Digital Commons Network^™

Adaptive Anomaly Prediction Models, Ashkan Farhangi

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Anomalies are rare in nature. This rarity makes it difficult for models to provide accurate and reliable predictions. Deep learning models typically excel at identifying underlying patterns from abundant data through supervised learning mechanisms but struggle with anomalies due to their limited representation. This results in a significant portion of errors arising from these rare and poorly represented events. Here, we present various methods and frameworks to develop the specialized ability of models to better detect and predict anomalies. Additionally, we improve the interpretability of these models by enhancing their anomaly awareness, leading to stronger performance on real-world datasets that …

Corporate Restructuring Spin-Off In A Technical Project-Based Organization, Stephen J. Davis

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

A technical project-based organization (TPBO) is a type of organizational setup that uses project management as the main economic driver. An TPBO tends to be adept at accepting change due to its inherent trait of constant change within the organization as resources move from project-to-project accepting scope changes along the way. Regardless of its ability to accept more change, every organization goes through a lifecycle. At some point, the organization must implement a change in the life cycle to avoid failure. A corporate restructuring spin-off is one way an organization can avoid organizational failure. Although the tool is used in …

Agile Healthcare: The Effects Of Information Technology Ambidexterity And Human Resource Practices On Workforce Agility And Job Performance, Jorge Flavio Sarmiento Falla

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Healthcare organizations grapple with uncertainties and rapid changes, necessitating agility within their workforce. However, empirical studies on healthcare agility are notably scarce, impeding efforts to foster an agile workforce. Through a systematic literature review, human-related dimensions and information technology aspects were found to be relevant to healthcare agility. This study addresses the impact of Information Technology Ambidexterity (ITA) and Human Resource Practices (HRP) on establishing Workforce Agility (WA). Subsequently, the study also addresses the importance of WA for the job performance of healthcare professionals. Lastly, it evaluates the mediation effect of WA on the impact of both ITA and HRP …

Architectural And Training Regime Modifications To Transformer Models For Low Data Applications, Azwad Tamir

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

A significant catalyst of the recent Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning revolution is attributed to large language models (LLMs), which include many prominent AI systems such as ChatGPT, Bard, and Gemini. The majority of high-performance LLM models are based on the transformer architecture and the primary factor behind the recent enhancement in the performance of these models is attributed to the increase of layer quantity and dimensionality, resulting in an exponential rise in the total number of learnable parameters, necessitating substantial data for effective training. This may pose a significant barrier in certain application domains, such as bioinformatics, pharmaceutical research, …

Ammonia For Aviation, Brandon Cotto

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Aviation’s share of total global carbon emissions has been on the rise as both the decarbonization of other industries and the number of flights has increased. Ammonia as a jet fuel has been receiving attention as a potential carbon free energy storage pathway, both as a fuel and as a carrier of hydrogen. Utilizing ammonia as a fuel requires energy intensive processes making this pathway a compromise specifically intended for power generation purposes that cannot directly use sustainable energy. It is pertinent to understand the cost of realizing ammonia’s advantages as a fuel in the hard to decarbonize industry of …

Robust Machine Learning Based Frameworks For Localization And Mmwave Beam Prediction In Massive Mimo Systems, Katarina Vuckovic

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The primary focus of this doctoral dissertation is the investigation of robust massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) communication systems. The study centers on two closely related issues: i) single-site user localization, and ii) millimeter Wave (mmWave) beam prediction. The motivation is to develop a system that simultaneously offers users reliable communication and precise localization using a single infrastructure. This dissertation specifically addresses three key challenges in data-driven solution: i) the limited availability of position-labeled training datasets, ii) robustness in time-varying dynamic environments, and iii) the generalization of models to unseen scenarios. The study introduces three localization and two beam …

Computational Approaches To Study Post Transcriptional Regulation Events, Naima Ahmed Fahmi

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

A simplistic understanding of the central dogma falls short in correlating the number of genes in the genome to the number of proteins in the proteome. Post-transcriptional regulation, including alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation contribute to the complexity of the proteome and is critical in understanding gene expression. In this dissertation, we aim to provide genome-wide detection and visualization of the transcript variants and quantify their significance in gene regulation. First, we propose a robust computational program to identify alternative splicing events from RNA-seq data, called AS-Quant. Our extensive experiments on simulated and real datasets demonstrate that AS-Quant can accurately …

Effective And Efficient Use Of Diffusion Models For Editing In Computer Vision, Umar Khalid

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This doctoral dissertation explores efficient applications of diffusion models in video and 3D scene editing, addressing the high computational demands traditionally associated with these tasks. The research introduces several innovative methods to make diffusion models more practical in real-world video and 3D scenarios while preserving high output quality.

