bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Honey bee colonies change their foraging decisions after in-hive experiences with unsuitable pollen
Authors: Lajad Rocío , Arenas Andrés
Published: December 2023

Pollen is the protein resource for Apis mellifera and its selection affects colony development and productivity. Honey bee foragers mainly lose their capacity to digest pollen, so we expect that those pollen constituents that can only be evaluated after ingestion will not influence their initial foraging preferences at food sources. We predicted that pollen composition may be evaluated in a delayed manner within the nest, for example, through the effects that the pollen causes on the colony according to its suitability after being used by in-hive bees. To address whether pollen foraging is mediated by in-hive experiences, we conducted dual-choice experiments to test the avoidance of pollen adulterated with amygdalin, a deterrent that causes post-ingestion malaise. In addition, we recorded pollen selection in colonies foraging in the field after being supplied or not with amygdalin-adulterated pollen from one of the dominant flowering plants (Diplotaxis tenuifolia). Dual-choice experiments revealed that foragers did not avoid adulterated pollens at the foraging site; however, they avoided pollen that had been offered adulterated within the nest on the previous days. In field experiments, pollen samples from colonies supplied with amygdalin-adulterated pollen were more diverse than controls, suggesting that pollen foraging was biased towards novel sources. Our findings support the hypothesis that pollen assessment relies on in-hive experiences mediated by pollen that causes post-ingestive malaise.
Thermal constraints on exercise and metabolic performance do not explain the use of dormancy as an overwintering strategy in the cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus)
Authors: Rowsey Lauren E. , Reeve Connor , Savoy Tyler , Speers-Roesch Ben
Published: December 2023

Winter cold slows ectotherm physiology, potentially constraining activities and ecological opportunities at poleward latitudes. Yet, many fishes are winter-active, facilitated by thermal compensation that improves cold performance. Conversely, winter-dormant fishes (e.g. cunner, Tautogolabrus adspersus) become inactive and non-feeding overwinter. Why are certain fishes winter-dormant? We hypothesized that winter dormancy is an adaptive behavioural response arising in poleward species that tolerate severe, uncompensated constraints of cold on their physiological performance. We predicted that below their dormancy threshold of 7­–8°C, exercise and metabolic performance of cunner are greatly decreased, even after acclimation (i.e. shows above-normal, uncompensated thermal sensitivity, Q10>1–3). We measured multiple key performance metrics (e.g. C-start maximum velocity, chase swimming speed, aerobic scope) in cunner after acute exposure to 26–2°C (3°C intervals using 14°C-acclimated fish) or acclimation (5–8 weeks) to 14–2°C (3°C intervals bracketing the dormancy threshold). Performance declined with cooling, and the acute Q10 of all six performance rate metrics was significantly greater below the dormancy threshold temperature (Q10,acute8–2°C=1.5–4.9, mean=3.3) than above (Q10,acute14–8°C=1.1–1.9, mean=1.5), inferring a cold constraint. However, 2°C acclimation (temporally more relevant to seasonal cooling) improved performance, abolishing the acute constraint (Q10,acclimated8–2°C=1.4–3.0, mean=2.0; also cf. Q10,acclimated14–8°C=1.2–2.9, mean=1.7). Thus, dormant cunner show partial cold-compensation of exercise and metabolic performance, similar to winter-active species. However, responsiveness to C-start stimuli was greatly cold-constrained even following acclimation, suggesting dormancy involves sensory limitation. Thermal constraints on metabolic and exercise physiology are not significant drivers of winter dormancy in cunner. In fact, compensatory plasticity at frigid temperatures is retained even in a dormant fish.
Teachers' perspectives on the adoption of a Chatbot in the teaching and learning process
Authors: Dimitriadis George , Koskinas Konstantinos
Published: December 2023

Chatbots are programs that, with respect to the principles of Artificial Intelligence, have the ability to engage in a conversation either through the use of text messages or through oral speech and offer services such as assisting program users, guiding web visitors, customer service, product advertising, or even answering questions about a specific subject matter. Considering the usefulness and proven benefits of Chatbots in numerous areas of daily life, a careful study, regarding the utilization / adoption of Chatbots in the teaching/learning process, is necessary. The introduction of Chatbots in the field of education, attributing to them the role of a teacher assistant who, on the one hand, will be available 24/7 to the students, supporting the learning process and answering their questions and, on the other hand, improving the working conditions of teachers, offering them more free time and the opportunity to add more quality features to their teaching work, constitutes a great challenge. In that context, the results of a relative research are presented, where teachers in secondary education after having tested Chatbots at a pilot stage, express their opinions.
New records of introduced species in the Mediterranean Sea (November 2023)
Authors: LANGENECK JOACHIM , BAKIU RIGERS , CHALARI NIKOLETTA , CHATZIGEORGIOU GEORGIOS , CROCETTA FABIO , DOĞDU SERVET AHMET , DURMISHAJ SHERIF , GALIL S. BELLA , GARCÍA-CHARTON JOSÉ ANTONIO , GÜLŞAHIN ANIL , HOFFMAN RAZY , LEONE AGOSTINO , LEZZI MARCO , LOGRIECO ALESSIA , MANCINI EMANUELE , MINARECI ERSIN , PETOVIĆ SLAVICA , RICCI PASQUALE , ORENES-SALAZAR VICTOR , SPERONE EMILIO , SPINELLI ANDREA , STERN NIR , TAGAR AVIYAM , TANDUO VALENTINA , TAŞKIN ERGÜN , TIRALONGO FRANCESCO , TRAINITO EGIDIO , TURAN CEMAL , YAPICI SERCAN , ZAFEIRIDIS IASONAS , ZENETOS ARGYRO
Published: December 2023

