Digital Commons Network^™

Modeling Mortgage Assessment With Computational Argumentation Theory And Defeasible Reasoning, Henrik Szucs

Dissertations

In the mortgage lending business of a bank, a key focus area is risk analysis, which supports the mortgage awarding process and the prediction of the risk of defaulting (repayment issues). The standard risk assessment method at most banks is a scorecard calculation. A new way of predicting the defaulting is proposed using Defeasible Reasoning (DR) and computational Argumentation Theory (AT), areas of interdisciplinary research, in the discipline of Articial Intelligence (AI). Argumentation is formalised by reasoning models which are inspired by human reasoning. For a more realistic representation AT employs DR which is a non-monotonic reasoning process, meaning that …

Assimilation Of Coupled Microwave/Thermal Infrared Soil Moisture Profiles Into A Crop Modeling System, Vikalp Mishra

Dissertations

The main focus of this study is to utilize Microwave (MW) and Thermal Infrared (TIR) based satellite derived soil moisture (SM) estimates within a robust, state-of-the-art crop model for obtaining gridded, high spatio-temporal estimates of crop yield and water stress, particularly during drought conditions. The study is unique in many aspects: primarily, it integrates MW and TIR based techniques to provide SM estimation from the surface (0-5 cm) downward to the rooting depth (2 m); further, for the first time, the Principle of Maximum Entropy (POME)-derived SM profiles were developed to drive a gridded crop model. This study allowed us …

A Model Based Framework For Mobility Assessment Of Older Adults Using Wearable Systems, Priyanka Madhushri

Dissertations

Assessment of mobility in older adults is important for early detection and prevention of falls. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) and the 30 Second Chair Stand (30SCS) tests are recom-mended and routinely used for assessing overall mobility, but they provide a single parameter to quantify mobility. These tests are still subjective and prone to errors. Therefore, we need cost effective new diagnostic procedures that provide more detailed assessment parameters related to fall risks. Modern smartphones enable the development of new mobile health (mHealth) appli-cations by integrating inertial and environmental sensors along with the increasing data pro-cessing and communication capabilities. …

Efficient Opencl-Based Particle-In-Cell Simulation Of Auroral Plasma Phenomena Within A Commodity Spatially Reconfigurable Computing Environment, Abedalmuhdi M. Almomany

Dissertations

The primary focus of this research has been to expand and validate a framework through which Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology can be effectively utilized to reduce both the execution time and the energy consumption attributes of Particle-in-Cell (PIC) based simulations of space plasmas as compared to traditional single-core central processing unit-based implementations. This framework utilizes the OpenCL standard in a manner that allows the physical model to be captured at a high level of abstraction and allows the FPGA synthesis/compilation tool to exploit a combination of task and data parallelism. This research introduces an optimized implementation of the …

Vertex-Based Distinguishing Collections, J. Louis Sewell

Dissertations

This work introduces vertex-based distinguishing collections that generalize locating-dominating sets and other well-studied sets related to sensor placement in a graph. A graph is an ordered pair G = (V, E), where V is an arbitrary set and E is a set of unordered pairs of elements of V. Graphical sensor placement problems are concerned with selecting or recognizing a subset of vertices X ⊆ V such that X has certain sensing or location-distinguishing properties. For example, a locating-dominating set of G is a set of vertices X ⊆ V such that: every vertex not in X shares an edge …

Discrete Time Structured Models And Their Dynamics For Interactive Wild And Sterile Mosquitoes And Malaria Transmissions, Yang Li

Dissertations

Mosquito-borne diseases, including malaria, transmitted between human beings by blood-feeding mosquitoes, have been big concerns for the public health. No vaccines are available. An effective way to prevent such diseases is to control the amount of mosquitoes. The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is indeed a method of biological control. Mathematical models have proven useful in gaining insights into challenging questions in population dynamics and epidemiology. The objectives in this dissertation is to formulate new models for interactive wild and sterile mosquitoes so that the dynamics are relatively simpler and mathematically more tractable, but the fundamental model features are snatched. Instead …

