bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High School Teaching and Learning Experiences Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors:   , Ayega Douglas
Published: January 2025

This phenomenological study explored and described the lived experiences of high school biology teachers from a school district in one of the states in the USA concerning the use of online platforms in online biology teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study interviewed teachers to evaluate the teacher experiences, challenges, and opportunities that online platforms presented in biology instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also analyzed students' perspectives based on the teachers' responses and district data obtained from the student engagement survey administered to all high school students at the school district every year. The findings of the study indicate that students experienced issues such as lack of engagement, unsuitable home environment to support learning, and poor attendance due to minimal monitoring when learning shifted to fully online. Teacher-related factors included inadequate preparedness to use technology to enhance teaching, limited content delivery, and increased teacher collaboration. In conclusion, the study recommends that school districts sufficiently prepare teachers to improve adaptability to different teaching and learning models, emphasizing the use of diverse educational technologies. Future studies should conduct quantitative or mixed studies to establish the extent and degree to which such factors as poor learner engagement contributed to less than satisfactory outcomes in summative and formative assessments.
Exploring the Circularity of Fast Fashion Using Goal Framing Theory
Authors:   , Wilbourne Kathy
Published: January 2025

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged fast fashion to circular products to prevent excessive overstock in responding to consumers' shift toward less consumption. These shifts are worth studying as consumers are willing to partake in pro-environmental behaviors, leading to a circular business model for fast fashion. This study explores how sustainable knowledge and consumer goals toward circularity can influence behavior toward circular consumption based on the goal framing theory. An online survey employing the Prolific survey platform was conducted with 300 fast-fashion consumer panels. The quantitative approach (ANOVA, cluster, factor, multiple regressions analyses) supported that consumers' framed-goals toward circularity significantly influence their intention to purchase fast fashion products. Fast-fashion consumers have prioritized reliable communication and pro-environmental goals to respectfully purchase circular products and 5Rs behaviors. They perceived circular economy and environmental knowledge as deciding factors in their pursuits of circularity. It corresponds to the benefits of lucrative circular business applications for fast fashion.
Untangling Relational Trauma: A Symptom Network Model of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder within a Relational Framework
Authors:   , Archuleta William P
Published: January 2025

The recent inclusion of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) within the International Classification of Diseases, eleventh edition (ICD-11) prompted scholars to re-evaluate treatment guidelines for traumatic disorders. The present study aimed to conceptualize dyadic, community, and systemic connections within the context of ICD-11 traumatic disorders and investigate unique associations between factors capturing relational quality. The current study additionally utilized a novel network modeling approach to explore the CPTSD symptom network structure using a college sample of trauma survivors. Consistent with generations of theory and research, relational quality factors associated with the disturbances in self-organization (DSO) symptom cluster, and anticipated discrimination associated with both relational disturbance and sense of threat. Affect dysregulation, re-experiencing, and relational engagement emerged as most central within the CPTSD symptom network, providing evidence towards the role of affect regulation in relational functioning, while intersectional discrimination associated with both the PTSD and DSO symptom clusters. Findings from the present study provide context to the potential application of a relational and systems focused intervention.
The Politics of Fiscal Federalism and Building the Foundations of the Putin Regime in Russia, 2007-2013
Authors:   , Pechenina Anna
Published: January 2025

Putin's military forces invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, sparking a renewed academic interest in Russia's current regime. Several scholars suggested that a critical period in the construction of the current regime occurred between 1999-2013 during Putin's first two presidencies followed by the Medvedev presidency. This is when the basic institutions of the current Russian political system were changed to recentralize state authority and prevent Russian Federation from looming disintegration. One such institution was the budgetary process. Signed into law in 1998, Russian Budget Code established how funds were disbursed from the "center" to the federal "subjects" and other entities. Many scholars have pointed out that one specific mechanism, namely "Intergovernmental Transfers", can be used to achieve the political goals of a regime by rewarding supporters, swinging the competitive electoral districts, or appeasing the opposition or separatist regions. The goal of this dissertation to investigate under what conditions a non-democratic regime, like Russia, uses these strategies for political effect? Do those strategies change over time? In this work, I develop a basic theoretical framework outlining such conditions and test it using the municipal-level data gathered from the Russian Federal State Statistics Service and Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.
Minority Linked Fate and Race-Based Policy Initiatives: Analyzing Support Levels for African American Redress between Asian, Latino, and African Americans
Authors:   , Ferguson Triston
Published: January 2025

