Digital Commons Network^™

English Language Teachers’ Perspective On The Applicability Of The Language Assessment Frameworks Used In Saudi Arabian Universities, Asmahan Ghazi Alqahtani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates English language assessment practices in Saudi Arabian universities from the perspectives of English language teachers. It explores how ESL teachers perceive the applicability of assessment frameworks provided by policymakers in higher education. Guided by concepts of Language Assessment Literacy, the study examines the roles and practices of various stakeholders in language assessment, the principles and concepts guiding these practices, and the awareness of the social contexts in which language assessment takes place. In Saudi Arabia, research on language assessment is needed due to the limited attention given to assessment and testing issues, and the minimal involvement of …

Impact Of Graphene Nanoplatelets On The Fresh, Static, And Dynamic Properties Of Cement Paste, Bassil Bataineh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The construction industry is constantly in pursuit of innovative materials and methods to boost the performance and sustainability of concrete. This thesis examines the impact of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on the fresh, static, and dynamic properties of cement paste, positioning GNPs as a potential groundbreaking material. Systematic experiments were conducted to evaluate various concentrations of GNPs and their combinations with polycarboxylate ether (PCE SP) surfactant, analyzing their effects on workability, setting time, and mechanical strength. The research methodology was robust, integrating experimental design, comprehensive data analysis, and a thorough review of the relevant literature.

A Quantitative Study Of The Effectiveness Of The University Of Mississippi's Biology Bootcamp, Nicole Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is a growing demand for a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) trained workforce in the United States. In order to remain globally competitive, the US needs to increase the STEM workforce not only in numbers but also diversity. Colleges and universities throughout the US need to not only gain STEM majors but retain them through graduation. Research has shown that the majority of STEM students struggle their first year in college for a variety of reasons. Many academics agree that incoming freshman need to integrate both socially and academically to prevent attrition. This has led to the creation …

A Machine Learning Approach To Managing 5g Network Slicing In The O-Ran Environment, Mohammad Omari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis is to assess the performance of a data-drivennetwork scheduler in optimizing network performance in a three-slice 5G wireless cellular network. Each slice represents a distinct 5G traffic category or use case. These slices operate on the same underlying physical core and radio network; how- ever, they appear as independent networks from the end-user perspective. This work models the resource scheduling problem as a Markov decision process. A dataset of key performance measurements of a 5G network is constructed using MATLAB to train a deep Q-network reinforcement learning agent. Simulation results show that the agent can …

Fabrication And Evaluation Of Polyetherimide Membranes Containing Pluronic® P 123 And Graphene For Separation Of Bovine Serum Albumin From Water: A Comparison Between Two Fabrication Methods, Mohammad Hosein Moghadasin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Polyetherimide (PEI) ultrafiltration membranes were created and evaluated for their ability to separate bovine serum albumin (BSA) from water using two fabrication methods: nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) and vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS). In the NIPS method, membranes were made with varying amounts of Pluronic® P-123 and with or without graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The membrane with 1 wt.% Pluronic® P-123 exhibited the best performance, achieving a pure water flux (PWF) of 355 L m-2 h-1 (LMH) and a rejection rate of 90.9%. Adding 1 wt.% GNPs to this system further improved performance, resulting in a PWF of 747 LMH and …

Analytical Performance Evaluation Of Denm Loss In V2v Sidechannel Communications, Avijit Sarker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation is to quantify the loss of Decentralized Environmental Notification Messages (DENMs) in a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) scenario in which DENMs are transmitted over subchannels of the sidelink (SL) specifically allocated for DENM transmission, with vehicular user equipments (VUE) autonomously selecting and managing the radio resources for transmitting DENMs. A slot-based discrete parameter, discrete-valued Markov Chain (DVMC) model that reflects DENM generation requirements for an ensemble of VUEs is developed. This model simultaneously acknowledges the potentially bursty nature and correlations within the DENM generation process and is used to assess DENM loss. DENM loss is determined according …

