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Acenaphthene and 1,10-Phenanthroline-Fused Βeta-Functionalized Porphyrins (open access)

Acenaphthene and 1,10-Phenanthroline-Fused Βeta-Functionalized Porphyrins

A series of acene-fused porphyrins and 1,10-phenanthroline-fused porphyrins were synthesized and characterized via NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The acene-fused porphyrins exhibit unique optoelectronic properties, most notably they exhibit highly red-shifted absorption bands. The 1,10-phenanthroline-fused porphyrins are of interest for their ability to bond to as variety of metals to form chelation complexes.
Date: December 2023
Creator: Arvidson, Jacob Randall
System: The UNT Digital Library

Acute and Sublethal Impacts of Crude Oil Photo-Induced Toxicity in an Early Life Stage Marine Fish (Sciaenops ocellatus) and Invertebrate (Americamysis bahia)

We investigated the modifying effects of ultraviolet (UV) light and chemical dispersant (Corexit 9500A) on crude oil toxicity in juvenile mysids (≤ 24 h) (Americamysis bahia) and larval red drum (24-72 hpf) (Sciaenops ocellatus). These results demonstrate that crude oil toxicity significantly increases with co-exposure to environmentally relevant UV levels in both species, indicating photo-induced toxicity. This toxicity was further exacerbated by the application of chemical dispersants which increased the dissolution and concentration of oil-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in test solutions. To better understand the mechanisms and initiating events of this observed photo-induced toxicity, the incidence of apoptotic cell death and global transcriptomic changes were assessed in larval red drum (24-72 hpf) following co-exposure to crude oil and UV. These results showed that co-exposure to UV and low concentrations of crude oil (<1 µg/L ∑PAH50) induced apoptotic cell death in skin and eye tissue and altered transcriptomic pathways related to visual processing and dermatological disease. To link these cellular and molecular impacts of photo-induced toxicity to apical endpoints of ecological performance, sublethal impacts to growth, metabolic rate, and visually mediated behaviors were explored in larval red drum at 2 developmental stages. These results suggested that earlier life stages may …
Date: December 2023
Creator: Leads, Rachel Renee
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Analysis of Litigation against North Carolina Educators and School Districts under the North Carolina Tort Claims Act (open access)

An Analysis of Litigation against North Carolina Educators and School Districts under the North Carolina Tort Claims Act

This dissertation discussed the impact of the North Carolina Tort Claims Act and the history of governmental immunity that has protected school districts and school employees in North Carolina. The research question addressed was: how have North Carolina state courts interpreted the North Carolina Tort Claims Act in litigation against North Carolina school districts and their employees? The North Carolina Tort Claims Act provided citizens with a vehicle to sue local governmental agencies and their employees, such as school employees. The act also provided immunity for schools, especially for excessive damages in the case of negligence by an employee. The study examined how state courts have responded to different plaintiffs since the passage of the North Carolina Tort Claims Act in 1951. The decisions in the cases analyzed have been mostly favorable to schools, which has strengthened immunity for school employees. There were four legal aspects addressed by the courts after the passage of the North Carolina Tort Claims Act either most frequently or were unique to the case law of North Carolina. Those legal aspects were tests of school districts' governmental immunity; contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiff; the official capacity of school employees in lawsuits; and …
Date: December 2023
Creator: Harned, Jason Douglas
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Analytical Study of the Suite for Violin and Piano (1935), Op. 6, by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) (open access)

An Analytical Study of the Suite for Violin and Piano (1935), Op. 6, by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

The Suite for Violin and Piano, Op. 6 is one of the least-known compositions by Benjamin Britten. It has been considered unfavorably by critics and scholars due to its puzzling mixture of tonal and post-tonal elements. However, this dissertation argues that the suite is composed with a clear tonal framework, and its unique mixed tonal-post-tonal language justifies an in-depth analysis. This analytical study utilizes a linear progression technique - the voice leading produced by passing tones and neighbor notes around focal pitches - to identify tonal areas of the suite.
Date: December 2023
Creator: Lee, Hanjun
System: The UNT Digital Library
Analyzing the Joint Effects of Network and Community Attributes on Network Performance: Evidence from Local Continuum of Care Homeless Service Networks (open access)

