Digital Commons Network^™

Blink-Related Brainwaves As Digital Biomarkers For Cognition Assessment During Complex Tasks, Lexine Carmlixa Sibert-Jolissaint

Theses and Dissertations

Blink-related oscillations (BROs) are neurophysiological responses observed in electroencephalography (EEG) following spontaneous blinking, reflecting the brain processing of new visual information. Prior research has demonstrated BRO responses across various cognitive states, such as resting, cognitive loading, and sensory stimulation, highlighting their potential as a non-invasive biomarker of brain function. We conducted the first investigation of BRO responses during a verbal fluency (VF) task, which is a complex, dynamic task state combining memory, visual perception, executive function, and language processing. Using publicly available EEG data from 22 healthy adults, we measured BRO responses over the left anterior frontal region corresponding to …

Investigation Into The Effectiveness Of G-C3n4 For The Degradation Of Indigo Dye In Aqueous Solution Via Electrocatalysis, Rolando R. Barron Jr

Theses and Dissertations

Indigo dye (IUPAC 2-(3-hydroxy-1H-indol-2-yl)indol-3-one) is one of the most used dyes in the textile industry worldwide with more than 40,000 tons produced each year. It can elicit adverse physiological responses in humans including vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal conditions, and it is toxic in large amounts. There is also evidence to suggest that indigo is a teratogen and genotoxic in aquatic life. Environmentally, the enormous amount of indigo used in the textile industry has caused rivers and waterways to run blue as well as severely impacting aquatic and plant ecosystems. The chemicals used in its synthesis are also …

Fairness And Robustness In Decentralized Federated Learning, Kaichuang Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Federated Learning (FL) has emerged as a privacy-preserving paradigm that allows multiple clients to collaboratively train a machine learning model without sharing raw data. However, traditional FL relies on a central server for model aggregation, which introduces a single point of failure and makes the system vulnerable to server-side attacks or breakdowns. To address these limitations, Decentralized Federated Learning (DFL) has been proposed, eliminating the need for a central server and enhancing system resilience. Despite these advantages, DFL faces critical challenges related to fairness and robustness, especially under non-i.i.d. data distributions and adversarial conditions. In this thesis, we propose a …

Climate Change And The Field Of Farm Labor In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Cody Richard Mortell

Theses and Dissertations

Farm workers in the United States are often vulnerable to adverse impacts of climate change, particularly extreme heat. This study explores farm workers’ climate change perceptions (CCP) as a mediating force in climate adaptation. Using latent class analysis, in-person survey data (n=404) from Lower Rio Grande Valley, TX (2024) and NOAA data were analyzed. Results were interpreted using Bourdieu’s field analysis framework and his notions of capital and symbolic power. Findings include: a social hierarchy with three latent classes of workers based on economic, cultural, social, and symbolic capital, which statistically significantly affected CCP. Workers in higher structural positions were …

Art And Effort, Saul Gabriel Dominguez Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Since childhood I questioned living and my life itself. I wondered the extent of our own free will since people live to cry, to hate, to think they’ve been born simply to die. I use philosophers and some contemporary fiction to portray a lens of living where we must romanticize the present, rather than an uncertain future, and remove the idea that there is a reason for our living. This method of present thinking is a characteristic of a life-well lived. The manuscript will largely be told from my point of view, a young aspiring author with limited experience, through …

Low Speed Water Tunnel Flow Testing, Humberto Cesar Grimaldo Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Water tunnels serve as controlled environments for simulating fluid dynamics, providing an essential platform for studying flow patterns for hydrodynamic effects. This report presents a comprehensive overview and refurbishment of the water tunnel system located at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, focusing on its design, operation, calibration, and visualization capabilities for fluid dynamics research. The water tunnel, originally installed in 1995, was restored and updated with structural repairs, including resolving persistent leaks and implementing an improved drain system. A calibration process using a pitot tube and differential pressure transducer was conducted to establish accurate relationships between flow velocity …

A Dg-Algebra Structure With Divided Powers On The Generalized Taylor Resolution, Raul F, Alvarez

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the construction of a DG Γ-algebra structure on the Generalized Taylor Resolution (GTR) associated with monomial ideals. The classical Taylor resolution is known for providing a free but generally non-minimal resolution, leading to computational challenges and inefficiencies in algebraic analysis. In contrast, the GTR preserves essential algebraic structures while optimizing the resolution process, offering a more efficient and comprehensive framework for studying monomial ideals.