This thesis seeks to examine the levels of support for African American reparations amongst minorities. After providing a historical account of redress efforts separated racial group and discussing factors that influence reparations, I argue that minority groups possess cross-racial linked fate (minority linked fate) that significantly impacts their political attitudes concerning reparations for African Americans. Additionally, I argue that higher levels of minority-linked fate will equate to significant support for reparations. The probit regressions reaffirm the initial hypotheses that minority-linked fate has a significant impact on support for African American reparations. However, the racial groups most affected were not suspected initially.
The Influence of Thomas Mann's "Doctor Faustus: The Life of the German Composer Adrian Leverkühn as Told by a Friend" upon Alfred Schnittke's Compositional Style as seen through His "Fuga for Solo Violin" (1953)
Authors:   , McKamie Mark Alexander
Published: January 2025

Alfred Schnittke was a prolific and nuanced musical figure of the twentieth-century, contributing significantly to the fields of musical philosophy and composition. One of his most researched contributions, that bridges both disciplines, is his definition and implementation of the compositional technique, polystylism. His 1971 essay, "Polystylistic Tendencies in Modern Music," served as the first serious discussion of the term, providing a narrower definition, differentiating it from other techniques, and discussing its importance in the oeuvre of twentieth-century artists. Schnittke is also known for his fervent desire to overcome the gap between Ernstmusik (serious music) and Unterhaltung (music for entertainment). This lifelong pursuit, combined with polystylism, lead him to create an eclectic catalogue that championed the ideas it was pioneering. However, there is little research done on the 1947 literary work that served as a creative catalyst to all these ideas: Thomas Mann's Doctor Faustus: The Life of German Composer Adrian Leverkühn as told by a Friend. In contrast to other telling's of the Faust legend, Mann's version features a composer-protagonist, Adrian Leverkühn, who sells his soul for twenty-four years of creative musical-genius. During this time, Leverkühn composes numerous successful works, even developing a new system of musical composition. Mann's telling regularly goes into lengthy detail when describing these musical works, compositional techniques, and extramusical associations. To ensure that these musical topics were technically and theoretically sound, Mann chose the philosopher and music critic, Theodore Adorno, to be the primary editor and consultant when writing Doctor Faustus. Exploring and unpacking these connections to Mann's Doctor Faustus exposes numerous hidden layers, even codes, within Schnittke's compositions. Through a close examination of Schnittke's first completed composition, Fuga (1953), many of these Mann influences and hidden layers can be observed and analyzed.
Implementing Common Practices of Technology Integration in Mathematics Classrooms: A Model for Teacher Support
Authors:   , Ritchey Brittany Ann
Published: January 2025

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify the types of technologies teachers use in mathematics classrooms and how those technologies were implemented. Furthermore, the purpose of this study was to explore teachers' perceptions of the impact technology has on student achievement. This study explores teachers' perceptions of the available support teachers have for integrating technology in mathematics classrooms. Last, this study explores teachers' perceptions of being prepared to integrate technology into mathematics classrooms. Surveys were conducted for a quantitative approach on teachers' perceptions of technology in teaching and learning. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data was analyzed through item-analysis and coding to identify emerging themes. For each topic of inquiry, themes emerged. The themes were discussed in detail, findings were discussed, and recommendations were provided for supporting teachers to integrate technology into mathematics classrooms.
Johann Sebastian Bach's Partita for Solo Flute, BWV 1013 Transcribed and Arranged for Guitar: A Musico-Rhetorical Performance Guide
Authors:   , Burns Bryan Keith
Published: January 2025

The main purpose of this dissertation is to offer classical guitarists an additional analytical technique for interpreting and performing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. While this mode of analysis can be successfully applied to any of the instrumental works by Bach frequently transcribed and performed by guitarists, I have chosen for this study my recent transcription of the Partita in A minor for solo flute traverso, BWV 1013. With a continuo-based, harmonic realization of the Partita, I contribute to the existing guitar repertoire by offering a new transcription of this work, while demonstrating how historical concepts of rhetorical structure and aesthetics found in relevant primary source material can inspire a new approach to analysis, transcription, and performance practice. In this way, my investigations create additional perspectives for classical guitarists regarding the analysis and performance of this work, while complementing traditional harmonic analysis and subject labeling. Although it is my hope that this new transcription of the Partita will serve as an important contribution to the existing literature, the main purpose of this dissertation resides in the musico-rhetorical analytical technique and its implications on performance practice for classical guitarists.
Heat Transfer Analysis of Bio-Printed Tissue Mimicking Material Mixed with Silver Nanoparticles
Authors:   , Chandrasegaran Jedeshkeran
Published: January 2025

