior in the form of adaptive strategies that could hide the mental health concerns experienced.

The purpose of this constructivist grounded theory study was to explore the untold lived …

AnduinTm: Transforming Manuscripts From The Lord Of The Rings Into A Digital Experience, Brendan Lenzner, Edward Sanchez, William M. Fliss

Library Faculty Research and Publications

For Tolkien enthusiasts, the year 2022 was one of great significance. The culmination of years spent digitizing and arranging Marquette University’s collection of print manuscripts of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, and the development of a digital portal to organize the metadata around the digital artifacts, occurred in perfect timing with an exhibition of manuscripts of Tolkien’s work that was greatly enjoyed by scholars and visitors from around the world.

Holistic Admissions Review In Physical Therapist Education, Rebecca Mcknight Littleton

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined perceived barriers and benefits to holistic admission review in physical therapist education (PTE) programs. The mixed methods study utilized both quantitative and qualitative data collected via an online survey to accredited programs and collection of quantitative data from program websites, Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) program pages, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapist Education (CAPTE), and the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). Seven research questions were addressed: • RQ1a: Is there a significant difference between the ultimate pass rate on the NPTE for programs that utilize holistic admissions and those that do …

The Dark South, Paul Zachos

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis contains a portion of my novel, The Dark South, as well as a craft essay titled “The Use of Plain Style in Modern Fiction Writing.” The craft essay examines how a plain style of writing can be used to great effect in fiction. I explore how simple writing can improve action, description, and exposition, and provide examples of writers who take advantage of these techniques. The Dark South, a Southern horror novel, tells the story of one man’s journey through a twisted version of the American South. Luke, a young man fresh out of college, finds himself stuck …

Numerical Evaluation Of Wavenumbers Of The Acoustic Waves Propagating In An Ice-Covered Ocean, Mohammad Khan

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

We consider acoustic wave propagation in a layered ocean waveguide covered by thick ice. The standard method of separation of variables leads to a Sturm-Liouville problem in the crosssection of the waveguide. We are specifically interested in the two leading modes, the separated solutions for the maximal eigenvalues. We first consider the homogeneous waveguide. We prove the differentiability of the eigenvalues with respect to the frequency, the monotonicity of the eigenvalues with respect to the frequency, and the existence of the cut-off frequency. We compare these eigenvalues with the eigenvalues for the case of a waveguide with a free surface. …

Automated Detection And Prediction Of Electrical Disturbances In A Power Transmission System, Jonathan Boyd

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

As power quality becomes a higher priority in the electric utility industry, utilities simply do not have the required personnel to analyze the ever-growing amount of data by hand. This thesis presents an automated approach for the analysis of power quality phenomena within a power transmission system by leveraging rule-based analytics as well as machine learning to analyze the characteristics of the recorded data. Waveform signatures analyzed within this thesis include: various faults, motor starting, and incipient instrument transformer failure. The developed analytics were tested on 160 waveform files and yielded an average accuracy of 99%. Machine learning techniques are …

An Evaluation Of The Robustness Of The Natural-Adversarial Mutual Information-Based Defense And Malware Classification Against Adversarial Attacks For Deep Learning, David Schwab

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

In today’s technology driven world, the use of Machine Learning (ML) systems is becoming ubiquitous, albeit often in the background, in many areas of daily life. ML systems are being used to detect malware, control autonomous vehicles, classify images, assist with medical diagnosis, and block internet ads with high precision. Although the use of these ML systems has become widespread in our society, there is the potential for systems used in high-stakes situations to make faulty predictions that can have serious consequences. Recently researchers have shown that even deep neural networks (DNNs) can be “fooled” into misclassifying an input sample …

Entropy Aided Rf-Dna Fingerprint Learning From Gabor-Based Images, Mohamed Alfatih Taha

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The number of devices connected to the internet have been increasing and shape Internet of Things (IoT). The security of IoT is an issue due to the use of weak or no encryption. Specific Emitter Identification (SEI) was introduced to overcome this issue by introduce RF-DNA fingerprinting exploring the PHY layer features. Recently, The SEI performance improved by the usage of the signal’s Time Frequency (TF) representation and accelerated using the Deep learning (DL) Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). While the classification accuracy has been improved from using raw signals learning the amount of data generated is large and computationally expensive. …

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Working Memory, And Stress, Lauren Strickland

