Digital Commons Network^™

Fatigue And Healing Performance Of Asphalt Materials Modified With Nanomaterials And High-Polymer Asphalt Binders, Samuel M. Addai

Theses and Dissertations

Fatigue cracking is one of the primary distress mechanisms affecting asphalt pavement durability under repeated traffic loading and environmental aging. Although asphalt binders possess an inherent ability to heal micro-damage during rest periods, this healing capacity is often insufficient to fully counter progressive fatigue damage under field conditions. This thesis investigates the fatigue and self-healing behavior of asphalt binders and mixtures modified with nanomaterials and advanced polymer-based systems. Nanomodified binders were evaluated using Linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS) and Linear Amplitude Sweep with Healing (LASH) tests within the VECD framework to quantify fatigue resistance and healing behavior under different rest periods …

Integrating Multimodal Composition Practices In A Fifth-Grade Classroom To Enhance Student Engagement And Comprehension, Erin Beal

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of integrating multimodal composition practices on fifth-grade students' writing development. Specifically, it examined how multimodal opportunities influenced student engagement, content area understanding, and overall attitudes toward the writing process. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study utilized pre- and post-surveys to assess changes in students' self-awareness and dispositions toward writing. Over the course of the research study, data was gathered through anecdotal teacher notes, direct observations, and student work samples. Working both independently and collaboratively, students synthesized content material to create and present original multimodal projects.

¿Cómo Se Hace Translanguaging En Kindergarten?, Diana Marie Franco

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the use of translanguaging among kindergarteners and examined how students’ use of their full linguistic repertoire served as a pedagogical practice in a two-way dual-language, Spanish-world classroom. The findings indicated that translanguaging functioned as an academic and linguistic resource, supporting student engagement and participation in classroom learning. Students used their complete linguistic repertoires to clarify meaning, negotiate understanding, develop vocabulary, make cross-linguistic connections through cognates, and demonstrate emerging metalinguistic awareness. These findings contribute to the growing body of research supporting translanguaging as a pedagogical approach in dual language classrooms, especially in early childhood education. The …

Understanding Teacher Retention In A Christian Non-Profit School: A Qualitative Case Study, Faith Solomon

Theses and Dissertations

Faith Solomon UNDERSTANDING TEACHER RETENTION IN A CHRISTIAN NON-PROFIT SCHOOL: A QUALITATIVE CASE STUDY 2025-2026 Stephanie Lezotte, Ph.D. Master of Arts in Higher Education This qualitative case study examines the factors that influence teacher retention in a Christian nonprofit private school located in an urban community in the northeastern part of the United States. The study addresses a gap in existing research by focusing on how educators in faith-based schools understand the motivations and conditions that shape their decisions to remain in the profession. Specifically, the study examines how intrinsic motivation, faith identity, leadership practices, and relational culture contribute to …

Do I Belong Here?: A Narrative Inquiry Into Ableism, Accommodation, And Professional Identity Among Medical Students With Mobiilty Disabilities, Nicole J. Albano Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Nicole J. Robinson DO I BELONG HERE?: A NARRATIVE INQUIRY INTO ABLEISM, ACCOMMODATION, AND PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS WITH MOBILITY DISABILITIES 2025-2026 Ane Turner Johnson, Ph.D. Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Despite federal and institutional disability policy designed to protect equitable access to education, medical students with mobility disabilities encounter systemic barriers shaped by ableism, inconsistent accommodation practices, cultural bias, and exclusionary learning environments. This qualitative study sought to describe the lived experiences of undergraduate medical students with mobility disabilities within U.S. MD and DO programs. A qualitative narrative inquiry using Kim’s (2016) two-phase life story interview …

Transport Properties And Microstructural Development Of Co₂-Cured, Co₂-Infused, And Cold-Weather Concrete, Arlene Jane Looc

