bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-affirmation, Mindfulness, and Health Messages
Authors:   , Hitchcock Peter F. , Herbert James D. , Forman Evan M.
Published: July 2021

Many people die of conditions caused by unhealthy behavior. Governments and health agencies fight unhealthy behavior through public health messages, but these messages are least effective for precisely the individuals they are designed to reach: those at high risk. Self-affirmation theory suggests that at-risk individuals become defensive toward health messages to protect their sense of self-integrity. Prior research shows that self-affirmation interventions-interventions designed to bolster self-integrity-produce positive change in measures reflecting the depth at which a health message is processed. Despite this empirical success, it has not been possible to verify that self-affirmation interventions are effective because they target self-integrity. We tested the efficacy of an alternate intervention-mindfulness-that could potentially decrease defensiveness toward health information without targeting self-integrity. A second aim was to test whether three candidate moderators-trait mindfulness, self-esteem, and activity in the behavioral activation system-in fact co-varied with the interventions or with change in the dependent variables. Sexually-active undergraduate students (N = 103) from Drexel University were administered a self-affirmation (n = 37), mindfulness (n = 33), or control (n = 33) intervention, watched a health message about risk for sexually transmitted infection, and then completed four dependent measures to assess the depth at which they had processed the health message. Surprisingly, neither participants in the self-affirmation nor mindfulness conditions showed enhanced message processing relative to control participants. Also, none of the candidate moderators meaningfully co-varied with the interventions. We discuss the null findings in this adequately powered study in light of two recent meta-analyses showing that self-affirmation produces smaller and more inconsistent effects in a health message context than the earlier literature suggested.
CenteringPregnancy®
Authors:   , Faust Judith , Bloch Joan R.
Published: July 2021

Background: Because Philadelphia's infant mortality rate is well above the national average of 6.7 per 1,000 live births at 10.8 per 1,000 births, an Evidenced-based Practice model of group prenatal care, Centering Pregnancy, was implemented through an innovative opt-out approach for medically high-risk pregnant women. Funded by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns Initiative, Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia (EMCP) implemented this model of group prenatal care model with urban pregnant women who are at risk for having a preterm birth and also enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP. This Doctor of Nursing (DNP) project focused on the feasibility of implementing and sustainability of the model post grant funding by examining the staff's attitudes about implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) and patients' satisfaction with their group model of prenatal care. Methods: A descriptive research design was used. The Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS) tool measured staff attitudes towards adopting evidence-based practice. Patient satisfaction was measured by analyzing existing information that was already collected from patients participating in Centering Pregnancy model of prenatal care. Results: Among 26 staff that was surveyed about their attitudes towards adopting EBP, variation existed. The mean score among physicians on the EBPAS was the highest, which was over 10 points compared to nurses and the support staff. The vast majority of the patients (> 90%) who completed evaluations of CP during their 10th group session reported they liked this group model of prenatal care. Conclusions: Tremendous administrative efforts were invested to implement this evidence-based practice known as Centering Pregnancy. Most relevant were study findings that reveal high levels of staff adoption and patient satisfaction, which are important reasons to sustain this group model of prenatal care.
Design of a Cone and Plate Co-culture Device to Investigate the Effects of Fluid Shear Stress and Free Fatty Acids on Endothelial Nitric Oxide Production
Authors:   , Houriet Nicholas W. , Clyne Alisa Morss
Published: July 2021

Metabolic syndrome and obesity in particular are significant cardiovascular disease risk factors. Excessive central adipose tissue is strongly linked to insulin resistance, which may contribute to systemic and adipose tissue vascular inflammation. Insulin resistant and obese individuals have increased levels of circulating free fatty acids, which inhibit insulin-induced production of atheroprotective nitric oxide by endothelial cells in vitro. Decreased endothelial nitric oxide can further lead to chronic inflammation of the vasculature and adipose tissue. Furthermore, insulin resistant and obese individuals display reduced adipose tissue blood flow. Thus the FFA-induced reduction in endothelial nitric oxide production may further decrease shear stress-induced endothelial nitric oxide production and exacerbate adipose tissue inflammation and metabolic disease. The objective of this thesis is to elucidate the effects of FFAs on endothelial cell response to fluid shear stress. I hypothesize that shear stress leads to endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation in the presence of FFAs. If proved true, this would suggest that restoring adipose tissue blood flow may abrogate adipose tissue inflammation and metabolic syndrome. Since existing in vitro fluid shear stress testing devices cannot test the effects of shear stress on endothelial cells in a 3D co-culture system with adipocytes, this thesis first presents a new cone and plate flow device with a 3D hydrogel co-culture component. The cone and plate flow system successfully created laminar fluid shear stress in both acute (5 minute) and chronic (24 hour) bovine aortic endothelial cells, demonstrated by increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation and cell alignment, respectively. This thesis then presents a method to incorporate a gelatin co-culture component; however the gelatin gel requires further study since it is not adequately flat nor have cells been incorporated. FFAs were demonstrated to inhibit insulin-induced endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation in static culture. Finally, preliminary data demonstrated that 5 minutes of flow at 20 dynes/cm2 was able to increase eNOS phosphorylation in samples treated with FFA incubation in 2 of 3 sample groups tested. This thesis has provided design of a new in vitro flow system that could allow testing of co-cultures previously not possible. The results presented here support further examination of the role of shear stress and FFAs in vascular disease. Future work will include the improvement of gelatin molding techniques with finer tolerance features, as well as developing methods to suspend the cells with the gel. Additional experiments should be conducted with FFAs in flow. Furthermore, the cone and plate device offers opportunities for work with other cell types and co-cultures including endothelial, adipocyte, smooth muscle, and macrophages.
Effect of Evaluative Conditioning on Implicit Attitudes and Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Soft Drinks
Authors:   , Shaw Jena A. , Forman Evan M.
Published: July 2021

