bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STATE OWNED ENTERPRISES: 05 YEARS OF THE NEW CORPORATE GOVERNANCE RULES
Authors: Garcia Ricardo Lupion
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACTObjective: This article intends to address the new Brazilian regulatory environment created by the SOEs Law (Law No. 13,303, of June 30, 2016) which created new corporate governance rules in state-owned enterprises for the election of directors, officers and fiscal council members, with the purpose of protecting the public companies, the mixed joint-stock corporation and its subsidiaries ("state-owned") against any possible (and unfortunately common) political-partisan interference in the appointment of the members of these top-level management positions in the SOEs. The article will also present cases of progress, setbacks, and the future of this new Brazilian legal norm.Methodology: Review of the bibliography and analysis of judicial and administrative precedents involving the application of new corporate governance rules for state-owned enterprises.Results: It is possible to conclude that the new corporate governance rules were created by Law No. 13,303, of June 30, 2016 with the purpose of protecting the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) against any possible (and unfortunately common) political-partisan interference in the appointment of the members of the top-level management positions in the SOEs.Contributions:  From the results found, it is possible to verify: (a) One of the most relevant aspects of the Law No. 13,303, of June 30, 2016 was the creation of academic background, professional experience and professionalization for the top-level management of state-owned enterprises, as usual in the private sector. (b) that the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) determined the application of the new corporate governance rules for state-owned enterprises; (c) the Judiciary, especially the Federal Supreme Court (STF), can make a relevant contribution if it decides to apply these new rules  of governance corporate in order to mitigate  political-partisan interference in the appointment of the members of these top-level management positions in the state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
Energy efficient cluster based algorithm for underwater sensor networks
Authors: Οβαλιάδης Κυριάκος
Published: December 2023

Σε αυτή τη διατριβή, προτείνεται ένας καινοτόμος και εξελισσόμενος αλγόριθμος δρομολόγησης βασισμένος σε σύμπλεγμα (cluster) (CBRA) με σκοπό να παρέχει ένα ενεργειακά αποδοτικό σύστημα συμπλέγματος το οποίο μπορεί επίσης να χειρίζεται αστοχίες συνδεσιμότητας μεταξύ του επικεφαλή - κόμβου του συμπλέγματος και του κινητού κόμβου αισθητήρα. Επιπλέον, για την ανάπτυξη, την εφαρμογή και τη δοκιμή του αλγόριθμου CBRA, έχει σχεδιαστεί, αναπτυχθεί και υλοποιηθεί ένα νέο λογισμικό προσομοίωσης που ονομάζεται USNeT (Underwater Sensor Network simulation Tool). Το λογισμικό USNeT ακολουθεί το αντικειμενοστραφή στυλ σχεδίασης και όλες οι οντότητες του δικτύου αισθητήρων υλοποιούνται ως κλάσεις στην C++, ενσωματώνοντας μηχανισμούς νημάτων. Αρχικά έχουν γίνει σημαντικές προσαρμογές προκειμένου ο αλγόριθμος να γίνει πιο ενεργειακά αποδοτικός. Μερικές από αυτές τις αλλαγές είναι: διαχείριση εύρους μετάδοσης, ενεργοποίηση διαδικασίας εκ νέου ομαδοποίησης για κάθε σύμπλεγμα ξεχωριστά, λειτουργία ύπνου του κόμβου αισθητήρα και απόρριψη ανεπιθύμητων πληροφοριών. Όλα τα αποτελέσματα προσομοίωσης, που εφαρμόστηκαν σε αντιπαράθεση με το πρωτόκολλο Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH), υποδεικνύουν μια μικρή αλλά σημαντική βελτίωση στην απόδοση του αλγορίθμου CBRA ειδικά στην ενεργειακή απόδοση. Αυτή η μελέτη προτείνει επίσης ότι οι βλάβες στους επικεφαλής-κόμβους (Cluster Head-CH) του συστήματος θα μπορούσαν να ελαχιστοποιηθούν περαιτέρω όταν επιλέγεται ταυτόχρονα ένας CH (πρωτεύον CH) και ένας εφεδρικός CH. Έτσι, όταν ένας πρωτεύον CH αποτύχει λόγω ανεπανόρθωτης βλάβης, ένας εφεδρικός CH θα πάρει τη θέση του και θα λειτουργεί ως (πρωτεύον) επικεφαλής - κόμβος. Ως εκ τούτου, ο CBRA επαναπροσδιορίζεται και βελτιστοποιείται για να μπορεί να χειριστεί αυτό το ζήτημα και επίσης να μειώσει τυχόν διακοπές στην ζεύξη επικοινωνίας. Η ανάλυση των αποτελεσμάτων της προσομοίωσης δείχνει ότι το επανακαθορισμένο CBRA (r-CBRA) είναι πιο ενεργειακά αποδοτικό και μπορεί να βελτιώσει αποτελεσματικά την ικανότητα επιβίωσης του δικτύου σε περίπτωση βλάβης του cluster-head, σε αντιπαράθεση με το σύστημα με τον μη βελτιστοποιημένο αλγόριθμο CBRA και το LEACH πρωτόκολλο. Στη συνέχεια, το r-CBRA χρησιμοποιείται ξανά, για την αντιμετώπιση των αστοχιών σύνδεσης του κόμβου αισθητήρα. Σε περίπτωση που ένας κινητός κόμβος αισθητήρα βρίσκεται κοντά σε ένα σύμπλεγμα αλλά όχι στην εμβέλεια του CH, το r-CBRA αλλάζει την κατάσταση, του πλησιέστερου σε αυτόν κόμβου αισθητήρα, σε CH και στη συνέχεια δημιουργεί μια σύνδεση επικοινωνίας μεταξύ τους. Τα αποτελέσματα της προσομοίωσης δείχνουν για άλλη μια φορά ότι ο νέος αλγόριθμος δρομολόγησης διασφαλίζει τη συνδεσιμότητα του δικτύου χωρίς να θυσιάζει την ενεργειακή απόδοση του.
Προς μία ευρωπαϊκή ομοσπονδία υπό το πρίσμα μιας δημοσιονομικής ένωσης
Authors: Δράκου Ειρήνη
Published: December 2023