Analyzing the Joint Effects of Network and Community Attributes on Network Performance: Evidence from Local Continuum of Care Homeless Service Networks

This dissertation examines the factors and combinations of factors that affect the performance of continuum of care homeless service networks, applying the configurational approach of contingency theory to data sets drawn from federal sources. The study accepts the two key assumptions from the theory: (1) that there are multiple paths to high performance and (2) key conditions have a joint influence on network performance. The data analysis in this study has two parts. The first employs OLS regression to examine the causal relationship between independent variables and the performance of permanent supportive housing (PSH) programs. This study also applies fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to identify multiple combinations of factors that influence the performance of PSH programs. The results identify key factors and multiple combinations of factors that lead to high and low network performance. Federal CoC funding emerges as a core condition for high and low performance, but all relevant conditions can be critical factors depending on how they interact with other relevant conditions. This analysis helps expand the utility of existing contingency theory by using it to explain the dynamic interactions between factors in the context of public service networks. Ultimately, this dissertation confirms that fsQCA can …
Date: December 2023
Creator: Kim, Jintak
System: The UNT Digital Library
Are We Zwisch-ing Yet? An Examination of the Zwischenfach Voice Category and Selected Twenty-First Century American Arias (open access)

Are We Zwisch-ing Yet? An Examination of the Zwischenfach Voice Category and Selected Twenty-First Century American Arias

The German word Zwischenfach often refers to opera roles and singers whose voices lie between the categories of mezzo-soprano and soprano. While the term is not universally accepted as a voice category, Zwischenfach voices and roles are being discussed more openly and with more specificity in collegiate and professional circles. This document includes a discussion on the challenges of categorizing dramatic voices, mezzo-soprano voices, and those who could be considered Zwischenfach, taking into consideration the inherent ambiguity and flexibility within these voice categories. The elements that have led to developmental changes in opera voices and their categories over the centuries provide insight and context on how Zwischenfach has become a term that describes the ambiguity and challenge of classifying opera voices in the twenty-first century. A main focus of this document is a discussion of eleven pieces from twenty-first century American operas which a Zwischenfach singer could consider for auditions and performances. Operas included are: Dead Man Walking by Jake Heggie, The Grapes of Wrath by Ricky Ian Gordon, After Life and Glory Denied by Tom Cipullo, Lysistrata by Mark Adamo, Dinner at Eight by William Bolcom, and Fantastic Mr. Fox by Tobias Picker. My hope is that this document …
Date: December 2023
Creator: Taylor, Hilary Grace
System: The UNT Digital Library
California Public Schools and Employees' Negligence of Supervision on School Property (open access)

California Public Schools and Employees' Negligence of Supervision on School Property

We live in a culture where school systems are accused of being negligent or at fault for any undesired outcome. This can leave school districts and their employees anxious about potential consequences, regardless if the negligent claim is warranted or not. Therefore, there is a need for all educators to understand their responsibilities to provide a safe learning environment, and this may look different from state to state across the United States. The purpose of this study was to analyze how California state courts have interpreted the concept of sovereign immunity and tort claims filed against California public-school districts and their public-school employees related to negligence of supervision on school grounds. This legal research case study design was guided by the following research question: what are the exceptions to sovereign immunity regarding negligence related to the supervision of students as required by California statute? This study analyzed twelve various cases of California public-school districts and employees involving negligence in supervision claims on school grounds after the 1963 California Tort Claims Act was enacted. Based on the issue, rule, application, and conclusion of the twelve cases, eight were ruled in favor of the plaintiff or appellant, and four cases had final …
Date: December 2023
Creator: Gonzales, Manuel Salas
System: The UNT Digital Library

