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DECISION-MAKING DURING A CRISIS: A CASE STUDY OF HOW A UNIVERSITY RESPONDED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
No full textScant research is available on how university leaders make decisions and communicate those decisions to their stakeholders during times of crisis. The purpose of this case study was to better understand the decision-making process used by administrative leaders at a higher education institution during a time of organizational crisis. This study examined decision-making by higher education leaders within and across different functional areas at a single higher education institution between February 2020 and September 2020, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected through interviews and document analysis. Although research exists on decision-making during crises, there is limited research on decision-making within higher education institutions during a global crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This research sought to help future university leaders better understand the processes and outcomes of decision-making by higher education leaders during a crisis.
Four findings and nine themes emerged from this study. The study found that the decisions higher education leaders made during the COVID-19 pandemic focused on focused on policy, staffing, finance, and students. It also revealed that higher education leaders described their decision-making process as collaborative approach, student-centered, and focused on the safety and well-being of those involved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional findings included how internal and external stakeholders influenced the decisions made by higher education leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how higher education leaders described their decision-making process as remaining similar during the pandemic versus before or after it. The findings may also guide other higher education leaders in improving their decision-making skills during crises
MICROFLUIDIC INVESTIGATION OF GREEN CARBON CAPTURE, STORAGE, AND UTILIZATION USING WASTE CONCRETE AND SEAWATER
No full textCarbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology has emerged as a primary engineering pathway to mitigate global warming and climate instability. For carbon capture, amine-based absorption and stripping are widely used due to their high capture efficiency and retrofit compatibility. However, these systems generate toxic wastewater, consume large volumes of freshwater, and require significant regeneration energy. For carbon utilization and storage, deep saline aquifers and carbon dioxide (CO2)- assisted enhanced oil recovery (EOR) have been proven to be feasible options at the industrial scale; however, concerns remain about long-term subsurface storage integrity and limited efficiency in carbonate reservoirs containing more than 60% oil. Hence, there is a need for an environmentally aligned and economically viable solution that can achieve long-term, sustainable CCUS. This dissertation proposes a waste-derived seawater-based approach that couples CO2 capture, utilization, and storage. The approach utilizes the most artificially abundant waste solid, waste concrete, with the most naturally abundant aqueous medium, seawater. Waste concrete increases seawater’s alkalinity and supplies additional calcium ions, which eliminates the need for freshwater while enhancing seawater’s CO2 dissolution and stabilization capacity. Through well-controlled microfluidic investigations, we quantified that waste concrete can favorably alter seawater’s chemistry, with an enhanced dissolution coefficient of 530 μm2/s to 835 μm2/s, resulting in a 4-fold increase in dissolved inorganic carbon from 0.034 M to 0.13 M, equivalent to a 400% increase in carbon capture. To utilize carbonated seawater containing captured CO2, a novel carbonate reservoir-mimicking microfluidic platform was fabricated from polydimethylsiloxane mixed with calcium carbonate. Sessile droplet tests confirmed strong oil-wet characteristics with contact angles of 138.6° in deionized water and 130.9° in seawater. Flooding experiments demonstrated that the carbonated seawater-concrete solution recovered 30.4% of the original oil in a random porous network, compared to 39.9% of the conventional toxic chemical flood. These results demonstrate that concrete-activated seawater can increase CO₂ capture, convert it into a mineral form, and function as a displacement fluid for enhanced oil recovery within a single integrated system. Most importantly, the proposed method replaces conventional, costly chemicals or freshwater with a greener and cost-effective CCUS medium. The findings provide a basis for further study on economic feasibility, scale-up, and long-term application of the proposed approach for CCUS
ADVANCING ROAD SAFETY THROUGH DATA INTEGRATION, LOCATION ACCURACY, AND RISK-BASED ROUTE OPTIMIZATION
No full textThis dissertation advances transportation safety through three interconnected contributions that address fundamental challenges in crash data analysis and application. First, we present a comprehensive survey of road crash analysis methodologies, tracing the evolution from traditional statistical approaches to modern machine learning techniques while identifying critical gaps between research sophistication and practical implementation. This survey reveals that while methodological advances have been substantial, ongoing data quality issues, particularly in location accuracy and completeness, limit the effectiveness of even the most sophisticated analytical approaches.
Building on these findings, we develop a novel system to validate and correct crash location data using multi-modal large language models (LLMs) integrated with geospatial analysis. Our credibility-based scoring system evaluates location accuracy by comparing multiple data sources, analyzing crash narratives and diagrams, and applying spatial validation techniques. Empirical testing on 5,000 Ohio crash reports demonstrates that approximately 20% require location corrections, with our method successfully identifying and correcting these errors through automated post-processing.
