Digital Commons Network^™

Mathematics Teacher Certification Status And Student Achievement: A Quantitative Analysis, Angela K. Wallace

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sixty years ago, James Coleman (1966) released a report called Equality of Education where he focused on inequalities in education between Black and White students. Today, continued research has built on Coleman’s findings particularly on teacher quality and its effects on student achievement (Coleman et al., 1966). The purpose of this quantitative analysis was to explore if any relationship exists between 8th grade math and 10th grade geometry teachers’ certification status and 8th grade math and 10th grade geometry students’ achievement. By utilizing Pedagogical Content Knowledge Theory (PCK) and Mathematical Knowledge for Teachers Theory (MKT) as the theoretical frameworks, the …

Tennessee Magnet Schools: Examining The Relationship Between Magnet School Designation And Student Achievement In Secondary Public Schools, Alex Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between magnet school designation and student achievement in Tennessee secondary public schools. Three years (2021-2023) of student achievement data from the Tennessee Department of Education was used to analyze student performance in 24 magnet and 287 traditional non-magnet schools. Schools were included in the study if they operated continuously throughout the study period and were categorized as either a public magnet school or a traditional non-magnet school. Excluded from the study were virtual, charter, alternative schools, and early colleges.

Four research questions were crafted to guide this study. Student …

Application Of Deep Learning On Gage R&R For Anomaly Detection, Oluwatope Richard Ojo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the application of deep learning techniques, specifically autoencoder based models, to enhance anomaly detection within Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility (Gage R&R) studies—an essential component of Measurement System Analysis (MSA) in quality engineering. Traditional Gage R&R methodologies, while effective for linear and low-dimensional data, exhibit limitations in detecting subtle, nonlinear variations in complex measurement systems. To address this challenge, an unsupervised autoencoder was developed and trained on a synthetically generated dataset comprising 2,500 voltage measurements (5V and 33V) derived using Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) based on real-world manufacturing data measurements.

The proposed autoencoder model achieved a 95th percentile-based …

Inferring Feeding Biology In Extinct Shrews (Soricidae: Mammalia): Application Of A Linear Morphometric Approach, Derek J. Den Ouden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Linear morphometrics have been used extensively to infer the ecology of fossil organisms, but shrews have not yet been thoroughly explored using this technique. Often considered to have a homogenous insectivorous diet, direct dietary observation suggests shrew dietary diversity is substantial. Diversity of this nature is well established to have influenced skull morphology in other mammal clades, so similar patterns are hypothesized to be detectable in shrews. To test this, I examined the link between known diet and morphological disparity in extant shrews using linear morphometrics and then utilized that framework to infer the dietary ecology of several fossil taxa. …

Revealing Hidden Histories: A Multi-Sensor Aerial Survey For Detecting Unmarked Burials At Sinking Spring Cemetery, Abingdon, Va, Noah Hall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Sinking Spring Cemetery, established in 1773 in Abingdon, Virginia, spans 11 acres and is divided by a road. The 9-acre southern section was reserved for white church members. Enslaved individuals and free people of color were buried in the smaller northern section, where few headstones remain today. This study aimed to map the unmarked graves using thermal, multispectral, and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors deployed on unmanned aerial systems. Graves were characterized by subtle topographic depressions mapped by LiDAR and cooler radiant temperature anomalies in thermal imagery. Thermal data collected at different times of the day and year …

Investigating The Privacy-Utility Trade-O↵ In Synthetic Data Generation Using Correlated Attribute Mode, Kofi Sarfo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the privacy-utility trade-off in synthetic data generation using the Correlated Attribute Mode of DataSynthesizer, which employs Bayesian networks to model attribute dependencies. It focuses on integrating differential privacy mechanisms, particularly the Laplace mechanism, to inject controlled noise into synthetic data and enhance privacy protection. As organizations face challenges balancing data-driven decision-making with privacy regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation and the California Consumer Privacy Act, synthetic data offers a solution by creating artificial datasets that preserve statistical properties while balancing data privacy and utility. This research investigates how different differential privacy parameters epsilon affect data …