Combatting Suicidality In The Military: Harnessing Forgiveness And Self-Regulation Against The Harrowing Effects Of Moral Injury And Suicidality, Mikaela J. Raley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with military backgrounds are significantly more likely to experience mental health concerns, including suicidal ideation. Moral injury, which is associated with suicidality, is the feeling of shame, grief, and guilt associated with perpetrating, failing to prevent, or witnessing morally transgressive acts. According to the Moral Injury Model, when one acts or witnesses an act that transgresses their moral beliefs, they experience dissonance and internal conflict. A topic that has not yet been studied in terms of moral injury is the positive psychology construct of character strengths, including forgiveness and self-regulation. This study hypothesized ratings of suicide would be positively …

Dunc13 Isoforms, Rim, And Rab3 Differentially Modulate Ethanol Sedation Sensitivity In Drosophila Melanogaster., Gaurav Shrestha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dunc13 is a Drosophila active zone protein homologous to the mammalian Munc13that interacts with RIM and Rab3 as a heterotrimer. Alcohol binds to the C1 domain of Dunc13/Munc13 and inhibits its ability to bind to Diacylglycerol, inhibiting neuronal signaling. The genetic reduction of Dunc13 activity in the Dunc13P84200/+ heterozygotes induces a state in flies that mimics alcohol tolerance, evidenced by increased self-administration, and behavioral, physiological, and molecular resistance. This includes changes in the expression of key synaptic proteins, such as decreased expression of Dunc13 and Syb mRNA, and increased expression of Rim and Rab3 4hrs after ethanol exposure. Dunc13 has …

3d-Printed Clay Composites For Lunar Habitats: Graphene And Simulant Integration, Omar Algharibeh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Developing sustainable construction materials for lunar habitats is critical for advancing extraterrestrial exploration, supporting a long-term human presence on the Moon, and advancing earth-based, resilient, locally available resources. Our primary goal is to utilize indigenous resource-based construction materials and 3D printing technology to reduce payloads and streamline the materials processing procedures. Additionally, enhancing the performance of native binding materials, such as those formed from local rocks and sand, may require the integration of low-cost nano-additives. These nano-additives can significantly improve the fresh and hardened properties of 3D-printed construction materials. This research focused on optimizing the mechanical performance of a clay …

Linguistic Gender Differences In English Among Saudi Medical Students In Online Courses, Ala Mohammed Alshahrani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research explores gender differences in language use among Saudi medical students in online courses. Employing purposive sampling, the study, aims to comprehend the influence of gender on language patterns and communication styles in online education. Data collection involves online interviews with five teachers and survey questionnaires administered to twenty actively enrolled Saudi medical students. The interviews provide insights into language use patterns in the online learning environment, while surveys offer a broader perspective on student language use. Thematic analysis unveils recurring themes: “courses developed,” “reasons for online courses,” “interaction among male and female students in online courses,” “comfort …

Applied Research For Improving The Behavior Intervention Process With The Help Of School Counselors, Teachers, And Administrators, Amberly T. Chapman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored how improvements to a district’s multi-tiered system of supports can improve the behavior interventions implemented for students needing behavioral support. Districts with poorly functioning intervention systems fail to provide students with the proper academic and behavioral support they need. School counselors are integral to the success of schools and districts and their participation in the MTSS process. This study examined the creation and implementation of behavior intervention and the additional support school counselors provide to students receiving the interventions. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used in this study and the program was evaluated at the conclusion.

How French-Produced And North American-Produced French Textbooks Differ In The Teaching Of French And Francophone Culture, Elizabeth Clauss

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The teaching of culture is important in any foreign language classroom. This thesis will analyze what and how different aspects of French and Francophone culture are taught in elementary-level French textbooks: one French-produced and one North American-produced. The definition of culture is provided by several sources however one definition discusses the definition of culture in its entirety. A brief history, over the course of 60 years, of the teaching of French culture is discussed and analyzed in the first part of this thesis. The development of teaching French culture in the foreign language classroom is seen. Then, the teaching of …

