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Women higher education administrators’ experiences with support for active career advancement: A phenomenological study
No full textWhile women may appear to be the majority gender working in higher education administration, the lack of quantitative data on the gender distribution of higher education administrators makes it difficult to track women’s career progression. Existing data on senior leadership positions in higher education shows that women remain underrepresented in advanced leadership roles. This study explores how women higher education administrators at research universities experience support for active career advancement. Grounded in gendered organization theory and feminist standpoint theory, this phenomenological study draws on semi-structured interviews with ten women higher education administrators. The findings indicate that women’s career advancement is supported by strong professional networks, organizational structures that invest in career growth, personal risk-taking, and self-advocacy. However, caregiving responsibilities and gender-biased workplace dynamics were significant obstacles. These insights reinforce the need for institutions and their members to address systemic gender bias and adopt equitable practices to retain and advance women in higher education administration
Effects of megakaryocytes on metastatic triple negative breast cancer
No full textBreast cancer has the highest rate of mortality among all cancers in females. Of these
deaths most occur due to bone metastasis. To gain a better understanding of the
mechanisms driving breast cancer metastases to the bone I will be researching the role of
megakaryocytes (MKs), a bone marrow native cell, in this process. I will be looking to
see if MKs affect the biological phenotypes of cancer cells and/or influence epithelial-tomesenchymal transition (EMT) in these cells. To test the changes in phenotypes
biological assays were performed using various conditioned media (CM) to mimic the
interaction of these cells in the body. The biological assays performed were proliferation,
colony formation, and migration assays. To test the effect on EMT a RT-qPCR was
performed to analyze gene expression of key markers for EMT. Results show osteoblast
CM may move cancer cells towards a more epithelial-like state and that DAMI CM may
have some pro-survival function on cancer cells. Future work to further tweeze apart this
relationship could include using CM made by mature DAMI cells, ChIP Seq, or apoptosis
assays. Knowledge of the relationship between megakaryocytes and breast cancer cells
will help bring understanding to the dangers of bone metastasis
Assessing the Impacts of Beavers on Biodiversity and Water Quality in Class II Trout Streams in Northwest Wisconsin
No full textPlan ANorth American beavers (Castor canadensis) are a much maligned and aggressively managed
species in Wisconsin, particularly on classified trout streams. However, there is a substantial lack
of data and research in the region to support current management practices. Furthermore, there
has been no consideration of beaver impacts to species other than trout. I assessed biodiversity
and water quality at six pairs of beaver and control stream sites in western Wisconsin between
May and October 2024. I used bioacoustic recording units to assess both bat and avian diversity
and camera traps to capture species utilization of beaver ponds, dams, and control stream
reaches. I collected water depth, dam length, water temperature, turbidity, and conductivity
readings for all sites on four separate collections across the study period. Overall biodiversity
measures were not statistically significantly different between beaver and control sites, but bat
activity was 73% (27%, 119%) higher at beaver pond locations ( = 4.0, = 5, = 0.005).
Based on linear mixed effect models, temperatures in beaver ponds and downstream of ponds
were not significantly different than control streams, and precipitation was the only statistically
significant factor impacting water turbidity values ( = 0.009). Evidence that beaver activity
does not significantly increase water temperatures, particularly in reference to trout thermal
tolerances, indicates that perceived negative impacts of beavers on stream temperatures are not
supported. Furthermore, novel evidence of a link between beaver ponded locations and increased
bat activity suggests that beavers can be leveraged as tools to support bat conservation efforts
Comparing Holocaust Mass Burial Trenches : A Case Study from Sabile, Latvia
No full textColor poster with text, images, photographs, and maps.Two Holocaust-era trenches sit between the Abava River and a local road near Sabile, Latvia. The mass murder of Sabile Jews took place on August 6,1941. The intended execution of Sabile’s Roma population never occurred leaving an open trench. The goal of the project is to locate the filled in trench containing 240 Jewish citizens and compare it to the open Roma trench. To find the Jewish trench, an 8x9m grid was laid down and ground penetrating radar (GPR) lines were collected every 0.25m using a Sensors & Software pulseEKKO Pro system with 500MHz antennae. The GPR data was then geometrically corrected using a Topcon laser leveler. Results show horizontal, to sub-horizontal semi-continuous reflection patterns with erosional truncations from 2-4m across the grid. These truncations were filled with concave upward reflection patterns. In comparison to the open Roma trench, it is hypothesized that the Jewish trench lays partially within the imaged lines and is roughly 2-4m wide and 5m deep. The study, for the first time, has been able to compare two Holocaust trenches (one open and one filled in). The results can be used by others to compare mass execution sites worldwide.L.E. Phillips Family Foundation; University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program
Environmental Educator Knowledge and Skills: Guidelines for Excellence
No full textEnvironmental Educator Knowledge and Skills: Guidelines for Excellence is a comprehensive set of recommendations about the knowledge and skills educators use to provide effective environmental education
IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN DAIRY CATTLE SYSTEMS TO MITIGATE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
No full textThis work contributes to the broader goal of climate-smart agriculture by synthesizing knowledge from microbial ecology, nutritional science, and systems modeling. It aims to inform producers, researchers, and policymakers on feasible strategies that can be implemented to reduce the carbon footprint of dairy farming.
