Digital Commons Network^™

Towards Zero Response Time Modified Sensors: Synthesis, Characterization, And Deposition Of Edot-Decorated Porous Nanocapsules And Simulations Of Mass Transport In Polymeric Films On Sensor Surfaces, Bradley Hambly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The response time of chemical sensors is a critical performance characteristic that may determine their utility in a variety of applications. The rate-determining step, which controls the response time, can be either mass transport or the rate of a chemical/electrochemical reaction. To optimize the response of membrane-based sensors, we developed voltammetric methods for the determination of diffusion coefficients in polymeric membranes and demonstrated the influence of water and ion transport on the short- and long-term behavior of solid contact ion-selective electrodes (SC-ISEs). SC-ISEs are multi-layer systems with a conductive polymer (CP) film sandwiched between an ion-selective membrane and a base …

On Transcribing Richard Wagners Siegfried Idyll For 21st-Century Wind Ensemble Instrumentation, Brian Edward Hodge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This project contains a transcription of Wagners Siegfried Idyll for wind band. The dissertation project includes documentation as to the transcription process, as well as historical references for Richard Wagner and for two previously transcribed contrasting approaches with Lucien Cailliets Elsas Procession to the Cathedral and Micheal Votta/John Byrds adaptation of Trauermusik. A detailed theoretical analysis of the original work is presented to contextualize the transcription process.

Walks And Games On Graphs, Rebekah Herrman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Herrman, Rebekah Ph.D. The University of Memphis, May 2020. Walks and Games on Graphs. Major Professor: B\'ela Bollob\'as, Ph.D.Chapter 1 is joint work with Dr. Travis Humble and appears in the journal Physical Review A. In this work, we consider continuous-time quantum walks on dynamic graphs. Continuous-time quantum walks have been well studied on graphs that do not change as a function of time. We offer a mathematical formulation for how to express continuous-time quantum walks on graphs that can change in time, find a universal set of walks that can perform any operation, and use them to simulate basic …

Sing It First: The Pedagogy Of Wycliffe Gordon, Thomas Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

ABSTRACTJohnson Jr., Thomas E., DMA. The University of Memphis. August 2020. Sing It First: The Pedagogy of Wycliffe Gordon. Major Professor: John Mueller, DMA.This document presents the pedagogical techniques and materials recommended by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon. Gordon is an internationally renowned performer, composer, arranger, and educator. He has recorded twenty-one albums as a leader and eight albums as a co-leader. Gordon has received numerous awards including Trombonist of the Year and Best Trombone from the Jazz Journalists Association and Downbeat Magazine respectively. Gordon is a veteran member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. He is …

First Destination Survey 2020: For Degrees Awarded December 2019-August 2020, Hart Career Center, Illinois Wesleyan University

First Destination Survey

No abstract provided.

Extremal Graph Theory And Dimension Theory For Partial Orders, David Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This dissertation analyses several problems in extremal combinatorics.In Part I, we study the following problem proposed by Barrus, Ferrara, Vandenbussche, and Wenger. Given a graph H and an integer t, what is the minimum number of coloured edges in a t-edge-coloured graph G on n vertices such that G does not contain a rainbow copy of H, but adding a new edge to G in any colour creates a rainbow copy of H? We determine the growth rates of these numbers for almost all graphs H and all t e(H).In Part II, we study dimension theory for finite partial orders. …

Machine Learning Approaches For Biomarker Identification And Subgroup Discovery For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Liangqun Lu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder caused by environmental and genetic factors resulting from alterations in genetic variation, epigenetic changes and neuroimaging characteristics. There is a pressing need to identify reliable molecular and physiological biomarkers for accurate diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment, as well to deepen the understanding of PTSD pathophysiology. Machine learning methods are widely used to infer patterns from biological data, identify biomarkers, and make predictions. The objective of this research is to apply machine learning methods for the accurate classification of human diseases from genome-scale datasets, focusing primarily on PTSD.The DoD-funded Systems Biology of PTSD Consortium …

Determining Journal Article Impact In The School Psychology Literature Through Bibliometric Analyses, Patrick Mcnicholas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Bibliometric analyses have been the primary form of examining and evaluating literature within a field of study. By focusing on citation count and source, researchers have been able to identify journal articles considered to be high impact in reach and relevance, branding them citation classics in a field (Garfield, 1977, 1979). As time progresses, technology, methods, and metrics for conducting these analyses have improved, and although there have been several studies designed to identify citation classics and patterns of citations supporting them in school psychology literature (e.g., Liu & Oakland, 2016; Price, Floyd, Fagan, & Smithson, 2011), none have done …

