Digital Commons Network^™

The Impacts Of International Students’ Membership In Co-National Student Organizations, Krofaa Otuo-Srebour

Masters Theses

This study explores the impact of international students' membership in co-national student organizations on their adjustment to U.S. higher education institutions. Despite significant literature on the psychological predictors of adjustment, there is a gap in examining the social support gained through non-academic student organizations composed of individuals from the same country or region. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study investigated challenges international students face in the U.S. and how culturally specific groups impact their adjustment. The findings underscore the importance of co-national student organizations in supporting international students’ adjustment processes and suggest practical implications for university administrators to enhance …

The Forgotten Student Leader: The Leadership Experiences Of Ncaa Division I Team Captains, Alex Warrick

Masters Theses

In the modern era, NCAA Division I sports fans and the media fixate on which teams have the biggest stadium, the implications of the transfer portal, which of their favorite players has the largest Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) or scholarship deal, and who has the most accolades. Due to this, what goes on behind the scenes for the athletes that are impacted by these headlines and tall ordeals often gets lost. The purpose of this narrative, qualitative study was to examine the leadership experiences of the student athletes who have been historically forgotten in discussions about student leadership, the …

Sustainable Hemp Industrial Panels (Ship) And Its Industrial Possibilities For The Replacement Of Oriented Strand Board (Osb), Anthony Ollins

Masters Theses

This study explores the feasibility of using industrial hemp fiber to create composite panels—termed Sustainable Hemp Industrial Panels (SHIP) as a potential competitor for oriented strand board (OSB), a commonly used structural wood product. Given hemp's historical and environmental advantages, including rapid growth, carbon sequestration capacity, and material strength, this research investigates its performance when combined with Urea-Formaldehyde (UF) resin, and in a hybrid form with Southern Yellow Pine (SYP). Two hemp-based composites were produced and tested: one with hemp and UF, and another with hemp and SYP. Using a custom-built hydraulic press, composite panels were fabricated and subjected to …

Vertical Transfer Students: Experiences With Orientation Programs And Transition, Gulmira Abdyrahmanova

Masters Theses

Community college students are a growing student population in the United States, however their transition to four-year institutions remains complex and students face different challenges. This study explores the student’s orientation and transition experiences. While academic integration was generally positively supported by articulation agreements, personalized academic advising, and family support many transfer students reported difficulties with social integration, impacting their sense of belonging. The findings suggest that successful transfer requires three stages of support as pre-transfer planning; orientation and initial transition; and continued personalized support throughout the first semester. Recommendations include stronger partnerships between institutions, more individualized advising, and ongoing …

Understanding First-Generation College Students’ Perceptions Of Sorority Recruitment, Megan Morecraft

Masters Theses

This study explores first-generation college students’ discovery of sororities, influences for going through a recruitment process, and motivations for selection. There is a gap in the literature when it comes to first-generation college students and greek organizations, specifically sororities, and this study aides in bridging the gap and providing information regarding strategies for recruitment and marketing practices. With more informed practices on first-generation student populations, an increased quality of marketing and programming could be implemented, as well as retention. This study and its findings allow for more intentionality and enhancements to occur, especially when promoting the greek experience and sorority …

Construct Validity Of The Cognitive Assessment System- 2nd Edition: Rating Scale: Comparisons With The Learning Behaviors Scale, Cameron Graham

Masters Theses

Cognitive assessment instruments, such as the Cognitive Assessment System Second Edition: Rating Scale (CAS2: Rating Scale), are frequently utilized by school psychologists to assess children’s cognitive abilities and psychopathology. However, the CAS2 and the CAS2: Rating Scale have little research regarding their psychometric properties. The present thesis examined the construct validity of the CAS2: Rating Scale in comparison to the Learning Behaviors Scale (LBS). Canivez and Gaboury (2013), while assessing the construct validity of the CAS, found that for the ADHD group, the LBS Attitude Toward Learning, Attention/Persistence, and Strategy/Flexibility scores and the CAS Planning and Attention scores were significantly …

Emotion Regulation And Social Support As Protective Factors To The Associations Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Mental Health-Related Issues, Cassidy B. Mccarthy

Masters Theses

This study was designed to examine emotion regulation and perceived availability of social support as possible protective factors to the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mental health issues. The study explored both emotion regulation difficulties and perceived availability of social support (PASS) as mediators to the relationship between ACEs and mental health issues. Emotion regulation difficulties were also assessed as a mediator between PASS and mental health issues. PASS was tested as a moderator between ACEs and mental health issues by affecting emotion regulation.

