Digital Commons Network^™

"Clothes Make Men": Clothing And The Embodiment Of Gender In Virginia, 1750-1775, Rhiannon O'Neil

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This study explores how late colonial Virginians used clothing to control, enforce, and negotiate gender. Gender, both as a system of power and as a category of social identity, became linked with the material forms of clothing that Virginians wore in their everyday lives. The identification of clothing with the body enabled Virginians to actively make choices about how to perform themselves to the wider culture of observation and perception present in the colony. Dress was ubiquitous, but its meanings were variable, changing, and unstable. In eighteenth-century Virginia, Anglo-descended colonists imported ideals from Britain, which then produced Chesapeake-specific gender relationships, …

Bringing Instagram Posts Into Being: A Study Of Fyc Students' Self-Sponsored Posting Practices And Transfer Opportunities, Jessica Kester

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Social media platforms have offered students—and all of us—more opportunities for self-sponsored writing. In response to calls from researchers to explore students' 21st-century writing practices and their relevance to college writing instruction, this dissertation articulated and applied a feminist teacher research methodology and a mixed-methods research design to explore first-year composition (FYC) students' self-sponsored writing practices, attitudes, and transfer opportunities on a popular, albeit under-examined, social media application: Instagram. This study found that students have developed elaborate, rhetorical, multimodal composing processes that include planning, drafting, evaluating, selecting, and styling images as well as planning, drafting/revising, and styling captions. Additionally, though …

Optimal Feature Learning For Facial Expression Recognition, Kamran Ali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

A great deal of research has been done to improve the performance of Facial Expression Recognition (FER) algorithms, but extracting optimal features to represent expressions remains a challenging task. The biggest drawback is that most work on FER ignores the inter-subject variations in facial attributes of individuals present in data. Hence, the representation extracted for the recognition of expressions is polluted by identity-related features that negatively affect the generalization capability of a FER technique on unseen identities. To overcome the effect of subject-identity bias, previous research shows the effectiveness of extracting identity-invariant expression features for FER. However, most of those …

Studying Users Interactions And Behavior In Social Media Using Natural Language Processing, Sultan Alshamrani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Social media platforms have been growing at a rapid pace, attracting users' engagement with the online content due to their convenience facilitated by many useful features. Such platforms provide users with interactive options such as likes, dislikes as well as a way of expressing their opinions in the form of text (i.e., comments). As more people engage in different social media platforms, such platforms will increase in both size and importance. This growth in social media data is becoming a vital new area for scholars and researchers to explore this new form of communication. The huge data from social media …

Study Of Mos2/High-K Interface And Implementation Of Mos2 Based Memristor For Neuromorphic Computing Applications, Durjoy Dev

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The scientific world is witnessing an unprecedented triumph of artificial neural network (ANN)- a computing system inspired by the biological neural network. With the enthralling quest for Internet of Everything (IoE), it is expected to have an unparalleled dominance of ANN in our day-to-day life. In recent times, memristor has come as an emerging candidate to realize ANN through emulating biological synapse and neuron behavior. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), one well-known two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), has drawn interest for high speed, flexible, low power electronic devices since it has a tunable bandgap, reasonable carrier mobility, high Young's modulus, and …

Machine Learning Techniques For Topic Detection And Authorship Attribution In Textual Data, Fereshteh Jafariakinabad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The unprecedented expansion of user-generated content in recent years demands more attempts of information filtering in order to extract high-quality information from the huge amount of available data. In this dissertation, we begin with a focus on topic detection from microblog streams, which is the first step toward monitoring and summarizing social data. Then we shift our focus to the authorship attribution task, which is a sub-area of computational stylometry. It is worth mentioning that determining the style of a document is orthogonal to determining its topic, since the document features which capture the style are mainly independent of its …

Effect Of Various Speed Management Strategies On Bicycle Crashes For Urban Roads In Central Florida, Jorge Ugan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In recent years, cycling has become an increasingly popular transportation mode around the world. In contrast to other popular modes of transportation, cycling is more economic and energy efficient. While many studies have been conducted for the bicycle safety analysis, most of them were limited in terms of bicycle exposure data and on-street data. This study tries to improve the current safety performance functions for bicycle crashes at urban corridors by utilizing crowdsource data from STRAVA and on-street speed management strategies data. Speed management strategies are any roadway alterations that causes a change in motorists' driving behavior. In Florida, these …

Elevated Stool Inflammatory Markers In Early Onset Polymorphic Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease Following Orthotopic Heart Transplant, Jeremy Stewart, Keith August, Thomas M. Attard