Through this integrated lens, the thesis advances our understanding of how biological insights and management practices can work together to promote sustainability in the dairy sector
THERMAL AND DYNAMIC PARTITION OF DUMBBELL INTERSTITIALS IN COMPLEX CONCENTRATED ALLOYS AND LITERATURE SURVEY OF SOLUTE PRECIPITATION IN REACTOR PRESSURE VESSELS
No full textThis thesis consists of two main parts.
Part I of this study focuses on thermal and dynamical partition of dumbbell interstitials in complex concentrated alloys (CCAs). The results have been published in Scripta Materialia (attached as Appendix B). CCAs are promising candidates for applications in extreme conditions, such as irradiation where interstitial mediated diffusion is important. In CCAs with principal elements,
(+1) 2
types of dumbbell interstitials exist. Currently, there is no way to predict the thermal partition (fractional concentration at equilibrium) and the dynamic partition (fractional time an interstitial spends during diffusion) of each type of dumbbell interstitial. To mitigate this issue, this work proposes a theoretical model for computing the equilibrium concentrations and thermal partition of dumbbell interstitials in CCAs and validates the model using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations. Lattice kinetic Monte Carlo simulations show that the thermal partition is equivalent to the dynamic partition, and both are governed by composition and formation energies of dumbbells. The model proposed provides a fundamental piece for understanding radiation enhanced diffusion and induced segregation in CCAs under irradiation.
Part II of this study focuses on literature surveys of solute precipitation in reactor pressure vessels (RPV) and is published as a part of review article on Journal of Nuclear Materials (attached as Appendix C). Irradiation-induced hardening and embrittlement in RPV steels have been identified as a primary concern for extending the lifetime of nuclear power plants. A large body of works indicate this phenomenon is related to solute precipitation in RPV, including Cu-rich precipitates (CRPs) and Mn/Ni-rich precipitates (MNPs). While great advancement has been achieved in the last few decades in understanding solute precipitation in RPV steels, predicting the precipitation over time in RPV steels under irradiation and the resulting hardening and embrittlement remains a challenge. Focusing on modeling perspectives, we review the key aspects of solute precipitation of RPV steels under irradiation and identify gaps in current understandings, as a part of a comprehensive review that serves to point out future research directions
NURSE MANAGER LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY
No full textBackground: Nurse managers hold the most operationally complex and demanding leadership roles within the healthcare system. Despite this finding, existing literature offers limited understanding of their transition into the specialty field of nursing management and their leadership development experiences. Methods: An interpretive phenomenological study was conducted to explore the lived experiences of nurse managers within the Veteran Affairs (VA) Sierra Pacific Network, focusing on their leadership transition, development experiences, and factors shaping their ongoing professional growth. Findings: Guided by van Manen’s phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews with 22 nurse managers revealed a deeply textured portrait of leadership as a complex, emotionally charged, and often unstructured journey. Participants often assumed leadership roles out of necessity, navigating role ambiguity and emotional strain without structured guidance. The transition from clinician to leader involved an identity shift marked by isolation and burnout. Despite these challenges, many participants found fulfillment in mentoring, team building, and aligning their work with core values. Mentorship, reflective practice, and emotionally intelligent leadership emerged as vital for resilience. Organizational culture, onboarding, and compensation were cited as key factors impacting leadership sustainability. Conclusion: This study deepens understanding of nurse manager leadership development by foregrounding lived experiences. The findings highlight the need for intentional leadership pathways, relational and reflective support structures, and systemic reforms. The findings offer actionable insights for healthcare systems seeking to cultivate, support, and retain nurse leaders in complex and evolving care environments.2027-08-2
Characterization of Wide Bandgap and Ultrawide Bandgap III-N RF Devices for High Speed and Extreme Environment Applications
No full textThis thesis presents an in-depth characterization and modeling study of wide and ultra-wide bandgap (WBG/UWBG) high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), targeting key performance metrics such as intrinsic electron velocity, high-temperature reliability, and small-signal parasitic analysis. The work is divided into three core components, each addressing a critical aspect of device behavior relevant to advanced RF applications.
