Digital Commons Network^™

Enhancing Cybersecurity Strategies Through Automated Cti Extraction, Risk Prioritization, And Privacy-Conscious Information Sharing, Spencer Rian Massengale

Theses and Dissertations

Cybersecurity operations require the ability to collect and analyze large amounts of cyber threat intelligence (CTI) to assess risks and formulate defensive strategies against emerging threats. This task has become increasingly complex due to the rapid evolution of cyber threats and the growing volume of unstructured, natural-language CTI sources. The scale of data and analysis needed to utilize CTI effectively far exceeds humans' manual capacity, especially for organizations with limited resources. This research focuses on leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) and machine learning techniques to enhance CTI extraction, risk assessment, and data sharing. We utilized LLMs to automate the extraction …

The Raye Montague Digital Collection, Paola Cavallari

Theses and Dissertations

The Raye Montague Digital Collection consists of 735 items that have been digitized and catalogued to tell the story of Raye Montague, the United States Navy hidden figure. The Collection addresses the need to remedy decades of historical invisibility Raye Montague was subjected to because of gender and racial discrimination despite her fundamental contributions to U.S. history. This thesis details how the Collection inserts Raye Montague within a broader historical context that uncovers the role Black women had as federal employees in the U.S. military during and after World War II. It also explains how, in designing the Collection, I …

Behavioral Health Workforce Modeling To Assist In Prioritizing Educational Pathways Programs In North Dakota, Mandi-Leigh Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

Background. The need for behavioral health services in North Dakota has grown in recent years. As part of the response to the need for services, a state definition of behavioral health workforce was enacted in state statute to assist in addressing this need. Thus far, no empirical evaluations of the status of that workforce have been conducted.Purpose. The primary purpose of this work was to quantify the supply and demand for the behavioral health workforce in North Dakota to assist in identifying and prioritizing those educational pathways that can assist in growing the identified needed workforce. Sample. This study examined …

Analyzing The Effects Of Cloud Seeding On Hail Suppression During The North Dakota Cloud Modification Project, Lynnlee Storm Rosolino

Theses and Dissertations

This study assesses the effectiveness of cloud seeding for hail suppression as part of the North Dakota Cloud Modification Project. Using a radar-based hail size retrieval algorithm, storm data from 2016-2018 were analyzed to compare observed hail sizes with forecasted values from atmospheric models and indices. Algorithm output is compared with model proximity sounding analysis including two hail-centric indices, five severe weather indices, and HAILCAST output to determine the forecasted hail size. Results show that the majority of unseeded cases have matching forecasted and observed hailstone diameter. In contrast, in seeded storms, observed hail sizes were consistently smaller than forecasted. …

Online Learning Communities And Secondary Educators' Tech-Enhanced Instructional Practices: A Correlational Study, Oscar R. Carrera

Theses and Dissertations

This correlational study investigated how secondary educators' engagement in online learning communities relates to their tech-enhanced instructional practices, a relationship that gained importance following the COVID-19 pandemic's acceleration of educational technology adoption. Through the lens of Keller's ARCS Model of Motivation (Keller, 1987) and demographic analysis, the research examined three key aspects: the relationship between community engagement and tech-enhanced instructional practices, demographic predictors of engagement, and correlations between ARCS motivational components and engagement. Data collected through a cross-sectional survey of 115 secondary educators revealed a statistically significant moderate positive correlation between engagement in online learning communities and tech-enhanced instructional practices. …

Examining Hispanic Beginning Farmers And Ranchers In The Rio Grande Valley Through A Community Capitals Framework, Perla Kimberly Schrock

Theses and Dissertations

While existing literature addresses the experiences of beginning farmers and ranchers (BFR), there is a notable gap in research focused on Hispanic beginning farmers and ranchers (HBFR). This study aimed at exploring the unique experiences of HBFR in a predominantly Hispanic region, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), employed the Community Capitals Framework (Flora et al., 2016). I conducted 16 semi-structured interviews with HBFR and local nonprofit organizations and federal employees, complemented by participant observations. Through thematic and content analysis of the interview transcripts, findings revealed valuable insights into the livelihoods of HBFR. Despite HBFR facing significant challenges, this study demonstrated …