Results indicated that emotion regulation and PASS each partially mediated the relationship between ACEs …

Mental Health Supports In The Public Schools, Elizabeth Walters

Masters Theses

Increasingly, young students experience mental health challenges, some as early as first grade. With mental health challenges reaching students at younger ages, teachers and school staff need to be ready to assist their students in need. Roughly a third of young people experience mental health challenges, and 70-80% are unable to receive mental health services. As a large portion struggle in school with mental health concerns, teachers and school staff are likely to be the first to see any potential signs of struggle. When teachers notice signs of a student struggling with mental health, the staff often do not know …

Evaluation Of Blue Catfish Populations In Four Midwestern Power Cooling Reservoirs, Tyler Joseph Murray

Masters Theses

Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) are the largest catfish in North America and as such angler desire for trophy fisheries have grown in addition to harvest fisheries. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has stocked Blue Catfish into several reservoirs in the state including four that have powerplants that utilize the water for cooling and discharge it back into the reservoir at increased temperatures. This study explored the potential impacts of these warm water effluents on Blue Catfish population demographics, as well as whether management changes need to be implemented in these systems. I sampled Powerton, LaSalle, Springfield, …

Effects Of Perceived Procedural Justice On The Relationship Between Visa Application Outcome And Psychological Distress: Evidence From Ghanaians And Nigerians Applying For U.S. Student Visas, Harriet Swanzy-Baffoe

Masters Theses

Visa interviews are not just bureaucratic processes; they can have significant psychological effects on applicants. This study examined the impact of U.S. student visa outcomes on psychological distress among West African applicants, with particular attention to perceptions of procedural justice during the interview process. The study surveyed 203 Ghanaian and Nigerian individuals who had previously applied for a U.S. student visa. Psychological distress was measured using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and perceptions of fairness were measured with a custom-developed Procedural Justice Scale. Independent samples t-tests showed that denied applicants reported significantly higher distress, although elevated symptoms were also …

Soils From Different Solidago Altissima Clones Mediate Intraspecific Interactions In Schizachyrium Scoparium, Sarah Alharbi

Masters Theses

While previous studies have examined plant intraspecific competition and soil microbial effects separately, fewer studies have investigated how these factors interact, particularly in the context of genotype-specific soil conditioning effects. Plant-soil feedbacks can significantly alter interspecific competitive outcomes, yet few studies have examined how local variation in soil conditioning influences plant responses to density-dependent competition. I investigated how soil inocula derived from four Solidago altissima clones that were previously shown to differ in their soil conditioning effects (Foster et al., 2022) affected the growth and root traits of Schizachyrium scoparium across a gradient of intraspecific competition (1, 2, or 4 …

Barriers To Leisure-Time Physical Activity Among College Students, Ben Andrew Winfield

Masters Theses

Obesity is an increasing problem worldwide. In general, people eat more and exercise less, with a lot of individuals not meeting World Health Organization recommendation of 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity weekly. At times, individuals may face barriers which prevent or inhibit their ability to participate in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), exercise completed in one’s free time. These barriers are known as leisure constraints and are comprised of three categories: intrapersonal, feelings and psychological aspects; interpersonal, relationship aspects; and structural, physical aspects. Body image, the perception individuals have about their bodies and …

Overcoming Burnout: Resident Assistant Longevity And Resilience, Amberlyn H. Holman

Masters Theses

As demands on student affairs professionals intensify across United States colleges, resident assistants face increasing vulnerability to burnout while balancing roles as students, employees, and peer leaders. The purpose of this narrative study was to examine the experiences of three resident assistants who pursued a third year in their position after experiencing and overcoming burnout. It was determined that specific support systems and resilience components had substantial impact on their ability to persist, providing indication of what institutional support would be most beneficial. Participants discussed experiences with overwhelming stress balancing academic responsibilities, peer relationships, and administrative duties, alongside factors historically …

