bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences & Perceptions
Authors:   , McManus Melissa Joann , Bureau W. Edward
Published: July 2021

California community colleges are facing an impending leadership crisis due to a lack of formal preparations related to leadership training practices, proper budgetary resources, and misconceptions associated with administration, which could prevent the preparation of individual advancement into academic leadership roles. Currently, formal succession training and leadership development practices within California community colleges are sparse at best. This phenomenological research study investigated the experiences of seven California community college deans to understand their perceptions of the process involved in advancing from a faculty position into the academic deanship role. The perceptions and experiences, gathered from in-depth interviews, observations, and artifacts analysis, related to how the participants experienced the transition, what they did individually to make the transition, and how they perceived what the institution did to assist them in the transition. The anticipated benefit of this study is to uncover ways to inform future leadership decisions for community college administration. By recounting their personal stories, the participants established that individuals are the driving force behind their career advancements, that training and preparations for leadership are informal, that mentoring plays a significant part in the transitions of faculty to dean, and that the transition itself presents a variety of challenges. The results of the study, based on the findings included: leadership expectations do not correspond to leadership training opportunities, succession training and leadership development is informal, mentoring is significant, and individual impetus is overarching. The research conclusions were: transitioning from a faculty member to a deanship can be challenging; mentoring is a positive and welcomed experience; the desires to pursue the role of dean are driven by the individual and not the institution; preparing for the dean role can be achieved through multiple avenues; and training for leadership roles is largely, if not entirely, informal and initiated by the faculty member. Finally, recommendations for community college leaders and future research are also discussed.
Adaptive Projection Displays
Authors:   , Dundas Jenna , Wagner Michael G.
Published: July 2021

Interactive digital public displays that track viewer's position are currently inaccessible to the average consumer. Many tracking systems available on the market are prohibitively expensive and are out of scope for small business owners to purchase. This research tests various consumer level tracking technologies to ascertain whether a system can be developed in a low cost and accessible manner. Microsoft's Kinect in tandem with Unity3D offers a system that is straightforward to use and allows for ease of implementation. The resulting technique can be quickly carried out to create an interactive digital public display.
Japanese Cultural Gestures in Animation analysis of how social status and Japanese seniority system are illustrated in Japanese animation
Authors:   , Liang Du , Berton John Andrew
Published: July 2021

Through the analysis of Japanese animation, the research question of this project is: How are seniority systems represented in Japanese animation? Examples will be documented of how Japanese animation artists successfully incorporate Japanese seniority systems into their animation in order to add depth and life to their story. The purpose of this research is to provide people interested in animation examples to help them understand the use of cinematographic language in animation. Through the research of the seniority systemS in Japanese animation. This research will also help the audience understand the seniority system culture in Japanese society. The first part of my research looks at the development and history of Japanese animation and provides analysis of the cultural elements inherent in Japanese animation. This part analyzes existing animation examples and identifies examples of the seniority system expressed in the animation. The second part provides a detailed plan to design three dimensional scenes that recreate the two dimensional animations in order to analyze the animation techniques in the three dimensions. After recreating the scene in three dimensions, the three dimension scene reconstruction is used as a demo to showcase how the various animators expressed the social status of different characters.
Functionalized Electrospun Chitosan for Water Filtration
Authors:   , Toth Amanda Catherine , Schauer Caroline L.
Published: July 2021

Heavy metal ions in water sources pose a range of potential health risks. The ingestion of heavy metal ions can induce a wide variety of symptoms, from those similar to food poisoning at low concentrations, to death at higher concentrations. Therefore novel filtration systems for heavy metal ion removal are needed. For these reasons, electrospinning has been applied to a chitosan polymeric system to produce non-woven fibrous mats. Chitosan, the N-deacetylated derivative of chitin, is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, biodegradable, and anti-bacterial. Modified chitosan chemistries have been under investigation as a means of creating designed nanofibrous mats for multiple applications. However, an entirely new set of electrospinning parameters must be developed for each novel chemistry due to differences in solubility and viscosity. Therefore, a novel two-phase postprocessing technique has been developed to chemically functionalize the mats with carboxymethyl-, cyano-, and pyridine-groups without having to alter the electrospinning parameters. The observed fiber diameters were 131 74 nm, 85 29 nm, and 81 45 for the carboxymethyl-, cyano-, and pyridine-modified chitosan, respectively. The addition of these groups should increase its affinity for heavy metal ions, allowing the post-processed nanofibrous mats to act as a filtration membrane to easily remove heavy metal ions from water. To evaluate this hypothesis, gravity filtration experiments were conducted on as spun and functionalized mats in order to evaluate the ability to remove Cu²⁺ ions from water solutions. Filtration results showed that only the cyano-functionalized chitosan removed enough Cu²⁺ ions to be below the United States Environmental Protection Agency's maximum contaminant level goal of 1.3 ppm.
Quantum and affine Schubert calculus and Macdonald polynomials
Authors:   , Dalal Avinash J. , Morse Jennifer
Published: July 2021

