Digital Commons Network^™

Constructing Sculptural Wearables: Indigenous Steam Education At The Intersection Of Art And Science, Patricia Andersen

Theses and Dissertations

This paper describes an approach to STEAM education in which art is viewed as a unique discipline with distinct ways of thinking. The researchers developed and evaluated a STEAM education program to explore how art and science work together to expand and accelerate inventive thinking among Native American middle school students who participated in American Indian Services (AIS) Pre-Freshman Engineering Program (PREP). An important context of this project was the unique local environment and culture that included Diné (din-eh) culture in Gallup, NM. We hypothesize that integrating culturally responsive transdisciplinary art into an existing STEM summer program will increase students' …

Belonging Starts With You: Exploring Trust, Belonging, And Spiritual Connection In The Success Of Culturally Diverse Students In Higher Education, Moises Aguirre

Theses and Dissertations

Cultivating trust and belonging is essential for student success in higher education, particularly for students from diverse cultural backgrounds (DCB) who face unique challenges in developing these connections. Research highlights lower levels of trust reported by DCB students toward peers and institutions, adversely impacting their academic performance and social integration (Van Maele & Van Houtte, 2010). The urgency of these issues is underscored by the demographic evolution in Utah's educational system, with projections indicating significant growth of students' diversity by 2065 (Hollingshaus et al., 2019). Because of these projected developments, this study investigates how DCB students conceptualize and experience trust …

What's The Joke Princess?: A Qualitative Analysis On The Comic Representation Of Women In Disney Sitcoms, Julia J. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the comedic representation of women in recent Disney sitcoms (2019"“2025), focusing on the framing devices, stereotypes, and situational contexts through which gendered humor is constructed and reinforced. Drawing from existing literature on comedic archetypes, the study identifies six historically dominant comedic frames and reveals eleven emergent subframes that complicate, reinforce, or expand these traditional portrayals. Through qualitative content analysis and systematic coding of selected Disney sitcoms, this study identifies consistent character traits and comedic techniques that span multiple frames and contexts, revealing how these patterns influence audience perceptions of femininity. The study situates these frames within three …

The Effects Of An Undergraduate Peer Mentoring Program On Belonging And Success, Alexa Darracq

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if participation in an undergraduate peer mentoring program led to increased feelings of belonging and success compared to students who have never received BYU ComD peer mentoring. Outcomes were measured using pre- and post-experiment surveys and focus groups. This study had ten participants in the experimental group and 12 participants in the control group with seven participants from the experimental group who participated in the focus groups. Analysis of the results determined there were three key findings from the study: mentees benefited from the peer mentoring program, students signed up to receive …

School Leadership Preparation Program Redesign: Purpose, Process, And Perspective, Rebecca L. Gerber

Theses and Dissertations

This paper reviews a collaborative effort between Brigham Young University's Educational Leadership and Foundations (EDLF) department and five school districts to redesign the School Leadership Preparation Program. The initiative aimed to bridge gaps between the practical needs of schools and the offerings of the university. A qualitative case study was conducted, focusing on three key groups: EDLF faculty, school district leaders involved in the redesign committee, and recent graduates of the updated program. Through detailed interviews, valuable insights were gathered into participants' experiences and perceptions concerning six major commitments of the newly designed program. This approach provided insights about the …

Beyond The Pitch: Teaching Emotional Labor In Advertising Education Through An Action Research Program, Michael Joseph Mallory

Theses and Dissertations

As the advertising industry continues to expand, new graduates must navigate the profession in the face of increasing challenges. With competition in the job market growing and Generation Z valuing work-life balance, the advantage of quality advertising education becomes paramount. Current advertising education does not address the challenge of emotional labor that professionals will face in the field. With limited scholarship that explores emotional regulation, communication dynamics, and client relations in an academic advertising setting, emotional labor in advertising education is explored through a thoroughly documented experiential learning study. This study employs Participatory Action Research (PAR) to investigate, develop, and …