Optimization Of Transformation And Regeneration In The Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus), Sara M. Kilar

Masters Theses

In addition to their value as prized ornamentals, sunflowers are important crop species due to the nutritional value and high oil content of the seeds. Sunflower oil is a significant contributor to global seed oil production, which can be used as a food additive and cooking agent as well as a raw material for biodiesel production. While traditional breeding efforts have led to the development of many unique cultivars, genetically modified variations have proven more difficult due to the recalcitrance of sunflower plants to genetic transformation. As a result, facile and efficient transformation methods for sunflowers have the potential to …

Influence Of Thermophilic Biofilms On Proliferation Of Opportunistic Pathogens In Domestic Water Systems, Olajumoke Akinbami

Masters Theses

Domestic hot-water systems quietly grow biofilms under elevated temperatures that can serve as shelter to Opportunistic Premise Plumbing Pathogens. Although focus has been placed on microbes in domestic systems, there has been no clear conclusion on the mechanism of survival and persistence of opportunistic pathogens despite various disinfection strategies. In this study, we determined the distinction between showerhead and drip-flow biofilms at the whole-community level and analyzed the coexistence of thermotolerant organisms with opportunistic genera, such as Legionella. We sampled eight showerheads and simulated four biofilm samples in the laboratory using the drip-flow biofilm reactor.

We observed a strong …

Improving The Operator-Swarm Dynamic Under Mental Fatigue Constraints In Search And Rescue Operations, Jordan Morrow

Masters Theses

"Human-robot applications that allow for work to be done remotely are largely dependent on the lassitude of the operators. The exhaustion of these operators is a result of work completion and duration. Previous research attempts to evaluate the impact on reaction by quantiying human weariness. This paper examines how human weariness affects the human-robot dynamic in UAV-assisted search and rescue missions. An explanation of the connection between mental exhaustion and operator responsiveness over prolonged durations is provided by the search and rescue operations using UAV swarms (SAROUS) model. Through the use of artificial intelligence, SAROUS is modernized. This allows the …

Advanced 3d Lidar-Based Systems For Urban Traffic And Pedestrian Monitoring: Integrating Elevated Lidar, Data Collection, And Deep Learning For Precise Detection And Activity Classification, Nawfal Guefrachi

Masters Theses

"Accurate and real-time monitoring of urban traffic and pedestrian activities is crucial for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and smart cities. Traditional camera-based methods struggle with issues like lighting and privacy. This research leverages advanced three-dimension light detection and ranging (3D LiDAR) technology and computational frameworks to address these challenges, providing transformative solutions for urban traffic management and pedestrian safety. By strategically deploying elevated LiDAR sensors, detailed 3D point cloud data is captured, enabling precise monitoring of urban environments. Enhancements to LiDAR-based frameworks, such as fine-tuning the Point Voxel Region-Based Convolutional Neural Network (PV-RCNN), improve the detection of vehicles and pedestrians …

Characterization Of The Microstructural Changes Of Zrb2 Under Heavy Ion Irradiation For Molten Salt Reactor Applications, Narrie Loftus

Masters Theses

A primary challenge in finding suitable materials for Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) lies in identifying those that concurrently exhibit high corrosion resistance, stability at elevated temperatures, resistance to radiation, and chemical compatibility with molten salts. 11B-enriched zirconium diboride (ZrB₂) is a potential candidate for applications in MSRs due to its unique combination of properties, including high melting point, high thermal conductivity, and resistance to corrosion in harsh environments. This ultra-high temperature ceramic (UHTC) has exhibited stability under extreme conditions, making it an attractive material for components within MSRs.

