Digital Commons Network^™

An Information Geometric Analysis Of A Shallow-Water Waveguide Using Vgs Parametrization, Michelle Wang

Undergraduate Honors Theses

In geoacoustic inversion, selecting an appropriate seabed parametrization, especially with an unknown number of sediment layers, is a challenge that is compounded by potential bias when establishing bounds in the parameter search space. One approach to addressing these issues is rooted in the techniques of Information geometry. Information geometry informs model selection and parameterization by quantifying which model parameters are informed by observational data. This paper provides an information geometric analysis of a shallow-water waveguide, where the acoustic properties of the lower half-space are derived from the viscous grain-shearing (VGS) model.

Specifically, we consider single-frequency transmission loss (TL) across a …

A Systematic Review Of Implementation Fidelity Interventions For School-Based Behavior Supports In Special Education Settings, Paige C. Mesui

Theses and Dissertations

Problem behavior has been increasing in classrooms and has significantly contributed to teacher burnout. Students in special education settings have been found to demonstrate problem behaviors more than their general education peers. Schools have a responsibility to implement evidence-based behavioral support to assist students with their behavioral needs, decrease problem behavior, and increase desired behavior in the classroom. There is a relationship between the level of implementation fidelity and the effectiveness of an intervention. If there are not high levels of fidelity, the results are not expected to mimic what has been found in the research. The purpose of this …

Characterizing And Manipulating Intra-Die Performance Variation Of Fpgas And Its Application In Security, Hayden C. Cook

Theses and Dissertations

Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are reconfigurable, high-performing devices that are often used in critical applications. However, like all semiconductors, FPGAs experience transistor aging that can lower performance and lead to device failures. Additionally, device aging also has several security implications. Therefore, understanding the aging mechanisms behind transistor aging is necessary to ensure the reliability of FPGAs. However, current aging studies either rely on simulation alone or are unable to isolate aging effects on specific elements within the FPGA. This dissertation uses the reconfigurability of FPGAs to develop novel aging techniques that allow for the targeted aging of specific areas …

Facets Of Neuroticism As Predictors Of Heart Rate Variability And Psychological Distress, Mikel Cressman

Theses and Dissertations

Heart rate variability (HRV) and personality are related to both physical and mental health outcomes. Previous research has found a relationship between neuroticism and distress while the findings on the relationship between neuroticism and HRV are mixed. Studying the facets of neuroticism may provide a more nuanced view of the effects of personality on HRV and distress. Previous research has suggested that the vulnerability facet of neuroticism appears to be uniquely related to the cardiovascular response to stress. This study's first hypothesis is that individuals with higher scores on the vulnerability facet will have lower heart rate variability. The second …

Library Internal Reviews For Value Description And Strategic Planning, Holt Zaugg

Faculty Publications

In between university level assessments, the BYU Library conducts internal reviews of each library department, describing its value to the library and university, and providing recommendations for improvement. The process used a team of library employees in departments not under review and an external reviewer to conduct the internal review. Using a case-study approach, the development of an internal review system, its meta-evaluation at the end of its first cycle, and the on-going efforts to improve the internal review process are described. Using a graduate level evaluation class followed by a task force, changes were made to the internal review …

Unveiling Trends, Terminology, And Teaching Competencies Of Blended Courses In Higher Education, Jennifer Lynn Ramsey

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation has been written in a three-article journal-ready format and centers on competencies for blended teaching in higher education. I use the PRISMA process and thematic coding to analyze 34 articles from 2002 to 2022, highlighting strategic combination, learner-centered approaches, and additional support. I also use the Google Search API and content analysis to suggest that blended, digital, and flexible may be post-secondary institutions' most frequently used terminology to describe contexts incorporating online and in-person components. I also gather qualitative data from interviews with faculty to highlight the context and nuances surrounding blended teaching competencies, including creative innovation, technology …

Derivative Propagation Through Vortex Particle Method Simulation, Eric Green, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Automatic differentiation (AD) is a powerful tool for evaluating numerical derivatives. In particular, reverse-mode AD provides numerical gradients in a way that is insensitive to the number of input variables. This makes reverse-mode AD well-suited for solving large optimization problems. However, reverse-mode AD has a particularly large associated memory cost because most intermediate values in operations need to be cached. This is problematic for large problems such as aerodynamics simulations, though, since the memory requirements can quickly become impractical. The solution implemented in this work is to provide analytic pullback expressions for functions for which many of the intermediate values …