This thesis is on the theory of symmetric functions and quantum and affine Schubert calculus. Namely, it establishes that the theory of symmetric Macdonald polynomials aligns with quantum and affine Schubert calculus using a discovery that distinguished weak chains can be identified by chains in the strong (Bruhat) order poset on the type-A affine Weyl group. Through this discovery, there is a construction of two one-parameter families of functions that respectively transition positively with Hall-Littlewood polynomials and Macdonald's P-functions. Furthermore, these functions specialize to the representatives for Schubert classes of homology and cohomology of the affine Grassmannian. This shows that the theory of symmetric Macdonald polynomials connects with affine Schubert calculus. There is a generalization of the discovery of the strong order chains. This generalization connects the theory of Macdonald polynomials to quantum Schubert calculus. In particular, the approach leads to conjecture that all elements in a defining set of 3-point genus 0 Gromov-Witten invariants for flag manifolds can be formulated as strong covers.
The role of biologics in the treatment of ulcerative colitis
Authors:   , Klink Andrew James , Lee Brian K.
Published: July 2021

Background: Of the many options for the management of pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC), infliximab is promising in reducing the need for colectomy, but lacks sufficient evidence in the pediatric inpatient setting. We aimed to develop and implement a disease risk score (DRS) to estimate the association between infliximab and colectomy among children hospitalized with UC. Methods: A DRS, which represents the probability of outcome given baseline covariates, was used to control for confounding by indication. Multivariate logistic regression was used to incorporate the DRS and adjust for additional indicators of worsening clinical course to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of colectomy across treatment groups. Results: Over the 10-year study period, length of stay decreased by 1.5 days, colectomy rate decreased by 3.9%, while infliximab use increased by 1.5% and was started earlier by 1.8 days. In stratified analyses adjusting for baseline risk of colectomy as well as indicators of worsening clinical course during admission, the OR of colectomy was 0.48 (95% CI: 0.29-0.79) in the highest risk octile comparing those treated with infliximab to those not treated with infliximab. Conclusion: Variation in the management for severe UC appears to be decreasing, a trend led largely by high caseload hospitals. In a nationally representative cohort from real clinical practice at 42 large pediatric hospitals, high-risk pediatric UC patients had reduced odds of colectomy from the use of infliximab during their admission.
Mental illness as a mediator of competent behavior in persons with mental retardation
Authors:   , Peacock Michelle Ann , Nezu Christine M.
Published: July 2021

Competency to stand trial is adjudicated significantly more often than other competency doctrines (Melton, Petrila, Poythress, & Slobogin, 1997) and is imperative in ensuring a defendant's right to due process and a fair trial (Ellis & Luckasson, 1985). Individuals with mental retardation are increasingly involved in the criminal justice system (Everington & Keyes, 1999) and there is evidence to indicate that a disproportionate number of this population are represented in the prison system (Conley, Luckasson, & Bouthilet, 1992). A large percentage of persons with mental retardation also suffer from concomitant mental disorders (Nezu, Nezu, & Gill-Weiss, 1992), which can exacerbate deficits associated with mental retardation further compromising competence-related abilities (Appelbaum & Appelbaum, 1994). Therefore, this legal doctrine is especially relevant for defendants with mental retardation and co-occurring mental illnesses, as previous research has demonstrated that deficits in intellectual functioning and adaptive skills (e.g., poor problem-solving skills, impaired memory, deficits in communication skills) may negatively impact on competence-related abilities. This study extended the research on persons with mental retardation by investigating mental illness as a mediator in the relationship between intellectual functioning and competence-related abilities. Sixty-eight adult males with mild mental retardation participated in this study. In addition to records review and information obtained through a collateral informant, each participant was administered several inventories designed to measure IQ, adaptive functioning, the presence of mental illness, and skills associated with competency to stand trial. Although mental illness was not significantly related to competence-related abilities, IQ, particularly Vocabulary, was highly related to competence-related abilities. The hypothesis that mental illness mediates the relationship between IQ and competence-related abilities was not supported. Limitations to the study include a small sample size, estimations of full-scale IQ and scores on a defendant's ability to understand personal case events. Future research should continue to examine the impact of specific cognitive deficits on specific competence-related abilities. Understanding the obstacles that prevent a defendant from attaining competency to stand trial is imperative to their habilitation and treatment aimed at restoring them to competency.
Helping the homeless
Authors:   , Bolton Cathy J. H. , Herbert James D.
Published: July 2021

