Digital Commons Network^™

Data: Learning By Faith, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

This data includes the interview results with 35 individuals. Their answers cover extensive range of related issues, thus help us build a big overview on this topic. The author's invitation to contribute an essay is included.

Experimental Validation Of A Vibration-Based Sound Power Method, Trent P. Bates

Theses and Dissertations

A vibration-based sound power (VBSP) measurement method is appealing because of its potential versatility in application compared to pressure- and intensity-based methods. The VBSP method is based on the well-known elementary radiators approach and is reliant on the acoustic radiation resistance matrix. Previous research has developed and validated the VBSP method for flat plates and cylinders. This thesis details work on extending the VBSP method to arbitrarily-curved structures. The approach of computing surface normal velocities from 3D velocity data measured by a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (SLDV) is presented. This approach is validated with experimental sound power results of a …

Dorothy Wordsworth, Religion, And The Rydal Journals, Emily Stephens Kasper

Theses and Dissertations

Dorothy Wordsworth’s religious practices continued to evolve throughout her life. She was baptized Anglican, but after her mother’s death she resided with her mother’s cousin, where she practiced Unitarianism. When she later moved in with her uncle, she embraced evangelical Anglicanism. Records of her religious beliefs in her twenties are scarce, as after moving to Racedown with her brother William in 1795 and throughout her years living in Alfoxden, she rarely wrote of her involvement with organized religion. Only in the 1810s while at Grasmere did Dorothy Wordsworth begin to record a gradual return to church attendance. Concerning her religious …

Full Issue

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Honorary Volume Focuses On Church History And Doctrine

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Richard Lloyd Anderson - known as a devoted teacher, careful writer, and perfect gentleman - has had a great impact on the study of LDS Church history. In The Disciple as Witness: Essays on Latter-day Saint History and Doctrine in Honor of Richard Lloyd Anderson, one of two Festschrift volumes published in recognition of his work, friends and colleagues have written 18 scholarly studies in his honor. Several of these papers were presented on 8 March 1997 at a conference titled "Pioneers of the Restoration."

Exploring The Impact Of Hour Of Code On Students' Cs Interest And Perceptions, Jessica Marie Yauney

Theses and Dissertations

As the focus on computer science in K-12 classrooms grows, the 'Hour of Code' program has also grown. As Hour of Code is one of the largest educational campaigns, it is worth evaluation to ensure effects are well understood so that implementation can be made most effective. This research sought to better understand the impact of Hour of Code. This thesis presents findings from a systematic review and from a quasi-experimental study. A large number of research articles have been published on Hour of Code. Systematic review identified 64 papers including reports from experiments testing the efficacy of Hour of …

Development Of A Valid And Reliable Survey To Assess Personal, Behavioral, And Environmental Factors Surrounding Food Insecurity In A College Population, Jennette Kilgrow

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The aims of our present study were to develop a valid and reliable survey framed around the social cognitive theory, which would evaluate internal and external factors associated with food insecurity from the student's perspective, and to test the survey with a multi-state population. Design: The College Perspectives around Food Insecurity (CPFI) survey was developed through several revision and improvement steps using a mixed methods approach. In Phase 1 (2018-2019), data were translated into survey items and assigned to a theoretical concept (personal, behavioral, or environmental) in the social cognitive theory. In Phase 2 (2019-2020), content validity testing occurred …

Testing Methodologies And Results Of Radiation Induced Soft Errors For A Cots Sram, Fram, And Soc, Wesley Raymond Stirk

Theses and Dissertations

Methods for testing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) digital devices at varying levels of complexity is presented and discussed as well as the results for testing a COTS SRAM, FRAM, and SoC using these methodologies in a pulsed dose rate environment at Little Mountain Test Facility (LMTF) and neutron testing at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE). Investigations at LMTF revealed a dependence in all three devices on the integrated dose of a single pulse of radiation, implying that the duration of radiation plays a significant role in the response. The test infrastructure necessary to dynamically access an FRAM at LMTF and …

Rfssw Behavior Prediction Using A Numerical Model, Evan Robert Berger

Theses and Dissertations

A two-dimensional axisymmetric thermo-mechanical model of the Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding (RFSSW) process was developed and validated with experimental data. Welding temperatures, tool forces, and material flow including defect formation, were accurately predicted by the model. Qualified repair techniques are critical for successful implementation of a welding process for use on large weldments with a significant number of spot joints, and this work demonstrates a repair technique for RFSSW that is validated both experimentally and numerically. Repaired properties are shown to exceed 90% of the original mechanical properties of the RFSSW process. RFSSW has different process parameters for every …