We introduce a novel DG Γ-structure that incorporates divided powers into the GTR, enhancing its multiplicative and homological properties. This structure preserves strict graded commutativity and is fully compatible with the differential graded …

Linguistic (In) Security And Persistence In Doctoral Studies: A Mixed-Methods Study Of The Impact Of Metapragmatic Discourses On The Persistence Of Multilingual Doctoral Students, Germaine Tondji

Theses and Dissertations

Linguistic beliefs and practices in doctoral studies have often been overlooked, partly due to the assumption that advanced students face fewer language-related challenges. However, research on multilingualism in hypernormative academic contexts suggests that linguistic concerns persist even among the most educated. Multilingual doctoral students (MDSs) operate at the intersection of multiple linguistic and epistemic systems. In English-dominant, monoglossic environments, they must not only navigate the complexities of doctoral study but also reconcile competing linguistic and epistemic identities. This study explores the role of linguistic insecurity (LI) in MDSs' doctoral persistence through a mixed-methods design. The quantitative phase draws on survey …

Improving Home Security Through User Centered Device Positioning, Lalith Nadipalli

Theses and Dissertations

In today’s world, where technology is advancing rapidly and security threats are becoming more complex, the need for effective home safety measures is more critical than ever. Homeowners are increasingly turning to a variety of smart devices, such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and security cameras, to protect their living spaces against potential dangers like burglary, fire, and environmental hazards. These devices offer essential protection, acting as both early warning systems and visual surveillance tools. However, their effectiveness largely hinges on how well they are placed within the home. Proper placement of these safety devices ensures that they provide …

C-Band Air To Ground Communication System For Uav, Mubark Alghamdi

Theses and Dissertations

C band spectrum 5030-5091 MHz is allocated for command-and-control communication services with unmanned aircraft systems. This document evaluates the possibility of using 3GPP 5G standards for provisioning of such services. Channelization of the spectrum and major system parameters are proposed. The performance of the proposed system in channel fading environment is evaluated using MATLAB based simulations. The evaluations examine SINR, and average throughput of the proposed system at different altitudes of the unmanned aircraft system. MATLAB simulations are used to evaluate system performance in free-space environments. Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) and Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) are predicted at different UAS …

Developing End-To-End Imitation Learning For Asteroid Proximity Operations, Patrick David Quinn

Theses and Dissertations

Asteroid exploration remains a popular topic in the scientific community, however hurdles still exist for controlling spacecraft within the asteroid environment. Communication delays often require the usage of limited onboard computing hardware for navigation. Additionally, long mission timelines must be accommodated with highly efficient fuel use. Considering these issues, it is apparent that any guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system in these spacecraft should emphasize both computational and fuel efficiency in its design. Furthermore, the integration of a robust state estimation system is necessary for the successful deployment of such systems. The development of a controller aiming to address these …

Advancing Precision And Autonomy In Agriculture And Medical Imaging Through Ai And Computer Visions, Tan-Hanh Pham

Theses and Dissertations

Deep learning has revolutionized numerous fields by enhancing precision, automation, and decision-making capabilities. This dissertation explores its applications in agriculture and medical image processing, introducing novel methodologies to improve accuracy and efficiency in these domains. These fields hold critical societal importance -- agriculture underpins global food security and sustainability, while medical imaging drives advancements in diagnostics and personalized healthcare, both benefiting significantly from data-driven innovations. In agriculture, deep learning is applied to precision spray systems through droplet analysis. Specifically, a generative model is designed to create synthetic droplet images, addressing the challenge of limited training samples, which are expensive …

Cross-Dataset Fairness Evaluation Of Transformer-Based Sentiment Models, Sara Zuiran