The objective of this research was to determine the clinical effectiveness of the Supportive Housing Project of Philadelphia. This project targeted homeless individuals with diagnoses of severe mental illnesses. Three community behavioral health centers provided clinical supports for 122 clients across a five-year time frame (1997 - 2001). This research sought to address two questions. First, did participants show progress toward achieving program outcome goals? Second, could systematic predictors of improvement (or lack of improvement) be identified? The design of the program evaluation was that of time-series reflexive controls. This is analogous to a repeated measure design using hierarchical random regression. Assessments were completed by case managers each month and by trained evaluators each quarter. The assessment points for each client were fitted to a curve, and the growth trajectories were examined to determine program success as measured by the individuals' rates of change (or slopes). Specifically three definitions of success were defined for interpretation of the slopes (rates of change). It was found that this program as implemented was successful in helping the homeless. Using the most stringent definition of success, the following results were found. Housing Stability was achieved for 84% of the clients. Management of psychiatric symptoms was achieved for 80% of the clients. Attainment of adult living skills was achieved for 73% of the clients. Socialization goals were met for 72% of the clients. Quality of life goals were met for 54% of the clients. Predictors of individual differences in growth trajectories were examined to determine their potential impact on the rate of change. Predictors included: demographic variables, baseline measure and length of stay, complexity and severity of illnesses, customer satisfaction, and compliance with treatment. The baseline measure (as represented by the intercept) was predictive of the growth rate across all measures. Substance abuse history was a significant correlate of housing instability. Modest correlations were found for other predictors. Recommendations are offered to improve the success of supportive housing programs, and for further research in this area.
Between a rock and a hard place
Authors:   , Abrahamson Jeff , Shokoufandeh Ali
Published: July 2021

We present a polynomial-time algorithm for a special case of the Euclidean traveling salesman problem in which a robot must visit all the vertices of two non-intersecting polygons without crossing any polygon edge. If both polygons are convex, one enclosing the other, our algorithm can find the optimal tour of the channel between them in time O(m^3+m^2n) and O(nm+m^2) space, where the exterior polygon has n vertices and the interior m vertices. In the more general case of non-convex polygons (not necessarily nested), the algorithm finds the exact optimum tour in O(n^2m + m^3) time and O(n^2+m^2) space. At the end we give several examples in the context of robot navigation.
Synthesis and characterization of the properties of Ti₃SiC₂/SiC and Ti₃SiC₂/TiC composites
Authors:   , Ho-Duc Linh H. , Barsoum Michel W. , El-Raghy Tamer S.
Published: July 2021

In 1996, the ternary compound titanium silicon carbide (Ti₃SiC₂) was for the first timesynthesized as a single-phase, fully dense compound. Its characterization revealed aunique combination of properties. For its high fracture toughness, low hardness toelastic modulus ratio and excellent damage tolerance, it was dubbed a soft ceramic. Italso displayed good thermal shock and oxidation resistance. In this work, thereinforcement of this material with silicon carbide and titanium carbide particles wasexplored with the intention of improving mechanical and oxidation properties. Thecomposites were synthesized by HIPing of starting powders, following the sameprocessing as for pure Ti₃SiC₂. It was found that the particles affected the microstructureof the Ti₃SiC₂ matrix, reducing the grain size of a material that otherwise would havebeen coarse-grained. Mechanical properties of the composites were investigated throughfour-point bend tests and Vickers indentations. The flexural strength of the compositeswas lower than expected from the grain size of the matrix and was explained by athermal expansion coefficient mismatch. Fracture toughness of the composites was alsolower than for Ti₃SiC₂. However, the hardness and damage tolerance were improved. Oxidation experiments were conducted in air at temperatures ranging between 875°Cand 1220°C. The oxidation behavior of the Ti₃SiC₂/SiC composite was found to besubparabolic at 925°C, but from 1010°C to 1220°C, it was parabolic with a transition tolinear behavior. The oxidation of the Ti₃SiC₂/TiC composite was parabolic at 875°C, andfrom 975°C to 1220°C, showed the same behavior as the other composite. The growth ofthe oxide scale of the composites was fitted with a multiple-law model. It wasdetermined that the oxidation of the composites occurred by diffusion of oxygen inwardand titanium outward. The parabolic component of the oxide scale growth was found tocorrespond to the diffusion of oxygen inward, as in pure Ti₃SiC₂. The correspondingparabolic constants were found to be lower for Ti₃SiC₂/SiC and higher for Ti₃SiC₂/TiC,compared to the pure material.
Image-guided modeling, fabrication and micromechanical analysis of bone and heterogeneous structure
Authors:   , Fang Zhibin , Sun Wei
Published: July 2021