Trajectory Optimization Of Evtol And Conventional Aircraft: A Comparative Analysis Of Vortex Particle Method And Vortex Lattice + Blade Element Momentum Theory, Andrew Tagg, Ryan Anderson, Cibin Joseph, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Trajectory optimization of aircraft transition maneuvers can significantly influence the design of these systems, particularly when making decisions about aircraft geometry, propulsion sizing, and control system design. This paper presents the trajectory optimization of air vehicles including electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) as well as conventional aircraft. The study evaluates the influence of fidelity in trajectory design by comparing the use of two aerodynamic methods in the context of trajectory optimization. The mid-fidelity method utilizes a vortex lattice method (VLM) to model lifting surfaces while employing blade element momentum theory (BEMT) to model rudimentary rotor-wing interactions. The high-fidelity approach …

Ductape: A Steady-State, Axisymmetric Ducted Fan Analysis Code Designed For Gradient-Based Optimization, Judd Mehr, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Electric ducted fans have become an intriguing option for the propulsion systems of clean, quiet advanced air mobility technologies due to their potential benefits in both aerodynamic efficiency and reduced noise profiles compared to open rotor systems. Exploration of conceptual electric ducted fan design in the context of novel, and often complex, applications may be greatly aided by the use of optimization techniques. Specifically, gradient-based optimization lends itself to the exploration of large, complex, multi-disciplinary systems due to its inherent scalability. Despite ducted fans/propellers having been relatively well studied for the last century, modern, gradient-based, optimization-ready analysis tools for ducted …

The Aridification Of The Great Salt Lake, David Thompson

Ballard Brief

Throughout Nepal, brick kilns employ thousands of families annually for the seasonal work of crafting and shipping bricks. As families migrate between work in brick factories and agricultural work at home, more factors block their children from a complete and quality education. The open invitation to begin working with their parents and to help provide for the family becomes a strong temptation that causes many children to give up on school. In addition, Nepal's lack of law enforcement frequently allows children to drop out of school early without consequence. Their parents do not attempt to stop them either, making little …

Characteristics Of Pyrolysis Products Of California Chaparral And Their Potential Effect On Wildland Fires, Mahsa Alizadeh, David R. Weise, Thomas H. Fletcher

Faculty Publications

The aim of this study was to investigate the pyrolysis of selected California foliage and estimate the energy content of the released volatiles to show the significance of the pyrolysis of foliage and its role during wildland fires. While the majority of the volatiles released during the pyrolysis of foliage later combust and promote fire propagation, studies on the energy released from combustion of these compounds are scarce. Samples of chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), Eastwood’s manzanita (Arctostaphylos glandulosa), scrub oak (Quercus berberidifolia), hoaryleaf ceanothus (Ceanothus crassifolius), all native to southern California, and sparkleberry …

Solving Unsteady Potential Flow Problems In O(N) Time, Ryan Anderson, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Design of vertical takeoff and landing aircraft is challenging in part due to significant aerodynamic interactions between rotors and wings. Computational models can aid in their design, but are computationally expensive. 3-D panel methods coupled with vortex particle wakes offer an attractive solution, but solving for the panel strengths scales poorly for large problems. Multigrid methods, such as Krylov subspace methods in conjunction with the fast multipole method (FMM), have been demonstrated to reduce the scaling to O(𝑁). We explore the performance and limitations of the Krylov-FMM method, traditional matrix-powered GMRES, LU decomposition, and a novel O(𝑁) multigrid approach to …

Persevering Through Communication Challenges: A Qualitative Descriptive Exploration Of Communication Experiences In Aphasia, Tyson G. Harmon, Camille Williams, Garrett Cardon, William S. Evans

Faculty Publications

Background

People with aphasia often experience activity limitations and participation restrictions despite wanting to engage in communication activities that are satisfying and meaningful. Communication partner support, the complexity of the communication environment, and the thoughts and feelings of people with aphasia have important implications for both language processing and communicative participation. The perspectives of PWA about the role that environmental and personal factors (e.g. thoughts and feelings) play in their communication experiences could inform clinical practice.