Selenium Nanoparticles Synthesized By Pulsed Laser Ablation In Liquids For Antimicrobial Applications, Tina Hesabizadeh

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to synthesize selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) by Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquids (PLAL) and investigate their antibacterial and biological effects, particularly their impact on cell viability and related biological responses. Spherical amorphous Se NPs were produced by irradiating a selenium target using a combination of bottom- and top-ablation protocols. After autoclaving, the amorphous Se NPs were converted into trigonal Se NPs. Se NPs were characterized by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The biological effects of Se NPs were quantitatively assessed through evaluations of cell viability and associated …

Secure Frameworks For User Motion Data In Virtual Reality, Jayasri Sai Nikitha Guthula

Theses and Dissertations

Virtual Reality is an innovative technology transforming industries such as gaming, healthcare, and remote collaboration. The increasing deployment of these systems results in the continuous collection of telemetry data, including motion patterns, hand gestures, and spatial interactions. This data is valuable for enhancing user experiences and optimizing system performance. However, it also introduces significant privacy risks. Unlike traditional digital footprints, motion data captures fine-grained physical behaviors that can be linked to individual users, making anonymization ineffective in preventing re-identification.This research introduces secure frameworks for user motion data in virtual reality, each proposed framework addressing privacy preservation from a different angle. …

Transformation With Genes To Improve Lipid Production And Barcoding To Identify Unknown Algal Species, Michelle T. Rada

Theses and Dissertations

With the rising demand for alternative fuels, algal-based biofuels are a promising, sustainable source that meets commercial interest while producing lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels. This thesis explored two studies, evaluating microalgae for their future potential in lipid yield for biofuel production.

The first study involved developing a cost-efficient electroporation protocol that allowed for the genetic transformation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii using the pChlamy_4 vector, which supports future cloning of genes to enhance lipid production. Parameters affecting DNA uptake and integration into algal genomes were studied: the effect of cell density, the settings of the electroporation device, and …

Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions Of Creativity In Education, Merve Topak-Jamsran

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between pre-service teachers’ self-reported creativity and their appreciation for students’ creative characteristics. The researcher replicated Kettler et al.'s (2018) "Teacher Perceptions of Creativity in the Classroom" study of in-service teachers. Specifically, the relationship among pre-service teachers’ creative self-efficacy, self-reported personal creativity, perceived importance of promoting creativity, and their preference for student characteristics in the classroom was investigated. Data were gathered using a web-based questionnaire e-mailed to pre-service teachers in educational preparation programs in a southern U.S. state. The study sample were 92 pre-service teachers who had completed at least one practicum or who were currently …

Multi-Scale Color Correction And Contrast Enhancement Via Leaf In Wind Optimization For Improved Weld Defect Detection In Non- Destructive Testing, Senthil Anand N Mr

Theses and Dissertations

Image enhancement is an essential process in numerous fields, including industrial inspection, medical imaging, remote sensing, and photography, as it improves image quality for accurate analysis and interpretation. Among the advanced image enhancement techniques, Focused Super Resolution (FSR) with Self-Attention Single Candidate Optimizer-based Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) is specifically designed for weld defect detection, while Advanced Image Enhancement through Multi-scale Color Correction and Contrast Stretching using Leaf in Wind Optimization focuses on enhancing the overall visual quality of images. Although both approaches aim to improve image quality, they differ significantly in their objectives and application areas. The FSR method concentrates …

Math Information Retrieval From Images Via Formula Extraction, Vector Embedding, And Multimodal Llm-Based Question Answering, Angel Wheelwright Crawford

Theses and Dissertations

Math Information Retrieval (MIR) aims to revolutionize the retrieval of math information by addressing the challenges in representing, retrieving, and producing highly specialized math content. In order to develop a robust MIR system, designers must be able to process math equations (MEs) to a format that different systems can use, which is difficult due to various formats math information are stored in, including visual images and document texts. To improve the usage of math information in varied forms for people who are learning and utilizing math, we propose three different methods of handling ME data. The first method is a …