Posters

Acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the context of a recent organ transplant with immunosuppression, antibiotic exposure, drug exposures and other comorbidities is a challenging clinical scenario with coordinated multidisciplinary effort needed to optimize management and outcomes. We present a patient with recent solid organ transplant with severe acute gastrointestinal bleeding attributable to EBV associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. The patient is a 13-year-old Female with Williams syndrome who is EBV negative and CMV positive who received an EBV/CMV positive orthotopic heart transplant 5.5 months prior to presentation. She presented with bloody diarrhea, anemia (7.8 gm/dL), hypovolemia, and acute kidney injury (BUN 25 …

Grading Of Improvement In Hypsarrhythmia With Standard Epileptic Spasms Treatment At A Large Pediatric Tertiary Care Center, Julie Grace Gianakon, Roha Khalid, Mohammed Ilyas

Posters

Background Epileptic spasm is a peculiar type of epileptic seizure, entailing the clinical spasms and a characteristic electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormality often called hypsarrhythmia or its variants. The main goal of epileptic spasm treatment with standard therapy is to suppress clinical spasms and abolish the hypsarrhythmia and its variant EEG pattern. This interictal EEG pattern frequently heralds developmental regression. The elimination of hypsarrhythmia is a principal goal of therapy and a key outcome measure in clinical trials. There have been several studies in the interpretation or grading of hypsarrhythmia (Watanabe et al.1993 & Jeavons & Bower et al.1961). Still, there have …

Standardizing Resident Education On Gi Service, Jennifer Halma, Kenneth Schmidt

Posters

Introduction: The pediatric residency curriculum at Children’s Mercy Hospital is standardized to offer each trainee the same rotational experience. As a result, each resident spends one month on the inpatient gastroenterology (GI) service during training. This invites variability in the quantity and quality of GI education that residents receive. Therefore, there is a need to design a standard curriculum to provide comprehensive GI education. The aim of this project is to standardize resident education by identifying most requested topics and providing didactic education to increase resident general GI knowledge. Methods: Each month, residents were provided with a survey to assess …

Band Of Hope: How The Voice Of The People In John Wesley’S Classes And Bands Informs Today’S Church, Eddie Kirby

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

Is there Hope for a diminishing Church? In the context of 18th century Anglican decline, John Wesley’s Methodists saw great growth. Wesley’s contemporaries say it was his attention to spiritual growth in the context of classes and bands that caused sustained increase in the society. But what do the people that made up the classes and bands say drew them in? This paper gives voice to these people. Letters of people within the classes and bands are analyzed to find what drew out their spiritual passion. Modern institutions that are successfully tapping into these stated needs are then analyzed to …

Spectral Dependence Of Deep Subwavelength Metallic Apertures In The Mid-Wave Infrared, Heath Gemar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

For two decades, extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) has amplified exploration into subwavelength systems. Researchers have previously suggested exploiting the spectrally selective electromagnetic field confinement of subwavelength cavities for multispectral detectors. Utilizing the finite-difference frequency domain (FDFD) method, we examine electromagnetic field confinement in both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional scenarios from 2.5 to 6 microns (i.e., mid-wave infrared or MWIR). We explore the trade space of deep subwavelength cavities and its impact on resonant enhancement of the electromagnetic field. The studies provide fundamental understanding of the coupling mechanisms allowing for prediction of resonant spectral behavior based on cavity geometry and material properties. …

The Elderly Voter As Collateral Damage: The Consequences Of Voter Restriction On Elderly American Voter Turnout, Mia Warshofsky

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Voting is an indispensable feature of American democracy. Voting amplifies the voice of the electorate. Not voting disempowers individuals and communities. Despite protective legislation such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, many Americans experience electoral difficulties today. Following record-breaking turnout in the 2020 presidential election and under the guise of election security, some Republican lawmakers have introduced and supported legislation that restricts the ability of many Americans to vote. Research on communities of color, low-income communities, and disabled communities demonstrates the inhibitive effect of these measures. In contrast, conventional wisdom claims that older voters are more likely to vote …

Hostile Restructurings, Diane L. Dick

Washington Law Review

The conventional wisdom holds that out-of-court loan restructurings are mostly consensual and collaborative. But this is no longer accurate. Highly aggressive, nonconsensual restructuring transactions—what I call “hostile restructurings”—are becoming a common feature of the capital markets. Relying on hypertechnical interpretations of loan agreements, one increasingly popular hostile restructuring method involves issuing new debt that enjoys higher priority than the existing debt; another involves transferring the most valuable collateral away from existing lenders to secure new borrowing.