A Phase Rule Approach To Critical Point Phenomena In Chemically Reacting Systems, Joshua R. Lang

Dissertations

The critical phenomena that is exhibited in single component systems such as the ferromagnet and the pure fluid have been shown to have analogs in certain multicomponent, chemically reacting mixtures. These phenomena present in both equilibrium and kinetics. By employing a version of the Gibbs phase rule that has been modified to account for chemical reactions, we provide a basis for classifying the critical effects observed in these multicomponent systems. We also show the predictive power of this classification system by comparison with experimental results.

Analytical Investigation Of Thermoacoustic Instabilities In Premixed Combustion Systems, Vijaya Krishna Rani

Dissertations

The primary objective of this dissertation is to develop and investigate various analytical methods to predict thermoacoustic instabilities in premixed combustion systems. The analytical models derived as part of this study are of four main types: (1) Acoustically consistent, linear modal analysis method to predict the longitudinal and transverse combustion instabilities in a dump combustor; (2) Novel level set method for deriving flame surface-area response to incident acoustic fluctuations; (3) Novel approximate analytical solutions to acoustic waves in inhomogeneous media; and (4) Investigation of the limit-cycle behavior of nonlinear acoustic wave equation with combustion source term. The linear modal analysis …

Quantum Dot Photoluminescent Dynamics And Exciton-Plasmon Coupling In The Presence Of Dielectrics, Metal Oxides, And Metallic Nanoparticles, Waylin J. Wing

Dissertations

Nanomaterials such as quantum dots (QDs) and metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) play an important role in physics and engineering, especially for applications such as next-generation display devices or computer processors. When used simultaneously, QDs and MNPs can couple together through a mechanism called exciton-plasmon coupling. This dipole-dipole coupling yields increased control over the optical properties of the combined system, such as enhanced emission, polarization selectively, and directionality of light. In this dissertation, a new method by which to increase the strength of exciton-plasmon coupling is presented which can boost the emission efficiency of QDs beyond the currently known plasmonic channels. This …

Searching For Prompt Gamma Ray Signals Around Gravitational Wave Triggers, Eric Burns

Dissertations

One of the next great discoveries in astrophysics will be the first detection of an event in both gravitational waves and photons. I investigate the most promising event for a joint detection: the merging of a neutron star with another neutron star or a black hole, thought to produce short gamma ray bursts. We investigate the possibility of sub-populations of short gamma-ray bursts by comparing the bursts observed by the Swift Burst Alert Telescope and the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor. We find no evidence that these instruments are observing different short gamma-ray bursts, allowing us to use the Swift redshift …

Teacher Perceptions Of The Implementation Of The Common Core State Standards In The Schools Of The Florida Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists: A Qualitative Case Study, Rose J. Thomas

Dissertations

Problem

This qualitative case study focused on educators who teach in the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and their perceptions regarding the adequacy of the Professional Development to support the implementation of the CCSS; how they are implementing the CCSS in the classroom in terms of planning, teaching, and assessing; and their perceptions regarding the impact of the CCSS on student learning.

Method

The study included six participants who taught in six different schools from the various regions where the Florida Conference schools are located. The participants varied in age, ethnicity, number of years in the classroom, and the size …

Mindset, Academic Motivation, And Academic Self-Efficacy As Correlates Of Academic Achievement Among Undergraduate Students In Communication Sciences And Disorders Programs, Heather Loraine Ferguson

Dissertations

Problem

Higher education serves many stakeholders including students, parents, faculty, staff, university administrators, and other contributors. Those stakeholders are all linked with one purpose: the success of the student. That success or failure is most commonly measured by achievement through grade point average (GPA). The academic demands within the college/university setting is high. Limited academic achievement can result in academic failure, being placed on academic probation, even losing scholarships and grants. Students enter college, progress through college, and often graduate without having a real understanding for what it truly takes to be academically successful and what factors may contribute to …

