Digital Commons Network^™

Characteristics Of Flame-Turbulence Interactions In Freely Propagating Turbulent Premixed Flames Under Decaying And Forced Isotropic Turbulence Conditions, Robert Smith

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Turbulent premixed flames observed in energy conversion and propulsion applications are characterized by highly nonlinear, unsteady, and multi-scale processes. Previous numerical studies of freely propagating flames have utilized either forced or decaying background isotropic turbulence to provide detailed insights into the features of flame-turbulence interactions; however, none have made direct comparisons of cases where the turbulence decays or is sustained using a forcing strategy. This study compares the features of turbulent premixed flames via direct numerical simulations, where we consider both decaying and forced turbulence scenarios. Four turbulent premixed flames are simulated, corresponding to the thin reaction zone and broken/distributed …

The Impact Of An Adult-Focused First-Year Seminar On Tennessee Reconnect Students, Marci R. Reiter

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The state of Tennessee launched a promise program entitled Tennessee Reconnect (TnR) in the Fall of 2018, which was aimed at the state’s adult learner population and offered a solution for affordable education. With this introduction came pressure for institutions, specifically community colleges in the state, to increase the retention and completion rates of this population of students. One small, rural community college approached this challenge by offering both first-time and returning adult learners an adult-focused First-Year Seminar (FYS) course. The course, entitled Work-Based Learning Seminar (WBLS), looked to assist with not only the retention and completion issues of the …

Exploring Women’S Views On Intra-Gender Dynamics In The Workplace: A Study Of Impact And Change, Deidra L. Close

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine women’s intra-gender experiences in higher education workplaces and their perceived influence on future interactions and behaviors, as well as to explore potential relationships between relational aggression (RA) and the Queen Bee Phenomenon (QBP). Using the following research questions, the researcher examined how women perceive interactions with female supervisors, colleagues, and those exhibiting Queen Bee tendencies, as well as how such experiences influence their future workplace behaviors and interactions. RQ1: What have been the perceived experiences of women in higher education working with a female supervisor? RQ2: What have been the perceived …

Makerspaces And Academic Advancement In Hamilton County Secondary Schools, Caleb R. Bagby

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores the impact of makerspace integration on academic performance, attendance, and student engagement in Hamilton County secondary schools. Amid growing interest in experiential learning environments, the researcher sought to quantify the effects of makerspaces on ACT composite scores, graduation rates, attendance rates, and chronic absenteeism. By employing a mixed-methods research design, the researcher analyzed publicly available school-level data from the Tennessee Department of Education and qualitative interviews to compare educational outcomes before and after the implementation of makerspaces, as well as secondary schools with and without makerspaces. The quantitative findings reveal a significant reduction in chronic absenteeism following …

Dynamic Elements Of Synchronous And Asynchronous Learning In English As A Second Language Education: Self-Efficacy, Achievement, Persistence, And Satisfaction, Keith J. Brewer

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigated how instructional modality influences adult English as a Second Language (ESL) learners enrolled in a non-credit language program. Learners in this state-funded program were able to determine their own balance of synchronous, face-to-face instruction and asynchronous online learning based on personal needs and preferences. The study examined the relationships between instructional modality and learner self-efficacy, achievement, and course satisfaction among adult ESL students enrolled through a community college. A mixed-methods design was used to investigate learner outcomes across modalities. Engagement with asynchronous instruction was measured using data from the program’s learning management system (LMS), while attendance logs …

The Effectiveness Of Tablet-Based Education In Correctional Facilities Versus In-Person Education Post-Coronavirus Pandemic, Latoya M. Newson

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Education and workforce development programs, like vocational training programs, have been the cornerstone of programming for individuals in correctional facilities to reduce the likelihood of recidivism. During and after the coronavirus-19 pandemic, correctional facilities struggled to maintain their educational programs for justice-involved individuals. There is a need for a long-term solution to help incarcerated individuals in county jails to have equitable access to education and workforce development programs taught by highly qualified instructors. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of tablet-based educational programs versus traditional in-person instructional practices in correctional facilities. Since federal, state, and local …

An Evaluation Of The Onboarding Ambassador Program, How Sense Of Belonging Impacts Quit Intentions, Utamu Lackey