Αντλώντας έννοιες από διαφορετικούς οικονομικούς και πολιτικούς ακαδημαϊκούς τομείς και συνδυάζοντάς τες σε ένα κοινό θεωρητικό υπόβαθρο, επιχειρείται μια σύνθεση ενός ενιαίου θεωρητικού πλαισίου από το οποίο εξάγεται ένα εννοιολογικό μοντέλο δημοσιονομικής πολιτικής για την πολιτική ολοκλήρωση της ΕΕ με τη μορφή ομοσπονδίας. Μετά την αναφορά των ελλείψεων στο σχεδιασμό της ευρωπαϊκής αρχιτεκτονικής και την κριτική ανάλυση της νεοκλασικής οικονομικής θεωρίας στην οποία βασίστηκε, δίνεται έμφαση στα θεσμικά οικονομικά για την ανάδειξη των δημοσιονομικών στρατηγικών ανάπτυξης, από τις οποίες αναδεικνύονται οι βασικοί μοχλοί της οικονομικής και κοινωνικής παραγωγικότητας. δηλαδή η επιχειρηματικότητα, η συνεχής καινοτομία, η οικονομία της γνώσης και οι διαδικασίες δημιουργικής καταστροφής, όλα ενσωματωμένα στο πλαίσιο ενός συστήματος καινοτομίας. Ένα υπερεθνικό σύστημα καινοτομίας υποστηρίζεται ότι αποτελεί τον θεμελιώδη εξελικτικό πυλώνα για την οικονομική και κοινωνική ανάπτυξη, μέσω ενός δικτύου αποκεντρωμένων δομών φορολογίας και δημοσιονομικής αυτονομίας. Τα παραπάνω ευρήματα εκφράζονται μέσω ενός μοντέλου «πολιτοκεντρικής» δημοσιονομικής πολιτικής, που αξιολογείται ως ο καταλληλότερος τρόπος για την ομοσπονδοποίηση της ΕΕ.
Η Λέσβος του γλεντιού
Authors: Χαραλαμπή Θεοδώρα
Published: December 2023

Στη σύγχρονη εποχή, η πληθώρα των τρόπων διασκέδασης και των μουσικών επιλογών, η ανάπτυξη της τεχνολογίας, οι αλλαγές οι οποίες έχουν συντελεστεί στο πεδίο των κοινωνικών σχέσεων, η μετατόπιση του ρόλου της γυναίκας, η οποία τροποποιήθηκε στο πλαίσιο της προώθησης της ισότητας των δύο φύλων, καθώς και οι αλλαγές στον τρόπο δόμησης των σχέσεων μεταξύ γονιών και παιδιών, επηρέασαν τον τρόπο αντίληψης των δρώντων υποκειμένων για το θεσμό του πανηγυριού, με αποτέλεσμα την αναδιαμόρφωση των πρακτικών του. Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή εντάσσεται στο ευρύτερο πλαίσιο του προβληματισμού που εγείρουν οι παραπάνω κοινωνικοί και οι πολιτισμικοί μετασχηματισμοί, με την έρευνα πεδίου να εστιάζει στις γλεντικές πρακτικές των πανηγυριών στη Λεσβιακή επικράτεια, προκειμένου να ιχνηλατήσει και να αναδείξει την εξέλιξη και το νόημα του φαινομένου στη σύγχρονη εποχή. Η χρήση της θεωρίας Δρώντος - Δικτύου, γνωστή ως ANT (Actor Network Theory), επιλέχτηκε ως μεθοδολογία, αλλά και ως θεωρητικό υπόδειγμα για να αποδοθεί έμφαση στις κομβικές συνδέσεις που ενυπάρχουν μεταξύ των ανθρώπινων και των μη ανθρώπινων οντοτήτων. Με βάση την παραπάνω θεωρητική και μεθοδολογική προσέγγιση επιδιώκονται απαντήσεις στο «πως» και στο «γιατί» των κοινωνικών, οικονομικών και πολιτισμικών μετασχηματισμών, που συγκροτούν το κύριο αντικείμενο διερεύνησης αυτής της διδακτορικής διατριβής. Η αποφυγή του δυϊσμού ανάμεσα στην κοινωνία και στην τεχνολογία έχει ως συνέπεια την αναθεώρηση του τύπου των σχέσεων, από κοινωνικές σε κοινωνικο-τεχνικές, οι οποίες ορίζονται ως ένα ανοιχτό σύνολο αλληλεπιδράσεων, όπου τα χαρακτηριστικά των ετερογενών οντοτήτων δεν προϋπάρχουν, αλλά διαμορφώνονται μέσα από τις σχέσεις τους με άλλους παράγοντες.
Η σκοπιμότητα των μεταβολών της φορολογικής νομοθεσίας και οι τάσεις των νέων μορφών ελέγχου νομικών προσώπων στην αντιμετώπιση της φοροδιαφυγής μετά την εφαρμογή του κώδικα φορολογικής διαδικασίας
Authors: Πετρίδου Μαρία
Published: December 2023

