Digital Commons Network^™

Edible Learning: School Food Service Programming And Experiential Education That Promote Sustainable Agriculture And Better Nutritional Health, Kristina Grasty

Dissertations

The typical American diet, which involves the consumption of processed foods high in saturated fats, sodium, and refined sugar, is known to be unhealthy. Millions of students in the U.S. suffer from symptoms of malnutrition, making them susceptible to compromising health conditions such as type 2 diabetes that may persist into adulthood. Well-designed school nutrition programs and action learning that promotes sustainable agriculture have the potential to enhance students’ nutritional well-being as well as their understanding of the ecological systems needed to support good nutrition. This dissertation uses documentary film as an exploratory, qualitative research method to investigate approaches used …

Identification Of Satellite Observed Lightning And Precipitation Markers Throughout Tropical Cyclone Evolution, Lena V. Heuscher

Dissertations

This study creates a new and unique merged satellite dataset, with data sources including matched Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) and low-earth orbiting Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission observations. Crafting and iterative analysis of the dataset resulted in a reprocessing of the GPM precipitation feature (PF) database, significant due to use by a broad segment of the science community. The new dataset is used to examine characteristics of mid-/high latitude deep convection as compared to the tropics, and significantly, provide new integrated observations of convective evolution throughout the tropical cyclone (TC) lifecycle to include post-tropical cyclone (PTC) phases. The combined datasets …

Propagation Of Laguerre-Gaussian Laser Beams Through Heat-Induced Optical Turbulence, Samantha Jo Gregory

Dissertations

Low order Laguerre-Gaussian beams have been produced (from the Hermite-Gaussian profile emitted by a Helium-Neon laser) in the UAH Turbulence Lab. Both collimated and converging beams propagate a free space path (with and without turbulence) of 164m in the current experimental arrangement. Experimental data showing the relationship between the spatial coherence radius of a lowest order Gaussian beam and the Fried parameter has been verified. Data supporting a new relationship between the low order Laguerre-Gaussian spatial coherence radius (now defined as the ouroboros radius) and the Fried parameter has been collected and analyzed. The index of refraction structure constant values …

Analytical And Computational Study Of Linear And Nonlinear Acoustics In Quasi-1-D And 2-D Gaseous And Biphasic Media, Sattik Basu

Dissertations

The overall goal of this dissertation is to perform analytical and computational investigations of acoustic wave propagation in gaseous and biphasic domains with non-uniform cross-section and axially inhomogeneous mean properties. This research was carried out in five parts, with each successive part building on the previous one. The first part focuses on deriving the Helmholtz equation (or the wave equation in frequency space) governing the acoustic field in quasi one-dimensional (1-D) ducts. This derivation also introduced two linearly exact relations that were necessary to agree identically with the solutions from the Euler equation - the pressure-density relation and the linearly …

An Assessment Of Actual Evapotranspiration And Soil Moisture Functions Based On Local-Scale Data In Alabama, Lisa Lugo Kuzy

Dissertations

Large-scale models and remote technology are widely used for the estimation of the energy budget at a global scale. The interaction of energy fluxes and soil water at the vegetation root zone is the driving force that controls the evapotranspiration process. Although the importance of soil moisture, it can only be measured at a point scale, given the great heterogeneity of soil profile. Large-scale models struggle to capture the spatial heterogeneity of soils, and remote sensing can only observe the surface level soil moisture, omitting the root zone. Studies have shown evapotranspiration estimates (specifically from Remote Sensing) and can provide …

Speleogenomics Of Cave Life In North America, Joseph B. Benito

Dissertations

Cave organisms with their unusual morphologies including loss of eyes, lack of body pigmentation, and the compensatory improvement of nonvisual sensory systems have long intrigued and fascinated biologists. Due to their restricted distributions and life history traits, many troglomorphic (subterranean-adapted) species are considered imperiled and are high priority targets for protective management. With increasing anthropogenic threats to cave ecosystems, it is important to study cave-dwelling organisms, so that informed management decisions can be made on a regular basis. Detailed information on the genetics, taxonomy, distribution, and colonization history of cavernicoles are necessary to make rigorous ecological inference and develop respective …

