Population And Migratory Ecology Of Canada Warblers (Cardellina Canadensis) In The Central Appalachian Mountains, West Virginia, Usa, Stephanie H. Augustine

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nearctic-Neotropical migrant birds experience a wide range of environmental conditions throughout their annual cycle; thus, it is particularly challenging to evaluate the spatial factors that may influence population growth. The Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) faces substantial range-wide population declines, but little study has been conducted regarding elements occurring across the entire year that drive demographic rates. The aims of this research are (1) determine the relationship between Canada Warbler population demographic rates and environmental conditions along an elevation gradient in the central Appalachian Mountains and (2) ascertain the nonbreeding season location and migratory routes used by the central …

Low- And High-Wattage Vaping During Pregnancy Influence Aortic Structure And Function In Rat Offspring, James Ian Frazier

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are being marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes, yet the health consequences of e-cig usage (also called vaping) are still being investigated. E-cigs are easily customized for user preferences. For example, the choice of flavors, nicotine concentration, and/or the temperature (i.e., wattage) used to heat the e-liquid can be selected in many devices. Emerging evidence suggests that vaping during pregnancy impairs cerebral vascular function in rodent offspring. In this study, we sought to investigate the potential effects of changes to e-cig device wattage (i.e., 5W vs. 30W) with maternal vaping during pregnancy on vascular …

Using Drones To Evaluate Revegetation Success On Natural Gas Pipelines, Anthony Nelson Mesa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Appalachian region of the United States has significant growth in the production of natural gas. Developing the infrastructure required for this resource creates significant disturbances across the landscape, as both well pads and transportation pipelines must be created in this mountainous terrain. Midstream infrastructure, which includes pipeline rights-of-way and associated infrastructure, can cause significant environmental degradation, especially in the form of sedimentation. The introduction of this non-point source pollutant can be detrimental to freshwater ecosystems found throughout this region. This ecological risk has necessitated the enactment of regulations related to midstream infrastructure development. Weekly, inspectors travel afoot along pipeline …

The Contribution Of Artists Sydney Laurence, Belmore Browne, And Olaus Murie To The Preservation Of Public Land In The Northwest United States, Madelyn Brodie

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis analyzes the impact of artists Sydney Laurence (1856- 1940), Belmore Browne (1880- 1954), and Olaus Murie (1889- 1963) and the contribution that their artwork had to the conservation of United States public lands. This thesis examines the conservation initiatives that were brought into effect during the early 1900s, the personal motivations of these artists to preserve the land, and the interactions between these artists and the United States government which demonstrates their involvement in land preservation. The impact that the artists had on tourism which extended the conservation movement is also addressed. Artworks created by Laurence, Browne, and …

Performance Of Peltier Cooled Technology During Preconcentration Of Volatile Organic Compounds Analyzed By Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Gc-Ms) Using Niosh Manual Of Analytical Methods (Nmam) 3900, Elizabeth Ann Fernandez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Using evacuated canisters for whole-air sampling allows for sampling without specific knowledge of the environment and potential analytes. Evacuated canisters are able to tolerate concentrations ranging from parts per trillion (PPT) to parts per million (PPM). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has used evacuated canisters for years to sample volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from ambient air using their method TO-15 (LeBouf, et al., 2019). The GC-MS system used for the development of NMAM 3900 used liquid nitrogen to cool sorbent traps in the preconcentrator. Liquid nitrogen allows for cooling of specified points below ambient temperature. An alternative to liquid …

The Discover Model: A Prescriptive Method For Instructional Tool Selection And Use In Seeking To Boost Instructor Immediacy And Social Presence In Online Courses, Lee O. Silverman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Higher education faculty who teach online can face numerous challenges in providing optimal experiences for their students. Besides their potentially limited instructional design expertise and understanding of how to optimize technology to support learning, faculty may have difficulties in finding ways to make themselves be perceived as real people who are approachable, caring, and likeable due to online nature of the learning context. As a preliminary means to address these issues, the current study focused on the development of the DISCOVER Model, which was designed to provide higher education faculty with a framework to develop actionable plans in the creation …