These transactions are distinguishable from normal out-of-court restructurings by their use of coercive tactics to overcome not only the traditional minority lender holdout problem, …

Autonomous Corporate Personhood, Carla L. Reyes

Washington Law Review

Several states have recently changed their business organization law to accommodate autonomous businesses—businesses operated entirely through computer code. A variety of international civil society groups are also actively developing new frameworks— and a model law—for enabling decentralized, autonomous businesses to achieve a corporate or corporate-like status that bestows legal personhood. Meanwhile, various jurisdictions, including the European Union, have considered whether and to what extent artificial intelligence (AI) more broadly should be endowed with personhood to respond to AI’s increasing presence in society. Despite the fairly obvious overlap between the two sets of inquiries, the legal and policy discussions between the …

Community Empowerment In Decarbonization: Nepa’S Role, Wyatt G. Sassman

Washington Law Review

This Article addresses a potential tension between two ambitions for the transition to clean energy: reducing regulatory red-tape to quickly build out renewable energy, and leveraging that build-out to empower low-income communities and communities of color. Each ambition carries a different view of communities’ role in decarbonization. To those focused on rapid build-out of renewable energy infrastructure, communities are a potential threat who could slow or derail renewable energy projects through opposition during the regulatory process. To those focused on leveraging the transition to clean energy to advance racial and economic justice, communities are necessary partners in the key decisions …

Contents, Journal Editors

Journal of Food Law & Policy

No abstract provided.

Journal Of Food Law & Policy - Fall 2021, Journal Editors

Journal of Food Law & Policy

No abstract provided.

Effects Of A N2-Fixing Biofertilizer On The Rhizosphere Microbiome And The Influence Of Biochar On Soil Fertility And Microbial Communities, Sarbjeet Niraula

Biology Dissertations - Archive

The rhizosphere microbiota and endosymbionts are the major contributors to biogeochemical cycling and significantly impact the associated host plant. Their association with plant roots is inevitable for plant health and development. The application of bio inoculants that promote plant growth and productivity is a promising alternative to chemical fertilizers in agricultural fields because of their nutrient solubilization activity, and are considered environmentally safe. However, their impact on the soil microbiome has been least studied. The use of bio-inoculants may have favorable or unfavorable impacts on the native microbial community in the rhizosphere. Therefore, we attempt to evaluate the effects of …

Decision Tool For Prioritizing Bridge Repair Or Replacement, Nyoka Amy Florius

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Bridges are typically damaged/deteriorated due to various factors that require close evaluation to make informed decisions about repair/replacement. There are several aspects of study to evaluate bridges for repair/replacement, such as age, structural adequacy, and frequent usage. Further, bridges which are in poor condition must be identified to mitigate their damage/deterioration and as a result, maintain a safe environment for users. Therefore, to assess the need for funding, state Departments of Transportation are required to evaluate bridges by considering several factors, while prioritizing safety. In Texas, the Highway Bridge Program is responsible for funding bridges which are listed for repair/replacement. …

Improving Probabilistic Quantitative Precipitation Forecasting Using Machine Learning And Statistical Postprocessing Methods, Mohammadvaghef Ghazvinian

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The objective of this research is to address the limitations inherent in conventional statistical postprocessing schemes to generate probabilistic quantitative precipitation forecasts (PQPFs) and improve postprocessed PQPFs quality through introducing new robust statistical models and machine learning frameworks. This dissertation comprises three main elements. First, a new, two-part scheme for creating PQPFs from single-valued quantitative precipitation forecasts is introduced. This scheme, herein referred to as the Mixed-type Non-Homogenous Regression (MNHR), combines the use of logistic regression for estimating rainfall intermittency, and non-homogeneous regression for estimation of additional parameters of the conditional distribution. The performance of MNHR is evaluated relative to …

Volatiles Characterization During Whiskey Production Using Headspace - Solid Phase Microextraction - Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry, Robert H. Magnuson

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses - Archive

Whiskey is the second most consumed distilled alcoholic beverage type, by brand, on the planet behind Chinese Baijiu. A prominent component in many varieties of whiskey, maize, contributes a wide profile of compounds that undergo modification in the production pathway, ultimately influencing the final flavor profile. In this study, headspace/solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS/SPME-GC/MS) was used to characterize the volatile profile of 5 different maize varieties, mashes produced from each, and 4 post-fermentation mixtures. Headspace sampling was performed using a high capacity SPME Arrow device, in an effort maximize the species detected. Compound identification was supplied by matches within …

Wretches, Rogues, And Rebels: Smugglers In English Print Culture 1660-1766, Jacob M. Jones

History Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation examines smugglers as they appeared in English print culture from their first appearance as "smuckellors" in a 1661 Royal Proclamation to 1766 when Parliament repealed the Revenue Act of 1764 amid protests over the government's crackdown on the vital molasses smuggling trade. Since the nineteenth century, historians have focused on community acceptance of smuggling, arguing that most Britons did not believe smuggling was criminal. However, this dissertation reveals a strong counter-narrative that has not been fully explored. From the nineteenth century onward, smugglers were romanticized and depicted as "honest thieves" and integral parts of coastal British communities. In …

Temperature Changes During Implant Osteotomy Preparations In Human Cadaver Tibiae Comparing Mis® Straight Drills With Densah® Burs, Andrew C Griggs, Crystal M Fausett, Richard J Simonson, Kimberly N Williams, Tiffany M Bisbey, Elizabeth H Lazzara, Joseph R Keebler, Deborah Diazgranados, Vimal K Mishra, Eric J Thomas, Eduardo Salas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Telerounding is slated to become an important avenue for future healthcare practice. As utilization of telerounding is increasing, a review of the literature is necessary to distill themes and identify critical considerations for the implementation of telerounding. We provide evidence of the utility of telerounding and considerations to support its implementation in future healthcare practice based on a scoping review.