Aims

To qualitatively explore the communication experiences of people with aphasia and how environmental demands and personal factors (especially emotional responses) affect these experiences. …

Cameras For Girls: Nonprofit Spotlight, Angie Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Full Issue: Artificial Intelligence And Data For Nonprofit Organizations, Angie Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Machine Learning For Nonprofit Organizations, Justin Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Nonprofit organizations are often looking for ways to increase efficiency while operating with limited resources. With data more readily available than in the recent past, machine learning provides powerful tools for unlocking valuable insights and enabling nonprofits to do more with limited resources. This paper explores various machine learning techniques to enhance nonprofit operations with an overview of machine learning approaches, including supervised, unsupervised, semi-supervised, and reinforcement learning, and their potential benefits for nonprofit organizations. A practical use-case of donor prediction for fundraising is presented to demonstrate how supervised learning can be employed to identify potential repeat donors. The neural …

Enhancing Nonprofit Efficiency And Productivity Through Ai: Applications Of Chatgpt, Sam R. Calhoun, Angie Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

This article explores how nonprofit organizations can leverage AI to enhance efficiency and productivity. Key areas of impact include automating routine inquiries, supporting fundraising efforts, streamlining administrative tasks, aiding in program delivery, facilitating research and analysis, improving internal communication, and providing professional development. By integrating AI, nonprofits can optimize operations and focus more on their core mission, leading to greater social impact.

At-A-Glance Chart: How Nonprofits Can Use Ai/Chatgpt, Sam Calhoun, Angie Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Authorship In The Age Of Algorithms: Adapting Copyright Law For Ai-Generated Content, Sydney Thomas

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

In the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the relationship between technological advancement and legal protection for human creators has become increasingly critical. From Stephen Hawking's admonition of the potential risks of unregulated AI to Sam Altman's advocacy for proactive regulation, this paper navigates the evolving landscape of AI innovation and copyright law. By examining the challenges posed by AI-generated content, including issues of intellectual property infringement and privacy concerns, it highlights the need for adaptive legal frameworks. Strategic enhancements to copyright law must be developed, such as bolstering fair use doctrine and expanding creator rights, to ensure the protection of …

Addressing Social Inequalities Using Ai, Big Data, And Machine Learning, Erica L. Jensen, Lakell Archer, Sumaya Ali

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

A Blueprint For Future Achievements For Nonprofits, William B. Calder

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Nonprofit organizations hire strong leaders to articulate a vivid and persuasive picture of how the organization will be better, in a significant way, than what currently exists. Leaders should not underestimate the use of a powerful vision, as it is needed to help define the issues and challenges for stakeholders (inside and outside the organization). Leaders need to describe what success looks like and continue to task all stakeholders to assist in building the “dream.”

Operational and staffing challenges are more difficult for NPOs without an articulated, compelling, and concise vision statement. The resultant costs of not having this statement …

Revolutionising Nonprofit Verification With Ai Powered Intelligence, J Unsdorfer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

In an era where stakeholders increasingly demand clarity and honesty, the importance of corporate transparency has reached unprecedented levels. Both businesses and nonprofits are now faced with the challenge of effectively demonstrating their integrity and trustworthiness. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers promising solutions to these challenges by enabling deeper insights into corporate relationships. Venturefy, an Israel-based company, is at the forefront of this movement, using AI to decode complex data sets and verify corporate connections. This article explores how AI works, Venturefy’s unique approach to transparency, and its significant partnership with WikiCharities to enhance transparency in the nonprofit sector.

Research Summaries: Artificial Intelligence And Data For Nonprofits, Erica Jensen

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Trust In Information, Preparation, And Resource Adequacy In Coastal Louisiana, Elizabeth Long-Meek, Michael R. Cope, Scott Sanders, Carol Ward

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Natural disasters pose significant challenges to communities, affecting lives, properties, and infrastructure unpredictably. Coastal regions, like those in southern Louisiana, are particularly vulnerable due to their exposure to hurricanes, coastal erosion, and other chronic environmental hazards exacerbated by climate change. This study investigates the relationship between trust in government and social entities and perceptions of disaster preparedness among residents of Plaquemines and Lafourche parishes, Louisiana. Drawing on data collected via a multi-mode survey, including measures of trust and perceived preparedness, logistic regression models reveal that trust in information from federal, state, and local governments, as well as from community networks …