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the hospital’s onboarding ambassador program. The problem to be investigated was the rate of organizational members quitting within the first year of employment. The goal of learning from the program evaluation was to understand how the onboarding ambassador program and sense of belonging affected quit intentions among newcomers. Organizational socialization, also referred to as onboarding, is a crucial aspect of a newcomer’s experience as they acclimate to a new organization. The onboarding experience is a newcomer’s first impression of the organization (Cesário & Chambel, 2019). Effective onboarding provides role …

Decision Value Of Confidence Intervals Versus Significance Testing In Surgical Research: A Mixed Methods Study, Andrew Wilson

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The misuse and misinterpretations of statistical analyses in medical research have been discussed for several decades and many authors have suggested this has led to poor clinical decision-making. Significance testing, the conventional statistical approach in medical research, has been suggested to be the leading cause of the misunderstandings. Despite the extensive discussion in the literature, there is limited evidence on whether the problems in medical research are linked to the lack of usefulness of significance testing with clinicians’ decision-making process. The purpose of this study was to investigate what statistical information in published research articles surgeons found valuable for their …

Understanding The Effect Of Perceived Supervisor Unavailability On Job Satisfaction, Counterproductive Work Behaviors, And Intent To Quit, Paul-Augustin Wasner

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined the influence of supervisor unavailability on employee job satisfaction, counterproductive work behaviors (CWB), and intent to quit. We introduced perceived supervisor unavailability (PSU), as employee's perception that their supervisor is not present, reachable, or responsive when support is needed. Grounded in Job Demands-Resources and Social Exchange Theory, we looked at personal (role clarity) and organizational resources (perceived supervisor or PSS and organizational support or POS) as mediators of the PSU-work outcomes relationship. Data were collected from on-site and hybrid/remote employees. Perceived supervisor unavailability was significantly negatively associated with job satisfaction and positively associated with intent to quit, …

A Mixed Methods Study Of Sexual Harassment Attitudes Across Generational Cohorts And Gender And How These Variables Relate To Prevention And Intervention Efforts In The Workplace., Barbara A. Murray-Scales

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examines how generational cohorts (Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z) and gender influence attitudes and responses to workplace sexual harassment (SH). Grounded in the bystander intervention model, moral responsibility theory, critical theory, and critical feminist theory, the study explores perceptions of verbal, visual, physical, and digital SH. Data were collected through a survey instrument administered to professionals in higher education and related fields, which included quantitative measures and open-ended questions to capture lived experiences. Quantitative analyses explored differences across generational cohorts and gender identities, while qualitative responses were analyzed thematically. Findings revealed varied experiences of harassment, significant …

The Role Of Fairness, Transparency, And Feedback In Driving Motivation And Performance Among Employees In Incentive-Based Roles, Wesley C. Gibbs

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Pay transparency legislation and heightened employee expectations have made fair, transparent reward systems a strategic priority. Guided by Equity Theory and Expectancy Theory, this study examined how perceived pay fairness, reward transparency, and feedback quality explained self-determined work motivation among incentive-based employees, and whether relationships varied by career stage. Data were collected from two independent samples in incentive-based roles: an internet-based pool (N = 295) and employees from a large southeastern U.S. manufacturing organization (N = 91). Hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses revealed perceived pay fairness was a significant positive predictor of motivation in both samples. Reward transparency predicted …

Anxiety Or Advantage?: Detecting Malingered Symptoms In College Students Seeking Academic Accommodations, Samantha N. Dean

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Academic accommodations support equitable access to education for students whose mental health conditions meaningfully impair academic performance. Concerns exist regarding the potential to exaggerate or fabricate anxiety symptoms. This study examined whether cognitive tasks can differentiate credible generalized anxiety from malingered anxiety among college students. Participants were classified into probable GAD, malingering anxiety, or low GA control groups using a structured diagnostic interview and self-report measure. Participants completed working memory tasks (1-back and 3-back), a modified emotional Stroop task, and symptom validity tests. Malingering and probable GAD groups reported comparable anxiety symptom endorsement and severity. Working memory accuracy did not …

Legal System Support Of Crime Survivors And Attitudes On Justice, Izabella Leblanc