This collective article presents new information about 15 introduced taxa belonging to five phyla: one Rhodophyta, one Chlorophyta, one Mollusca, one Annelida, two Arthropoda, and nine Chordata (one Ascidiacea and eight Osteichthyes). The records refer to eight Mediterranean countries and extend from the Alboran Sea to the Levantine Sea as follows: Spain: first record of the African hind Cephalopholis taeniops for the Alboran Sea, and a further record of the Monrovia surgeonfish Acanthurus monroviae, extending its distribution northwards in the Western Mediterranean. Italy: an additional record of the squat lobster Scyllarus subarctus based on its nisto stage, new records of the lionfish Pterois miles in the north-western Ionian Sea, first records of the bivalve Fulvia fragilis for the Italian Adriatic coast, and a record of the amphipod Ptilohyale littoralis in the northern Adriatic Sea, also representing the first report for the Mediterranean Sea. Montenegro: first record of the non indigenous ascidian Ciona robusta. Albania: first record of the red cornetfish Fistularia petimba. Greece: first record of the cryptogenic polychaete Alitta succinea in association with ship fouling, suggesting the possibility of a non-indigenous origin of Mediterranean populations of this species, and first record of the Seychelles dragonet Synchiropus sechellensis for the Saronikos Gulf. Türkiye: first record of the red alga Womersleyella setacea, report of an abundant population of the Indian twospot cardinalfish Cheilodipterus novemstriatus in the Turkish Aegean Sea, and first record of Synodus randalli, also corresponding to the first report for the Mediterranean Sea. Syria: first record of the blenny Istiblennius cf. meleagris. Israel: report of an algal bloom of the green alga Codium parvulum, and first record of Synchiropus sechellensis.
An Examination of Selected Texas Higher Education Institution Environmental Improvement Efforts from the Perspective of Sustainability Managers
Authors:   , Moran Scott Edward
Published: December 2023

The purpose of the present qualitative multiple case study was to identify and describe sustainability efforts and the perceptions of sustainability managers of selected higher education institutions (HEIs) in Texas. Through a Qualtrics survey and semi-structured interviews, sustainability managers shared their experiences regarding the implementation of sustainable initiatives on their campuses. The present study identified four broad themes including Organizational and Leadership Challenges and the Impact They Can Have on Sustainability, Facilities Challenges and Their Impact on Sustainability, Issues with Full Buy-In on the Part of Stakeholders, and Sustainability Personnel Knowledge and Experience. The results of the present study are considered, and recommendations are provided to help researchers identify challenges to implementing sustainability initiatives on HEI campuses.
A Meta-Analysis Examining Children's Comprehension in Electronic Reading Environments
Authors:   , Ganama Japari Zachary
Published: December 2023

Children of today are gaining exposure to electronic reading environments at earlier ages and in greater frequencies than prior generations, as evidenced by the ubiquity of modern technologies. Such technologies provide affordances beyond basic text by supporting the screen-based rendering of aural, visual, and gestural elements. This research investigates, by way of a fixed effects meta-analysis, the overall effect of electronic reading environments on the comprehension outcomes of children between the 4th and 8th grades. Findings yielded three published studies between 2016 and 2020. Results from a total population sample of 2,125 students across the United States, showed small but significant effects of reading technology on comprehension. The implications of these findings are discussed in light of their pedagogical applications and future research directions.
A Pedagogical Analysis of Zhao Zhang's "Pi Huang": Representing Peking Opera on the Piano
Authors:   , Chen Dongmin
Published: December 2023