How Preschool Teachers Use Book Sharing Strategies To Build Academic Language Skills, Lorraine Ann Meiners-Lovel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

AbstractMeiners-Lovel, Lorraine A. PhD. The University of Memphis. Preschool Teachers Use of Book Sharing Strategies to Build Academic Language Skills. May, 2020. Emily Thrush, PhD. ArrayIt is essential to understand the role of preschool teachers in the linguistic preparation of young children for kindergarten and elementary school. This understanding becomes even more important as more American preschoolers attend group care and public universal pre-kindergarten becomes more common. Children must master the variety of language known as the academic register, academic language, or school language in order to be academically successful. Preschool teachers need to understand the features of academic language …

Research In Emerging Financial Technologies, Jonathan Lee Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

In chapter one we investigate the price clustering of non-fiat cryptocurrency exchange rates or the pricing of items in cryptocurrency such as bitcoin, which has been accepted as payment at a growing list of companies. For litecoin, a non-fiat currency, priced in terms of satoshi, one hundred millionth of a bitcoin, over 35% are priced at 100 satoshi increments, providing support for the negotiation hypothesis. There is also strategic pricing at 1 satoshi below or above the 100 satoshi increments. At the transaction level, we find that prices are mainly formed due to negotiations and strategic trading, instead of based …

Transactional Distance In Middle And High School Online Learning Environments: An Empirical Study, Silas Njoroge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Understanding the communication gap due to the separation of teachers-students and students-students in online learning environments can have a profound impact on improving online learning. Moores Transactional Distance Theory (TDT) is an important pedagogical theory in distance learning that can be used to gain a better understanding of K-12 distance education practices. This study sought to empirically verify the theory by investigating the relationship of dialogue, structure, learner autonomy, and transactional distance (TD) perceived by students in K-12 Online Learning Environments (OLE). The study also investigated the effect of environmental and demographic factors on TD. Participants were selected from online …

Approaches For Analyzing Multivariate Mixed Endpoints With High-Dimensional Covariates., Yunusa Olufadi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

In clinical trials and observational studies, clinicians often observe measurements on multiple causes of clinical progression or synthesize information from various sources. These measurements are collected because a single outcome is usually inadequate to describe the disease complexities or because the primary outcomes of interest are abstract constructs (e.g., quality of life, disease conditions) that cannot be measured directly. It is usually necessary to collect multiple endpoints in order to fully understand the true associations that exist among several clinical outcomes and how they jointly affect the primary outcomes. In addition, such datasets are often useful for characterizing treatment effectiveness, …

Development Of Forecasting And Scheduling Methods And Data Analytics Based Controls For Smart Loads In Residential Buildings., S M Mahfuz Alam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

A smart building is the one that is equipped with automated systems such as lighting, shading, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC), etc., for fulfilling consumers demand. An efficient load forecasting system helps the building energy management system (BEMS) schedule the loads, operate the energy sources and energy storage systems effectively during peak hours to reduce cost of energy and remove burden on the grids. Furthermore, the load scheduling is a key element for demand side management (DSM) system to actively participate in demand response program. Researchers have been investigating on improved and effective load forecasting and load scheduling methods over …

Multivariate Modeling Of Cognitive Performance And Categorical Perception From Neuroimaging Data, Rakib Al-Fahad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

State-of-the-art cognitive-neuroscience mainly uses hypothesis-driven statistical testing to characterize and model neural disorders and diseases. While such techniques have proven to be powerful in understanding diseases and disorders, they are inadequate in explaining causal relationships as well as individuality and variations. In this study, we proposed multivariate data-driven approaches for predictive modeling of cognitive events and disorders. We developed network descriptions of both structural and functional connectivities that are critical in multivariate modeling of cognitive performance (i.e., fluency, attention, and working memory) and categorical perceptions (i.e., emotion, speech perception). We also performed dynamic network analysis on brain connectivity measures to …

Performance Beyond Ability: Exploring The Relationship Between Motivation And Mathematics Achievement At Community Colleges, Ezell Wesley Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Mathematics achievement, both in high school and early in college, is one of the strongest predictors of college completion. Research has shown that math interest, utility, engagement, self-efficacy, and identity are related to mathematics achievement. Hence, this study uses structural equation modeling to evaluate Fords (2017) empirical model linking mathematics beliefs and achievement, which expanded on Eccles model of achievement-related choices (2005) and Middletons model of mathematics achievement (2013). This study also moves beyond the Allen (2019) limitations by exploring institutions that are different in geographic locations. With the new expanded scope, this study adds to the growing body of …

Administrators' Benevolent And Corrective Humor And Suspensions Of African American School Age Females, Roslyn E. Bacon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

