Digital Commons Network^™

Bayesian Lasso Regularized Quantile Regression And Its Applications, Priscilla Kissi-Appiah

Theses and Dissertations

Since the pioneering work of (Koenker and Bassett Jr 1978), quantile regression has been a popular regression technique that helps researchers investigate a whole distribution of the response variable. In addition, due to the quantile check loss function, it is robust against outliers and heavy-tailed distributions of the response variable and can provide a more comprehensive picture of modeling via exploring the conditional quantiles of the response variable. In this research, we study the lasso regularized quantile regression from a Bayesian perspective. We develop an efficient sampling algorithm to generate posterior samplings for making posterior inference by using a location-scale …

Teachers’ Perceptions On The Impact And Effectiveness Of Certification Programs In Preparing And Retaining Educators, Teresa De Jesus Padilla

Theses and Dissertations

Mathematics is integral to STEM fields, making math critically important for the stability and development of the nation. As a result, mathematics teachers have a crucial role in our society. A role whose importance needs the necessary support to accomplish its numerous responsibilities. However, research indicates that certification routes—traditional and alternative—often fail to adequately prepare math teachers for the challenges they face, leading to high turnover rates. This study explores the impact of these certification routes on teachers’ abilities to support student achievement, address diverse learning needs, and manage additional duties. Surveying secondary math teachers in the Rio Grande Valley, …

Examining Hispanic Beginning Farmers And Ranchers In The Rio Grande Valley Through A Community Capitals Framework, Perla Kimberly Schrock

Theses and Dissertations

While existing literature addresses the experiences of beginning farmers and ranchers (BFR), there is a notable gap in research focused on Hispanic beginning farmers and ranchers (HBFR). This study aimed at exploring the unique experiences of HBFR in a predominantly Hispanic region, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), employed the Community Capitals Framework (Flora et al., 2016). I conducted 16 semi-structured interviews with HBFR and local nonprofit organizations and federal employees, complemented by participant observations. Through thematic and content analysis of the interview transcripts, findings revealed valuable insights into the livelihoods of HBFR. Despite HBFR facing significant challenges, this study demonstrated …

Leveraging A Community Of Practice To Advance Stem Education Reform And Promote Teacher And Student Self-Efficacy, Ruth Renee Colyer

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined the impact of the CREST-MECIS community of practice on K-12 STEM teachers and undergraduate and graduate students, addressing the urgent need for innovative approaches in science education to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The study was grounded in response to three primary problem statements: 1) the significant learning losses and socio-emotional challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, 2) the inadequacy of traditional instructional methods in post-pandemic classrooms, and 3) the need for culturally relevant and inclusive teaching practices that acknowledge students’ lived experiences. Data were collected through pre- and post-interviews, survey analyses, and qualitative feedback …

Challenges And Strategies In Science Learning: A Thematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Angelica A. Guanzon

Theses and Dissertations

This study thoroughly explores the relationships between the challenges faced by students and the alternative problem-solving strategies employed. By analyzing these connections, the research aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of how students address difficulties in science learning and the adaptive strategies they apply. Through this research, teachers can gain valuable understanding in adapting learning resources that successfully address diverse needs of students. By identifying specific challenges and correlating effective strategies, targeted interventions are designed to enhance the overall science learning experience. The study emphasizes the importance of a dynamic and adaptable teaching approach that caters to the evolving landscape …

Exploring 3rd-8th Grade Teachers’ Conceptions Of The Nwea Map Assessment And The Relationship On Grade Level, Content Area, And Students’ Academic Growth, Dymphna Jewelle Canales

Theses and Dissertations

In education, assessment helps shape teaching practices and student outcomes, as it influences how teachers perceive their roles, approach instruction, and engage with students. This study investigated 3rd-8th grade English Language Arts and mathematics teachers' conceptions of the NWEA MAP Growth assessment, focusing on four key factors: (1) improvement for teaching and learning, (2) school accountability, (3) student accountability, and (4) assessment irrelevance. The research examined the relationship between teachers' conceptions and variables such as grade levels, content areas, and students' academic growth as measured by NWEA MAP scores. Using a descriptive correlational design, data were collected from 61 teachers …

