bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
"Mich dürstet" (I Thirst) by Younghi Pagh-Paan and the Jeju 4.3 Incident: Images and Piano Textures
Authors:   , Kim Seongkyul
Published: February 2025

Younghi Pagh-Paan is a female Korean-German composer. Although being a prolific composer, she has only twice composed for piano solo. Pagh-Paan's Mich Drüstet (I Thirst) is a piano solo work and based on the tragedy in Korea, the Jeju 4.3 Incident in 1948. Even though the Jeju 4.3 incident triggered mora than 30,000 casualties, I Thirst is the only music to commemorate the incident, as commissioned by the pianist Kaya Han. This study of I Thirst highlights her musical textures for the piano and elements she employs to express her thoughts about the event; for instance, Korean musical element, 12-tone techniques, and counterpoint. In addition, it addresses the need for the pianist to have background information about Jeju Island and the Incident by matching images with musical sections in order to achieve a deeper interpretation of Pagh-Paan's piano composition.
Child Centered Play Therapy and Adverse Childhood Experiences: Effectiveness on Impulsivity and Inattention
Authors:   , Kram Kirsten
Published: February 2025

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a certain set of abuse household dysfunction experiences that many children in the United States experience. Children who experience multiple ACEs are more likely to have negative mental and physical health issues as they grow older. These outcomes include ADHD, depression, cancer, heart disease, and early death. In this study, I examined the effectiveness of child centered play therapy (CCPT), a developmentally appropriate treatment modality, with children who have experienced two or more ACEs and who are also demonstrating inattention and impulsivity symptoms. Participants were 34 students from five Title 1 elementary schools in the southwest United States (28 males and 6 females; age range 5-8 years old with a mean age of 6.12). In the sample, participants were comprised of 29.4% African American (n = 10), 38.2% Caucasian (n = 13), 17.6% Hispanic/Latino (n = 6), and 14.7% identified as biracial (n = 5). Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment group that received 16 CCPT 30-minute sessions twice a week (n = 17) or a waitlist control group (n = 17) that received treatment at the conclusion of the study. Using a factorial ANOVA, results indicated statistically significant improvement of CCPT treatment group over waitlist control group on the ADDES-4 School Total and the DOF Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Problems scale indicating that CCPT was an appropriate treatment model for children who have experienced ACEs and inattention and impulsivity symptoms.
Explaining the Homeland-Diaspora Nexus: Israel Motivated Violence and Its Consequences
Authors:   , Feinberg Ayal
Published: February 2025

This dissertation examines the homeland-diaspora nexus with a focus on how homeland conflict affects diaspora targeting and insecurity in Israel.
Michael Daugherty's Mount Rushmore: Analysis and Conductor's Guide
Authors:   , Deignan Ryan
Published: February 2025

According to the American League of Orchestras' most recent report, Michael Daugherty is one of the ten most performed American composers of concert music in modern times. He has received six GRAMMY awards, including awards for Best Contemporary Classical Composition in 2011 and 2017. Characteristics of Daugherty's music are diverse: colliding tonalities and blocks of sound, driving polyrhythmic counterpoint, and jazz and pop elements. His music can be minimalistic at times and at others, stirringly melodic. Amongst this eclecticism, a fascination with American iconography remains a consistent hallmark of his music, exemplified by titles such as American Gothic, Jackie O, or Lost Vegas. Daugherty has stated that his goal is to create sophisticated, abstract music that is also catchy or memorable, with melodies and cultural allusions that audiences can "hang their hat on." Despite widespread success, relatively little scholarly work has been done on Daugherty's music, providing an opportunity for further research. The primary goal of this study is to add to the literature on Michael Daugherty by providing an analysis and conductor's guide of his first choral-orchestral work, Mount Rushmore. It is a genuine show piece, galvanizing and colorful, modestly demanding of the listener, and appreciated by individuals of diverse musical backgrounds. The work also contains multitudes, offering layers of musical complexity and extensive historical symbolism for those who wish to engage further. Daugherty's Mount Rushmore offers immediate appeal and an excellent return on investment. Using interviews with the composer as well as detailed formal, harmonic, and historical-textual analysis, this paper provides in-depth information and guidance to future conductors who wish to present an appealing choral-orchestral work by a prominent, living American composer. Conductors who program Daugherty's Mount Rushmore will find it valuable for their ensemble and community for years to come.
Exploring EHR Adoption and Implementation: The Impact of Resource Advantage Theory on Healthcare Organization's Competitive Position
Authors:   , Malhan Amit Sundeep
Published: February 2025