Novel tissue mimicking materials have been developed for cancer treatment research. In the present research work, the tissue mimicking material is printed using 3D bioprinting technology. The nanoparticles are homogeneously mixed with tissue mimicking materials to enhance the heating capacity. The thermal conductivity of tissue mimicking materials is measured using a micropipette thermal sensor (MTS). Further, the optimal value is identified based on optimization technique and incorporated into a theoretical model to predict the surface temperature of microsphere. The heat conduction governing equation with Lambert law is numerically solved using COMSOL Multiphysics software. To validate the present simulation results, the experiments are conducted using a continuous laser system.
"The '91 Roos"
Authors:   , Graham Derwin Anthony
Published: January 2025

The ‘91 Roos is a sports documentary focused in Killeen, Texas. exploring the 1991 Killeen Kangaroos high school football team and their journey to their city's one and only state championship in football. Killeen is a small central Texas town that is directly adjacent and provides support to Ft Hood, one of the world's largest military bases. With the Persian Gulf War raging in 1991, soldiers that lived in Killeen were being sent off to fight, leaving the city almost like a ghost town. In October 1991, the Luby's Massacre occurred in Killeen, bringing the already depleted city further down by tragedy. At the time, this was the worst mass shooting in US history. This high school football team went on a fairy tale type of run during their 1991 season, resulting in winning a state title and bringing big hope back to a small town in need. Using direct interviews, narration and archival footage, this film provides an emotional yet inspirational look at a small town football team and their improbable season.
Queer Resilience: A Mixed Methods Examination of LGBTQ+ Positive Identity, Community Connectedness, and Mental Health Outcomes in Sexual Minority Emerging Adults
Authors:   , Fondren Alana Harrison
Published: January 2025

Despite significant progress in the acceptance and celebration of LGBTQ+ individuals, there is overwhelming evidence that sexual minorities still face disproportionate levels of health inequity compared to their heterosexual peers. Relative to their heterosexual peers, LGBTQ+ emerging adults may encounter unique challenges with discrimination, stigma, and limited social support as they navigate changes in their educational and occupational environments. Additionally, within the broader public health and LGBTQ+ mental health literature, little is known about the mental health service utilization of sexual minority emerging adults. To address these empirical gaps, a sample of 98 LGBTQ+ emerging adults completed self-report measures of heterosexist discrimination experiences, mental health symptoms, LGBTQ+ positive identity, LGBTQ+ community connectedness, and mental health service utilization. The present study found that LGBTQ+ positive identity and LGBTQ+ community connectedness did not attenuate the significant positive relationship between discrimination and negative mental health outcomes. The present study also found that LGBTQ+ positive identity predicted greater likelihood of mental health service utilization, whereas LGBTQ+ community connectedness did not. Finally, exploratory qualitative analyses yielded deeper understanding of relationships between LGBTQ+ positive identity, LGBTQ+ community connectedness, mental health service utilization, and resilience among sexual minority emerging adults. Implications and future directions for empirical research and clinical practice with LGBTQ+ emerging adults are discussed.
Straw Phonation in the Private Voice Studio: The Effects of a Straw Phonation Protocol on Student Perceptions of Voice over Time
Authors:   , Gamble Ryan De Boer
Published: January 2025

Straw phonation is a semi-occluded vocal tract exercise (SOVTE) that has long been used as a therapeutic device for the voice. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes following voice lessons that included a straw phonation protocol to those that did not include a protocol. The primary outcome measures were the shortened version of the Singing Voice Handicap Index (SVHI-10), which is a validated health status instrument for singers, and Perceived Vocal Efficiency (PVE). Ten student singers in a large college of music consented into the study and participated in both lesson conditions, serving as their own control. They completed six voice lessons over a six week period with lessons alternating between the straw phonation protocol and no straw phonation protocol conditions. Outcome measures were collected following all six lessons. Repeated measures one-way analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) revealed no statistically significant effect of the straw phonation protocol on either dependent variable. However, a small effect was found for PVE, indicating that straw phonation led to a perceived improvement in vocal efficiency. There was significant variation in individual responses to straw phonation and participants who had more prior experience with the SOVT experienced less perceptual change across lesson conditions. Most singers reported finding straw phonation a useful addition to their voice lesson and felt it improved their vocal efficiency. These results indicate that straw phonation could be regularly integrated into voice lessons and may be most helpful to students who find the SOVTE worthwhile. Future studies should examine the effects of a similar protocol using multiple SOVTEs, tailored to what is most efficacious for individuals, and should use a separate control group.
Utilization of Telemedicine by People with Chronic Health Conditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors:   , Barker Tori Saige
Published: January 2025

