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MODES IN HEAVY METAL MUSIC
Full text linkModality is quite commonplace in heavy metal music, including some of the less common modes such as Phrygian and Locrian. This thesis provides musical examples and analyses of heavy metal music based on theories of scholars such as Brett Clement and Nicole Biamonte and demonstrates how modes are used in conjunction with other musical elements such as meter, tempo, instrumentation, and timbre to paint the text and color the sound. The primary focus of repertoire is selected works from the 1970s and early ’80s by early metal pioneers Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, and Scorpions. Other brief examples from Metallica, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Iron Maiden demonstrate the influence of these groundbreaking works on later generations and the resulting widespread use of modality throughout the metal genres. The study also explores how the harmonic functions of modes differ from harmonic functions found throughout the Common Practice Period and argues how uncommon modes such as Locrian have legitimate functionality within a heavy metal setting
Illegal Dumping: Prevention, Abatement, and Compliance Strategies for Cities
Full text linkIllegal dumping, with its many monikers and negative impacts, is a prevailing issue challenging Texas local government. Whether driven by malicious intent or stemming from ignorance of policies and laws, illegal dumping creates health and safety risks for Texans, degrades wildlife areas, impedes economic development and becomes an expensive burden on city budgets. The growing amount of e-waste and the proliferation of improper tire disposal exacerbate the issue, compelling Texas cities to find ways to quickly abate junk piles and deter future dumping crimes.
Across Texas, programs to combat illegal dumping are gaining momentum. These initiatives establish methods for immediate abatement (to deter additional dumping in the same area), examine ways to make trash disposal and recycling more convenient for citizens, incorporate environmental design strategies to provide better lighting and landscaping, utilize surveillance tools such as cameras and drones to catch illegal dumpers and enlist the help of citizens in reporting illegal dumping activities. They also include ordinances directed primarily at “trash businesses” such as tire transporters and generators, small-haulers, and vacant property owners.
Key to a successful program is the creation and implementation of a robust public information campaign. Community engagement, stakeholder involvement and gaining the support of elected officials are essential, and such collaboration will ultimately help to foster a culture of environmental responsibility and community pride
A Qualitative Narrative Study about Mental Well-Being and Coping Strategies in Generation-Z Undergraduate Student Leaders
Full text linkThis study was a qualitative narrative on the advantages experienced by Generation Z students who participated in leadership roles within university-sponsored student organizations. This study incorporated generational, coping, and transactional theories to help the researcher establish a potential link between the mental well-being of students and their participation in cocurricular university-sponsored groups. The primary goal of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of how students perceived the influence of their participation in student organizations on their ability to handle mental well-being issues. It sought to explore whether factors such as time commitment, skill development, or an increased sense of belonging had an impact on how students managed and coped with these challenges. The findings of this study indicated three emerging themes regarding the well-being of student leaders involved in student organizations: (a) Student engagement with student organizations primarily results in feelings of support and an enhanced sense of community, (b) Lived experiences result in change of behavior and the implementation of coping strategies and learned behaviors, and (c) Challenges that negatively impact student well-being are primarily due to the internal pressure students place on themselves and the external pressure perceived by others
Soundscapes Of The Pillow Book: Creating Music Exploring Pamela Z\u27s Sonic Landscapes
Full text linkPamela Z stands as a pioneering force in contemporary music, seamlessly integrating her roles as a composer, performer, and media artist. Renowned for her innovative approach, she masterfully combines her voice with live electronic processing, sampled sounds, and video elements, crafting a distinctive musical landscape that embodies the forefront of artistic exploration in our time. The primary aim of this thesis is to create “The Pillow Book,” a new musical work inspired by Z\u27s creative process and methods. This work will also incorporate elements of my native language and ancient Japanese text from The Pillow Book, written in 1002 by Sei Shōnagon. To achieve this, I will analyze Pamela Z\u27s creative concepts, artistic vision, and technical methods by examining her compositions and conducting interviews
21st Century Community Learning Centers: Program Evaluation Evidence from Texas
Full text linkTexas afterschool programs strive to enhance academic performance and meet students\u27 needs, yet gaps in program quality persist. This study evaluated 21st Century Community Learning Centers’ performance in reading, math, GPA, attendance, in-school suspension, and engagement, both within these categories and against program goals and demographics. Theoretical frameworks used in this study include the logic model, social justice theory, and cultural relevance theory. This quantitative study utilized a nonexperimental and secondary data research design which utilized five statistical tests: the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, One-Way repeated ANOVA, Spearman Correlation, the Independent Samples t-Test, and the Mann-Whitney U Test. Results showed that students who attended afterschool programs most of the school year had better overall attendance and improved math performance. Black students, male students, and SPED students had lower performance improvement than other demographics, which suggests issues with program quality related to demographics. Implications indicate that programs should promote year-round participation, innovative class offerings, community involvement, and culturally inclusive programming guided by a logic model to drive continuous improvement
OLD BECOMING NEW AGAIN: A FORM-FUNCTION AND NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS’ \u27FANTASIA ON A THEME OF THOMAS TALLIS\u27
Full text linkRalph Vaughan Williams, a leading figure in the early twentieth-century movement to preserve traditional English music, composed Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis as a tribute to his love of Tudor music and English folksong. The piece is based on a psalm setting by Thomas Tallis, known as the Third Mode Melody, which features the Phrygian mode. Vaughan Williams discovered this theme while researching for the new English Hymnal. A brief history of the Tallis theme, along with an exploration of Vaughan Williams\u27 education and early endeavors as a composer, are critical to understanding the Fantasia\u27s historical and musical context.