Collegiate Experiences of Female Undergraduate Students in an Afghan University

Amidst the turbulence of political shifts and the re-emergence of the Taliban, this phenomenological research shines a light on the lived experiences, aspirations, and challenges of female undergraduate students in an Afghan university. Through in-depth, qualitative interviews, this study unravels six pivotal themes shaping their collegiate journey: gender-centric oppression, systemic and structural barriers, academic hindrances, family support, and the motivation to endure and prevail amidst profound adversities, such as enforced gender apartheid and stringent clothing mandates. Within an intersectionality framework, this research not only bridges a critical gap in the literature but also serves as a crucial narrative for global academia and policy-making arenas, underlining the imperative for robust advocacy and policy reforms. The stark findings and nuanced insights gleaned from this study underscore the imperative to foster gender equality and educational access, whilst advocating fervently for the re-establishment of inclusive and supportive educational environments for all in Afghanistan.
Date: December 2023
Creator: Juya, Masoud
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Competency Pipeline: Examining the Association of Doctoral Training with Early Career Outcomes (open access)

The Competency Pipeline: Examining the Association of Doctoral Training with Early Career Outcomes

Participants from earlier nationwide studies on predictors of internship match were contacted 7-10 years after obtaining their doctoral degree to gather additional data concerning their attained early career competencies and benchmarks (e.g., scores on the national licensing exam). In this sample (N = 190), licensure exam scores were significantly positively associated with scores obtained on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), family of origin socioeconomic status, and student debt load. However, obtained licensure scores were not found to be significantly associated with any pre-doctoral training variables (e.g., intervention/ assessment hours, number of integrated reports, number of publications, rank order of matched internship site) or most post-doctoral early career activities. Weak positive associations between licensures scores and engaging in teaching / supervision / consultation services were observed. Few self-reported early career competencies were found to be weakly positively associated with scores on the national licensing exam (i.e., integrity, seeking supervision, scientific mindedness, evidence-based practice). Significantly inverse associations were found between national licensing exam scores and self-reported competencies in the areas of management and systems change. Findings are discussed and implications for the national licensing exam considered.
Date: December 2023
Creator: Ortiz, Andrea
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Comprehensive Investigation of Photoinduced Electron Transfer and Charge Transfer Mechanisms in Push-Pull Donor-Acceptor Systems: Implications for Energy Harvesting Applications (open access)

A Comprehensive Investigation of Photoinduced Electron Transfer and Charge Transfer Mechanisms in Push-Pull Donor-Acceptor Systems: Implications for Energy Harvesting Applications

Donor-acceptor systems exhibit distinctive attributes rendering them highly promising for the emulation of natural photosynthesis and the efficient capture of solar energy. This dissertation is primarily devoted to the investigation of these unique features within diverse donor-acceptor system typologies, encompassing categories such as closely covalently linked, push-pull, supramolecular, and multi-modular donor- acceptor conjugates. The research encompasses an examination of photosynthetic analogs involving compounds such as chelated azadipyromethene (AzaBODIPY), N,N-dimethylaminophenyl (NND), phenothiazine (PTZ), triphenylamine (TPA), phenothiazine sulfone (PTZSO2), tetracyanobutadiene (TCBD), and expanded tetracyanobutadiene (exTCBD). The strategic configuration of the donor (D), acceptor (A), and spacer elements within these constructs serves to promote intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), which are crucial for efficient charge and electron transfer. The employment of cutting-edge analytical techniques, such as ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy, is integral to the study. Furthermore, a comprehensive suite of analytical methodologies including steady-state UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence and phosphorescence spectroscopies, electrochemical techniques (including cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry), spectroelectrochemistry, and density functional theory calculation (DFT), collectively contribute to the comprehensive characterization of push-pull donor-acceptor systems, with a particular emphasis on their potential as highly effective solar energy harvesting application.
Date: December 2023
Creator: Alsaleh, Ajyal Zaki
System: The UNT Digital Library
Conditional Disclosure of Secrets and Storage over Graphs (open access)

Conditional Disclosure of Secrets and Storage over Graphs

In the era of big data, it is essential to implement practical security and privacy measures to ensure the lawful use of data and provide users with trust and assurance. In the dissertation, I address this issue through several key steps. Firstly, I delve into the problem of conditional secret disclosure, representing it using graphs to determine the most efficient approach for storing and disclosing secrets. Secondly, I extend the conditional disclosure of secrets problem from a single secret to multiple secrets and from a bipartite graph to an arbitrary graph. Thirdly, I remove security constraints to observe how they affect the efficiency of storage and recovery. In our final paper, I explore the secure summation problem, aiming to determine the capacity of total noise. Throughout the dissertation, I leverage information-theoretic tools to address security and privacy concerns.
Date: December 2023
Creator: Li, Zhou
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cross-Conjugation Effects on Fused β, β'–π–Extended Porphyrins (open access)

