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Graduate Theses and Dissertations

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Understanding And Tuning Magnetism In Van Der Waals Magnetic Compounds, Rabindra Basnet May 2023

Understanding And Tuning Magnetism In Van Der Waals Magnetic Compounds, Rabindra Basnet

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The recently discovered two-dimensional (2D) magnetism has attracted intensive attention due to possible magnetic phenomenon arising from 2D magnetism and their promising potential for spintronics applications. The advances in 2D magnetism have motivated the study of layered magnetic materials, and further enhanced our ability to tune their magnetic properties. Among various layered magnets, tunable magnetism has been widely investigated in metal thiophosphates MPX3. It is a class of magnetic van der Waals (vdW) materials with antiferromagnetic ordering persisting down to atomically thin limit. Their magnetism originates from the localized moments due to 3d electrons in transition metal ions. So, their …


Examining The Experiences Of Adult Learners In A First-Year Seminar Course At A Tennessee Community College, Michell Ivey May 2023

Examining The Experiences Of Adult Learners In A First-Year Seminar Course At A Tennessee Community College, Michell Ivey

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of adult learners in a first-year seminar course at Columbia State Community College, located in middle Tennessee, to determine if the content of the course has an impact on the learners’ adjustment to college. With the statewide initiative to reach a goal of 55% of the state’s population having a postsecondary credential, a push has been made to focus on adult learners to help the reach this goal. Understanding and addressing the adjustment needs of adult learners is necessary to aid retaining adult learners through completion. The first-year seminar course …


"Perché Il Mondo È Cambiato": Second Generation Italian Hip Hop And The Authorization Of Postcolonial Italian Identities, Anthony Sargenti May 2023

"Perché Il Mondo È Cambiato": Second Generation Italian Hip Hop And The Authorization Of Postcolonial Italian Identities, Anthony Sargenti

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Second generation Italian hip hop artists negotiate, contest, and decolonize italianità through their lyrics, music, and activism. Italian Postcolonialism, Cultural Theory, and Musicology inform my approach to understanding the struggle over contemporary Italian politics of identity and belonging. I utilize Discourse Analysis to contextualize lyrics, music, and music videos that resist hegemonic notions of italianità and champion inclusive citizenship. Artists analyzed include Amir Issaa, Karima DueG, Ghali, Tommy Kuti, Cécile, Chadia Rodriguez, and Alessandro Mahmoud. Centralizing hip hop as a collective site of resistance demonstrates the movement towards recognition as well as equal representation. Second generation artistry and lyricism starts …


Social Capital And Academic Achievement In Arkansas, Misty D. Newcomb May 2023

Social Capital And Academic Achievement In Arkansas, Misty D. Newcomb

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate a more comprehensive understanding of the impact that a child’s broader context has upon his or her academic outcomes, and presumably, life. Using Bronfenbrenner’s theory of human development, this study examines the extent to which social capital and student achievement are correlated and whether an infusion of funding for schools that presumably lack social and economic capital might predict academic achievement in schools from economically depressed regions. Findings indicate that some aspects of social capital and funding initiatives have a demonstrated impact on student achievement but there is not a correlation with …


Racialized Identity And Teacher Preparation: A Case Study Of Teacher Candidates Of Color, Karmen V. Bell May 2023

Racialized Identity And Teacher Preparation: A Case Study Of Teacher Candidates Of Color, Karmen V. Bell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses the problem concerning the lack of Teacher Candidates of Color (TCOCs) in teacher education. It examines recruitment, support, and retention by identifying promises and pitfalls of diversifying the teacher pipeline through the voices of Students of Color (SOCs) who are already enrolled in teacher education. How race and racialization processes influence TCOCs was salient to the study. Through qualitative case study, the researcher explored the lived experiences of teacher candidates with racialized identities being prepared to teach within one Predominately White Institution (PWI). Using a Critical Race Theory framework, four research questions guided this study: (1) What …