Theses and Dissertations

With the growing exploration of Natural Language Processing (NLP) systems in decision-making environments, it is essential to evaluate technical and ethical aspects of the dataset and the NLP model to improve fairness. To assess fairness, the thesis examines demographic imbalances in sentiment classification models by evaluating transformer-based models fine-tuned on the Stanford Sentiment Treebank version 2 dataset (SST-2) against the demographically annotated Comprehensive Assessment of Language Model dataset (CALM). This work identifies performance disparities in sentiment prediction across demographic groups by examining sensitive attributes such as gender and race. The study evaluates both the RoBERTa and MentalBERT transformer models using …

Bridging The Gap: Enhancing Devops Security Through Comprehensive Threat Modeling, Ashutosh Jagdish Sonar

Theses and Dissertations

Today, security is an essential component of software development, especially in DevOps environments where rapid and continuous product release cycles are common. Systems are vulnerable to new attacks because traditional security approaches often cannot keep up with the pace of change. The threat modeling approaches used in DevOps are examined in this thesis, along with their advantages, disadvantages, and suitability for use in current software development processes. Well-known frameworks including STRIDE (Spoofing, Tampering, Repudiation, Information Disclosure, Denial of Service (DoS), and Elevation of Privilege), Attack Trees, LINDDUN (Linking, Identifying, Non-Repudiation, Detecting, Data Disclosure, Unawareness, and Non-Compliance.), Practical Threat Analysis (PTA), …

Stochastic Analysis With Operational Calculus In Reliability, Hend Hamdan Al-Jahani

Theses and Dissertations

Our dissertation models several reliability systems subject to occasional random shocks of random magnitudes W1,W2,..occurring at times tau0, tau2,..In Model 1, the underlying system becomes inoperational if it wears out due to aging specified by a monotone increasing continuous function Delta identifying system's wear at any time t>=0 . The system is deemed inoperational if delta crosses a sustainability threshold at some moment T=(delta )^-1(D). The precise time T is difficult to identify making the realistic failure time randomly delayed and thus identified at some opportune observation epoch. The system can also fail due to damages by external shocks, …

The Prototype Of A Fully Automated Pressuremeter For Various Geotechnical Applications, Anuar Akchurin

Theses and Dissertations

The geotechnical engineering field requires high-quality in-situ testing equipment that ensures consistency in the test execution. This research focuses on developing and testing a prototype of a fully automated pressuremeter control unit to allow the industry to obtain reliable and controlled stress-strain data, thereby improving efficiency and reducing testing time.

The objectives of this work are to design and develop a system with the necessary components to perform the pressuremeter test, integrate the testing procedure into the state machine design, enable automated testing, and validate the results by comparing the stress-strain data with that obtained from the existing hand-operated pressuremeter …

Alternative Robust Design Formulation And Exploration Strategies For Managing Uncertainties In The Realization Of Complex Engineering Systems, Pooja Mukundan

Theses and Dissertations

The design of complex engineered systems often relies on simulation-based models, which inherently introduce uncertainties. Managing these uncertainties is critical to ensure robust system performance. From a decision-based design (DBD) perspective, robust design metrics such as the Design Capability Index (DCI) and Error Margin Index (EMI) are employed to formulate and solve problems under uncertainty. However, existing formulations of these metrics rely on first-order Taylor series approximations for variance estimation, which are often inadequate in the presence of highly nonlinear or multimodal performance functions.

This thesis proposes alternate formulations of DCI and EMI, which use the multiple-point method of variance …

Trends In And Factors Associated With Science Achievement Among Fourth Graders In Saudi Arabia: A Secondary Analysis Of Timss Data, Reda Massawe

Theses and Dissertations

This secondary analysis examined trends and factors associated with science achievement among fourth-grade students in Saudi Arabia using data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Between 2007 and 2019, Saudi students consistently scored below the international average in science, with female students outperforming males by more than 30 points. The study addressed two issues: (1) reasons behind Saudi students’ underperformance and (2) limited research on contributing factors. TIMSS data from 2011, 2015, and 2019 were analyzed using descriptive, correlational, and regression methods. While trends across the years were explored, only 2019 data were used for detailed …