The microstructural response of ZrB₂ under heavy ion irradiation …

On Optimizing Sensor Data Collection, Processing, And Storage For Industrial Additive Manufacturing, Steven Thompson

Masters Theses

The widespread adoption of digital data management methods for transformative technologies, such as additive manufacturing (AM), within the aerospace industry is impeded by poor interoperability between AM component manufacturing processes. Moreover, data quality may be compromised due to sensor failures or other corruptions. Additionally, massive amounts of data are collected during these processes, often needing to remain accessible for decades. These storage costs can place a significant financial burden on smaller suppliers. This work aims to make digital data management methods more affordable and, therefore, approachable for smaller suppliers.

First, the design and initial implementation of an affordable and adaptable …

Augmentation Of Quality Of Service, Security, And Trust In Edge-Enhanced Iot Networks Leveraging Blockchain, Kyle Matthew Whitlatch

Masters Theses

The meteoric rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to multiple architectural schemas to handle the data these devices create. Edge-enhancement is a technique where groups of IoT report to a median layer to aggregate the data before relaying to the endpoint. These edges also open opportunities to perform more operations to ensure devices are behaving properly before committing the data to long term storage. By interconnecting these edges with a technology like blockchain, it is possible to have an interconnected and responsive system to ensure the Quality of Service (QoS) of the IoT devices within the architecture …

Power Flow Control Of The Triple Active Bridge Converter, Lauryn Reece Morris

Masters Theses

With the rise of renewable energies, electric vehicles, and microgrids, the development of power electronic topologies that can seamlessly integrate these systems into the grid is crucial. The triple active bridge is an extension of the dual active bridge topology and is capable of energy storage or renewable energy integration into a power electronic converter and thus the power grid. Consisting of three H-Bridge converters, the triple active bridge topology is an expanding area of research to meet these growing demands. With the addition of the third bridge, the system has additional nonlinear characteristics which introduce complexity in solving for …

Critical Behavior Ofthedilutedquasi-Onedimensionalquantum Ising Model, Logan Bradley Sowadski

Masters Theses

We explore the phase transition in the diluted quasi-one-dimensional quantum Ising model. We begin by giving an introduction to the Ising model followed by derivations of the properties and observables. A brief overview of Monte-Carlo simulations is also given focusing on two algorithms that make simulations for physically realizable systems possible, the Metropolis and Wolff algorithms. We finally discuss the concept of random disorder in the system and the effects this can have on the bulk of the system.

These concepts are then directly applied to a quasi-one-dimensional Ising model. Motivated by recent experiments on the spin-chain material cobalt niobate, …

Aerodynamic Design Workflow Optimization For Fsae: Advanced Cfd And Hpc Automation, Kyle Maynor

Masters Theses

This research identifies and resolves inefficiencies in the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) workflow of the Missouri S&T Racing Formula SAE Team’s aerodynamic development. Key bottlenecks were found in simulation runtime, laborious simulation preparation, an overly manual simulation submission process, and unchecked mesh quality. A fully reimagined workflow was implemented with simulation parameters to adjust vehicle attitudes. From this, an automated design sweep could be executed to generate aero maps of the developing vehicle using the Design Manager Project. A Python-based submission app handles the terminal interfacing and macro editing that significantly slowed the job submission process before. Using a university …

Development Of Stalling Detection Algorithms And Operator Behavior Models For Evaluating Hydraulic Excavator Performance, Mateo Fernando Montenegro Defaz

Masters Theses

This study aims to develop a reliable algorithm for stalling detection and investigate how operator behaviors impact the truck-loading process, focusing on swing and bucket rotations. While the study of excavator digging conditions and equipment performance is well understood, describing stalling from telemetry data and the influence of operators’ behavior on overall system efficiency remain underexplored. This study seeks to: (i) develop a reliable algorithm for stall detection by analyzing key operational variables such as velocity and angles; (ii) implement statistical and machine learning techniques, specifically a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification algorithm, to differentiate between ideal and non-ideal digging …

Enabling Drone-Integrated Active Microwave Thermography Via A Slot Antenna Design, Alec P. Fitzmaurice

