UTSA Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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This collection contains electronic UTSA theses and dissertations (ETDs), primarily from 2005 to present. The collection is not comprehensive; search the UTSA Library Catalog for a complete list of UTSA theses and dissertations.
Since 2023, the UTSA Graduate School has required all theses and dissertations to be made publicly available in Runner Research Press. However, authors are able to request an embargo. Embargoed ETDs will not be downloadable until after their embargo expires.
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Item 2-D Quaternion Discrete Fourier Transform in Color Image Enhancement(2017) John, AparnaResearch problems are related to developing enhancement methods using 2-D quaternion discrete Fourier transform, which preserve the color integrity of the image while processing. In all our proposed enhancement methods, the enhancement of the color image is done by moving color images to quaternion space and using transform based enhancement techniques. The quaternion number is a four-dimensional hyper-complex number and the Fourier transform in quaternion space are many and are primarily defined as right-sided, left-sided, and two-sided quaternion discrete Fourier transform. By developing fast algorithm for computing the four-dimensional 2-D quaternion Fourier transform we are able to use enhancement methods based on Fourier transform. Traditionally, color images are enhanced by applying the enhancement methods on each of the channels separately. This channel-by-channel approach does not consider color as a single unit and therefore such methods compromises the color identity of the image-objects. But, we have analyzed many enhancement methods which keeps intact the color identity of the image-object in images in RGB color models, and other color models such as XYZ, CMY, and CMYK. A few of the proposed enhancement methods implemented using the quaternion Fourier transform are alpha-rooting, alpha-rooting with spatial transformation, zonal-alpha-rooting, modified alpha-rooting, and retinex followed by the alpha-rooting method. Preliminary experimental results show that the proposed methods are effective when compared with component-wise enhancement methods. The enhancement is quantitatively measured by a proposed enhancement measure estimation. The optimum choice of alpha is determined by a genetic algorithm which is a robust optimization method. In our research, we also propose a few other quaternion based enhancement methods implemented in quaternion space in spatial domain including alpha-rooting in spatial domain which are found to be effective tools for processing color images. The application of enhancement methods specifically on medical images and underwater images show good results.Item 2D Materials and Heterostructures for Addressing Critical Societal Problems(2022) Sebastian, Ann RoseThe demand of electric vehicles (EVs) is rapidly growing in the automotive industry due to its high energy efficiency, less emission of CO2 gases and other air pollutants. Many countries are promoting the use of electric vehicles for a better environmental system that is less dependent on fossil fuels and for enhanced mobility around the society. Despite the widespread use of electric vehicles nowadays, there are still many limitations such as a limited driving distance, a long charging time, and a relatively high cost. Therefore, among many other societal problems that the nation faces, this doctoral dissertation study aims to take the EV as the model system that our novel engineering approaches can contribute to make more viable and reliable. In this work, we focused on two critical challenges of electric vehicles: a relatively short driving range (or a relatively long charging time) and a nation-wide semiconductor chip (sensor) shortage. We show that both challenges can be well addressed by taking advantage of unique functionalities of 2D materials and heterostructures. Firstly, we have developed a novel wireless charging system prototype for EV by using LEDs which are powered by piezoelectric 2D nanomaterials (MoS2) as the energy transmitter source and thin film solar panels placed at the bottom of the vehicle as the receiver. This will ultimately deliver the harvested energy to the vehicle's battery. Next, we have investigated the potential of 2D materials to become the high-sensitivity temperature sensing platform for use in EVs. This is very critical because temperature sensors need to protect various semiconductor parts, electronics, and the battery system from overheating. EVs specifically require high-performance temperature sensors of a smaller size, lighter weight and higher energy-efficiency while operating at a wider temperature range. Meeting these requirements using conventional temperature sensors is challenging due to a complicated fabrication or signal processing process required. Here, we have studied the temperature-dependent spectroscopic and electrical characteristics of MoS2, MoS2-PtSe2, and MoS2-PtTe2 for the purpose of exploring them as the next-generation temperature sensor, finding that the MoS2-PtTe2 heterostructure exhibits the enhanced temperature sensitivity.Item 3D Digital Twin Representation of Building Indoors(2022) Akunuru, Susheela SriThe Industry 4.0 has revolutionized the way of working for many sectors especially the manufacturing, distribution and construction industries. Integration of new technologies such as cloud computing, data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence and internet of things into production facilities, operations and management for increased efficiency and better performance is happening rapidly which led to the rise of digital twin technology in the AEC industry. There are various studies that are carried out as a part of 3D digital representations