Study Of Anomalous Variations In Seismic And Non-Seismic Parameters Using Machine Learning Techniques To Develop The Earthquake Forecasting Model In The Himalayan Belt, Senthil Kumar M

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding and forecasting earthquakes is not just about science it’s about saving lives, even as the dynamic and hidden nature of Earth's tectonic processes makes this an intricate challenge. The Himalayan belt is one of the most seismically active regions globally due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Investigating this region is essential for understanding highly complicated tectonic mechanisms and reducing substantial hazards posed to millions of people by persistent and intense seismic events. This study aims to enhance forecasting methodologies by applying machine learning techniques while dealing with the inherent challenges of geological complexity and …

Illness Severity And Marital Communication In Young Couples: The Moderating Role Of Marital Satisfaction, Jaime Lea Dick

Theses and Dissertations

The emergence of a chronic physical illness is unexpected in emerging adulthood and is accompanied by stress. Additionally, married partners of individuals with physical illnesses are likewise affected by the new diagnosis. Marriage outcomes of couples facing chronic illnesses together vary, being sometimes positive and sometimes negative. The current study examined the relationship between the emergence of chronic physical illness in emerging adults and marital communication of both the patient and partner, with marital satisfaction as a moderator. Gender differences are also addressed. From the Couple Relationships and Transition Experiences (CREATE) study, a nationally representative dataset of newly married emerging …

Performance Analysis Of University Wifi Using 802.11e Information Elements, Douglas Christopher Hales

Theses and Dissertations

Wireless networks, including IEEE 802.11 (WiFi), continue to become more important for many uses, including university classrooms. Factors that impact the performance of these networks have changed greatly over time, with increased scale at which they are used, and growing dependence of latency sensitive applications. In order to better understand the performance of current WiFi networks, a methodology was created to capture and analyze beacon frames with optional 802.11e information elements (IE), using Quality of Service enhanced Basic Service Set or QBSS load (channel utilization) and station count. This methodology is able to collect channel use more frequently than many …

Incorporating Industry-Standard Technical Writing Into A Materials Testing Laboratory, Caleb Levi Head

Theses and Dissertations

The fluid analysis and materials testing laboratories are crucial for engineering students to learn experimental procedures and data interpretation. Engineers spend a significant portion of their workday on report writing, yet many feel their undergraduate education did not adequately prepare them for this task. At the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, students were given an industry-influenced lab report template to expand their knowledge of the necessary information required in technical writing, thereby teaching and improving their technical writing skills actively. These reports were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively against previous submissions over two semesters in the mechanical engineering fluids and …

Algorithmic Optimization Of Filter Bank: Harnessing Rapid Convergence And Its Applications, Keerthana B Ms

Theses and Dissertations

A novel optimization framework is proposed for the design of both uniform and non-uniform filter banks, aimed at improving the accuracy and computational efficiency of biomedical signal classification tasks, with a particular emphasis on the detection of sleep disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.The proposed algorithm is grounded in multirate signal processing theory and aims to achieve Near Perfect Reconstruction (NPR) with minimal computational overhead. The process begins with the optimization of a uniform cosine-modulated filter bank (CMFB), achieved through iterative frequency-domain analysis and parameter tuning. This is followed by the derivation of a non-uniform filter bank via selective merging of bandpass …

Algorithmic Optimization Of Filter Bank: Harnessing Rapid Convergence And Its Applications, Keerthana B

Theses and Dissertations

A novel optimization framework is proposed for the design of both uniform and non-uniform filter banks, aimed at improving the accuracy and computational efficiency of biomedical signal classification tasks, with a particular emphasis on the detection of sleep disorders and Alzheimer’s disease. The proposed algorithm is grounded in multirate signal processing theory and aims to achieve Near Perfect Reconstruction (NPR) with minimal computational overhead. The process begins with the optimization of a uniform cosine-modulated filter bank (CMFB), achieved through iterative frequency-domain analysis and parameter tuning.