Elucidating The Mechanisms Of Myosin Ii Force Feedback And Coordination In Actomyosin Ensembles, Omayma Alazzam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation delves into the dynamics of myosin II motors within actomyosin networks, emphasizing their crucial role in muscle functionality and the broader implications for cardiovascular health. Given the critical involvement of myosin II in conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and heart failure, this research presented here is important for understanding such diseases at the molecular level. Through the use of fluorescence microscopy and optical tweezers, the study reveals novel insights into how myosin II generates force and coordinates within myosin ensembles—a key to grasping the mechanics of muscle contraction. Specifically, this work aimed to unravel the mechanisms of …

Perceptions Of First-Year Bipoc Students About The Impact Of Institutional Recruitment Practices On Their Decision To Enroll In The University Of Mississippi’S Integrated Marketing Communications, Jennifer A. Simmons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The University of Mississippi has a history and continued stigma of not being a welcoming place for people of color. While the university has made strides to distance itself from its past, negative stereotypes and perceptions still exist among some students and parents. These stereotypes and perceptions can make recruiting students more difficult. This study explores the perceptions of first-year students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) about the impact of institutional recruitment practices on their decision to enroll in the University of Mississippi’s Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) program. This study will help provide perspectives from …

Fostering Inclusive Excellence For Black Women In Undergraduate Computing Sciences At A Predominantly White Institution, Toni Avant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Employment projections indicate that the computing sciences field is expected to increase by more than 600,000 jobs from 2020-2030. As society becomes increasingly reliant on technological innovations, the demand continues to rise for qualified graduates in this field. It is essential that employers build a diverse and inclusive workforce in order to accommodate the markets they serve. Yet, the lack of representation of Black women in the computing sciences field is of great concern.

Water Insecurity In K-12 Schools In The U.S.: Understanding State Laws, Drinking Water Violations, And Lived Experiences, Shannon O'Donnell Fitzgerald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Access to safe, reliable drinking water is essential for children's health, development, and academic success. This study examines water insecurity in U.S. K-12 schools, focusing on state policies, county-level violations, associated outcomes, and school staff experiences.

Methods: This mixed-methods study utilized secondary data analysis, mapping, regression analyses, and primary data collection. Secondary data from state sources were used to examine the presence of state legislation and Department of Education and Department of Health policies on school drinking water across the United States, examine associations between state legislation and policies with county drinking water violations, and investigate relationships between water …

Glycopolymeric Nanoparticles Enrich Less Immunogenic Protein Corona And Improve Tumor Delivery Compared To Pegylated Nanoparticles, Kenneth Ryan Hulugalla

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nanoparticles (NPs) offer significant promise as drug delivery vehicles; however, their in vivo efficacy is often hindered by the formation of a protein corona (PC), which influences key physiological responses such as blood circulation time, biodistribution, cellular uptake, and intracellular localization. Understanding NP-PC interactions is crucial for optimizing NP design for biomedical applications. Traditional approaches have utilized hydrophilic polymer coatings like polyethylene glycol (PEG) to resist protein adsorption, but glycopolymer-coated nanoparticles have emerged as superior alternatives due to their biocompatibility and ability to reduce the adsorption of highly immunogenic proteins. In this study, we synthesized and characterized glycopolymer-based poly[2(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate-b-poly(methacrylamidoglucopyranose) …

From Pixels To Strings: Efficient String Art Creation Leveraging Greedy Algorithm, Ashraya Joshi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis optimizes String Art generation using advanced algorithms. String art is a technique that creates visual artworks composed of straight lines of strings tensioned between pins distributed on a canvas. Initially employing the Hough Transform, issues such as computational complexity and edge detection inaccuracies led to adopting a Greedy Algorithm. This algorithm iteratively enhances visual similarity between the string art and the original image by reducing the difference between pixel intensities between them, significantly improving quality and efficiency. Integrating non-photorealistic rendering techniques, the study ensures smoother and more coherent lines. The study demonstrates the improvements with different quantitative metrics. …

An Amplitude Analysis Of Ξ0c Decays To Λ0k−Π+, Saroj Pokharel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Belle experiment has been integral in conducting spectroscopic measurements using the decay of various baryons