This study sought to better understand the experiences of individuals with a chronic health condition utilizing telemedicine during the first twelve months of the COVID-19 pandemic. To do this, an online survey was advertised in two private Facebook support groups for individuals with adrenal insufficiency; a chronic health condition that requires frequent communication with healthcare providers. The survey consisted primarily of closed-response questions which examined the demographic data of respondents, their access to healthcare providers, their comfort levels accessing healthcare providers, and the number of times individuals sought healthcare during the first twelve months of the COVID-19 pandemic to try and predict their preference for telemedicine and in-person healthcare visits going forward. Additionally, the survey included open-response questions which allowed for respondents to describe their experience utilizing telemedicine during the first twelve months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most respondents described their use of telemedicine as being positive but have indicated there are some health circumstances in which telemedicine may not be the best option for them. Additionally, findings indicate that individual's comfort level in visiting their healthcare providers in-person during that first year of the COVID-19 pandemic is a significant predictor of an individual's preference for telehealth. This gives future studies a starting point to investigate the driving social and health factors that shape an individual's perception of risk influencing their level of comfort and predicting their preference of telemedicine or in-person visits for their non-emergency healthcare needs.
Concerning Millennials: Exploring Generational Cohort Effects on Racial Linked Fate, Religion and Politics, and Support for American Civil Liberities
Authors:   , Molinar J. Antonio
Published: January 2025

This research examines the political implications of the Millennial generation on American politics by exploring the interaction of generational cohort with race, social issues, and civil liberties. Relying on the 2016 Collaborative Multiracial Post-Election Survey and the 2018 General Social Survey, I examine (1) Millennial attitudes toward race and ethnicity by looking specifically at racial linked fate, (2) how Millennials interact with race and evangelical Christianity and how this interaction influences social policy preferences, and (3) how generational factors influence Millennial attitudes toward American civil liberties. I find that there are measurable effects of generational cohorts on the predicted value of Linked Fate for racial minority groups in the United States. My results suggest that Millennials are significantly more likely to have higher levels of linked fate for Latino and Asian Americans. However, I do not find sufficient evidence to suggest that African Americans' level of linked fate is affected either positively or negatively for Millennials. Second, for the investigation on social policy, the results suggest that those who sit at the intersection of the three groups- the Latino-Millennial evangelicals- hold policy preferences that contrast from those who are solely either Latino, Millennial, or evangelical. Latino-Millennial evangelicals are significantly more likely to hold liberal policy preferences on issues of climate change but more conservative attitudes on aid to the poor. Lastly, on issues of American civil liberties, the results indicate that Millennials are far more likely to support free speech (even for controversial actors), than both the Boomer generation and Generation X. Millennials are also more likely to oppose governmental intervention in religion and are significantly more likely to support abortion rights for women.
Aristotle on Being Triggered: A Question on Moral Virtue
Authors:   , Barnes Kenlea Rayne
Published: January 2025

I argue that Aristotle aids in understanding the tension between the political art and moral virtue through his examination of courage in The Nicomachean Ethics. The end of the political art is to habituate the city and citizens towards "the good." Aristotle examines five held opinions of non-courage, requiring that we reflect on our own vices. I describe how Aristotle prepares his readers for the task of examining the political art. I then view courage found in the citizen and spiritedness as an example of two common opinions where individuals are inclined towards pleasure, as opposed to being inclined to the noble. To conclude, I show that Aristotle provides opinions of non-courage to emphasize how institutions are, and must remain, a foundational part of society.
Efficient Convolutional Neural Networks for Image Processing Applications
Authors:   , Chiapputo Nicholas J.
Published: January 2025

Modern machine learning techniques focus on extremely deep and multi-pathed networks, resulting in large memory and computational requirements. This thesis explores techniques for designing efficient convolutional networks including pixel shuffling, depthwise convolutions, and various activation fucntions. These techniques are then applied to two image processing domains: single-image super-resolution and image compression. The super-resolution model, TinyPSSR, is one-third the size of the next smallest model in literature while performing similar to or better than other larger models on representative test sets. The efficient deep image compression model is significantly smaller than any other model in literature and performs similarly in both computational cost and reconstruction quality to the JPEG standard.
Investigation of Room Temperature Sputtering and Laser Annealing of Chalcogen Rich TMDs for Opto-Electronics
Authors:   , Gellerup Branden Spencer
Published: January 2025