Theses and Dissertations

This research aims to advance the understanding of durability and transport behavior in emerging CO₂-cured and cold-weather concrete technologies. Limited work has examined long-term durability indicators such as permeability, resistivity, and pore connectivity in these types of concrete. To bridge this gap, the study evaluates transport properties alongside microstructural changes that govern the progression of hydration and the evolution of pore structure. This study measures transport properties, determines correlations between resistivity and fluid ingress, and analyzes the evolution of pore structure. To achieve this, the experimental program evaluated three concrete mixtures for external CO₂ exposure, nine for dry ice infusion, …

Analytic Solutions To Oceanographic Kinematic Property Equations, James Turbett

Theses and Dissertations

With the recent advent of large submesoscale drifter deployments, interpreting the timeseries of kinematic properties (KP) - divergence, vorticity, shear, and normal strain rates observed therein is a pressing issue. The evolution equations for the four KP are derived from the two-dimensional momentum conservation equations. The resulting equations, a nonlinear coupled system of ordinary differential equations, capture the submesoscale motion of drifters along fixed ocean surfaces, with time and space scales on the order of days and kilometers. This thesis builds theory around KP timeseries behavior by solving for the analytic solutions in the particular cases that one KP is …

Vibro-Seismic Approach For Remediation Of Near-Wellbore Damage, Mounira Ahmed Abdallah

Theses and Dissertations

The research highlights the importance of vibro-seismic technology in the oil and gas industry. The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate how the vibro-seismic method enhances formation properties which are porosity, and permeability. Ultimately, this will lead to improved productivity and its application to remove the wellbore damage.

The research discusses whether or not the formation properties will be enhanced by the optimized acoustic vibration formation parameters. The thesis details laboratory experiments on core plugs, and four key findings are presented. The experimental work first showed that the use of the proper and optimum parameters enhanced the porosity …

The Effects Of Functional Coaching On Increasing Functional Play Behaviors In Adults, Abby L. Pattengale

Theses and Dissertations

Play is a critical developmental context for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), supporting cognitive, social, communication, and adaptive skill development. However, many adults, specifically registered behavior technicians (RBTs), demonstrate limited engagement in developmentally appropriate play behaviors, which can restrict the quality of play-based interventions, which are essential for effective treatment. However, little research has examined interventions designed to improve adult play behaviors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of functional coaching on increasing adult functional play behaviors during therapy sessions with children diagnosed with ASD. Two RBTs participated in the study, and two children receiving …

Multidisciplinary Inverse Robust Co-Design Of Materials, Products, And Manufacturing Processes, H M Dilshad Alam Digonta

Theses and Dissertations

Realizing the design for Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) requires the materials, product, and manufacturing-process disciplines to be designed together. Because these disciplines interact and influence one another's decisions, coordination is needed among their distributed decision-makers. Their interactions are captured through the processing-structure-property-performance (PSPP) linkages, which must be established from limited, costly data. Moreover, each discipline introduces its own sources of uncertainty, and these propagate through the process chain to influence final product performance. The effective realization of the product-material-manufacturing system, therefore, calls for a co-design approach that enables the concurrent coordination of the interacting disciplines while quantifying and managing …

Spiritual Minimalism: Analytical Studies Of Selected Piano Works By Pärt, Górecki, And Tavener, Boran Zhao

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines selected solo piano works by Arvo Pärt, Henryk Górecki, and John Tavener to explore how theological influences are reflected through their distinctive compositional languages. Current studies show that scholars primarily concentrate on their choral and orchestral repertoire, while their piano works have not received enough attention. This study argues that their solo piano works carry the same of theological influence found in their choral and orchestral compositions.

Through historical, analytical, and theological approaches, the dissertation explores how their compositional techniques convey spiritual meanings in selected solo piano pieces. Pärt’s Für Alina and Variations for the Healing of …

Bridging Theory And Practice: Examining The Relationship Between Developmental Knowledge, Self-Efficacy For Emotion Support, And Teachers’ Responses To Children’S Emotions In The Classroom, Shea Elizabeth Ferguson