Exploring Reliability Issues In Non-Volatile Memories Using Numerical Simulation, Sijay Huang

Dissertations

Semiconductor non-volatile memory (NVM) devices are predominantly used for storing the large amount of data produced by the proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT), mobile networks, and sensor node applications. Since data are growing at an exponential rate, future NVM solutions need to provide even higher bit densities, superior performance, better energy efficiency, and improved resilience. Technological scaling has been the primary driving force for increasing the bit density of semiconductor NVM technologies. However, the scaling leads to reliability challenges, such as endurance, data retention, and thermal noise effects. This dissertation numerically evaluates reliability issues associated with the two …

A Comprehensive Study Of Deep Learning Frameworks For Uavs-Centric Land Remote Sensing Data Analysis Applications, Bishwas Praveen

Dissertations

Land Remote Sensing data analysis presents a distinctive Artificial Intelligence (AI) research paradigm bolstered through its rich collection of data, which are high-dimensional, generally in the form of tens/hundreds of spectral bands, and accommodates significant spatial and spectral/temporal information about the underlying terrain. Traditional remote sensing data analysis methodologies in literature are often observed to be biased towards providing more importance to spectral information, which evidently hurts the efficacy of such approaches. As a result, a considerable amount of effort in terms of research has been invested in effectively building data analysis methodologies which are spatial-, spectral-, and contextual-information inclusive, …

Molecular Interactions In Engineering: Peptide-Driven T Cell Activation And Accelerated Drug Discovery Applications, Armin Ahmadi

Dissertations

In pursuit of an interdisciplinary exploration of molecular interactions from an engineering perspective with a focus on protein-protein and protein-small molecule interactions, multiple research projects were undertaken, leveraging both experimental and computational approaches. The focus of the wet-lab experimental project was on the identification and evaluation of a novel peptide ligand that binds specifically to the human CD3ε and study how this interaction influences T-Cell activation, proliferation, and calcium signaling. A novel peptide ligand, WSLGYTG, was discovered through phage display peptide technology. Peptide interaction to the CD3ε receptor was simulated using molecular docking calculations. This peptide ligand was synthesized and …

Extending Machine Learning Of Cyberattack Strategies With Continuous Transition Rates, Edwin Michael Bearss

Dissertations

Cyberattacks are a growing threat to organizations of all sizes and industries. By better understanding these attacks, better ways to defend against them can be developed. Petri Nets with Players, Strategies, and Costs (PNPSC) is an extension of Petri nets specifically designed to model cyberattacks. The PNPSC formalism includes a representation of the strategies used by the competing players, i.e., attacker and defender, to achieve their goals. This formalism has been the basis for a long-running research program consisting of several interconnected research projects. Projects within that program include automatically generating PNPSC nets from the MITRE Common Attack Pattern Enumeration …

An Empirical Evaluation Of The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program Framework Using Applicant Data, Jonathan B. Hill

Dissertations

Over the 30+ years of its existence, the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (originally known as the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Program) has sought to define the basis for high performing organizations. The Baldrige framework has evolved since its inception in 1988. The purpose of this study was to empirically assess the existing Baldrige framework to determine its validity in context of its continuing evolution (Research Objective 1). Specifically, this research attempted to empirically validate the causal relationships suggested by the framework (Research Objective 2) and determine which criteria items are more important (Research Objective 3). The use of recent, …

Exploring Moral Distress Among Nurse Leaders, Preston H. Miller

Dissertations

Moral distress (MD) occurs when an individual knows the ethically correct action to take in a situation but institutional constraints prevent the individual from acting. MD is a well-documented phenomenon among nurses and occurs at a high frequency in the critical care setting. When MD is not adequately addressed and actions are not taken to mitigate precipitating factors within an organization, moral injury, moral residue, and burnout may consequentially result in nurses leaving their role or the profession. Nurse leaders are positioned to exemplify ethical leadership and provide support for their staff when MD is experienced; however, nurse leaders experience …