This research has developed a novel image-based modeling approach and a direct fabrication technique for design and manufacturing of multi-scale, custom designed bone scaffolds and replacements. The developed modeling approaches take into consideration the morphological randomness of trabecular bone and its effect on macroscopic mechanical behavior. The study has also developed a homogenization computational algorithm for characterization of heterogeneous tissue scaffolds and composite structures. The new modeling approach and the direct fabrication method will facilitate new therapeutic development in tissue engineering. Specifically, three statistical voxel models were developed in this study. By incorporating a random-descriptor, i.e., two-point correlation function, an image-guided close-cell voxel model was developed first and applied to model a high-density ewe vertebral trabecular bone structure. The second model is a statistical open-cell voxel model applied for representing low density human vertebral trabecular bone by introducing a randomness index to consider the randomness of the trabecular architecture. The third model is a multi-scale voxel model for representing both micro-architecture and macro-anatomy of vertebral bone structure. This multiscale modeling approach can be applied to design, model and fabricate new generation of tissue scaffolds and replacements, particularly for scaffolds with patient-specific customized anatomy. Integrating with the voxel model, a direct fabrication process based on the ink-jet freeform fabrication technology was developed. Since the voxel model is a natural sliced mode, the model can be directly used to generate the machine toolpathes without being sliced. Using the ink-jet printing technique, each voxel located on the two dimensional layer of the voxel model will all be processed according to their voxel or droplet status. Three dimensional object can then be built layer-by-layer. This study also developed a computer aided characterization approach to evaluate the effective mechanical properties of the heterogeneous structures, The process of computer-aided characterization and its interface with design model, the development of computational algorithm for finite element implementation and the numerical solution of asymptotic homogenization theory were presented. Applications of the algorithm to characterize the effective mechanical properties of porous tissue scaffold and the electric magnetic comosite conductors were presented. Good agreements between the model predictions and the available analytical and experimental data were achieved.
The effects of DTBP on the oxidation of SI primary reference fuels
Authors:   , Gong Xiaohui , Cernansky Nicholas Peter , Miller David Leslie
Published: July 2021

A promising new engine operating mode, Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI), does not use traditional Spark Ignition (SI) or Compression Ignition (CI) -combustion control systems. Instead it relies completely on the inherent preignition chemistry of the cylinder charge to control combustion phasing and ignition timing. The subsequent HCCI combustion process determines the rate of heat release, the reaction intermediates and the ultimate products of combustion. Therefore, understanding the ignition and oxidation chemistry of potential HCCI fuels is particularly important. One option for ignition control of HCCI engines is to use small amounts of ignition-enhancing additives to alter the ignition properties. Di-tertiary Butyl Peroxide (DTBP) is one such additive and it has demonstrated its capacity to improve ignition of fuels in diesel engines. In this study, the oxidation of SI primary reference fuels (PRFs) and their blends, and the effects of the additive DTBP on their ignition and oxidation behavior were investigated experimentally in both an engine operating in the HCCI mode and a Pressurized Flow Reactor (PFR). The effect of DTBP on iso-octane in the PFR shows evidence of reactivity promotion by a chemical effect rather than just a thermal effect. Experimental results in the engine show an ignition delay time reduction of at least 3 CAD for all tested fuels; COVIMEP improvement to <10% (a 37.5% reduction) for PRF92 at inlet temperature of 450 K and equivalence ratio of 0.49; and extension of stable HCCI operations for relatively high RON fuels to a broader equivalence ratio range and to lower inlet temperatures. In parallel to these experimental studies, an initial modeling effort was undertaken to modify and reformulate a skeletal chemical kinetic model for the SI PRFs and their blends. The model was developed as an extension of our previous preignition model by modifying several reactions to incorporate recent advances in our understanding of the relevant chemistry. The model was also reformulated to be compatible with the standard CHEMKIN simulation package. In general, the updated skeletal model successfully predicted the reactivity behavior of the fuels tested over the 600-800 K experimental range of this study.
Thermally and acoustically driven transport in supercritical fluids
Authors:   , Hasan Nusair Mohammed Ibn , Farouk Bakhtier
Published: July 2021