Trends In And Factors Associated With Science Achievement Among Eighth Graders In Saudi Arabia: A Secondary Analysis Of Timss Data, Roba Alzahrani

Theses and Dissertations

This secondary analysis examined trends in and factors influencing science achievement among eighth-grade students in Saudi Arabia, using data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). However, Saudi Arabia's performance on the TIMSS science assessments fell below the international average, from 2003 through 2019. In addition, gender differences in science achievement have been observed, with female students outperforming male students by 30 or more points. This study addresses two problems: factors associated with the lower performance of Saudi students on TIMSS science assessments compared to global standards, and the small number of studies which explored factors which …

Co-Designing Manufacturing Systems For Robustness And Resilience: A Decision-Based Design Perspective, Mathew Baby

Theses and Dissertations

Manufacturing systems (MSs) comprise various stakeholders associated with the manufacture and supply of products required by customers and are interrelated by the flow of materials and information. The interrelated stakeholders make system-specific decisions and stakeholder-specific decisions across multiple levels of a decision hierarchy to satisfy many conflicting system-specific and stakeholder-specific requirements that define system and stakeholder performances. Given the stakeholder interrelations and conflicting nature of system-specific and stakeholder-specific requirements, system and stakeholder performances are correlated and conflicting.

In the Industry 5.0 era, there is an increased emphasis on the creation and equitable distribution of value among all the stakeholders in …

Autonomous Defect Detection In Additive Manufacturing, John Samuel Poindexter Iv

Theses and Dissertations

Additive manufacturing (AM) is the process of creating a product by applying layers of material to build up to the final product. AM has revolutionized the field of manufacturing and has allowed more complex products to be manufactured at reasonable cost, quicker manufacturing time, and optimized material usage. Traditional forms of manufacturing were based on subtractive manufacturing, where by a product would be created by removing material from its source. AM is a new manufacturing process and faces significant challenges when it comes to manufacturing due to defects. Defects can vary from type and severity and can overall weaken or …

The Relationship Between Weather Variablity And Agricultural Land Cover Change In North Dakota (1997-2023) And Its Implication For Future Change, Sabrina Karim

Theses and Dissertations

Climate variability and weather patterns play a critical role in shaping agricultural land use and land cover (LULC), particularly in states like North Dakota, where agriculture dominates the landscape. This study explores the impacts of climatic factors—specifically rainfall, temperature, and Growing Degree Days (GDD)—on agricultural land cover (ALC) changes in North Dakota from 1997 to 2023, with projections for 2033. By combining historical analysis and predictive modeling, the research examines how climate variability has influenced crop dynamics and provides insights into future scenarios. The research uses advanced geospatial tools, including Google Earth Engine, and machine learning techniques such as Random …

Integrated Coastal Science And Dune Management: A South Carolina Perspective, Michelle Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, coastal dunes have been poorly understood from a societal perspective despite their protective role in attenuating incoming waves to reduce onshore flood risk. As developed coastlines promote strategies to design and maintain managed dune systems, it is necessary to ensure these strategies are optimized for dune health and resilience, particularly given the increasing threat of natural and anthropogenic stressors. This dissertation work aims to identify strategies that influence coastal dune management in South Carolina (SC), USA from an integrated approach, including a current use assessment, a mesoscale field-based study on strategy efficacy, and by incorporating a societal assessment and …

Thematic Geo-Inquiry In Seventh Grade Geography, Rebekah Driscoll Austing

Theses and Dissertations

With the growth of globalization, geography is an important subject for students of the 21^st Century to understand. Being adept in geography will aid our future generations to be able to use geographic skills to answer complex world issues. Unfortunately, geography has been a long-neglected subject of social studies; often considered boring and not worthwhile with teachers using teacher-centered curriculum methods and memorization. A teacher’s job is to provide appropriate experiences, materials, and context for students to construct and connect knowledge that is useful and beneficial to them. Through a constructivist lens, inquiry-based thematic units can be used by …

