Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Root Factors Impacting Work Zone Accidents: A Mixed-Methods Study, Bahaa Chammout, Muaz O. Ahmed, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Work Zones Are Vital For Improving Infrastructural Utilities Yet Pose Significant Dangers For Workers And Drivers Who Are Often Unfamiliar With These Areas. Prior Research Examined Various Aspects Of Work Zone Accident Causation; However, The Interrelationships And Critical Combinations Among The Contributing Factors Have Not Been Fully Analyzed. This Study Aims To Identify The Underlying Factors Contributing To Work Zone Accidents And Evaluate The Different Combinations Among Them. To This Purpose, Accident Factors Were Derived From A Total Of 133 Research Articles Addressing Work Zone Safety. Social Network Analysis (SNA) And Clustering Were Used To Comprehensively Model The Identified Factors. …

Principles Of Managerial Accounting, Steelman Library, Natasha Ware

Syllabus Repository

No abstract provided.

Principles Of Management, Steelman Library, Beth Leslie Dr.

Syllabus Repository

No abstract provided.

Editor’S Note To Volume 8 Of The Journal Of Communication Pedagogy: Never Stop Learning, Renee Kaufmann

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This is the editor’s Note to Volume 8 of the Journal of Communication Pedagogy.

“Just Holding That Space”: Using Culturally Relevant Pedagogy To Create Counterspaces For Black College Students In Aanapisi/Hsi Classrooms, Nicholas B. Lacy, Yea-Wen Chen, Damariyé L. Smith

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Black college students continue to face the specter of anti-Blackness which creates additional barriers to success and flourishing in higher education. This study investigates how instructors in higher education can provide racial equity to Black students in AANAPISI/HSI classrooms through counterspaces. We use culturally relevant pedagogy to investigate the experiences of 21 Black college students at an AANAPISI/HSI to understand better how higher education instructors can utilize counterspaces, places where Black college students can challenge dominant discourses and create a collegial learning environment. We identified three counterspace themes: (1) Mitigate Eurocentric Pedagogy, (2) Employ Black and Critical Scholarship, and (3) …

You Don’T Have To Be Their Best Friend: Complicating The Instructor-Student Relationship Through A Mixed-Method Typology, Jessalyn I. Vallade, Kyle Rudick

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

The purpose of this study was to explore the nuances of instructor-student relationships with a nationally representative sample of students. Participants were randomly assigned to describe relationships with their best, worst, and/or last instructor and rate their satisfaction with each relationship, and the level of closeness with the instructor. Coding of student descriptions revealed 13 themes, organized into six pairs of constructive/destructive relationship anchors and one neutral category (Professional Relationship). Importantly, professional relationships were not as close as constructive relationships but were equally satisfying, indicating the closeness in instructor-student relationships has diminishing returns. Results are discussed in the context of …

"So Sorry Your Grandma Died. Get That Paper In.”: Graduate Teaching Assistants' Experiences Of Student Grief In The Communication Classroom, Jessica Cherry, Carly Densmore

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) are faced with managing how to respond to student disclosures of grief in the classroom but often lack grief training from their universities when these instances occur. Good and Mad grief, and Critical Grief Pedagogy (CGP) are the frameworks for which this study is positioned. Through interviews with GTAs in the United States, we explore their experiences when engaging with student grief disclosures and revealed three main themes: regulations and boundaries, transactional exchanges in institutions, and the classroom being a human space. We also discuss how GTAs use CGP to manage these interactions. We further suggest …

Post-Truth's Effect On The Brain And The Future Self: A Critical Communication Pedagogy Response, David H. Kahl Jr.

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

The university was created for the critical examination of ideas to seek truth. However, the proliferation of post-truth messages has made this goal more difficult to reach, creating an important communication pedagogy problem. Hegemonic forces create post-truth messages to mislead people and play to their existing beliefs in order to maintain and advance power. Post-truth messages are particularly effective because they cause cognitive overload and temporal discounting. Critical communication pedagogy (CCP) is a means by which instructors and students can evaluate post-truth messages. CCP allows for dialogue to reduce the cognitive issues that post-truth messages cause and allow for the …

Engaging Impasse: Nurturing A Culture Of Dialogic Engagement On A University Campus, Patricia Ann Hawk

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Universities have historically fostered spaces where students, faculty, staff, and administration can fruitfully engage in discussion around contentious issues. Current political divisions have had a chilling effect on these discussions inside and outside the classroom. To nurture a campus culture of dialogic engagement, the communication studies department in collaboration with the DEI office began a campus dialogue project that invited faculty, staff, students, and administration to participate in monthly dialogues focused on cultural impasse topics. This 5-year project has demonstrated that university communication studies departments can be instrumental in helping community members cross organizational boundaries to engage in challenging dialogues …