In Chinese musical history, piano works have played an important role in modern times. The flourishing of the instrument and its music have in fact greatly developed Chinese modern music. Zhao Zhang's masterpiece Pi Huang, with its elements of Peking Opera, is one representative of the latest Chinese classic solo piano works. By coincidence, the introduction of the first Western keyboard instrument to China and the rise of Peking Opera came almost at the same time, during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Therefore, the incorporation of Peking Opera into Pi Huang is a reasonable and creative combination. This dissertation conducts a pedagogical analysis of Pi Huang, showing how it was influenced by elements of Peking Opera. The three main chapters discuss the background of Peking Opera, the biography of Zhao Zhang, and the musical background and performing issues of Pi Huang.
Antecedents to Reliance on Artificial Intelligence and Predictive Modeling
Authors:   , Randall II William Vincent
Published: December 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive modeling are tools used to diagnose a disease, determine how much a home is worth, estimate insurance risks, and detect fraud. AI and predictive modeling are so ubiquitous that they can be why one gets spam and why spam is automatically deleted. Information science integrates interdisciplinary elements of data-driven, behavioral, design, interpretive, and analytical research methodologies to design and understand interactions between digital media, information systems, and humans. This research focuses on the interaction between humans, AI, and predictive models. This research proposes a theoretical framework and a conceptual research model to understand the antecedents to reliance on AI and predictive modeling. The dissertation follows a traditional format that includes three studies. Study 1 employed a deductive quantitative research approach as a survey to model the relationship between trust in science and reliance on formal news sources. Study 2 employed a deductive quantitative research approach as a survey to understand the impact of framing questions and consider an alternative method of measuring society's reliance on science using predictive models. Study 3 employed a deductive quantitative research approach in the form of a survey to posit a new model based on the first two studies. This study benefited from a Toulouse Graduate School grant to fund research using the crowdsourcing platform https://lucidtheorem.com/ to generate a stratified sample of the U.S. population.
The Product is People: An Investigation of Missile Combat Crew Perceptions Surrounding Standardized Training Curriculum
Authors:   , Hanel Daniel James
Published: December 2023

Missile Combat Crew members are officers in the United States Air Force responsible for operating nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles. They undergo on-the-job training as part of the curriculum necessary to progress in their careers and achieve higher levels of job responsibility. The curriculum they use is created and maintained by 20th Air Force Test and Training Section. This product is known as the Missile Combat Crew Commander Upgrade program, and it has received criticisms from stakeholders who use it for being out of date and failing to capture the necessary topics for ensuring adequate on the job training is being conducted. This project seeks to examine these critiques, break down the curriculum produced by 20th AF into stages (creation, implementation, and feedback) for evaluation, uses principles of user-oriented design drawing on design anthropology to suggest alternative methods for curriculum creation, and utilizes the results of a diagnostic survey to provide data-driven recommendations to 20th AF for future rewrites of their product based on feedback from the crew members who use their product in the field.
How External Instructional Design Consultants Do Their Work: A Case Study
Authors:   , Moore Michelle D.
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to define and describe the work of external instructional design consultants. Study participants included seven instructional designers with varied educational backgrounds and work experience who work in a variety of contexts supporting clients in the design and delivery of learning experiences. All seven participants completed an initial survey with demographic and background questions. Five participants then took part in semi-structured interviews. Collected data was coded using both deductive and inductive methods with each case considered individually before combining the data for analysis across cases. Study findings support previous research suggesting that the work of instructional designers is dependent on context. Results further indicated that external instructional design consultants regularly engage in project management, communication and collaboration, and the analysis and evaluation components of the instructional design process, all in keeping with existing literature. External instructional designers differed in that they do more sales-related work, and, in the analysis process, focus more on client needs than learner characteristics. Study participants were invested in creating high quality, engaging learning experiences, while also willing to accommodate the unique challenges facing any given client. The study findings suggested that prospective employees' instructional design knowledge is of limited value during hiring interviews; instead, participants reported being more likely to hire former educators and subject-matter experts who can be trained to do instructional design work. Two broad themes emerged from the study's findings: 1) instructional designers can be organized into instructional designer and manager roles with corresponding responsibilities; and 2) the question of how best to prepare instructional designers is a question of what knowledge and skills are needed and where those skills should be developed. These themes formed the basis of five instructional design personas that resulted from this study, as well as a proposed program for preparing instructional design professionals.
Twisted Moire Photonic Crystals: Their Nano-Fabrications, Optical Properties, and Applications in Light Extraction
Authors:   , Alnasser Khadijah Saleh T.
Published: December 2023

In this dissertation, I report the results of my research on twisted moiré photonic crystals which can be formed through multi-beam holographic interference without a physical rotation and later fabricated by electron-beam lithography. Their optical properties, such as photonic bandgaps, multiple resonance modes, and quality factor are presented. Randomized moire photonic crystals in lattice are also studied. The applications of moire photonic crystals in improving light extraction efficiency are simulated and verified in light emitting devices. Furthermore, I simulated the light extraction efficiency in OLED when the Al layer is patterned with a triangular GPSC, square moiré PhC with defects in the uniform area, and random locations of the photonic lattice, and obtain light extraction efficiency of 78.9%, 79.9%, 81.7%, respectively. Also, the ratios of photoluminescence intensity of LED integrated with twisted moiré PhCs and random moiré PhCs over that without moiré PhCs are measured to be (1.3-1.9) and 1.74, respectively, in a good agreement with simulated ratios of 1.69 and 1.8.
Social Distancing and Social Barriers: The Impact of the Pandemic on Dallas Youth
Authors:   , Bejdaoui Nadia
Published: December 2023