Development Of Computational Methods For Electronic Structural Characterization Of Strongly Correlated Materials: From Different Ab-Initio Perspectives, Uthpala K. Herath

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The electronic correlations in materials drive a variety of fascinating phenomena from magnetism to metal-to-insulator transitions (MIT), which are due to the coupling between electron spin, charge, ionic displacements, and orbital ordering. Although Density Functional Theory (DFT) successfully describes the electronic structure of weakly interacting material systems, being a static mean-field approach, it fails to predict the properties of Strongly Correlated Materials (SCM) that include transition and rare earth metals where there is a prominent electron localization as in the case of d and f orbitals due to the nature of their spatial confinement.

Dynamical Mean Field Theory (DMFT) is …

Face Representation Learning And Its Applications: From Image Editing To 3d Avatar Animation, Xudong Liu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Face representation learning is one of the most popular research topics in the computer vision community, as it is the foundation of face recognition and face image generation. Numerous representation learning frameworks have been integrated into applications in daily life, such as face recognition, image editing, and face tracking. Researchers have developed advanced algorithms for face recognition with successful commercial productions, for example, FaceID on the smartphone. The performance record on face recognition is constantly updated and becoming saturated with the help of large-scale datasets and advanced computational resources. Thanks to the robust representation in face recognition, in this dissertation, …

Cycle Decomposition For Integral Current Homology, Kristin Julia Duling

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A standard graph theoretical result states that every element of the cycle space of a graph has a cycle decomposition. Georgakopoulos expands this result to a primitive decomposition and minimal representation of each element in a modified 1-dimensional singular homology. We modify the m-dimensional integral current homology in order to ensure a primitive decomposition for each element.

The Musashi Rna Binding Proteins Are Regulators Of Alternative Splicing And Protein Expression In Photoreceptor Cells, Fatimah Kh. Matalkah

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Musashi (Msi) family of RNA binding proteins consists of two paralogs, Msi1 and Msi2, that are highly conserved across species. The two paralogs have emerged as factors that promote stem cell proliferation by post-transcriptionally regulating translation. In addition to their expression in stem cells, the Musashi proteins are also expressed in postmitotic neurons, including the photoreceptor cells. The Musashi proteins have been observed to maintain high expression levels in the postmitotic photoreceptors within the eye of both invertebrates and vertebrates. These observations suggest an additional role in the maintenance of terminally differentiated neurons.

Building upon these observations, we investigated …

Standardized Postoperative Handoff Tool To Improve Handoff Quality, Haley Durkacz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

Effective communication between healthcare providers is an essential element in the delivery of safe patient care. Loss of relevant information can occur during all phases of patient care but is most inclined to occur during the handoff from the operating room to the postoperative anesthesia care unit (PACU). Evidence has indicated that the transfer of patients by anesthesia providers remains informal and brief despite practice guidelines. When pertinent details are omitted during the anesthesia handoff there is a potential increase for medical errors, delayed treatment, and patient harm. The purpose of this project was to analyze the use of …

Equipping Advanced Practice Providers: Interprofessional Pediatric Airway Management Course, Kenton M. Schrock

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Developmental differences between pediatrics and adults requires intervention adjustments for airway management. Segregated intraprofessional training and limited provider exposure could result in poor collaboration and low-quality management. Patient outcomes depend on the proficient collaborative application of skill and knowledge. Purpose: The interprofessional pediatric airway management course paired unique airway considerations with interprofessional training strategies to equip providers to deliver safe airway management. Intervention: The course was delivered as a 3-hour training session. Participants completed team simulations and skill/concept stations. Pre- and post-intervention competency and confidence scores were measured and analyzed. Methods: Baseline confidence and competency scores in managing a …