The hospitals and their healthcare providers need to optimize simultaneously three outcomes: healthcare costs, healthcare options offered to customers, and information utilization efficiency. The adoption of electronic healthcare record (EHR) technologies is a potential managerial mechanism for balancing these outcomes. EHR offers patient management and decision support capabilities that can ameliorate health delivery outcomes for patients, doctors, and hospitals through better-informed business and care decisions. The analysis of data collected in an EHR system may lower costs and improve health care delivery (or both). In sum, it could be argued that EHR is a source of competitive advantage. Despite this prima facie appeal, many hospitals remain reluctant to adopt and implement EHR due to lack of insights into return on investment, unavailability of tested systems and data entry obstacles. To address this gap between the potential of EHR system and lack of its adoption, the purpose of this research is to investigate the role of EHR as a resource of competitive advantage for hospital. Essay 1, titled "Implementation and Adoption of EHR: A Conceptual Model based on Resource Advantage Theory", describes the antecedents and consequences of EHR adoption and implementation. Essay 2, titled "Exploring the Relationship Between Electronic Healthcare Record Adoption and Quality of Care", delves deeper into the operational performance of a hospital. This essay focuses on the impact of EHR on different aspects of patient care and thereby on the financial performance of the hospital. Essay 3, titled "The Effect of Resources on a Hospital's Financial Performance: The Moderating Role of Electronic Health Records Implementation and Adoption", is an empirical inquiry into the key factors that may influence hospitals' financial performance. These include organizational factors (such as, number of nurses and beds) and environmental factors (such as, location and received donations). Further, this essay explores the interaction effects between EHR and these factors. In summary, this research provides a conceptualization and an empirical investigation of EHR adoption and implementation and its impact on hospitals' operational and financial performance, an area receiving widespread attention from health care organizations, patient rights activists, public policy makers and the media. Future research can take two paths. First, further research should address questions related to the integration of EHR with other production and inventory management systems, and the prospective benefits attained from system integration. Second research is needed to investigate how parallel information transfer across multiple stakeholders may concurrently preserve Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, reduce health care delivery costs and optimize service quality.
A Masking Procedure for Stimulus Control Assessment
Authors:   , Condon David
Published: February 2025

The present series of experiments were designed to investigate the utility of the use of a masking system to assess the development of stimulus control. The first experiment compares sample observing time with response accuracy in a match-to-sample task. The second experiment more closely examines this relation by subdividing the sample stimulus mask into four quadrants. The third experiment compares sample observing time during training with accuracy during a subsequent testing condition to determine if the observed differentiation between the quadrants was correlated with the development of stimulus control.
The Metabolic Physiology of Planarian Flatworms
Authors:   , Lewallen Melissa A
Published: February 2025

Using a high throughput closed respirometry method to measure oxygen consumption, I determined metabolic rates in asexual and sexual Schmidtea mediterranea and Girardia dorotocephala, as a function of temperature, taxon, stressors, reproductive mode, age, regeneration, and specific dynamic action. This study has shown that oxygen consumption can reliably be measured in planaria using optode closed respirometry, and also provided a reliable method for measuring wet mass in planaria, which has been a challenge to researchers in the past. This research revealed that oxygen consumption in S. mediterranea is 1.5-2.1X greater in the sexual strain over the asexual strain at 13-18°C. Within the sexual strain, oxygen consumption is 1.5 -2.2X greater in sexually mature adults over the sexually immature groups (hatchlings, juveniles, and regenerating sexuals). Furthermore, I was able to quantify differences in sexual morphology between these groups exhibiting significant differences in oxygen consumption. The results of this research supports a theory of higher metabolic costs with sexual maturity in S. mediterranea. Therefore, this study has established sexual and asexual S. mediterranea as simple, yet attractive models for investigating energetic costs between sexual and asexual phenotypes. This research also provided quantitative values for specific dynamic action in planaria, with a maximum increase in oxygen consumption of 160% induced by feeding, as well as metabolic relationships in planaria involving temperature, age, and regeneration. These values establish planaria as one of the simplest animal models in which common metabolic patterns, such as SDA and poikilothermic temperature sensitivity, have been demonstrated. Therefore, this research has contributed to the overall knowledge of the basic physiology in this animal, providing the framework for future metabolic studies in planaria involving environmental factors, reproduction, regeneration, development, and aging. Information from this study may supplement interpretation and understanding of modern cellular, molecular, and genomic studies in planaria.
The Impact of Child Teacher Relationship Training for Early Childhood Educators: The Role of the Relationship
Authors:   , Miller Leah Fowlkes
Published: February 2025