In the first part, high-Al content AlGaN channel HEMTs grown on sapphire were analyzed using a delay-based approach to extract effective intrinsic electron velocity. Small-signal S- parameter measurements, combined with parasitic de-embedding and capacitance scaling, yielded a peak velocity of 1.15 × 107 cm/s for a device with a 245 nm gate length. This velocity, after accounting for fringing fields and parasitic delays, ranks among the highest experimental values reported for AlGaN-channel HEMTs and highlights their potential for high Johnson’s figure of merit (JFOM) RF designs.
In the second part, a small-signal equivalent circuit model was constructed in Keysight ADS to validate the analytical delay framework and S-parameter extractions. Complementary TCAD simulations and calculations estimated the electric field under the gate, confirming velocity saturation. The close agreement between simulated and calculated fields (~0.65–0.67 MV/cm) supports the accuracy of the extraction and the reliability of the modeling approach. These methods were further analyzed for their potential to derive velocity Vs Electric field curves highlighting their underlying assumptions, benefits, and limitations and examine the distinctions between experimental and simulation based approaches.
The final part investigates the high-temperature performance of a short-channel GaN HEMT with a 150 nm Schottky Ni/Au gate. DC and RF measurements were conducted from room temperature up to 150 °C. The device maintained a peak cutoff frequency (ft) of 56 GHz at 25 °C, degrading by 27 % at 150 °C due to phonon-limited mobility and increased parasitics. Intrinsic velocity dropped from 1.14 × 107 cm/s to 5.9 × 106 cm/s, and dispersion increased from 8 % to 29
%, driven by thermally activated traps. Despite this, gate leakage and threshold voltage shift remained minimal, underscoring thermal robustness.
Together, these results offer a unified framework for understanding transport physics, thermal degradation, and parasitic-limited frequency behavior in GaN and AlGaN HEMTs. The insights developed serve as tools for future scaling, reliability, and performance optimization in WBG/UWBG RF technologies.The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Midwest Hu
DATA RELEVANCE: CONCEPTUALIZATION AND THEORIZATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION
No full textThis study explores relevance from a data perspective in the context of knowledge organization. Via conceptualizing relevance in knowledge organization, examining relationships in knowledge organization, and theorizing data relevance, this study breaks the dominance of relevance studies from an information retrieval perspective, fills the theoretical gap of data relevance, and supplements the relevance functioning factors. Nine definitions of relevance in knowledge organization were proposed based on Saracevic’s relevance definition framework after examining knowledge organization activities, including subject analysis, indexing, cataloging, and social tagging. These definitions provided a deconstructive understanding of relevance in knowledge organization and laid the groundwork for relationship studies between data, and relationship studies between data and information professionals. Relationships in knowledge organization were examined based on the meta-typology of relationships, including relationships in the bibliographic universe, the information universe, and the data universe. Relationships in the bibliographic and information universes showed a trend toward transitioning to data relationships. In the data universe, the concept of relationships has been generalized due to the RDF model; thus, the relationships have been expanded largely with the support of semantic technologies. Relationships explain how data are related and provide a foundation for theorizing data relevance. The data relevance model was created by exploring how information professionals considered data relevance. The user study included a two-stage task and an interview. The grounded theory based data analysis showed 28 functioning factors of data relevance in three levels. The six top-level factors were features of resource, purpose, users, context, potential use, and prior knowledge. The second-level factors showed more data features, such as enabling linkages, scope of terms, granularity, using single/as few schemas, etc. Data relevance theory was developed in the end based on the relevance definitions in knowledge organization, the relationships, and the data relevance model