Supercritical fluids are fluids at temperature and pressure above their respective critical values. Such fluids are increasingly being used in power generation, refrigeration and chemical process industry. The objectives of the current research were to develop a fundamental understanding of the transport phenomena in near-critical supercritical fluids via high-resolution numerical simulations and careful experiments for improved design of industrial processes and applications that employ supercritical fluids. A set of synergistic experimental and numerical studies were proposed in this research. Four main focus areas under the broad spectrum of supercritical fluid transport were chosen - (a) characterization of thermoacoustic transport, (b) interaction of thermoacoustic transport with natural convection, (c) characterization of acoustically augmented transport and (d) enhancement of mass transport using acoustic waves. A numerical model to simulate thermoacoustic convection in near-critical fluids was developed. In the computational model, the conservation equations were solved along with a real-fluid equation of state for supercritical fluid and variable thermo-physical properties. Thermoacoustic waves in near-critical carbon dioxide were also investigated experimentally on acoustic time scales using a fast response measurement system. The predicted results from the calculation and the measurements provide interesting details regarding the thermal transport mechanisms at near-critical states. The numerical model was applied to investigate the interaction of buoyancy driven flows with thermoacoustic convection in near-critical supercritical fluids. This model can be extensively used for studying the steady-state thermal transport and stability behavior of near-critical fluids. Mechanically driven acoustic waves in supercritical fluid generated by a vibrating wall in a cylindrical resonator were studied both numerically and experimentally. The simulations revealed interesting steady-periodic flow patterns in the resonator filled with near-critical fluid due to the fluctuations caused by the vibrating wall. High-fidelity computational fluid dynamics models of mass transport processes in supercritical fluid extraction systems were also developed. A novel application of acoustically driven transport in supercritical fluid was demonstrated numerically for the supercritical fluid extraction process. The numerical predictions indicated major improvements in the extraction yield due to the application of acoustic waves and can be utilized in the design and optimization of supercritical fluid extraction systems.
Deconstructing the universal woman
Authors:   , Kendall Catherine A. , Bureau W. Edward
Published: July 2021

In 1985 former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop declared domestic violence (DV) a public health problem. Understood as a cycle of violence, DV is a learned behavior that future generations are destined to repeat in the absence of effective intervention and prevention. While DV programs are available for all victims, most programs approach DV as a gender-based problem and offer services assuming that all women experience DV similarly. However, research shows that women of different races and ethnicities experience DV differently due to the multilayered cultural contexts within which these women live. As a result, DV programs that treat the "universal woman" may unintentionally rebuff non-White and/or non-U.S. natives. In an effort to increase awareness and eliminate any perceived access barriers, a phenomenological method will be used within a social-ecological framework to understand the unique experiences of Russian, African American, and Hispanic DV victims living in Sacramento County. By using the social-ecological framework, as driven by the concept of intersectionality, the study may demonstrate that domestic violence agencies need to address the unique experiences and interpretations of DV victimization within these communities, A total of 11 out of 16 candidates were interviewed: three Russian, five African American, and three Hispanic women. The common themes that emerged were surrender, concealment, learned helplessness, escalation, and resilience and reconnection. It was determined that while the participants have had similar experiences with domestic violence, how they interpreted and reacted to the experiences varied according to their childhood and adult social ecologies. It was also determined that policies, laws, and initiatives to eliminate domestic violence in the macrosystem were ineffective in communities with contradictory exosystems. The need for cultural competence in domestic violence agencies is less of a requirement than the need to provide treatment that addresses victims' entire social ecologies, which will vary by individual, regardless of race and/or ethnicity. The recommendations to address women's social ecologies, and specifically the communities in which these women live, were the implementation of community ambassador, public school, and church programs; long-term advocacy; and comprehensive treatment that includes addressing the victim's exosystem.
The role of interstitial fluid flow on breast cancer progression
Authors:   , Tchafa Alimatou Mbanya , Shieh Adrian C.
Published: July 2021

The majority of deaths associated with breast cancer result from the ability of the cancer cells to invade the surrounding environment and spread to distant sites. The tumor microenvironment includes a variety of biophysical forces whose effects are known to influence cancer invasion and progression. Interstitial fluid flow (IFF) is one such force that is present in normal breast tissue and elevated in tumors. The focus of this dissertation was to study the effects of IFF coupled with overexpression of the proto-oncogene HER2 on breast cancer progression. The combined roles IFF and HER2 play on invasion had never been studied, especially in the context of how they may together influence the transition from ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Using 3-dimensional cell culture-based assays, we demonstrated that IFF activates molecular mechanisms that are HER2-independent and leads to invasion of different stages of tumor development through the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K). This phenomenon was observed both in single cells and in breast cancer-like acini structures. We identified that in normal cells, IFF-induced PI3K activation was modulated by EGFR, a growth factor whose signaling is tightly controlled in normal tissue. In invasive cancer cells, IFF-induced PI3K activation was modulated by the metastasis-associated chemokine receptor CXCR4. Furthermore, we observed that IFF-induced CXCR4 signaling only occurred in cells that have undergone EMT. Finally, using an approach to isolate IFF responsive cells, we observed that HER2 positive epithelial cells that invaded in response to IFF developed mesenchymal-like characteristics and displayed a lower sensitivity to HER2 drug treatment. Taken together, our findings suggest for the first time the role IFF plays on cellular transformation and drug resistance. In addition, they reveal IFF as a major contributor to breast cancer progression and highlight its implications on breast cancer therapy.
A conceptual model of online information behavior in the chronic disease trajectory
Authors:   , Zarro Michael , Lin Xia
Published: July 2021