In this qualitative study, I explored the lived experiences of eight early childhood educators implementing a play-based teacher professional development intervention, child teacher relationship training (CTRT), in an affluent Christian based preschool. Through the building of relationships, CTRT provided the teachers a person-centered approach to develop skills to establish relationships and to attend to the intentional emotional and relational development of young children. The research questions addressed the impact on teachers with children exhibiting challenging behaviors utilizing CTRT experienced before, during, and after the implementation of the play-based consultation intervention. Thematic analysis of the pre-intervention interviews, observation journals, reflexive journal, and post-intervention interviews revealed two clusters and seven distinct themes. The first cluster described the learning experiences of teachers while implementing CTRT with four identified themes: (a) changes in their views about children; (b) changes in their views about their personal abilities and performance; (c) a deeper understanding of theory (Reggio Emilia and CTRT); and (d) teacher skill development. The second cluster concerned the impact of CTRT before, during, and after the implementation of CTRT with three identified themes: (a) relationships; (b) support systems; and (c) the transfer of CTRT skills outside the classroom. The emerging themes indicated that the participants found CTRT to be a useful intervention for skill development to address challenging behaviors in young children, increased the teachers' abilities to manage classrooms, and professional and personal growth.
Are You a Good Witch or a Bad Witch? The Importance of Object Relations in Modern Assessment
Authors:   , Weber Katherine Mary
Published: February 2025

The Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale—Global (SCORS-G) is a relatively new scoring system for the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) that provides information about an individual's functioning in a variety of domains, including intrapsychic and interpersonal. Participants in this archival study had been administered a variety of measures as part of a routine clinical assessment, including the TAT, Rorschach, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2, and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Selected TAT stories were rescored using current SCORS-G scoring criteria. This dissertation evaluated the factor structure of the SCORS-G in an outpatient sample with a principal component analysis (PCA), finding support for a two-component solution. The SCORS-G was then compared to well-established measures of personality functioning, social cognition, and object relations using correlational analyses, with mixed results. Lastly, support was found for using the SCORS-G as a tool for discriminating individuals with a history of violent or problematic relationships from those without such a history. Implications for card selection based on card pull and the impact of bland protocols were explored.
Self-Efficacy and Competence: A Physical Activity Experimental Comparison
Authors:   , Phillips Amanda S.
Published: February 2025

Sedentary behavior has been shown to lead to overweight and obesity, which are risk factors for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular heart diseases (CHD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Two constructs have been used to attempt to enhance motivation in order to promote long-term physical activity behavior change: self-efficacy (from Self-Efficacy Theory) and competence (from Self-Determination Theory). Though these constructs are from two different theories and purportedly measure two different concepts, they have been used interchangeably in physical activity research. This project examined similarities and differences in the theoretical explanations of self-efficacy and competence. Participants were college students ages 18 to 53 (n = 194, 65.8% female) who were randomized to one of two intervention groups (competence vs. self-efficacy) or an attention control group, with an overall attrition rate of 0.6%. Repeated measures ANCOVAs controlling for strenuous exercise and BMI showed no within groups or between-groups differences in competence or self-efficacy. Measures of competence and self-efficacy were strongly correlated (r = .74). Further inspection showed both measures were tapping into a third variable: confidence. Additionally complicating the findings is documented evidence of college students over-reporting high confidence levels. Recommendations include incorporating items measuring growing mastery into competence scales and examining this same question for older sedentary adults.
The Effects of Participant Motivation on the Effectiveness of Video Modeling
Authors:   , Hur Sang
Published: February 2025

Video modeling interventions have been mostly effective for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in teaching social communication skills. However, differences in the effectiveness of these interventions have been noted. Participant motivation was suggested as one of the factors that can influence the effectiveness of video modeling. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of participant motivation on video modeling for teaching social communication skills to individuals with ASD. A combined multiple probe across participants and adapted alternating treatments design was used to examine the differential effects of two video modeling conditions (i.e., motivated and non-motivated) on social communication skills of four adults with ASD. Of the four participants, three participants responded to the intervention and performed more of target behavior during the motivated video modeling condition than the non-motivated video modeling condition, while one did not respond to the intervention. In addition, the three participants engaged in a higher percentage of the target behavior during motivated generalization sessions than non-motivated generalization sessions. The results demonstrated that participant motivation influenced the effectiveness of video modeling.
The Effects of Suggestibility, Compliance, and Situational Stress on Miranda Abilities, Waiver Decisions, and False Confessions
Authors:   , Otal Tanveer K.
Published: February 2025