of structures. Some of them use neural networks, rule based analysis and knowledge based approaches to generate valuable insights for the maintenance and development of each stage of the building's life cycle but this thesis uses model driven approach for building indoors model. The potential use cases of the work include crisis management, material shelving analysis, indoor navigation, path planning for robots and synthetic data generation for AI research. Due to extensive labour and time that goes into developing 3D models via sketches or third party tools, this thesis proposes an automated way of generating 3D models from 2D floorplan images through python scripts. The digital twin capabilities are introduced to the indoors model with the help of Pixar's USD technology. As a result of this approach, the generated 3D models are built in no time and accuracy to a highest level of detail is achieved for a building indoors environment.Item 3D Object Detection for Autonomous Vehicles Perception Based on a Combination of Lidar, Radar, and Image Data(2021) Sahba, RaminOne of the topics that is highly regarded and researched in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning is object detection. Its use is especially important in autonomous vehicles. The various methods used to detect objects are based on different types of data, including image, radar, and lidar. Using point clouds is one of the new methods for 3D object detection proposed in some recent work. One of the recently presented efficient methods is PointPillars network. It is an encoder that can learn from data available in a point cloud and then organize it as a representation in vertical columns (pillars). This representation can be used for 3D object detection. in this work, we try to develop a high-performance model for 3D object detection based on PointPillars network exploiting a combination of lidar, radar, and image data to be used for autonomous vehicles perception. We use lidar, radar, and image data in nuScenes dataset to predict 3D boxes for three classes of objects that are car, pedestrian, and bus. First, we obtain probability map for each class for different types of data. Then we use an element-wise product to calculate the fused probability map from the obtained probability maps for each type of data. We also suggest a method to combine different types of input data (lidar, radar, image) using a weighting system that can be used as the input for the encoder. To measure and compare results, we use nuScenes detection score (NDS) that is a combined metric for detection task as well as mean Average Precision. Results show that increasing the number of lidar sweeps, and combining them with radar and image data, significantly improve the performance of the 3D object detector.Item 3D Orientation Distribution & Deformation of Mineral Crystals in Human Cortical Bone(2013) Shome, ChandanBone fragility fracture has been a major healthcare concern for a long time. Due to having hierarchical structure at different length scales, bone fragility fracture is directly related to structural hierarchy from macro scale to nano scale. In nano level mineral crystals and collagen fibrils construct mineral-collagen composite structure. Mineral crystals and collagen fibrils are aligned preferentially in primary loading directions to cope with external loading conditions. In situ behavior of mineral and collagen phases is vital which could affect bone nanomechanics and could alter tissue fragility. This thesis is a preliminary study of a long-term project of correlating ultrastructural behavior to bulk behavior of bone. The first objective of this study was to develop 3D orientation distribution model of mineral crystals in bone based on experimental observations & using Bivariate Gaussian curve fitting technique. 3D orientation distribution of mineral crystals in bone was estimated in Cartesian coordinate system. The second objective of this study was to estimate the in situ strain tensors of a set of mineral crystals that are aligned along longitudinal axis of bone under uniaxial compressive load. Using experimental data obtained from synchrotron X-ray scattering technique, a novel approach was implemented to obtain local strain tensor of mineral crystals. Obtained results indicate that subset of mineral crystals aligned in the loading direction is most likely deformed in a transversely isotropic manner. Also, existence of a significant amount of shear strain in transverse plane (x-y) suggests that interfacial sliding between mineral crystals and surrounding matrix likely to be occurred. In addition, shear components in longitudinal planes (y-z & z-x) are smaller compared to that in transverse plane(x-y).Item 3D seismic interpretation of polygonal faulting in Upper Cretaceous sediments, Powder River Basin, Wyoming(2016) Johnston, William Richard, IIIInterpretation of a twenty-four square mile 3D seismic data set indicates a polygonal fault system (PFS) in Upper Cretaceous prograding marine shelf sands within the Powder River Basin. These faults display a complex network of layer-bounded normal faulting affecting the Teckla, Teapot, and Parkman Sandstones. Utilizing 3D seismic data covering portions of Converse and Niobrara Counties, WY, the extensive network of faulting was mapped in detail. In map view, the fault traces express a similar geometry to the polygonal faulting described in reservoirs from the North Sea. Fault cuts were picked from well logs in the seismic study area as well as in nearby productive fields. Although these faults were observed to be predominately associated with the Teapot Sandstone, a significant number extended through the Parkman Sandstone and, to a lesser extent into the Teckla Sandstone. All faults exhibit normal fault movement with an average throw of forty feet with some components of growth faulting. These faults likely formed during