Theses and Dissertations

How teachers respond to children’s emotions in the classroom plays a central role in shaping children’s emotional development, a process known as emotion socialization. Although research has linked teachers’ emotion socialization responses and practices to important child outcomes, less is known about the factors that underlie teachers’ responses to children’s emotions. Given the importance of the early developmental years for building foundational skills important for long-term success, the focus of this study was on those working with early childhood and elementary aged children. Accordingly, this mixed methods study examined preservice teachers’ (1) developmental knowledge and (2) self-efficacy for supporting children’s …

Life Without Privacy: The Fragmented Line Between The Private And Public Lives Of Enslaved Women In Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Justine Casey Costa

Theses and Dissertations

Enslaved women provided the foundation for life and freedom for most children living in 19^th century Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Despite patrão (master) mistreatment and abuse, enslaved women in Rio de Janeiro kept the bustling port city alive and growing. Enslaved women both produced labor and reproduced labor. The exploitation of enslaved women took place by patrões visibly in the streets, and abolitionists exploited their stories through the spread of printed material to garner support for their cause. This thesis examines the fragmented boundary between the public and private lives of enslaved women in 19^th century Rio. Utilizing …

Exploring The Impacts Of Design Choice On Stem Identity And Content Knowledge In A Community College Introductory Biology Classroom, Amanda Mayes

Theses and Dissertations

There is a growing need to address the projected shortage of STEM professionals, with estimates anticipating a gap of 1.1 million jobs by 2031. This workforce demand is further complicated by persistent attrition in higher education, with only about 40% of students completing their STEM degree. Addressing both workforce demands and student attrition requires higher education institutions to meet students where they are and adopt innovative instructional practices that foster persistence in STEM classrooms. This study conducted a convergent mixed method, quasi-experimental design to investigate the impact of an I-STEAM design-based approach on content knowledge and STEM identity in an …

Eeg P300 Ai Classification And Accessibility Keyboard Control Using Openbci’S Ultracortex Mark Iv For Reactive Brain-Computer Interaction, Grant King

Theses and Dissertations

Brain-computer interfaces provide people who cannot feasibly control a keyboard and mouse with an alternative method to type, to move a cursor, or to generally issue commands and make selections. A non-invasive recording modality for brain-computer interfaces is electroencephalography, or EEG. The OpenBCI Ultracortex Mark IV is an EEG headset enabling relatively low-cost EEG acquisition using wet or dry electrodes. P300 is an event-related potential involving a deflection in an EEG channel's voltage typically 300 milliseconds after the onset of an "oddball" stimulus. A person's P300 response can be used to control a selector application. This study investigates classification of …

Embodying The Art: Reflections On Process And Performance Through The Mfa Acting Program At The University Of South Carolina, Olan James Domer

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis contains a collection of reflections on each role performed as a student enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts in Acting program at The University of South Carolina. The shows, The Visit, A Raisin in the Sun, Antigone, Twelfth Night, and The Importance of Being Earnest included a combination of undergraduate and graduate actors. Each chapter outlines the processes of an actor in preparation, practice, and performance of a theatrical role. In-depth discussions of audition material choice, faculty feedback, vocal and physical technique, challenges, successes, and points of personal growth are included for each performance. These reflections reveal …

Fraud And Focus: Examining Self-Control Strategies In Students Experiencing Impostor Phenomenon, Francesca Angela Catalano

Theses and Dissertations

Impostor phenomenon (IP) is a common experience among individuals in achievement contexts characterized largely by feelings of self-doubt, attributions of success that focus on external factors, and beliefs that one is “fooling” others about their competence. Current research suggests the effects of IP are complex (e.g., IP is associated with higher grade point average and productivity but also self-handicapping, psychological distress, and difficulties adjusting to college). To better understand these complex effects, this study proposes a self-control perspective for IP, where this phenomenon is seen as involving additional self-control burdens. Specifically, the study examines whether IP is associated with grade …

On The True Interstellar Anisotropy Of Tev Cosmic Rays And Its Implications For The Local Interstellar Medium, Noufel D. Maalal