Actin Cytoskeletal Regulation And Matrix Metalloproteinase Targeting In Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Hnscc) Progression, Jessica Lea Allen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a cancer originating from the epithelial lining of the oral cavity, larynx, and pharynx. HNSCC is associated with extensive locoregional invasion and tissue destruction. Invasive processes underlying HNSCC contribute to poor prognosis and decreased quality of life. Amplification of chromosome 11q13 is the most common DNA aberration in human papilloma virus negative (HPV^-) HNSCC. This region includes various genes known to drive tumor progression. CORO1B (coronin 1B) flanks the core 11q13 region and is amplified in 7-14% of HNSCC. Coronin 1B is essential for mesenchymal cell motility by promoting turnover …

Female Delinquency And Pathways To Crime, Pamela Lynn Smykal

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation investigated gendered relationships and their potential influence on women’s criminal motivation. Historically, researchers attempted to understand criminal behavior using a male-oriented perspective which has dominated criminological literature. Criminologists have neglected to consider the role of gender as a significant predictor or pathway toward criminal behavior of either males or females. Within the last two decades, female criminality has become a spotlight for recognition and attention separate from male criminality. Traditional research on crime has been limited in understanding the pathways for female criminality and motivations for offending as individual predictors of male crime. Analyzing the role of …

Teacher Perceptions Of Pedagogical Change Using 1:1 Chromebooks In Classrooms, Brunetta Evelyn Adams

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined teacher perceptions of pedagogical change while using 1:1 Chromebooks in their classrooms. With effective professional development and implementation of 1:1 Chromebooks to meet the needs of 21st century learners, technology was integrated to allow students to collaborate, explore, inquire, and supply opportunities for students to engage in higher order thinking and activities. In this study, teachers’ perceptions of pedagogical change varied.

With a focus on self-organized group of teachers on Facebook, the researcher examined teacher perceptions and how these impacted pedagogy when delivering instruction using 1:1 Chromebooks. Increase usage of Facebook as a teaching tool and teacher …

Connecting The Dots Between American Islamic Converts, Homegrown Violent Extremists, And Members Of The Islamic Guerillas Of America: Phenomenological Exploration, Joseph Francis O'Brien

Theses and Dissertations

This autoethnographic qualitative study details the researcher’s interest in the world of Islamic terrorism, which stemmed from the 2007 disappearance of a colleague in Iran, while on a rogue CIA mission. From the literature review, four basic themes emerged, which were applied to five case studies. One of the first scholarly articles encountered, speculated that the lack of empirical research and evidence in Islamic terrorism studies, may be caused by conceptual and methodological difficulties and pointed out that social phenomenon such as radicalization, rehabilitation and reintegration are hard to conceptualize and measure. Also, there is no consensus regarding the causes …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Symbolic Violence In School Curriculum, Nahum Jean-Louis

Theses and Dissertations

The study explores symbolic violence (SV) in school curriculum as a phenomenon that has historically been a problem for Black students in schools around the United States. Defined by Bourdieu as the legitimization of cultural and social domination of the working-class by the dominant elite, SV is expressed in curriculum through various forms, including racial and cultural exclusion of Black students from the curriculum.The literature review explored research conducted over the past few decades that address various aspects of SV and how they manifest in school curriculum. More specifically, an important segment of the literature review has focused on the …

Transición Curricular Del Diseño De Interiores A La Virtualidad Mediante El Design Thinking, Margaret Rose Díaz Muñoz

Theses and Dissertations

Una modalidad de instrucción de impacto global, una profesión relativamente joven, un método y proceso para solucionar problemas de desarrollo y diseño son la base para esta investigación. Por lo que el propósito de este estudio fue desarrollar un recurso para la creación de un currículo innovador para la modalidad virtual del grado asociado en diseño de interiores utilizando el método o proceso del design thinking. Una investigación de carácter cualitativa desde la perspectiva fenomenológica enfocada en recoger la percepción de los facultativos del grado asociado en diseño de interiores de una Institución de Educación Superior (IES) privada de Puerto …