layer-bound contraction of the fine-grained sediments as they underwent dewatering. Recognition of polygonal faults in the Teapot Sandstone is economically significant as several large productive Teapot Sandstone fields (Kaye and Well Draw) are located in close proximity to the 3D seismic study area. These polygonally-faulted fields could provide potential for redevelopment utilizing modern 3D seismic technology and thus allowing for detection of polygonal compartmentalization of reservoir rocks.Item 3D simulation of scar formation post myocardial infarction using CT images(2012) Johnson, Daniel G.BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction is a major contributor to death and disability worldwide. The key to reducing the devastating effects of myocardial infarction is to better understand the effects of the scar formations in the anterior left ventricle wall of the heart, and to one day restrict scar tissue growth. This study develops a method for simulating scar tissue growth post myocardial infarction on computed tomography (CT) heart images. METHODS: In order to simulate scar tissue formations, I used CT images of mouse hearts and imported them into Slicer, a C++ coded, NIH-funded software designed for processing medical images in research studies. Canny edge detection was performed to segment the left ventricular wall and measure its thickness. A module was designed inside the Slicer frame work that outputs a series of images displaying scar tissue growth on the left ventricle based on user input of scar location and maximum size. These images were then displayed in a time simulation based on a nonlinear growth rate function derived from experimental data. RESULTS: Binary threshold. Outside threshold, and Canny edge detection filters successfully segmented the wall of the left ventricle and measured its length. The module developed in Slicer demonstrated the ability to generate 3D images of scar tissue growth in the left ventricle. The scar growth was measured and found to be comparable to the input value for scar sizes smaller than thickness of the wall of the left ventricle. These images were displayed in a time simulation that matched an experimentally derived function for scar tissue growth rate.Item 3D-printed Mobile Assistance Platform (MAP) for rehabilitative robotics(2015) Wineman, EricWhile assistive robotics is not new, research into the category of an assistive walker has been narrow. This research is to conceptualize and prototype a Mobile Assistance Platform for the rehabilitation and daily use of the elderly. Research was conducted via a comparison with current assistive walker options and expanded upon current assistive options by transforming a standard walker into an intelligent assistive robotics platform. The platform was constructed using many open source options to decrease the cost of the platform and allow for a high degree of flexibility for potential future developers. 3D-Printing was also utilized to allow for a quick construction of a semi-functional prototype by circumventing traditional design methods and constraints. Primarily, this robotic platform improves on past designs by providing a framework for multi-node communication and multi-system control by integrating the Robot Operating System (ROS) as the primary software interface. ROS improves on past robotic design by interfacing across multiple platforms like Arduino and Android; this greatly broadens the scope of options that designers have to eliminate issues relating to supporting elderly with assistive robotics.Item A Basic Laboratory Evaluation of the Effects of Lag Schedules of Reinforcement on Mand Variability in Adult Undergraduate Students(2020) Corley, Emily AileneSkinner’s analysis of verbal behavior led to the development of widely used training procedures that improve manding in multiple populations such as individuals with developmental disorders, traumatic brain injury, and dementia. Mand training is also an essential feature of functional communication training used to decrease challenging behavior in individuals with developmental disorders. Recently, researchers have more specifically examined the clinical utility of reinforcing mand variability (i.e., mand variability training). However, this research has advanced in the near complete absence of experimental research on the reinforcement of manding in typically languaged individuals, leaving many questions remaining about the effects of mand training generally, and mand variability training specifically, in the context of typical brain development. In the current study, we addressed this gap in the literature by evaluating a basic laboratory model of reinforcing multiple mand variability dimensions using lag schedules in undergraduate students in an online videoconference environment. Common household items were used as analogue nonvocal mand modalities to simulate mand training in clinical contexts for individuals with autism and manding deficits. In contrast to existing literature, we did not observe control over mand variability with lag schedules. However, we conclude with some important limitations of the current study which may explain the findings.Item A Bayesian Approach to Order-Restricted Inference and Design Optimization for Simple Step-Stress Accelerated Life Testing under Progressive Type-I Censoring(2022) Wiedner, CrystalIn this work, we investigate a conjugate-like prior to perform order-restricted Bayesian inference and design optimization for progressively Type-I censored simple step-stress accelerated life tests with exponential lifetimes under continuous inspections. This prior is a joint distribution of Gamma (Erlang) distributions, which incorporates the use of a shift parameter. The conjugate-like structure provides computational simplicity. Utilizing the shift parameter in this distribution allows us to ensure that the rate parameters increase as the