African American female students suspension rates are rising and outpacing those of all categories of students, including African American males. This is due, in part, to an administrators over-reliance on zero-tolerance disciplinary policies, as well as a teachers negative perception of African American female students. Soaring rates of suspension contribute to school disengagement, high dropout rates, and a formidable risk of involvement in the school to prison pipeline. In addition to the toll these risks take on human lives, society loses the benefit of human productivity, taxable wages, and stable, thriving communities. As attention to the rising rate of suspension …

Engaging Critical Reflection And Authenticity In Higher Education: A Narrative Inquiry Into The Roles Of Educators In Architecture Education, Jennifer Barker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

In the 1980s, Donald Schn put forth his ideas on reflective practice that involved the architectural studio, and in particular, the tutorial interaction, as a model for knowing-in-action, reflection-in-action, and reflection-on-action. Schn (1984) noted, however, that the faculty involved appeared not to reflect on this reflective practice. With a history of apprenticeship, architectural education is dominated by the studio and while many architectural educators appreciate the attention Schns work has brought to the pedagogical model, others feel that more is demanded to shift it from a historically teacher-centered model, to one that is learner-centered (Webster, 2004, 2008; Mewburn, 2011). Calls …

A Closer Look At Eighth Grade Special Education Students Performance On High Stakes Testing: Examining The Compounding Effects Of Socioeconomic Status And Mobility Rate On Test Scores, Mary Brewer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Despite the fact that the US spends millions of dollars on testing and instructional resources for students with exceptionalities (SWE) to participate on state tests, performance continues to be significantly below their general education peers. In an effort to determine if any additional factors may play a role in the performance discrepancy, two other factors, socio-economic status (SES) and mobility rate, were analyzed. Data from the Florida State Department of Education was used because of the public availability, the proposed generalizability of such a diverse state, and Florida being one of three states with the largest population of public education …

Identifying A Customer Centered Approach For Urban Planning: Defining A Framework And Evaluating Potential In A Livability Context, Golnaz Sarram

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

In transportation planning, public engagement is an essential requirement forinformed decision-making. This is especially true for assessing abstract concepts such aslivability, where it is challenging to define objective measures and to obtain input that canbe used to gauge performance of communities. This dissertation focuses on advancing adata-driven decision-making approach for the transportation planning domain in thecontext of livability. First, a conceptual model for a customer-centric framework fortransportation planning is designed integrating insight from multiple disciplines (chapter1), then a data-mining approach to extracting features important for defining customersatisfaction in a livability context is described (chapter 2), and finally an appraisal of …

Algorithmic Methods For Large-Scale Genomic And Metagenomic Data Analysis, Quang Tran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

DNA sequencing technologies have advanced into the realm of big data due to frequent and rapid developments in biologic medicine. This has caused a surge in the necessity of efficient and highly scalable algorithms.This dissertation focuses on central work in read-to-reference alignments, resequencing studies, and metagenomics that were designed with these principles as the guiding reason for their construction.First, consider the computing intensive task of read-to-reference alignments, where the difficulty of aligning reads to a genome is directly related their complexity. We investigated three different formulations of sequence complexity as viable tools for measuring genome complexity along with how they …

Writing Instruction For Students With Learning Disabilities: Examining Teacher Practice, Preparedness, And Self-Efficacy, Alycia M. Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

ABSTRACT Writing is critical for high school students academic, social, and professional success. However, developing writing skills is a challenging process, particularly for students with learning disabilities (LDs). To produce high quality writing, substantial support from teachers is needed. Yet, many teachers are uninformed of how to assist students with LDs. Grounded in social cognitive and socio-cultural theories, the aim of this quantitative study was to expand the fields of writing instruction and LDs by comparing data from general and special education teachers. This study was designed to survey this population about their writing instruction, including the use of evidence-based …

Validity Evidence Related To The Internal Structure Of The High School Longitudinal Study Mathematics Attitude And Belief Scales, Jessica Webb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Research has examined whether mathematics attitudes and beliefs are related to achievement and persistence in mathematics (e.g., Gottlieb, 2018; Kaspersen, Pepin, & Sikko, 2017a; Lauermann, Tsai, & Eccles, 2017; Lent, et al., 2018; Meyer, Fleckenstein, & Kller, 2019; Middleton, 2013; Peters, 2013; Sahin, Waxman, & Ekmekci, 2017; Wang, 2012; Wang, 2013; Yu & Singh, 2018). If attitudes and beliefs influence achievement and persistence and if they are malleable, educators can foster positive attitudes and beliefs as a way of positioning students for positive outcomes in mathematics. In order to study mathematics attitudes and beliefs and their relationship to desired outcomes, …

