Digital Commons Network^™

An Evaluation Of Rapture Theology, Steven Dale Smith

Masters Theses

In the realm of scholarly debates regarding eschatology, a prominent divisive topic is the Rapture. Entire books and articles elaborate on the biblical support for and against the role that the Rapture plays within pretribulationism, midtribulationism, and posttribulationism. Such works contain the ongoing clash between interpreters, often with each side claiming that the same passages constitute absolute proof of their respective belief systems. Arguments frequently include the possibility of a seven-year tribulation, an antichrist, and a Rapture: terms not found in the book of Revelation and therefore difficult to explain. A central question that continues to draw a line between …

What In Hell Conflicts With God? The Divine Promulgation View Of Hell Confirms The Reality Of Hell Does Not Make God A Moral Monster, Kara Y. Harris

Masters Theses

The aim of this thesis is to demonstrate that God is not morally at fault for humans consigned to eternal punishment in hell. In this work, I contribute to the ongoing conversation of hell in the following ways: (1) I provide an exposition on the words translated as hell in the Bible; (2) I uncover the progressive nature of the doctrine of hell as sin increases and God advances His plan of salvation to rescue humans from such an eternal fate; (3) I argue that Christianity and the biblical doctrine of hell are bound principally as Christ’s work on the …

Student-Centered Learning Spaces During A Pandemic, Rebeccah J. Maley

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the experience second year, live on students study habits in outside academic spaces during a pandemic from 2020-2021 academic year. Through gathered testimonies of residents it was found students value their communities, appreciate localized spaces for collaboration, and acknowledged various influences that can enhance or inhibit their ability to study. Additionally, they shared the impact COVID-19 had on their personal lives, academics, and how they interacted with others. It was found that holistic measures are needed for students to be successful in outside academic spaces. This study brought attention to these measures …

Imaginary Things, Heather Gardewine

Masters Theses

Imaginary Things is a coming-of-age memoir about growing apart from one’s family and struggling with identity and independence. This story draws from predecessors in the family dysfunction subgenre of memoir, such as Educated by Tara Westover, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, and Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. The narrator tries to find her own identity in the things she loves while navigating familial opposition and rejection. “Imaginary things” such as films, plays, and video games become markers of identity and guide the reader through the story and towards growth, resolution, and sense of self.

The Impact Of The Therapeutic Relationship On Transgender Clients’ Perceptions Of Their Therapist, Aaron Brockie

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between therapist practices, the therapeutic relationship and their impact on how transgender clients feel about their therapist. Previous research on therapist practices and the therapeutic relationship has looked into how these variables influence lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients’ feelings about their therapist, but as of yet, the dynamic has not been analyzed for transgender clients. Given the disproportionate prevalence for severe mental health issues in the transgender community, it is urgent that barriers to adequate and meaningful therapy outcomes be identified and addressed. Seventy eight participants were recruited from social …

Day Trips, Life In Camp, And Dogs: An Alaskan Memoir, Karen Reed

Masters Theses

Day Trips, Life in Camp, and Dogs: An Alaskan Memoir is a collection of essays reflecting the narrators immersion in life above the Arctic Circle.

How Do I Do This? How Universities Support Students Experiencing Grief, Jackie Hirn

Masters Theses

Grief prompts college students to ask, “how do I do this?” in many ways. This phenomenological study examined the ways in which student affairs professionals supported grieving students from four universities across the United States. It was found that grieving college students faced many challenges and barriers, including academic, emotional, financial and legal, and cultural issues. Grief is an individualized process that manifests differently in each student. To ensure student success, it was found that resource referral was vital for students, and that connections between departments were imperative to make those referrals happen. This study notes that the COVID-19 pandemic …

Using Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics (Stem) Activities To Narrow The Achievement Gaps In East Central Illinois, Kiyla Devoss

Masters Theses

STEM has become a growing topic in recent years. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. There is a strong emphasis on improving and expanding STEM education to meet the demands of our STEM-focused society. To fill this need afterschool programs have emerged as key partners in STEM education to provide inspirational STEM enrichment opportunities. The study aims to explore if STEM activities narrow the achievement gap of participants from low socio-economic status (SES) in East Central Illinois. The study used a grade level ready framework to define the concept of narrowing the achievement gap and lowering the percentage …