The Influence Of Cognitive And Psychological Well-Being Factors On Freshmen Community College Student Gpa: A Prediction Model, Barbara Karwacinski

Dissertations

Problem

One of the most significant issues for higher education in the early 21st century is student success. Research studies indicate that a large number of freshman community college students are unsuccessful in their academic endeavor. However, there is insufficient research conducted to determine the holistic causes of this problem. Current research focuses on two types of traditional predictors: cognitive (ability, academic factors) and non-cognitive (affective, non-academic factors). It seems, however, that traditional cognitive and non-cognitive predictors alone are inadequate measures for determining students’ full potential because they cannot account for the psychological processes that contribute to and influence a …

Assessing The Factors Impacting Professional Learning For Teachers In Seventh-Day Adventist Schools: A Comparison Of Millennials And Non-Millennials, Betty L. Bayer

Dissertations

Problem and Purpose

Much research over several decades has established the importance of ongoing professional learning for teachers and has identified what effective professional learning should look like. Little research has been done, however, on the professional learning practices of teachers in faith-based schools, and few studies have focused on the learning needs of millennial teachers, those newest to the profession.

This study explores the professional learning practices of educators in the Seventh-day Adventist School system in North America and the factors that impact those practices, with a special focus on millennial educators. Educational leaders can use the results of …

Instructional Strategies Used By Effective Mathematics Teachers In Adventist Elementary Schools In Florida: An Mqi Analysis, Anna Adkins

Dissertations

The Problem

Teaching mathematics can be a difficult task. United States students on comparative international mathematics assessments consistently rank near the test averages. On a national assessment, commonly called the Nation’s Report Card, more than half of American students rank as ‘not proficient’ in mathematics. The purpose of this study was to describe the strategies used by teachers with at least average mathematical knowledge for teaching. This was evidenced by their scores on the Mathematical Knowledge Test for Teaching (MKT). In addition to teacher knowledge, the study sample was selected from among schools where the five-year average was above the …

The Impact Of Student Self-Discipline And Parental Involvement In Students' Academic Activities On Student Academic Performance, Susan N. Mbaluka

Dissertations

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of student’s self-discipline and parental involvement on academic performance. The study sought to determine whether student’s self-discipline and parental involvement in student’s academic activities have any impact on student’s Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) scores or on their GPA.

Method

This is a quantitative, cross-sectional study in which multiple regressions were used to investigate the relationship(s) between student self-discipline and parental involvement with student’s ITBS scores and GPA. Due to challenges of collecting sufficient data, the study was done in two phases: a preliminary study involving 16 students …

Comparisons Of Artifact Correction Procedures For Meta-Analysis: An Empirical Examination On Correcting Reliabilities, Lei Zhao

Dissertations

This study reviewed some challenges and issues in artifact correction meta-analysis, particularly around using reliability estimates to correct for measurement error. Two individual correction procedures—the Hunter-Schmidt procedure and the procedure developed by Raju, Burke, Normand, and Langlois (the RBNL procedure)—are addressed in this research. The purpose of this study is to use real-world data to examine the differences between meta-analytic estimations produced by the two artifact correction procedures and those by the traditional bare-bones meta-analysis procedures, under the condition of inter-dependent reliabilities. The impact of this inter-correlation on meta-analysis results needs investigation when artifact indicators, such as reliability of predictor …

The Internalization Of The Model Minority Stereotype, Acculturative Stress, And Ethnic Identity On Academic Stress, Academic Performance, And Mental Health Among Asian American College Students, Hanna Yun-Han Chang

Dissertations

Previous studies in Asian American psychology literature on cultural factors of acculturation and ethnic identity have yielded mixed findings in its relation to psychological outcomes. Furthermore, there is a gap in the knowledge base regarding the internalization of the model minority stereotype and its impact on Asian Americans. Due to Asian Americans' tendency to value academic excellence as a result of socialization by cultural values and family upbringings, this study examined the effects acculturative stress, ethnic identity, and the internalization of model minority on academic stress, academic performance, and mental health.