Background: Evaluative Conditioning (EC) has been used to alter implicit attitudes by pairing a target stimulus with positive or negative stimuli. Altering implicit attitudes towards hedonic, high-energy foods might be a means of reducing caloric intake. Methods: The present study examined the effect of a picture-picture EC procedure on soda outcomes, including positive and negative implicit attitudes, consumption during a taste test, and real-world consumption during the week after the intervention. In the EC condition (n = 43), soda was paired with disgust and water was paired with pleasant stimuli, while in the control condition (n = 41), the same images were viewed without pairing. Results: Results generally favored the potential for EC to impact soda drinking, and during the one-week follow-up period, there was a trend towards the EC group showing a larger reduction in real-world soda consumption. However, analyses also revealed several unexpected patterns: the effect of EC on increasing negative implicit attitudes was only seen in individuals who had relatively higher baseline negative attitudes towards soda, effects on general soda consumption were weaker than those on consumption of the targeted brand, and the EC condition showed a trend towards increased taste test consumption immediately following the intervention, particularly among individuals with low self-control. Conclusion: These findings may suggest that when using EC to target a well-known brand, attitude change is more successful when negative attitudes are already present, and the initial introduction of negative attitudes can lead to short-term disinhibition in individuals with poor self-control. It also suggests that in spite of these early effects, EC may result in lower consumption for at least a week following the intervention.
Applications of Symbolic Computation to the Calculus of Moving Surfaces
Authors:   , Boady Mark W. , Johnson Jeremy Russell , Grinfeld Pavel
Published: July 2021

In the physical world, objects change shape over time. A soap bubble blowing in the wind changes shape and density as it floats through the air. Red blood cells change shape to carry oxygen through our veins. Modeling these problems requires deforming manifolds. The Calculus of Moving Surfaces (CMS) is an analytical framework for studying deforming manifolds. The CMS is an extension of tensor calculus. Both approach problems from a geometric perspective, without reference to specific coordinate systems. To evaluate a specific realization of a problem, a coordinate system is chosen and a CMS expression is converted to a series of n-dimensional array calculations using standard calculus. This generality has many costs. The length of expressions grows quickly, in many cases exponentially. Although it is applicable to a wide range of problems, calculations quickly become intractable. The expressions generated are not only long and difficult to work with, evaluating them on a specific coordinate system introduces an entirely different set of challenges. We present the first compute algebra system designed specifically for the CMS. Our system, the Symbolic Computation of Moving Surfaces (SCMS) supports the derivation of CMS expressions and the evaluation of expressions on specific coordinate systems. Although large expressions are inherent in the framework, computer automation allows for the application of the CMS to significantly larger problems then can be done by hand and allows the CMS to be applied in an error free way to non-trivial problems. We have developed two libraries making up the SCMS. The first is a term rewrite system, CMSTRS, developed in Java. This library automates the analytic framework of the CMS. Expressions are kept at a high level, retaining the generality of the CMS. The second, CMSTensor, is for evaluation on specific coordinate systems. It is implemented using the Maple computer algebra system. It leverages the power of this computer algebra system to evaluate CMS expressions as a combination of n-dimensional array manipulations and standard calculus operations. We have applied our system to a non-trivial boundary variation problem: the symbolic series expansion of the Laplace Eigenvalues on the N-sided regular polygon under Dirichlet boundary conditions. This series is computed up to N^(-6), two orders higher then previous results. Our calculations confirm previous hand calculations and extend the series beyond what was previously known.
Predicting E-commerce Item Popularity Using Image Quality Features
Authors:   , Zakrewsky Stephen , Shokoufandeh Ali
Published: July 2021