Federalism, Constitutionalism, And The Texas Revolt, John Leslie Hancock

Masters Theses

Traditional historiography characterizes the period directly following Mexico's independence as one during which the adoption of federalism divided a previously united and uniformed country. Anglo-American settlers in Texas sought to remove the territory from Mexican control by exploiting the resultant political turmoil. This exploitation eventually led to the Texas revolt of 1835, its independence as a republic, and, ultimately, statehood within the United States. The recent focus on Mexico's provincial history challenges this narrative by illustrating that independence did not result in a unified nation. On the contrary, comprising multiple provinces with varying interests, the region's Provincial Deputations adopted federalism …

A Simple Background Elimination Method For Miniaturized Fiber-Optic Raman Probe, Bohong Zhang

Masters Theses

"Raman scattering is called a photonic - molecular interaction based on the kinetic model of the analytic. Due to the uniqueness of the Raman scattering technique, it can provide a unique fingerprint signal for molecular recognition. However, a serious challenge often encountered in Raman measurement comes from the requirements of fast, real-time remote sensing, background fluorescence suppression, and micro-environmental detection.

A new Miniaturized Fiber-Optic Raman Probe (MFORP) for Raman spectroscopy, used especially for eliminating background fluorescence and enhancing sampling, is presented. Its main purpose is to provide an overview of excellent research on the detection of very small substances and …

Unchallenged And Obedient: Status Of Nigerian Junior Secondary School Social Studies Curriculum, Toluwalase Solomon

Masters Theses

Bolstering best practice social studies pedagogy is crucial to raising analytical, responsible, moral, and civic-minded students in Nigeria. This study, using content analysis research methods, examined the contents of Nigerian junior secondary school (JSS) social studies curriculum materials to determine the extent to which the curriculum aligns with major social studies teachers’ epistemologies (citizenship transmission, social sciences, and reflective inquiry). Though there have been numerous studies on examining the major social studies teachers’ epistemologies—citizenship transmission, social sciences, and reflective inquiry—yet few have examined the extent to which Nigerian social studies curriculum materials aligns with these epistemologies. Three major findings emerged …

Listening To Their Voices: A Narrative On Campus Climate For Trans* Students, Cloe Bourdages

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact that campus climate has on trans* student academic and personal success. This qualitative study was explored through individual interviews by four participants. Participants discussed practices which enabled and inhibited their success; which lead to the finding of four themes: identity and validation, academic climate, climate outside of the classroom, and resources and services. Overall, a positive correlation in trans* student success was found when institutions use inclusive practices within their work. Lastly, the study provided implications for higher education recommended by both the participants and the researcher.

Chreia And Lives Of Saints: A Study Of Hagiography As An Evolved Rhetorical Genre In Late Antiquity, Seth Fisher

Masters Theses

Hagiography has often confused historians over what practical application this genre of Christian literature has when read as primary sources. In this project I will show that hagiography can read as an evolution of an earlier pagan style rooted in the paideia of ancient scholars. Chreia exercises were performed by students of paideia in order to instruct them on how to write about figures worth emulating such as Diogenes or Alexander the Great. Christian authors did not participate in a hermetically sealed education system but took part in the same schooling as their pagan peers. Hagiographies are structurally and functionally …

Five In 20: An Exploratory Study To Develop And Pilot An Observation Tool Used To Assess The Five Features Critical To Effective Classroom Management, Alexandria Cardot

Masters Theses

The present study aimed to develop and pilot a standardized classroom observation tool intended to assess teachers’ current use of the five features critical to effective classroom management. Thirty-nine observers who regularly conducted classroom observations (e.g., school psychologists) were recruited to complete 39, 20-min observations in kindergarten through twelfth grade classrooms. Due to COVID-19, observers could either complete a live observation or think of a previously completed observation. Of the 39 observations, 13 were live and 26 were recalled. To complete the observation, observers indicated whether the teacher was observed to use each of the 21 evidence-based strategies and if …

Examining The Relationship Between Acculturative Stress And Religion/Spirituality Among International Students, Ly'jerrick Ward

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between acculturative stress and religion/spirituality of international students. This study utilized Sandhu and Asrabadi’s (1994) Acculturative Stress Scale for International Students (ASSIS) as well as the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (SCSORF) created by Plante and Boccaccini (1997). Much research exists on how international students adapt and acculturate to a host country. This research will add to the body of literature that exists regarding how international students use their religion/spirituality to deal with acculturative stress. Students in this study were asked a number of questions from the ASSIS …

The Cultural Heritage And Potential For Sustainable Site Development Of Greater Jezreel, Morgan Davidson