Maintaining The Complex Personal And Professional Elements Of Our Lives In Academe, Sydney E. Brammer, Ryan J. Martinez, Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This reflective essay offers several practical suggestions for scholars and professionals who are looking for ways to sustain abundant personal and professional lives in a discipline that encourages workaholic tendencies and requires many to engage in hybrid working arrangements. We discuss the tensions experienced by many communication teacher-scholars in academe and how various types of boundaries can aid in the maintenance of rest and work.

#Politicalcommunicationsowhite: A Call For Considering Race In The Undergraduate Political Communication Course, Ant Woodall, Lindsey Meeks

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

The field of communication has been working to reconcile its historic omission of race from research and pedagogy. The subfield of political communication has begun this process in its research but has yet to consider the implications of race missing from pedagogy. This essay offers an argument for including race in the political communication course, in the form of more focus on race in course content and more work by scholars of color. We offer reasons for these inclusions, ways for instructors to begin this incorporation, and what considerations instructors must be mindful of throughout the process.

Accented And Silenced Voices, Ahmet Atay

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

No abstract provided.

Variation-Aware Non-Linear Mapping For Honey-Memristor Based Neuromorphic System, Harshvardhan Uppaluru, Md Mehedi Hasan Tanim, Md Omar Faruque, Mohammed Rafeeq Khan, Zoe Templin, Feng Zhao, Jinhui Wang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Natural organic memristors are promising synapse candidates for neuromorphic systems due to their significant benefits, such as environmental sustainability, low production and disposal cost, non-volatile storage capability, and bio/CMOS-compatibility. In this paper, experimental evaluations of a neuromorphic system based on honey-memristors are reported. First, honey-memristors are manufactured and tested based on our in-house technology, and then the non-linear characteristics inherent to honey-memristors, which causes inaccurate weight updates and reduces the inference accuracy, are explored. A non-linear mapping (NMP) method is applied to mitigate the effects of non-linearity in honey-memristor, under different scenarios including multiple cycle-to-cycle variations and Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) …

Can Micro-Expressions Be Used As A Biomarker For Autism Spectrum Disorder, Mindi Ruan, Na Zhang, Xiangxu Yu, Wenqi Li, Chuanbo Hu, Paula J Webster, Lynn K Paul, Shuo Wang, Xin Li

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Early and accurate diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is crucial for effective intervention, yet it remains a significant challenge due to its complexity and variability. Micro-expressions are rapid, involuntary facial movements indicative of underlying emotional states. It is unknown whether micro-expression can serve as a valid bio-marker for ASD diagnosis.

METHODS: This study introduces a novel machine-learning (ML) framework that advances ASD diagnostics by focusing on facial micro-expressions. We applied cutting-edge algorithms to detect and analyze these micro-expressions from video data, aiming to identify distinctive patterns that could differentiate individuals with ASD from typically developing peers. Our computational …

Social Relationships, Amyloid Burden, And Dementia: The Aric-Pet Study, Renée C Groechel, Albert C Liu, Chelsea Liu, David S Knopman, Silvia Koton, Anna M Kucharska-Newton, Pamela L Lutsey, Thomas H Mosley, Priya Palta, A Richey Sharrett, Keenan A Walker, Dean F Wong, Rebecca F Gottesman

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess whether social relationships in mid-life reduce the risk of dementia related to amyloid burden.

METHODS: Participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study were assessed for social support and isolation (visit 2; 1990-1992). A composite measure, "social relationships," was generated. Brain amyloid was evaluated with florbetapir positron emission tomography (PET); (visit 5; 2012-2014). Incident dementia cases were identified following visit 5 through 2019 using ongoing surveillance. Relative contributions of mid-life social relationships and elevated brain amyloid to incident dementia were evaluated with Cox regression models.