This is followed by the derivation of a non-uniform filter bank via selective merging of …

What Strategies Do People With Aphasia With High Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Report Using? A Qualitative Exploration, Abigail Irene Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored patterns in the communication strategies reported by people with aphasia with high versus low basic psychological need satisfaction. Participants with aphasia (12 females and 11 males) completed an initial experimental session during which the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNS/F) was administered. Following this session, participants completed a semi-structured interview in which they described strategies used during daily communication. Each interview was transcribed and analyzed through reflexive codebook analysis, with emphasis placed on the communication strategies they reported using. Participants were grouped according to whether their reported autonomy, competence, or relatedness on the BPNS/F were …

Varieties And Domains: A Syncretic Synthesis Of Law And Justice In India ( Including A Special Emphasis On Alternate Dispute Resolution), Amrith Bhargav B

Theses and Dissertations

From the abstract idea of Dharma that enabled the practice and sustenance of local custom and usage, law was defined without verbiage but in meanings and understandings. In the colonial age, law was constantly being defined and codified not just textually, but through projects of economies of politics, knowledge and power in a way that their transactional metrics produced social and cultural genres that changed India forever. In that state of play, lawyers and their associated players contributed to the emerging culture of power and dominance with their tool of making the law through cases and mainstreamed the colonial legal …

Detection Of Neuron Derived Cfdna In Blood Plasma: A New Diagnostic Approach For Neurodegenerative Conditions, Chad Alan Pollard

Theses and Dissertations

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are characterized by the progressive loss of distinct neuronal subtypes, yet current diagnostic tools are either invasive, limited in resolution, or poorly suited for early detection and longitudinal monitoring. This dissertation began with a proof-of- concept study using bisulfite-PCR at a neuron-enriched locus to detect cortical neuron-derived cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in AD plasma samples, establishing the potential of cfDNA as a marker of neuronal injury. Building on these preliminary findings, a novel framework was developed utilizing Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) to profile genome-wide native DNA …

Personalized Emoji Prediction Framework Using Personality, Emotion, And User Preferences, Mariam Lotfy Gaafar

Theses and Dissertations

Emoji prediction plays a vital role in digital communication by enriching text with personality, individual style, and emotional tone. However, existing frameworks primarily rely on user-generated text combined with statistical or language models, often overlooking the importance of individual user traits and contextual information. Recent research highlights that integrating user-specific features, such as historical usage patterns and emotional context, can significantly improve emoji prediction accuracy. Building on these insights, we propose a comprehensive emoji prediction framework that incorporates user history, personality traits, and real-time emotional context. We leverage the Pan17 corpus, which contains a sufficient number of posts per user, …

A Predictive Framework For Early Detection And Personalised Monitoring Of Parkinson’S Disease Using Artificial Intelligence And Large Language Models, Priyadharshini S

Theses and Dissertations

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a multifaceted and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that presents a spectrum of motor and non-motor symptoms. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential for effective disease management and improved patient outcomes, yet remains clinically challenging due to symptom overlap and diagnostic limitations. This thesis proposes a comprehensive and interpretable artificial intelligence (AI)-driven diagnostic framework that aims to transform the early detection, personalised monitoring, and treatment recommendation process for PD. The proposed solution integrates deep learning, radiomics, evolutionary optimisation, and large language models (LLMs), ensuring a highly accurate and clinically adaptable system.

The research begins by analysing T2-weighted 3D …

Fresh And Mechanical Properties Of Self-Compacting Concrete Using Kaolin Limestone Blend And Hybrid Slag Blend, Selesca Devi S

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the consequences of mono and hybrid natural fibers on the mechanical and fresh properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC), in response to the growing demand for environmentally friendly building materials. In mono fiber, Abaca fiber (AF) at 0.25% and 0.5% dosage, basalt fiber (BF) from 0.25% to 2% at 0.25% increments, and sisal fiber (SiF) from 0.25% to 1.5% at 0.25% increments were evaluated through slump flow diameter, T500, compressive and tensile strength. AF at 0.25% ensured good flow with 6.6% and 4.16% higher compressive and tensile strength over 0.5% AF. SiF up to 1% improved strength but …