Childhood Obesity In California: The Impact Of School Lunch Options And Physical Education Standards In Public Elementary Schools, Audrey Connell

Scripps Senior Theses

Obesity is a biosocial phenomenon in that it is shaped by both biological and social processes. On the biological level, excess body fat increases one’s risk of placing the body in a non-homeostatic state that can weaken the immune response. On the social level, social inequalities are linked to obesity in the United States where racial and ethnic minority communities with low education and high poverty rates bear the largest burden of obesity. In various institutions, multiple actors such as food marketers, public health officials, policy makers, and school administrators dictate the opportunities available to children for them to reach …

Bayesian Modelling Of Nonlinear Poisson Regression With Artificial Neural Networks, Hansapani Rodrigo, Chris P. Tsokos

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Modelling and prediction of count and rate responses have substantial usage in many fields, including health, finance, social, etc. Conventionally, linear Poisson regression models have been widely used to model these responses. However, the linearity assumption of the systematic component of linear Poisson regression models restricts their capability of handling complex data patterns. In this regard, it is important to develop nonlinear Poisson regression models to capture the inherent variability within the count data. In this study, we introduce a probabilistically driven nonlinear Poisson regression model with Bayesian artificial neural networks (ANN) to model count and rate data. This new …

Sex And Age Differences In Prevalence And Risk Factors For Prediabetes In Mexican-Americans, Kristina Vatcheva, Belinda M. Reininger, Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, Joseph B. Mccormick

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

AIMS:

Over 1/3 of Americans have prediabetes, while 9.4% have type 2 diabetes. The aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of prediabetes in Mexican Americans, with known 28.2% prevalence of type 2 diabetes, by age and sex and to identify critical socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with prediabetes.

METHODS:

Data were collected between 2004 and 2017 from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort in Texas. Weighted crude and sex- and age- stratified prevalences were calculated. Survey weighted logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors for prediabetes.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of prediabetes (32%) was slightly higher than …

On Cohen-Macaulay Hopf Monoids In Species, Jacob A. White

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

We study Cohen-Macaulay Hopf monoids in the category of species. The goal is to apply techniques from topological combinatorics to the study of polynomial invariants arising from combinatorial Hopf algebras. Given a polynomial invariant arising from a linearized Hopf monoid, we show that under certain conditions it is the Hilbert polynomial of a relative simplicial complex. If the Hopf monoid is Cohen- Macaulay, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for the corresponding relative simplicial complex to be relatively Cohen-Macaulay, which implies that the polynomial has a nonnegative h-vector. We apply our results to the weak and strong chromatic polynomials of …

The Quantization Of The Standard Triadic Cantor Distribution, Mrinal Kanti Roychowdhury

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

The quantization scheme in probability theory deals with finding a best approximation of a given probability distribution by a probability distribution that is supported on finitely many points. For a given k ≥ 2, let {Sj : 1 ≤ j ≤ k} be a set of k contractive similarity mappings such that Sj(x) = 1 2k−1x + 2(j−1) 2k−1 for all x ∈ R, and let P = 1 k Pk j=1 P ◦ S−1 j . Then, P is a unique Borel probability measure on R such that P has support the Cantor set generated by the similarity mappings …

Cartan’S Approach To Second Order Ordinary Differential Equations, Paul Bracken

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

In his work on projective connections, Cartan discusses his theory of second order differential equations. It is the aim here to look at how a normal projective connection can be constructed and how it relates to the geometry of a single second order differential equation. The calculations are presented in some detail in order to highlight the use of gauge conditions

Surviving Mathematics, Nathalie M. Luna

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

In this essay written in an informal voice, the author shares the ups and downs of her experience in academia. She shares her motivation to study mathematics, her undergraduate experience in Puerto Rico, and her graduate experience in South Texas.

Hiv-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (Hand) Biomarker Identification: Significance Analysis Of Microarrays And Two Persuasive Approaches With Random Forest, Hansapani Rodrigo, Bryan Martinez, Roberto De La Garza, Upal Roy

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: HIV Associated Neurological Disorders (HAND) is relatively common among people with HIV-1 infection, even those taking combined antiretroviral treatment (cART). Genome-wide screening of transcription regulation in brain tissue helps in identifying substantial abnormalities present in patients’ gene transcripts and to discover possible biomarkers for HAND. This study explores the possibility of identifying differentially expressed (DE) genes, which can serve as potential biomarkers to detect HAND. In this study, we have investigated the gene expression levels of three subject groups with different impairment levels of HAND along with a control group in three distinct brain sectors: white matter, frontal cortex, …