In order to traverse the plethora of items for sale online, searching, ranking, and recommendation systems must be built, and the quality of these systems can make the difference between boom or bust. In all of these methods, being able to distinguish between popular and non-popular items is very important. Traditionally, these systems have only utilized textual metadata, however, images represent first order information to the shopper, and are composed of a variety of signals that shoppers respond to. In this thesis we look at the problem of predicting item popularity on a popular e-commerce site using image quality features, and show that these features provide complementary information to the textual features in making this prediction.
Dynamic Frame Rate
Authors:   , Chuang Kai-Lin , Berton John Andrew
Published: July 2021

Dynamic Frame Rate (DFR) is the change in frame rate of a movie sequence in real time as the sequence is playing. The idea of using dynamic frame rates in digital cinema has not been explored in depth despite the researches and attempts in using high frame rates. As such, there are very limited information on how people perceive it and how DFR actually works. Additionally, we do not have a good knowledge of whether or not it would look good or bad. By understanding DFR and how viewers perceive the changes in frame rate, it will help us adapt new techniques in the creation of cinema. This thesis aims to understand the basics of DFR, how different implementations of DFR changes viewer perception and how people perceive a changing in frame rate of an animated movie sequence displayed in DFR.
Understanding Cultural Fusion as a Concept to Decode Animated Character Visual Design
Authors:   , Shao Ning , Berton John Andrew , Fernsler Jeremy , Sauro Clare
Published: July 2021

Cultural fusion as a powerful concept has been applied in many animated character designs. It is influenced by the trend of cultural globalization. The concept of cultural fusion has been applied in body motion design, theme and story in animation, but it has not been completely explored as a powerful concept focused on character visual design. This project explores how novel methods of visual cultural fusion can be applied in the visual design of characters. This study offers character designers new methods for character design utilizing cultural fusion and raises awareness and understanding of this powerful concept. Keywords: animated character visual design, visual cultural fusion, character costume design.
Teach, Coach, Live
Authors:   , Martin Joseph Gregory , Grant Allen C.
Published: July 2021

This explanatory mixed-methods study is focused on the sustainability of the triple-threat model of teaching found at elite American boarding schools. In this model, faculty members are expected to teach, coach, and perform residential duties as part of their contract. While elite boarding schools have been researched in recent years, no research exists on the teachers at these institutions or the hiring model used to staff them. In recent years, a great deal of discussion has come to the fore within elite boarding schools concerning the future of the triple-threat model. With cultural and economic changes impacting elite boarding schools, the long-standing staffing model is being pressured from both internal and external forces. These pressures bring the future of the triple-threat model into question. Viewed through a grounded theory approach, the researcher is using collected data to determine if the triple-threat is indeed under pressure and if so, whether this model is sustainable given these pressures. Surveys given to heads of 28 schools identified as elite were combined with interviews with heads of these schools to construct a review of the triple-threat model and its place in these elite schools in the years to come. Results of this study can be applied to hiring practices in both elite and non-elite schools to create a staffing model that is both good for the students and sustainable for the school.
An Exploratory Case Study of Middle School Student Academic Achievement in a Fully Online Virtual School
Authors:   , Wolfinger Suzanne , Grant Allen C.
Published: July 2021

Virtual school enrollment continues to increase in the United States although the efficacy of this school model remains highly debated. The majority of research conducted about virtual schooling focuses on high school and adult online learners. Recent literature highlights the need for quality research that provides an understanding of the characteristics of adolescent online learners and the types of support they need to achieve academically in a virtual school. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the academic achievement of successful middle school students in a fully online K-12 cyber school (virtual school) in Pennsylvania, through the perceptions of middle school teachers, students, and their learning coaches. The conceptual framework for this study was supported by research and included the following research streams: learner characteristics, academic support, and academic social support. Eight middle school students and their learning coaches and nine middle school teachers participated in this study. In-person observations and interviews were conducted within each student household. The teachers participated in an online focus group interview. This study's results revealed that the student participants share learner characteristics in common, teachers continue to play an important role in the virtual school model, and specific aspects of parental involvement were revealed that indicate a learning coach's approach may promote academic achievement. Certain components and features of the education management system were perceived by the study participants as supportive of academic achievement. Lastly, a connection with peers through extracurricular activities appeared to impact student motivation and academic achievement in virtual school.
Graphitic Carbon Materials Tailored for the Rapid Adsorption of Biomolecules
Authors:   , Pescatore Nicholas A. , Gogotsi Yury
Published: July 2021