As stay-at-home mandates were put in place to curtail the spread of COVID-19, the extent to which today's youth has been affected by such efforts has gone largely under examined. Through a collaborative qualitative study with Big Thought, a Dallas-based nonprofit geared towards empowering youth, we sought to answer how the social interactions and socioemotional wellbeing of their 2021 summer program participants were impacted, as well as how Big Thought was able to exhibit organizational resilience. Methods used for this study included digital and in-person ethnography, interviewing, and interactive media projects. Findings showcased noticeable adverse effects to the socioemotional wellbeing of youth (particularly among older cohorts), shifts in communication, gaps in learned practices of socialization, and coping through digital device use. Despite Big Thought's ability to display organization resilience, there is a clear need for additional concerted efforts to be practiced in reacclimating and guiding youth back into social environments and providing them with the resources and support to get there.
Antonio María Valencia's "Dúo en forma de sonata": An International Approach to Colombian National Music
Authors:   , Villamil Gómez Diego Esteban
Published: December 2023

Antonio María Valencia (1902-1952) was one of the leading Colombian composers, pianists, and educators of his generation. His Dúo en forma de sonata (1926) for violin and piano serves as an early example of the composer's aesthetic. According to the programmatic description he sent to his mother, the Dúo depicts Valencia's "indelible impressions" of his homeland. Through structural and harmonic analysis, I examine the piece in relation to the composer's informal programmatic description. The analysis argues that the work poetically re-creates the landscape of Valencia's birthplace region through an international language, devoid of Colombian folk rhythms and melodies. Valencia proposes a different perspective on Colombian music as an alternative to the use of folk-based music elements that were predominant to Colombian music during his lifetime.
Theoretical Studies of Photoactive Metal Complexes with Applications in C-H Functionalization and Quantum Computing
Authors:   , Alamo Velazquez Domllermut C.
Published: December 2023

Previous work was successful at delineating reaction pathways for the photoactivated synthesis of an amine, [CztBu(PyriPr)(NH2−PyriPr)], by double intramolecular C−H activation and functionalization via irradiating a metal(II) azido complex, [CztBu(PyriPr)2NiN3. The present work seeks to expand upon earlier research, and to substitute the metal with iron or cobalt, and to expand the study to photocatalyzed intermolecular C−H activation and functionalization of organic substrates. Density functional theory (DFT) – B3LYP/6-31+G(d') and APFD/Def2TZVP – and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) were used to propose a detailed pathway comprised of intermediates of low, intermediate, or high spin multiplicity and photo-generated excited states for the reaction of the azido complex, [CztBu(PyriPr)2MN3] to form the amine complex [CztBu(PyriPr)M(NH2−PyriPr)], M = Co, Ni or Fe, and the intermediates along the reaction pathway. For applications on quantum computing, the photophysical properties of photoactive d8 nickel(II) complexes are modeled. Such systems take advantage of a two-level system pathway between ground to excited state electronic transitions and could be useful for the discovery of successful candidates for a room temperature qubit, the analogue of a classical computational bit. A modified organometallic model, inspired by a nitrogen vacancy selective intersystem crossing model in diamond, was developed to take advantage of the formation of excited states. Tanabe-Sugano diagrams predict areas where these excited states may relax via phosphorescent emission. Under Zeeman splitting, these transitions create the conditions required for a two-level system needed to design a functional organometallic qubit.
Classical Gynecology: A History of Unrealistic Expectations Defined by Realistic Sexism
Authors:   , Trammell Dana
Published: December 2023

Ancient gynecology is a field with a large number of contradictions. Women were expected to have full awareness of their bodily functions but were not trusted as authoritative experts on the subject. In Rome, the majority of midwives were uneducated slave women, yet the expectations held for a proper midwife required formal education. The ability to give birth made women powerful in the eyes of the Greeks but was also used by Greek men (chiefly Athenians) as an excuse to oppress women. Studying ancient gynecology is a necessity for truly understanding the day-to-day lives of ancient women. In works such as the Odyssey or The Iliad, the women featured are typically upper-class nobles who are in unrealistic settings and have similar abilities, expectations, and lives. By reading through medical texts written by respected physicians such as Soranus and Hippocrates, scholars are provided an in-depth look at how ancient doctors truly saw the female body.
A Performance Guide to Gervais-François Couperin's Offertoires
Authors:   , Yu Yang Sun
Published: December 2023