Aceptación Del Docente Sobre El Uso Del Aprendizaje Móvil En Una Escuela Del Área Sur De Puerto Rico, Luis Adán Berríos Rivera

Theses and Dissertations

En Puerto Rico existe una implementación limitada del aprendizaje móvil como estrategia en las escuelas públicas. Existen factores que pueden afectar esta implementación como la utilidad percibida, la capacidad de auto prepararse, la intención de uso, la facilidad de uso, las actitudes del maestro, sus creencias constructivistas, las barreras tecnológicas y el apoyo de la institución. Estos criterios pueden establecer el nivel de aceptación por parte de los maestros y por qué la implementación del aprendizaje móvil como estrategia pedagógica es limitada en dichas escuelas. El propósito de este estudio consiste en determinar el nivel de aceptación del aprendizaje móvil …

A Qualitative Case Study Of Principal Supervisors’ Perceptions Of Equity-Based Instructional Leadership, Dontae Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

Principal supervisors play a critical role in supporting school principals. However, historically, principal supervisors were ill prepared to address these challenges at either the district or school level. Since 2011, the role of the principal supervisors has been reexamined to provide better outcomes for students and increased support for principals. The development of equity-based instructional leadership practices was identified and therefore added to the tools focused on developing transformative, race-conscious, and culturally responsive educational leadership. The problem explored in this qualitative study is that little research has focused on the perceptions of principal supervisors to improve equitable practices in schools …

The Risk Protection Order: Protection From Mass Homicide?, Brooke Elvington

Theses and Dissertations

Gun control measures, referred to as “risk protection orders” or “Red Flag” laws, are expanding with widespread public support. Currently, 19 states have similar legislation, varying in procedural approaches and enforcement to reduce firearm-related homicide, emphasizing mass homicide. However, little is known about whether the legislation is effective. The following questions are presented: (1) Is there a difference between rates of firearm related homicide incidences prior to and after the creation of Florida’s “Red Flag” law? (2) Do risk protection orders target individuals demonstrating known mass homicide offender typology characteristics? The study used data derived from open-source resources. An interrupted …

Understanding Hispanic Parent Experiences Of Participation In Children’S Special Education Programming, Ana Katrina Ramirez

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of the applied dissertation was parents who have children with disabilities at the target middle school are not fully involved in their child’s IEP educational planning. The purpose of the qualitative study was to understand Hispanic parents’ experiences with participating and contributing to the education of their children who are in the special education program. The study explored parent involvement in the process of their children’s Individualized Education Plan. It explored the issues Hispanic parents face when becoming involved with their child’s education and working with the school.

Parent participation in Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings with schools …

Middle School Literacy Educators' Views About Student Texting And Its Impact On Student Writing, Rehana Lynda Mohamed Hussain

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation investigated middle school literacy educators’ views about the impact of text messaging on students’ spelling and writing abilities. Specifically, the researcher determined educators’ views about the impact of text messages from Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) and Short Message Service (SMS) on middle school student writing and spelling. The researcher interviewed middle school teachers about their experiences with student writing and whether text speak is present in students’ writing and spelling.

Four research questions are posed: (a) To what extent do middle school teachers notice textspeak within student writing? (b) What do middle school literacy teachers report as the …

An Analysis Of Florida Educators' Perceptions Of The School Superintendency, Qualifications, Leadership Skills, Longevity, And Student Achievement: A Quantitative Study, Natalie Whitco

Theses and Dissertations

High turnover in the role of school superintendent signaled functional disruption, decreased morale and impaired student achievement. The principal researcher sought to explain perceptions among professional Florida K-12 public school educators about key factors related to the role of school superintendent, necessary qualifications, important leadership skills, longevity and its impact on student achievement.