Sepsis is an overactive inflammatory response to an infection, with 19 million cases estimated worldwide and causing organ dysfunction if left untreated. Three proinflammatory cytokines are seen from literature review as vital biomarkers for sepsis and are interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-[alpha]), which have the potential to be removed by hemoperfusion. This thesis examines carbon nanomaterials for their adsorption capabilities in the search for an optimal material for blood cleansing hemoperfusion application, such as mediating the effects of sepsis. Non-porous and porous carbon polymorphs and their properties are investigated in this thesis for their protein adsorption capabilities. Polymer-derived mesoporous carbons were compared to non-porous graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) to observe changes in adsorption capacity for cytokines between porous and non-porous materials. GNPs were functionalized via high temperature vacuum annealing, air oxidation, acid oxidation, and amination treatments to understand the effect of surface chemistry on adsorption. For practical use in a hemoperfusion column, polymer-derived carbon beads and composite materials such as cryogel and PTFE graphene nanoplatelets composites were designed and tested for their adsorption capacity. It was found that the adsorption kinetics for non-porous materials drastically outperformed porous carbons tested. At concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-[alpha] seen in septic patients, these cytokines were completely removed from the blood after 5 minutes of incubation with GNPs. While GNPs embedded cryogels and PTFE films showed adsorption capability, their performance was hindered by the composite matrix blocking the GNP surface area to the plasma. Cytotoxicity of the GNPs was seen to be minimal, when compared to toxic silver nanoparticles and PVC polymer. Overall, a low-cost, scalable carbon adsorbent was found to provide a novel approach of rapidly removing pro-inflammatory cytokines from septic patients.
Reconstruction of Fatigue Crack Growth in Aluminum Copper and Aluminum Lithium Fastened Lap Joints Under Constant Amplitude and Marker Band Loading
Authors:   , Stanley David Joseph , Tan Tein-Min , Awerbuch Jonathan
Published: July 2021

This work was undertaken as a comparative study on fatigue properties of a typical third generation Aluminum-Lithium alloy, AA2198-T8, to that of a traditional aerospace aluminum-copper alloy, AA2024-T3, with a focus on developing a methodology for reconstructing fatigue crack growth history under two different fatigue loading functions: a) constant amplitude; and b) marker band loading conditions (i.e., using two different R-ratios). Fatigue fracture surface morphologies were examined to determine the effect of alloying and loading direction relative to the specimen's rolling direction on fatigue crack growth behavior. The fracture surface morphologies of the two alloys were markedly different: the AA2024-T3 exhibited substantial meandering fracture surface, with localized fatigue cracks progressing along multiple directions and at different rates. The AA2198-T8 alloy exhibited more uniform but shallower fatigue striations, with numerous micro and macro interlaminar cracks. The effect of constituent size on the localized fatigue crack progression and rate in the two alloys could be discerned directly. Fatigue crack growth rate (da/dN) measurements were taken from the fractographs, using striation based and marker band based analyses, from which fatigue crack initiation cycle was estimated and compared with the ultrasonic inspections.
Experimental Investigations of Magnesium Diboride Josephson Junctions
Authors:   , Carabello Steven A. , Ramos Roberto C. , Bose Shyamalendu M.
Published: July 2021

In this thesis, I present the results of experiments on Josephson tunnel junctions that incorporate magnesium diboride (MgB2) as one of the superconducting electrodes. Through explorations of their current vs. voltage and conductance vs. voltage characteristics, I produced high-resolution distributions of the energy gap structure of MgB2. I also explored their resonant modes by performing the first superconducting-to-normal state switching experiments on such "hybrid" junctions. Magnesium diboride exhibits two superconducting energy gaps, sigma and pi. The Josephson junctions measured for this thesis used clean MgB2 thin films grown by hybrid physical-chemical vapor deposition on single-crystal silicon carbide substrates. For some films, only the c-axis is exposed, allowing direct tunneling to the pi gap. In others, the a-b plane is exposed, allowing us to explore the sigma gap as well. Lead or tin were evaporated to form the superconducting counterelectrodes. I performed high-resolution tunneling spectroscopy measurements of these junctions. Their results demonstrate that, for films with little scattering, it is not possible to model the density of states with only two superconducting energy gaps. Instead, at least four gaps are needed and a distribution is more appropriate, as anticipated by several theoretical results. The switching of Josephson junctions from the superconducting to normal states reveals additional interesting physics. There has been some recent theoretical interest in the switching behavior of "hybrid" junctions - those consisting of one single-gap electrode and one multi-gap electrode, separated by a tunneling barrier. I observed several features of the superconducting-to-normal switching behavior that are not yet explained by theory. However, most of my results are consistent with theories developed for conventional single-gap/single-gap Josephson junctions, suggesting that switching in these junctions is dominated by a single tunneling mode. By measuring the switching behavior across temperatures, with and without microwave excitation, I was able to characterize the resistance, capacitance, critical current, and quality factor of these junctions. Each junction proved to be highly underdamped (quality factor Q >> 1). Because my results also exhibit several signatures of quantum-mechanical behavior, similar junctions may be suitable for quantum device applications.
Exploring the Quasar Luminosity Function with Quasars Selected by both Color and Variability
Authors:   , Peters Christina M. , Richards Gordon T.
Published: July 2021