Cross-Conjugation Effects on Fused β, β'–π–Extended Porphyrins

Cross-conjugation in molecules has been seen in nature for many years but was not pursued due to the difficulty of their synthesis and their lack of stability. Recently, it has become more interesting due to the rise of molecular electronics. Linear conjugation serves well as the wires to conduct electrons, but molecular electronics are made up of more than just wires. Molecules are needed that possess an on/off switch that can allow or deter conduction. Cross-conjugated systems show promise in their ability to be turned on or off from external stimuli. Pentacene quinone is a well-known cross-conjugated molecule that already shows promise in the field of molecular semiconductors. By synthetically fusing the pentacene quinone to the β, β' positions of a porphyrin, it has been shown that both the solubility and stability have been greatly improved. This has allowed us to pursue functionalization of the quinone moiety. Several new cross-conjugated pentacene quinone fused porphyrin systems were synthesized and studied. It was found that cross-conjugated platinum porphyrins show enhanced fluorescence, and phosphorescence that shifts toward the Near IR. Additionally, strong electron withdrawing groups show potential in charge transfer, and a lower HOMO to LUMO gap, while mildly withdrawing groups have a …
Date: December 2023
Creator: Washburn, Spenser L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cross-Pollinating Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies and Systemic Functional Linguistics in English as a Second Language (ESL) Classrooms (open access)

Cross-Pollinating Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies and Systemic Functional Linguistics in English as a Second Language (ESL) Classrooms

This exploratory case study research was conducted with a view to exploring how teachers teaching emergent bilingual students in ESL programs can enact the principles of culturally sustaining systematic functional linguistics (CS SFL), such as critical centering, historicizing, curricularizing, teaching and learning cycle (TLC), and semantic waving in their classrooms. Two middle school teachers participated in the study and used CS SFL principles to teach their emergent bilingual students. I gathered data for the study through non-participatory observations, semi-structured interviews, informal talks with the teachers, usually right after their classes, and artifacts from teachers and students. The thematic analysis of the data demonstrated that teachers could recognize their students' ways of knowing and being by (a) translanguaging between English and Spanish seamlessly in their classrooms; (b) centering their students' lifeways, prior knowledge, and lived experiences by making them the parts of their curricula; (c) using TLC for creating dialogic interactions between teachers and students and among students; (d) positioning their students through strength perspectives; and (e) using multimodal and multi-semiotic means of communication so that their students can understand their content area knowledge and express their ideas even if their English language is emerging. The teachers faced tensions about whether …
Date: December 2023
Creator: Rana, Lal Bahadur
System: The UNT Digital Library

Cyber Addiction and Information Overload and Their Impact on Workplace Productivity

The research examines the relationship between cyber addiction (excessive use of the Internet, CA), information overload (IO), and assesses their impact on workplace productivity. A multi-methods approach is used employing the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and a quantitative survey design to assess and test the stated hypothesis. The study used random sampling methods targeting 150 respondents from different information technology departments of various organizations. The study hypothesizes that CA and IO have a reciprocal association, which adversely affects workplace productivity and employee performance. From the findings, IAT scores increase with an associated possibility of reporting burnout, fatigue, and other components associated with CA and IO. Also, CA and IO were significantly correlated, as evaluated by the chi-square test, although the same approach did not yield significant associations between CA and perceived internet dependence. Other findings CA components, such as social media use, significantly associated with task postponement and burnout. As well, CA affected IO with substantial impacts on workplace productivity. The paper highlights managerial aspects that organizations should consider in optimizing the output of their staff. Recommendations include wellness programs, altering the leadership and management styles, and sensitizing the employees on the adverse effects caused by the two variables.
Date: December 2023
Creator: Alboulayan, Moneerah Abdulhameed M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Decoding Fantasy: An Analysis of Paquito D'Rivera's "Caribbean Berceuse" (2021) (open access)