Embracing The Ugliness A Director's Journey Into Yasmina Réza’S "God Of Carnage", Huan Thien Bui May 2023

Embracing The Ugliness A Director's Journey Into Yasmina Réza’S "God Of Carnage", Huan Thien Bui

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this paper, I detail my involvement directing Yasmina Réza's God of Carnage as my thesis show. This paper comprehensively covers every stage of the production process, beginning with pre-production tasks such as selecting a title, holding auditions, conducting research, and analyzing the script. It also encompasses the production procedures, including design meetings, rehearsals, tech week, and performances, before concluding with post-production activities such as self-reflection and analyzing audience feedback. Furthermore, I discuss the various insights I've gained about theatre practice over my four-year program in terms of acting, directing, and producing. This paper also serves as an intropective journey, …


Study Of Weight Gain In Freshman Students At The University Of Arkansas, Lily Maleknia May 2023

Study Of Weight Gain In Freshman Students At The University Of Arkansas, Lily Maleknia

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to examine the poor (non-nutritional) food choices that college freshman make when living on-campus and eating at on-campus dining facilities. These poor choices lead to excessive weight gain, eating disorders, declining health and wellness, and mental health issues (i.e. depression, anxiety, lack of self-confidence). These side effects can lead to a less than desirable 1st year college experience and lack of academic success. Based on these concerns, different investigations have been performed to determine the causes of this phenomena. Given adolescent weight gain is highly linked to being overweight and obesity in adults, a better understanding …


Poesis And Sympathy: Community Through Craftsmanship, Braden Dodds Taylor May 2023

Poesis And Sympathy: Community Through Craftsmanship, Braden Dodds Taylor

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A community is no more than a mass of individuals that is held together by the objects that connect them. The independent spaces occupied by a craftsman or consumer become dependent on their counterparts. These connected environments create the ecosystem of the community. Objects originating from the craftsmen of the community allow for sympathy to flourish. When these objects are created by well-educated craftsmen of the community, they originate with natural understanding, further extending their reach. While nonnatural things such as plastic items have an intrinsic connection to modern life, they do not encourage folk to connect with others in …


The Effects Of A Science Of Reading Professional Development Plan On Teachers’ Perceptions Of Content Knowledge And Self-Efficacy In Instruction: A Mixed-Methods Study, Mary K. Schaefer May 2023

The Effects Of A Science Of Reading Professional Development Plan On Teachers’ Perceptions Of Content Knowledge And Self-Efficacy In Instruction: A Mixed-Methods Study, Mary K. Schaefer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of a year-long professional development plan designed to support K-3 teachers in two elementary schools in making shifts to align instructional practices with the science of reading. This mixed methods approach incorporated an action research design to answer the following research questions: What was the relationship between teachers’ understanding of the foundational skills of reading and teachers’ confidence in teaching the foundational skills of reading? What impact does strategic and ongoing PD in the science of reading have on teachers’ practice? What are teachers’ perceptions of year-long professional development in …


Queer Need In The Natural State: An Exploratory Needs Assessment Of The 2slgbtqia+ Community In Northwest Arkansas, Leea Jean Johnson May 2023

Queer Need In The Natural State: An Exploratory Needs Assessment Of The 2slgbtqia+ Community In Northwest Arkansas, Leea Jean Johnson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the current needs of the 2sLGBTQIA+ community in Northwest Arkansas between the ages of 18-40 and what their experiences have been attempting to get their needs met. Eight semi-structured interviews were completed with members of the 2sLGBTQIA+ population, and ethical considerations were made throughout the process. The findings of this study were expansive and included six overarching themes with various subthemes. The findings report on the specific needs outlined by participants, how participants found the resources to meet their needs, and common positive and negative experiences that participants identified in the process. Findings showed that intersectional identities …


Class Salient Interactions And Selection Decisions: The Stratifying Power Of Employers’ Emotions, Kristie Moergen May 2023

