bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Lived Experiences of Resilient LGBTQIQ Emerging Adults Who have Histories of Complex Trauma
Authors:   , Cunningham Victoria L.
Published: December 2023

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, and queer (LGBTQIQ) adults are more likely to report experiences of complex trauma, and have detrimental mental health effects as a result, when compared to cisgender, heterosexual adults. However, LGBTQIQ adults have excellent capacity for resilience. In this phenomenological investigation, I explored the lived experiences of resilient LGBTQIQ emerging adults (N = 11) who have histories of complex trauma. Five themes emerged as a result of this study, including (a) abuse and neglect, (b) emotional experiences during and after trauma, (c) connections are essential, (d) getting through hard times, and (e) struggles in the counseling process. The results indicated implications for counselors and counselor educators to better address the experiences of complex trauma and identify resilience in LGBTQIQ emerging adults. Recommendations are provided to counselors and counselor educators for integrating knowledge and actions into their counseling, teaching, and supervision practices, as well as for parents and caregivers, teachers and school personnel, and policymakers.
ESG Misreporting: Role of Assurance, Assurance Provider, ESG Issue Characteristics and Personal Environmentalism in Employee Reporting Decisions
Authors:   , Sapounova Gloria N.
Published: December 2023

Corporate environmental social and governance (ESG) reporting is becoming subject to increased scrutiny by regulators, investors and public. This dissertation will contribute to several research streams in the extant literature. This dissertation is the first to show the impact of employee environmental values and attitudes on reporting and whistleblowing decisions, making contributions to accounting, management, whistleblowing and environmental psychology literatures. Next, it is among the first to examine the role of the identity of ESG assurance provider in ESG reporting context. Further, it is among the first to examine the impact of SEC assurance mandate and the value of assurance over ESG information, thus contributing to audit literature. Using experimental methodology, I examine how ESG report assurance, ESG report assurance provider, ESG issue type, and environmentalism as a personality factor influence employee decisions to accede to a supervisory request to misrepresent ESG information, to report management's actions to a corporate hotline, to post information about management wrongdoing on social media, to switch jobs, and to judge ESG misreporting actions as unethical. The results indicate that (1) employee personality factor environmentalism impacts their ESG reporting decisions; (2) pro-environmental employees are more likely to whistleblow when assurance is not mandated, and they judge management actions to be more unethical when assurance is required; (3) under pressure to misreport ESG information, employees are more likely to switch jobs and judge management actions significantly more unethical, when they are dealing with quantitative data (as opposed to qualitative data), and when ESG assurance is provided by a consultant (versus an auditor); (4) pro-environmental employees do not differentiate between the issues impacting financial statements or ESG report only, whereas, employees with low-level environmentalism judge management actions to be more unethical when facing ESG issue with immediate impact to financial statements as opposed to an issue impacting ESG report only; (5) older employees (over 35) with low-level environmentalism are more likely to post information on social media when dealing with an environmental issue as opposed to a social issue; and (6) majority of participants (57%) perceive ESG misreporting to be a widespread phenomenon.
The Great Equalizer? An Analysis of the Relationship between Race, Severe Weather Disasters, and Climate Change Policy Support
Authors:   , Shaw D'Andrea N.
Published: December 2023

Climate disasters are on the rise, with devastating effects on communities around the globe. Scientists have provided evidence that severe weather events due to climate change will continue to increase in frequency and severity. Extreme weather events are often referred to as the great equalizers, disregarding the socioeconomic status and race of those affected during widespread destruction. However, the literature suggests that people of color are disproportionately exposed to and affected by climate change and extreme weather events. In this study, I examine how exposure to extreme weather events will influence climate change policy support amongst different races. I argue that people of color will support climate change policy more than white people. I run regression models using data from Collaborative Multiracial Post-Election Survey and National Centers for Environmental Information. I do not find support for my hypothesis, but I do find that among the Black population, climate change policy support increases as respondents get older.
Resonant Ecologies: Exploring Interrelationships between Ecological Disciplines and Music Composition
Authors:   , Gerard Garrison C.
Published: December 2023