A non-parametric Bayesian classification selection algorithm was used to demonstrate that a combination of optical colors and variability features improves quasar classification efficiency and completeness over the use of colors alone, suggesting that this is a good set of features to use in classification algorithms for future time-domain focused sky surveys. These features were used to identify 35,820 type 1 quasar candidates in a 239 square deg field of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Stripe 82. Color analysis was performed on 5-band single- and multi-epoch SDSS optical photometry and variability parameters were calculated by fitting the structure function of each object in each band with a power law model. Using variability alone, colors alone, and combining variability and colors, quasar completeness of 91%, 93%, and 97% and efficiency of 98%, 98%, and 97%, respectively, was achieved. Particular improvement was seen in the selection of quasars at 2.7 < z < 3.5 where quasars and stars have similar optical colors. Of the 22,867 quasar candidates that are not spectroscopically confirmed, 95.7% are dimmer than coadded i-band magnitude of 19.9, the cut off for spectroscopic follow-up on Stripe 82. Brighter than 19.9, 5.7% more quasar candidates were found without confirming spectra in sky regions otherwise considered complete. In addition to calculating empirical optical photometric redshifts for all candidate quasars, astrometric redshifts were calculated using parameters determined by measuring the differential chromatic refraction (DCR) effect with the purpose of breaking degeneracies in the photometric redshifts. The combined astro-photometric redshifts are more accurate than optical and near-infrared photometric redshifts. Potential observation schedules for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) were analyzed to determine how well quasars of different redshifts can be distinguished using the DCR effect. The resulting quasar sample has sufficient purity (and statistically correctable incompleteness) to produce a luminosity function comparable to those determined by spectroscopic investigations with photometric selection and redshift estimation. The quasar luminosity function of a uniformly-selected spectroscopic quasar sample, grouped according to emission-line properties, suggests that the space density of quasars with different underlying spectral energy distributions (SEDs) has evolved differently with redshift, peaking at different times.
Surface motion analysis for the natural ankle and for Total Ankle Replacements with different articular surface geometries
Authors:   , Kulkarni Rewati Pradeep , Siegler Sorin
Published: July 2021

The increasing success and establishment of arthroplasty procedures of the knee and hip over the years, has been reason enough for the want to create a functional Total Ankle Replacement, in an attempt to phase out ankle arthodesis. The implant models such as those developed by Inman and Buechel-Pappas were critical to this process gaining momentum. Most recently, the work of Siegler et al. proposed a new patient specific and anatomically accurate model of a TAR, which also attempts to reproduce the implant models with ligament stability, mechanical alignment, and joint kinematics. This study focusses on one of the aspects of joint kinematics of the ankle complex, namely, the surface to surface interaction of the bones and its analysis during the various types of motion, by means of distance mapping. During the physical experimentation, the individual bones of the ankle joint complex are fitted with fiduciary markers, which enables the recording of position data at predefined time steps and applied torque. This is done for the different neutral positions of the ankle, as well as the different types of motion of the ankle joint, namely, dorsi-plantar flexion, inversion-eversion, and internal-external rotation. These distance maps are gradient patterns on the articulating surfaces taken in pairs, which provide us with information regarding the displacement of the concerned bones at every time step, for a specific motion type. By studying these maps, we hope to achieve a more definitive analysis of the surface interaction of the bones whilst fit with a TAR model, thus helping us achieve an implant design with the best morphological replications.
Daily Nurse Manager Rounding and the Impact on Patient Falls and Patient Satisfaction
Authors:   , Miller Joanne O'Keefe , Rundio Al
Published: July 2021