Masters Theses

Civil infrastructure inspection quality and inspector safety may be enhanced from the advancement in the capabilities of nondestructive testing and evaluation of remote or otherwise hard-to-reach areas such as nuclear power plants, wind turbines, bridges, or other civil infrastructure using drone-based Active Microwave Thermography (AMT). AMT is a nondestructive testing technique that utilizes high frequency energy (often radiated from an antenna) to induce heating in a specimen. Following this thermal excitation, an infrared camera is used to measure the resulting surface thermal profile. From this, defect indications may be detected. To enable drone-based deployment of AMT, where the antenna size …

Extraction And Separation Of Metal Cations From Synthetic Acidic Solutions Using Emulsion Liquid Membrane, Nouhaila Filali

Masters Theses

The work is organized into two main papers supported by experimental and comparative studies using Emulsion Liquid Membrane (ELM) systems. The first paper explores the individual extraction of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, As, Ni) from synthetic phosphoric acid using Alamine 336 and D2EHPA as carriers. Alamine 336 achieved the highest extraction efficiency (>90%) and stability, offering a promising route to reduce toxic impurities in fertilizer-grade acid. The second paper examines the selective separation of Ni2+ and Co2+ from various acidic solutions using the ELM configuration. Systematic variation of carriers, stripping agent and feed acidity, clarified transport mechanisms and stability, …

Application Of Edge-Enhanced Phase Analysis To Active Microwave Thermographic Measurements, Douglas Blaine Fleetwood

Masters Theses

Nondestructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E) encompasses a range of inspection techniques that assess materials, components, and structures while maintaining their integrity and performance. Among these techniques, thermography is particularly attractive due to its non-contact imaging approach with easy-to-interpret results. Active Microwave Thermography (AMT) has emerged as a promising NDT&E inspection technique that utilizes electromagnetic energy to heat materials through dielectric and magnetic absorption, with subsequent infrared imaging used to detect subsurface defects. While AMT offers significant advantages including material-specific heating optimization and lower power requirements compared to conventional thermographic methods, the technique faces a persistent challenge related to the thermal …

Native Freshwater Mussel Communities In The Lower Grand River, Michigan: Assessing Tributary Confluence Effects And Updating Survey Information, Grayson L. Kosak

Masters Theses

Freshwater mussels (Unionidae) are ecosystem engineers and keystone species vital to stream ecosystems yet represent the most imperiled group of freshwater fauna. Conservation of unionids necessitates further understanding how assemblages interact with watershed features. This study investigates mussel occupancy, distribution, and assemblage structure upstream and downstream of tributary confluences in the lower Grand River, Michigan, alongside updated surveys of the unionid community with comparisons to previous assessments conducted by Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) in 2002–2003. Unionid density, richness, and diversity were greater upstream of confluences. No significant distance-gradient effects were observed. Assemblage structure differed between upstream and downstream reaches …

Earnest And Authentic Translation From Victorian England To The Wilde West, Carly E. Mcclure

Masters Theses

Oscar Wilde’s critical, theatrical, and fiction works (notably The Importance of Being Earnest and The Picture of Dorian Gray), critique Victorian societal norms through themes of authenticity, duplicity, and identity. In a period marked by strict domesticity and concealed social contradictions, Wilde’s satire dismantles rigid ideologies, exploring self-discovery and societal expectations. Through a retroactive and contemporary definition of authenticity, Wilde’s works exhibit an advocacy for art as a central pursuit rather than purely a reflection of societal norms, which is a defining value of his Authenticism. Wilde’s emphasis on Aestheticism is a key component of his authentic representation of self, …

George Butterworth’S Musical Contribution To A.E. Housman’S A Shropshire Lad And Bredon Hill And Other Songs, Brenden M. Smith

Masters Theses

​George Butterworth and A.E. Housman were highly influential scholars at the turn of the 20th century. Both men were well known for contributing to folk genres in their corresponding fields. Many famous composers implemented Housman's works, the most conspicuous of which was Butterworth. The composer was tragically killed in World War I in 1916, and today, two song cycles of his remain, both are the poetry of A.E. Housman.

​Butterworth's Shropshire Lad cycles are some of the less-performed works in our classical repertory today because Butterworth abandoned most of his works during World War I. The following paper will give …