The dissertation first presents parametric efficiency techniques for video understanding, followed by SAVE, a novel approach that leverages Text-to-Image (T2I) diffusion models for video editing, minimizing resource requirements. Building on this, the study introduces LatentEditor, a method that performs fine-grained, localized 3D scene editing in a latent space, thus enhancing Neural Radiance …

The False Identity Of A Filmmaker, Cheyanne Miller

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The False Identity of a Filmmaker is a multimedia installation and essay film on imposter syndrome within artists. Starting as an exploration into the topic, The False Identity of a Filmmaker became a personal self-discovery in my creative practice, resulting in an essay film that explores my relationship with imposter syndrome in relation to films that are often recognized as canonical. The multimedia installation places the essay film among a textural design of 16mm film strips to recognize filmmaking as a source of my imposter syndrome.

Women, artists, and those with careers in academia experience imposter syndrome quite often but …

Applications Of Plasmonic Biosensors In Chiral And Achiral Sensing, Aritra Biswas

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Monitoring biological systems is crucial in healthcare, driving the need for reliable and noninvasive solutions. The proliferation of unverified drugs in the market necessitates reliable methods for their detection and identification, especially amidst advancements in pharmaceuticals. Plasmonic biosensors emerge as a great platform for ultra-sensitive detection, identification, and manipulation of biomolecular systems. This dissertation report addresses the critical need for precise detection and monitoring of biomolecules and drugs, presenting innovative solutions through the design of a plasmonic biosensor to tackle challenges in sensitivity, selectivity, and label-free detection and identification. We introduce a robust and tunable, cavity-integrated plasmonic nanopatterned sensor that …

Blackened Faces: Unearthing The Political Shift Behind Illinois' Response To Racialized Labor Violence During The Virden Affair And Coal Wars Of 1898-1899, Jonathan C. Yegge

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis investigates the relationship between politics, law, race, mobility, and violence in 1890s Illinois to highlight the socio-political causes of a temporary pro-labor shift in Republican policy. It centers on Illinois Governor John R. Tanner’s atypical response to racialized labor violence during the Virden Affair and the broader Coal Wars of 1898-1899. This research builds on socio-economic and cultural studies of the labor movement and Black strikebreaking. It introduces state politics and law, two essential lenses of analysis which the historiography has largely neglected in favor of economics and bottom-up history. In lieu of the typical pro-labor accounts of …

A Chat Analysis Of The Use Of Educational Video Games To Teach Physical Science To Middle School Girls, Stephen G. Petit

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

As students transition into middle school science courses, their interest and engagement in the subject declines. This decline is most significant among girls, particularly for topics in physical science. While several factors have been identified that contribute to the decline, one area that is emerging as a new way to help improve girls' view of science is the use of educational video games to improve engagement and interest in science content, particularly as video games have been steadily rising in popularity with girls. This study used Cultural Historical Activity Theory to understand how middle school girls engage with an educational …

Nonprofit Compliance: Perceptions Of Small Nonprofit Leaders To Be Compliant, Andrea C. Ortega

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Small nonprofit organizations (NPOs) are at higher risk of having their IRS tax-exempt status revoked due to a lack of funding, governance, and structure. Organizations that fail to file an annual information return or notice for three consecutive years automatically lose their tax-exempt status by revocation. In May 2020, the IRS revoked the status of more than 30,000 NPOs for failing to file tax returns. This research contributes to the very limited number of qualitative studies on nonprofit leaders' knowledge of federal compliance, which is unknown and may contribute to small nonprofits losing their IRS-exempt status. This qualitative study examines …

Predicting Post-School Outcomes Of Transition Aged Students With High Incidence Disabilities, Jacob Brewer

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation explores predictive modeling to forecast post-school outcomes for transition-aged students with high-incidence disabilities, such as Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) and Other Health Impairments (OHI). Transitioning from secondary to post-secondary environments is critical for students with disabilities, significantly impacting their independence, self-confidence, and employability (Morningstar et al., 2017; Carter et al., 2021). Through a mixed-methods approach, this study integrates Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) indicators to determine which factors most effectively predict post-secondary enrollment and graduation. Key variables such as parental involvement, socio-economic status (SES), and self-determination skills are analyzed using logistic regression and machine learning techniques, including …

An Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Study On Usable Cybersecurity And The Behaviorial Effects Of Cognitive Load, Corey Leong

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This study investigated individuals’ behaviors and perceptions, and actions of a cybersecurity event after reviewing relevant cybersecurity content published in a cyber alert. As new technologies are developed and released, humans experience pressure to defend against threats while at work to remain productive and meet desired organizational goals (Chowdury & Skinner, 2019). The first part of the study randomly assigned participants to respond to a pre-questionnaire followed by an intervention, reading a cyberalert. Participants then answered a post-questionnaire that included the identical questions from the pre-questionnaire, in addition to, biographical and career related questions as well. The second part of …