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Researchers have demonstrated the impact of victimization on mental health, and survivor dissatisfaction with legal processes and services. Recent literature supports the efficacy of restorative justice programs that started in response to retributive justice and its inability to directly address survivor harm. Thus, the current study examined how crime survivors perceive legal system support and attitudes towards restorative justice, with an undergraduate sample recruited from UTC’s SONA system and an online cloud-survey sample. Participants completed a survey that asked about their victimization experience(s), and legal system and restorative justice attitudes. Analyses examined mean differences between non-victims and victims, and subjective …

Loneliness And Social Support In Shift Work Employees, Jacob Lamprecht

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Loneliness, a discrepancy between the desired quantity and quality of one’s relationships and their current relationships, has been connected to increases in mortality, as well as lower job performance, reduced job satisfaction, and increased burnout. However more recent studies indicate that the recipient may not always perceive the support as beneficial, resulting in “unhelpful social support. The present study examined how helpful and unhelpful social support relate to loneliness among healthcare shift workers, a population that may be prone to fatigue and health risks. I hypothesized that helpful support would be negatively related to loneliness and that unhelpful support would …

Changes In Avian Capture Rate And Migration Phenology Across 37 Years At A Coastal Barrier Island In Georgia, Ryan Davenport

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Migration is one of the riskiest periods in a bird’s yearly cycle, and monitoring migratory trends helps us understand how birds are impacted by the changing world. Here, I present an analysis of 37 years of fall bird banding data collected at the Jekyll Island Banding Station in Georgia. Capture rates of Neotropical migrants on Jekyll have declined 50-90% in many common species, and the mean ordinal passage date of Gray Catbird and Western Palm Warbler have shifted 8 days later. Landcover analysis of the island yielded non-significant results; therefore, human-caused habitat change on breeding and wintering grounds are likely …

Supervisor-Focused Impression Management And Social Undermining As Self-Enhancing Responses To Perceived Job Insecurity, J. Luke Wiley

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Job insecurity has become a more prevalent and harmful issue across many advanced economies. The present study was designed to investigate two ways in which employees may respond to perceived job insecurity. We hypothesized that employees experiencing job insecurity engage in impression management tactics directed at their supervisor (SFIM) or social undermining tactics directed at their coworkers. We further hypothesized that these processes or effects were moderated by employees’ core self-evaluations (CSE). Data were gathered through targeted sampling to workers in the federal government (Sample 1, N = 91), as well as convenience sampling (Sample 2, N = 146). Results …

Personalized And Adaptive Therapeutic Music Generation From Biosignals Using Knowledge-Guided Multimodal Large Language Models, Amin Amiri

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Multimodal generative models are reshaping digital therapeutics by enabling real-time synthesis of personalized content aligned with a user’s physiological and affective state. However, existing systems remain fragmented across modalities and often lack a unified framework that can jointly represent biosignals, natural language intent, music, and video under long-context constraints. This dissertation presents an end-to-end multimodal large language model ecosystem for personalized therapeutic music generation that combines discrete tokenization, evidence-grounded reasoning, and stabilized preference alignment. At the representation layer, the dissertation develops a family of tokenizers that convert continuous biomedical and media signals into compact discrete sequences for transformer-based modeling. Harmonizer …

Attention After Adversity: Examining Temperament As A Protective And Risk Factor, Claire N. Beach

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Attentional control (AC) is an executive function referring to the ability to attend to pertinent information in the face of distractions. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are characterized by various forms of abuse and neglect experienced before the age of 18. Temperament is an early-appearing variation in attention-related self-regulation that is thought to be largely influenced by genetics. This study assessed the effect of ACEs on attentional control, the role of temperament as a protective/risk factor, and individual differences through eyetracking. Results showed no direct relationship between ACEs and attentional control, however, ACEs were consistently associated with higher negative affect and …

Thermodynamic Evaluation Of Cobalt-Ferrite Based Redox Reactions For Solar Thermochemical Conversion Of Co2 Into Fuels, Tavine S. Legore-Lewis