Background and Purpose: Patients continue to fall despite multimodal multidisciplinary strategies. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to determine if a specified protocol for daily nurse manager rounding impacts patient falls and patient's perception of responsiveness to nursing care. The objective was to evaluate patient falls and satisfaction in the hospital setting before and after the nurse manager rounding intervention. Methods: A retrospective descriptive design was used with non-probability consecutive sampling; December 2014 through February 2015, and March through May 2015 were compared. Participants included adult patients 18 [greater than or equal to] years on two 24-bed medical-surgical units in a community hospital in an urban setting. Data was collected via hospital incident reports for patient falls, and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey (HCAHPS) for staff responsiveness. Chi-square test for independence was used to evaluate the distribution in staff responsiveness pre- and post-intervention, while risk ratios were calculated to determine significant change in the incidence of patient falls. Evaluation: For all statistical tests, the level of significance was set at p<0.05. There was no difference in staff responsiveness on either of the units, 6E and 6W (p=.73 and p=.52, respectively). Similarly, the incidence of patient falls on 6E and 6W did not differ significantly between pre- and post-intervention (p=.34 and p=.18, respectively). Clinical Implications and Summary: This study provided a clinically significant impact on reduction in falls and improved responsiveness of staff domain on one unit. Although the study did not demonstrate statistically significant differences in patient falls and staff responsiveness post-intervention, it provided a framework for the customization of a daily manager rounding protocol to address patient safety and patient needs proactively. Further qualitative and quantitative research is needed to evaluate this intervention that has potential for significant safety and quality of life implications.
Social, Situational, and Psychological Factors Linked to Campus Sexual Assault
Authors:   , Tartaglia Alison Much , Villanueva Augusta M.
Published: July 2021

Objective: This dissertation research utilizes a dataset derived from the National Collegiate Health Assessment II to identify specific social, situational and psychological factors that contribute to students becoming victims of campus sexual assault at a large, southern university historically known as a "party school." Methods: Combined data for the period 2010-2014 were used to create a data set (n=5504) to examine the interplay between alcohol consumption and likelihood of experiencing sexual assault on this campus. Logistic regression quantified the magnitude of the relationship between certain survey items specific to alcohol use, protective behavioral strategies for high-risk alcohol use, and likelihood of experiencing sexual assault. Results: Victims of sexual assault were found to be predominantly female, median age of 21, and in their second year of college. Adjusted odds ratios indicated strong relationships (p [less than or equal to] .01) between most of the social, situational, and psychological variables analyzed and the likelihood of experiencing sexual assault, except for protective behavioral strategies for high-risk alcohol use, alternating drinking, staying with a friend the entire time "partying," and tracking the amount of alcohol consumed. Conclusion: Since 2011, the federal government has placed a significant amount of attention on mitigating the likelihood of sexual abuse on college campuses, calling for both adherence to federal mandates, and strongly recommending that prevention programs covering a wide array of topics be instituted. This has, in turn, created an environment for administrators and educators in which ensuring compliance with federal mandates appears to take precedence over student safety and program efficacy. Programs that are developed solely based on federal mandates, without an understanding of the complexity and context surrounding sexual assault on college campuses may increase reporting and ensure that services are offered for victims, but will not impact the overall numbers of victims. This research seeks to propose a foundation for integrating protective behavioral strategies for high-risk alcohol use and sexual assault primary prevention programs within higher education institutions. This would allow both underfunded and understaffed educators to capitalize on the potential for pooling limited resources and more importantly enhancing the likelihood of reducing both the risk for and incidence of sexual assault on college campuses.
The impact of relational and structural embeddedness on alliance termination outcomes
Authors:   , Fakharizadi Ehsan , Gera Azi , Narayanan Vadake K.
Published: July 2021

The literature on strategic alliances has extensively studied factors that contribute to the formation of alliances, choice of alliance governance, and predictors of alliance termination. However, despite extant evidence of high instability of alliance relationships, the post-termination outcomes of alliance dissolutions are understudied. In this dissertation, I try to investigate the impact of alliance termination on partners' future alliance activity. I study alliance outcomes from a social embeddedness perspective and argue that alliance termination can negatively affect firms' abilities to form new relationships, and to maintain their existing relationships. Furthermore, I present two sets of competing hypotheses based on two major benefits of network cohesion: informational advantage and social control. On the one hand, based on the informational advantages of social network, network cohesion can compensate for the adverse effect of alliance termination. On the other hand, collective sanctions and punishments resulting from the social control mechanism may increase the negative outcomes of alliance terminations. Based on the analysis of data on joint venture activities of top global chemical companies from 1990 to 2005, I find support for 1) the negative effect of alliance termination on the partners' alliance activities, and 2) the positive impact of network cohesion on alliance outcomes.
Fracture Characterization of Recycled HDPE/Nanoclay Composites
Authors:   , Na Suk Joon , Hsuan Yick Grace
Published: July 2021