Results of this study indicated that acculturative stress significantly …

Exploring The Implications For Educational Leadership: A Case Study Of Cristo Rey St. Martin College Preparatory High School, Julie Lynn Frey

Dissertations

This is a case study of Cristo Rey St. Martin High School, member of the Cristo Rey Network. Cristo Rey St. Martin has been able to make gains in closing the gap with regard to student entrance into college for low-income minority students, making it a unique and appropriate case to study. The purpose of this research was to study the formation of the leadership at Cristo Rey St. Martin College Preparatory High School.

The case study consisted of interviews, observations, shadowing of the principal, and document analysis.

Major finding include mission creation explicit to student achievement, a student centric …

An Exploration Of Elementary Teachers' Beliefs And Perceptions About Science Inquiry: A Mixed Methods Study, Linda Hamadeh

Dissertations

In order for science-based inquiry instruction to happen on a large scale in elementary classrooms across the country, evidence must be provided that implementing this reform can be realistic and practical, despite the challenges and obstacles teachers may face. This study sought to examine elementary teachers' knowledge and understanding of, attitudes toward, and overall perceptions of inquiry-based science instruction, and how these beliefs influenced their inquiry practice in the classroom. It offered a description and analysis of the approaches elementary science teachers in Islamic schools reported using to promote inquiry within the context of their science classrooms, and addressed the …

Mild Hydrofunctionalizations Of Olefins Using More Cost-Effective Metal Catalysts, Alexander James Villani-Gale

Dissertations

The focus of this dissertation is the study of alkene hydroaylation reactions. In the first chapter, a review of the relevant literature concerning zinc- and iron-catalyzed hydroarylation of unsaturated bonds is presented. In chapter two, the development of a zinc-catalyzed hydroarylation of alkenes is presented, which is quickly followed by a detailed investigation into the probable mechanism. Chapter three discusses the development of an iron/silver-catalyzed arene prenylation reaction, followed by the development of an iron/zinc-catalyzed arene prenylation reaction. The final section of chapter three discusses the adaptation of the iron/zinc-catalyzed arene prenylation into an undergraduate organic teaching laboratory.

Detection Of Unknown Emerging Contaminants In Natural Water Using Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Qian Wang

Dissertations

Recently, a great deal of concern has been given to the quality of drinking water. Lake Michigan is the drinking water source of Chicago area. It is very important that the quality of drinking water meets the standard setup by the EPA. However, there is a group of chemicals that are not being monitored regularly or are unknown to researchers and are the so-called emerging contaminants.

So the objective of this study is to using tandem-mass spectrometry to detect and identify emerging contaminants. Water samples were obtained along a few locations along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. By using …

Wilson Fundations Program Evaluation For An Urban Kindergarten Setting, Tonika Rene' Terrell

Dissertations

Many urban schools, throughout the United States of America, experience major academic challenges in preparing Kindergarten students to become proficient readers, to achieve academic success throughout the formal educational process. The purpose of this research study was to examine how the implementation of the Wilson Fundations Program, in an urban Kindergarten setting, impacted student literacy achievement and growth. The Wilson Fundations Program is a systematic, explicit, and highly structured mult-sensory language program for students in K-3 grade. The Wilson Fundations is based on principles of the Wilson Reading System which provides instruction for a comprehensive reading, spelling, and handwriting program. …

Seekers And Observers: Life Histories Of Three Female Antebellum Historians, Annmarie Valdes