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study aimed to explore the relationships among adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), working memory as assessed by an n-back task, and stress. Working memory task demands were manipulated by varying the cognitive load (1-back/3-back) and time limit (standard-paced/time-restricted), and stress was measured both subjectively via self-report and objectively via heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV). Eighty undergraduate participants completed a series of questionnaires and the n-back task while wearing a heart rate monitor. Accuracy was best in the 1-back blocks; however, ACE group differences in n-back accuracy were not detected. This study suggests that those with high ACEs had …

Identifying Personal Energy And Recovery Patterns And Their Impact On Well-Being, Emma C. Vosika

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The study was designed to examine patterns of personal energy expenditure and recovery, and how these patterns are associated with health and well-being. Data were collected via longitudinal, mixed method survey of a diverse sample of 121 working student and non-student adults. Measures included multiple existing tools, including: the Utrecht Work Engagement scale (UWES), Profile of Mood States (POMS), Recovery Experience Questionnaire (REQ), and items pulled from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Worker Well-Being Questionnaire (WellBQ). A variety of analyses were used including repeated measures ANOVA and one-way ANOVA. Results included the identification of “in-sync” and …

Utilizing Google Trends Data For Effective Modeling Of Covid-19 Outcomes: A Vector Auto Regression (Var) Approach, Gertrude Osei

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Over the past decade, especially during the three-year COVID-19 epidemic, infodemiology, which uses web-based data for public health issues, has helped assess and anticipate human behavior. Google's real-time population data can indicate popular interest during a pandemic. This study analyzes Google Trends (GT) data of COVID-19-related search phrases and CDC information to forecast US daily new cases, cumulative cases, and deaths. Seasonality and trends are removed from trend data using an Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test. Using an eight-week forecast horizon, Granger Causality tests and Vector Auto Regression (VAR) models predict COVID-19 cases and deaths. GT's relative search volume of COVID-19 …

The Role Of Individual And Situational Factors In The Stressor-Detachment Model, Brittany Ikner

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The influx of remote and hybrid work arrangements has led researchers to explore whether recovery differs between remote and hybrid workers and how organizations can best facilitate worker recovery in these contexts. Using the stressor-detachment model as a theoretical framework, the present study investigated whether an individual’s work arrangement and levels of emotional stability influenced the relationship between workload and personal burnout via psychological detachment. Cross-sectional and time-lagged analyses using self-report data from 167 working individuals revealed that detachment fully mediated the workload-burnout relationship in the time-lagged sample; however, no support was found for the mediating effect of psychological detachment …

Fifteen And Almost Famous: The Realities And Misperceptions Of Sexual Violence In The Music Industry, Emma Dotson-Jackson

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Prior research has explored the sexualization and objectification of women across media platforms, but very little attention has been devoted to examining the depiction of minors as sexual objects in the music industry. Given the illegality of forced sexual acts and consensual adult-juvenile sexual relationships, as well as the harmful effects, the current study utilizes a content analysis to identify popular musicians from various genres who have committed acts of sexual violence spanning from 1957-2021. Thus, this study examines incidents of sexual violence, specifically statutory rape, committed by musicians, their use of their celebrity to engage in such behaviors, and …

An Examination Of The Disparate Impact Of Neighborhood Characteristics On Routine And Gang-Involved Gun Violence, Dana Stripling

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

An extensive body of literature has described the influence of neighborhood characteristics, including socio-economic deprivation, residential turnover, and racial/ethnic composition on gun crime. There have been limited efforts, however, to examine the extent to which these effects might vary based on the nature of gun crime—particularly in communities outside of major cities like Chicago or St. Louis. This study attempts to address this issue through application of negative binomial regression and equality of coefficients tests to data obtained from the crime logs and American Community Survey data of a medium-sized city in the Southeastern U.S. Specifically, this study examines (in)equality …

A Comprehensive Review On Machine Learning In Healthcare Industry: Classification, Restrictions, Opportunities And Challenges, Qi An, Saifur Rahman, Jingwen Zhou, James Jin Kang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Recently, various sophisticated methods, including machine learning and artificial intelligence, have been employed to examine health-related data. Medical professionals are acquiring enhanced diagnostic and treatment abilities by utilizing machine learning applications in the healthcare domain. Medical data have been used by many researchers to detect diseases and identify patterns. In the current literature, there are very few studies that address machine learning algorithms to improve healthcare data accuracy and efficiency. We examined the effectiveness of machine learning algorithms in improving time series healthcare metrics for heart rate data transmission (accuracy and efficiency). In this paper, we reviewed several machine learning …