This dissertation considers Gervais-François Couperin (1759-1826) and his offertories, providing a performance guide relevant to French organ literature of the beginning of the nineteenth century. To fulfill this purpose, the research is divided into five chapters and a conclusion. Chapter 1 is an introduction explaining the purpose of the research and significance of the research. Chapter 2 presents the Couperin Dynasty and their lineage at Saint-Gervais, as well as the evolution of the musical market in the middle of the eighteenth century in Paris, which influenced Gervais-François Couperin's Offertories. Chapter 3 to Chapter 6 present the performance guide to playing Gervais-François Couperin's offertories: Chapter 3 focuses on the significant development of the French organ building in the 1800s and the registration of Grand-Jeu. Chapter 4 deals with the addition of the pedal, and Chapter 5 focuses on embellishment using tremendo (tremolo) and arpegio (arpeggio). Lastly, Chapter 6 offers a guide for adding manual indications where the score did not include them or in places where ambiguities remained. Synthesizing these elements, a newly edited full score of Gervais-François Couperin's Offertory in G Minor is provided in Chapter 7 to exemplify this dissertation's conclusion.
The Impact of Reading Intervention on Student Achievement in Mathematics
Authors:   , Farnsworth Cara
Published: December 2023

With high stakes testing in public schools, pressure for success prompts schools to implement intervention programs for reading and mathematics, often at the expense of extra-curricular and elective activities. Previous literature indicated a correlation between reading comprehension and mathematical understanding. This study examined the specific intervention programs being utilized by two rural Texas school districts and the impact these programs had on student mathematic scores as measured by the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR). STAAR scores and student Response to Intervention (RtI) status were collected and identified over a five-year period for students Grades 3-7. Difference in scores for RtI and non-RtI and growth over time were examined using independent sample t-tests and one-way ANOVAs, respectively. Contrary to previous research, no significant impact was found on student math scores as a result of the reading enrichment programs utilized by the districts in the study. Results suggest current reading enrichment programs may not be the most effective for closing the achievement gap in mathematics and emphasized a need for further research to identify specific reading enrichment programs that could impact both reading and mathematics scores to increase both efficacy and efficiency of district intervention programs.
The World We Want to Leave Behind: White Supremacy in the Apocalyptic Genre's Past, Present, and Future
Authors:   , Gentry Jay Axline
Published: December 2023

This dissertation examines the rise of the racialized apocalyptic genre from 1978 to 2019. The period chosen reflects the social shift of the American political right into a party that accepts white supremacy as a tenet. In the post-Civil Rights era, white Americans considered the issue of racism to be solved. With the historic Voting Rights Act and other major victories in the 1960s there was a moment when it seemed America may turn a corner. However, when Richard Nixon took office in 1969, he originated what would be a long process of positioning the American right against intellectualism, minorities, and progress. Nixon, and the development of the new southern strategy would reach decades into the future, utilizing coded language and pitting Americans against one another. Research examining the racialized elements of the American right from Nixon to contemporary times is well chronicled and vast.
Onward and Outward: The Social and Emotional Experience of Advanced High School Upperclassmen
Authors:   , Scott Lauren C.
Published: December 2023

This study analyzed the social and emotional wellbeing of International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB DP) students in a North Texas school district. Students were asked about their feelings toward mental health through a short-answer questionnaire and a survey. Teachers were also able to give input about how they handle mental health in their classroom and where they would like to see their students grow in terms of understanding mental health. The data shows that while students in the IB DP have questions about mental health and have an interest in becoming more independent when dealing with their mental health, they have also come up with program-specific coping mechanisms such as relationships with teachers and peers in the program. This project suggests the idea of increasing student involvement with family engagement, a student-led mentor program, and an after school organization which covers topics such as mental health and learning skills.
Beyond Moses, Circumcision, and Pork: What Romans Knew about Jews and How That Knowledge Shaped Imperial Rule
Authors:   , Bocchine Kristin Ann
Published: December 2023

Previous researchers of Jewish history in the Roman Empire have imperfectly employed Greco-Roman sources to describe Roman perceptions of Jews and Judaism by relying on a handful of Greek and Latin written and visual components without attempting to quantify or comprehensively explore this abundant material. Utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, this dissertation analyzes the vast array of Greco-Roman written and visual sources about Jews and Judaism from the first century BCE to the end of the third century CE. While qualitative reviews of Greek and Latin texts help eliminate potential inconsistencies in the data, computational tools like text-mining analysis quantify the information into calculable results. The addition of visual source material into the framework helps further refine the quantified textual material. Reviews of this data reveal the general traits imperial leaders within the Roman Empire knew about the geography and history of Judaea, Jewish religious beliefs and cultural practices, and Jewish communities in general. Further reviews of the data note regional and, more importantly, temporal variations connecting them to changes both in imperial rule and Judaism. This process presents a more detailed and coherent conception of Roman knowledge of Jews and Judaism than scholars have previously recognized. In addition to highlighting imperial knowledge, this dissertation also demonstrates how Roman authorities drew on this information while ruling over Jewish communities. From this analysis, it is clear Roman imperial authorities formed a complex knowledge of ethnic and religious communities like Jews and applied this information to their rule over these populations.
Sowing the Seeds of Stewardship in Texas: An Ethnographic Study of Nature and Visitor Experience at Texas State Parks
Authors:   , Saintonge Kenneth C.
Published: December 2023