Dissertations

This dissertation provides a history and analysis of the educational experiences and scholarly texts of three female historians. The study employs the combined frameworks of Haraway's €˜situated knowledges' and Life History for examining three female historians who were involved in three integrated aspects of knowledge production: scholar, educator and author. The three case studies examine the lives of Elizabeth Peabody (1804-1894), Caroline Dall (1822-1912), and Mary L. Booth (1831-1889), with an analytical focus on their Antebellum Era, mid-nineteenth-century historical publications. A core contention is that knowledge production by women and, in particular, historical texts produced for schools and public consumption …

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme: The Culture And Climate In Lower Performing High Schools During The Authorization Process, Daena Barrett Adams

Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study is to analyze data around school culture and climate during the authorization process of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Data collected was analyzed to test the hypothesis that the authorization process serves as a "weeding out" of students by causing a significant difference to the culture and climate of the school. The study also tested the hypothesis that the school leader has an influence on the culture and climate of the school during this process. With this being the first study of its kind focusing on the differences in culture and climate of a …

My Leadership Experiences With Peace Circles As A Restorative Practice, El-Roy Estes

Dissertations

Restorative practices emerged on the scene within the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) as of recent. In 2006, CPS revamped their Student Code of Misconduct handbook from a strict and stern "zero-tolerance" voice to a more sensitive and subtle "restorative talk" approach. With this transition in effect, the school's culture and climate are expected to positively improve and at the same time support the social and emotional and academic performance of the students. Peace Circles is one of the alternate solutions to address these issues by decreasing out-of-school suspensions and improving social and emotional and academic learning. This capstone self-study will …

Heterocycles Via The Pd-Catalyzed Heterofunctionalization Of Alkylidenecyclopropanes, Phillip Roman Lazzara

Dissertations

Natural compounds are often used as inspiration for novel chemical structures that provide medicinal benefits to human health. The unique 3-dimentional structures of these molecules make the majority of them synthetic challenges for organic chemists. While there is great diversity among these molecules, many of these carbon-based compounds exhibit similar key structural features. One of the most common features amongst biologically active molecules is a rigid carbon ring bearing nitrogen or oxygen atoms, which are known as heterocycles. The structural rigidity of heterocycles helps properly align key interactions of the molecule with those of a specific protein, which causes the …

Examination Of The Collaboration Between Career Technical Education And Core Teachers In Linked Learning Pathways, Lucia M. Van Scyoc

Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine how teachers in Linked Learning Pathways rate the effectiveness and identify the impact of the collaboration strategies of a shared purpose, interdependent team and focus on results as they are used in the integration of career and technical education and core academic courses. This also included identifying and describing the criteria used by teachers to determine positive impact in identifying positive collaboration strategies.

Methodology. A mixed method research design, consisting of quantitative and qualitative data, was used to conduct this study. Specifically, an explanatory sequential design model starting with …

Disrupting Poverty: The Impact Of Academic Optimism And Organizational Citizenship Behaviors On Student Achievement In California High-Poverty Secondary Charter Schools, Derek King

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Disrupting Poverty: The Impact of Academic Optimism and Organizational Citizenship Behaviors on Student Achievement in California High-Poverty Secondary Charter Schools

by Derek King

One of the byproducts of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was the commissioning of a study by the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare to better understand the disposition of the nation’s educational system. By 1966, the most comprehensive educational study to date was completed, the Equality of Educational Opportunity (Coleman et al., 1966). The findings shocked the nation by concluding that familial poverty restricted a student’s academic achievement, rendering all school-based interventions …

Federal Involvement In Education Policy: An Analysis Of Race To The Top, Angela L. Early

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to trace federal involvement in public K-12 education policy and to determine its effectiveness. Specifically, I present a historical analysis of federal education policy leading to the passage of Race to the Top (RTTT) in 2009. My goal is to show that, although the federal government has grown more involved in education policy, especially from the late 1980s (following the 1983 publication of A Nation At Risk that showed the failings of the nation’s schools) until present, actually students in the K-12 public education system have not progressed as the federal government had hoped. …