Decoding Fantasy: An Analysis of Paquito D'Rivera's "Caribbean Berceuse" (2021)

Written for and featuring the Barcelona Clarinet Players, Caribbean Berceuse (2021) is Paquito D'Rivera's (b.1948) first composition for wind band. Along with idiosyncratic expectations of fusing jazz and classical elements according to D'Rivera's oeuvre, the title implies extramusical associations in the composition. This analysis demonstrates how extramusical associations interact with thematic development by using five codes of meaning from Roland Barthes's (1915–1980) S/Z (1970), which was first applied to music by Patrick McCreless. In addition to D'Rivera's cultural references, this composition involves musicians from many different cultures and backgrounds: the Barcelona Clarinet Players of Spanish heritage, Paquito D'Rivera of Cuban heritage, and the North Texas Wind Symphony under the direction Eugene Migliaro Corporon as an American melting pot. My analysis demonstrates how D'Rivera incorporates shared experiences of a lullaby as an access point for listeners. Our experience of falling asleep creates dichotomous structures of reality and fantasy, of time and memory, and sometimes of a restless lullaby among others. Roland Barthes places the most importance on these extrinsic dichotomous structures as deeper meanings of referential associations. He names this symbolic code. Although McCreless places less importance on symbolic code as correlating to music, my analysis will demonstrate how the interaction …
Date: December 2023
Creator: Truan, Robert Michael
System: The UNT Digital Library
Degradation Mechanisms and Dynamics of Silicon Telluride: A Guide to the Effective Fabrication and Characterization of Silicon Telluride-Based Devices (open access)

Degradation Mechanisms and Dynamics of Silicon Telluride: A Guide to the Effective Fabrication and Characterization of Silicon Telluride-Based Devices

Silicon telluride (Si2Te3) and many other tellurium containing compounds show emergent Raman peaks located at ~120 cm-1 and ~140 cm-1 as they age. The origin of these two emergent peaks is controversial in the literature and has been attributed to myriad causes such as the intrinsic Raman modes of the telluride materials, surface oxidation, defects, double resonances, and tellurium precipitates. The controversial nature of these peaks has led to the misidentification of highly degraded materials as pristine and to the misinterpretation of changes in Raman spectra. For the first time, quality thin film and bulk crystals of Si2Te3 are grown using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. We then present a comprehensive and multimodal study of various Si2Te3 samples and find that the two emergent Raman peaks originate from tellurium nano-crystallites formed in the degraded surface layers of Si2Te3. The formation of the tellurium nano-crystallites are shown to be a result of a hydrolysis process in which Si2Te3 reacts with atmospheric water vapor. The challenges involved in the fabrication of Si2Te3 based devices are also discussed and ways in which degradation can be either prevented or reversed are demonstrated. Finally, we present preliminary data which shows promising low voltage switching …
Date: December 2023
Creator: Hathaway, Evan Allen
System: The UNT Digital Library

Development and Characterization of Compliant Bioelectronic Devices for Gastrointestinal Stimulation

In this research, we aimed to develop thin-film devices on a polymer substrate and an alternative 3D-printed device with macroelectrodes for treating gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. First, the fabrication of thin-film devices was demonstrated on a softening thiol-ene/acrylate polymer utilizing titanium nitride (TiN) as electrode material. This was achieved by utilizing cleanroom fabrication processes such as photolithography, wet and dry etching. The functionality of the device was shown by performing electrochemical characterization tests, mainly cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and voltage transient. We synthesized a novel thiol-ene/acrylate polymer based on 1,3,5-triallyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione (TATATO), trimethylolpropanetris (3-mercaptopropionate) (TMTMP), and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA). We show that this stretchable shape memory polymer substrate is well suited for cleanroom processes. Finally, for the high throughput of the wearable devices with electrodes size 10 mm in diameter, we implemented single electrode fabrication using printed circuit boards (PCBs) and depositing gold (Au) and TiN on the plated side of PCBs utilizing the sputtering tool. This step was followed by the assembly of those single electrodes on the flexible 3D printed device. We showed that the TiN electrode material performed better in terms of charge storage capacity and charge injection capacity than the widely used stainless steel electrode material …
Date: December 2023
Creator: Chitrakar, Chandani
System: The UNT Digital Library