Miranda abilities, individual characteristics, and contextual factors are critical elements to evaluate in determining the validity of Miranda rights waivers and confessions. Research indicates that many individuals waive their Miranda rights without adequate comprehension or reasoning. In addition, personality characteristics of suggestibility and compliance are key factors influencing waiver decisions. Furthermore, scholars found that situational anxiety likewise impairs Miranda abilities and waiver decisions. Previous research has investigated the effects of Miranda abilities, individual characteristics, and contextual factors on Miranda waivers and confessions by utilizing confession paradigms. A methodological limitation of these paradigms is the lack of volition and autonomy in committing the accused acts of wrongdoings. The current study of undergraduate students advances previous research through examining the detrimental impact of false accusations of wrongdoings committed independently and intentionally using a novel paradigm. This thesis sought to further the understanding of the effects of Miranda abilities (i.e., comprehension and reasoning), personality characteristics (i.e., suggestibility and compliance), and situational factors (i.e., false accusation) in relation to Miranda waivers and confession decisions. The final sample included 87 undergraduate students, of whom approximately 97% waived their rights and 40% falsely confessed to the wrongdoing. The results indicate that Miranda reasoning, suggestibility, and compliance significantly predict the likelihood of false confession. These findings can be used to inform policy changes as well as the evaluations of the validity of Miranda waivers and confessions.
Weapons of Mass Deception: Opacity and the Israeli Nuclear Program
Authors:   , Beattie Kathleen E
Published: February 2025

Access to nuclear technology and growing concern over the spread of nuclear weapons triggered an international debate in the 1960s that led to the creation of the Nonproliferation Treaty. Ratified in 1970, NPT was designed to prevent the horizontal spread of nuclear weapons and limit destructive uses of nuclear energy. At the same time, it also normalized the arsenals of existing nuclear states and encouraged exchanges of nuclear information, technology, and materials for peaceful purposes. Nonproliferation policy relies on a theory of the development process that identifies a nuclear frontier to locate evidence of nuclear capabilities. Absent from the proliferation model, however, are cases of covert nuclear weapons programs. For almost 50 years, it has been generally accepted that Israel is a nuclear weapon state, yet Israeli officials have never confirmed nor denied the possession of nuclear weapons. Israel has not signed NPT and has not appeared to conduct a nuclear test, in effect absolving the nuclear program's main reactor from international inspections. Uncertainty surrounding the Israeli program stems from a tradition of deliberate secrecy and deception that constitutes a national policy of opacity. This study argues that opacity has armed Israel with the privilege of nuclear immunity, exempting its secret nuclear activity from the standards and regulations imposed on all other nuclear weapon states. To circumvent the barriers built by opacity, a mixture of declassified material, nuclear history and security literature, and postcolonial studies refines the history of Israel's nuclear program. By examining the American-Israeli nuclear relationship, the sources of opacity, and the framework of nonproliferation that sustains an international nuclear regime, Israel's role in the nuclear world becomes visible.
Enhancing the Efficacy of Predictive Analytical Modeling in Operational Management Decision Making
Authors:   , Najmizadehbaghini Hossein
Published: February 2025

In this work, we focus on enhancing the efficacy of predictive modeling in operational management decision making in two different settings: Essay 1 focuses on demand forecasting for the companies and the second study utilizes longitudinal data to analyze the illicit drug seizure and overdose deaths in the United States. In Essay 1, we utilize an operational system (newsvendor model) to evaluate the forecast method outcome and provide guidelines for forecast method (the exponential smoothing model) performance assessment and judgmental adjustments. To assess the forecast outcome, we consider not only the common forecast error minimization approach but also the profit maximization at the end of the forecast horizon. Including profit in our assessment enables us to determine if error minimization always results in maximum profit. We also look at the different levels of profit margin to analyze their impact on the forecasting method performance. Our study also investigates how different demand patterns influence maximizing the forecasting method performance. Our study shows that the exponential smoothing model family has a better performance in high-profit products, and the rate of decrease in performance versus demand uncertainty is higher in a stationary demand environment.In the second essay, we focus on illicit drug overdose death rate. Illicit drug overdose deaths are the leading cause of injury death in the United States. In 2017, overdose death reached the highest ever recorded level (70,237), and statistics show that it is a growing problem. The age adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths in 2017 (21.7 per 100,000) is 9.6% higher than the rate in 2016 (19.8 per 100,000) (U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration, 2018, p. V). Also, Marijuana consumption among youth has increased since 2009. The magnitude of the illegal drug trade and its resulting problems have led the government to produce large and comprehensive datasets on a variety of phenomena relating to illicit drugs. In this study, we utilize these datasets to examine how marijuana usage among youth influence excessive drug usage. We measure excessive drug usage in terms of drug overdose death rate per state. Our study shows that illegal marijuana consumption increases excessive drug use. Also, we analyze the pattern of most frequently seized illicit drugs and compare it with drugs that are most frequently involved in a drug overdose death. We further our analysis to study seizure patterns across layers of heroin and cocaine supply chain across states. This analysis reveals that most active layers of the heroin supply chain in the American market are retailers and wholesalers, while multi-kilo traffickers are the most active players in the cocaine supply chain. In summary, the studies in this dissertation explore the use of analytical, descriptive, and predictive models to detect patterns to improve efficacy and initiate better operational management decision making.
A Cognitive MIMO OFDM Detector Design for Computationally Efficient Space-Time Decoding
Authors:   , Grabner Mitchell J
Published: February 2025