The histories of acoustic ecology, field recording, and soundscape composition are intertwined. This combination of disciplines has lead to the potential for powerful insights, but an over-emphasis on music composition using recorded sound has to led to some problematic tendencies in the study of soundscapes. I begin by tracing the development of acoustic ecology and related disciplines, leading to a proposal for a practice of acoustic ecology that centers the study of all sounds from an ecological perspective and incorporates the insights of creative practices. I include the results and data from my acoustic surveys in Patagonia, Iceland, and Texas. These three locations are varied in their climate, and they are all threatened by noise pollution or human interference from one source or another. Each survey plots out the daily sound activity in a given location and then includes information such as decibel level and the amount of anthropogenic noise. Using the field recordings from my acoustic surveys, I composed a non-linear piece, Resonance Ecology, that generates soundscapes by combining sounds from different locations based on connections such as geography or weather patterns. There is also the option for acoustic performers to perform alongside the electronics, creating an unpredictably evolving soundscape. The structure of the piece mirrors the ecosystems that serve as the foundation and inspiration of the piece. Importantly, the composition is not meant to represent the real ecosystems, but rather serves as an surreal ecosystem portraying my experience in these locations.
In Search of Audience Costs in International Relations: The Media, Personality, and Public Threats
Authors:   , Takei Makito
Published: December 2023

Audience costs, which are defined as political costs for a leader generated when the leader fails to follow through on international commitments, are an important concept in international relations to understand the causes of war and peace. However, despite its prominence, evidence for audience costs is mixed at best. In this dissertation, by conducting a series of survey experiments in the United States, I examine a variety of causal mechanisms and observable implications of audience cost models. In Chapter 2 I explore the role of the media. The result of a survey experiment shows that the media's negative framing of a leader's backing down from a threat increases audience costs, but only after subjects are informed of the leader's justification. Chapter 3 tests the idea that the magnitude of audience costs depends on an individual's personality traits. A pilot experiment using a sample of undergraduate students does not support this expectation. Lastly, I compare the credibility of public versus private threats in Chapter 4. A conjoint survey experiment demonstrates that as many proponents of audience cost theory suggest, public threats are perceived as more credible, and the sources of their credibility are domestic audience costs.
A Different Kind of Political Party: The Relationship between Tabletop Role Playing Games and Political Efficacy
Authors:   , Plaxco Sarah Ellen
Published: December 2023

Tabletop role-playing games (TRPGs) present a unique opportunity to study political behavior. In educational settings, role-playing games (RPGs) of all kinds have proven to be valuable educational tools, and even when played for fun, participating in role playing games has been shown to increase one's level of confidence. Knowing this, I designed an experiment to attempt to increase internal political efficacy through the use of a politically-themed TRPG. I took inspiration from the original TRPGs of the 1970s and 1980s which were used purely for entertainment purposes to create my own game in a traditional TRPG setting with current issues woven into the story of the game (also called a campaign), and utilized quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze participants' reactions to the campaign and levels of efficacy. In doing so, I seek to determine whether players will recognize real-world issues when presented in a science fiction or fantasy-themed campaign. Furthermore, given that TRPGs have the potential to shape players' understanding of how the world works and their place in it, will players be more motivated to act on said issues presented in-game, even if they do not consciously make the connection between the real-life issues presented in the science fiction/fantasy setting and those same issues in the real world?
A Linear Analysis of Piano Sonata (1926) Sz.80 by Béla Bartók: The Genesis and Development of the Composition
Authors:   , Lee Jihye
Published: December 2023

Béla Bartók's Piano Sonata Sz.80 is known for its integration of modernist language with traditional elements. However, due to Bartók's radical style of writing, it remains challenging to precisely define the piece's motives, voice-leading, and structure, even though pianists who perform it may intuitively comprehend them. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the Piano Sonata's motivic and tonal structure, genesis and development. First, this study demonstrates Bartók's use of linear motives and progressions to elucidate the Piano Sonata's large-scale structure and demonstrate its internal coherence. Second, by comparing the published score with the facsimile of the Budapest Manuscript, it is possible to shed light on the significance of the changes that Bartók made, facilitating a better understanding of his intentions. Lastly, this study suggests interpretive decisions based on the analysis and manuscripts, thus providing performers with a more thorough understanding of the piece.
Does Policy Lead to Progress? An Investigation into the Relationship between Women-Friendly Policies and Women's Descriptive Representation
Authors:   , Lambert Jessica Rudd
Published: December 2023

It is generally accepted among scholars that increases in descriptive representation result in increases in substantive representation. Although women's descriptive representation has increased in recent years, women are still underrepresented in politics. One reason for women's underrepresentation is that female candidates must overcome additional barriers in order to get elected, including on the low number of women in the pipeline to elected office, party gatekeeping, women's lower levels of political ambition, and voters' negative gender stereotypes about female candidates. Changes in women's descriptive representation and recent salience of women-friendly policies, such as abortion and paid maternity leave, has caused me to investigate whether implementation of these women-friendly policies result in an increase in women's descriptive representation. I assert that women-friendly policies reduce the barriers women must overcome to get elected to office. Specifically, the presence of more women-friendly abortion and paid maternity leave policies will result in an increase in women's descriptive representation at the state level. I find partial support for a relationship between these women-friendly policies and higher levels of women's descriptive representation. State-level abortion protections are associated with higher levels of women's descriptive representation in the state legislature.
"Music for the End of the World": Sound, Nature, and the Anthropocene
Authors:   , Macedo de Castro Lima Marcel
Published: December 2023