RESULTS: Among 310 participants without dementia, strong mid-life …

Ai Trustworthy: Ethical Challenges And Strategies, Jian Liu, Iwan Sandjaja, Donald C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper explores the pivotal role of trust in the widespread application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various domains. We review AI applications in sectors like energy, healthcare, and autonomous vehicles and discuss the crisis of human trust they face. This paper introduces a novel framework that delineates the relationship between AI transparency and user trust, highlighting specific industry applications. Through a systematic review of recent literature, we first delve into factors such as emotional response, acceptance, transparency, accuracy, and interpretability that shape human trust in AI. We then underscore the necessity of ethical AI practices and highlight the importance …

At-Risk Children: Adult Perception And Recognition Of Mental Health Concerns, Abby D. Lucas

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Approximately 20% of children ages nine to 17 in the United States struggle with mental health concerns each year (Gamm et al., 2010). Early identification of child and adolescent mental health concerns is crucial for initiating treatment to prevent recurrence or persistence of pathology into adulthood (Logan & King, 2001). Children are primarily dependent upon adults in their lives (e.g., parents/caregivers, education professionals, healthcare providers) to recognize mental health concerns and seek services (Sayal et al., 2010). Providing these adults with guidance on how to appropriately identify and recognize these mental health needs in children is critical (Crouch et al., …

Development Of A Measure Assessing Adolescent Aggression: The Aggressive Behavior Risk Assessment- Adolescent- Parent Report (Abra-A-Pr), Katherine Fallon

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Although parent-report scales for general behavioral difficulties and aggression (e.g., verbal and physical aggression) exist, there are currently no measures assessing sexual behaviors in this context. Commonly, parent-report measures provide a few items relevant to behavioral aggression, and items encompassing sexually aggressive behaviors are frequently vague and non-specific in the actions being committed by the adolescent. The primary purpose of this project was to develop a comprehensive and multifaceted parent-report measure for aggressive behavior in adolescents. Three separate studies were conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the measure. Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to investigate …

Social Support In Black Individuals: The Moderating Effects On The Relationship Between Resilience And Well-Being, Imani Elise Crosby

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Black individuals possess numerous strengths and positive contributions that build strong communities and cultivate psychological well-being (Biglan et al., 2012). However, much of the current literature focuses on hardships Black individuals face, skewing the larger discourse of their lived experience. This exclusive focus on adversity often neglects pathways by which Black people thrive and flourish. It is important to consider how Black experiences relate to a sense of well-being. Resilience, or the ability to “bounce back” from adverse experiences is linked well-being outcomes (APA, 2012). However, it is unknown whether the promotive effects of resilience directly contribute to well-being outcomes …

Psychotherapist Awareness And Competence Managing Social Media Concerns, Jing Wen Ong

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Social media use increased substantially in recent years, spurring the growth of research focused on its association with mental health. Previous research examined the relationship between positive and negative aspects of mental health and social media use. Other studies explored the relevance of social media to professional practice of psychologists including the use of social media to reach populations with limited access to mental health services and ethical dilemmas arising from social media use; however, there is limited understanding of the pertinence of social media to concerns that clients discuss in therapy and therapist competence in handling these discussions. The …

Enhancing Flight Delay Predictions Using Network Centrality Measures, Joseph Ajayi

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Accurate prediction of flight delays remains a formidable challenge within the aviation industry, owing to its inherent complexity and the interconnectivity of its operations. Traditional flight prediction methods frequently utilize meteorological conditions—such as temperature, humidity, and dew point—alongside flight-specific data like departure and arrival times. However, these predictors often fall short of capturing the nuanced dynamics that lead to delays. This thesis introduces network centrality measures as novel predictors for enhancing the binary classification of flight arrival delays. Furthermore, it emphasizes the application of tree-based ensemble models, which are recognized for their superior ability to model complex relationships compared to …

The Effects Of Cultural Responsiveness And Therapy Duration On Black Americans’ Therapy Preference, Katilyn M. Ashley Treem

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Marginalized groups are less likely to seek out mental health services than non-marginalized groups. There are various reasons why marginalized groups, such as Black Americans, are less likely to seek out mental health services, one of which is the cultural barriers between a clinician and client. Research suggests that Black Americans feel that clinicians struggle to overcome these cultural barriers. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to actively receive training on how to serve clients with diverse backgrounds. Cultural responsiveness, an extension from cultural competence, is the active application of the knowledge and skills obtained in training. Examining people’s therapy …

Screening H3 Histone Acetylation In A Wild Bird, The House Sparrow (Passer Domesticus), Daniella Ray

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Epigenetic mechanisms are increasingly understood to have major impacts across ecology. However, one molecular epigenetic mechanism, DNA methylation, currently dominates the literature. A second mechanism, histone modification, is likely important to ecologically relevant phenotypes and thus warrants investigation, especially because molecular interplay between methylation and histone acetylation can strongly affect gene expression. There are a limited number of histone acetylation studies on non-model organisms, yet those that exist show that it can impact gene expression and phenotypic plasticity. Wild birds provide an excellent system to investigate histone acetylation, as free-living individuals must rapidly adjust to environmental change. Here, we screen …

Encapsulating Scars, Ashley Smith

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

My work explores scars through encapsulation, a desire to enclose and express the emotional scars of memories or physical scars of the body. Life’s experiences impact the living, leaving behind scars that we feel the need to understand. Through the mediums of metal and mixed-media photography, I utilize found and created imagery, as well as a triality of text in order to preserve and remember these scars.