This study uses a mixed methods approach to investigate how individuals perceive nature and engage with Texas state park (TSP) programs and resources while also identifying major barriers that visitors perceive/encounter when visiting TSPs. This study looks through the anthropological lens by using theoretical frameworks such as habitus, presentation of the social self, space and place, as well as communities of practice (CoP), to better understand the factors that influence the establishment and maintenance of an individual's relationship to nature and participation in related practices. This study illustrates how an individual's relationship to nature is influenced by experiences in early life that involve activities, landscape or bioregion, and social factors. Relationships with nature are strengthened through social support especially when CoPs are involved. By understanding park visitor experiences through motivations and limitations to participating in the outdoors, parks can expand engagement tactics, foster existing and create new CoP related to nature that aid in the introduction and adoption of outdoor learning and experiences creating lifelong stewards. The study offers recommendations on how TSPs can address visitor barriers and increase nature affinity with the use of targeted outreach and engagement methods through agency interpretive resources and programs with the goal of expanding the public's relationship with nature.
Closer to Earth
Authors:   , Bishop Amber
Published: December 2023

Closer to Earth explores a Black midwestern family's generational spiritual connection to nature through the power of spiritual archiving, ancestral veneration, and oral storytelling.
Asymptotic Formula for Counting in Deterministic and Random Dynamical Systems
Authors:   , Naderiyan Hamid
Published: December 2023

The lattice point problem in dynamical systems investigates the distribution of certain objects with some length property in the space that the dynamics is defined. This problem in different contexts can be interpreted differently. In the context of symbolic dynamical systems, we are trying to investigate the growth of N(T), the number of finite words subject to a specific ergodic length T, as T tends to infinity. This problem has been investigated by Pollicott and Urbański to a great extent. We try to investigate it further, by relaxing a condition in the context of deterministic dynamical systems. Moreover, we investigate this problem in the context of random dynamical systems. The method for us is considering the Fourier-Stieltjes transform of N(T) and expressing it via a Poincaré series for which the spectral gap property of the transfer operator, enables us to apply some appropriate Tauberian theorems to understand asymptotic growth of N(T). For counting in the random dynamics, we use some results from probability theory.
Moderating Variables on the Relationship between Parent-Child Bonds and Mature Decentering
Authors:   , Tehrani Kathy
Published: December 2023

Developmental psychology aims to elucidate how children's early relationships influence their interactions with the world. Piaget's cognitive development theory is often noted when discussing development, and although his cognitive descriptions of decentering (i.e., perspective taking) were compelling, they neglected interpersonal contexts. Accordingly, Feffer conceptualized decentering within a social context. To expand on Feffer's consideration of the social context, the current study explored early parent-child bonds and their impact on child development, specifically interpersonal decentering, in adolescence. In the present secondary analysis of data from the Institute of Human Development longitudinal Guidance Study at the University of California, Berkeley, I hypothesized that, for both boys and girls, conflict with relatives and a parent's nervous instability would moderate the association between early strong parental bonds and more mature decentering at ages 12.5 and 18 years, and that more imaginative play, introspection, and better physical health would moderate the relationship between strong father-son bonds at age 21 months and the son's more mature decentering at age 12.5 and 18 years. The findings revealed that the association between strong father-son bonds at 21 months and the son's more mature decentering at age 12.5 was strongest when the son was less introspective compared to when the son was more introspective. When sons were in better health at ages 5-10 years and 11-17 years, their father-son bonds at age 21 months were more strongly related to more mature decentering at age 18 compared to sons who were in fair to poor health. The current study expands on the impact parental bonds, particularly paternal for sons, have on a child's social cognitive development.
"Death Date"
Authors:   , Perez Andrea C.
Published: December 2023