Ο έλεγχος της φορολογικής αρχής αποτελεί τον κύριο μηχανισμό της πάταξης της φοροδιαφυγής και βασικό στόχο του αποτελεί η συγκέντρωση δημοσίων εσόδων διαμέσου του ελέγχου των οικονομικών αποτελεσμάτων νομικών και φυσικών προσώπων προκειμένου να επιβληθούν οι αντίστοιχοι φόροι, σύμφωνα με τη εκάστοτε νομοθεσία που τίθεται σε εφαρμογή. Οι σύγχρονες μέθοδοι της φοροδιαφυγής απαιτούν ως αντιστάθμισμα τις σύγχρονες μεθόδους φορολογικού ελέγχου, οι οποίες πρέπει να προσαρμόζονται στις καινούργιες μορφές των δραστηριοτήτων εμπορίας, παραγωγής και παροχής υπηρεσιών. Σκοπός της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι το να απαντηθούν ερευνητικά ερωτήματα, τα οποία σχετίζονται με τους προσδιοριστικούς παράγοντες της αποτελεσματικότητας των εργαλείων που έχουν στη διάθεση τους οι ελεγκτές βεβαίωσης της Α.Α.Δ.Ε. και των αλλαγών στη φορολογική νομοθεσία μετά την έναρξη του Κώδικα Φορολογικής Διαδικασίας, όπως αυτοί προσδιορίζονται με βάση το αναλυθέν θεωρητικό πλαίσιο και τη βιβλιογραφία. Ταυτόχρονα συνδέονται αναπόσπαστα και με τον απώτερο στόχο της, ήτοι την αξιολόγηση από πλευράς των ελεγκτών του ελεγκτικού τους έργου σε σχέση τόσο με τον επιχειρησιακό σχεδιασμό της Α.Α.Δ.Ε. και κατ’ επέκταση την αύξηση των δημοσίων εσόδων όσο και με την σχέση του ελεγκτικού τους έργου με τον περιορισμό και κατ’ επέκταση την πάταξη της φοροδιαφυγής. Με βάση τα αποτελέσματα των στατιστικών αναλύσεων προκύπτει ότι από το σύνολο των παραμέτρων που εξετάστηκαν, στατιστικά σημαντικές και ανεξάρτητες είναι οι σχέσεις με την: 1) Αποτελεσματικότητα των Ηλεκτρονικών Συστημάτων, 2) Αποτελεσματικότητα του Νέου Νόμου (Κ.Φ.Δ.), 3) Αποτελεσματικότητα των Φορολογικών Ελέγχων, 4) Αποτελεσματικότητα του Νέου Επιχειρησιακού Σχεδίου. Επομένως όσο περισσότερο πιστεύουν οι συμμετέχοντες στις συγκεκριμένες παραμέτρους, τόσο περισσότερο αποτελεσματική αναμένεται να χαρακτηρίζουν και την αντιμετώπιση της φοροδιαφυγής.
Online counseling to Greek teachers: Advantages and disadvantages
Authors: Skoti Pagonitsa , Koskinas Konstantinos
Published: December 2023

This study focuses on the online counseling experience of the participants. In the research participated 3 school psychologists, as counselors and 6 teachers, as clients. The main research questions are: what are the difficulties that teachers face at school? What are teacher’s perceptions about school psychologists and the perceptions of teachers and psychologists about online counseling before and after the experience of online sessions which held in an internet- based application that created for the purposes of the research? The research is qualitative. The method that was used for the analysis of the data is the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The main findings of the research are summarized as follows: a) the participants regarded the online session as helpful and as an interesting approach, b) the advantages of the online session according to the participants were the anonymity, the flexibility, the ability to retain a history of the sessions. On the other hand, as disadvantages the participants reported dehumanization, confidentiality and security issues, absence of non-verbal cues, delayed communication due to typing, c) a pattern of ambivalence towards the school psychologist and the online school psychologist emerged by the participants teachers, d) also emerged a concern of the participants psychologists for the loss of control during the online sessions, e) finally, the participants psychologists reported feelings of anxiety due to the lack of training in online counseling.
Rhizome
Authors: Mori Lia
Published: December 2023

Πρόκειται για ένα τυπικό ζευγάρι, με βάση τα ελληνικά κοινωνικά στερεότυπα.  Διανύουν το τελευταίο μισό της τρίτης δεκαετίας της ζωής τους. Σε λίγους μήνες πιθανόν να γιορτάσουν - με σχετικώς ισχνή χαρά - την έκτη επέτειο της σχέσης τους. Εκείνος άνεργος - το τελευταίο εξάμηνο - αρχιτέκτονας. Εκείνη δικηγόρος, δουλεύει ως γραμματέας σε ένα δικηγορικό γραφείο.
International Arbitration as an Alternative Method for Settling Administrative Disputes in the Kuwaiti Law
Authors: Alhajri Muna
Published: December 2023