The principal researcher disseminated a 10-question online self-administered survey she developed for the study to a sample of 199 professional Florida K-12 public school educators. Independent demographic variables among sample participants included: gender, current job, highest level of completed education and years of experience as an educator. …

Wglt Annual Report, 2022, Wglt, Illinois State University

WGLT Annual Reports

Annual report for WGLT, an NPR Network radio station licensed to and operating from Illinois State University.

Economics Of Markets: Neoclassical Theory, Experiments, And Theory Of Classical Price Discovery, Sabiou M. Inoua, Vernon L. Smith

ESI Publications

This book establishes that neoclassical economics based on the marginal utility calculus failed to derive a theory of consumer market price discovery consistent with the experimental market evidence. Such markets involve inherently discrete final-demand items bought for consumption and not subject to resale. Classical economists following Adam Smith articulated a rich narrative of price discovery theory consistent with experimental evidence based on operational concepts of discrete demand values (maximum willingness-to-pay), and symmetrically, supply costs (minimum willingness-to-accept). We develop and extend a mathematical model of classical market price formation. Chapter 1 & 2 describes this theme and chapter 3 connects it …

Prácticas Efectivas De Liderazgo Transformacional En Los Profesionales De Trabajo Social, Alejandra Borges Alverio

Theses and Dissertations

Este estudio fue desarrollado con el objetivo de describir las prácticas de liderazgo transformacional que han empleado diversos profesionales del trabajo social para lidiar con los retos y las demandas del entorno cambiante de las organizaciones sociales. Se logro contar con la participación de 15 profesionales del trabajo social que ocupan posiciones de liderazgo en escenarios como agencias gubernamentales, instituciones educativas y organizaciones sin fines de lucro.

Se utilizó un diseño de investigación cualitativa descriptiva con un enfoque fenomenológico basado en una categorización de temas y subtemas mediante un protocolo de entrevista. Esta metodología permitió generar información individualizada sobre las …

Identifying Sources Of Resistance And Fungicide Efficacy Against Fungi Causing Phomopsis Stem Canker In Sunflower, Renan Guidini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phomopsis stem canker is a major threat to sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) production worldwide and its prevalence has increased from 1.5% in 2001 to 61.0% in 2015 in the sunflower producing U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas. The disease causes early senescence and lodging of sunflower plants resulting in yield losses up to 40% and oil content up to 25%. Several species of Diaporthe have been reported to cause Phomopsis stem canker. In the United States, Diaporthe helianthi Munyt.-Cvetk. et al. and D. gulyae Shivas et al., have been reported as predominant causal …

Formulation, Structure, And Applications Of Therapeutic, Amino Acid, And Water-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents, Md Sajjadur Rahman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the design of greener chemicals, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are considered as one of the most versatile alternative solvents with widespread applications. DESs have the advantages of being nonflammable with negligible vapor pressure compared to traditional solvents. They share many characteristics of ionic liquids, but DESs are cheaper to formulate, typically nontoxic, recyclable, biodegradable, and are suitable for use with biological systems. In my Ph.D. research, three types of emerging and unconventional types of DESs, namely therapeutic DES (THEDES), amino acid-based DES (AADES), and water-based DES (WDES), have been investigated. To formulate these DES easily available and cheaper chemicals, …

Identity Negotiations In Family Relationships: Discussing Substance Use Disorder Through The Communication Theory Of Identity, Sarah-Michele Q. Weaver

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Guided by the communication theory of identity (CTI), the current study explores identity negotiations among family members who have experience with substance use disorder. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 9 participants. Personalenacted, enacted-relational, and personal-relational identity gaps guide the scope and use of CTI. Findings mirrored 3 major themes in consideration of these identity gaps: (1) participants embraced or rejected SUD as a central aspect of personal identity, (2) participants experienced turbulence in relational identities due to SUD, and (3) personalrelational identity gaps and alignment surface in multiple contexts where interpersonal communication occurs.