Atmospheric New Particle Formation In Biogenic And Urban Environments, Lee Tiszenkel

Dissertations

New particle formation (NPF) is a process that impacts climate, air quality and human health. NPF occurs in a diverse range of environments, initiated by a variety of different chemical precursors in the atmosphere, including anthropogenic pollutants and organic compounds emitted by vegetation. In highly populated urban areas, newly formed particles can be scavenged during their initial steps of formation by coagulation with pre-existing particles. Thus, NPF must occur rapidly to explain observed NPF events in polluted urban environments. The presence of reduced nitrogen compounds such as ammonia and amines is key to these formation processes. These compounds have a …

Gamma-Ray Mission And Instrumentation Design For Cubesats, Jared E. Fuchs

Dissertations

The application of small satellites, commonly called CubeSats, has ushered in a new area of research focused on enabling small form factors for scientific exploration. In this dissertation, two contributions to the design of instrumentation and mission approaches are discussed, aimed at the study of gamma-ray emission from Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) and Gamma-ray Bursts (GRBs). The work supports two projects: the Terrestrial Rays Analysis and Detection (TRYAD) and the Alabama Burst Energetics Explore (ABEX). TRYAD is a 6U CubeSat designed to study TGFs using multipoint measurements of their gamma-ray emission from orbit. ABEX is a 12U CubeSat to study …

Measurements Of Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flashes, Gamma-Ray Glows, And A Direct Lightning Strike From Eight Flights Of The High Energy Lightning Emission Network (Helen), Christopher Helmerich

Dissertations

The High Energy Lightning Emission Network (HELEN) campaign involved 8 balloon flights into thunderstorm environments to measure high-energy radiation phenomena like gamma-ray glows and terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs). Multiple flights detected elevated radiation levels providing evidence for theories on gamma-ray glow generation. Flight 7 measured multiple TGFs coincident spatially and temporally with lightning strikes, supporting theories of TGF origins in lightning leaders and/or return strokes. The same flight also sustained a direct lightning strike, enabling first-of-its-kind energetic radiation measurements during the propagation of the lightning strike. Radiation production was evident in both stepped leaders and return strokes, with higher flux …

Modeling Energetic Particle Acceleration By Dynamic Small-Scale Flux Ropes In The Inner Heliosphere, Keaton Thomas Van Eck

Dissertations

Interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) are major drivers of space weather in the inner heliosphere (which can negatively affect our spacecraft, astronauts, etc.). Traditionally, the scientific community has sought to explain energetic particle acceleration near ICME-driven shocks by invoking diffusive shock acceleration (DSA), which has been well studied. However, recent studies suggest that processes related to magnetic reconnection behind ICME-driven shocks can explain observed flux enhancements that contradict predictions by standard steady state DSA theory. In the previous decade, a combination of DSA at and acceleration by dynamic small-scale flux-ropes (SMFRs) downstream of the shock has been introduced to explain …

Eye Tracking Technologies To Analyze And Visualize The Behavior Of Secure Coders, Daniel Kyle Davis

Dissertations

Secure coders' experiences and their proficiency vary greatly, and any overlooked software security flaws in code can lead to costly repercussions in deployed software applications. The techniques that secure coders utilize to analyze source code and develop mitigation strategies for security flaws are not well understood. Gaining a proper understanding of how coders approach finding and mitigating security flaws can help us efficiently and accurately discover and resolve such issues. One potentially beneficial technique is to collect, analyze, and visualize eye gazes that capture their coding patterns and behaviors. Our systematic literature survey focused on published methods for multiple types …

The Vulnerability Through Cyberattacks Related To Technological Differences Between Centralized, Server-Based And Ethereum Based Smart Home Systems, Friederike Johanna Haberl

Dissertations

Many people use the digital support of smart home systems to improve their homes' comfort, security, and efficiency (Komninos et al., 2011). However, with the growing number of users comes an increasing number of security challenges that must be addressed (Albany et al., 2022). To mitigate these concerns, the smart home industry is exploring new technologies beyond the traditional centralized server model. One promising technology is the Ethereum blockchain, a distributed database technology. However, it is unclear which concrete security advantages the use of this technology offers in the smart home area. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to …