Theses and Dissertations

Several ground-based cosmic ray (CR) air shower experiments have produced sky maps of intensity anisotropy in the energy range from 1 TeV to a few hundred TeVs with very high statistics and angular resolution. These measurements provide opportunities to study CR sources and propagation in the interstellar medium (ISM). Such studies present two major difficulties. Firstly, CRs are deflected by the heliospheric magnetic field on the last stretch of their journey to Earth. Secondly, measurements at different latitudes are difficult to compare, leading to uncertainties in latitudinal variations on the order of the observed anisotropy. Experiments usually assume latitudinal variations …

Friction Stir Processing Of Cobalt-Chromium-Molybdenum For Improvements In Biomedical Applications, Kaleb Kiyoshi Bates

Theses and Dissertations

Friction Stir Processing (FSP) has been investigated as a means of microstructural modification aimed at improving mechanical properties such as corrosion resistance and wear resistance of biomedical-grade cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (CoCrMo) alloy. FSP was successfully completed on high-carbon ASTM F1537 CoCrMo plates with operating temperatures ranging from 630°C to 850°C by adjusting spindle speed, traverse speed, and forge force. Hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance testing were performed, along with Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) to analyze grain refinement and phase structure. FSP produced grain refinement up to 97% relative to the untreated baseline across the investigated temperature range, with lower processing temperatures …

Receiving Isaac Again: Joy And Return To The Finite In Fear And Trembling, Jeffrey M. Matheson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis argues that joy is a constitutive but underexamined feature of faith in Søren Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling. While the text is often interpreted through sacrifice, silence, dread, paradox, and the teleological suspension of the ethical, these categories do not exhaust Johannes de Silentio’s account of Abraham. By foregrounding Abraham’s joy, this thesis shows that faith is not merely the willingness to surrender the finite, but the capacity to receive the finite again after it has been given up. Isaac is not only Abraham’s beloved son, but the child of promise, the visible form of God’s covenant, and the …

A Mathematical Model Of The Interactions Between A Collagen Lattice, Fibroblasts, And Fixed Surfaces With Varying Topographies, Mary Jenkins

Theses and Dissertations

Collagen is an important structural protein in the body, which plays a role in wound healing, particularly the contraction process. Collagen lattices have been studied for nearly 50 years to provide insight into wound contraction. In some cases, collagen interacts with surfaces that have fixed shapes, such as medical implants. Our model focuses on the interactions of a collagen lattice with such a fixed surface. We mathematically model a collagen lattice as a network of nodes connected by springs. We also model fixed surfaces that have various topographies. Our model includes fibroblast cells that connect to both surfaces and remodel …

An Analysis Of Heat Spread Through Smoldering Pine Needles, Timothy Keith

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this thesis is to calculate the average speed of flame spread through smoldering pine needles. We present two different models for doing this: the first is a very large system of ODEs meant to represent the spread of flame through individual needles, the second is a macroscopic model based on the porous medium PDE. Simulations are run for each of these models and compared to each other as well as to existing models and experimental results.

Learning Trajectories Of Online Batch Selection Methods, Luke Green

Theses and Dissertations

Modern deep neural networks achieve strong performance on large-scale datasets, but often require substantial training time. Online batch selection methods seek to reduce this cost by updating models on informative subsets of each batch rather than on all available examples. Recently introduced methods leverage teacher models and report substantial speedups, particularly in noisy-label settings. However, comparisons are often based on the number of epochs required to reach a target test accuracy, a coarse metric that is sensitive to implementation details and may obscure important differences in learning dynamics. In this thesis, we implement several online batch selection methods in a …

Advancing Data Usability, Activity Modeling, And Stability Optimization In Computational Enzyme Design, Spencer Gardiner

Theses and Dissertations

A grand challenge of computational biology is to computationally design, in a single pass, a protein sequence that catalyzes an arbitrary chemical reaction at a high rate under specified conditions [1]. This work details advances in three essential areas on the path to that goal: data quality, activity prediction and modeling, and stability optimization. The structure and implementation of the Allotrope Simple Model (a FAIR data format for many scientific instruments) was examined in [2], setting the stage for training deep learning models on high-quality experimental datasets from diverse sources. In [3], the limits of physics-based and deep learning tools …