Structural And Binding Studies Of Marine Glycans With Potential Therapeutic Use, Hoda Alsayed Mohamed Ahmed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a comprehensive analysis of various marine-derived polysaccharides, focusing on their structures and binding properties. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR), distinct marine polysaccharides were structurally characterized, and their interactions with various biological targets were evaluated. The initial study explores a glucan isolated from Marcia hiantina, a bivalve mollusk, and its biological activity. Detailed structural analysis via NMR and chromatography techniques revealed a branched glucose-based polysaccharide with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Further studies on the red alga Botryocladia occidentalis identified three sulfated galactans in its cell wall. Through NMR, we characterized the least …

Applying Dynamics And Geophysical Methods To Hawaiian Volcanic Terrains And Lava Flows, Brody K. Conner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Presented here is the culmination of research spurred by a month-long field expedition to the windward side of the Big Island of Hawai’i during July and August 2023. During this expedition, two ground-penetrating radar units, a Mala GX 160 MHz antenna and a Crossover 1760 dual frequency antenna, were used to survey the basaltic, volcanic landscapes of Mauna Loa and Kīlauea. Post-eruptive digital elevation models of the Ahu’ailā’au (2018 Lower Puna) Eruption and Quantum Geographic Information Systems were used in tandem with GPR Insights software to provide a thorough picture of the surface and subsurface lava flows from Ahu’ailā’au. Using …

Removal Of Phosphorous, Copper And Zinc From Stormwater Using Powdered Activated Carbon (Pac) Based Water Treatment Residuals, Foysol Mahmud

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The main aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) based water treatment residual (WTR) in eliminating phosphorus (P), Copper (Cu), and Zinc (Zn) from stormwater. The characteristics of the PAC WTR were analyzed, and a series of batch and column tests were conducted to determine its capacity to remove P, Cu, and Zn from stormwater and synthetic solutions. The PAC WTR conformed to the Langmuir isotherm model, demonstrating P adsorption capacities of 3.51 mg/g at pH 5. Regarding Cu and Zn removal, the PAC WTR also adhered to the Langmuir isotherm model, showing …

Feasibility Study Of Managing Peak Cooling Loads To Achieve Energy Cost Reduction In A Northern Climate Campus, Mark Rizkalla

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

South Dakota State University Facilities and Services Office is facing the challenge of paying high electricity bills every year, the potential of campus growth will add more burden on the energy needed to cover this demand, especially in summer months when high cooling loads are added to the electrical loads which lead to the peak loads that costs SDSU a large amount of money. The purpose of this research is to study the feasibility of managing the peak loads to reduce energy costs by applying a suitable system that fits SDSU campus nature. The methodology used is studying the capability …

Structural Construction And Surface Modification Of Copper Current Collectors For Lithium Metal Batteries, Yaohua Liang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Graphene, a prevalent anode material in commercial lithium-ion batteries, has reached its theoretical capacity limit. The imperative is to develop high-capacity anode materials to meet the growing demand for energy density. Lithium metal, renowned for its exceptionally high theoretical specific capacity density (3680 mAh g-1) and low reduction potential (-3.04 V, relative to the standard hydrogen electrode), is commonly dubbed the "Holy Grail" for negative electrode materials in high-energy-density batteries. However, practical advancements in lithium metal anodes face obstacles like low Coulombic efficiency, limited cycle life, and heightened reactivity to the electrolyte and internal short circuits resulting from lithium dendrite …

Simulation Of Reacting Supersonic Flow In A Cavity Flameholder, Mohamed Benjelloun Touimi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Scramjet engines, or Supersonic Combustion Ramjets, are pivotal for achieving and maintaining hypersonic flight speeds. These engines leverage the high-speed airflow to compress and mix air and fuel for combustion. A significant challenge in Scramjet engine design is ensuring stable and efficient combustion within this high-speed environment. Cavity flameholders are crucial components that stabilize the combustion process by creating a subsonic region where the fuel-air mixture can ignite and sustain combustion. This research simulates this supersonic flow within the combustion chamber to accurately model and analyze the combustion dynamics. Various turbulence models, including RANS, and DES, are evaluated for their …