In this document, I discuss the creative process of a piece for instruments, electronics, and video titled Music for the End of the World in the context of the Anthropocene and music's relationship with it. The document is divided into two parts: Part I, divided into three chapters, is a critical essay and Part II, the score for Music for the End of the World. In the first two chapters, I present the conceptual basis for the creation of the piece and discuss relevant musical references. In the third chapter, I describe the creative process in detail and explain how the aesthetic decisions I made relate to the original concept. The first chapter starts by defining the Anthropocene and pointing out some connections between music, colonialism, and ecology. It also highlights some of the Anthropocene potential implications for the arts through the lens of Timothy Morton's post-humanist philosophy. In the second chapter, three important references for the creation of Music for the End of the World are presented: Luigi Nono's Prometeo; Francisco López La Selva; and João Pedro Oliveira's Neshamah. In the third chapter, I present the creative process of Music for the End of the World in detail. It starts by describing how the piece was created after the composition of shorter study pieces for different chamber ensembles. Regarding electronics, in that chapter, I discuss the use of synthesized sounds in addition to field recordings. For the synthesized part, the paper also describes each of the instruments I developed in Max/MSP. Finally, it explains the creation of the video using AI image synthesis in Midjourney and their implementation in the piece.
A Performance Guide to a Forgotten Piece by Carl Czerny: "Fantaisie sur des melodies de Beethoven," Op. 752 (1844)
Authors:   , Zhao Jingshu
Published: December 2023

Carl Czerny (1791-1857) was an Austrian piano teacher, composer, pianist, historian, and theorist, who made many contributions to the musical world. He wrote many pieces of music over the course of his life, the most familiar to us being his exercises. His other types of work are less known and studied nowadays for various reasons. Yet it cannot be denied that Czerny was a very important figure who should not be allowed to fade away. We must delve deeper into his life and uncover more of his pieces, to reveal aspects of his work that are unknown for us. This study concentrates on the forgotten piece Fantaisie sur des mélodies de Beethoven, Op. 752. This is one of the pieces that I included in a World Premiere release recording issued by Toccata Classics. The intent of the program for the recording was to change the traditional concept of Czerny's work and show that his compositions are worth adding to today's recital repertoire. The program included five forgotten pieces by Czerny, of which Op. 752 was the most complicated and virtuosic. The purpose of this study is to analyze the piece and illustrate practicing methods or solutions for the technical challenges of different types that it requires, thus constituting a performance guide. Furthermore, this dissertation also gives suggestions for using the piece in teaching. The aim is to help pianists and teachers to understand and successfully perform the piece on the modern piano. Moreover, I hope that this study will draw more attention to Czerny and inspire others to uncover more of his works.
Unveiling Hidden Problems: A Two-Stage Machine Learning Approach to Predict Financial Misstatement Using the Existence of Internal Control Material Weaknesses
Authors:   , Sun Jing
Published: December 2023

Prior research has provided evidence that the disclosure of internal controls material weaknesses (ICMWs) is a powerful input attribute in misstatement prediction. However, the disclosure of ICMWs is imperfect in capturing internal control quality because many firms with control problems fail to disclose ICMWs on a timely basis. The purpose of this study is to examine whether the existence of ICMWs, including both the disclosed and the undisclosed ICMWs, improves misstatement prediction. I develop a two-stage machine learning model for misstatement prediction with the predicted existence of ICMWs as the intermediate concept; my model that outperforms the model with the ICMW disclosures. I also find that the model incorporating both the predicted existence and the disclosure of ICMWs outperforms those with only the disclosure or the predicted existence of ICMWs. These results hold across different input attributes, machine learning methods, and prediction periods, and training-test samples splitting methods. Finally, this study shows that the two-stage models outperform the one-stage models in predictions related to financial reporting quality.
Relations among Involuntary Stress Responses, Social Support, and Cortisol Output during Acute Social Stress among Adolescent Girls
Authors:   , Hanes Jacob Wobst
Published: December 2023