Chalcogen-rich transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) magnetron sputtering targets were custom manufactured via ball milling and sintering in the interest of depositing p-type chalcogen-rich films. Room temperature radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering produced ultra-thin amorphous precursor of WSx and MoSx (where x is between 2-3) on several different substrates. The influence of working pressure on the MoS3 content of the amorphous films was explored with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), while the physical and chemical effects of sputtering were investigated for the WSx target itself. The amorphous precursor films with higher chalcogenide content were chosen for laser annealing, and their subsequent laser annealing induced phase transformations were investigated for the synthesis of polycrystalline 2H-phase semiconducting thin films. The role of laser fluence and the number of laser pulses during annealing on phase transformation and film mobility was determined from Raman spectroscopy and Hall effect measurement, respectively. Hall effect measurements were used to identify carrier type and track mobility between amorphous precursors and crystalline films. The p-type 2H-TMD films demonstrates the ability to produce a scalable processing criterion for quality ultra-thin TMD films on various substrates and in a method which is also compatible for flexible, stretchable, transparent, and bendable substrates.
Mastery in Colonial and Post-Colonial Brazil: José Maurício Nunes Garcia's (1767-1830) Use of Trombone in His "Missa De Santa Cecília" (1826)
Authors:   , Davis Zachariah Tyler
Published: January 2025

Padre José Maurício Nunes Garcia (1767-1830) was perhaps the most prolific, revered, and successful composer in 18th and 19th century colonial and postcolonial Brazil. Padre José Maurício's favor with King Dom João VI, the Portuguese Royal Court, and a catalogue of hundreds of compositions, is validation of his success, yet there is comparatively little academic research and recognition in comparison to his European contemporaries. Padre José Maurício's employment of the trombone within his ambitious capstone, his Missa de Santa Cecília showcases his recognizable and original compositional language. The influence of two contemporaries of Padre José Maurício, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) and Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868), had an integral and clear influence on the Missa de Santa Cecília without resulting in rote imitation. Mozartian text emphasis, independent part writing, technical demand, and traditional use of the trombone for sacred or supernatural imagery were synthesized by Padre José Maurício swiftly and originally. Simultaneously, Rossinian orchestration, close scoring, limited range, subverted structural arrivals, and emulated percussive effects were personalized and employed by Padre José Maurício. His insular development and instantaneous adaptation of new orchestration and theatrical models yields trombone writing that is idiomatic, in alignment with sacred and symphonic tradition, and essential to the study of the trombone in the early 18th century. Padre José Maurício's trombone writing is significant for primarily two reasons: it is at odds with current historical trombone texts, and his insular development in a hegemonic society yielded an individual compositional style.
Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Response of Material by Friction Stir Processing and Modeling
Authors:   , Gupta Sanya
Published: January 2025

In this study, we have investigated the relationship between the process-microstructure to predict and modify the material's properties. Understanding these relationships allows the identification and correction of processing deficiencies when the desired properties are not achieved, depending on the microstructure. Hence, the co-relation between process-microstructure-properties helped reduce the number of experiments, materials & tool costs and saved much time. In the case of high entropy alloys, friction stir welding (FSW) causes improved strength due to the formation of fine grain structure and phase transformation from f.c.c to h.c.p. The phase transformation is temperature sensitive and is studied with the help of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to calculate the enthalpy experimentally to obtain ΔGγ→ε. The second process discussed is heat treatment causing precipitation evolution. Fundamental investigations aided in understanding the influence of strengthening precipitates on mechanical properties due to the aging kinetics – solid solution and variable artificial aging temperature and time. Finally, in the third case, the effect of FSW parameters causes the thermal profile to be generated, which significantly influences the final microstructure and weld properties. Therefore, a computational model using COMSOL Multiphysics and TC-Prisma is developed to generate the thermal profile for different weld parameters to understand its effect on the microstructure, which would eventually affect and predict the final properties of the weld. The model's validation is done via DSC, TEM, and mechanical testing.
An Evaluation of Differential Attention on Preferred Topics of Conversation for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors:   , Castillo Michelle Victoria
Published: January 2025

Extensive speech on preferred conversation topics may limit conversations with others. For individuals with ASD, extensive speech on a topic may be a form of restricted or repetitive behavior that may be addressed through skill building. However, previous research suggests that skill building may not be necessary if the behavior is sensitive to differential reinforcement contingencies. To evaluate the effects of differential reinforcement in the form of attention on conversation topics, we replicated the results of Stocco et al. by assessing sensitivity to conversational attention with participant-only topic initiations. Additionally, we extended the procedures by evaluating the effects of topic initiations from the participant and the experimenter (shared initiations). Similar to previous research, our results yielded that speech was sensitive to conversational attention across all participants. That is, differential reinforcement contingencies altered levels of speech on topics of conversation, indicating that differential reinforcement procedures may be sufficient in addressing performance deficits. Lastly, we assessed participant preference for participant-only initiation or shared initiation conversations.
Processing-Structure-Property Correlation for Additively Manufactured Metastable High Entropy Alloy
Authors:   , Agrawal Priyanshi
Published: January 2025