In this dissertation a computationally efficient cognitive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division duplexing (OFDM) detector is designed to decode perfect space-time coded signals which are able maximize the diversity and multiplexing properties of a rich fading MIMO channel. The adaptive nature of the cognitive detector allows a MIMO OFDM communication system to better meet to needs of future wireless communication networks which require both high reliability and low run-time complexity depending on the propagation environment. The cognitive detector in conjunction with perfect space-time coding is able to achieve up to a 2 dB bit-error rate (BER) improvement at low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) while also achieving comparable runtime complexity in high SNR scenarios.
Realization of LSTM Based Cognitive Radio Network
Authors:   , Valluru Aravind-Deshikh
Published: February 2025

This thesis presents the realization of an intelligent cognitive radio network that uses long short term memory (LSTM) neural network for sensing and predicting the spectrum activity at each instant of time. The simulation is done using Python and GNU Radio. The implementation is done using GNU Radio and Universal Software Radio Peripherals (USRP). Simulation results show that the confidence factor of opportunistic users not causing interference to licensed users of the spectrum is 98.75%. The implementation results demonstrate high reliability of the LSTM based cognitive radio network.
Processing-Structure-Property Relationships of Reactive Spark Plasma Sintered Boron Carbide-Titanium Diboride Composites
Authors:   , Lide Hunter
Published: February 2025

Sintering parameter effects on the microstructure of boron carbide and boron carbide/titanium diboride composites are investigated. The resulting microstructure and composition are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray microscopy (XRM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Starting powder size distribution effects on microstructure are present and effect the mechanical properties. Reactive spark plasma sintering introduces boron nitride (BN) intergranular films (IGF's) and their effects on fracture toughness, hardness and flexural strength are shown. Mechanical testing of Vickers hardness, 3-point bend and Chevron notch was done and the microstructural effects on the resulting mechanical properties are investigated.
Doing Our Work Better, Together: An Application of Relational Coordination Theory to Explore and Shape Excellence in Trauma Care
Authors:   , Purdy Eve Isabelle
Published: February 2025

I conducted a mixed-methods collaborative ethnography using the lens of relational coordination theory. This included a qualitative survey using an established tool to analyze the relational dimensions of multidisciplinary teamwork, participant observation, interviews, and narrative surveys. Findings were presented to clinicians in working groups for further interpretation and to facilitate co-creation of targeted interventions designed to improve team relationships and performance. I engaged a complex multidisciplinary network of ~500 care providers dispersed across seven core interdependent clinical disciplines. Initial findings highlighted the importance of each dimension of relational coordination in trauma care. Narrative survey and ethnographic findings further highlighted the centrality of team briefings and a translational simulation program in contributing positively to team culture and relational ties. A range of 16 interventions – focusing on structural, process and relational dimensions – were co-created with participants after reflecting on findings and are now being implemented and evaluated by various trauma care providers. Relational coordination theory is a valuable way to conceptualize the coordination of trauma care. Collaborative reflection on quantitative and narrative data through this lens can be used as a community-based quality improvement tool.
Oration, Concerto Elegiaco by Frank Bridge: A Practical Guide for Performance
Authors:   , Yoo Kyungjin
Published: February 2025

English composer Frank Bridge (1879-1941) is well known as Benjamin Britten's teacher and to a lesser degree for his chamber music. Because his mature creative period occurred between the First and Second World War, his works were not well studied or performed until the 1970s, well after his death. This dissertation discusses Bridge's life and his music, how World War I affected in this work, and specifically the work Oration Concerto Elagiaco. Oration is considered historically in terms of its meaning and delayed premiere. Additionally, the work's fantasy arch form, Bridge's signature compositional style, and the character of each section is discussed. Finally, this dissertation provides a practical guide to the work, providing practice and performance suggestions for the numerous complex and technically challenging portions of the concerto.
Enhanced Approach for the Classification of Ulcerative Colitis Severity in Colonoscopy Videos Using CNN
Authors:   , Sure Venkata Leela
Published: February 2025