This investigation utilized data from a previous laboratory-based study to examine the interactive contributions of trait involuntary stress responses (ISRs, e.g., rumination) and perceived familial social support (SS) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA; as indexed via salivary cortisol) response to acute stress in a sample of 128 adolescent girls ages 12 to 16. Participants completed a modified Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), and physiologic stress response was indexed via six salivary cortisol samples. Dimensions of ISRs and familial social support were entered into regression models to predict total cortisol circulation defined by area under the curve with respect to ground (AUCG; Pruessner et al., 2003) following the TSST. Neither ISRs or SS were associated with cortisol AUCG, nor was there an interactive effect of SS on relationships between ISRs and AUCG. Implications of present results and methodological recommendations for future investigations are discussed. This may be the first investigation to consider the interactive effects of ISRs and social support on adolescent girls' HPA responses. Greater understanding of these factors in this understudied demographic will improve translational science as well as inform risk assessment and intervention development.
Air Breathing Fish: Development of Air Breathing in Bristlenose Plecos (Ancistrus cirrhosus)
Authors:   , Crowder Lauren Whitney
Published: December 2023

The bristlenose pleco (Ancistrus cirrhosus) is a species of armored catfish in the Loricariidae family that breathes air facultatively when the aquatic environment becomes hypoxic. The bristlenose pleco uses its highly vascularized stomach as an air breathing organ. The two main goals of this developmental study were to determine the size of onset of air breathing and to determine the frequency of air breathing behavior in bristlenose plecos from juveniles to adults. Developing juveniles reach functional maturity within four to six months of hatching and grow to an adult size of eight to ten cm in length. To examine the developmental timing for the onset of air breathing, we tested different sized juveniles beginning at one cm up until 8 cm in length. The developmental timing for the onset of air breathing was measured by exposing each fish to a slowly decreasing aquatic oxygen content from 100% air saturation down to 8% air saturation. Fish were first able to breathe air at just over 2 cm and 1 gram in mass. There was a weak negative correlation between fish length and % air saturation at which air breathing began. When exposed to 15% air saturation, frequency of air breathing was negatively correlated with fish length. Armored catfish are becoming an invasive species in the southern US, outcompeting local fauna potentially because of this adaptation. This research provides important insight into the development of the air breathing adaptation that may allow these fish to outcompete the others.
An Examination of Communication Patterns, Relationship Satisfaction, and Mental Health Symptoms in IPV-Exposed Women With and Without a History of Child Abuse
Authors:   , Griffith Elizabeth L.
Published: December 2023

Extant research suggests communication styles (CS) such as constructive communication (CC) to be associated positively with relationship satisfaction (RS) and negatively with mental health (MH) whereas self-demand / partner withdraw (SD/PW) communication is associated negatively with RS and positively with MH. Research also suggests child abuse (CA) to be associated with poorer CS, lower RS, and poorer MH. Further, RS has been differentially associated with MH and CS in adult intimate relationships. However, no study has examined these associations simultaneously. The current study aimed to (1) assess these associations in IPV-exposed women and (2) assess differences between those with and without a history of CA. Data (n = 412; Mage = 36.77, SD = 12.54) come from a larger data collection project (N = 676). I hypothesized that: (1) higher CC and RS would be associated with lower severity of MH symptoms; (2) higher SD/PW and lower RS would be associated with higher severity of MH symptoms; (3) women with a history of CA will report less CC, lower RS, and higher severity of MH symptoms; and (4) women with a history of CA will report more SD/PW, lower RS, and higher severity of MH symptoms. Results did not support hypotheses. Results suggest that CS and RS do not together predict MH in this population and do not differ for those with or without a history of CA. Future research should quantitatively and qualitatively investigate these associations in dyads in order to thoroughly assess the everyday nature of the relationship.
Exploring the Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire (DLOQ) for Startup Learning Environments
Authors:   , Morris Mark Orlando
Published: December 2023

Although the Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire (DLOQ) has been widely accepted by the HRD community, it has not been tested in a startup context for reliability. The purpose of the current study is to explore if the DLOQ is a reliable instrument for startups to help them be more successful. The current study seeks to address some of the questions, which have been posed by previous researchers. The study utilizes a mixed-method design applying Cronbach alpha values to check the reliability of the instrument in a startup learning environment, with more than 600 participants and 42 startup businesses at a university in the Mountain West. The study uses objective financial measures for startup firms to explore the correlation between the seven dimensions of the DLOQ and startup companies at the university. Cronbach alphas for the instrument measured at the .80 level or higher. Four of the dimensions were found to be statistically significant resulting in a model that accounted for 30% of the variance in predicted Operating Income (p<.004) and 29% of the variances in predicted Net Income (p<.003). The study also uses qualitative analysis to explore what activities relate to the seven dimensions of the DLOQ, and if those activities would be considered complex and disruptive. Thirteen activity clusters were identified and found to be relevant to startups and the seven dimensions of the DLOQ.
Household Displacement after Hurricane Harvey: Decisions, Destination Choice, and Displacement Patterns
Authors:   , Sauceda Miranda
Published: December 2023