This study carries out research into international arbitration in disputes of administrative contracts while discussing the level of possibility of resorting to arbitration as a means of settling administrative disputes, and discussing the situation of Kuwaiti law with some references to French law in the field of administrative contracts. The French lawgiver issued laws by which he organized arbitration in some disputes to which the state or any of its public staff (industrial, commercial, and economic establishments) were a party therein, and we defined what are the cases in which it is possible to resort to arbitration in administrative contracts locally or internationally in these countries. As to the general basis, the administrative court is deemed the concerned entity in every country and it is the original competent authority to consider administrative disputes, and we clarified that the Kuwaiti did not issue a special law for arbitration in administrative contracts, however such proceedings may be conducted according to other laws, i.e., Partnership Law, and the study concluded some important results as to accepting arbitration in administrative contracts that must be provided in international legislations and agreements.
Legal Aspects of the Functioning of a Limited Liability Company as a Social Enterprise in Polish Law
Authors: Sikorska-Lewandowska Aleksandra
Published: December 2023

The legal form of a limited liability company is the most popular among all commercial companies in Poland. The vast majority of these companies conduct business activities for profit. However, there are a number of companies that are preoccupied with non-economic activities, pursue pro-social goals, and define themselves as non-profit companies or social enterprises.

The article presents a historical outline and legal basis for the conducting of non-profit activities by limited liability companies in Poland. The subject of the research will be the legal conditions for the obtaining of the status of a social economy entity by a limited liability company and the conditions for the obtaining of the status of a social enterprise, in connection with the entry into force of the Act of August 5, 2022 on the social economy. The possibility of conducting business activity by these entities will also be analysed.
Industry Challenges for an Under-Skilled Workforce
Authors:   , Osborne Mark S.
Published: December 2023

This study examined the challenges companies encounter attempting to fill job vacancies with applicants having the requisite skills. Of the 115 journals evaluated as part of the literature review, 64% of the documents identified issues related to workplace skills development deficiencies in industry and academia. Additional findings related to vocational training programs, training for youth, training content issues, and investments in skills training are evaluated. The literature review suggests both industry and academia struggle with developing and training students and the workforce with the new technology skills demanded in today's workplace. A research study, conducted in an industrial manufacturing company, was performed based on two data sets (defect quantities and repair hours). Each of the data sets consisted of production performance data collected during three time periods (pre-treatment, proximal treatment, and distal post-treatment). The Treatment consisted of the development of a training course focused on the assembly and installation of electrical harness assemblies into electronic equipment cabinets. Specific industrial assembly requirements and process outcomes were addressed in the curriculum design. The statistical analysis of the quantitative data indicated there was a statistically significant outcome associated with the proximal treatment of the repair hours data set. However, the applied treatment did not yield a statistically significant outcome for the distal post-treatment time period for the defect quantities and repair hours data sets. The findings and recommendations for future study, realized in this research study, identified multiple suggestions to improve treatment (training) outcomes.
On Wings of Song: Exploring the First-Generation Chinese Art Song Composer Ellinor Valesby (1894-1969)
Authors:   , Xu Jing
Published: December 2023

The dissertation presents a female German composer Ellinor Valesby, who composed Chinese art songs in Chinese with classical Chinese poetry. For political reasons, she used her pseudonym rather than her given name Irmgard Heinrich (1894-1969). As a western composer, also the wife of a Chinese poet and composer Ching-chu, who lived in China for 25 years, Valesby's songs present various interpretive challenges stemming from the combination of traditional Chinese poetry, folk music vernacular, and Western music components. Because no documentation in English can be found about Valesby or her songs, there is a need to provide performers with a better understanding of her perspective in these increasingly multicultural times. In addition, the dissertation discusses the germination and development of the Chinese Art Song and introduces the school song, the predecessor of Chinese art songs. The focus is on examining the Chinese and Western influences that appear in Valesby's art songs, revealing through examination of text setting, form, musical texture, and the role of piano how this female Western composer who did not speak Chinese set Chinese poetry from her unique cross-cultural perspectives. Today the legacy of these Chinese art song pioneers remains incomplete, but Valesby and her husband Ching-chu's profound contribution to both Chinese art songs and Chinese musicology remains indisputable.
A Lost Jewel of Romanticism: Pedagogical Guide of Robert Kahn's Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano (1886)
Authors:   , Hines Molly J.
Published: December 2023

This document aims to add diversity to advanced violin repertoire being taught and performed. Specifically, this project revives late German Romantic composer Robert Kahn (1865-1951) and argues for his violin sonatas to be included in standard violin repertoire due to their immense pedagogical wealth. Kahn was a prolific composer and left behind a large collection of pieces including twenty-five chamber works, the majority involving string instruments. Yet Kahn is rarely performed and hardly known to modern violinists. His works embody the late Romantic style in their expression, harmony, form, and drama and deserve renewed recognition. This document narrows its focus to Kahn's Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 5 and provides an extensive pedagogical guide for violinists. The guide includes chapters on both collaborative and technical challenges that exist within this piece. The collaborative chapter offers guidance and suggested rehearsal techniques for both instruments regarding balance challenges throughout the first movement. The technical chapter provides exercises for violinists on how to approach several difficult passages within the first and third movements. This project includes an interview conducted by the author with Julia Bushkova and Arsentiy Kharitonov, the first artists to record all three Kahn Sonatas. The transcript of this interview is included in Appendix B of this document.
Pedagogical Balance: Exploring Pre-Service Teachers Ratings of Teaching Confidence and Teaching Experience
Authors:   , Carter Morgan M.
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this quantitative study was to further explore pedagogical balance using multidimensional scaling and epistemic network analysis. Teacher shortages and attrition remain a critical issue for the future, and simulated classroom environments like simSchool can provide teachers additional training to help improve teaching confidence and teaching experience. Two different data sets were analyzed at various time before and after simSchool use to see how pre-service teachers rate themselves in 8 areas of teaching as defined by the Survey of Teaching Skills. Multidimensional scaling was utilized to see how teaching confidence and teaching experience align with no simSchool use, 90 minutes of use, and 8 hours of use. Epistemic network analysis was utilized to look at the cognitive structures of different groups to determine any differences. The findings are discussed with future research directions provided.
Strategies for Attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Assessing the Effectiveness of Post-Conflict Peacebuilding Mechanisms in the International Capital Markets
Authors:   , Nnoke Ariella Joan
Published: December 2023