Beyond Single Images: A Comprehensive Benchmark For Album-Level Vision-Language Understanding, Shawn Huang

Theses and Dissertations

Automatic album organization has been studied extensively over the past decades due to significant progress in digital photography. Recent Vision-Language Models (VLMs) have shown strong performance on multi-image understanding, making them natural candidates for automating album organization workflows. While VLMs’ abilities in multi-image understanding have been widely studied, their performance on album organization remains underexplored. To bridge this gap, we introduce AlbumBench, the first comprehensive benchmark for automatic album organization. Specifically, we (1) define album organization tasks as photo selection for album-specific user objectives, photo rating according to how well user intents are fulfilled, and album-specific photo grouping given a …

Split Alliance And Relationship Satisfaction In Couples Therapy: Examining Split Alliance As A Process Variable, Kyla Yetter

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined how different patterns of alliance development impact couples' relationship satisfaction, with a particular emphasis on split alliances. The retrospective sample of 1149 couples was taken from the IRB approved Marriage and Family Therapy Practice Research Network. Alliance was measured at each session with the Intersession Alliance Measure- Couples version (IAM-C). The outcome variable, relationship satisfaction, was measured before the first and last sessions of therapy with the Couple Relationship Scale (CRS). Split alliance was operationalized using standard deviation differences in partners' alliance scores, and couples were divided into three groups: 1) Never had a split alliance, …

Maternal Perspectives On Support Needs: Insights From The Fonofale Model, Sara Lani Ditto

Theses and Dissertations

This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) explored the lived experiences of parents raising children with disabilities in American Samoa. Five participants across two focus groups shared their perspectives on navigating educational, healthcare, and community systems while supporting their children with disabilities. Using the fonofale model as a cultural framework, the study incorporated culturally responsive methodology including card sort activities to facilitate dialogue on potentially sensitive topics. Analysis followed the Nizza et al. (2021) IPA approach, progressing from exploratory notes to experiential statements, clustered themes, and finally overarching themes. Findings revealed four major themes: systemic burden on parents, structural and service gaps, …

Respect And Aggression In Intimate Relationships: A Grounded Theory Of Relational Responsiveness, Aaron T. Fife

Theses and Dissertations

The negative effects of aggression in intimate relationships have been well documented through research and clinical literature (Lawrence & Bradbury, 2001; Shortt et al., 2006). Conversely, the positive effects of respectful behavior are well-known (Gottman, 1994; Dew & Wilcox, 2013). This important dimension of relationships is crucial to understanding what makes up healthy and unhealthy relationships. However, little is known about how couples understand the varying types of respect and aggression within intimate relationships, nor how they are lived and experienced relationally. The purpose of this study is to explore the dyadic processes behind respect and aggression as well as …

Toward Passwordless Document Encryption, Isaac Henry Teuscher

Theses and Dissertations

Document files with sensitive information are used across nearly every industry. In recent years, cyberattacks targeting cloud-based file transfer applications have resulted in millions of sensitive documents being exposed. Although document encryption methods exist, they are often limited in usability, security, or deployability. Password-based encryption, the most widely available option, remains vulnerable to brute-force attacks, unauthorized sharing, and human error. We address these gaps in three phases. First, we present a structured comparative framework adapted from the usability-deployability-security model to evaluate nine document encryption methods across 15 design properties, identifying the benefits and limitations of current approaches. Second, we design …

Likes, Lies, And Body Esteem: The Moderating Effects Of Age, Concealment, And Gender Between Social Media And Body Esteem For Utah Adolescents, Talise Hirschi

Theses and Dissertations

Social media use has become common among adolescents and contains many messages about one's body such as the thin and muscular ideal. Many parents are learning how to help their adolescent learn how to use social media, and some adolescents may conceal their social media use for various reasons. 588 adolescents (ages 11-18; 77% White; 55% female) from Utah filled out surveys about their social media use and body esteem each school year. In a two-wave cross lag panel model, specific aspects of social media use such as time spent on social media, problematic media use (PMU), and social media …