The thesis examines post-event displacement of households in the year following Hurricane Harvey. Using data gathered from a three-page mail survey conducted approximately 1-year after the storm, this study examines two primary research objectives. First this thesis aims to identify variables that predict displacement or non-displacement after the disaster. Second, this study explores patterns in the destination and duration of displaced households following Hurricane Harvey. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the extent to which household composition characteristics and level of damage sustained during Hurricane Harvey predicted post-disaster displacement. Next, independent sample t-tests and descriptive statistical analyses were used to identify patterns in the destination of post-event relocations. Research findings indicate in the overall binary logistic regression model that after Hurricane Harvey, being White, level of home damage, wind damage, and number of days a member of the household returned home post-Harvey increased the likelihood of a household being displaced. Analysis of the survey responses also indicated that many households made multiple moves following Hurricane Harvey and specifically, displaced households were more likely to stay with a friend or relative. Additionally, this study found that with each additional relocation, the duration of stay at each destination increased while the distance from their pre-disaster home decreased. This thesis advances understanding of what predicts household displacement after a disaster and offers new insights into where people go during the short-term and beginning of the long-term recovery phases.
Exploring Uses of Automated Essay Scoring for ESL: Bridging the Gap between Research and Practice
Authors:   , Tesh Geneva Marie
Published: December 2023

Manually grading essays and providing comprehensive feedback pose significant challenges for writing instructors, requiring subjective assessments of various writing elements. Automated essay scoring (AES) systems have emerged as a potential solution, offering improved grading consistency and time efficiency, along with insightful analytics. However, the use of AES in English as a Second Language (ESL) remains rare. This dissertation aims to explore the implementation of AES in ESL education to enhance teaching and learning. The dissertation presents a study involving ESL teachers who learned to use a specific AES system called LightSide, a free and open text mining tool, to enhance writing instruction. The study involved observations, interviews, and a workshop where teachers learned to build their own AES using LightSide. The study aimed to address questions related to teacher interest in using AES, challenges faced by teachers, and the influence of the workshop on teachers' perceptions of AES. By exploring the use of AES in ESL education, this research provides valuable insights to inform the integration of technology and enhance the teaching and learning of writing skills for English language learners.
Neurotoxic Effects of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Vertebrates, from Behavioral to Cellular Levels
Authors:   , Dunton Alicia D.
Published: December 2023

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental toxicants found in anthropogenic mixtures such as crude oil, air pollution, vehicle exhaust, and in some natural combustion reactions. Single PAHs such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) also impact fish behavior when animals are exposed in early life stages and for short periods of time. Aquatic animals such as fish may encounter BaP through road runoff and oil spills, but few studies have examined the impact of aqueous exposure on adult fish, and fewer have examined the resulting fitness-relevant behavioral consequences of BaP and PAH mixtures and their long-term persistence. This dissertation targets this gap in the literature by examining how aqueous exposure to BaP influences anxiety-like behavior, learning, and memory in adult zebrafish, and how parental exposure to the PAH mixture, crude oil, combined with hypoxia affects social and exploratory behavior in unexposed larval zebrafish. We found that learning and memory were not affected by 24 hour exposure to BaP, that anxiety-like behavior was minimally affected, and that locomotor parameters such as distance moved and times spent in darting and immobile states were significantly altered by exposure to BaP. Additionally, we found that parental exposure to crude oil and hypoxia decreased larval velocity. Additionally, we examined how crude oil, BaP, and the detergent COREXIT influence a monolayer of mouse and fish endothelial cells, as an in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model. We found that exposure to BaP in particular caused significant damage to both fish and mammal in vitro BBB models, and damage to the BBB is one potential mechanism by which neural integrity and behavior may be influenced. Understanding how these toxicants influence fish brains and behavior will give insight into how fish populations explore and interact with their environment and with predators, and how these interactions persist even when toxicants are no longer present.
Selection Bias and Sensitivity as Moderators of Prekindergarten Age-Cutoff Regression Discontinuity Study Effects: A Meta-Analysis
Authors:   , Stewart Genea K.
Published: December 2023