Semi-Differentiation Of Reversible, Soluble-Insoluble Potential Sweep Voltammograms, Tyler Williams, Ranon Fuller, Cameron Vann, Devin Rappleye

Faculty Publications

Semi-differentiation, or convolution as it is sometimes known, is a mathematical technique commonly used to disentangle overlapping peaks in cyclic or linear sweep voltammograms. However, this technique is often misapplied due to misunderstandings of fractional calculus. Additionally, rigorous treatment and validation of the theory of semi-differential analysis of reversible, soluble-insoluble electrochemical reactions is lacking. Peculiarities of semi-differentiation are explored; theoretical relations for semi-differentiated voltammograms are given; the exponential nature of the theoretical curve is explored; theoretical relations are compared to experimental voltammograms for AgNO₃ in 1 M nitric acid at 298 K, NiCl₂ in LiCl at 974 K, …

Comparative Gpr Analysis Of Carbonate Strandline Deposits, Sydney Adelaide Richards

Theses and Dissertations

The Bahamas Island archipelago grows by the precipitation and secretion of calcium carbonate. A majority of this growth is by lateral accretion of shoreline sedimentary deposits. Previous research is not clear on whether the growth is largely due to eustasy, sediment input from catastrophic events, or a combination of both. The Bahamas is an ideal location for studying Holocene carbonate generation and deposition, but there is limited research on the analysis of strandlines in relation to lateral accretion. Carbonate strandline deposits are commonly classified as low-energy beach ridge deposits. Previous researchers have primarily focused on ooid shoals and subtidal regions. …

Simulating Design Experiences For New Instructional Designers: A Case Study, Melissa Franklin

Instructional Psychology and Technology Graduate Student Projects

In this case study, I discuss designing, developing, and implementing three digital, interactive simulations for a redesigned graduate-level Introduction to Instructional Design course. The redesign of the course was intended to address students' expressed desires to master instructional design practice and theory, gain more confidence in their knowledge of and skill in the ID process, and receive more guidance and feedback throughout an authentic instructional design experience. The first simulation aims to give students an interactive overview of an authentic process. The other two simulations come at crucial moments in the course where students can practice skills in client relationships …

Use And Misuse Of X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (Xps): Reproducibility, Gross Errors, Data Reporting, And Peak Fitting, George Hobbs Major

Theses and Dissertations

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is the most widely used surface analysis technique for chemically probing surfaces. Its popularity stems from the large amount of information that can be gathered about the electronic states of the atoms it probes, including core shell information and valence electron information. Simple qualitative analysis (peak identification) can often be performed, but quantitative analysis is a much more complicated process. Although XPS usage has increased dramatically, so has the amount of erroneous analysis observed in the literature. In my thesis, I first present a perspective on how to improve the quality of surface and material data …

A Survey Of Graph Neural Networks On Synthetic Data, Brigham Stone Carson

Theses and Dissertations

We relate properties of attributed random graph models to the performance of GNN architectures. We identify regimes where GNNs outperform feedforward neural networks and non-attributed graph clustering methods. We compare GNN performance on our synthetic benchmark to performance on popular real-world datasets. We analyze the theoretical foundations for weak recovery in GNNs for popular one- and two-layer architectures. We obtain an explicit formula for the performance of a 1-layer GNN, and we obtain useful insights on how to proceed in the 2-layer case. Finally, we improve the bound for a notable result on the GNN size generalization problem by 1.

Progressive Education In C. S. Lewis's Prince Caspian, Voyage Of The Dawn Treader, And The Silver Chair: Narnia As A Remedy To The Green Book, Megan Marie Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Recent scholarship has taken an interest in C. S. Lewis's political views and how they are manifested in his fiction. However, few have thoroughly analyzed the specific political implications of his children's series, The Chronicles of Narnia. Part of this may be because Lewis himself insisted his fiction was nonpartisan. The heavily religious allegories in the series can also overshadow the political commentary. This thesis contributes to the growing discourse on political commentary in Lewis's fiction by identifying four concerns he had with progressive education and then demonstrating how he criticizes them in Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn …

Language Ideology In The Actfl Speaking Proficiency Guidelines, Sonja A. Mecham

Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines language ideology in the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) 2012 speaking proficiency guidelines using the method of critical rhetoric analysis. Language ideologies, a concept borrowed from linguistic anthropology, are the ways people and organizations conceptualize and talk about language. In this paper, I explore how the ACTFL speaking proficiency guidelines discuss proficient language. Since these guidelines are widely used and highly respected, it is necessary for those who use them to understand what ideologies of proficiency they express. Therefore, this study also discusses how the language ideologies in the guidelines may impact consequential …

Load-Deformation Behavior Of Tension-Only X-Brace Roof Truss Diaphragms, Benjamin Johnson Meek

Theses and Dissertations

The alternative seismic design provisions for diaphragms provided in ASCE 7-22 Minimum design loads and associated criteria for buildings and other structures Section 12.10.3 account for both diaphragm ductility and displacement capacity, producing more accurate design forces and decreased detailing when compared to conventional seismic design methods. However, the diaphragm design force reduction factor has not yet been determined for tension-only roof truss diaphragms, a common system used in metal buildings. In this study, experimental tests of two cantilevered diaphragm subassembly specimens with tension-only rod bracing were conducted to determine the load-deformation behavior of the system. The first specimen used …

Forest Understory Plant Community Response To Prescribed Fire And Mechanical Thinning Treatments, Noelle V. Zenger

Theses and Dissertations

Much of the biodiversity in a forest comes from the understory vegetation. However, centuries of fire suppression in the western United States have made human-implemented disturbance necessary for reinstating natural disturbance cycles. However, the mechanical thinning and prescribed burning treatments used by land managers may differentially affect the response of the understory community. This study aimed to compare how prescribed fire and mechanical thinning treatments, with the size and severity of those treatments, affect understory plant communities in aspen-conifer forests over time. We sampled the understory community in burned, mechanically thinned, and untreated forest stands one, three, or five years …

Simulations Of Electrode Heterogeneity And Design For Lithium-Ion Batteries, Amir Sina Hamedi

Theses and Dissertations

This work develops three models for simulation of the high-current operation of Li-ion batteries. Simulation as a tool can provide understanding beyond what experiments can offer. Different types of electrodes such as graphite, silicon, and NMC are modeled to study cell performance and aging under aggressive operating conditions. The first part of this work focuses on the effect of electrode microscale lateral heterogeneity on the degradation of conventional Li-ion batteries, especially for fast-charge applications. The non-uniform pore distribution leads to the nonuniform current density and state of charge (SoC), which can finally result in non-uniform Li plating and aging. The …

A Process For Improving The Quality Of Multiple-Choice Certification Exams, Tanner Kohler

Instructional Psychology and Technology Graduate Student Projects

This paper describes a process for improving the content validity and overall difficulty multiple-choice certification exams. The report describes an initial evaluation of existing certification exams and outlines how to basic tables of specifications to identify areas of weakness and guide improvements with the help of subject-matter experts.

Collaboration Between Special Education Teachers And Board Certified Behavior Analysts, Megan Elizabeth Squires

Theses and Dissertations

As of January 2023, there are 59,976 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) with current licensure throughout the world. This number has substantially grown compared to the meager 392 persons so certified in the year 2000 (Behavior Analyst Certification Board, 2023) In the past 11 years, demand for Board Certified Behavior Analysts has increased by 4,209% (Behavior Analyst Certification Board, 2022). As the need for this resource has increased, the presence of BCBAs is becoming more prevalent in public schools today. A BCBA can be a beneficial and critical resource to teachers in aiding in their behavior knowledge, and classroom management. …

Journal Of Response To Writing 9(1) Spring 2023

Journal of Response to Writing

No abstract provided.

Written Corrective Feedback And Learner Engagement: A Case Study Of A French As A Second Language Program, Maria-Lourdes Lira-Gonzales, Antonella Valeo

Journal of Response to Writing

Within the context of second language (L2) writing, learner engagement with feedback has elicited significant theoretical and empirical interest (e.g., Zhang & Hyland, 2018; Zheng & Yu, 2018). Research has highlighted the dynamic nature of learner engagement with corrective feedback (WCF), but the ways in which learner and contextual factors impact such engagement with WCF in authentic classrooms are still underexplored (Han, 2019). Furthermore, little is known about how L2 learners engage with WCF from an ecological perspective, which considers the relationships between learners and their surrounding environments (Bronfenbrenner,1993; van Lier, 2000).