The third contribution introduces a risk-aware navigation solution applicable to both human-driven and autonomous vehicles. By integrating historical crash patterns with predicted traffic volumes, we create standardized risk metrics for individual road segments that can be incorporated into routing algorithms. Validation across 56 high-volume commute routes in Ohio demonstrates that safety-prioritized routing reduces crash risk exposure by an average of 22% while increasing travel time by only 9% on average.
Together, these contributions form a cohesive approach to transportation safety from data quality assessment through practical application, demonstrating how advances in data science and analytical methods translate into tangible safety benefits for current transportation systems and emerging navigation technologies
THE PRACTICE OF THE COMMUNAL POT -OLLA COMÚN- BY LOW-INCOME WOMEN AS A STRATEGY TO FACE HUNGER ON THE NORTH COAST OF PERU
No full textDuring the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru, the ancient practice of the communal pot (olla común) has become even more popular. This consists of neighbors spontaneously organizing themselves to collect food to cook for needy people. Peru is characterized by informality and ontological precarity that persist over time regardless of the political context, leading to endemic food insecurity. The pandemic crisis further aggravated the situation of Peruvians, leading the Peruvian government to support the growing communal pots that had traditionally been autonomous. The food crisis has persisted in post-pandemic times, which is why communal pots have multiplied, many of them becoming, in practice, formal popular kitchens that are subsidized by the Peruvian state despite maintaining the name of communal pots. However, some communal pots have decided to remain autonomous, as is the case of the three communal pots studied in this research, located in the city of Trujillo on the northern coast of Peru. For several months in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, I conducted fieldwork based on three communal pots: a communal pot dedicated to teaching values to children, a communal pot dedicated to organizing workshops to learn skills to start their own business, and a communal pot devoted to feeding the elderly. The women organizers of these three communal pots have decided to remain autonomous and reject state subsidies because they consider their dignity, capacity, and self-sufficiency as bulwarks against abuse of power, political patronage, and state corruption. Widespread corruption, prevailing indifference, and unpunished criminality have led the women organizers of these three communal pots to organize themselves without formalizing their communal pots, despite the political and legal agenda of the Peruvian government to intervene in all communal pots through local governments. Overall, this type of communal pot has been undergoing changes due to the intervention of the Peruvian government
PID AUTO-TUNING FOR USVS: A MULTI-EVOLUTIONARY OPTIMIZATION AI APPROACH
Get PDFUSVs play a critical role in a wide range of marine applications, where precise station-keeping is essential for tasks such as autonomous launch and recovery of an onboard aerial drone. Maintaining a stable position in a dynamic marine environment requires robust control strategies to counteract external forces, including wind, waves, and currents, which can introduce vehicle oscillations and positional errors. To optimize the operability limits of the vehicle based on sea state, weather conditions, and mission requirements, the USV must be carefully tuned. Traditionally, the tuning is performed manually, which is time-consuming and can lead to operational delays. This study explores AI-driven auto-tuning of PID controllers for station-keeping in prevailing environmental conditions, using evolutionary optimization algorithms, specifically NSGA-II and CMAES, through field trials with a WAM-V 16 USV. To assess heading and position control accuracy, the trials were performed under varying ecological conditions, including crosswind scenarios and tidal current disturbances. Results demonstrate that the AI-tuned controller is more efficient and significantly enhances the station-keeping performance compared to traditional manual tuning methods. These findings contribute to advancing control methodologies for autonomous USVs, improving reliability and adaptability in challenging marine environments
THE EFFECT OF POLITICAL IDEOLOGY ON THE PERSUASIVENESS OF GAINVS. LOSS-FRAMED CLIMATE CHANGE MESSAGES: TESTING COMPETING HYPOTHESES
Get PDFMotivating climate change mitigation is a critical priority. This study examined how message framing (gain vs. loss) interacts with political ideology to influence persuasion. Two competing hypotheses were tested. The Regulatory Focus Fit Hypothesis predicted that liberals (promotion-oriented) would prefer gain-framed messages, while conservatives (prevention-oriented) would prefer loss-framed ones. The Differential Context Hypothesis predicted the opposite: liberals would respond better to loss frames due to alignment with threat-based media narratives, while conservatives would prefer gain frames due to lower reactance and perceived novelty. Messages were also tailored to match individual regulatory focus or the broader political context. Results did not support either hypothesis—framing condition showed no significant main or interaction effects. However, political ideology consistently predicted climate change attitudes, with fear and perceived threat emerging as key mediators. These findings underscore the complexity of climate communication and suggest the need for alternative strategies beyond simple message framing
THE META-PORTAL FANTASY
Get PDFThe genre of Portal Fantasy seeks to bridge the gap between the primary world and the secondary, its characters often upended from their normal everyday lives in favor of the fantastic. I will be focusing on the genre and the effects of its complexity on its characters. For this I will be looking into the ways in which the portal fantasy is constructed, beginning with a brief introduction of the genre, and moving on to dissecting the ways in which the concept of the portal is navigated, the change and or loss of self that occurs, and finally how the portal is not strictly relegated to narrative significance or other metaphorical meanings.