stress level increases. For inference, we compute the means, variances, covariance and credible intervals from the marginal and joint posterior distributions. We also explore two competing modes of failure. For design optimization, we consider various design criteria based on Shannon information gain and the posterior variance-covariance matrix. We further explore incorporating a cost constraint where we derive the formula for expected termination time and expected total cost and propose estimation procedures for each. For each chapter, we include results from illustrative examples and/or simulation studies.Item A best-fit rigid pavement back-calculation method based on site-specific finite element simulations(2009) Marchant, JuanTraditional best-fit back-calculation methods for rigid pavements seek to determine the slab modulus E and the modulus of the subgrade reaction k by minimizing the squared errors between estimated and measured pavement deflections. The estimated deflections are obtained using theoretical relationships (i.e., Kelvin-Bessel functions). This method is used for back-calculating the rigid layer moduli stored in the LTPP database. The measured deflections are obtained using a Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD). This paper describes an innovative best-fit back-calculation approach for improving this traditional method. It allows estimation of the modulus of subgrade reaction supporting the slab using best-fit techniques. It introduces two main innovations: (1) It utilizes the finite element method (FEM) for obtaining the estimated surface deflections by simulating the site-specific field conditions, (slab geometry, dowel/reinforcement configuration and environmental conditions). (2) It assumes that the modulus of the Portland concrete slab is known (i.e., it can be readily obtained through non-destructive wave-propagation techniques). The new approach is tested using the LTPP database. It utilizes the FEM model EverFE for obtaining the site-specific deflection estimates. Comparisons are made between the subgrade back-calculated moduli using the traditional best-fit method and the proposed best-fit method. These comparisons are focused on LTPP sites that have elastic moduli data for the Portland cement concrete slab (i.e., obtained from core measurements using ASTM C 469), as well as traditional best-fit back-calculated moduli. The new approach shows a marked improvement in predicting moduli of subgrade reaction compared to the traditional best-fit method.Item A brief look at Nasca trophy head iconography as it relates to ecological and socio-political factors(2014) Kornegay, Lauren AshleyThe purpose of this study is to analyze Nasca trophy head iconography in a sample of 130 ceramic vessels to identify variation through time and ascertain whether that variation is due to changes in ecological and/or socio-political pressures. In this analysis it is suggested that the drought, political collapse of Cahuachi, and the invasion of the Wari led to the iconographic changes in the sample of ceramics analyzed here. Traditional ceramic analysis methods were employed, including taking of vessel measurements, description and categorization of iconography and photography. Changes in the frequencies between phases were assessed through cross tabulation, graphs and pie charts. The statistical significance of relationships between phases, trophy head type, object forms, etc. were found through Chi-Square tests. The objects that comprise this sample were taken from the National Museum of the American Indian and the Putnam Museum. The results of the analysis show that Nasca trophy head iconography was impacted by ecological and socio-political factors. The increase in trophy heads per vessel, coupled with the abstraction and elongation of trophy head forms are the direct result of the drought and subsequent collapse of Cahuachi in Nasca Phase 5. Additionally, in Nasca Phases 6-8 the influence of the Wari invasion can be seen in the use of geometric shapes and more complex trophy head forms.Item A brief study of the impact of gender identity in compositions by Lori Laitman, Robert Schumann, Jane Vieu, and George Frideric Handel(2015) HIcks, Rachel MaciverThis recital document started as a way to explore information about the music on my graduate recital. While my performance has been informed, this research turned into a study about how gender identity influences composers' works. The more I researched the, more I learned about how society's historical view of gender influences art. Chapter one, An Exploration of Feminine Sound, explores the idea of music imitating gender. The Fantasy of Love, chapter two, discusses possible interpretations of Robert Schumann's Frauenliebe und - leben that argue for a strong protagonist instead of a subordinate woman. Chapter three, Jane Vieu Rediscovered, is a look into an unknown composer and an analysis of her song cycle Trois mélodies sur des Tankas japonais. Finally, Handel and Gender Casting in Opera, discusses how Handel composes with elements of a feminine expressions.Item A busker's world: performance space and cinematic representation(2014) Fitzgerald, Dora R.This is a study on the public phenomenon known as busking, which may be loosely defined as any type of premeditated street performance occurring on public streets using a multitude of artistic performance types. In most busking as opposed to street performance, there may be a monetary exchange between the performers and the spectators. The focus was to study the space in which the performance takes place, namely the urban street, and the actions of performers and audience members in the creation of a phenomenon I call urban sanctuary. The shift in human interaction and human experience, which occur with large-scale urban busking, will form the epicenter of the space to be interrogated. This study will investigate the