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The solar thermochemical conversion of carbon dioxide into synthetic fuels represents a promising pathway for mitigating anthropogenic CO₂ emissions while enabling the production of carbon neutral energy carriers. This study investigates the use of cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) as a redox-active metal oxide for two step solar thermochemical CO₂ splitting to produce carbon monoxide, a key component of syngas. Analysis showed that increasing εgg from 0.0 to 0.95, consistently strengthened heat recovery in the inert‑gas and oxygen cooling stages, which in turn sharply reduced the auxiliary heating loads for both Ar and CO₂. These reductions propagated through the system, lowering the …

Investigating The Pursuit Of Prosocial Goals Among Neurodivergent Adults: A Naturalistic Prospective Memory Study, Benjamin L. Hicks

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Neurodiversity refers to natural variations in neurological development and cognitive functioning. Individuals who diverge from typical developmental trajectories, commonly referred to as neurodivergent, often include those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Neurodivergent adults have received empirical spotlight, particularly in lab-based paradigms, in the field of prospective memory (PM), defined as the ability to remember and carry out intentions in the future. The current study (N = 62) employed a 2 (Group: Neurotypical vs. Neurodivergent) X 2 (Goal Type: Prosocial vs. Self-Interested) mixed factor design examining the impact of prosocial motivation on everyday prospective memory performance between …

The Impact Of Framing Effects And Moral Values On Prosocial Engagement, Olajuwon Olagbegi

Dissertations

Framing effects can shape perceptions, beliefs and behavior, particularly in prosocial contexts. The current study examined how language framing (social justice, social activism, volunteerism) and moral values influence interest in prosocial engagement across low- and high-cost helping scenarios. Participants (N = 219) were randomly assigned to one of three framing conditions and reported willingness to help in both low- and high-cost situations. They also completed the Moral Foundations Questionnaire. Replicating prior work (Olagbegi and colleagues, 2024), participants were more willing to engage in low- than high-cost helping. Across conditions, social justice framing elicited the greatest willingness to help. Higher fairness …

An Assessment Of The Deep And Coastal Responses To Hurricane Passage In The Gulf Of Mexico, Using Complementary Observational Records And Model Simulations, Senam Kofi Tsei

Dissertations

In this dissertation, I examine and discuss different ocean features and ocean processes essential to the intensification of tropical cyclones in the Gulf of Mexico, drawing on observations, theory, and numerical model analyses across both the deep ocean and continental shelf-regimes. In the deep ocean, I integrate in situ measurements, theoretical framework, a 1D shear driven mixed layer model, and a high resolution model outputs to evaluate how salinity-driven stratification, Loop Current warm core eddies, pre-existing warm mixed layer temperatures, and the governing mechanisms mixed layer adjustment shape the upper ocean response before, during, and after storm passage. In the …

Comparison Of The Effects Of Participation In Early Childhood Education On Readiness Outcomes, Pre- And Post-Covid-19 In A South Texas District, Maria J. Valadez Gonzales

Theses and Dissertations

This study will investigate and gather quantitative data noting if a learning gap exists when evaluating reading data of students participating in a high-quality learning program in 2020 due to the pandemic. RQ1: What gaps are evidenced by progress monitoring TPRI/TJL data from 2019 Beginning of Year (BOY) Kinder pre-pandemic when compared to 2020 post-pandemic BOY data in First grade for educationally disadvantaged students in a South Texas school district? RQ2: Do students who attend these ECE high quality prekinder programs show differing levels of academic achievement utilizing progress monitoring assessments in reading for Kinder – First grades (Wyse et …

Optimizing Citriculture In South Texas With Endemic Hlb, Ruth Lilia Galan

Theses and Dissertations

The Texas citrus industry has a long history of resilience, rebounding from environmental and economic disasters. Over the last decade it has endured several hurricanes, freezes, pests and diseases. Huanglongbing (HLB), a graft-transmissible disease caused by Gram-negative bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus which is vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama), is an endemic citrus disease posing serious threat to the long-term viability of the industry. Rapid production of high quality nursery trees and effective protection of young citrus transplants from HLB are critical for long term sustainability of citriculture in this region. Studies were performed to improve …

Phenotypic Contribution And Regulation Of Vibrio Parahaemolyticus Cold-Shock Protein Homologue Vp1889, Oleg Borisovich Ermolinsky