Online resources have become an important source of health information for many people managing a chronic disease over a long period of time. The rapid growth of the Web makes readily available information from health organizations and peer-produced content from other patients. The primary objective of this study is to investigate and model changing online information behaviors, as the patient searches and learns over time, in the chronic disease trajectory. Thirty participants with Type I or Type II diabetes were recruited for the study. Data was collected in semi-structured interview sessions where participants reported events or incidents in the past that led them to look online for diabetes related information. A model of online information behavior in the chronic disease trajectory, as the patient gains ability over time, was developed inductively from the data. Emerging information behaviors have a considerable influence on our participants' self-management practices. Our model characterizes online health information behaviors in three stages. First, a Diagnosis with the Disease, stage where participants use online health resources to help understand the disease and adjust to its impact. Second, a Forming of Ability stage, where participants start to feel empowered and begin developing information behaviors that support their unique experiences. In the final stage, Established Ability, participants primarily seek to access personally relevant information and stay up to date with news related to their condition. The theme of emerging abilities arose from our analysis and led to the development of our model. Long-term online information behaviors are described in three successive stages, where the searcher attempts to achieve a measure of ability and expertise in an unfamiliar yet critically important domain. The emergence of advanced online information behaviors, from a state of low ability near the time of diagnosis, towards one of high ability after substantial experience using online resources, are explored.
openHTML
Authors:   , Park Thomas H. , Forte Andrea
Published: July 2021

In this dissertation, I argue that society increasingly recognizes the value of widespread computational literacy and that one of the most common ways that people are exposed to creative computing today is through web development. Prior research has investigated how beginners learn a wide range of programming languages in a variety of domains, from computer science majors taking introductory programming courses to end-user developers maintaining spreadsheets. Yet, surprisingly little is known about the experiences people have learning web development. What barriers do beginners face when authoring their first web pages? What mistakes do they commonly make when writing HTML and CSS? What are the computational skills and concepts with which they engage? How can tools and practices be designed to support these activities? Through a series of studies, interleaved with the iterative design of an experimental web editor for novices called openHTML, this dissertation aims to fill this gap in the literature and address these questions. In drawing connections between my findings and the existing computing education literature, my goal is to attain a deeper understanding of the skills and concepts at play when beginners learn web development, and to broaden notions about how people can develop computational literacy. This dissertation makes the following contributions: * An account of the barriers students face in an introductory web development course, contextualizing difficulties with learning to read and write code within the broad activity of web development. * The implementation of a web editor called openHTML, which has been designed to support learners by mitigating non-coding aspects of web development so that they can attend to learning HTML and CSS. * A detailed taxonomy of errors people make when writing HTML and CSS to construct simple web pages, derived from an intention-based analysis. * A fine-grained analysis of HTML and CSS syntax errors students make in the initial weeks of a web development course, how they resolve them, and the role validation plays in these outcomes. * Evidence for basic web development as a rich activity involving numerous skills and concepts that can support foundational computational literacy.
Coalescence and Particle Self-assembly of Inkjet-printed Colloidal Drops
Authors:   , Yang Xin , Sun Ying
Published: July 2021

Inkjet printing has received extensive interest as a low-cost and scalable additive manufacturing process for varieties of applications, such as printable electronics, photovoltaics, and microbatteries. The objective of the current research is to advance the fundamental understandings of the transport phenomena in the inkjet printing processes to improve the performance of the inkjet-printed structures and devices. To study the stability of the printed patterns, the recoil and oscillations of single and consecutively printed pure liquid drops with different surface tension and viscosity are studied on substrates with different wettabilities. For both single and combined drops, the oscillations decay faster on more wettable surfaces due to stronger viscous dissipation. When a drop impacts on a sessile drop on hydrophobic substrate, the combined drop recoils twice resulted from the coalescence of the two drops. Whereas no recoil for the single drop impact. A single-degree-of-freedom model is developed for drop oscillation period and duration. Moreover, the particle deposition dynamics in two coalescing drops is examined with different drop spacing and jetting frequencies. The circularity of the deposition decreases with the increasing drop spacing and decreasing jetting delay, and the radius of curvature at the second drop side firstly decreases and then increases with increasing drop spacing. The capillary flow induced by the local curvature variation in the coalescing drops redistributes particles inside a merged drop, causing suppression of the coffee-ring effect for the case of a high jetting frequency while resulting in a region of particle accumulation in the middle of the merged drop at a low jetting frequency. Once colloidal drops are printed on very hydrophilic surfaces, the nanoparticles deposited into various structures, such as concentric multi-rings, radial spokes, spider web, foam, and island-like depositions, as a result of the competition between the receding contact line and particle deposition during drop drying. Based on Marangoni instability, the functional relationship between the characteristic lengths of the deposition and drop drying conditions are established. Finally, using nanoporous templates, the Ag nanotube forests are fabricated. The effect of drying methods on the morphology of nanotube forests is examined.
An Arts-Based Study of the Dynamics of Expressing Positive Emotions within the Intersubjective Art Making Process
Authors:   , Chilton Gioia Connell , Gerber Nancy E.
Published: July 2021