Community Reintegration Of Previously Incarcerated Individuals From A Virtue Perspective, Cindy Noemi Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

Community reintegration is one of the most important indicators that determine the success of previously incarcerated individuals’ rehabilitation. It is influenced by several factors such as support, attitudes, strengths, and virtues. One emerging area of study that can be related to community reintegration is virtue. The concept of virtue has received increasing attention in rehabilitation research, focused on how one’s virtuous pursuit of excellence improves well-being and adaptation (Kim et al., 2016). In that community reintegration is a type of life adjustment, virtue can be related to community reintegration. The present study examined community reintegration and perceived support of previously …

Evaluation Of Socioeconomic Disparities From Coal Mining And Sustainable Remediation Of Acid Mine Drainage Using Waste Carpet Tiles: A Geospatial And Life Cycle Assessment Approach, Lauren Bram

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the application of repurposed carpet tiles as a solution to address acid mine drainage (AMD), a common issue associated with historical coal mining that was found to affect certain demographic groups disproportionately. The efficiencies and environmental trade-offs of using downcycled carpet tiles were researched as a neutralization agent in remediation systems. Data was generated using life cycle assessment (LCA) and geospatial modeling. The socioeconomic effects of coal mining in the greater Pittsburgh area were analyzed by integrating home sale data, abandoned mine lands (inventory sites), and census demographics into the geospatial model and determined that homes in …

Lost, Or Found? Seeking And Preserving The Education Of Artisanal Arts, Jennie Doezie

Theses and Dissertations

Crafts and the artisanal arts have a complex relationship with art and art education. Nevertheless, hands-on crafts have an important and often overlooked contribution to visual art education. In addition to their value as cultural icons, the artisanal arts can contribute to cognitive development, emotional well-being, and mental health. The practice of a craft can balance some of the negative effects of 21st century screen culture. This thesis explores the following regarding crafts education: its value, its relationship to traditional art education, and its future potential. In addition to the traditional elements of literature review and research methodology, this thesis …

Integrating Gis And Ca-Markov Model To Study Urban Dynamics Of Salem, India In Terms Of Pattern, Intensity And Direction, Linda Theres B

Theses and Dissertations

Urban populations have grown substantially in the modern era and the information age as people seek better living prospects. Currently, more than half of the world's population resides in the cities. Such growth must be monitored to ensure that people enjoy the boons of urban spaces, not the banes. Recognising the significance of urban studies, several researchers have attempted to analyse and predict urban dynamics using remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems, and machine learning methods. However, certain limitations exist, especially in improving the CAMarkov model's prediction performance. In addition, studies have suggested that growth characteristics, such as pattern, intensity, and …

Development Of An Evidence-Based Policy Handbook Utilizing A Hub And Spoke Practice Model: A Quality Improvement Dnp Project, Leah M. Coffman

Theses and Dissertations

Diagnosing a child with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in the State of Alaska requires a team-based approach. The current model is a hub model where providers refer to one of a few certified 4-Digit Code method teams in the geographically vast State of Alaska. Telehealth has been suggested as a viable alternative to in-person hub evaluations for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). The State of Alaska FASD program and the Alaska Mental Health Trust Fund’s goals of moving towards a telehealth program for FASD evaluation, diagnosis, and management (WICHE-BHP, 2021). This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project sought to …

Seeking Solutions: The Impact Of State Policies On Mental And Behavioral Health, Angela Shoulders

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the impact of state-level policies aimed at improving access to mental and behavioral health treatment in the United States. Using rigorous quasi-experimental methods and a variety of data sources, the three manuscripts analyze the effects of distinct but related policies: naloxone co-prescription laws, psychologist prescription privileges, and mental health parity laws mandating timely access to care. The findings suggest that naloxone co-prescription laws lead to unintended consequences, including an increase in opioid overdose deaths among certain demographics. The analyses of psychologist prescribing privileges show expanding prescribing privileges to psychologists increases the availability of mental health providers without …