Directing Transition Metal Catalysis of Second and Third Row Metals through Ligand Design

Ligand design is important due to a ligand's ability to tune properties of the transition metals, such as catalytic activity and selectivity. Gold(I) catalysts can be directly impacted by ligands electronically as well as with steric bulk when undergoing enantioselective and regioselective reactions. In the dissertation, a series of gold(I) acyclic diaminocarbenes were synthesized and used to explore the 1,6 enyne cyclization/hydroarylation. The use of metal templated synthesis of the gold(I) acyclic diaminocarbenes allowed for the gradual increase in steric bulk of the catalysts. In the end, it was shown that electronics play the major role in the regioselectivity for the 1,6 enyne cyclization/hydroarylation but localized steric bulk can control the catalytic reaction if placed strategically. Cross-coupling reactions used to form carbon-carbon or carbon-heteroatom bonds are important in the production of pharmaceutical chemicals on a large scale. Iron, an extremely cheap and earth abundant first row transition metal, has had some success in cross-coupling reactions. Iron does not go through the same catalytic cycle for cross-coupling as most transition metals, the most common of which is palladium. In the dissertation, a ligand was developed to induce Iron to undergo the same cycle as palladium. In addition, the same ligand was …
Date: December 2023
Creator: Nguyen, John
System: The UNT Digital Library

The Effect of Developmental Hypoxia on Cardiac Physiology in Three Species: Alligator mississippiensis, Chelydra serpentina, and Danio rerio

In this dissertation, I explored the effects of developmental hypoxia on heart contractility in three separate species of ectotherms: the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), and the zebrafish (Danio rerio). I began with the common snapping turtle and tested whether the utilization of the sarcoplasmic reticulum was altered in response to developmental hypoxia. In the next two chapters, developmental hypoxia of the American alligator was explored studying how the cardiac tissue was affected, specifically in physiological stressors, sarcoplasmic reticulum utilization and sensitivity to pharmacological increases in contractility. The last chapter explored how zebrafish heart contractility was altered in response to chronic hypoxia from egg to adult. Findings from these chapters suggest that while developmental hypoxia did alter cardiac contractility, it did not alter the response of the heart to physiological stressors such as increased heart rate or under hypoxia. Overall, these findings contribute to increasing the current understanding of how developmental hypoxia alters the cardiovascular system but with an emphasis on the cardiac tissue level.
Date: December 2023
Creator: Smith, Brandt Ragan
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effect of Restructuring of Peer Firms on Investment (open access)

The Effect of Restructuring of Peer Firms on Investment

Firms' operational restructuring involves information relevant to strategic choices as well as future demand and cost conditions. This study examines the relationship between peer firms' restructuring and a company's responsiveness to its growth opportunities. Peer firm restructuring can increase uncertainty with respect to a company's payoffs regarding its investment projects, leading to decreased responsiveness to growth opportunities. Using a large sample of public companies during 2006–2020, I find that peer firms' restructuring is negatively associated with the responsiveness of capital expenditures (Capex) to growth opportunities. The results suggest that peer firms' restructuring activities provide information about a company's investment projects above and beyond industry shocks reflected in changes in industry sales. Furthermore, these associations are moderated by industry competition. The negative effects of peer firms' restructuring on Capex sensitivity are the strongest in high-competition industries.
Date: December 2023
Creator: Kim, Hojoong
System: The UNT Digital Library

The Emergence of Arab Nation-State Nationalism as an Alternative to the Supranational Concept of Ummah