Structural Impact Of Epstein-Barr Virus- Encoded Small Rna -1 On Its Transport And Function, Zubaida Hassan

Dissertations

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-Encoded RNAs (EBERs) are two small, noncoding, structurally conserved transcripts that are expressed in millions of copies in all stages of EBV infection. Despite their abundant expression, the role of EBERs in EBV biology or pathogenesis is not well defined. However, they are associated with driving cell proliferation and improving intercellular communication via their secretion in exosomes. In spite of the pathogenic potentials of EBERs, the mechanisms involved in their transport and function remain to be elucidated. The aim of this PhD dissertation was to investigate the structural impact of EBER1 in its transport and function. The conserved …

Job Stress And Spiritual Well-Being As Correlates Of Quality Of Life Among K-12 Administrators In Seventh-Day Adventist Schools In The North American Division, John Allen Chen

Dissertations

Problem and Purpose

Research shows that K-12 administrators experience a great deal of stress. This is also true of Adventist principals (Ledesma, 2011). Some suggest improved spirituality and quality of life can alleviate or manage stress. This study examines the interrelationship between job stress, spiritual well-being, and quality of life among principals in SDA elementary and secondary schools.

Conceptual Framework and Research Design

Three major constructs guided this study: job stress, spiritual well-being, and quality of life. I theorized that higher stress would negatively correlate with quality of life and spiritual well-being. The literature shows that not all principals experience …

Predictors Of Statistics Anxiety Among Graduate Students In Saudi Arabia, Rabab Abdulghani

Dissertations

Problem

The problem addressed in this study is the anxiety experienced by graduate students toward statistics courses, which often causes students to delay taking statistics courses until the end of their program. Students believe that statistics courses are not essential and are the greatest obstacles to obtaining their degree. Previous theoretical models have focused on predicting student performance in statistics. However, this study aims to identify specific factors that could decrease student statistics anxiety and enhance positive attitudes and self-efficacy toward statistics. The study developed a conceptual model to predict statistics anxiety among graduate students in educational and social science …

The Perceived Results Of Feedback And Evaluation Of Teaching Effectiveness On Adjunct Faculty Professional Development And Growth, Luda V. Vine

Dissertations

Problem

While full-time faculty at any institution of higher learning undergo an established system of evaluation of teaching effectiveness, adjunct faculty members' experience varies greatly from institution to institution. There is little in the relevant academic literature about an effective feedback mechanism for evaluating teaching effectiveness among adjunct faculty members. Limited qualitative research has been done to understand the effects of teaching evaluations on the professional development and growth of individual adjunct faculty members. Developing an understanding of effective evaluation of teaching that will result in improved adjunct faculty professional development and growth will impact not only the faculty members' …

An Exploratory Study Of Entrepreneurial Intention Among Hispanic Entrepreneurs In Toronto, Jorge Perez Moreno

Dissertations

The Problem

Entrepreneurship scholars have claimed that immigrants are more likely to become self-employed due to limited job opportunities, access to social networks, cultural background, necessity, and education and skills. However, the entrepreneurial experience of Hispanic immigrants in Toronto has yet to be examined. This quantitative study examined the attitudes, norms, and perceptions influencing entrepreneurial intention and the factors that encourage self-employment continuation among immigrants in Canada.

Method

This study used a survey questionnaire of ninety-four Hispanic entrepreneurs in Toronto to comprehend their entrepreneurial intention. It examined their proficiencies, studied their business characteristics, and predicted their behavior toward self employment …

"A Raisin In A Box": The Experiences Of Racialized Black Males In Leadership Roles In The Non-Profit Sector In Toronto, Canada, Morris Anthony Beckford

Dissertations

Problem

The marginalization of Black and other racialized bodies (people of colour) has led to the position of a leader becoming so synonymous with Whiteness that it is normalized and naturalized; and worse, there has been limited analysis about why this is so. There is even less analysis of the experiences of the few people of colour who occupy leadership roles in organizations (Berkshire, 2008; Bradshaw et al., 2009; Mills et al., 2010; Nkomo, 2011; Ospina & Foldy, 2009). Astonishingly, organizations in diverse communities also have exiguous conversations about such salient issues like race and gender even though there is …