Situated in an adult French as a second …

Spring 2023 Editorial Introduction, Betsy Gilliland, Kat O'Meara

Journal of Response to Writing

No abstract provided.

Designing Resilient Agents Using Grammatical Evolution, Behavior Trees, And Finite Linear Temporal Logic, Aadesh Neupane

Theses and Dissertations

Resilience is essential for long-term autonomous agents. Swarm behaviors seen in bees, ants, birds, fish, and others are interesting because they resiliently perform complex coordinated tasks like foraging, nest-selection, flocking and escaping predators without centralized control or coordination. Conventionally, mimicking swarm behaviors with robots requires researchers to study actual behaviors, derive mathematical models, and implement these models as state machines. Since the conventional approach is time-consuming and cumbersome, this dissertation uses a grammatical evolution algorithm with Behavior Trees (BTs) to evolve behaviors that are resilient to different perturbations for foraging and nest maintenance tasks. The modular, reactive, and readable properties …

Long-Term Modulus Of Microcracked Cement-Treated Base Layers, Patrick Matthew Mcdivitt

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to measure and analyze the long-term modulus values of cement-treated base (CTB) layers constructed in Utah using microcracking. Because modulus values of pavement layers are among the most influential inputs affecting mechanistic-empirical pavement design, obtaining reasonable estimates of modulus values is critical. Testing was performed with a portable falling-weight deflectometer, also called a lightweight deflectometer, and modulus values were backcalculated with the computer program BAKFAA. Testing occurred at five asphalt pavement sites in northern Utah, where reconstruction with full-depth reclamation and cement stabilization, in the form of cement slurry, was performed approximately 2 to …

Dopamine D2 Receptors As A Peripheral Biomarker For Brain Dopamine Levels, Christina Small

Theses and Dissertations

The ability to objectively index dopamine (DA) levels in the brain has the potential to revolutionize the field of neuropsychopharmacology, as having a peripheral biomarker of brain DA would enable the objective monitoring of the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other DA-dependent psychiatric states. Of particular relevance to commercialization, it would provide an objective measure of treatment efficacy. We used a DA-depletion approach to determine if peripheral D2Rs are a biomarker for brain DA; mainly, the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) neurotoxin model and PD subjects, which are well-known models of DA depletion in the midbrain of rodents and humans, respectively. Dopamine …

Navigating The Unfamiliar: The Lived Experience Of Elementary School Teachers As They Navigate The Use Of New Literacies During A Global Pandemic, Sydney Boyer

Theses and Dissertations

New literacies within schools is supported by both education policy and research; despite this, new literacies have yet to enter and transform the classroom. The COVID-19 pandemic offered an unprecedented opportunity to study teachers' experiences as they are required to navigate new literacies while teaching online. Therefore, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of three upper elementary school teachers as they navigated the use of new literacies in a Title I school during a global pandemic. Data sources included three in-depth interviews and were analyzed through a thematic approach. Data analysis resulted in identifying …

What's Gonna Happen With Us? How Friendship Networks Change After Marriage, Madeleine Meldrum

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Marriage represents a significant life transition that brings with it changes in other relationships. One of the most notable changes is a tendency for married individuals to decrease their social networks following their marriage, a process known as dyadic withdrawal. This pattern has been repeatedly observed, but there is a lack of research into the reasons and mechanisms behind withdrawal. Using semi-structured qualitative interviews with nineteen recently married young adults, I examine the changes that took place in young adults’ friendships following their marriage, as well as the reasons individuals gave for these changes. Results support the dyadic withdrawal hypothesis …

Validation And Development Of Top-Down Illumination For Optofluidic Biosensors, Matthew Marley Hamblin

Theses and Dissertations

Lab-on-a-chip devices are changing the way that medical testing is performed by allowing rapid testing with small samples. Optofluidic biosensors are a type of lab-on-a-chip device that use light excitation on a fluid sample. One such application of an optofluidic biosensor is a device that can detect antibiotic resistant bacteria by combining DNA from a sample with fluorescent beads, flowing that sample through a hollow channel, and shining laser light on the channel. If the bacteria tested for is present, the fluorescent beads will give off photons that can be detected as a positive signal. The main method for illumination …