An Examination Of The Effect Of Instructional Facility Size On Student Achievement In The State Of Florida, Paul B. Tweed

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This correlational study used publicly available Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) data on attributes of educational facilities and student performance to determine the degree of correlation between the physical size of instructional space and student outcomes. The sample used in this study comprised sixty-seven school districts in Florida. A quantitative correlational analysis was utilized to compare the amount of instructional space available to each student in a district and student outcomes in terms of district graduation rates and district scores on statewide assessments. A statistically significant, negative correlation was found between per capita instructional space, district graduation rates, and district …

First Principles Studies Of Nano-Scale Phenomena At Surfaces: From Characteristics Of Single Atom Catalysts To Molecular Structure Formation, Dave I. Austin

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

The dissertation explores the electronic structures induced by the adsorption of atoms and molecules on surfaces. It focuses on the physical and chemical properties of dispersed metal atom sites on oxide surfaces and the formation of novel molecular structures at hybrid organic-inorganic interfaces. The study uses density functional theory (DFT) calculations to simulate atomic-scale behaviors and aims to contribute to understanding reaction mechanisms and enhancing catalytic activity. Part one investigates the local environments of single platinum atoms on a cerium oxide surface by analyzing their physical and electronic properties. The next part studies the local environments of single platinum atoms …

An Ultrafast, Mid-Wave Infrared Source For Driving High-Order Harmonics Beyond The Water Window, Zachary A. Marra

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

This dissertation details the development of the world’s first cryogenically cooled Fe:ZnSe-based chirped pulse amplifier, a mid-wave infrared source for strong-field physics experimentation. The long upper-state lifetime provided by cryogenically cooling the Fe:ZnSe gain medium allows free-running, diode-pumped Er:YAG lasers to be used as pump lasers. The amplifier is seeded by a novel two-stage optical parametric amplifier pumped at 1 μm, which is potentially carrier-envelope phase-stable. The system is capable of producing 247-fs pulses at 333 Hz and 4.6 mJ with a center wavelength of 4.07 μm, although exact characteristics vary for different repetition rates and arrangements. The spectral bandwidth …

Assessing The Connection Between Social Media And Ideological Polarization, Joshua Stiekman

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Does the usage of social media make individuals more polarized? Previous studies have shown that political use of the internet does make individuals more likely to politically participate, but little academic work has looked at the dynamic of ideology and the social media usage, despite the increase of social media usage in everyday life. This study uses Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok to see if social media users are more polarized, and which ideological groups are more polarized on social media. Moderates are included to differentiate if there is a difference. This study analyzed data from the …

Exploring Fraction Comprehension And Interest In Elementary Education Through Ai-Powered Personalized Learning, Kenneth Holman

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Fraction proficiency is crucial for foundational mathematics and broader STEM fields. This dissertation investigates the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in mathematics classrooms, with a primary focus on students with mathematical learning challenges. AI technologies offer unique advantages for personalizing instruction and providing tailored feedback. The empirical study in the dissertation addresses a gap in the research related to AI's application during primary school fraction instruction.

The first manuscript presents a comprehensive literature review of AI in mathematics education, synthesizing research from 2020 - 2024. The second manuscript describes a quasi-experimental study evaluating Mathbot, an AI-based personalized learning platform. Repeated …

Exploring The Influence Of Inclusive Middle School Classrooms On Resilience, Character Education, And Life Skills Development In Students With Disabilities, Katherine Bonilla

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This study explored the effects of inclusive middle school classrooms on the academic performance, attendance, and social-emotional development of students with disabilities. Using a quantitative, comparative, and correlational design, the research investigated how inclusion influences these outcomes. The study examined data from 1,198 students, including both exceptional student education (ESE) and non-ESE participants, and gathered teacher perceptions to assess the impact of inclusion on social-emotional learning (SEL). Key metrics analyzed included Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) scores for mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA), attendance rates, and teacher survey responses regarding students' SEL competencies, such as resilience, teamwork, and …

Examining Anxiety And Online Learning Experiences, Charlotte A. Jones-Roberts

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Anxiety is a growing concern across university campuses. University students with anxiety are more likely to experience poor academic performance, disengagement, and attrition in their courses. Anxiety levels among online students can be significant and often more pronounced in online learning environments compared to traditional classroom settings. This dissertation aimed to examine the correlation between anxiety and online courses. Grounded in the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework and its subscales, Teaching Presence, Social Presence, and Cognitive Presence, the aim was to understand how these elements correlate with state and trait anxiety in online courses. This mixed-methods study took quantitative data …

The Experience Of Blind Mothers In Parenting Children With Disabilities ``, Abeer S. Ali