METHOD: We collected articles from nine scientific databases from the earliest dated available articles to August 2020. We identified whether each article centered on telerounding policies, regulations, or practice. We also organized information from each article and sorted themes …

Spatial Proximity Matters: A Study On Collaboration, Arianna Salazar Miranda, Matthew Claudel

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

As scientific research becomes increasingly cross-disciplinary, many universities seek to support collaborative activity through new buildings and institutions. This study examines the impacts of spatial proximity on collaboration at MIT from 2005 to 2015. By exploiting a shift in the location of researchers due to building renovations, we evaluate how discrete changes in physical proximity affect the likelihood that researchers co-author. The findings suggest that moving researchers into the same building increases their propensity to collaborate, with the effect plateauing five years after the move. The effects are large when compared to the average rate of collaboration among pairs of …

Development Of Tissue Engineered Scaffolds For Cardiovascular Repair And Replacement In Pediatric Patients, Dipasha Sinha

All Dissertations

Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD) are abnormalities present in the heart and great vessels at birth. It is one of the most frequently diagnosed congenital disorders, affecting approximately 40,000 live birth each year in the United States. The incidence of new CHD patients and the relative distribution of defects have not changed over time and remain a birth rate function. Out of the new patients found to have CHD each year, an estimated 2,500 patients have a defect that requires a substitute, non-native valve, or conduit artery to replace structures that are congenitally absent or hypoplastic. Materials in current use for …

Deep Learning Based Speech Enhancement And Its Application To Speech Recognition, Ju Lin

All Dissertations

Speech enhancement is the task that aims to improve the quality and the intelligibility of a speech signal that is degraded by ambient noise and room reverberation. Speech enhancement algorithms are used extensively in many audio- and communication systems, including mobile handsets, speech recognition, speaker verification systems and hearing aids. Recently, deep learning has achieved great success in many applications, such as computer vision, nature language processing and speech recognition. Speech enhancement methods have been introduced that use deep-learning techniques, as these techniques are capable of learning complex hierarchical functions using large-scale training data. This dissertation investigates the deep learning …

Cultivation 2.0: The Mediated Environment As Message In The 21st Century, Chelsea Slack

All Dissertations

It is hard to deny social media and its omnipresence is affecting users. What’s more, the online mediated environment is becoming increasingly diverse, with more social media platforms being created and used each year. What is social media doing to us? How do different platforms affect views of users? To answer these questions, this study applied cultivation theory to the mediated environment, which included the social media platforms of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok. With 413 respondents, the results of this study indicated that Facebook consumption is related to first order cultivation effects, and non-Facebook platforms contribute to …

Novel Peptide Biomaterials For Enhanced Delivery Of Sirna Cargo For Treatment Of Ovarian Cancer, Timothy Samec

All Dissertations

Ovarian cancer is the 7^th leading cause of cancer related death and the 5^th most commonly diagnosed cancer among women. Primarily diagnosed in stage III or stage IV, aggressive treatment is necessary and involves surgical debulking and administration of systemic chemotherapeutics. Unfortunately, these strategies fall short in effectively treating ovarian cancer and many patients experience local disease recurrence, development of multidrug resistant tumors, regional or distant metastatic events, or a combination of the three. As such, there is a significant need for additional treatment options and methods of delivery to improve therapeutic efficacy and disease survivability.

RNA interference …

The Problematic Myth Of Student Affairs Attrition: A Regression Analysis, Myles Surrett

All Dissertations

In this study, I investigated a commonly held belief in the field of higher education student affairs. Scholars have claimed 50% of student affairs professionals leave the field within five years (Artale, 2019; Davis & Cooper, 2017; Dinise-Halter, 2017; Frank, 2013; Renn & Hodges, 2007; Silver & Jakeman, 2014). Many scholars situated this issue as a problem for which they have offered possible solutions (Artale, 2020; Berwick, 1992; Buchanan & Schupp; 2016; Dinise-Halter, 2017; Frank, 2013; Jo, 2008; Lawling et al., 1982; Lorden, 1998; Marshall et al., 2016; Mullen et al., 2018; Renn & Jessup-Anger, 2008; Rosser & Javinar, 2003; …