We, as the readers and players, become part of the portal, delving into stories and adventures that ultimately change us as well. When playing tabletop RPGs, we are actually bridging that gap and inserting ourselves into the narrative. We become emotionally invested, our minds unable to distinguish the primary from the secondary. Due to this, once everything is said and done, there is a common understanding between the fictional characters of the portal and how they deal with their lives after the portal
EVALUATION OF THE CORROSION OF METALLIC FASTENER JOINTS IN COMPOSITE MATERIALS IMMERSED IN SEAWATER
Get PDFThe corrosion behavior of metallic fasteners in contact with composite materials in marine environments remains a critical concern for structural integrity and long-term performance. This study evaluates the corrosion of marine fasteners of various materials in contact with glass fiber, carbon fiber, hybrid glass-carbon fiber, and G10/FR-4 Garolite composite plates. The research focuses on localized corrosion mechanisms, include crevice and pitting corrosion, as well as the influence of composite interactions. Samples were exposed to three environmental conditions: full immersion tanks, tidal tanks simulating the high and low tides, and deployment on a barge on Florida’s intracoastal waterway, with antifouling paint applied to barge immersed composite samples. After six months of exposure, corrosion was analyzed using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Observations focused on material degradation, cross-sectional area loss, and corrosion initiation points at the fastener-composite interface. Findings provide insight into the mechanisms governing crevice corrosion in composite joints, informing material selection and design strategies for marine applications
COMMUNITY, PLACEMAKING, AND PRESERVATION: HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS IN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA
Get PDFHistoric preservation: the act of protecting landmarks and buildings, often through active participation with the community. The project aims to explore perceptions of those living in historical neighborhoods in West Palm Beach, Florida about:1) Neighborhood cultural connection, 2) Placemaking locations, 3) Relationship with the city, and 4) Knowledge of preservation projects. Using digital and in-person surveys, the project utilized Likert-scale and short-response questions to collect data. Results showed residents had mixed feelings about their cultural connection. Though a majority described their neighborhood positively, some negative responses came from a specific northern neighborhood. Locations of placemaking notably included parks and community centers. Many locals felt distanced from the city and the decisions made along with little awareness about preservation projects, citing limited interaction with their community. The city can use the data generated to better understand what residents connect with in their neighborhoods, and to increase communication given this understanding
THE POLITICS OF HOUSING EXPLOITATION POWER, RESISTANCE, AND COMPLIANCE IN FLORIDA’S POST-COVID AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS
Get PDFBy the time of the 2022 midterm elections, housing affordability had become a prominent policy issue in Florida, as post-COVID economic conditions, including rising rents and inflation, heightened political attention and debate at the local level. Two counties—Palm Beach County and Orange County—became focal points of this debate, each introducing a ballot referendum offering divergent solutions to local housing affordability challenges. Palm Beach County pursued a market-driven approach, passing a $200 million housing bond to incentivize private-sector development, while Orange County attempted a regulatory intervention through a rent stabilization ordinance, directly challenging Florida’s dominant pro-growth housing framework.
This dissertation examines the political and ideological conditions that sustain growth coalition hegemony over local housing policy and the factors that contribute to its disruption. Using Logan and Molotch’s (1987) Growth Machine Theory, Engels’ (1872) critique of housing under capitalism, and Gramsci’s (1971) concept of hegemony, this study analyzes how elite consensus, institutional constraints, and policy narratives reinforce pro-development governance, while political fractures and ideological reframing can contest it. By situating these cases within the broader political economy of housing, this research demonstrates that sustaining counter-hegemonic housing policies requires not just policy victories but an ongoing ideological and political struggle to confront the systemic exploitation embedded in neoliberal urban governance