Associating High School Science, Technology, Engineering, And Math (Stem) Course-Taking With Future Earnings For Non-Stem Employed High School Graduates, Beth Marchant

Dissertations

Problem

Due to the current resurgence of attention given to high school students' taking courses in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), research was needed to examine whether a relationship between the number of STEM courses a high school student, who graduates from high school and works in a non-STEM field, completes and the success of that student 10 years later. One measure of student success, future earnings, can be measured quantitatively and is included in the Education Longitudinal Survey of 2002 (ELS:2002) data set, an ideal source of information to evaluate this issue (Institute of Education Sciences, 2019b).

Method …

“It Feels Like A Cultural Shift": Parent School Selection And Experiences With School Choice At Title I Schools, Christina Lee Ballantyne

Dissertations

A neoliberal agenda to institute educational reform via school choice has created a school marketplace where parents and schools are connected in a supply-and-demand relationship. Rather than attend the neighborhood school, some parents can seek alternative school options for their children. Although purported to improve educational outcomes and desegregate schools, school choice has not demonstrated increased student academic achievement nor integrated school spaces. Instead, the school choice movement has been seen to contribute to and perpetuate racial and economic segregation. This study sought to understand the perspectives of parents who have selected their neighborhood Title I school and how they …

“The Issue Is Already There; Just Have The Conversation!”: Culturally Sustaining Reflection In The Student Teaching Triad, Hanna M. Asrat

Dissertations

There is a vast demographic mismatch between California’s public school teachers (who are majority White, mono-lingual English-speaking women) and California’s public school students. Though universities responsible for educating preservice teachers often include coursework that attempts to help address this demographic mismatch, such as instruction about Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, if preservice teachers do not get the chance to practice this pedagogy in their fieldwork placement, they tend to fall into to the two-worlds problem. The two-worlds problem posits that preservice teachers view constructivist and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies learned at the university as theoretical and incompatible with actual teaching, and so they …

Ethnic Studies Implementation In A K-8 District: Culture, Critical Consciousness And Collective Efficacy, Genvieve Dorsey

Dissertations

This research was a descriptive study in which the researcher explored the beginning phases of Ethnic Studies implementation in a Kindergarten through Eighth grade (K-8) school district in Northern California. Using a social justice lens, and through a review of Ethnic Studies, Collective Efficacy, Critical Consciousness, and School Culture constructs, the researcher attempted to capture and articulate a cultural profile of the school district and the degree to which it aligned to the cultural typologies articulated among Ethnic Studies scholars.The study included the collection of several types of data, including: (1) archival documents; (2) teacher focus groups; and (3) administrator …

How Can I Help You Today? How First-Generation Latinx/A/O Community College Students Perceive Counseling, Isaac Escoto

Dissertations

Latinx/a/o students make up almost half of the California Community College system’s population. However, Latinx/a/o students account for about 15% of three-year completion rates (certificate, degree, or transfer). In support of student success strategies, the literature describes the role of counselors and how they help students navigate the complexities of higher education. This mixed-methods study investigated how community college counseling practices and services are perceived by Latinx/a/o students; and which of those practices and services best supported the success of this student population. Key findings included the importance of counseling services, as well as preferred counseling appointment logistics and topics …

Never Too Young: The Existence, Impact, And Sustainability Of Ethnic Studies In Elementary School, Angela R. Guzmán

Dissertations

Ethnic Studies has existed in higher education for more than fifty years. In high school, critical education researchers have recognized Ethnic Studies as vital to improving attendance, lowering suspension rates, and boosting GPAs for BIPOC students. This has given rise to the recent K-12 Ethnic Studies model curriculum adoption by the State Board of Education, and the signing of Assembly Bill 101, making California the first state to require that all high school students complete a semester-long course in Ethnic Studies. Regrettably, Ethnic Studies continues to be mostly limited to higher education and grades 9-12 in public schools despite research …