High density polyethylene (HDPE) is one of the most widely used engineering plastics in infrastructures, particularly in a pipeline system. Current HDPE pipes are made from pristine resin which directly relies on petroleum supply. Utilizing recycled HDPE to replace a portion of pristine resin certainly provides benefits in improving the sustainability of the HDPE pipes and saving raw materials. However, challenges still remain to apply the recycled material for engineering applications which specifically require the long-term service life performance. Recycled materials generally possess inferior material properties to the pristine counterpart, and they have a higher risk of failure caused by stress cracking within a desired lifetime. To suggest a solution to the concern, this research focuses on a new class of materials which are polymer/nanoclay composites (PNCs). The presence of a small amount of nanoclay significantly enhances the properties by increasing mechanical properties, flammability resistance and surface scratch resistance while decreasing gas permeability. However, the fracture resistance of the recycle-based PNCs, particularly stress crack resistance (SCR), has not been studied yet. This research therefore evaluates the effect of nanoclay on the short-term and long-term fracture resistance of pristine/recycled HDPE pipe material. The short-term fracture resistance was characterized using the essential work of fracture (EWF) concept test. The results revealed that nanoclay has not produced significant toughening effect and causes embrittlement of the materials. Adding nanoclay to pristine HDPE, a steady decrease in fracture toughness was measured until 4-wt% of nanoclay after which the change was insignificant. Conversely, nanoclay content more than 2-wt% in recycle-blends greatly decreased the fracture toughness value. The long-term SCR via slow crack growth (SCG) mechanism was evaluated by means of the Notched Constant Ligament Stress (NCTL) test. The result revealed that, unlike the short-term fracture resistance, the nanoclay enhanced SCR and extended the failure time. By integrating the short-term and long-term failure behavior employing the elastic-plastic fracture mechanics, a correlation between the fracture toughness and SCG was accomplished in this study.
Life Cycle Environmental and Economic Evaluation of Emerging Lignocellulosic Biorefinery Products with Consideration of Temporal Effects on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Authors:   , Pourhashem FakharLangeroudi Ghasideh , Spatari Sabrina
Published: July 2021

Biofuels, energy derived from biomass, have been proposed as alternative low carbon fuels that have the potential to provide energy security, economic opportunities and possibly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation and energy sector. This dissertation investigates the environmental, economic, social sustainability and time implications of reducing GHG emissions of alternative applications of co-products of the biorefinery by either land amending this carbon rich material to mitigate soil carbon loss or recovering its energy. First study shows that cofiring the lignin co-product of the lignocellulosic biorefinery with coal or land amending it can hugely reduce GHG emissions while cofiring helps the economics of the biorefinery and land amendment can be a sustainable cropping approach. Moreover, on-site energy recovery of the co-product has the lowest operating cost and the highest GHG emission. The second study discusses the time aspects of the GHG emissions of alternative soil management strategies within the biofuel production life cycle. Variable soil emissions result in distinct system emission profiles. Results declare that, neglecting timing of the emissions and failing to consider all related soil emissions result in some minor and major accounting errors. In the third study, opportunities of small scale pyrolysis oil production for displacing heavy fuel oil for electricity generation are discussed with two alternative applications of bio-char co-product as an energy source and soil amendment. This study shows that with implementing either scenarios pyrolysis bio-oil can offer near-term GHG and energy savings while being competitive with petroleum fuel oil in electricity markets. The last study of this thesis reviews and emphasizes the importance of social sustainability considerations in biofuel systems. This study evaluates the abatement cost of replacing fuel oil with small scale produced bio-oil and states that local market competitiveness, awareness of the consumers of the environmental and social benefits of co-products and presence of policy instruments could favor one of the co-product applications over the other. This thesis demonstrates that life cycle approach is useful for analyzing and comparing different bioenergy systems, and is capable of providing insights into tradeoffs necessary in decision making for the development of bioenergy systems.
Self-regulatory Control of Eating
Authors:   , Berner Laura A. , Lowe Michael R.
Published: July 2021

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious disorder associated with significant medical complications and high rates of comorbid psychopathology. Evidence suggests that individuals with BN exhibit deficits in self-regulatory control; however, research directly linking self-regulatory deficits and neural activation to clinically meaningful behaviors in BN is lacking. The present study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIR) to measure prefrontal cortical (PFC) neural activation in 23 women with BN and 23 group-matched healthy controls during performance of a standard go/no-go task and a novel, eating-specific go/no-go task that requires participants to inhibit a prepotent tendency to sip and swallow a palatable shake. Multilevel models were used to examine between-group differences in performance and neural activation and to investigate, within the BN group, the relationship between inhibitory control-associated PFC activation and illness severity. Women with BN made more errors on both the standard and eating-specific tasks than control participants did. BN women demonstrated deficient medial prefrontal activation compared with controls when engaging self-regulatory control on the standard go/no-go task, and deactivated medial and right ventrolateral PFC when engaging self-regulatory control over sipping responses on the eating task. More frequent binge eating was associated with greater deactivation in medial and ventrolateral PFC on the sipping task. Between-group activation differences remained statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons only in sipping-task analyses and only when BN participants with comorbid depression or generalized anxiety disorder or those taking psychotropic medications at the time of study were excluded. Results lend further support to a growing body of evidence that both general and eating-specific self-regulation is impaired in BN. In addition, they preliminarily suggest that deficient engagement of medial and lateral PFC is associated with general inhibitory control deficits in this population, while deactivation of these regions may contribute to binge eating. These initial findings enhance our understanding of prefrontal neural mechanisms that may contribute to the development and maintenance of BN and could serve as useful targets for intervention.
Renegotiating Parents' Role
Authors:   , Feldman David , Grant Allen C.
Published: July 2021