This arts-based research study explored the dynamics of expressing positive emotions, within the intersubjective art making process. The study addressed a multifaceted problem involving a gap in knowledge about the process of emotional expression through art making, which is key to therapeutic action in art therapy. The design was arts-based research, as art making was the primary means of inquiry. The philosophy and methodology of arts-based research were employed to explore the emotional aspects of intersubjective experience. Following the traditions of arts based research, the meaning-making capacity of creating art was used to illuminate the process of artistic creation in response to the research questions. The research was conducted following approval by the Drexel University IRB. Five English-speaking adults who were professional art therapists were recruited as key informants. The method of data generation involved an initial two hour Art Interview, followed by reflexive memoing and responsive art-making by the researcher and a subsequent second Art Interview with co-researchers. Methodological credibility procedures consisted of member checking and peer review. The data analysis processes involved: 1) traditional use of qualitative data analysis practices, such as the use of MAXQDA-10 software for coding for themes and 2) arts-based research data analysis methods. The analysis of the interview data, artistic data, artistic responses and a creative synthesis addressed the research question in the form of visual art pieces, poetry, a video, three stories, four themes, and a theoretical model. Overall, the verbal and artistic analysis of the data resulted in thematic categories that represent the emergence of emotions within the intersubjective art therapy relationship. Based upon the findings, the emergence of emotions within the intersubjective context was conceptualized as an iterative process beginning with metaphors of life and nature, the development of trust, revelations of emotion, empathic responses, reflexivity and joint artmaking creating and causing destabilization, deconstruction, reconstruction, and reimagining of perceptions and meanings. An emerging, holistic view of emotions and the transformative capacity of artmaking in a context of relational trust were discussed. Clinical applications included consideration of the therapeutic use of response art and joint artmaking. The limitations of the study were also described, as was methodological criteria for arts-based research. Overall, this expanding discourse helped to identify ways art therapy works. The study achieved its aim by contributing knowledge to our understanding of how emotions emerge, are expressed, and assigned meaning within an art therapy relational context.
The Relational Effects of Mindfulness Training
Authors:   , Gillespie Bob , Flemke Kimberly , Davey Maureen P.
Published: July 2021

Using General Systems Theory (Bertalanffy, 1968) and Phenomenology (Husserl, 1913/1931), this qualitative phenomenological study examined the relational effects of mindfulness training when one partner completed an 8-week, hospital based Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR, Kabat-Zinn, 1990) within the last 6 months. In a sample of 12 couples, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with: a) recent MBSR graduates, b) their intimate partners, and c) both members of the couple together. The recent MBSR graduates were novel meditators who had limited previous mindfulness experience before taking the MBSR training and included 7 female and 6 male MBSR graduates. Ten heterosexual couples and 2 same sex couples participated in the study, and the average relationship length was 14.5 years. Over 95% of the participants were White, and 62.5% had graduate degrees. Before the interviews, all couples completed the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (Busby et al., 1995), which indicated that 6 out of 12 couples were relationally distressed. A modified version of the interpretative phenomenological analysis method (Smith et al., 2009) informed the data analysis. The following major themes emerged for the MBSR graduates: 1) awareness of emotional reactivity; 2) creating space and time; 3) making different choices; and 4) humility and moments of connection. Findings confirmed that self-awareness and emotional regulation are not only major outcomes of mindfulness training, but could also be pathways to relationship growth. The intensity and reactivity of intimate partner relationships can offer both opportunities and challenges for MBSR participants trying to integrate mindfulness into their daily lives. Although intimate partners observed improved emotional balance in the graduates, their descriptions of the benefits of MBSR training were diluted compared to the graduates' descriptions. The intimate partners revealed that behavioral shifts in the graduates were emerging, but were limited in scale-suggesting that individual outcomes of MBSR training do not automatically transfer to relationship outcomes. Developing more mindfulness-enhanced couple interventions that prioritize conjoint participation and emphasize relational outcomes may harness the potential relational benefits of mindfulness practice. Future research should focus on the potential differences between distressed and non-distressed couples and include more diverse samples of couples.
Experiences of Couples Having a Young Child with Cleft Lip and/or Palate, Comparing Prenatal and Postnatal Diagnosis Groups
Authors:   , Zeytinoğlu Senem , Davey Maureen P.
Published: July 2021