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by periods of relapses and remissions affecting more than 500,000 people in the United States. To achieve the therapeutic goals of UC, which are to first induce and then maintain disease remission, doctors need to evaluate the severity of UC of a patient. However, it is very difficult to evaluate the severity of UC objectively because of non-uniform nature of symptoms and large variations in their patterns. To address this, in our previous works, we developed two different approaches in which one is using the image textures, and the other is using CNN (convolutional neural network) to measure and classify objectively the severity of UC presented in optical colonoscopy video frames. But, we found that the image texture based approach could not handle larger number of variations in their patterns, and the CNN based approach could not achieve very high accuracy. In this paper, we improve our CNN based approach in two ways to provide better accuracy for the classification. We add more thorough and essential preprocessing, and generate more classes to accommodate large variations in their patterns. The experimental results show that the proposed preprocessing can improve the overall accuracy of evaluating the severity of UC.
The Use of Data Analytics in Internal Audit to Improve Decision-Making: An Investigation of Data Visualizations and Data Source
Authors:   , Seymore Megan
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine how managers' judgments from an internal auditor's recommendation are influenced by some aspects of newer data sources and the related visualizations. This study specifically examined how managers' judgments from an internal auditor's recommendation are influenced by the (1) supportiveness of non-financial data with the internal auditor's recommendation and (2) evaluability of visual representations for non-financial data used to communicate the recommendation. This was investigated in a setting where financial data does not support the internal auditor's recommendation. To test my hypotheses, I conducted an experiment that uses an inventory write-down task to examine the likelihood that a manager agrees with an internal auditor's inventory write-down recommendation. This task was selected as it requires making a prediction and both financial and newer non-financial data sources are relevant to inform this judgment. The study was conducted with MBA students who proxy for managers in organizations. Evaluability of visual representations was operationalized as the (1) proximity of financial and non-financial graphs, and (2) type of non-financial graph as requiring a length judgment or not. This dissertation contributes to accounting literature and the internal auditing profession. First, I contribute to recent experimental literature on data analytics by providing evidence that newer non-financial data sources will be integrated into managers' judgments even when financial data is inconsistent. However, I also identified that the effectiveness of appropriate agreement with an internal auditor's recommendation depends on the evaluability of the visualizations for non-financial data. Second, I expand on the literature that examines managers' agreement with recommendations from internal auditors by examining an unexplored yet relevant context of using newer non-financial data sources and communicating these results. Specifically, I identified how the evaluability of visual representations for non-financial data interacts with the supportiveness of non-financial data with the internal auditor's recommendation to create differences in managers' agreement with the recommendation. I also identified confidence in the internal auditor's recommendation as an explanatory variable in some situations. My findings also have practical value for the internal auditing profession to understand the importance of appropriate visualizations in audit reporting.
Modeling and Design of Antennas for Loosely Coupled Links in Wireless Power Transfer Applications
Authors:   , Sinclair Melissa Ann
Published: February 2025

Wireless power transfer (WPT) systems are important in many areas, such as medical, communication, transportation, and consumer electronics. The underlying WPT system is comprised of a transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX). For biomedical applications, such systems can be implemented on rigid or flexible substrates and can be implanted or wearable. The efficiency of a WPT system is based on power transfer efficiency (PTE). Many WPT system optimization techniques have been explored to achieve the highest PTE possible. These are based on either a figure-of-merit (FOM) approach, quality factor (Q-factor) maximization, or by sweeping values for coil geometries. Four WPT systems for biomedical applications are implemented with inductive coupling. The thesis later presents an optimization technique for finding the maximum PTE of a range of frequencies and coil shapes through frequency, geometry and shape sweeping. Five optimized TX coil designs for different operating frequencies are fabricated for three shapes: square, hexagonal, and octagonal planar-spirals. The corresponding RX is implemented on polyimide tape with ink-jet-print (IJP) silver. At 80 MHz, the maximum measured PTE achieved is 2.781% at a 10 mm distance in the air for square planar-spiral coils.
BSM Message and Video Streaming Quality Comparative Analysis Using Wave Short Message Protocol (WSMP)
Authors:   , Win Htoo Aung
Published: February 2025

Vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) are used for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications. The IEEE 802.11p/WAVE (Wireless Access in Vehicular Environment) and with WAVE Short Messaging Protocol (WSMP) has been proposed as the standard protocol for designing applications for VANETs. This communication protocol must be thoroughly tested before reliable and efficient applications can be built using its protocols. In this paper, we perform on-road experiments in a variety of scenarios to evaluate the performance of the standard. We use commercial VANET devices with 802.11p/WAVE compliant chipsets for both BSM (basic safety messages) as well as video streaming applications using WSMP as a communication protocol. We show that while the standard performs well for BSM application in lightly loaded conditions, the performance becomes inferior when traffic and other performance metric increases. Furthermore, we also show that the standard is not suitable for video streaming due to the bursty nature of traffic and the bandwidth throttling, which is a major shortcoming for V2X applications.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of Prochiral Ruthenium Clusters and Bimetallic Rhenium Complexes with an Unsymmetrical Diphosphine and Hard-Soft Donor Ligands
Authors:   , Mayberry Darrell D.
Published: February 2025