This study analyzes the overall form of the Fantasia, with particular focus on two key transitional sections and their various interpretations by other analysts. It presents a new analysis of the piece alongside previous scholarly interpretations. The study also examines the musical sentence structure of the Fantasia and its impact on the form, as well as the role of musical narrative in shaping dramatic tension through the use of diverse modalities. These shifts in tension are analyzed using narrative curves, which are explored in detail within the context of the work
A Year from Now: A Behind-the-Scenes Documentary
Full text linkThis thesis will explore A Year from Now: A Behind-the-Scenes Documentary, which I shot, directed, and edited. It will explore the 19-day production process of the 2019 SFA summer feature film, A Year from Now, shedding light on the experiences of both the cast and crew throughout production. Additionally, it will examine my role as the behind-the-scenes documentarian from being assigned the position, through gathering the footage and conducting the interviews, and developing the finished product
ANALYSIS OF MICROBIOME IN VARIOUS HUMAN MEDICAL CONDITIONS USING NEXT-GENERATION SEQUENCING OF THE 16S rRNA GENE
Full text linkStudies of human microbiomics, spanning diverse anatomical sites, offer a unique perspective into the complex microbial communities within the body. Influenced by age, gender, and disease, it mirrors broader microbial ecosystems. This study specifically delves into the ocular and gastrointestinal tract microbiome, comparing its composition in 43 healthy and diseased patients using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We identified a rich microbial landscape, identifying over 338 bacterial taxa. Notably, Acinetobacter, Cutibacterium, Acidovorax and Herbaspirillum were prevalent in the ocular samples and Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium, and Anaerostipes were mostly prevalent in gut samples. Moreover, dry eye disease conditions were characterized by a higher prevalence of Carnobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter, and Enterococcaceae, whereas healthy eyes exhibited a distinct microbial composition, including the presence of genera Streptococcus and Staphylococcus. The taxa richness in fecal samples from patients with different disease conditions was strongly associated with an increased abundance of the Propionibacteriaceae family in those with lower gastrointestinal bleeding. The most common taxa abundant throughout the stool samples were Anaerobutyricum, Lachnospiraceae, and Eubacteriales. These specific microbiome signatures offer nuanced insights into ocular and gut health. This integrated approach enhances our capacity to understand gut-eye association and develop targeted therapeutic interventions, emphasizing the translational potential of microbiomics in improving human health
K-12 School Administrator Candidates’ Perceptions of Their Roles in Supporting Teachers to Address Adverse Childhood Experiences
Full text linkThis study of a K-12 administrator preparation program adds to the research literature on trauma-informed education by addressing a gap in the literature on K-12 administrator candidates’ knowledge of the meaning of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and what their roles are in supporting teachers who have students with ACEs. K-12 school administrator candidates (N = 102) completed a survey designed by these researchers on this topic. The concept of ACEs is addressed as part of trauma-informed education from the K-12 administrator candidates’ point of view using a concurrent mixed methods case study approach at one administrator preparation program. Implications and recommendations for school administrator preparation programs are discussed
Examining Volatility Spikes in the Financial Sector ETF
Full text linkI used the GARCH to detect if the financial sector ETF, XLF, exhibits return volatility spikes following Federal Reserve interest rate announcements