This study was designed to describe the experiences of both mothers and fathers who are currently caring for an infant (12 months old) or young child (up to 4 years old) who was born with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). The biopsychosocial approach, the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation, and transcendental phenomenology guided this study. A convenience sample consisted of 17 couples (10 prenatal and 7 postnatal) who previously volunteered for an ongoing longitudinal quantitative study at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia [PI: Dr. Canice E. Crerand, PhD (2008). Psychosocial adjustment in parents of infants with cleft lip and/or palate: The impact of prenatal versus postnatal diagnosis]. Couples completed a consent form, a demographic self-report survey, and the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale and then participated in in-depth interviews. The timing of the CLP diagnosis, the birth, and the initial stages after birth were reported as the most challenging periods for both prenatal and postnatal couples, unless their children still had ongoing developmental delays. The initial stages immediately following the birth were reported as more stressful for the postnatal diagnosis group because they had no time to prepare. Course of treatment, feeding, and social stigma were reported as major sources of stress for all 17 couples. Findings suggest that, regardless of the timing of the diagnosis, couples could benefit from (1) health professional's calm demeanor when first delivering the CL/P diagnosis, because it affects how parents perceive the CL/P, which later determines how they cope and problem solve; (2) an initial information session with both parents at the time of the diagnosis; (3) peer support from other couples to reduce their feelings of isolation; (4) help from health professionals to alleviate any self-blame, especially for the mothers; and (5) help for couples who are more distressed at diagnosis and especially during the first year after birth, such as regular screening and referrals for couple-based interventions to promote secure attachment and better coping. Finally, future research should include more racially and economically diverse samples of couples to develop culturally sensitive intervention programs.
International television formats in the Chinese market
Authors:   , Gao Yun , Tedesco Albert S.
Published: July 2021

Traditionally, China's TV industry doesn't consider reality-format TV shows to be an important genre. But, in 2010, an unscripted international format show-China's Got Talent debuted on Dragon TV and became one of the hottest shows in China. The popularity of China's Got Talent gave the Chinese television industry an opportunity to learn about international television formats. In 2012, Zhejiang TV broadcast The Voice of China as a summer season program; the show proved to be a hit. Insiders from China's TV industry began to realize the necessity of introducing formatted programs. During 2013, a large number of TV stations bought international TV formats from other countries. Those programs ranged from singing competitions and dance contests to game shows. However, not all of those shows gained high ratings. In October 2013, a government edict that relates to international TV formats was issued, stating that starting in 2014, nationwide satellite networks were only permitted to import one international format per year.
Nielsen acquiring Arbitron
Authors:   , Hai Ri , Tedesco Albert S. , Salas Philip W.
Published: July 2021

On Sep 30, 2013, Nielsen Holdings N. V. announced a deal that it had successfully acquired Arbitron Inc. In this case study, the author discussed some possible impacts the Nielsen and Arbitron merger would have on the participants and the entire media industry. Based on Nielsen and Arbitron's activities and new cross platform products, Nielsen and Arbitron's merger would not only affect television and radio measurement, but also the field of cross-platform measurement. The author analyzed this case by providing background information prior to this acquisition, such as the digital viewing trends, online measurement and multi-screen demographics. In order to analyze the results of this case, the author combined Nielsen's financial performance, new product information, an interview with a Nielsen employee and some comments from Nielsen clients. The results were presented in a "3C" structure; "Company", "Customer" and "Competition".
The effect of time-shift technology on late newscasts in the top four markets
Authors:   , Tu Richie Daniel , Tedesco Albert S.
Published: July 2021

The late local news is watched by millions of people across the country and generates significant revenue for local stations, but new technologies have changed the way people consume television. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of time-shift technology on the ratings of local stations in the top four markets. The researcher studied the quality of broadcast prime-time programming as well as the ratings of network prime-time and the late local news in the top four markets to determine how time-shift technology changed television consumption patterns. The data analyzed showed that despite constant television usage, the ratings of broadcast prime-time and its lead-out, the late local news, declined over the last 20 years while the quality of network prime-time was not to the standard of previous decades. Therefore, time-shift technology and quality appeared to change the viewing habits of the audience subsequently having a detrimental effect on the ratings for networks and stations.