In the present study both fusion based - laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), and solid state - additive friction stir deposition (AFSD) additive manufacturing processes were employed for the manufacturing of a metastable high entropy alloy (HEA), Fe40Mn20Co20Cr15Si5 (CS-HEA). A processing window was developed for the LPBF and AFSD processings of CS-HEA. In case of LPBF, formation of solidification related defects such as lack of fusion pores (for energy density ≤ 31.24 J/mm3) and keyhole pores (for energy density ≥ 75 J/mm3) were observed. Variation in processing conditions affected the microstructural evolution of the metastable CS-HEA; correlation between processing conditions and microstructure of the alloy is developed in the current study. The tendency to transform and twin near stress concentration sites provided excellent tensile and fatigue properties of the material despite the presence of defects in the material. Moreover, solid state nature of AFSD process avoids formation of solidification related defects. Defect free builds of CS-HEA using AFSD resulted in higher work hardening in the material. In summary, the multi-processing techniques used for CS-HEA in the present study showcase the capability of the AM process in tailoring the microstructure, i.e., grain size and phase fractions, both of which are extremely critical for the mechanical property enhancement of the alloy.
The Emergence of All-State Vocal Jazz Ensembles in the United States from 1978 to 2022
Authors:   , Thomas Tyler
Published: January 2025

Since the creation of the first all-state vocal jazz ensemble in 1978, similar ensembles have been established in roughly half of the United States. This paper contains historical summaries of the creation of all-state vocal jazz ensembles in nineteen of those states, primarily as recounted via interviews with those ensembles' founders. Each semi-structured interview was conducted over video conference or phone and lasted approximately one hour; resulting interview data was analyzed using qualitative methods. During the creation of each ensemble the respective founders needed to secure the support of a host organization, determine where and when to convene, and decide how to address auditions, sound reinforcement, rhythm sections, and funding. The diversity of solutions to these shared challenges reflects the diverse priorities of each founder as well as the unique conditions in which each all-state vocal jazz ensemble was established. However, several elements were common across these stories, including the influence of existing festivals and all-state ensembles, and tensions within the choral education community regarding the value of the vocal jazz idiom relative to traditional choirs, show choirs, and other vocal ensembles. In a few cases, established all-state vocal jazz ensembles were discontinued; these stories further illustrate the challenges such ensembles face and the conditions that foster their perpetuation.
The Informational Effects of Non-Deal Roadshows
Authors:   , Howell Dylan A.
Published: January 2025

Non-deal roadshows (NDR) are privately held one-on-one meetings between the buy-side of financial institutions and firm management. Using a novel dataset of these meetings, I examine the effects that NDR meetings have on the outcomes of two important corporate events: seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) and mergers and acquisitions (M&As). I also study the potential implications of the information content in NDRs on the behavior of stock returns following earnings announcements, which has been the subject of much academic work. I structure the dissertation in three essays. In the first essay, I examine the relationship between NDR activity and the underpricing of SEOs. I find that NDRs are associated with lower SEO underpricing. This association is stronger for firms with infrequent NDR activity, for smaller firms, and for firms with higher analysts' forecast errors. These findings suggest that NDRs reduce the level of asymmetric information between firms and investors, which results in a lower cost of raising equity. In Essay 2, I investigate whether the occurrence of NDR meetings affects post-earnings-announcement drift (PEAD). I find that PEAD declines after NDR activity when the most recent NDR meeting occurs within one month before the earnings announcement. This decline is most pronounced among smaller firms, firms with high idiosyncratic volatility, and firms with Friday earnings announcements. These findings suggest that NDRs are mechanisms to convey earnings-specific information about forthcoming earnings. In the third essay I explore the relationship between NDRs, the medium of exchange used in M&As and the value created by this important corporate event. I show that NDR activity is important to understand the cross-sectional variation of the excess returns around M&As, and the bid premium. NDRs are also relevant to understand the medium of exchange. This relevance of NDR is more pronounced when the firms involved have higher levels of asymmetric information. My findings suggest that NDRs convey relevant information about acquiring and target firms, and this information affects the financing of M&As and the value created by these combinations. Taken together, the results reported in this dissertation highlight the relevance of the NDR as a mechanism to reveal information.
Optimizing Value Co-Creation in Education Supply Chains: An Evaluation of Determinants and Resiliency in Service Systems
Authors:   , Smith Justin Thomas
Published: January 2025