Post-civil conflict nations have a strong incentive to attract foreign capital because it is vital for redevelopment and economic growth which in turn reduce the likelihood of conflict resumption. Although foreign investors tend to be risk averse and view states that have recently experienced conflict to be high risk environments, this paper argues that power-sharing mechanisms address the roots of civil dissent and therefore provide a positive signal to potential investors. By focusing on a particular peacebuilding mechanism this work is able to single out the impact of one strategy, namely power-sharing, and assess its effectiveness in attracting foreign direct investment.
Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises: Understanding the Prevalence and Purposes within the Collegiate Voice Instructor Population
Authors:   , Sullivan Kristen Janell
Published: December 2023

Semi-occluded vocal tract exercises (SOVTEs) have been a topic of research and interest among voice specialists for over three decades. An SOVTE is "any exercise in which the vocal tract is made partially closed at or near the lips." When this kind of occlusion occurs there are numerous consequences that follow, but of primary interest is a beneficial change of impedance. These beneficial changes are still being studied, but efficiency in phonation, as well as a shift in the configuration of the vocal folds during phonation are two significant findings thus far. Efficiency in vocal production is paramount to a performer's vocal health. Therefore, a dissipating impedance or a hindering reactance would be undesirable. Research over the last three decades has largely addressed the degree of reactive inertance possible through such impedance and its health benefits on the speaking and singing voice. The performing arts health aspects of these benefits are increasingly relevant to professional voice users. Although research on SOVTEs has become plentiful and widely available to voice teachers, it is unknown how or if this population is digesting the current performing arts health research and implementing it within their vocal instruction. Understanding the extent to which SOVTE science is known and implemented by the current voice-teaching population could inform the current and future voice-science community on how to best alter the dissemination of upcoming research.
Combined Effects of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Ultraviolet Light on Benthic and Pelagic Macroinvertebrates
Authors:   , Chapman Abigail L.
Published: December 2023

Crude oil commonly enters freshwater aquatic ecosystems as thin sheens forming on the water surface. Oil contains mixtures of toxic compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), some of which are known to be photodynamic, increasing toxicity when combined with ultraviolet radiation. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities are commonly utilized as bioindicators, and as such rely on abundant data in literature concerning benthic macroinvertebrates' relative tolerances to a wide range of pollutants. A series of 10 plastic traps, half of which were filtered from UV radiation, were deployed in an urban pond for 27 days to determine colonization preferences of benthic macroinvertebrates to UV exposure. Results of this in situ experiment indicated that the majority of aquatic insects collected from traps inhabited the UV exposed treatment group, particularly the nonbiting midge, Chironomidae. A series of bioassays were then completed to investigate the sensitivities of a Chironomidae species to thin sheens of crude oil in the presence and absence of UV radiation. All bioassays were conducted using 10 day old Chironomus dilutus larvae cultured in the lab. The series of C. dilutus bioassays were all conducted under the same water quality parameters, temperatures, and oil sheen dosing methods, under a 16:8 photoperiod and exposed to 16 h UV per day. Five replicates (n = 20) were loaded into 350 mL glass crystallizing dishes and exposed to four treatments for 96 hours: no UV/with sheen, with UV/no sheen, both UV and oil sheen, and a control. Three assays with 175 mL water volume were completed, one with no sediment, one with silica sand, and one with fine sand. Sediment type had a significant effect on mortality (p < 0.0001), but significant effects of UV or PAHs were not found. Two more C. dilutus assays were completed with identical parameters as the latter two with sediment, except a decreased water volume of 90 mL was used to bring the sheen closer to sediment. There was a significant effect of PAHs on mortality (p = 0.0003), however, no clear trend showing PAHs driving mortality. Results showed no significant effects of UV, sediment type, or relationship between UV and PAHs. A final bioassay was completed to compare phototoxic effects of PAHs on pelagic organisms with benthic organisms. This bioassay used test species Daphnia magna, for a 48 h exposure period with five replicates (n = 10), 8 h UV exposure and 16:8 photoperiod. All individuals in the control group and UV only group exhibited 0% mortality, and with sheen/with UV treatment group resulted in 100% mortality following the 48 h exposure. The results of the D. magna exposure showed significant effects of PAHs (p < 0.0001), UV (p = 0.037), and photoinduced toxicity (p = 0.024), and were consistent with similar bioassays in the literature. This study suggests that C. dilutus are at low risk to photo-induced oil sheen toxicity.
r/CryptoCurrency: Discussions of Climate Change
Authors:   , Brickell Miles
Published: December 2023