Bridging Disciplinary Boundaries: A Study On The Integration Of Social Studies Within Elementary Ela Education, Jill Knight

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative action research study investigates the integration of social studies within English Language Arts (ELA) education, highlighting the challenges educators face in balancing curriculum demands amid increasing literacy and math instruction pressures. With over 20 years of experience teaching high school history, the researcher identified a concerning decline in social studies education at the elementary level, a situation worsened by legislative measures such as No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which prioritize tested subjects. The primary aim of this study was to collaborate with elementary teachers to explore their perceptions and experiences related …

You're Not The Only One Who Can Teach Us: Teacher Facilitation In Three Secondary School Music Contexts, David Dwight Bowman

Theses and Dissertations

Over the last half-century, school music reforms have focused more on content than process, and the directive teaching that serves as the dominant method used by secondary school music teachers is not adequately meeting the needs of the students who currently occupy American high schools. To improve teaching practice in one such high school, an action research study was conducted to investigate the use of facilitative teaching strategies, how those teaching strategies impact students’ learning experience, and what the perceived impacts of those strategies are. A qualitative case study methodology was employed to determine how an intervention period of facilitative …

Engaging Students In The Scientific Process: An Examination Of Active Learning Strategies In Introductory Geoscience Labs, Meryssa Piper

Theses and Dissertations

High-quality instruction of introductory geoscience courses entices students to major in geoscience fields and ensures undergraduate students have opportunities to learn and apply scientific information and practices. Prior studies indicate that active learning strategies in higher education settings can increase student knowledge and interest. This dissertation explores the integration of two active learning strategies in introductory geoscience laboratory courses: inquiry and gamification The first study housed in Chapter 2 investigates the level of inquiry used in introductory geoscience lab activities across the United States. Through a comprehensive analysis of these activities, this chapter assesses: (1) the degree to which instructor …

The Fifth Element In Three Dimensions: Boron Systematics Along And Across The Aleutian Volcanic Arc, Owen Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

This study uses abundances and isotope ratios of the fluid-mobile element boron (B) to better understand the role of fluids in volcanism at the Aleutian arc in Alaska. In volcanic rocks from the Aleutian volcanic front, patterns in B abundance and isotope ratios (δ11B) point to three endmembers: a sediment melt, a slab interior melt, and a slab-top melt. Most lavas from the eastern Aleutian Islands have δ11B of -2 to +5‰, similar to Aleutian sediment. Hence, sediment is likely to be the dominant B source in the Aleutian Island samples. In lavas from the western Aleutian seafloor, high δ11B …

Harvesting Health: The Role Of City Policy In Urban Agriculture And The Downstream Effects On Youth, Lesley Leake

Theses and Dissertations

Contextualizing environmental health within the socio-ecological framework, acknowledges the diverse factors at play in the environment-human dynamic. The research design, methods, and study populations of each chapter vary to match the socio-ecological level(s) of focus and reinforce the translational and interdisciplinary nature of this research. Chapter 2 examines the policy-supports for urban agriculture using a mixed-methods case-study of the City of Charleston, SC to understand how municipal policy (societal) impacts urban agriculture implementation (community) and what impact this has on residents (relationship and individual). Chapter 3 centers on the potential impact of urban farms (community) and their programming (community and …

“We Don’T Know What We Don’T Know”: Improving The Quality Of Stem Teaching In A British International School By Developing Teachers’ Stem Pedagogical Knowledge And Stem Instructional Practices, Matthew James Fagg

Theses and Dissertations

This research aimed at improving the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teaching at a British international school in Brunei Darussalam. Evidence from a range of sources suggested that teachers at the school were not employing common STEM instructional practices when giving their pupils STEM problems to solve. The purpose of the two research questions was to identify how STEM lessons were being taught in Grades 2 to 7 in the school, and to measure the influence of STEM-related professional development sessions on teachers’ STEM pedagogical knowledge and STEM instructional practices. The researcher followed an eight-stage action-research cycle …