The reaction of [BrRe(CO)₄]₂ with 2-(diphenylphosphino)pyridine (PN) and 6-(diphenylphosphino)-2-formylpyridine (PON) was investigated. The reactions were regiospecific and exclusively produced the phosphorus-coordinated products, BrRe(CO)₄(κᵖ-PN) and BrRe(CO)₄(κᴾ-PON). The kinetics for the chelate ring closure (κᴾ→ κᴾᴺ) in BrRe(CO)₄(κᴾ-PN) were confirmed to occur by dissociative CO loss. The reaction of [BrRe(CO)₄]₂ with 2-(diphenylphosphino)pyridine (PN) was modeled computationally by DFT calculations. The preferred reaction pathway for the substitution reaction was determined to occur by direct attack of the pnictogen donor on the dimer and formation of the κᴺ isomer as the kinetic substitution product occurs. The κᴺ kinetic product then rapidly isomerizes to the κᴾ thermodynamic product by way of a reversible ligand dissociation. Treatment of the tetrahedral cluster H₂Ru₃(CO)₃(μ₃-S) (1) with 2-(diphenylphosphino)thioanisole (PS) furnishes the cluster H₂Ru₃(CO)₇(κ²-PS)(μ₃-S) (2). Cluster 2, which exhibits a chelated thiophosphine ligand (κ²-PS), exists as a pair of diastereomers with Keq = 1.55 at 298 K that differ in their disposition of ligands at the Ru(CO)(κ²-PS) center. The PS ligand occupies the equatorial sites (Peq, Seq) in the kinetic isomer and axial and equatorial sites (Pax, Seq) in the thermodynamically favored species. The reversible first-order kinetics to equilibrium have been measured experimentally by NMR spectroscopy and HPLC over the temperature range 293-323 K. The substitution reaction involving 1 and the isomerization of the PS ligand in 2 were investigated by DFT calculations. The computational results support a phosphine-induced expansion of the cluster polyhedron that is triggered by the associative addition of the PS donor to 1. The observed isomerization of the PS ligand in 2 is best explained by a tripodal rotation of the CO and PS groups at the Ru(CO)(κ²-PS) center that is preceded by a regiospecific migration of one of the edge-bridging hydrides to the non-hydride-bridged Ru-Ru bond in 2. The chiral clusters 1,2-Ru₃(μ-H)₂(μ₃-S)(CO)₇(μ-1p1,2p2-POP) (A) and 1,2-Ru₃(μ-H)₂(μ₃-S)(CO)₇(μ-1p2,2p1-POP) (B) were formed were formed from reaction of Ru₃(μ-H)₂(μ₃-S)(CO)₉ with 1-diphenylphosphino-2-[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethoxy]benzene (POP). Chiral clusters A and B were fully characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, the molecular structure of A was solved by X-ray crystallography. Chiral cluster A was resolved into its enantiomers by preparative HPLC with a chiral column. The enantiomers were characterized by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy and their absolute stereochemical configuration was determined by X-ray crystallography.
Mining Biomedical Data for Hidden Relationship Discovery
Authors:   , Dharmavaram Sirisha
Published: February 2025

With an ever-growing number of publications in the biomedical domain, it becomes likely that important implicit connections between individual concepts of biomedical knowledge are overlooked. Literature based discovery (LBD) is in practice for many years to identify plausible associations between previously unrelated concepts. In this paper, we present a new, completely automatic and interactive system that creates a graph-based knowledge base to capture multifaceted complex associations among biomedical concepts. For a given pair of input concepts, our system auto-generates a list of ranked subgraphs uncovering possible previously unnoticed associations based on context information. To rank these subgraphs, we implement a novel ranking method using the context information obtained by performing random walks on the graph. In addition, we enhance the system by training a Neural Network Classifier to output the likelihood of the two concepts being likely related, which provides better insights to the end user.
Artistic Learning in an MFA Community
Authors:   , Jilka Milan
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this phenomenographical case study is to explore the ways in which a group of MFA students conceive of their learning as they are enmeshed within an MFA community. The research follows along two guiding research questions: 1) What does artistic learning involve for graduate students in an MFA community? 2) How is one's artistic practice shaped by one's active participation in an MFA community? The findings of this study have been presented as lines of artistic learning and help to show the various conceptions that MFA students have of their learning as artists while in an MFA program of study. Ultimately, it is in better understanding one's lines of artistic learning that MFA students can be better supported in their journeying to become professional, practicing artists.
Identity Claims and Leader Survival
Authors:   , Krastev Roman
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this dissertation is to show a yet undiscovered link between identity claims and the survival of political leaders. Diversionary theory posits that starting foreign conflicts during domestic hardship may increase the popular approval ratings of the leader and maintain him in power. I suggest that leaders may resort to initiating identity claims as a diversionary action to stay in power. Indeed, using survival analysis, this study finds a connection between the desire of leaders to protect their ethnic kin in neighboring countries and the leaders' own popularity and survival at home. Yet, identity claim initiation and escalation significantly decrease the chances of leaders to remain in office. At first sight, this is in sharp contrast with the diversionary theory literature, which suggests that leaders may employ foreign wars as a means to distract from domestic problems and increase their survival in office. Yet, the realization that the escalation of conflict may backfire does not necessarily deter leaders from diverting. Therefore, this analysis offers a new perspective in the field of rationalist explanations for war.
Cesarean Section Delivery and Exclusive Breastfeeding in Pakistan: Emerging Challenges
Authors:   , Nazir Saman
Published: February 2025