This project consists of a union between sci-fi, magic, and realism. Using magic in the same contexts of realism is to make a legend come to life in our modern world. All three stories deal with difficult situations: the struggle of creation and insecurities, the struggle of suicide and overcoming traumatic experiences, the struggle of disabilities and disadvantages and turning it into strength. These topics are introduced through characters who find themselves coming up with solutions through fantastical means as outlets for their pain. In "She Who Fell in Love with the Sky and Sea," an artist and an unlikely mythical muse come together to create the best art the world has ever seen, yet the art becomes unclaimable to the artist at the twisted eyes of her muse. In "Death Date," death has visited Sola through a psychic prediction arriving with perfect timing. She is given one year to live. Struggling with a traumatic past, her death date encourages Sola to live out the rest of her days and stop her original plans. The Switch explores the conditions of living in dystopian lands with a neighboring land that is a utopia. This novel explores the life of Sain as he uncovers the mysterious disappearances of his fellow townspeople. On his journey, he discovers more than he wanted to know. Diving deeper into the governing rule of the Regime, Sain finds himself as a savior for not only his people but for the hidden people within the border. Sain, starting off weaker than most due to his father's negligence, must advance his axum, a power flowing within everyone at birth, and reduce the Regime to what it once was to reclaim what rightfully belongs to his people.
One-Step Synthesis of 1,3,4-Oxadiazines, 4,5,6,7-Tetrahydro-1h-Indoles, and Functionalized Benzo[B]Carbazoles Catalyzed by Rare Earth Metal Triflates and Cooperative Enamine-Bronsted Acid
Authors:   , Cortes Vazquez Jose
Published: December 2023

Design and development of novel one-step reactions that produce nitrogen-containing scaffolds is an invaluable area of chemistry due to the abundance of these moieties in natural products and biologically active molecules. Discovering novel methods using uncommon substrates and rare earth metals to access these significant scaffolds present a challenge. Over the course of my doctoral studies, I have designed, developed and optimized novel reactions by using rarely known substrates and rare earth metals that have afforded important nitrogen-containing scaffolds. The products obtained allow access to otherwise long-to-synthesize molecules and expeditious construction of biologically active molecules.
Two Flute Works by Chen Yi and Their Musical Integration of Western and Chinese Cultures and Styles
Authors:   , Guan Peiyi
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this study is to analyze two of Chen Yi's works that include flute. She was raised in China and later studied in the United States, leading to a compositional output notable for its combination of Eastern and Western musical elements. Her unusual early experiences, such as experiencing the Chinese Cultural Revolution, working in rural areas, studying the violin, playing the piano in the orchestra, and being influenced by Western modernists, became her musical inspirations in her later compositional career. Focusing on the composer's Three Bagatelles from China West and Woodwind Quintet No.3, this study explores how the composer links Chinese traditional folk tunes to Western compositional techniques, as well as Western flute techniques to Chinese musical styles. Since the folk tunes in the first movement, Introduction, and third movement, Miao Dances, of Woodwind Quintet No. 3 are the same as those used in the second and third bagatelles of Three Bagatelles: Nai Guo Hou and Dou Duo, both are studied, presenting how they relate to each other.
Designing Archival Collections to Support Language Revitalization: Case Study of the Boro Language Resource
Authors:   , Burke Mary
Published: December 2023

Indigenous communities around the world are losing their languages at accelerating rates to the effects of the climate crisis and global capitalism. To preserve samples of these languages facing endangerment and extinction, samples of language use (e.g., audio-video recordings, photographs, textual transcriptions, translations, and analyses) are created and stored in language archives: repositories intended to provide long-term preservation of and access to language materials. In recent years, archives of all kinds are considering their origins and audiences. With the emergence of the community paradigm of archiving framework, the roles of archivists, communities, and institutions are under re-examination. Language archives too are reflecting this trend, as it becomes more common for speakers of Indigenous languages (also known as language communities) to document and archive their own languages and histories. As the landscape of language archiving expands, we now see increased emphasis on the re-use of archival material, particularly to support language revitalization—efforts to increase and maintain the use of the language. There are calls for language documentation (and, by extension, language archiving) to prioritize revitalization efforts. This dissertation is a case study of one language archive collection: the Boro Language Resource in the Computational Resource for South Asian Languages (CoRSAL) archive. The Boro Language Resource was created by Boro community members who are both experienced in linguistics and pedagogy and active in language revitalization efforts including research, educational, and cultural initiatives. This case study explores how the collection was designed, and how the material will be used in future language revitalization activities. Because this collection exemplifies the view of language documentation and archiving as revitalization-driven practices, the findings of this case study stand to inform future community archiving efforts aiming to support language revitalization.
An Analysis of Dependent Contingencies in a Triadic Interaction Using an Exchange Task to Understand Dynamic Concurrent Contingencies under Independent and Reciprocal Conditions
Authors:   , Kazaoka Kyosuke
Published: December 2023

Although behavioral science, due to its emphasis on the use of single-subject research design, appears to focus solely on individual behaviors, behavioral scientists have a long history of lamenting the trajectory of humans, societies, and the discipline itself. Some scholars, for instance, called for our attention to expand our focus beyond individual behaviors to generate solutions for societal issues that we face. When we attempt to develop solutions for issues that require multi-level analysis, we must be cognizant of how institutional contingencies operate at the individual level. The current study analyzed triadic interactions using an exchange task in six triads. The result of this study showed that one common pattern of interactions among participants across triads was direct reciprocation between two participants. The implications of such findings, how they inform social behavior and metacontingency experiments, and future directions are discussed.
"Seven Songs to Poems of James Joyce," op. 54 (1926) by Karol Szymaowski: A Historical Musicology Analysis and Performance Guide
Authors:   , Wan Fujia
Published: December 2023