Effects Of Ph On Product Yield Of One-Electron Oxidation To Guanine Derivatives, Abdul-Kadir Ibrahim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One-electron oxidation plays a major role in oxidative DNA damage in biological cells. Guanine, the most oxidizable DNA base, has been the major focus of studies on oxidative damage to DNA initiated by one-electron oxidation (OEO). The current study aims at understanding the mechanisms of photooxidation of guanine derivatives with OEO in acidic medium. D1A* and D1B*, which are the products of dGuo in acidic medium, were obtained from dGuo upon photolysis at 485 nm of the reaction mixture in the presence of S₂O₈^2- as the oxidant and Ru(II)(bpy)₃²⁺ as a photosensitizer. D1A* and …

Career And Technical Education Classes And Time To Graduate For Special Education Students With Specific Learning Disabilities, Susan Steele

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine whether special education students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) participating in Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes during high school demonstrate significantly different amounts of time to graduation compared to their peers who do not participate in CTE classes.

Data collection involved using pre-existing information from the district's student information system. An Excel spreadsheet with relevant student demographic and academic information was utilized. The district data manager provided a spreadsheet with 3,567 student records to analyze differences between CTE and non-CTE participants. The results revealed that CTE participation significantly impacted graduation rates, …

Does Gender Spell Success? Exploring Female Student Perspectives Of Faculty At A Higher Educational Institution, Chitora Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of female students at a higher educational institution and to understand how those experiences shape their perspectives of female and male faculty. Additionally, this study sought to discover how faculty gender influences their interactions with students and the similarities and differences between interactions and the potential for student success as they define it.

The overall goal was to better understand how female students experience faculty interactions and help to promote more positive outcomes for students through the supportive efforts of those who teach them. Data were …

College Readiness In Mathematics Related To Student Academic And Belonging Mindsets, Tabitha Sherrell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

My quantitative study investigated the differences and correlations between students’ academic (growth vs. fixed) mindsets and belonging mindsets when enrolled in a college-level mathematics course or enrolled in both the college-level mathematics and learning support mathematics courses. The study was conducted at a Tennessee community college in the Fall 2021 semester. Sixty-two students completed the paper survey, which consisted of 17 items that measured academic (growth vs. fixed) and belonging mindsets and included demographic items (age and gender) and ACT mathematics scores. I conducted independent t-tests to find any significant differences between academic (growth vs. fixed) mindset scores and belonging …

Mathematics Outcomes For Career And Technical Students Enrolled At A Community College In East Tennessee, Malissa Trent

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to compare the success of college-ready and academically underprepared community college students in a college-level math course designed for career and technical programs. A non-experimental two-group comparative design with existing data examined differences in academic metrics based on participation in a corequisite learning support mathematics course. The study used a sample size of 1070 students from a community college in East Tennessee who were enrolled in a college-level Trigonometric Applications course between the fall of 2015 and the spring of 2024. Due to a lack of prior academic preparation, 500 of these students …

Learning Behaviors In Physics-Informed Deep Learning, Alex Glover

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Physics-informed deep learning is a methodology in artificial intelligence aimed at combating the large training data requirement and the barrier of domain awareness that deep learning architectures commonly face in applications. Stochastic modeling integrated into the predictive models provides that domain knowledge. Variations of the Intelligent Driving Model impact the learning behaviors of the joint-training architecture. This thesis examines the effect of substituting the standard linear Intelligent Driving Model with a modified nonlinear version, as applied to real human driving behavior on the I-80 interstate. The experimentation also critically evaluates the complications that impede the viability of this architecture in …

Kinetic Analysis Of Hydrolysis And Hydrothermal Conversion Of Methyl Cellulose To Dodecane, Joseph Olembo Were