Masters Theses

This thesis surveys the historic and cultural significance of the site of Tel Jezreel, Israel and the surrounding environs and proposes a program of conservation and research which will facilitate further study of the site’s history while simultaneously making the area safely accessible to visitors. Particular attention is paid to the role that the tower and church which currently lie in ruins played within the region. Although the tower of Jezreel has been relatively neglected by historians and archaeologists to this point, it represents a very important aspect of the site, namely its continued occupation and importance beyond the biblical …

Self-Reported Multicultural Teaching Knowledge And Skills Of School Professionals, Julia Kedzior

Masters Theses

Diverse learners face a variety of challenges, such as achievement gaps, behavior problems, and absenteeism. Therefore, it is important for their educators to have both multicultural teaching knowledge and skills to address these challenges and work towards a successful school experience for all students. Although research has sought to measure the cultural competence of teachers, not many studies have examined cultural competence in other school professionals (administrators, school psychologists, social workers, interventionists, instructional assistants, and other individuals who directly work with students in the school environment). In the current study, 185 teachers and other school professionals completed an adapted version …

The Efficacy Of Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (Pals) With Hispanic English Language Learners In The 2nd Grade, Sonia Duran

Masters Theses

The present study examined the efficacy of a reading instruction, Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS), for Hispanic English Language Learners (ELL). Currently, the literature indicates that there is a surge in ELL students, most commonly Spanish-speaking ELL students, in the United States. This increase in ELL population created a need for academic support as many of these students are historically academically behind their non-ELL peers due to the negative impact of lack of exposure to the English language and cultural differences. The PALS program is a class-wide reading intervention where students engage in reading activities to promote reading skills; and …

Christian Worship In Nagaland, Jane Elizabeth Laremore

Masters Theses

Christianity has historically suppressed Naga traditional music and culture, and yet Christian music plays an important role in the construction of Naga identity. A brief history and overview of Christian music in Nagaland including, hymn singing, contemporary Christian music, and revival songs demonstrates how the unique social, cultural and political context of Nagaland has created a generational divide in worship style preferences and the birth of the revival song genre. Snapshots of the life and work of Naga composers further illustrate these themes and provide insight into the incorporation of Naga folk music in Christian worship. While advocates make strong …

Composite-Based Additive Manufacturing Applications In The Polymer Injection Molding Cycle, Cody Bivens

Masters Theses

“The experimental method utilized in this research was the application of composite-based additive manufacturing (CBAM) mold plates in the injection molding process. The mold plates comprised carbon fibers and polyether ether ketone (PEEK) matrix. Modifications were made to the mold plates post manufacturing in order to properly adapt to the rest of the injection molding die. A custom cooling system was engineered and integrated into the injection molding machine for the CBAM mold plates. The polymer processed in the injection molding cycle for this study was Lustran 348 acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The result of the trials conducted in this …

Spatiotemporal Observations Of Water Stress In Kansas Winter Wheat And Corn From Remotely Sensed Evapotranspiration And Ndwi, Lindi Diane Oyler

Masters Theses

"Optimizing water use is a growing concern, especially in agricultural communities where water use is high. An important challenge in agricultural water optimization is knowing when and where crop water stress is occurring, particularly on large scales where in-situ measurements are no longer practical to obtain. In an effort to combat this challenge, this study utilizes remotely sensed evapotranspiration (ET) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) to evaluate the responses of integrated satellite datasets to water-stressed conditions over fields of irrigated corn, irrigated winter wheat, and rainfed winter wheat from 2007 to 2017 in southwestern Kansas. Using two different ET …

Projectile Generator Design For Underground Coal Mine Seal Testing, Ethan Allan Steward

Masters Theses

"Underground coal mines have several dangers, one of the most hazardous of which is the possibility of an explosion caused by the ignition of methane gas. To reduce ventilation costs, coal mines have the option to close off abandoned areas that are no longer active with structural seals to keep an explosion from propagating into working areas of the mine. Though seals have been designed to resist the overpressure, none have been evaluated for their resistance to the impact of heavy objects. Underground explosions produce high velocity gasses that, traveling through mine openings, may propel objects in the mine at …

Numerical Behavior Of Steel H-Plies Repaired Using Layered Concrete Jacket, Fareh Waleed Abudawaba

Masters Theses

“This study developed finite element models (FEMs), using LS-Dyna software, to investigate the repair of corroded steel H-piles using concrete jacket. The concrete modeled as a layered material simulating 3D printed concrete. 3DPC is a new technology that can be used to repair or build structures without formwork by depositing concrete mixture layer by layer. For the 3DPC, this study investigated the feasibility of using alkali-activated concrete (AAC) synthesized using class C fly ash as the main binder. The fresh properties, extrudability, and buildability of the proposed concrete were investigated through open time and deformation tests, respectively. Hardened properties were …