From Colonial Frontier To A Slave Society: "Second Slavery" And The Former Backcountry Of South Carolina In The Early Republic, 1780-1833, Elisabeth Zoe Horecny

Theses and Dissertations

Although the South Carolina backcountry was labeled pre-modern by contemporaries and, later, by some historians, it was the model of a modern, “second slavery” in the Atlantic World as evidenced by cultural, economic, and political changes there to accommodate and promote the expansion of slavery. The former backcountry was exemplarily of “second slavery” because the region modernized to create a slave society, instead of modifying the existing colonial system of mass enslavement in the region. Enslaved people responded to these changes in the former backcountry by spreading their oral traditions in healing and religion, maintaining African traditions, and creating communities …

Why Are We Reading In This Class? A Qualitative Action Research Study On Implementing Critical Historical Literacy In A Humanities Classroom, Jerry Allman Goodnight

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to investigate the barriers to the acquisition of, and examine the impact of implementing, critical historical literacy in a middle school “humanities” classroom. This classroom, the first of its kind within the school district, blended the teaching of both 8th Grade Social Studies and 8th Grade English/Language Arts. Three research questions served as the foundational points of inquiry: 1) What are students’ perceptions of critical historical literacy practices in social studies? 2) What barriers prevent middle school students from acquiring historical literacy and critical literacy skills? and 3) In what ways …

"Remember Me": A Narrative Analysis On Latino Representation In Disney's Coco And Encanto, Angie Nicole Vega

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the authenticity of Latino representation in Disney animated films by reviewing the visuals, symbols, and themes incorporated into the animations. Using a narrative analysis method, the study examines themes present in the films, including characters, setting, music, and language, to uncover deeper meanings and cultural references. Through this analysis, the study aims to identify commonalities in how Latino culture is represented in mainstream media and to uncover any underlying messages or biases that may be present. The findings of the study suggest that both films showcase Latino culture in a positive and celebratory manner, highlighting the importance …

Horizontal Gene Transfer In Intergenomic Conflicts Between Bacteria And Their Genetic Parasites, Pavithra A.S

Theses and Dissertations

Bacteria are constantly infected by obligate acellular genetic parasites, such as plasmids and phages. The genetic conflicts between bacteria and their parasites, aggravated by horizontal gene transfer, exert significant ecological and evolutionary pressure on their respective genomes. The eco-evolutionary significance of parasite-derived elements on bacterial genomes is not well understood.

This study explored the genomics of plasmid-derived genetic elements such as antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), type II endonuclease toxin-antitoxin systems (TAs) and endonuclease colicin-like bacteriocin (CLB) operons, and phage-derived prophages of Escherichia coli using bioinformatics and developing novel hybrid agent-based models. We sequenced eight E. coli isolated from local wastewater …

An Assessment Of Drinking Water Equity In South Carolina: Access, Affordability, Quality, And Private Well Resources, Catherine Lippert Min

Theses and Dissertations

Universal access to good quality, affordable drinking water is a goal that has not yet been reached in the United States. Recently, national studies have investigated drinking water burdens including lack of access to complete plumbing, unaffordability, and poor quality individually. However, no study has examined all of these drinking water burdens together to identify communities facing multiple burdens. This study addresses this gap by analyzing disparities in access to complete plumbing, affordability of public water sources, and drinking water quality of community water systems in South Carolina and identifying communities that face multiple burdens. This study also provides the …

Exploring Heat Variations In Columbia, South Carolina, Michael Graeme Hohlfeld

Theses and Dissertations

As the leading cause of weather-related fatalities in the United States, the concept of heat as a hazard has been studied for decades, especially in the urban environment. Urban heat island research is limited by the fact that most investigate land surface temperature rather than air temperature and other variables that affect human comfort including humidity. This thesis utilizes a public network of weather stations in Richland County, South Carolina to investigate differences in heat between the city of Columbia, and more rural parts of the county. The study period was June, July, and August of 2022. Results indicate that …

How Latinx Students Experience A High School English Class In A Monolingual School District, Elisa Malinovitz

Theses and Dissertations

In an effort to address the needs of the fastest growing population at my school, I asked Latinx students to share their experiences of being in a monolingual English 2 classroom. Students also shared opinions about friendships, Latinx culture in school, and alternative methods of educating non-English speakers.