Services and service-based business are a major part of any economy. However, service-based supply chains require a greater level of interaction between provider and consumer than the traditional manufacturing or product-based supply chain. Therefore, they require optimization and resiliency models that acknowledge the constraints and goals unique to service-based industries. Value co-creation and service-dominant logistics (SDL) are relatively new to operations research. Existing literature in management science provides a framework for value co-creation but does not provide a model for optimizing value cocreation and resiliency in a complex or dynamic systems such as education supply chains (ESC). This dissertation addresses these knowledge gaps through 3 essays. The first essay establishes a method for optimizing investment in resiliency measures when utilizing parallel supply chains. The essay examines the intersection of value co-creation theory between higher education and service-dominant logistics (SDL) to understand the role of supply chain elements in value cocreation. The second essay provides a theoretical approach to incorporating resilience planning into the customer relationship management model. The final essay establishes a method for optimizing investment in resiliency measures when utilizing parallel service supply chains.
Applications of Machine Learning for Remote Sensing and Environmental Monitoring
Authors:   , Daniels Jacob Edward
Published: January 2025

This thesis covers applications of machine learning to the fields of remote sensing and environmental monitoring. First, a generalized background on the concepts, tools, and methods used throughout the remainder of the research project are introduced. Chapter 3 covers the implementation of artificial neural networks to improve low-cost particulate matter sensing networks using collocated high-quality sensors with varying dataset parameters. In Chapter 4, an attention-enhanced LSTM-Convolutional neural network is presented to reconstruct satellite-based aerosol optical depth data lost to atmospheric interference. Chapter 5 applies attention mechanisms and convolutional neural networks to the reconstruction and upsampling of satellite-based land surface temperature maps. Chapter 6 presents a model employing geospatial techniques and machine learning methods with a combination of ground-based and remote sensing data to produce a daily ultra-high resolution 30 meter mapping of the PM2.5 concentration across Denton County, Texas.
Barriers and Facilitators of College Athletes Seeking Mental Health Services
Authors:   , Yoon Julian Jehoon
Published: January 2025

The data surrounding barriers to student-athletes seeking mental health care are limited, but show that stigma is one of the most frequently reported barriers. Further, the effect of sharing demographic identities (i.e., race, gender) between a student-athlete and their mental health treatment provider has not been fully explored. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of reported barriers and facilitators to mental health as well as the importance of sport psychologist characteristics as a facilitator of mental health treatment. Participants consisted of student athletes from an NCAA Division I university, representing 11 sports. A series of two-way, repeated measures ANOVA analyses were conducted to determine within-subjects differences in overall reporting of barriers and facilitators, as well as between groups differences in race and gender. Significant differences were found in the rating of barriers and facilitators. Female student-athletes rated sharing a gender identity with their mental health treatment provider as more important than did male student-athletes. The findings of the study may aid athletic departments in developing targeted interventions to lower barriers and increase use of mental health resources to promote psychological well-being among student-athletes.
Effective Caregiver Consultation in Play Therapy: A Program Evaluation
Authors:   , Lowe Paige Mathison
Published: January 2025

This study examined the effectiveness of caregiver consultations in caregiver's child's play therapy process through a program evaluation lens. Archival data was used from a counseling clinic located in the central southwestern United States. Quantitative data was collected from caregiver who filled out assessments (PSI-4 and CBCL) about their child's progression through play therapy and both groups frequency of attendance. A regression analysis was used to determine if caregivers perceived changes from the initial session and up to 10 weeks later. Additionally, retention rates over a course of 60 weeks were analyzed. Key findings suggest there is a high dropout rate from play therapy between the initial session before 10 weeks. For those whose therapy extended up to 60 weeks, consultation attritions continued. Due to low attrition numbers the effect of caregiver filled out assessments was unable to be confirmed, but this study did show a need for an intervention focused on caregiver retention to reduce attrition rates. The body of this study shows how to thoroughly conduct a program evaluation based on a specific variable and provides suggestions for explaining evaluation findings to stakeholders.
Secondary Programming for Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities in Relation to Postsecondary Needs
Authors:   , Haq Summayia
Published: January 2025

For students with moderate to severe disabilities, their secondary education, specific to Grades 9 through 12, greatly impacts postsecondary outcomes. Key components of secondary education for this learner population include classroom structures and alternative curricula implementation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine selected secondary programs to determine whether classroom structures and alternative curricula were meeting the postsecondary needs of students with moderate to severe disabilities. One school district was selected for participation in this study. One document, the selected district's special education operating procedures, was used in the document analysis portion of this study. Six parents of students with moderate to severe disabilities and six special education district-level administrators were selected as interview participants. Findings revealed that current secondary programs were not consistently meeting postsecondary needs for students with moderate to severe disabilities. Findings also showed inconsistences with classroom structures and alternative curriculum implementation that would facilitate postsecondary readiness. A need for additional staff training and parent preparation for the transition into postsecondary life with their adult child was discovered. A notable finding was that teacher characteristics played a role in promoting postsecondary success. In summary, all participants had pure intentions to produce desirable postsecondary outcomes for students with moderate to severe disabilities, but a gap was identified between intentions and implementation that impacted the likelihood of desirable postsecondary outcomes.
An Optimized Control System for the Independent Control of the Inputs of Doherty Power Amplifier
Authors:   , Sah Pallav Kumar
Published: January 2025