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Environmental pollution due to emission of greenhouse gases and increasing global energy demand are some of the concerns associated Analysis with the use of fossil fuels. These concerns have triggered the exploration of sustainable and efficient methods for renewable energy production. One such method is the conversion of cellulosic biomass to hydrocarbon fuels using hydrogen bronze metals. Cellulose is the most abundant biomass globally, and thus its utilization can lead to more sustainable energy production. Previous studies have reported the conversion of cellulose to hydrocarbons at high temperatures and hydrogen pressure. This work focuses on the conversion of methyl cellulose …

A Kinetic Analysis On Hydrolysis And Hydrothermal Conversion Of Cellulose To Dodecane, Joel Nyangoka Onyancha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cellulose, the most abundant biomass on Earth, offers a promising pathway for alternative energy through conversion into alkane hydrocarbons. Traditional methods rely on high temperatures and high-pressure hydrogen, often derived from petroleum. In this study, we investigated the conversion of Microcrystalline Cellulose using hydrogen metal oxides (bronzes) under milder conditions. Following ASTM E3417-24 hydrolysis protocols, we employed hydrogen bronzes with toluene for product extraction. This approach enabled conversion at lower temperatures without pressurized hydrogen. Products were analyzed using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer for identification and Gas Chromatography Flame Ionization Detector for quantification. Our findings revealed the formation of a possible …

Student Performance And Course Modality: The Relationship Between Outcomes, Modality, And Course Subject, Olivia Baxley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify if a significant relationship existed between teaching modality and student performance outcomes while also considering the factor of course subject being taught during the 2021-2023 academic years. Three courses were included in the research: Math 1630 Finite Mathematics, English 1010 Composition I, and Biology 1110 General Biology. Each of the three courses are introductory level courses in the math, English, and science subject. The study also included statistical analysis on gender as related to student performance outcomes.

The findings presented of this research showed a significant relationship between teaching modality and …

The Food Truck: A Multi-Product Newsvendor With Trans-Shipment Cost, Samuel Ajibola

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Newsvendor Problem is a key model in supply chain management that focuses on determining the optimal order quantity to minimize costs under uncertain demand. This thesis introduces the Food Truck Problem, an extension of the Newsvendor model that incorporates nonlinear transshipment costs for inventory transportation. In this context, a Food Truck must determine the optimal stock levels for multiple products while minimizing costs related to stock shortages, excess inventory, and transportation. Unlike traditional Newsvendor models, our approach explicitly considers a quadratic transshipment cost, which necessitates the use of Lagrangian duality and Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions for analysis. Moreover, we apply …

Cranial Ontogeny Of The Extinct Dwarf Tapir Tapirus Polkensis; With Comparison To That Of The Extant Tapirus Bairdii (Tapiridae, Perissodactyla), Johannah Orendorff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tapirus polkensis is the smallest known species of tapir to ever live, and the largest deposit of their fossils is currently located at the GFS in Gray, TN. Phylogenetics suggest that the extant T. bairdii may be the sister taxon to T. polkensis, although they differ greatly in their morphology. Variation exists among adult T. polkensis specimens, with patterns not present in T. bairdii. For this study, as series of 2D GMAs, with TPSs, were rendered on 10 skulls of T. polkensis and 48 skulls of T. bairdii, across both species’ ontogenetic series. Analyses confirmed that growth …

Drinking Out Of The Fire Hydrant: Educators’ Perceptions Of Well-Being In A Teacher Preparation Program, Corey P. Wolfe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The process of becoming a teacher is complex, multi-layered, and often high-stakes. Teacher preparation programs are designed to equip prospective teachers with the foundational skills and knowledge needed for a successful teaching career. In addition to pursuing the academic degree in education, future teachers must meet credentialing and licensure expectations. Because of these expectations, novice teachers are often met with profound feelings of stress and anxiety. The purpose of this research exploration was designed to investigate elementary educators’ perceptions of well-being during their senior year in a pre-service teacher preparation program. Using a qualitative research design, six educators were interviewed …

Characterization Of Residual Mineral Content Of Bauxite Stockpiles In Saline County, Arkansas: An Xrd Analysis Approach, Andrew Kaze Sezibera