Track-Index-Guided Sustainable Off-Road Operations Using Visual Analytics, Image Intelligence And Optimal Delineation Of Track Features, Manoj Kumar Kalra, Sanjay Kumar Shukla, Ashutosh Trivedi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Visual-analytics-guided systems are replacing human efforts today. In many applications, movement in off-road terrain is required. Considering the need to negotiate various soft ground and desertic conditions, the beaten tracks of leading vehicles considered to be safe and suitable for guiding are used in such operations. During night, often, these tracks pass through low-contrast conditions posing difficulty in their identification. The maximization of track contrast is therefore desired. Many contrast enhancement techniques exist but their effectiveness varies as per the surrounding. Other than conventional techniques, the role of texture too becomes important for enhancing the differentiable track contrast. Gray-level co-occurrence …

May 2023 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

An Evaluation Of A Supportive Mentoring Program For Teenagers At-Risk Of Homelessness: Effects On Academic Performance And Psychosocial Functioning In A Pilot Study, Jordan Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the impact of homelessness on adolescents’ psychosocial functioning and academic performance and explores the efficacy of mentoring programs as a potential intervention. This study aims to examine the potential of mentoring programs to improve the overall well-being of adolescents at risk of homelessness. Homelessness is often linked with negative outcomes in areas such as mental health, social functioning, and academic achievement. Therefore, this study seeks to understand whether mentoring programs can help mitigate these negative effects and promote positive outcomes in these areas. Quantitative assessments, utilizing pre-test and post-test measures, were employed to collect data from a …

Longitudinal Insights Into Student Behaviors And Program Impact: A Multi-Year Analysis Of Post-Program Surveys Pre- And Post-Covid-19, Brendan Bernard Charles Harmon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Substance use is arguably the most pertinent concern for college students. The prolonged use of substances has consequences that may impact many aspects of one’s life. As a result of decades worth of research, multiple evidence-based interventions have been created to help aid college students. One of these interventions includes BASICS, Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students. This study examined experiences of the BASICS program participants with special attention to the impact of COVID-19. It used a convenience sample of 44 after-program survey respondents from 2015 to 2022 at a faith-based private university in Texas. This study found …

Perceived Outcomes And Barriers Of Advance Care Planning From Healthcare Professionals, Faith Parsons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Advance care planning (ACP) is the process of aligning patients’ values and preferences to their future medical care. ACP is important in promoting patient autonomy and helping patients and their families prepare for end-of-life conversations. Healthcare teams, made up of physicians, nurses, or social workers, carry the responsibility to engage patients into such conversations. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals regarding ACP outcomes and barriers. This cross- sectional study used survey responses of a convivence sample of 18 allied healthcare professionals and 4 physicians in a not-for-profit, faith-based hospital system in …

Factors That Impact Prevention Therapy For A Person(S) Living With Hiv In A Conservative, West Texas City, Madison E. Reyna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is well known for being a sexually transmitted virus that will result in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) if left untreated. Some individuals are unaware of the other risk factors that can result in the transmission of HIV. The transmission of HIV can occur through the spread of HIV-positive blood, oral, anal, and vaginal sex without a condom or protection, sharing injection drug equipment, and perinatal transmission (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Despite advances in Antiretroviral treatments (ART) for HIV, there are still factors that are preventing individuals living with HIV/AIDS to maintain or suppresses …

Complete Genome Sequences Of Evolutionary Clade C-Iii Strains Of Clostridioides (Clostridium) Difficile Isolated From The Environment In Western Australia, Nirajmohan Shivaperumal, Natasza M. R. Hain-Saunders, Barbara J. Chang, Thomas V. Riley, Daniel R. Knight

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile in the environment is thought to contribute to C. difficile infection in community settings. Here, we provide complete genome assemblies for two esculin hydrolysis-negative strains of C. difficile that were isolated from soils in Western Australia; the strains produce white colonies on chromogenic media and belong to evolutionarily divergent clade C-III.

God’S Favorite: Hollywood Archivists And Peddlers, Daniela Farfan

Comm-entary

In his exhibition, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? Photographer David LaChapelle features well-known celebrities that are sometimes revered as God’s favorites. The mirage of Hollywood is glamorous and beautiful. Hollywood is a place of dreams congruent with limitless imagination and youth. LaChapelle’s photographs feature celebrities who sacrifice themselves to achieve and exemplify the ideals of show business and celebrity. LaChapelle’s portraits offer insight into the fantasy and truth behind celebrity.