This thesis presents an optimized drive signal control system for a 2.5 GHz Doherty power amplifier (PA). The designed system enables independent control of the amplitudes and phases of the drive signals fed to the inputs of two parallel PAs. This control system is demonstrated here for Doherty PA architecture with a combiner network which is used as an impedance inversion between the path of two parallel connected PAs. Independent control of the inputs is achieved by incorporating a variable attenuator (VA) and a variable phase shifter (VPS) in each of the two parallel paths. Integrating VA and VPS allows driving varying power levels with an arbitrary phase difference between the individual parallel PAs. A Combiner network consists of a quarter-wave transmission line at the output of the main power amplifier, which is used to invert the impedance between the main and peaking transistor. The specific VA (Qorvo QPC6614) and VPS (Qorvo QPC2108) components that are used for the test system provide an amplitude attenuation range from 0.5 dB to 31.5 dB with a step size of 0.5 dB and a phase range from 0◦ to 360◦ for a step size of 5.6◦at the intended operating frequency of 2.5 GHz, offering the benefit of characterizing the behavior of PAs under test for an extensive range of drive signals to optimize the output performance such as power added efficiency (PAE) or adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR). For demonstration, the designed drive signal control system is integrated with two parallel GaN transistor-based PAs (Qorvo QPD0005) with a P1dB of 37.7 dBm. Each PA is preceded by a drive amplifier with a gain of 17.8 dB to boost the power fed into the PA. The control system incorporates various custom-designed components such as a 20 dB directional coupler, a 3 dB Wilkinson power splitter, a quarter-wave transmission line, and a Doherty power combiner. While Qorvo QPD0005 (DUT) is used as a specific test case in this demonstration, the proposed system can characterize the behavior of a wide range of Doherty PAs.
Elements of Formal Continuity in Robert Schumann's "Novelletten," op. 21 and Other Piano Works
Authors:   , Nowak Jeremy C.
Published: January 2025

This dissertation explores Robert Schumann's treatment of phrase boundaries in the Novelletten, Op. 21, and his other piano works from the late 1830s. It argues that in contrast to Classical-style works, which generally feature clearly delineates phrases and formal sections, Schumann's works of the 1830s undermine formal boundaries, making it difficult to discern exactly where phrases and sections begin and end. I examine three means through which Schumann promotes a sense of formal continuity in his music: (1) by beginning phrases with a cadential harmonic progression; (2) by ending phrases without a cadence; and (3) by weakening the boundary between the middle section and the recapitulation in small-ternary-form pieces. The dissertation culminates with a detailed analysis of Noveletten Op. 21, No. 5.
Processing and Shape-Setting of Shape Memory Alloys for Small Satellite Antennas
Authors:   , Al Jabri Nehal Ahmed Mubarak
Published: January 2025

In this study, four different NiTi-based shape memory alloys (SMAs) compositions were processed, shape-set, and characterized to evaluate their effectiveness as SMA actuation component for satellite antennas. Three of the compositions were commercially available NiTi wires (90°C Flexinol® actuator NiTi wire and Confluent ADB SE508 NiTi wire), NiTi SM495 plates (ATI Specialty Alloys and Components) and the other composition was in house lab-produced NiTiCu plate. Different shape-setting techniques were performed such as pin and plate, fixtures and dies, and finally a sandwich fixture. The two most promising outcomes were the SE NiTi 508 wire and the NiTiCu plate. A SE NiTi 508 wire was first heat-treated at 550 °C for 3 hours and then it was shape-set at 450 °C for 30 min using a Cu tube which was previously deformed to the desired deployment curvature and fixed on a steel rig. The wire was kept inside the Cu tube during the shape-setting process to obtain the desired curvature. After shape-setting, the wire was thermally cycled multiple times. The results showed that the SE NiTi 508 wire was able to retain its deployment shape successfully after each thermal cycle. Furthermore, a NiTiCu plate was sandwiched between two steel sheets which were shaped into the desired full-deployment shape beforehand. The NiTiCu plate was shape-set at 450 °C for 30 min and then thermally cycled multiple times to test its effectiveness. The NiTiCu plate retained its full-deployment shape successfully after every thermal cycle.