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Saline Mining District of central Arkansas once led U.S. alumina production and hosts extensive bauxite and nepheline syenite deposits. With the depletion of highgrade ore, renewed interest in bauxite stockpiles has focused on critical mineral potential. Previous X-ray Fluorescence studies have identified critical elements in significant concentrations, including uranium (U), thorium (Th), gallium (Ga), molybdenum (Mo), and lanthanides (Ln). This study examines five stockpiles (SP1, Clay, SP2, SP3, and SP4) in Section 20 of the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) Saline County bauxite mine, using Xray Diffraction (XRD) on 25 samples to characterize mineral phases and compare them with …

Lidar-Based Delineation Of Karst Features In The Gypsum Plain, Eddy County, New Mexico And Culberson County, Texas, Kaitlyn Rae Levassar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Gypsum Plain of the Delaware Basin encompasses approximately 1,800 km² of massive to laminated gypsum (anhydrite in the subsurface) outcrop of early Ochoan Castile and Salado strata. These extensive Permian-age evaporites host significant karst phenomena as a result of the region's complex hydrogeologic system which has continuously evolved since the early Paleogene. Karst features that manifest surficially as sinkholes when breached range from extensive hypogene cave systems to epigene features and suffosion caves. In contrast, paleo-collapse structures forming breccia pipes attesting to more ancient karst within these strata often manifest as topographic highs across the Gypsum Plain.

Until …

Identifying Salt Suture Zones And Lithological Changes Of The Louann Salt In The Gulf Of Mexico Basin, La. U.S.A., Jamie Dale Singer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Louann Salt, a key evaporite unit in the Gulf of Mexico Basin, influences salt tectonics, hydrocarbon migration, and basin evolution. This study examines Louann Salt deposition and deformation within the Puma Diapir, focusing on mineralogical, geochemical, and structural features of suture zones in three offshore wells (Puma 2(w), Puma 3, and Panther). Using drill cuttings, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), well-log data, and 3D seismic interpretation, the study analyzed salt composition and suture formation. Results show the salt primarily consists of halite, with minor anhydrite, gypsum, and sylvite, indicating continuous precipitation. Geochemical …

Non-Esl High School Teachers’ Instructional Training And Professional Development Needs And Their Emergent Bilingual Student Classrooms, Brynn Erin Caddell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. emergent bilingual student population continues to grow and is projected to increase nationwide. The growing population of students has specific academic and social needs that need to be addressed and provided for emergent bilingual students to be successful. This qualitative case study examined the instructional needs of high school non-English as a second language (ESL) teachers who serve emergent bilingual students and how the district can support the instructional practices of high school teachers in an urban school district in Texas. The problem addressed in this study was the lack of instructional training and professional development for secondary …

Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The Impact Of Curriculum Support Through Museum/Education Partnerships In Rural Communities, Erin Gentry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Museum education is a dynamic field, and often an underutilized or nonexistent resource in the educational sphere of rural communities. Within the current system of rural K-12 schools, a local museum can serve as both educational enrichment and entertainment/reward. The author’s research explores how museums in rural communities can actively collaborate with schools through a fusion of art and science using an interdisciplinary curriculum model to provide educational support and enrichment to both students and teachers. This research focused on high school students enrolled in a Title 1 charter school located within a rural district in east Texas. The author …

Managing Software Dependency Risks In Web Applications, Christopher Alan Scott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Web applications commonly rely on third-party software dependencies to reduce development time. This thesis examines how vulnerabilities in a dependency chain propagate to compromise an application. It analyzes two vulnerable Markdown libraries from the npm and Composer dependency ecosystems, both of which are used for managing packages in applications developed with JavaScript and PHP. The analysis demonstrates how each library’s sanitizing functions—intended for removing unsafe user input when transforming Markdown text to HTML—are defeated to achieve a cross-site scripting exploit and take control of the application. The paper discusses potential business impacts of a compromise, underscoring the need for security …