Class Salient Interactions And Selection Decisions: The Stratifying Power Of Employers’ Emotions, Kristie Moergen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Securing employment is critical to accessing labor market rewards such as a steady income, benefits, and advancement opportunities. However, an individual's social class—corresponding with their economic, social, and cultural capital—may advantage or disadvantage them in gaining employment. Indeed, it is well-evidenced that the lower social class experiences labor market disadvantage, and management scholars point to organizational selection processes as one lever of such inequality. Still, the role of class salient interactions—same- and cross-class interactions between an interviewer and interviewee— and, specifically, the role of the employer remains an open question. Understanding how class salient interactions impact selection is critical, not …


Using The Permah Model To Inform School Leadership Decisions To Promote Teacher Well-Being, Darlene M. Listro May 2023

Using The Permah Model To Inform School Leadership Decisions To Promote Teacher Well-Being, Darlene M. Listro

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the status of teacher well-being and offer suggestions for supporting a culture that cultivates the qualities of well-being. The PERMAH Workplace Survey was administered to measure teacher well-being in the workplace. The survey results provided data for addressing research question 1: What is the status of teacher well-being at Pleasant Valley Public Schools? Using research on well-being intervention strategies, suggestions were offered to answer research question 2: What can administrators do to support a culture that cultivates the qualities of well-being? This quantitative study analyzed survey results from 104 PreK-12 teachers in …


Polymeric Biomaterials Approaches For Engineering The In Vitro Cellular Microenvironment For Mscs, Mahsa Letter-Mahsa Haseli May 2023

Polymeric Biomaterials Approaches For Engineering The In Vitro Cellular Microenvironment For Mscs, Mahsa Letter-Mahsa Haseli

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cell therapy is a technology that relies on replacing diseased or dysfunctional cells with healthy functioning ones. One of the cells used for such advanced therapies are stem cells, owing to their ability to differentiate into specific cells required for repairing damaged or defective tissues or cells. The majority of cell-based products are intended to transiently persist in the patient, secreting factors which then allow the patient’s body to heal; in these products, the cells are subsequently eliminated from the body. Furthermore, unique manufacturing platforms, in addition to novel commercialization strategies, will be required to create a successful, sustainable cell …


Political Speech: The Influence Of Speaker Sex And Verbal Aggression On Message Perception, Amanda Magusiak May 2023

Political Speech: The Influence Of Speaker Sex And Verbal Aggression On Message Perception, Amanda Magusiak

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined political messaging. More specifically, I considered the influence of the sex of the speaker and the use of verbal aggression on overall message perception. One hundred and six college-aged students read eight excerpts of political speech where sex of the speaker (male; female) and level of aggression (aggressive; nonaggressive) were manipulated. Participants then completed measures assessing their agreement with the political message, the speaker’s credibility, the speaker’s communicative appropriateness, and the speaker’s level of verbal aggressiveness. Results indicated that male and female political speakers were evaluated similarly on measures of agreeableness, credibility, and appropriateness. In addition, aggressive …


The Student-Teacher Romance Film Genre: Hollywood's Historical Representation Of Abuse Of Power, Darby Gilliland May 2023

The Student-Teacher Romance Film Genre: Hollywood's Historical Representation Of Abuse Of Power, Darby Gilliland

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite vast literature analyzing films that depict romantic and sexual relationships between young students and their teachers, scholarship has yet to explicitly call this category of films and television a genre. The purpose of the present thesis is to define the student-teacher romance film genre and identify patterns that make it up as a means of illuminating the genre’s exploration of abuse of power in the classroom. I use a historical-generic methodology and gaze theory as a framework to conduct this analysis. I identify three distinct eras of the genre and analyze films from each time period. The first era …


Doctoral Students' Experiences Of Community Of Practice In A Hybrid Cohort-Based Program: A Case Study, Celeste Avery May 2023

Doctoral Students' Experiences Of Community Of Practice In A Hybrid Cohort-Based Program: A Case Study, Celeste Avery