In this study, I examine how an online cryptocurrency community discusses the issue of climate change. In particular, I examine distinctive themes present within discussions that occur on the r/CryptoCurrency forum hosted by reddit.com. Existing research has demonstrated that there are significant carbon emissions linked to cryptocurrency. However, cryptocurrency primarily exists as a peer-to-peer system, meaning that the individual perceptions of cryptocurrency adopters may provide insight into how to address the emissions problem. Using latent Dirichlet allocation and publicly available textual data from Reddit, I find that Reddit's cryptocurrency community engages in robust discussions pertaining to the energy needed to power cryptocurrency systems, most of which is generated from fossil fuels. Therefore, the discussions identified in this study suggest that the social aspect of cryptocurrency may be important when examining the links between cryptocurrency and climate change since they help identify what subjects related to climate change are important for this community.
Sleeping in a Creative Dream-Land: A Duo of Meta-Analyses on Sleep, Dream-Recall, and Creativity
Authors:   , Murphy Leah K.
Published: December 2023

This duo of meta-analyses explored relationships between creativity and sleep quality [Study 1], and creativity and dream recall [Study 2]. Studies on these topics noted personality influences in both creativity and sleep quality, as well as dream recall. Studies also identified potential connections between creativity, sleep, and dreaming by investigating the stage of sleep from which creative thinking could emerge. Twenty studies were eligible to code and analyze in Study 1 and 16 in Study 2. Analyses using two-level multivariate analyses showed a small and positive correlation between creativity and sleep (r = .147, 95% CI = [0.033, 0.257]), p = .012 [Study 1] as well as creativity and dream recall (r = 0.173, 95% CI = [0.089, 0.257]), p = .001) [Study 2]. Both Study 1 and Study 2 tested moderator variables via a meta-regression. Moderators were identified based on the nature of assessments used, sample characteristics, and study characteristics. Study 1 results indicated that the relationship between sleep and creativity was higher when creativity test modality was verbal than figural. Study 2 also found that test modality was a significant moderator, and conversely, the relationship was larger when creativity was measured by figural tests compared to the verbal measures. Additionally, the relationship between the two was smaller among undergraduates compared to other adults. The findings are discussed in relation to their overlap with individual findings from primary studies.
Multicultural Training and Program Climate in Masters Sport Psychology Programs
Authors:   , Arnold Macey L.
Published: December 2023

Little is known about the current state of multicultural training within sport psychology master's programs. The study explored students' perceptions of their multicultural training and program climate. Importantly, differences in perceptions were investigated based on students' demographic factors, given that students with marginalized identities tend to report less favorable perceptions of and experiences in graduate training. Participants (N = 107) consisted of students and recent graduates of master's level sport psychology programs. Participants reported moderate levels of feeling safe, valued, and comfortable within their master's program, low to moderate levels of multicultural training integration within their curriculum and supervision, and low to moderate satisfaction with their multicultural training. Asian, Asian American, bi/multiracial, Black, African American, Hispanic, and Latino/a/e students, compared to their White peers, reported less satisfaction with their multicultural training, felt less safe, comfortable, and valued within their programs, and perceived less integration of multiculturalism into curriculum and supervision. A multiple regression analysis revealed that, for all students, perceptions of multicultural training integration and reports of feeling safe, comfortable, and valued was significantly related to students' satisfaction with their multicultural training. Discussion focuses on possible explanations for these findings, training implications, and future research directions.
Exploring Undergraduate Nursing Students' Experiences with Interruptions: The Impact of Computer-Based Simulation on Their Knowledge and Satisfaction
Authors:   , Otto Lisa M.
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of computer-based simulation on prelicensure senior second semester undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students' knowledge and satisfaction. The goal was to explore the current state of nursing education in relation to the nursing student's experience with interruptions and interruption management as interruptions and interruption management are an underexplored area of the nursing education experience, yet interruptions impact nursing performance and patient safety. Including effective interruption management in nursing education is the ultimate aim of this effort. The design of the study was a descriptive case study with mixed methods including quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. The quantitative analysis encompassed pretest and posttest drug calculation knowledge tests and a satisfaction survey. The qualitative portion of the study involved a focus group discussion relating to the nursing student's experience with interruptions and interruption management. The study results demonstrated that the participants were satisfied with the computer-based simulation. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the professional nursing education of the study participants was devoid of interruption and interruption management education in the classroom, lab, and high-fidelity simulation. The themes that emerged from this study describe the current state of the second semester nursing student's experience with interruptions and interruption management and inform the need for interruption and interruption management education in professional nursing educational programs.
"Doble Identidad"
Authors:   , Huerta-Ortega Katherine Leilani
Published: December 2023

Doble Identidad conveys my experience as someone who struggles with their cultural identity. Through the expository modes of self-reflexivity, participatory, experimental, and poetics, the film displays the factors that molded my cultural identity. My childhood memories and interactions with my loved ones help me tell the story of how my cultural identity has and continues to leave me with feelings of inadequacy of not being Mexican or American enough.
Resident Satisfaction Indicators in Long-Term Care Settings
Authors:   , Li Xiaoli
Published: December 2023