This research contributes valuable contextual information to the study of Karol Szymanowski's little-known song cycle Seven Songs to Poems of James Joyce, op. 54 (1926), providing a reliable, comprehensive reference for singers and scholars. In this research, I establish separate historical contexts for James Joyce's Chamber Music and Szymanowski's settings of the poems in op. 54. Using these established historical contexts, I then analyze Joyce's poems and Szymanowski's text settings, focusing on their styles and aesthetics. Szymanowski reorders the seven selected poems, creating a new storyline related to—but different from—the original. Where Chamber Music presents a chronological emotional arc, Seven Songs presents a roller coaster-like storyline, achieved by flashing back and forth between the protagonist's past and present. I demonstrate how Szymanowski's newly-created, complex storyline fits both the surface and deeper meanings of each poem, using specific musical elements to enhance emotional conflicts in the texts. I conclude with a detailed analysis of the relationship between the text and music of this song cycle, serving as a performance guide. I hope that my analysis and complete performance of this cycle will reignite interest in Szymanowski's music outside of Poland, especially in countries where English is the native language.
Magnetron Sputtering of Transition Metal Oxynitrides and Their Characterization with Auger Electron Spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
Authors:   , Adesope Qasim Adewale
Published: December 2023

Transition metal oxynitrides are of growing interest for their use as electrocatalyst for nitrogen reduction reaction. The metals in the oxynitride used for catalytic process are stabilized in intermediate state for effective activation of nitrogen. Therefore, studying the interaction of metal oxynitrides films to ambient exposure is necessary. Here, sputter deposited vanadium oxynitride is compared to cobalt oxynitride using insitu Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After deposition in Ar/N2 environment, in situ AES spectra indicate that film is vanadium oxynitride despite oxygen is not the reactive gas. In contrast, in situ AES indicate film is pure cobalt nitride at the same base pressure and deposition condition (as vanadium). For ambient exposure, in situ AES indicate the incorporation of oxygen in the cobalt nitride film to form cobalt oxynitride. Ex situ XPS indicate both films get more oxidized but uniformly distributed as there is only slight difference in grazing and normal emission XPS. XRD and SEM also indicate how homogeneously distributed both films are. These finding confirms how important it is that transition metal centers are kept in intermediate oxidation state for the activation of nitrogen bond.
The Shape of Zauzou Noun Phrases: Predicting Reference Type, Classifiers, Demonstratives, Modifiers and Case Marking Using Syntax, Semantics, and Accessibility
Authors:   , Hull Benjamin
Published: December 2023

What explains the shape of Zauzou noun phrases? Zauzou (Trans-Himalayan, China) noun phrases exhibit considerable diversity in both the choice of the phrase's primary reference type, and the presence of classifiers, demonstratives, modifiers, and case marking. This investigation uses a large, previously existing Zauzou textual corpus. The corpus was annotated for variables hypothesized to predict the variation in noun phrase form. Syntactic variables investigated include word order, subordination, subordinate role, and a new variable called "loneliness." Participant semantic variables include thematic role, agency, and affectedness. Referential semantic variables include boundedness, number, and animacy. The information packaging variable investigated is accessibility. Statistical analysis of the corpus revealed that case marking was predicted using a variable called "loneliness." This is where a multivalent verb has only one argument that is explicitly referenced in the clause. Lonely noun phrases are more likely to be case marked. The role of loneliness in motivating case marking confirms that disambiguation can be an explanation for differential case marking. Animacy and accessibility are important predictors of noun phrase weight. Overall, high animacy and high accessibility correspond to reduced noun phrase weight. Agency and thematic role were also significant variables. The Zauzou data makes clear that speech act participants occupy a unique role in the animacy hierarchy. Speech act participants are often unexpectedly light upon first mention, being referred to with a pronoun or zero anaphor. They are often unexpectedly heavy while highly activated, remaining a pronoun instead of reducing to a zero anaphor. Zauzou, like Mandarin and Cantonese, allows classifiers to be used with a noun but without a numeral. In Mandarin, this construction is used only with new or generic noun phrases. In Cantonese, this construction can be used with noun phrases of any accessibility value. Zauzou occupies a unique intermediate position. In Zauzou, a noun with bare noun phrase can occur with new or old noun phrases, but rarely with active ones. This thesis provides evidence for the importance of text corpora. Using a corpus allowed for the simultaneous inclusion of many variables as well as the consideration of genre effects. In addition, the annotated corpus produced in this investigation is an important output; it is available in the supplemental materials accompanying this thesis.