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Graduate enrollment in the United States is increasing. With the advent of the cohort learning model and online delivery methods, adult learners now have greater access to higher education. The cohort learning model, which is based on elements of Community of Practice, has been shown to provide learners with a sense of community while also having a positive impact on retention. In a hybrid cohort-based learning model, many institutions provide the convenience of both online and face-to-face classes. Doctoral student attrition remains high, ranging from 40-50% across all programs, with rates as high as 70% in Education programs. The purpose …


Efficient Routing For Disaster Scenarios In Uncertain Networks: A Computational Study Of Adaptive Algorithms For The Stochastic Canadian Traveler Problem With Multiple Agents And Destinations, Neel Chanchad May 2023

Efficient Routing For Disaster Scenarios In Uncertain Networks: A Computational Study Of Adaptive Algorithms For The Stochastic Canadian Traveler Problem With Multiple Agents And Destinations, Neel Chanchad

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The primary objective of this research is to develop adaptive online algorithms for solving the Canadian Traveler Problem (CTP), which is a well-studied problem in the literature that has important applications in disaster scenarios. To this end, we propose two novel approaches, namely Maximum Likely Node (MLN) and Maximum Likely Path (MLP), to address the single-agent single-destination variant of the CTP. Our computational experiments demonstrate that the MLN and MLP algorithms together achieve new best-known solutions for 10,715 instances. In the context of disaster scenarios, the CTP can be extended to the multiple-agent multiple-destination variant, which we refer to as …


One-Person Show: Field Notes On Writing, Producing, And Performing My Own Work, Riley Newsome May 2023

One-Person Show: Field Notes On Writing, Producing, And Performing My Own Work, Riley Newsome

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an examination and journal for my process of writing my full-length one-person show Isolation, the organization and steps of producing it from scratch, and the preparation and performance of the show. It will also include the version of the Isolation used in the performance, a statement of artistry, some of my current acting materials such as a link to my website, a headshot, and a resume.


(Nearly) All Roads Lead To Polarization: Cognitive Dissonance And The Inverse Relationship Between Polarization And Trivialization In The 2016 And 2020 Elections, Austin D. Eubanks May 2023

(Nearly) All Roads Lead To Polarization: Cognitive Dissonance And The Inverse Relationship Between Polarization And Trivialization In The 2016 And 2020 Elections, Austin D. Eubanks

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated cognitive dissonance theory—in particular, outcome-based dissonance, i.e., dissonance experienced from facing an outcome inconsistent with ones’ choice (in this case, preferring the candidate who lost the election)—in electoral contexts using the 2016 and 2020 American National Election Studies data (ns = 3,648 and 7,453, respectively). The particularly negative context of the 2016 and 2020 elections offered an opportunity to make a novel direct empirical comparison of choice valence between “hard/positive choices” (i.e., between two “good” alternatives) and “hard/negative choices” (i.e., between two “bad” alternatives) using real-world data. Results showed that after the election, respondents who preferred …


Starch Granule And Crystalline Structures With Relation To Enzyme Digestibility, Ana Isabel Gonzalez Conde May 2023

Starch Granule And Crystalline Structures With Relation To Enzyme Digestibility, Ana Isabel Gonzalez Conde

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Porous starch produced by enzyme hydrolysis has attracted much attention for its adsorption and delivery properties. Porous starch has been successfully prepared from A-type starch, but not from B-type and C-type starches, which is partly attributed to the surface and crystalline structure. The present study aimed to characterize the role of the crystalline structure and the structure-function relationship impacting the susceptibility of starch with different crystalline polymorphs to amylase digestion. The starches were subjected to chemical modification (acid hydrolysis or surface gelatinization), physical modification (heat-moisture treatment, HMT, or high-pressure processing, HPP) or their combinations prior to amylase digestion, and the …