Theses and Dissertations

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the primary causative agent of a form of gastroenteritis called vibriosis commonly acquired from ingestion of raw and undercooked seafood. The primary mitigation of seafood-borne illnesses is immediate storage on ice following catch, which inhibits bacterial metabolism and replication. Mesophilic bacteria such as V. parahaemolyticus induce expression of cold-shock proteins in a process named the cold shock response, which facilitates survival at low temperatures. V. parahaemolyticus bears 3 homologues of the major Escherichia coli cold-shock protein CspA, an RNA chaperone. Induction of E. coli CspA at low temperatures depends on autogenous modulation by its mRNA structure, which …

Learning Adaptive Control For Safe Collaborative Autonomous Driving, Fabian Alexis Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

Connected autonomous vehicles improve urban driving through collaborative perception via Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication. Frameworks such as V2Xverse leverage this collaboration for planning and perception, yet their controllers rely on fixed parameters that cannot adapt to varying traffic. Control Barrier Functions (CBFs) enforce safety by constraining actions within a safe set, but a fixed barrier gain imposes a single operating point: conservative settings reduce throughput while permissive settings under-react to hazards.

This research proposes an adaptive CBF framework that learns state-dependent, class-specific barrier gains via constrained Reinforcement Learning (RL). A compact policy outputs separate gains for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles, parameterizing …

“Oh, Hey, Miss, Why Am I Taking This Test?”: Amplifying The Critical Voices Of Long-Term Emergent Bilinguals From The Rgv On Telpas, Luisa Adriana Valdez

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative narrative study examines the lived experiences of seven Long-Term Emergent Bilinguals (LTEBs) in Texas public schools, with a particular focus on the TELPAS test and its role in shaping students’ academic trajectories. Grounded in decolonial theory and a raciolinguistic ideological perspective, the study investigates how state-mandated English proficiency assessments and identification practices reproduce inequities and racialized linguistic hierarchies. Using pláticas as a culturally sustaining methodological approach, narrative accounts were collected from seven U.S.-born, Spanish-English bilingual Latinx students from the Rio Grande Valley. Findings reveal that the home language survey and TELPAS language proficiency assessment function as colonial sorting …

Combinatorial Statistics Witnessing An Infinite Family Of Congruences For A Sum Of Partition Functions, Jena M. Gregory

Theses and Dissertations

In 2007, Kronholm established The Interval Theorem, infinite families of congruences in arithmetic progression, modulo any prime ��, for ��(��, ��), the function enumerating the partitions of �� into parts whose sizes come from the set {1, 2, … , ��}. In 2022, Eichhorn, Kronholm, and Larsen proved there are combinatorial statistics described in terms of the multiplicities of the part sizes that witness Kronholm’s Interval Theorem. Here, “witness" means given a congruence of the form ��(��, ��) ≡ 0 (mod ��), we can use these statistics to classify the set of partitions of �� into �� equally sized subsets …

Shifting The Gaze: What Do High School Ela Teachers Mean When They Talk About Literacy For Students In Their On-Level Classes?, Yvonne Ceynow

Theses and Dissertations

This critical narrative inquiry explored how six high school English Language Arts (ELA) teachers defined literacy for students sitting in their on-level classes. By shifting the focus from student performance to teacher meaning-making, this research sought to understand how foundational beliefs about literacy shaped instructional and pedagogical decisions. Data was collected through digital journal entries, semi-structured interviews, and instructional artifacts. Using a thematic analysis approach, five interconnected themes emerged: the pervasive use of deficit-based language to describe on-level students; the perception of this group as high-need, requiring extensive scaffolding; the belief that socioeconomic status and parental support were key differentiating …

Developing Ai Literacy In Preservice Stem Teachers: Exploring The Role Of Pedagogically Grounded Engagement With Generative Ai In Lesson Planning, Omar Raul Elizondo

Theses and Dissertations

The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is introducing new opportunities and challenges in education. This qualitative multiple-case study explored how preservice STEM teachers developed AI literacy through structured engagement with GenAI during inquiry-based lesson planning. Grounded in Ng et al.’s (2021) four-domain AI literacy framework, the 5E instructional model, and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the study examined how preservice teachers conceptualized, applied, evaluated, and ethically reasoned about GenAI-supported outputs while designing lessons aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

Participants were three preservice STEM teachers enrolled in the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s …