The age-cutoff regression discontinuity design (RDD) has emerged as one of the most rigorous quasi-experimental approaches to determining program effects of prekindergarten on literacy and numeracy outcomes for children at kindergarten entry. However, few pre-K meta-analyses have focused attention on validity threats. The current random-effects meta-regression tests the moderating effects of prominent threats to validity, selection bias and sensitivity, on impact estimates generated from age-cutoff regression discontinuity studies from large-scale programs. Results from averaging dependent standardized mean difference effects suggested small positive moderating effects of total attrition and robust 3-month bandwidths on reading effects, but not on math. However, these results were not statistically significant. In contrast, results generated from robust variance estimation yielded a small statistically significant association between total attrition and math effects. These mixed results may warrant further research on prekindergarten evaluation methodology, evaluation estimation methods, and the totality of evidence used to inform policy.
On the Fundamental Limits of Secure Summation and MDS Variable Generation
Authors:   , Zhao Yizhou
Published: December 2023

Secure multiparty computation refers to the problem where a number of users wish to securely compute a function on their inputs without revealing any unnecessary information. This dissertation focuses on the fundamental limits of secure summation under different constraints. We first focus on the minimal model of secure computation, in which two users each hold an input and wish to securely compute a function of their inputs at the server. We propose a novel scheme base on the algebraic structure of finite field and modulo ring of integers. Then we extend the minimal model of secure computation, in which K users wish to securely compute the sum of their inputs at the server. We prove a folklore result on the limits of communication cost and randomness cost. Then we characterized the optimal communication cost with user dropouts constraint, when some users may lose connection to the server and the server wishes to compute the sum of remaining inputs. Next, we characterize the optimal communication and randomness cost for symmetric groupwise keys and find the feasibility condition for arbitrary groupwise keys. Last, we study the secure summation with user selection, such that the server may select any subset of users to compute the sum of their inputs. This leads us to the MDS variable generation problem. We characterize the optimal individual key rate and the result is interestingly the harmonic number.
Effects of Native-English Computer-Assisted Pronunciation Training in an Online Hybrid Learning Environment
Authors:   , Singh Bikram Kumar
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this dissertation was to understand and compare the effect of training non-native English Speaking (NNES) learners (N = 480) in two distinct learning environments, (i) traditional face-to-face and (ii) online synchronous hybrid learning (SHL). In the traditional training mode, NNES learners (n = 360) were trained by NNES voice and accent (VANC) trainers in a physical, face-to-face setting. In the second, CAPT+SHL training mode, the NNES learners were trained by NNES VANC trainers with the help of a native-English computer-assisted pronunciation training (CAPT) tool in an online SHL environment. Factor analysis, higher-order factor analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and multidimensional scaling yielded a reliable scale, Eddie's Voice Test (EVT). Multiple regression yielded a predictive model between NNES pronunciation and their performance. In addition, the CAPT+SHL training mode produced higher scores on pronunciation and performance than the traditional training mode, suggesting a combination of NES and NNES VANC instructors are more effective in training NNES learners than NNES instructors by themselves. The case study (n = 3) on VANC trainers' perception of CAPT and SHL yielded three themes: (1) challenges with synchronous hybrid learning (sub-themes include physical challenges, social challenges, and cognitive challenges); (2) computer-assisted pronunciation training (CAPT) impact on non-native-English-speaking (NNES) learner pronunciation (sub-themes include self-paced pronunciation learning and pronunciation benchmarking; and (3). SHL as an equitable learning environment.
Stories and "Burning Man"
Authors:   , Ray T. Scott
Published: December 2023

Stories and a novel.
Next Generation Friction Stir Welding Tools for High Temperature Materials
Authors:   , Gaddam Supreeth
Published: December 2023

The historical success of friction stir welding (FSW) on materials such as aluminum and magnesium alloys is associated with the absence of melting and solidification during the solid-state process. However, commercial adoption of FSW on steels and other non-ferrous high-strength, high-temperature materials such as nickel-base and titanium-base alloys is limited due to the high costs associated with the process. In this dissertation, the feasibility of using an FSW approach to fabricate certain structural components made of nitrogen containing austenitic stainless steels that go into the vacuum vessel and magnetic systems of tokamak devices was demonstrated. The FSW weldments possessed superior application-specific mechanical and functional properties when compared to fusion weldments reported in the technical literature. However, as stated earlier, the industrial adoption of FSW on high temperature materials such as the ferrous alloys used in the present study is greatly limited due to the high costs associated with the process. The cost is mainly dictated by the high temperature FSW tools used to accomplish the weldments. Commercially available high temperature FSW tools are exorbitantly priced and often have short lifetimes. To overcome the high-cost barrier, we have explored the use of integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) combined with experimental prototyping validation to design next-generation tool materials with high performance and relatively low cost. Cermet compositions with either tungsten carbide or niobium carbide as the hard phase bonded by high entropy alloy binders were processed via mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering. The feasibility and effectiveness of the newly developed cermet tool materials as potential next generation high temperature FSW tool materials was evaluated.
The Effects of Skilled Dialogue Simulation Coaching on the Collaborative Verbal Behavior of Behavior Analysts in Training
Authors:   , Webb Maia Grenada
Published: December 2023