Agent-Based Model Of Broadband Adoption In Unserved And Underserved Areas, Ankit Agarwal

Masters Theses

"In the last two decades, demand for broadband internet has far outpaced its availability. The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 2020 Broadband Deployment report suggests that at least 22 million Americans living in rural areas lack access to broadband internet. With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting normal life, there is an overwhelming need to enable unserved and underserved communities to adapt to the “new normal”. To address this challenge, federal and state agencies are funding internet service providers (ISPs) to deploy infrastructure in rural communities. However, policymakers and ISPs need open-source tools to predict take-rates of broadband service and formulate effective strategies …

Investigation Of Post-Acid Stimulation Impacts On Well Performance Using Fracture Modeling And Reservoir Simulation In A Jurassic Carbonate Reservoir, Muaath Alansari

Masters Theses

"Well stimulation (well fracturing) became an essential tool in the Oil and Gas industry to unlock the potential of unconventional reservoirs all over the world and especially in the Middle East. In Kuwait, well stimulation is obligatory when dealing with deep Jurassic carbonate reservoirs. Thus, the well fracture designing process plays a very critical role in determining the success of the stimulation job and the improvement of the recovery.

Several wells stimulated with 20% HCL have shown wide variations in both short and long term well production performance. The research aims to investigate and identify the possible reasons causing these …

Power Generation From Waste Heat During Oil Production, Subrahmanya Chandra Bhamidipati

Masters Theses

"The increase in the world population is causing a significant increase in the global demand for energy. This rise in demand is generally met with the use of fossil fuels. But there is considerable pressure to lessen the release of carbon through the combustion of fossil fuels. One way that the oil and gas industry can provide increased energy without carbon combustion is by extracting the latent heat energy contained in produced oil, gas and water from producing reservoirs, and from water which is cycled through depleted, end-of-life or abandoned reservoirs. Extracting this energy and using it to provide direct …

Mechanical Activation And Cation Site Disorder Of Spinel-Based Ceramics, Cole A. Corlett

Masters Theses

"This research focuses on the processing and the effects that has on the cation disorder of magnesium-aluminate spinel based (MgAl₂O₄) ceramics. The first goal of this project was to determine the effects of high-energy milling, i.e., mechanical activation, on cation disorder (inversion) within the spinel structure. First, 1:1 molar ratios of MgO:Al₂O₃ ceramics were processed using two green processing methods, ball milling (XD) and SPEX milling (mechanical activation, MA) followed by a subsequent annealing treatment in air to form a single spinel phase in each powder sample. Neutron diffraction analysis was employed to …

The Field Coupling Mechanism Study For Near Field Probe, Shun Liu

Masters Theses

"In this part, the radius of the loop is used to predict the voltage induced by the E- field in the circular loop antenna. The thin rectangle loop and thick rectangle loop have been investigated. The equivalent radius of the rectangle loop is estimated by the average of the one over the distance between the points on the loop to the center of the loop. The estimation matches with the numerical simulation"--Abstract, page iv.

The Role Of Psychological Reactance In Smart Home Energy Management Systems, Matthew Thomas Heatherly

Masters Theses

“With an ever-growing demand for energy, our increasing consumption is producing more greenhouse gases and other pollutants, impacting climate change. One approach to reducing residential energy consumption is through the use of smart energy management systems. However, automation from smart technology inherently removes a certain amount of control from the user. If loss of control is perceived as a loss of freedom, this may lead users to experience psychological reactance when using these products. A set of experiments was conducted to assess how three features of a message notification from smart home energy management systems may induce reactance in users. …

Development Of Complex Lattice Cell In Benchmark Model Of Particle Bed Critical System, Elijah Chamberlain Lutz

Masters Theses

“Criticality safety benchmark evaluations require the creation of models that most accurately represent the experiment being evaluated. In some cases this can be relatively trivial with experiments containing rather simple or standard geometry. In others, such as packed bed systems, this becomes unique and a more difficult process. The importance of accurate modeling of packed bed systems for the use of criticality safety benchmark evaluations was looked at. Four models were created of various complexities and accuracy. First the multi-particle bed, consisting of a fuel particle (UC_1.7 kernel with C shell) and two filler particles (Zircaloy-4 and C + …