Parents of incoming students and college officials often engage during freshman onboarding to support college student success. Elements of college success includes the student's development of both cognitive and non-cognitive skills; and success is often measured by annual retention and persistence to degree. This qualitative case study answers the central question of this investigation and fills a gap in the literature by determining that the communication and messaging taking place between parents and college officials during freshman onboarding predominately met each party's intentions and expectations and established a foundation by which the two stakeholders can work to support student success. Eight parents and nine college officials participated in interviews where they shared their goals for students and voiced their interpretations of the messages they received during freshman onboarding. Five themes emerged from the data: (a) parents are active participants in their student's college investigation; (b) parents and college officials are focused on strengthening readiness for the safe and successful transition from home to college; (c) parents and college officials share common goals for students;(d) parents acknowledge receipt of college officials' primary messages; and (e) parents and college officials align on issues but differ on tactics to address the issues. The findings of this study, coupled with a thorough analysis of the literature on the streams of: college readiness, messaging and onboarding, led to three major results: (a) parents and college officials are focused and united on their goal of developing students' non-cognitive skills; (b) parents and college officials place a low priority on critical measures of college student success; and (c) the foundation has been established for a partnership between parents and college officials focused on student success. Three recommendations were offered to parents and college officials: (a) increase focus on student cognitive development during freshman onboarding; (b) establish intentional communication and messaging promoting the goal of student retention and persistence to attaining the degree; and(c) strengthen the structure by which parents and college officials can communicate with each other. Three recommendations were offered to the community beyond the scope of this investigation: (a) conduct similar studies with stakeholders at other higher education institutions; (b) conduct studies focused on parents who hail from similar educational and cultural backgrounds; and (c) measure outcomes of efforts to focus on cognitive skill development, retention and persistence to degree.
Ion Transport in Semicrystalline Solid Polymer Electrolytes
Authors:   , Cheng Shan , Li Christopher Y.
Published: July 2021

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with both high room temperature ionic conductivity and mechanical integrity are highly desirable for all-solid-state lithium batteries. Linear polyethylene oxide (PEO) represents the simplest yet most attractive solvating polymer due to its capability to form complex with a selected number of alkali metal salt, especially lithium salt. The ether oxygen on PEO backbone coordinates with Li⁺ and the transport of the latter is facilitated through segmental motion of the polymer chain. However, the highly crystalline nature due to stereoregularity and flexibility of the polymer chain complicate the ion transport mechanism. PEO crystallization has been long considered to be detrimental to ion transport as it results in a decrease of the effective fraction of amorphous conducting phase, slower polymer chain dynamics and more tortuous pathways for ion transport. However, a quantitative analysis of crystallization effect on the ionic conductivity is challenging since these factors are always coupled. In this dissertation, we demonstrated that the two factors, namely tethered chain/dynamic and tortuosity/structural effects can be decoupled by preparing polymer membranes with controlled crystal orientation and measuring the in-plane and through-plane conductivity of the orientated membrane. Moderate conductivity anisotropy as a result of PEO lamellar orientation was first observed in a solution cast PEO SPE. We further used graphene oxide to enhance the crystal orientation, hence the conductivity anisotropy. To quantitatively characterize the crystallization effect, a model electrolyte system consists of PEO single crystals with well controlled crystal structure, size, crystallinity and orientation were fabricated. Ion conduction was confined within the chain fold region, and guided by the crystalline lamellae. We demonstrated that at low ion content, the in-plane conductivity was 1000-2000 times greater than through-plane one due to the tortuosity effect, which was described using Nielsen's permeability model. Contradictory to the general view, the dynamic effect was negligible at moderate ion contents and the overall conductivity was mainly controlled by crystal orientation, strong Li-PEO interaction and Li⁺ aggregation. Our results demonstrated that semicrystalline polymer can be viewed as a two phase model which morphologically mimicking the popular systems such as block copolymers and polyolefin porous membranes. By controlling crystallization behavior, mechanically robust semi-crystalline SPE with high room temperature conductivity is feasible.