Evaluation Of Nutrient Removal From Modified Woodchips And Organic Matter Leached From Tree Leaves After Simulated Wildfire Thermal Alteration, Zengyue Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nonpoint source pollution (NPS) from stormwater runoff, carrying a variety of contaminants, presents substantial challenges to water treatment processes and public health. Among the primary pollutants, phosphate and nitrate significantly contribute to the degradation of water quality, resulting in issues such as eutrophication and methemoglobinemia. Tree leaves, which are a major source of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in forested watersheds and serve as a key fuel for wildfires, further exacerbate these challenges. Post-wildfire, the altered DOC is mobilized by precipitation, leading to stormwater runoff that impacts natural water bodies and complicates treatment processes, particularly through the formation of hazardous disinfection …

Evaluating The Impact Of Perceptual Loss In Generative Adversarial Models And Diffusion Models For Document Image Enhancement, Farzaneh Karimpour

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Documents often suffer from various types of degradation which make them difficult to read and restrict OCR performance. This study investigates the effectiveness of perceptual loss in enhancing document image cleanup by comparing a GAN-based model and a diffusion model. In our experiments, we utilized the DE-GAN model as a GAN-based model and the NAF-DPM model as a diffusion model, both enhanced by incorporating perceptual loss. We then compared the results of both models and evaluated them by using the DIBCO 2013, DIBCO 2017, and H-DIBCO 2018 datasets revealed that our approach consistently outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods. Results showed that …

Translocations Of North American Bison Across Large Climatic Gradients: Impacts On Thermoregulation, Body Size, And Helmintic Infection, Hayden Wolfe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Every year, one-eighth of all North American bison (Bison bison) are translocated, often across large climatic gradients. Over the last 16 years bison have been translocated from Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota to establish six herds across the United States central grasslands in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas. Influence of climatic gradients on herd-level thermoregulation, body size, and helmintic infection were evaluated. Overall, 1174 thermal images and 1050 fecal samples were collected between 2021 and 2023. Physiological heat flux was used to measure thermoregulation, asymptotic body mass (ABM) was used for body size, and helminth genera abundance …

Comparative Analysis Of Deep Learning-Based Anomaly Detection Models For Gps Spoofing Detection, Hasan Mirzakhaninafchi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As autonomous vehicles (AVs) become integral to modern transportation, their susceptibility to cyber-attacks, particularly GPS spoofing, presents a serious security threat. This study addresses these challenges by applying a suite of deep learning models to enhance the detection of anomalous GPS signals. Focusing on autoencoder-based architectures, the proposed models such as long short-term memory-based variational autoencoder (LSTM-VAE), LSTM-based autoencoder (LSTM-AE), multilayer perceptron-based variational autoencoder (MLP-VAE), MLP-based Autoencoder (MLPAE), Stacked LSTM-based variational autoencoder (Stacked-LSTM-VAE), stacked LSTM-based autoencoder (Stacked-LSTM-AE), memory-augmented-LSTM-VAE (Mem-LSTM-VAE), and time-series-anomaly-detection-generative-adversarial-networks (TadGAN) were trained exclusively on authentic GPS data. This unsupervised learning approach which used for the above-mentioned models enables …

Degradation Of Total Organic Halogen In Drinking Water Distribution Systems With Iron And Iron Corrosion Products, Rachel Zook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The presence of halogenated disinfection by products, also known as total organic halogen (TOX), found in treated water samples are toxic in nature and can negatively impact the public health. The TOX compounds may undergo reduction reactions in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) with iron materials that include zero valent iron, and iron corrosion products of goethite and magnetite in corroded sections of pipe. The objective of this research was to investigate the degradation kinetics of total organic chlorine (TOCl), total organic bromine (TOBr), and total organic iodine (TOI) in water with iron and corrosion products. Batch experiments were completed …