Regional Variations In Nabataean Jewelry, Emily Marie Yankura

Theses and Dissertations

The use of jewelry is just one of many avenues for individual self-expression, but even in the most individualistic society it is also a reflection of certain cultural norms, values, and expectations. This thesis is an analysis of Nabataean jewelry in burial contexts from the three main regions of the ancient kingdom - Medina Selah, the Negev, and Petra – with the aim of reaching a better understanding of Nabataean culture through their jewelry. The types of jewelry, materials used in their construction, and many other variables are compared and reveal unique regional variations within an overall Hellenistic style.

Application And Development Of Ceragenins In Medical Device Coatings For Clinical Settings, Elliot E. Sherren

Theses and Dissertations

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) pose a significant and increasing threat to global health. One primary cause of this threat is increasing antibiotic resistance. As traditional antibiotics continue to grow less effective, there is an urgent need for novel antimicrobial strategies. This work explores the potential of ceragenins, also known as cationic steroid antimicrobials (CSAs), as a promising alternative to combat HAIs. Specifically, we investigated potential roles that CSAs can play in the context of multiple medical device coatings in healthcare settings. Ceragenins are synthetic mimic of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) which exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against many common pathogens that have been …

Evaluating The Effects Of Cheatgrass On Western Burrowing Owls, Kaylee R. Draughon

Theses and Dissertations

There has been a global decline of specialist species observed in recent decades due to the impacts of climate change, invasive species, and habitat loss. Habitat loss and degradation may lead to a mismatch between habitat attractiveness and actual quality, otherwise known as an ecological trap. Ecological traps occur when an organism is constrained by its evolutionary past to select for cues that no longer accurately predict habitat quality. Specialist species are more susceptible to ecological traps due to greater reliance on and fidelity to historic sites and resources. The burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), a specialist bird species adapted to …

Comparative Genomics Of Anax (Odonata: Aeshnidae), Ying Fei Lin

Theses and Dissertations

Insect migration is an important phenomenon characterized by the long-distance travel of various species in search of resources, safety, breeding, and/or suitable climates. However, relatively little is known about insect migration patterns and the genetic factors associated with them. Three closely related species of dragonflies (Odonata: Aeshnidae), Anax junius, A. strenuus, and A. walsinghami, form a clade of migratory and non-migratory species and present a natural laboratory to study the evolution of genes that may be related to muscle developments and insect migration. In this study, we sequence the whole genomes of these three Anax species to present a resource …

Exploring Seizure Signal Processing And Methods To Characterize Seizure-Like Activity In Mouse Brains, Benjamin Kearsley

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Status Epilepticus (SE) is a dangerous type of seizure that is difficult to treat and can have permanent or fatal consequences. Developing methods to properly process and classify SE in Local Field Potential (LFP) signals are important steps towards being able to predict SE in clinic and save lives. This thesis explores methods for the seizure data processing LFP data with the goal of gaining a deeper understanding of the effect of brain region and tissue preparation paradigm on power output in specific frequency ranges. The brain regions compared are the neocortex and hippocampus, and the preparation paradigms are 4AP …

A Nordhaus-Gaddum Type Problem For The Normalized Laplacian Spectrum And Graph Cheeger Constant, Adam Widtsoe Knudson

Theses and Dissertations

We will study various quantities related to connectivity of a graph. To this end, we look at Nordhaus-Gaddum type problems, which are problems where the same quantity is studied for a graph $G$ and its complement $G^c$ at the same time. For a graph $G$ on $n$ vertices with normalized Laplacian eigenvalues $0 = \lambda_1(G) \leq \lambda_2(G) \leq \cdots \leq \lambda_n(G)$ and graph complement $G^c$, we prove that \begin{equation*} \max\{\lambda_2(G),\lambda_2(G^c)\}\geq \frac{2}{n^2}. \end{equation*} We do this by way of lower bounding $\max\{i(G), i(G^c)\}$ and $\max\{h(G), h(G^c)\}$ where $i(G)$ and $h(G)$ denote the isoperimetric number and Cheeger constant of $G$, respectively. We …