An Interdisciplinary Approach To The Investigation Of Consciousness, James Guy Lundie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Questions of phenomenal consciousness have troubled intellectuals for millennia. Theologians, philosophers, and scientists continue to grapple with the problem of how our minds interact with our brains and bodies. From Anaxagoras and Aristotle, Augustine and Aquinas, Nagel and Goff, and Koch and Hameroff, the brightest among us have been unable to solve the riddle of how we are conscious, unique, self-aware thinking beings. Uniting our efforts by considering the reasoning of interdisciplinary scholars and integrating the thoughts of others with our own can only enhance our chances of success. This paper offers a pathway toward a multidisciplinary theory of consciousness …

Women Overcoming Barriers In Stem: How Mentors, Allies, And Sponsors Assist Career Trajectories In Higher Education, Leila Marie Romeo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the personal narratives of women in STEM in both public and private higher education institutions within various roles. Specifically, the researcher aimed to determine the following: (a) if mentors/allies influence the career trajectories of women in STEM in higher education institutions and (b) if mentors/allies aid in the support of women in STEM in higher education institutions. The researcher used semistructured interviews with a narrative analysis to determine areas of struggle for the sample within their careers and how mentors, allies, and sponsors were present throughout their careers to help the women overcome these challenges. Data …

Impact Of A Transplant Nurse Navigator In The Dialysis Setting, Judith D. Pozzerle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Patients with kidney disease have better patient outcomes and quality of life with a kidney transplant. However, the transplant process is complicated with inherent inequalities and biases and patients frequently fail to initiate a referral for transplant evaluation. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have now placed financial incentives to improve the number of patients transplanted. The only way to increase the number of patients transplanted is to start with a referral for evaluation. Studies have been done highlighting the barriers, but there is a lack of studies implementing strategies to improve these numbers. Utilizing Kotter’s change theory and describing …

Value-Based Healthcare Reimagined: A Mixed-Methods Study On Behavioral Health Clinicians' Perspectives, Amanda L. Strickland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores how behavioral health clinicians perceive Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC), a model designed by Porter and Teisberg (2006) to improve outcomes relative to costs. While widely promoted in healthcare reform, VBHC poses unique challenges when applied to behavioral health settings. Using an explanatory mixed-methods design, this study first assessed clinicians’ awareness of VBHC through a survey of 23 licensed clinicians at a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) in Colorado. Quantitative findings revealed that one-third of participants were aware of VBHC with awareness differing by role prompting further exploration in a qualitative phase. Semi-structured interviews with eight clinicians provided deeper …

Empowering Educators, Transforming Futures: An Explanatory Multiple Case Study Of The Smou Schools In Saudi Arabia, Hana Ali Alzandi Alghamdi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 emphasizes educational reform as a critical pathway for national development, highlighting the role of educators in fostering student success. The Smou program, a professional development initiative, seeks to enhance the instructional and leadership capacities of school leaders and teachers in elementary public schools. This study explores how school leaders navigate their role in supporting teachers’ application of Smou program strategies and how teachers perceive their preparation for implementing these strategies in their instructional practices. Using an explanatory multiple case study approach, the research explores two elementary schools in the Mecca region—one high-performing and one low-performing—selected based …

Development, Optimization, And Validation Of A High-Sensitivity Capillary Zone Electrophoresis System For Bioanalytical Applications, Aaron I. Mena

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) is a powerful analytical technique widely used for biomolecular separation due to its high resolution, efficiency, and sensitivity. This report presents the development and validation of a novel CZE system designed to improve modularity, reproducibility, and operational efficiency. The system integrates a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection method with a 488 nm laser, enhanced fluid control through a negative pressure system, and a user-friendly GUI for automated operation and data acquisition. Performance verification included pressure stability tests, fluorescence accuracy assessments, and electrophoretic reproducibility studies. Comparative analysis with a previous CZE iteration confirmed improved baseline stability, peak resolution, …