Despite the evidence that supports the benefits of a holistic, collaborative approach to autism intervention, but there is little training to teach those skills to professionals. Behavior analysts working in applied settings will often partner with different individuals from very different backgrounds and disciplines. Skilled Dialogue has been recommended as an approach to conversations that values everyone's contributions in fostering compassionate, collaborative, and culturally responsive care to benefit the children served. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a training workshop to teach the concept and strategies of skilled dialogue to behavior analysts in training. The participants were taught and practiced using the six strategies of Skilled Dialogue: welcoming, allowing, sense-making, appreciating, joining, and harmonizing through use of instructions, rationales, activities, simulations, and feedback. The success of the training was evaluated using a multiple baseline design across training components. Audio and video responses to role-play scenarios were recorded, transcribed, and scored to measure the results of the training workshop on communication skills. The results suggested that the training workshop was an effective method to teaching future behavior analysts how to engage in the strategies and components of skilled dialogue, increasingly the likelihood of collaborative, and children centered communication and care.
Exposure to Trauma and Its Effect on Information-Seeking Behaviors and Decision-Making Processes
Authors:   , Fantasia Anthony Thomas
Published: December 2023

This dissertation examines the impact of trauma on information-seeking behaviors and decision-making processes. Essay 1 includes a qualitative analysis of the transcripts obtained from interviews with four military service members diagnosed with PTSD. The results showed that 75% of this small sample population exhibited addictive behavior that was presented in their information behaviors. All four members indicated that the excessive extent to which they seek information is related to the perceived importance of the information and their level of trust in the sources. Low trust in information sources increases the number of sources searched for validation in this population. Essay 2 involved the collection and analysis of survey data. The results of the stepwise backward regression show that two trauma variables (adult sexual assault, sudden fear) have a significant combined negative effect on decision-making in this population. The analysis and results of a different survey are presented in Essay 3. The stepwise logistic regression analysis results conducted on the summated scales developed showed a strong positive link between trust in scientific experts for scientific information and the dichotomous dependent variable trust in social media for news. The research conducted in this dissertation extends the understanding of how trauma affects people's information-seeking habits and decision-making processes. The findings have implications for how to communicate, policies relevant to information dissemination, and mental health measures. Future research is suggested to understand these behaviors and potential treatments better.
Information Privacy and Security Associated with Healthcare Technology Use
Authors:   , Amin M A Shariful
Published: December 2023

This dissertation consists of three studies that investigate the information privacy & security associated with healthcare technology use. Essay 1 PRISMA-style systematically reviews the existing literature on privacy information disclosure in IoT technology and serves as the theoretical foundation of the current research. It is crucial to comprehend why, how, and under what consequences individuals choose to disclose their personal and health information since doing so is beneficial to the company. This SLR method allows us to find those factors that significantly impact individuals' behavioral intention to disclose personal information while using IoT technologies. Essay 2 posits, develops, and tests a comprehensive theoretical framework built upon the theory of planned behavior and the health belief model to examine factors affecting willingness to disclose PHI in order to use WFDs. A research survey is designed and distributed to a crowdsourcing platform, Mechanical Turk (M-Turk). Research hypotheses are tested using partial least square – structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). To achieve this purpose, Essay 3 extends the findings from the previous essay and further investigates the caregiver context. Therefore, we developed a novel theoretical model utilizing privacy calculus theory and the technology acceptance model to investigate the willingness of the elderly to disclose personal health information needed to use caregiver robots. Survey data were collected using crowdsourcing utilizing Amazon's Mechanical Turk (M-Turk) and Prolific. Research hypotheses are tested using partial least square – structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings provide value for academia, practitioners, and policymakers.
An Examination of the Metaverse Technology Acceptance Model in Tourism
Authors:   , Lee Sangyung
Published: December 2023