Through action research we can assess the exigencies of Latinx learners. Further study is needed to determine evolving needs and best practices for increasing the academic achievement for this population. Some possible solutions to Latinx students falling behind their hegemonic peers include incorporating Latinx culture in curriculum and school culture, as well …

Reconstructing Visual Narratives: Mary Colter, Fred Kabotie, And The Myth Of The West At Desert View Watchtower, Allison M. Foster

Theses and Dissertations

Desert View Watchtower opened in 1933 on the Grand Canyon South Rim, under the management of the Fred Harvey Company. The structure contains many self-contradictions, in terms of style and use. In this thesis, I argue that these contradictions come from the dichotomous motives of Desert View Watchtower's architect, Mary Colter, and her employers, the Fred Harvey Company and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. New western history theory of the Mythical West is used to explain Harvey/Santa Fe marketing, which created a narrative suggesting that Native American lifeways were going to disappear from the Southwest. I argue that …

Echoes Of Heritage: Documenting Contemporary Works From Singapore Featuring The Cello, Eunice Koh

Theses and Dissertations

Multiculturalism is prevalent in many countries around the world, including Singapore, and music is used as a way to reflect and represent cultural influences in societies worldwide. Singapore is a multicultural nation renowned for its diversity, and the fusion of influences from Asian heritages and Western cultures. This study echoes the heritage in Singapore, showing a brief history and development of the country, cultural integration, and representation of musical identity. The artistic tapestry of the country is achieved with endeavors from government initiatives and various music ensembles that contributed to the vibrant musical ecosystem in Singapore. This is represented through …

“I’M Speaking”: Black Women Leading School Public Relations, Managing Communications And Personal Challenges, Keisa Gunby

Theses and Dissertations

Operationalizing feminist communication theory with a critical lens, this research analyzes virtual, semi-structured interviews with 13 Black women who are integral to impacting organizational culture through the brand management and narratives to the stakeholder groups of employees, parents and community members for a public school district. This study aims to describe the oppression and invisibility of Black women in school public relations and amplify their voices as they lead the communication, marketing, and promotional efforts in public school districts across the United States. The interview transcripts were analyzed utilizing NVivo software through the first round of coding initial and the …

Reading Ecogothic Memory In Contemporary Southern Swamp Novels, Megan Caroline Brockhard Knight

Theses and Dissertations

The ecogothic is a lens through which to engage memory, southern constructivism and identity, environmental intervention, and the literature of the American Southeast. This project establishes a framework of literary criticism that defines the ecogothic, interprets memory as truth imagined, and identifies the position of memory in the environment as a construction with which it is necessary to grapple to understand identity. This framework, compiled of existing and original scholarship, is then applied to three contemporary swamp narratives written by three different southern women writers. The swamp setting creates a unique microcosm of gothic liminality, neither fully land nor water, …

In The Search Of Cosmopolitan Literacies: A Case Of Formerly Expatriated Language Teacher, Asiye Demir

Theses and Dissertations

Cosmopolitanism refers to becoming a world citizen who can live harmoniously with different cultures. Today, our classes in the United States have become diverse daily. While we teach students who can speak more than one language, our teachers are primarily monolingual and monocultural. Hence, teachers who can speak multiple languages are celebrated in the system (Pacheco et al., 2019). Expatriation refers to teacher mobility that can entail learning other languages and being exposed to different cultures. Expatriation, as a form of travel, is an essential construct for cosmopolitan literacies because cosmopolitan dispositions can be developed through traveling (Molz, 2006). Thus, …