This research examined two interrelated issues relevant to maternal and neonatal health in Pakistan, namely, the rising rates of C-section delivery and low rates of exclusive breastfeeding. By using the Andersen's health behavioral model to frame two empirical studies, the data from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2012-13 was used. The first empirical study examined the correlation between place of delivery and the odds of cesarean section in Pakistan. Not all Pakistani women have an equal chance of delivering at a health facility where C-section delivery takes place; therefore, the study modeled mode of delivery as a two-step process. In the first step, place of delivery was a function of medical indications and various sociodemographic and community factors. Women who delivered at a health facility were included in the second step, where C-section was a function of medical indications and type of facility (private, public). It is found that women who delivered at a private health facility were more likely to have a C-section, even after controlling for the effects of medical/clinical factors, which is concerning. Findings suggest that the private maternal health sector in Pakistan may be over-medicalizing childbirth. The second study examined this paradox of low exclusive breastfeeding in Pakistan, taking into account not only individual-level characteristics of the child and parents, but also place and mode of delivery, sociocultural factors, and community composition. The sample consisted of 1,044 children 0-5 months old, currently living with their mothers. Binary logistic regressions of exclusive and predominant breastfeeding found women who delivered vaginally, whether at home or health care facility were more likely than mothers who delivered via C-section to predominantly breastfeed their infant, and that mothers who delivered vaginally at a health care facility were more likely than their peers who delivered via C-section to exclusively breastfeed their infants. Collectively, the findings of both empirical studies suggest that private maternal health care services in Pakistan may be facilitating medically unnecessary C-sections, either for profit making or time management. An extended and integrated policy regarding medically unnecessary C-section delivery and low rates of exclusive breastfeeding is needed in Pakistan to address both issues together effectively.
Prolonged Grief and Couple Functioning: The Role of Religious Coping and Social Support
Authors:   , Stephen Krystal Amelia
Published: February 2025

Our sample consisted of 116 adults aged 18 and older, recruited from college and community settings. Participants were currently in a romantic relationship and endorsed the sudden and/or violent death of a family member, close friend, or romantic partner. We hypothesized that: 1) prolonged grief is associated with poor dyadic functioning; 2) social support moderates the relationship between prolonged grief and dyadic functioning; 3) religious coping moderates the association between prolonged grief and dyadic functioning. Results indicated that prolonged grief was not significantly related to dyadic functioning, and neither social support nor religious coping moderated this association.
Relationship Quality in Social Commerce Decision-Making
Authors:   , Dinulescu Catalin C
Published: February 2025

This research study involves three essays and examines CRQ-driven decision making from the points of view of the common firm, social-commerce platform provider, and social-commerce echo-system. It addresses CRQ's progression from traditional business-to-consumer (B2C) initiatives to social platform-specific antecedents and to environment-driven factors lying outside the direct control of the platform provider, yet influencing social commerce business decisions, such as user-generated content from peers (e.g. family, friends) and expert authority (e.g. specialists, experts, professional organizations). The research method used statistical, data mining and computer science techniques. The results suggest that social platform providers should take a proactive approach to CRQ, fully leverage their online platform to improve CRQ while paying special attention to security as a potential barrier, and consider the analysis of elements of the echo-system such as the electronic word of mouth (eWOM) to further drive CRQ and determine the level of alignment between customers and experts, suppliers and products featured, that may lead to value-added managerial insights such as the prioritization, promotion and optimization of such relationships.
The Effects of Benefit Types on Customer Loyalty in Integrated Resorts
Authors:   , Su Hsiang Wen
Published: February 2025

This study examined the relationships between the six benefit types and customer loyalty through trust and satisfaction in integrated resorts. A self-administered survey was developed based on previous studies in customer loyalty and was distributed through e-Reward online survey panel. The findings showed that only financial gaming benefits, functional gaming benefits, and psychological non-gaming benefits had impacts on customer attitudinal loyalty and customer behavioral loyalty through trust and satisfaction in integrated resorts. Besides, functional gaming benefits had the most influence on customer loyalty through trust and satisfaction. This study extended existing literature in integrated resorts by showing that benefit types in a loyalty program can build customer attitudinal loyalty and customer behavioral loyalty in integrated resorts. This study also examined different types of benefits affect customer loyalty in different degrees. For operators of integrated resorts, understanding how different benefits of a loyalty program affect customer loyalty will allow them to modify their loyalty programs effectively to increase revenue and maintain customers.