Out Of The Ashes: One Teacher's Journey Implementing A Blended Learning Intervention Integrating The Flipped Classroom Model And Student-Selected Independent Reading, Michael John Hockwater

Theses and Dissertations

Sixth-grade Academic Intervention Services (AIS) students at Wyndemere Middle School (WMS) in Western New York demonstrated a lack of engagement in AIS English Language Arts (ELA) class. In hopes of increasing their engagement, the teacher-researcher implemented a blended learning intervention that incorporated aspects of the flipped classroom model and student-selected texts. The results of this action research qualitative case study were promising, with many student participants expressing an increased sense of engagement and enjoyment of AIS ELA class.

On Finite Groups With Essential Dimension 2 Over ℚ, Michael Huggins

Theses and Dissertations

We determine all finite subgroups of Aut(X) which have essential dimension 2 over ℚ, where X is a minimal Del Pezzo surface of degree at least 5. Additionally, finite groups with essential dimension 2 whose order is divisible only by the prime numbers 2 and 3 are classified with the exception of the groups dic ₁₂ , C₁₂, and Dih₂₄, whose essential dimensions remain unknown, but may possibly be equal to 2.

Analysis And Derivation Of The Compressible Euler System With Nonlinear Velocity Alignment: An Investigation Into Collective Behavior, Mckenzie Meredith Black

Theses and Dissertations

Collective behavior refers to the observable patterns, actions, or movements that emerge within a group of entities, such as individuals, animals, or particles, when they interact with each other. In this study, we concentrate on the pressureless compressible Euler system, expanding it to incorporate a family of nonlinear velocity alignment. This extension represents a nonlinear iteration of the Euler-alignment system within collective dynamics, revealing intriguing asymptotic emergent phenomena such as alignment and flocking. Our investigation explores different types of nonlinearity and nonlocal communication protocols, unveiling a diverse spectrum of asymptotic behaviors within the system.

In focusing on the derivation, we …

The Effects Of Implementing A Project Based Learning Framework Into A 5th Grade Science Unit On Force And Motion In A Population Of Disadvantaged Students, Kristy Martin

Theses and Dissertations

Providing quality education that meets the needs of diverse populations and economically disadvantaged students is imperative in today’s educational environments. This research study investigates the effects of implementing a project-based learning (PBL) teaching approach as part of a fifth-grade science unit on force and motion. The implications on engagement, motivation, and student achievement on standardized tests were analyzed through a mixed-methods research approach. This study is grounded in the theoretical approaches of Constructivism and Social Interdependence Theory. Both concepts support PBL and explain the positive impacts noted by the research. The participants included 56 fifth-grade students, that were primarily African …

New Deep Learning Approaches To Classical Statistical Problems, Shijie Wang

Theses and Dissertations

The field of deep learning (DL) has received considerable attention in recent years. Thanks to rapid growth in computational power, the ability to collect massive datasets, and improvements in software and algorithms, DL is now routinely applied to areas as diverse as computer vision, natural language processing, and bioinformatics. At the same time, DL is only starting to be explored in the context of classical statistical inference problems such as bootstrapping, quantile regression, and mixture modeling. In this dissertation, we develop new DL methodology for three classical statistical problems: 1) weighted M-estimation, 2) joint quantile regression, and 3) mixing density …

Understanding The Through-Space Intermolecular Interactions Of Isothiourea Catalysts In Acylation/Silylation Reactions Of Secondary Alcohols, Ziyuan Gong

Theses and Dissertations

Through space interactions, including cation-π interaction, lone pair-πinteraction, steric hinderance etc. play a central role in organocatalytic reaction. They can control the reactivity or the selectivity of an organic reaction. Previous work in our group has already shown that the chiral isothiourea compounds can catalyze the acylation as well as silylation reaction of secondary alcohol with the possible cation-πinteraction between the catalyst and substrate. However, there is lack of study to understand how the delocalization of the positive charge would affect the reaction rate and whether some unexpected inter- or intramolecular interaction could help stabilize …