The traditional definition of tourism has been transformed by significant advancements in communication and information technology. The concept of Metaverse, derived from the words "meta" (meaning beyond) and "verse" (meaning universe), has redefined how people experience travel. This innovative concept combines virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence to create virtually augmented spaces. However, the tourism industry should clarify and narrow down the definition of Metaverse and its intriguing concept for its successful adoption in the future. Thus, it is crucial to define Metaverse tourism and understand how users will accept it in the near future. This study aims to comprehend the technology behind Metaverse tourism, review current research on the topic, and identify the critical factors related to experiential Metaverse tourism. The paper also examines how computer self-efficacy, novelty seeking, subjective norm, job relevance, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived enjoyment can influence expected user satisfaction and behavioral intention, given the context of situational motivation. The findings have significant implications for theory and management, addressing various questions related to users' perceptions, expectations, design considerations, stakeholder preparations, and performance assessment of metaverse technology in tourism applications.
Anti-S2 Peptides and Antibodies Binding Effect on Myosin S2 and Anti-S2 Peptide's Ability to Reach the Cardiomyocytes in vivo and Interfere in Muscle Contraction
Authors:   , Quedan Duaa Mohamad Alhaj Mahmoud
Published: December 2023

The anti-S2 peptides, the stabilizer and destabilizer, were designed to target myosin sub-fragment 2 (S2) in muscle. When the peptides are coupled to a heart-targeting molecule, they can reach the cardiomyocytes and interfere with cardiac muscle contraction. Monoclonal antibodies, MF20 and MF30, are also known to interact with light meromyosin and S2 respectively. The MF30 antibody compared to anti-S2 peptides and the MF20 antibody is used as a control to test the central hypothesis that: Both the anti-S2 peptides and antibodies bind to myosin S2 with high affinity, compete with MyBPC, and possibly interact with titin, in which case the anti-S2 peptides have further impact on myosin helicity and reach the heart with the aid of tannic acid to modulate cardiomyocytes' contraction in live mice. In this research, the effects of anti-S2 peptides and antibodies on myosin S2 were studied at the molecular and tissue levels. The anti-myosin binding mechanism to whole myosin was determined based on total internal reflectance fluorescence spectroscopy (TIRFS), and a modified cuvette was utilized to accommodate this experiment. The binding graphs indicated the cooperative binding of the peptides and antibodies with high affinity to myosin. Anti-myosin peptides and antibodies competition with Myosin Binding Protein C (MyBPC) was revealed through the super-resolution expansion microscopy using wildtype skeletal and cardiac myofibrils, and MyBPC knock-out cardiac myofibril. This new emerging technique depends on using the regular confocal microscope in imaging expanded myofibril after embedding in a swellable hydrogel polymer and digestion. A decrease in the fluorescent intensity at the C-zone was observed in myofibrils labeled with fluorescently labeled anti-S2 peptides or antibodies supporting the competition with MyBPC, which further was confirmed by the absence of this reduction at the C-zone in the knockout MyBPC cardiac tissue. The anti-S2 peptide's ability to reach inside the cardiomyocytes was tested by injecting fluorescently labeled anti-S2 peptides bound to tannic acid in live mice, the destabilizer peptide reached the heart 6X more than the stabilizer peptide. Some of the peptides labeled cardiac arterioles and T-tubules as detected by super-resolution microscopic images, meanwhile some peptides reached inside the cardiomyocytes and labeled some sarcomeres. This dissertation demonstrates the ability of anti-S2 peptides and antibodies in modifying myosin as they bind cooperatively with high affinity to myosin and compete with the regulatory protein MyBPC, in addition to the possible interaction between the stabilizer peptide and titin. Lastly, the peptides succeeded in labeling some cardiac sarcomeres in live mice.
The Multigenerational Development of Oklahoma City's African American Community as an Urban Ethnic Enclave
Authors:   , Ritt-Coulter Edith Mae
Published: December 2023

This dissertation examines the history and importance of Oklahoma City's Black Ethnic Enclave. It focuses on how this community developed over generations and the role of its leaders in shaping its identity, despite facing segregation. The settlement in this region began in 1889 when unassigned lands in central Indian Territory were opened for homesteaders by the US government. As a result, Oklahoma City became one of the major towns and eventually the state's capital. Most historical accounts primarily focus on the viewpoint of the white founders of the city, ignoring the experiences of minority residents and the urban aspects of the city. This study takes an interdisciplinary approach, combining historical analysis, urban studies, and sociocultural perspectives. It aims to understand the complex relationship between racial dynamics, urban development, and identity formation. By thoroughly examining primary and secondary sources like archival records, oral histories, and scholarly literature, the research uncovers the struggles, achievements, and cultural contributions of the community builders who overcame systemic barriers to create a thriving enclave within Oklahoma City. By highlighting their stories, this research enriches our understanding of the city's history and the diverse urban experiences it encompasses.