Due to an increasingly aging population and long-term care available, the number of older adults seeking long-term care facilities is growing. Resident satisfaction indicators have become essential measurements of service quality. However, few studies have investigated the evidence on prevalent resident satisfaction indicators and associated factors. In order to understand what are the types of resident satisfaction measurements utilized in long-term care facilities in the United States and how these types of care services influence resident satisfaction, the researcher conducted the first study, which consists of a systematic scoping review by summarizing the evidence on the types of resident satisfaction indicators utilized in long-term care settings in the United States. The second study completed a further systematic review to summarize how nursing assistants impact resident satisfaction in long-term care settings.The third study aims to translate and validate a Chinese version of the resident satisfaction assessment based on the Ohio Long-term Care Resident Satisfaction Survey (OLCRSS). The fourth study will apply hierarchical regression to predict older adults' satisfaction with individual factors and care services factors in long-term care settings. The dissertation provided a holistic solution to measure resident satisfaction in long-term care settings, assist health providers in meeting the resident`s needs and improve the quality of the care. These studies are significant because they provide fundamental data for using evidence-based indicators of resident satisfaction to enhance the residents' quality of life. Findings could also add to the existing literature regarding resident satisfaction indicators.
The Impact of Invasive Salmonids on Ecosystem Functioning in South America's Sub-Antarctic Inland and Marine Waters
Authors:   , Moore Sabrina
Published: December 2023

Invasions from coho salmon were first reported in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve (CHBR) in 2019 which is the most southern distribution registered to date. The CHBR is known for its high number of endemic species and unique biodiversity, such as the native fishes Galaxias maculatus and Aplochiton taeniatus. There are now three invasive salmonid species in the rivers of CHBR and are a potential threat to the native fish taxa. Stable isotope and gut content analysis were used to understand resource utilization by both native galaxiid and invasive salmonid taxa, as well as aquatic macroinvertebrates and riparian spiders. The natural laboratory study approach applied to this research, allowed for comparisons of differences within streams that contain conditions in which fish do not occur naturally, to sites in which high densities of invasive salmonid exist. Analysis of the trophic niche and diet in this study showed the importance of marine resource use by the native galaxiid and coho salmon juveniles supported with elevated δ15N and δ34S ratios. Diet analysis also confirmed there was the highest similarity between the coho salmon juveniles and the native fish. Altered behavior and habitat use was shown through the isotope and diet analysis for the galaxiid in snow melt streams which could be due to the high density of invasive salmonids in these streams. The invasive salmonids were found to impact aquatic macroinvertebrate populations, specifically larger bodied Trichoptera abundance. Aquatic insect emergence was negatively correlated to salmonid densities. The aquatic insect emergence revealed alterations with significantly higher biomass of aquatic insect emergence in upstream sites without invasive fish. Lastly, aquatic insect predator (Hydrobiosidae: Rheochorema sp.) exhibited a suppressed trophic position in rivers with invasive salmonids. An unexpected finding from the study was the refugium stream habitat conditions that has been shown to be important for conserving the native fish in the CHBR. We conclude that the impacts from invasive species are significant enough to disrupt lower trophic levels especially aquatic insects. The altered aquatic emergence and insect behavior have the potential to disrupt food webs and ecosystem functioning in the southernmost protected ecoregion in the world.
Placing High-Redshift Quasars in Perspective: Unifying Distant Quasars with Their Lower Redshift Counterparts through Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors:   , Matthews Brandon M.
Published: December 2023

I present spectroscopic measurements for 260 sources from the Gemini Near Infrared Spectrograph–Distant Quasar Survey (GNIRS-DQS). Being the largest uniform, homogeneous survey of its kind, it represents a flux-limited sample of Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) quasars at 1.5 < z < 3.5. A combination of the GNIRS and SDSS spectra covers principal quasar diagnostic features, chiefly the C IV λ1549, Mg II λλ2798, 2803, Hβ λ4861, and [O III] λλ4959, 5007 emission lines, in each source. The spectral inventory is utilized primarily to develop prescriptions for obtaining more accurate and precise redshifts, black hole masses, and accretion rates for all quasars. Additionally, the measurements facilitate an understanding of the dependence of rest-frame ultraviolet–optical spectral properties of quasars on redshift, luminosity, and Eddington ratio, and test whether the physical properties of the quasar central engine evolve over cosmic time.
The Use of Collabrify Roadmaps Digital Curricula for Face-to-Face and Remote Instruction
Authors:   , Mahaffey Frances Dendy
Published: December 2023

This qualitative multiple case study attempts to capture and document the lived experiences of a group of elementary educators surrounding the COVID-19 emergency school closures of the 2019-2020 school year. The purpose of this study is to capture the observations and reactions of teachers after their experience using the Collabrify Roadmaps digital curriculum platform in both remote and face-to-face instructional settings to document and analyze the perceived benefits and challenges in using such a digital curriculum. By utilizing a semi-structured interview process, this study documents experiences and advice from educators in the field regarding the use of digital curricula. The findings from this study offer insight regarding the tools and features teachers want and need in digital curricula.
English and Reading Teachers' Pedagogical Successes and Challenges during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors:   , Goodwin LaTasha Lynee Brown
Published: December 2023