Modbus Rtu For Embedded Cyber Secure Inverter Controller, Brady Mcbride May 2023

Modbus Rtu For Embedded Cyber Secure Inverter Controller, Brady Mcbride

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Modbus communication protocol is a widely adopted communication standard in industrial control systems. This communication protocol is known for being reliable and straightforward to implement while being versatile in terms of its operating parameters while supporting multiple formats over various hardware infrastructures and architectures. Many intelligent devices such as Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs), Internet-of-Things (IoT), and various Operational Technologies (OT) utilize Modbus for their communication systems. These types of systems must communicate with each other through a standardized and central communication process. To support the integration of these modular systems, a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) can …


First-Principal Investigations Of The Electronic, Magnetic, And Thermoelectric Properties Of Crtirhal Quaternary Heusler Alloy, Shuruq Alsayegh May 2023

First-Principal Investigations Of The Electronic, Magnetic, And Thermoelectric Properties Of Crtirhal Quaternary Heusler Alloy, Shuruq Alsayegh

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Density functional theory calculations are performed to investigate the electrical electronic, magnetic, and thermoelectric properties of CrTiRhAl quaternary Heusler alloy (QHA). The type-I atomic configuration is found to be the most stable structure of this alloy. The CrTiRhAl QHA exhibits a half-metallic ferromagnetic structure with a narrow band gap at one spin channel (semiconductor), and a metallic behavior at the other spin channel. This corresponds to a 100% spin-polarization, making it ideal for potential spintronic applications. Applying the semi-classical Boltzmann theory, the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, and electronic thermal conductivity of CrTiRhAl alloy were calculated. The predicted figure of merit …


Dicamba Translocation And Metabolism In Susceptible Soybean And Evaluation Of Factors Contributing To Volatilization, Maria Leticia Zaccaro May 2023

Dicamba Translocation And Metabolism In Susceptible Soybean And Evaluation Of Factors Contributing To Volatilization, Maria Leticia Zaccaro

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The expansion of dicamba-resistant technology increased the use of dicamba in season and relocated the off-target movement towards the growing season, negatively affecting susceptible vegetation, such as soybean. This research aimed to understand different aspects of the off-target movement of dicamba and impact on susceptible soybean. A study determined the accumulation of dicamba in soybean seed (grain) when parental plants at the pod-filling stage were treated with 1/200 of a labeled rate of dicamba at 560 g ae ha-1 and radiolabeled herbicide used as a tracer. This research found that 44% of the total herbicide absorbed by the parent plants …


The Silence In America’S Classrooms: The Portrayal Of Women And Gender In United States High School History Textbooks, Allie Elizabeth Morris May 2023

The Silence In America’S Classrooms: The Portrayal Of Women And Gender In United States High School History Textbooks, Allie Elizabeth Morris

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the twenty-first century, the process of adopting statewide history textbooks has become a political battleground surrounding concepts of race, gender, and identity in American history. By contextualizing the current discussion surrounding content in American history textbooks, I examine the portrayal of women in secondary United States social studies textbooks from the 1960s to the 2010s. In doing so, I show how portrayals of women's history evolve in the most widely adopted high school post-Civil War American history textbooks in each decade from the 1960s through to the 2000s. By comparing the evolution of the women’s and gender historiography to …


The Perceptions Of Elementary Kurdish Teachers Of Their Education Preparation Programs, Khoshee Othman Mohammed May 2023

The Perceptions Of Elementary Kurdish Teachers Of Their Education Preparation Programs, Khoshee Othman Mohammed

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT This study investigates the perceptions of in-service elementary Kurdish teachers regarding their educational preparation and teacher training courses in the Kurdistan Regional Government. An ethnographic case study approach was utilized, which involved a survey of four study domains and in-depth interviews with elementary teachers. These study domains included classroom planning and preparation, classroom environment, instruction, and professional responsibility. Additionally, demographic characteristics of the in-service teachers were examined, such as gender, age, years of experience, study majors, and institutions they graduated from. The sample comprised 195 participants selected by the General Directorate of Education to complete the survey. Purposive sampling …


An Exploratory Analysis On The Lived Experiences Of First-Year Students Participating In Living Learning Communities On A College Campus, Cody James Lindbloom May 2023