practice of busking with original research, utilizing the case study method, which will chronicle the activities of a group of present-day buskers known as The Crooners. The case study includes data collected from individual interviews, focus group sessions, and physical data in the form of video footage of their performances. This data will be analyzed using phenomenology as a basis for understanding the lived experience of the participants. The Crooners have practiced busking since 2001. Theoretical insights and case study results will be juxtaposed with analysis from a three contemporary films (The Soloist, Once, and The Visitor) that represent busking within their narratives in profoundly different ways. Phenomenology is also employed in the discussion of the three films as well as the band's experience of the films. The ultimate intent of this work is to assess affect in both the lifeworld and cinematic world concerning the practice of busking.Item A Case Study of a Dual Language School: Principal and Teacher Perspectives(2018) Ponce, Gilberto MartinThe purpose of this qualitative case study is to investigate the characteristics of a sustained dual language campus as well as the contributions made by the schools building principal. The exploration of the principals driving emphasis in the school may give insight into how to continue to sustain a progressive dual language program, and the understandings a principal must have when leading a dual language school. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect data from various teachers of at least five years of experience at the dual language campus as well as the building principal of said campus. A total of six teachers and one principal were interviewed once individually, then the teachers were broken into two focus groups of three members. The questions for the interviews were framed under a culturally relevant pedagogy model, then the responses were analyzed to form a new model of sustainability. The results of this study indicate that building principals must critically reflect on some cultural aspects of the school, specifically: a reflection of cultural consciousness, a belief that dual language education is an equitable practice, and advocacy for students and high achievement are necessary. Leaders of dual language campus' must validate the student's cultural wealth; this includes their role in the school, community, home and how language plays an important role in the functioning of the sustainability. Finally, principals should understand that the process of reflection and re-evaluation is constant and should continue as such.Item A Case Study of Leadership Practices in a Dual Language Program(2024) Almanza, OliviaThe purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the perception of the principal and teachers regarding what transformational leadership practices meet the needs of EBs in a DLI PK-8th grade campus in South Texas. The research site was selected for having 40% emergent bilingual students. The campus principal has been implementing a comprehensive 80:20 dual language immersion program for more than five years, and the campus has received an “A†rating from the Texas Education Agency based on State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) assessments more than once. Data were collected from the research site by utilizing Seidman (2006) interview series which consist of three rounds of structured interviews from the principal, two interviews from two bilingual teachers, and one from the focus group which consisted of three bilingual teachers. Following Saldaña’s (2021) coding process, the data were collected, categorized, and given a code aligned to the transformational leadership theory. The main themes that emerged on the leadership practices used to implement a comprehensive dual language program in a PK-8th grade campus are the following: (1) Build a Shared Vision through Stakeholder Involvement; (2) Model School Practices and Advocate; (3) Build relationships, Empower, and Distribute Leadership; (4) Facilitate Teacher Reflection for Student and School Improvement. The findings indicate that the principal set structures to transform a traditional school to a dual language immersion campus. He engaged stakeholders in building the vision of the school and modeled practices that he expected his staff to emulate. One of the core leadership practices that he implemented was collaboration and used it to engage staff in working as a team as they met and discussed school progress. He built positive relationships with staff, students, and families. He inspired his subordinates to explore new approaches, empowered them, and increased capacity. He also created space for students to meet with him so they could express campus improvements that needed to be made based on their lens. Transformational leadership practices have had a positive effect in a dual language campus in obtaining high levels of performance of teachers which ensured high academic achievement of students.Item A case study of parent involvement and college awareness: Instilling going-to-college at the elementary level(2012) de la Pena, Frances M.Resulting from increasing Hispanic population and student enrollment numbers, educational institutions face the challenge to increase parental involvement and preparing educators in P-20 (Pre-school through graduate school) with critical praxis underlying effective and trust-building interactions between families and schools (Walker et al., 2011). Parents play a pivotal role as brokers between their family and school (Delgado-Gaitan, 1994); yet, need to be empowered sooner rather than later to feel a part of and be active in their children's schooling (Delgado-Gaitan, 1991). Therefore, the problem lies with an increasing number of Hispanic parents lacking parental involvement and college-going awareness which translates to not enough Hispanic elementary students opt to attend postsecondary education institutions in the years to come. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore parental involvement and college awareness for Hispanic students beginning at the elementary level. In addition, a theoretical framework of social capital and validation were utilized to explore a college-going culture through perceptions and experiences of parents, teachers, and administrators. This study used case study methodology and focus group interviews. I collected data from three administrators, a six participant teacher focus group, and a five participant parent focus group interview at one large urban elementary school. From the data analysis, three concepts for parental involvement and college awareness at the elementary level were identified. The three concepts were: (1) College-Going Culture, (2) Going-to-College, and (3) College Awareness. The administrator interviews, parent and teacher focus group interviews indicated that the participants' perceptions and experiences are contextual in this study. Results from the study revealed that parental involvement occurs daily at home and not at school much to the teachers chagrin. Additionally, the results for college awareness indicate parents must be engaged in school wide events that enhance their child's educational future in higher education. It is essential that higher education be embraced at the elementary level to increase the number of Hispanic students entering postsecondary education. This study's findings have important implications for practice and recommendations for future research.Item A Case Study of the Language Policy of a Local Newcomer Program(2019) Saulsbury-Molina, Anna KirstenA growing population of students from refugee backgrounds in the United States has contributed to linguistic and cultural diversity in the K-12 public education system. School districts and communities respond differently to changing demographics. The development of newcomer programs has been one method educators have used in an attempt to provide a space for refugee-background students to acclimate to their new environment. The language policies these programs implement impact the integration of newcomers into the larger school system. Utilizing ethnographic methods in a case study investigating the language policies of one elementary school's newcomer program, this dissertation found that flexibility and responsiveness to the needs of students were critical to the program's existence and success. As the program experienced demographic changes based on international and national politics over the course of a decade, the newcomer teachers continue to uphold language policies that attempt to provide a space for students to adjust to the U.S. public school system before moving into an ESL classroom.Item A Case Study: Establishing Boolean Network Model for Macrophage Polarization(2017) Ramirez, RicardoBoolean networks have been implemented to characterize biological pathways of cells performing a particular function. Macrophages secrete cytokines to communicate with other nearby cells to pivot an inflammatory response or anti-inflammatory. Using a combination of MATLAB and the BNLearn package in R, we used BNLearn package in R containing a few types of methods that can create a network with the given input file in this study. A combination of constraint, score based and hybrid algorithms such as hill-climbing, Incremental Association, max-min hill-climbing and man-min parent children methods were performed to establish Boolean network mode using temporal profiles of macrophage secretion We established a Boolean model for macrophage polarization post-MI. Based on the network structure, semi-tensor product has been applied to represent logical functions with a linear representation in mathematical equations. A MATLAB package was developed to simulate the evolution of the Boolean network and to illustrate how the evolution of each cytokines being expressed as time progresses. Further, the controllability verification helps to check if using one of the inputs to pathways can lead to the desired output status or not. The dynamic progression of the Boolean model for macrophage polarization helps to understand the inflammatory response of a macrophage cell and implement this research into the medical application.Item A Case Study: Understanding the Experiences of School Leaders Who Utilize the Arts Integration School Model(2021) Vela, LindseyThe purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of the school leaders who chose to open and lead an arts integrated school model, at The Gathering Place. The research question that guided this study was: How do the founders at The Gathering Place, describe their experiences in opening and leading an arts integrated school model for young students? Sub-questions sought to discover the motivations, barriers, and factors that facilitated progress while opening and leading their arts integration school model. This study applied the Theoretical Domains Framework as a lens through which to examine the data. A case study approach was used as the research method to examine the experiences of the school leaders within this innovative school that specializes in arts integration, through interviews and artifact analysis. I found that while there are barriers to opening and leading an arts integrated campus, the factors that facilitated progress and the motivations, together drove these school leaders to persevere and create this opportunity for young children. This study illustrates how individuals who are grounded in their beliefs can develop an arts integrated school model for kids. Findings from this study can be used to understand the lived experiences of school leaders who open new arts integrated campuses and learn from their stories in order to offer similar educational experiences in other communities.