This qualitative descriptive case study examines the pedagogical teaching and instructional practices of fifth, sixth and eighth grade Texas public school English/reading teachers. This study shares the description of each teachers' English and Reading pedagogy, instructional practices, and their successes and/or challenges prior to and during the pandemic. The participants of the study were from two different school districts in Texas. The study utilized surveys and semi-structured interviews as sources of data that revealed reading pedagogy and a self-assessment of reading pedagogy practices prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three conclusive themes emerged after analysis of the data: importance of social emotional wellness of students, teaching and learning became a one size fits all approach, and varied levels of student engagement. Recommendations from this study for educational practitioners include a need to value the importance of the teacher-student relationship and the powerful role it plays in each student's emotional wellness and learning. Practitioners will need to reflect on what the COVID-19 pandemic taught the educational system about digital platforms and learning. Practitioners in the field should consider how the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will impact instructional design, teaching, content pedagogy, student academic gaps and academic progress or lack thereof for years to come. Implications for future research include more descriptive reading pedagogy studies that replicate this study and are inclusive of a larger sampling population of teachers, inclusive of students' and parents' experiences throughout more districts in the state of Texas post the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Role of Counselor Trainees' Co-Regulated Mindfulness: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Study
Authors:   , Warwick Lindsey A.
Published: December 2023

Mindfulness is a practice that has the potential to help counseling students build a variety of skills that are necessary for clinical efficacy, including therapeutic presence, attunement, empathy, cognitive flexibility, and non-reactivity. However, mindfulness is rarely taught to students in mental health training programs, which makes it an untapped possibility to improve counselor education. Additionally, rarely do researchers explore the role of counselor mindfulness and counselor trauma on clients' perceptions of therapeutic presence. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the effects of a 15-week mindfulness training program for counseling students to understand its effect on client's perceptions of therapeutic presence, counselor state mindfulness development, and counselor trauma symptoms. Participants in this cluster-randomized controlled intervention were masters counseling students currently enrolled in clinical practicum accredited by the Counsel for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Counselors provided data at three timepoints on their state mindfulness, trauma symptoms, and therapeutic presence. Clients provided data at three timepoints on their perceptions of their counselor's therapeutic presence. We analyzed data through repeated measures ANOVA and two-level longitudinal hierarchical linear models. Implications for counselor education, professional counselor development, and future research are offered and limitations are discussed.
Corporate Environmental Litigations: Peer Effects and Its Relationship to Firm Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance
Authors:   , Farjana Ashupta
Published: December 2023

The dissertation analyzes three issues related to corporate environmental performance. In the first essay, I analyze the stock price reactions of the defendant firms and their peer firms to environmental lawsuits. Empirical evidence finds that the defendant and their peer firms experience negative and significant cumulative abnormal returns to the announcement of environmental lawsuits. Additionally, cross-sectional analyses find certain firm characteristics, such as profitability, growth opportunities and leverage can influence the market reaction. Furthermore, if the plaintiffs are government agencies or corporations instead of individual citizens, the defendant and peer firms experience higher negative market reactions. The second essay examines if a firm's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance can moderate the negative market response to environmental lawsuits. The results are mixed. The overall sample of the defendant and their peer firms show that ESG performance is not a significant factor in mitigating the negative market response. However, an interesting finding shows, for defendant and peer firms in the environmentally sensitive industries, better ESG ratings help reduce the adverse market reactions. The final essay investigates whether the defendant and peer firms improve their ESG performance in the next two years following the lawsuits. The results indicates that firms generally experience a drop in their ESG ratings in the year the lawsuits are filed. However, post-lawsuit filing years, there is a general trend for the defendant and peer firms in the environmentally sensitive industries to improve their environmental performance.
Porous Organic Polymer-based Nanotraps for Metal Resource Recovery/Extraction from Water
Authors:   , Song Yanpei
Published: December 2023

The recovery processes of critical metals from multiple sources have turned more and more attention due to the increasing demand and consumption of them in modern industry. Many metals are used as significant components in manufacturing of a variety of products and equipment, playing significant roles in the economic security and national security; those metals involve rare earth elements (REEs), precious metals which include gold, silver, and platinum group metals (PGMs), and other valuable metals such as lithium, uranium, nickel, et al. The traditional approach to obtaining the above metals is by hardrock mining of natural ores via chemical and physical processes. However, this method of mining and refining metals from minerals is usually energy-consuming, costly, and environmental-destructive. Thus, various approaches to extracting or recycling target metals from the seawater or the solution of secondary resources as an alternative to traditional hardrock mining have been developed, and thereinto, using functional porous adsorbents to selectively capture specific metal ions from the aqueous resources has attracted increasing attention due to its outstanding merits such as high efficiency, energy-saving process, low cost, and reduced environmental impacts
Socioeconomic Status Blocks as Indicators for Academic Achievement Pass Rates
Authors:   , Basurto Roberto A.
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this study, through an analysis of the literature review of general scholars in the field of school poverty, equity, efficiency, and student achievement results, was to determine whether economic disparity had a direct statistical significance to student achievement gaps. Specifically, identification of the five socioeconomic tiers using the economic blocks, as defined by the Texas Education Agency, and their corresponding STAAR student achievement results were examined in a border city urban school setting were used to determine if educational achievement disparity existed and whether there was a statistical significance in performance to the identified socioeconomic tiers. Through an analysis of student achievement data of an urban school district, the study established null hypothesis and examined the difference in student achievement between the subsequent five economic tiers, as defined by the Texas Education Agency. Specifically, the study examined if there were differences in student achievement outcomes from each of the five socioeconomic tiers and the statistical significance between the socioeconomic tiers. Furthermore, a deeper analysis was sought to determine the most significant impact in learning loss was determined between economic tiers. The analysis sought to validate the State Compensatory Education funding model in a single district as established under House Bill 3.