An Exploratory Analysis On The Lived Experiences Of First-Year Students Participating In Living Learning Communities On A College Campus, Cody James Lindbloom

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Living learning communities in higher education involve students living in a shared residence space and a faculty or staff member leading various activities. These communities have been shown to help students transition to and retain in higher education, promote higher grade point averages, and provide peer support. However, only a limited number of published studies have shown the benefits for students who may have adverse experiences because they come from diverse backgrounds. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived social support received and the benefits of the support across a sample of first-semester living learning community students …


The Secondary School Science Olympiad Experience: Coaches Opinions And Attitudes Regarding Participation And Content Acquisition, Julieanna Darnell Rohde May 2023

The Secondary School Science Olympiad Experience: Coaches Opinions And Attitudes Regarding Participation And Content Acquisition, Julieanna Darnell Rohde

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Science Olympiad (SO) is a team-oriented STEM competition that offers students the opportunity to participate in a wide range of STEM topics attracting students with varying STEM interests. This hermeneutic phenomenological cross-case study explored the experiences of 12 SO coaches with experience coaching middle school and/or high school teams. Educational settings for the teams included public schools, private schools, and homeschool. Coaches were asked to fill out an open-ended questionnaire about their SO coaching experiences. Based upon questionnaire responses, coaches were invited to participate in follow-up interviews. The experiences related by the coaches in the interviews were written as case …


Toward A Better Understanding Of Social Network Site Engagement In Influencing Health Behaviors: An Examination Of The Relationship Between Message Framing, Endorsement Cues, And User Engagement, Shawn Chunhsien Chiang May 2023

Toward A Better Understanding Of Social Network Site Engagement In Influencing Health Behaviors: An Examination Of The Relationship Between Message Framing, Endorsement Cues, And User Engagement, Shawn Chunhsien Chiang

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The use of social network sites (SNS) to deliver health interventions has been on the rise in recent years due to their popularity among the general population and functionalities that facilitate interactions with the content, or with other users of SNS. Despite that, scholars have noted challenges, including low engagement, associated with SNS-delivered interventions. This dissertation’s overall purpose is 1) to document the current state of measuring engagement within SNS-delivered health interventions, and 2) to empirically examine the interplay between message framing, social endorsement and engagement in a randomized experiment using Instagram. Results from the scoping review showed that a …


Equity And Access To Care: Barriers To Diagnostic And Treatment Services For Black Families Of Autistic Youth, Harlee Onovbiona May 2023

Equity And Access To Care: Barriers To Diagnostic And Treatment Services For Black Families Of Autistic Youth, Harlee Onovbiona

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Numerous barriers to diagnostic and treatment access are present for families concerned their child might have autism spectrum disorder (ASD; e.g., long waitlists, limited specialized providers). However, Black families of autistic youth may experience additional racial barriers (e.g.., racial microaggressions, perceived stigma) due to the intersectionality of their child's disorder and their identity as Black Americans, a group that is systematically minoritized in the United States. Despite the importance of early identification and intervention, little research has documented how these barriers to treatment participation may impact perceived treatment effectiveness, treatment satisfaction, and stress among Black families of autistic youth. This …


Cartographic Analysis Of Earth-Sun Relationships In Ancient Amazonia, Jackson Bennett Critser May 2023

Cartographic Analysis Of Earth-Sun Relationships In Ancient Amazonia, Jackson Bennett Critser

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The alignments of ancient man-made earthworks across the Amazon Basin, known as geoglyphs, have recently been discovered to predate early societal dates. Although much research indicated that the Amazon was uninhabitable until the last 1000 years (Meggers 1971), new evidence suggests this is not the case. The application of advanced cartographic and GIS technologies were implemented to link solar ‘marker’ days (e.g. solstices, equinoxes) with the alignment of geoglyphs, megaliths, stone architecture, and broader city forms to discover and analyze previously unknown Earth-Sun relationships across the Amazon Basin to conceivably sophisticated urban and architectural plans. The study of these geoglyphs …