Applications Of Predictive And Generative Ai Algorithms: Regression Modeling, Customized Large Language Models, And Text-To-Image Generative Diffusion Models, Suhaima Jamal

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The integration of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms has radically changed predictive modeling and classification tasks, enhancing a multitude of domains with unprecedented analytical capabilities. Predictive modeling leverages ML and AI to forecast future trends or behaviors based on historical data, while classification tasks categorize data into distinct classes, from email filtering to medical diagnosis. Concurrently, text-to-image generation has emerged as a transformative potential, allowing visual content creation directly from textual descriptions. These advancements are pivotal in design, art, entertainment, and visual communication, as well as enhancing creativity and productivity. This work explores three significant studies in …

Self-Authorship Among First-Generation Learners: A Qualitative Study, Issac C. Taylor

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In the realm of higher education, an increasingly important concern is the intellectual capacity of first-generation learners. To improve their cognitive, intrapersonal, and interpersonal development in contemporary society, it is essential for institutions to gain a comprehensive understanding of these students' unique challenges. The existing body of literature on first-generation students has predominantly centered on the personal challenges and institutional barriers that impede their pursuit of higher education. However, promoting self-authorship among this student population presents a unique opportunity for faculty, staff, and administrators to facilitate and reinforce the developmental needs of students who are the first in their families …

Computer Cravings In 20th Century Schools: From Creativity To Capitalism, Keely E. Amos

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines the push for computers in education from the early 1980s to the early 2000s. During that time, computers were introduced into schools across America with big promises, in turn creating big dreams. Instead of the cognition, creativity, and collaboration that was envisioned with computers in the classroom, the shifting motivations regarding computers have exacerbated the datafication and standardization of our students (Cuban, 2001). The problems associated with the corporation of computers into the curriculum are widespread (Pinar et. al, 1995/2004). Following the methodology of Historiography, this paper provides a critical examination about what was promised, and by …

A Novel Magnetorheological Pump Concept For Insulin Delivery, Mohammad Towhidul Islam Rimon

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Over the past 25 years, awareness of type 1 diabetes has significantly increased, leading to a comprehensive understanding of various aspects, including its genetics, epidemiology, and disease burden. According to the Type 1 Diabetic Index, about 8.7 million people around the world live with this long-term autoimmune disease characterized by insulin deficiency and resultant hyperglycemia. However, the increased availability and utilization of artificial pancreas systems could potentially save 673,000 lives by 2040. Although, the advancement of diabetes technology offers Type 1 diabetic patients more tools to enhance glycemic management and achieve effective outcomes, many patients are still hesitant to adopt …

Variation In The Fear Response Of Atlantic Sand Fiddler Crabs (Leptuca Pugilator) To Anthropogenic Disturbance, Katrina L. Buttram

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Leptuca pugilator is a common inhabitant of southeast Georgia salt marshes. This study examined the boldness of Leptuca pugilator across environmental conditions and human impacts. Here, boldness was defined as time taken to reemerge from a burrow after a fear stimulus. I hypothesized that crabs would vary in their boldness based on their surroundings, reproductive timing, and sex. Field and experimental trials were conducted to isolate which factors most influence boldness. Field trials were conducted at four sites varying in human influence throughout the breeding season. During each survey, vegetation height, substrate temperature, average burrow width, burrow count, and distance …

Assessing Performance Optimization Strategies In Cloud-Native Environments Through Containerization And Orchestration Analysis, Daniel E. Ukene

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This thesis comprises three distinct, yet interconnected studies addressing critical aspects of web infrastructure management. We begin by studying containerization via Docker and its impact on web server performance, focusing on Apache and Nginx hosted on virtualized environments. Through meticulous load testing and analysis, we provide insights into the comparative performance of these servers, adding users of this technology know which webservers to leverage when hosting their webservice along alongside the infrastructure to host it on. Next, we expand our focus to examine the performance of caching systems, namely Redis and Memcached, across traditional VMs and Docker containers. By comparing …