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Blind or visually impaired mothers (BVIMs) raising children with disabilities experience an exceptional set of challenges that have been largely overlooked in disability and parenting research and teacher education. With this study the researcher examined how BVIMs support their children with disabilities in key areas such as behavior management, educational advocacy, caregiving, and accessing resources. Additionally, the researcher sought to understand how these mothers navigate their experiences as they challenge with societal perceptions, institutional barriers, and the daily caregiving demands. The researcher employed a qualitative case study methodology, using in-depth individual interviews and a focus group with six BVIM participants. …

The Lived Experiences Of Diverse Caregivers Of Children With Disabilities Participating In Out-Of-School Time Activities, Vanessa Spero

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of parents, family members, and caregivers of youth with disabilities from diverse backgrounds who participate in out-of-school time (OST) activities. This study acknowledged the low employment rate for people with disabilities and the potential for OST activities that utilize positive youth development (PYD) frameworks to increase life skill development to increase employment opportunities. Qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology and photo-elicitation methods were used to engage six caregivers in a series of one to three interviews. These results were analyzed with three major themes and nine sub-themes identified. The identified themes and …

Teacher Agency In Dual Language Programs: Examining Constraining And Facilitating Factors Through An Ecological Lens, Marcio R. Soares Gomes

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

In the state of Florida (USA), several public schools offer dual-language education programs that include the equal use of Spanish and English to teach both English to speakers of other languages, the vast majority of whom are immigrants, and Spanish to school-age speakers of the majority language. Using the ecological approach (Priestley et al., 2015), as defined by Emirbayer and Mische’s (1998), this study seeks to understand how teachers in dual language programs achieve agency to protect the interests of their English learners. Through the lens of the ecological perspective, the study attempts to answer the following research questions: i) …

Elementary General Education Teachers' Beliefs About Inclusive Practices In General Education Classrooms In The Cayman Islands, Tracey Ann Trail

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Research indicates that teachers' beliefs are pivotal in shaping their inclusive practices. However, there is a dearth of local research on general education teachers’ beliefs about inclusive practices in the Cayman Islands. This qualitative study aimed to fill this gap by understanding the beliefs of general education elementary teachers about inclusive practices in general education classrooms in the Cayman Islands. This encompassed their beliefs about inclusive education, supporting student learning and participation, and their self-efficacy beliefs about implementing inclusive practices. Data about the teacher’s beliefs were collected using two semi-structured interviews with nine general education elementary public elementary school teachers. …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Impact Of Anti-Woke Legislation On Higher Education, Brittany Knowles

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The events immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic, to include the uptick of hate crimes against Asian-Americans and the murder of George Floyd had a profound impact on public awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion issues. Where initially it appeared, public perception was supportive of the work- in recent years it has come under increasing scrutiny particularly within the academic space. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work specifically anti-racism has become increasingly polarizing. The decline in public perception of DEI work was marked by the use of simplified catchphrases like woke agendas and CRT in reference to schools. With then presidential …

The Role Of The Principal In The Recognition Of High Ability Students Who Are Black, English Language Learners, And Low Socio-Economic Status, Nadia N. Winston

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Researchers consider the underrepresentation of Black, English Language Learner, and Low Economic status students who are high ability in gifted and advanced programs, an issue largely due to multiple issues (i.e. lack of standard definition or single conception, identification testing flaws, bias). Though many district and school related mitigation factors have been studied and suggested, there is very little research on the school principal and their role in mitigating these effects. This sequential, exploratory mixed methods study examined the challenges leaders face when implementing policies and processes for supporting and recognizing Black, English language learner, and low socio-economic students who …

Dual Coalitions Or Dueling Coalitions?: A Comparison Of Single-Issue And Dual-Issue Statewide Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault Coalitions In The U.S., Shannon Sokolowski

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault (SA) are critical social issues requiring a large scale national response. In the U.S., federally designated statewide DV and SA coalitions are nonprofit organizations that play a critical role at the national, state, and local levels. Once individual social movements, DV and SA advocacy coalitions have merged at higher rates in recent decades. Efforts to achieve economic sustainability may drive the decision to merge or reform. However, nonprofit organizations have a double bottom line, needing to consider financial and mission-related performance. With economic uncertainly rising, it is critical to understand the impact that forming …

Program Evaluation Of Behavioral Health Training: Using The Retain Model, Kris J. Toscani

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This study investigated the effectiveness of gamification elements introduced into a well-established behavioral health in-person professional training. The gamification elements were designed with the RETAIN Model and Rubric and intended to increase team member engagement by increasing Relevance, Embedding a fictitious medical-themed story, creating opportunities for knowledge acquisition and Transfer, Adapting the content to the job functions of the participants, creating an Immersive experience in which the team members were fully engaged in the medical mystery, and repetitively applying gameplay concepts to efforts to create a Naturalized learning experience. The methodological approach to assessing …