Advancing Eye-Gaze Writing Systems With Computer Vision, And Dynamic Text Suggestions, Walid Abdallah Shobaki

Theses and Dissertations

Eye gaze writing, a novel interaction modality, has the potential to revolutionize communication for individuals with limited mobility. In our research, we investigated the deep learning algorithms efficiency for real-time eye gaze writing. We have compared many algorithms' performance in many computer vision areas, such as object detection in which we used first YOLOv8, the second algorithm SSD, and the third algorithm is Faster R-CNN, the second computer vision area is the image segmentation in which we used DeepLab and U-Net, and the last computer vision area is self-supervised learning we have used SimCLR algorithm. By evaluating these models on …

Design & Development Of Efficient Biometric Authentication And Key Agreement Schemes For Wireless Body Area Network, Aarthi S

Theses and Dissertations

Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) play a vital role in continuous health monitoring, where sensitive biometric and physiological data must be protected from privacy breaches and emerging quantum-based threats. Conventional security mechanisms are often inadequate due to resource constraints, scalability issues, and vulnerability to advanced attacks. To address these challenges, this research proposes a lightweight, scalable, and future-proof security framework tailored for WBAN applications, focusing on secure communication, privacy preservation, and quantum resilience.

An anonymous Certificate-Based Signcryption–Mutual Authentication and Key Agreement (CBS-MAKE) protocol is introduced to secure extra-body communications while ensuring patient anonymity. The protocol integrates Elliptic Curve Cryptography with …

Providing Instructional Literacy Videos Increases Literacy And Parent Engagement, Maryjoann Wilks

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract MaryJoAnn Wilks Providing Instructional Literacy Videos Increases Literacy and Parent Engagement 2023-2025 Thesis chair Susan Browne, Ed.D., Professor, Department Critical Literacy, Technology & Multilingual Education Master of Arts in Reading Education This qualitative research project explored the impact of a family literacy program designed to enhance third-grade students’ reading skills through the use of instructional videos and at-home literacy activities. Conducted in the town of Bridgeton, New Jersey, the study focused on themes of preparation, motivation, and participation to examine how families engaged with the program and supported their children's learning. Data were collected through observations, parent feedback, and …

Comunidades Y Vacunas: Findings On Vaccine Hesitancy In Latine Families With Autistic Children, Danica Leticia Limon-Mialkowski

Theses and Dissertations

Parent vaccine hesitancy (VH) and subsequent vaccine refusal for children has escalated in the U.S. over the past several years and is more common among parents with an autistic child compared to the general population (Zerbo et al., 2018). This is an important issue to address given that VH has led to a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases (DeStefano & Shimabukuro, 2019; Geoghegan, et al., 2020). Research shows that VH is affected by parent cultural background (Fombonne et al., 2020) and that minoritized groups are more likely to experience VH (48.1% in parents of color [POC] groups versus 22.9% in White …

White Students' Perceptions Of Campus Racial Climate And White Racial Identity Development At A Predominately White Liberal Arts Institution, Katie O'Brien

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to examine the perceptions of White students about campus racial climate at a predominantly White liberal arts college in connection with students’ White racial identity development and liberal arts curriculum. The research study aims to promote a better understanding of campus racial climate at PWIs from the perspective of White students to provide insights on ways to improve campus racial climate, specifically for students of color. The data for this project were primarily collected through semi-structured qualitative interviews with White students. Quantitative data was also collected in the form of a racial attitudes assessment …

Leadership Experiences Of African American Women Vice Principals, Shakisha Mccray

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation explores the lived experiences of African American women vice principals, an underrepresented group in educational leadership. There is a need to address the gap in scholarly research that disproportionately focuses on principals and European ethnicity. This study includes the voices and counter-stories of five African American women vice principals. Using critical race theory and Black feminist thought as theoretical frameworks, the study examines how race and gender influence their leadership experiences. Data was collected through interviews and analyzed to identify key themes. The research questions focus on how these vice principals describe their roles and responsibilities and …