In this dissertation, I examine the political shift or reorientation of Arabs and Muslims from the supranational Ummah to the Western form of nation-state by attending to modern Arabic novel in the period between World War I and World War II. I explore the emergence of secularism in Arab national formation. One of my central arguments is that Arab nationalism is indeed a misleading phrase as it gives the impression of unity and coherence to a complex phenomenon that materialize in a number of trends as a form of struggle. In the first chapter, I defined the scope of my argument and the underlying structure and function of nationalism as a form of representation masked by nationalist ideologies. To investigate the reorientation of Arabs and Muslims from Ummah to adopting nation-state, I utilize Spivak's criticism of the system of representation along with Foucault's theorization of discourse. I argued along Edward Said that although the Western national discourse might have influenced the Arab nationalists, I do not believe they prevented them from consciously appropriating nationalism in a free creative way. I also explained that the Arab adoption of a secularist separatist nationalism was more an outcome than an effect in the …
Date: December 2023
Creator: Alhamili, Mohammed Ali M.
System: The UNT Digital Library

An Empirical Investigation of the Medical Supply Chain and Its Impact on Human Solid Organ Transplantation

The objective of this dissertation is to first identify if there are any academic research gaps in our understanding of the medical supply chain and secondly to understand the role and impact of logistics on the human organ transplant process. The first essay identifies the current status of medical supply chain literature and provides future direction for improving the medical supply chain. This was accomplished by preforming a systematic literature review and a bibliometric analysis from 2,160 publications was conducted. The second essay explores how logistical aspects impact transplant logistics performance and the quality of life for the transplant recipient. Survey data was collected from medical professionals and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The third essay identifies the factors are influencing the number of donor kidneys discarded each year. A retrospective analysis of all deceased donor kidneys procured in hospitals in UNOS region 4 (Texas and Oklahoma) from January 1, 2001, to June 28, 2021, was conducted. Data was analyzed using multinomial logit regression and panel data analysis. As a result, we identified several medical and logistics factors that have influenced the number of donor kidneys discarded in the United States.
Date: December 2023
Creator: Hiatt, Brian Joseph
System: The UNT Digital Library
Examining the Educational Depth of Medical Case Reports and Radiology with Text Mining (open access)

Examining the Educational Depth of Medical Case Reports and Radiology with Text Mining

The purpose of this dissertation was to use the technology of text mining and topic modeling to explore unobserved themes of medical case reports that involve medical imaging. Case reports have a valuable place in medical research because they provide educational benefits, offer evidence, and encourage discussions. Their form has evolved throughout the years, but they have remained a key staple in providing important information to the medical communities around the world with educational context and illuminating visuals. Examining medical case reports that have been published throughout the years on multiple medical subjects can be challenging, therefore text mining and topic modeling methods were used to analyze a large set of abstracts from medical case reports involving radiology. The total number of abstracts used for the data analysis was 68,845 that were published between the years 1975 to 2022. The findings indicate that text mining and topic modeling can offer a unique and reproducible approach to examine a large quantity of abstracts for theme analysis.
Date: December 2023
Creator: Collinsworth, Amy L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Exploring Psychological Intimate Partner Violence Using Brief Expressive Writing Essays (open access)

Exploring Psychological Intimate Partner Violence Using Brief Expressive Writing Essays

Non-physical intimate partner violence (NPIPV) is the most pervasive type of abuse, yet literature has predominantly focused on physical IPV victimization. This study employed a mixed-methods design utilizing archival expressive writing data previously collected to identify the presence of NPIPV victimization. Participants wrote about their experience after a relationship dissolution using the expressive writing paradigm. They were asked to share their deepest thoughts and feelings across two sessions. A constructivist grounded theory approach established the theoretical framework for coding the presence of NPIPV acts between romantic partners. Four themes of NPIPV were established (degradation, isolation, control, and jealousy). Disclosure of NPIPV and other themes were also evident in these data. Quantitative analyses assessed changes in participants' psychological distress after completing a brief writing intervention. The intervention increased the likelihood of NPIPV victimization being mentioned from Time 1 to Time 2 writing sessions. This study increases clinical awareness regarding NPIPV by providing insights into this longest-sustained IPV subtype. All participants reported a reduction in avoidance symptoms after completing the writing intervention. Finally, gender continues to complicate this field as researchers must acknowledge both the existence of men's victimization experiences and the greater severity of women's victimization. Clinical implications demonstrate a strength …
Date: December 2023
Creator: Laajala, Allison
System: The UNT Digital Library