Detecting Anomalies In Dynamic Attributed Graphs: An Unsupervised Learning Approach, Austin Hamilton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dynamic attributed graphs, which evolve over time and hold node-specific attributes, are essential in fields like social network analysis, where anomalous node detection is a growing area. Vehicular social networks (VSNs), a subset of these graphs, are ad hoc networks in which vehicles exchange data with one another and with infrastructure. In this dynamic context, identifying anomalous nodes is challenging but crucial for maintaining trust within the network. This work presents an unsupervised deep learning approach for anomalous node detection in VSNs. This model achieved an accuracy of 71% while detecting synthetic anomalies in a simulated network based on real-world …

An Exploration Of K-3 Teachers’ Beliefs, Attitudes, And Instructional Technology Use Pre-, During, And Post-Covid-19, Patience Mensah-Bonsu Aggrey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative multiple case study explores kindergarten to third-grade teachers use of instructional technology across three different periods: pre-COVID-19, during COVID-19, and post-COVID-19. This research investigates teachers’ attitudes, the use of technological tools by teachers, and the internal (second order) and external (first order) barriers that informed their use of instructional technology before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to influence their use in the post-pandemic phase. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and checklists from eight kindergarten third-grade teachers using a qualitative multiple case study approach. The findings suggest that there was a shift in teachers’ instructional technology …

Second- And Third-Party Punishment In Common-Pool Resource Management, Jacquelyn Spence

Theses

Common-pool resources play a significant role in many economies, especially in developing countries where they are a critical source of food, income, and employment for communities. Long term management of common-pool resources can be challenging because the continued existence of the resource depends upon balancing the rate of resource depletion with the rate of repletion. Effective management of these resources is vital for protecting the environment and preserving the resources for future generations as overuse and degradation can have serious impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. Elinor Ostrom’s design principles for common-pool resource (CPR) management provide valuable insight into human interaction …

Syntheses, Characterisation, Thermal Analysis And Theoretical Studies Of Some Imino Ethanone Metal Complexes, Safaa H. Ali, Saad S. Mohammed, Hadi T. Obaid, Sanjeewa Gamagedara

Baghdad Science Journal

The current study is designed to synthesize four new bidentate metal complexes [MCl2L1] M = Co, Cu and L1 = 1,2-Diphenyl-2-(phenylimino)-1-ethanone or [MCl2L2] M = Co, Cu and L2 = 1,2-Diphenyl-2-(p-tolylimino)-1-ethanone. In addition, theoretical study preforms to predict the chemical reactivity and stability of the prepared complexes. Thus, the density function theory (DFT) studies, quantum chemical descriptors like chemical hardness (η), electronic chemical potential (μ), and electronegativity (χ) are considered. Complexes were synthesized in a simple one-pot reaction and chemical structures confirmed by different analysis techniques such as Mass spectra, FT-IR, UV-Vis spectroscopies and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The prepared …

Impact Of A Two-Way Dual Language Program On English-Dominant And Spanish-Dominant Elementary School Students’ Academic Achievement In A High-Density Hispanic Area: A Quantitative Longitudinal Study, Michael Heidelberg

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study explored the long-term academic impact of Two-Way Dual Language (TWDL) programs on both English-dominant and Spanish-dominant Hispanic students in a high-density Hispanic area. Specifically, it compared their academic performance in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math over a 3-year period to that of students enrolled in traditional English-only General programs and Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) programs. One key focus of this research was examining whether TWDL programs can maintain their effectiveness when the traditional 50:50 balance of native English speakers (NES) and minority language speakers is not met, substituting English-dominant Hispanic students for NES. The findings demonstrated that …

Distinction Of Thickness Mandibular Cortical Bone In Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Reviewed Quantitative Index, Cek D. Manja, Barunawaty Yunus, Emmia Tp. Angin

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

Objective: To ascertain the difference in cortical bone thickness between T2DM and non-T2DM. Materials and Procedures: An analytical technique using a cross-sectional methodology was applied in this investigation. The samples were split into two groups, each containing 100 digital panoramic radiograph samples, one for those with T2DM and the other for non-T2DM. Using the CliniView application, the study measured the thickness of the mandibular cortical bone for the PMI, MI and AI based on digital panoramic radiographs.

Results: The results showed that the mean value of the non-T2DM group was thicker than the DM group. The non-T2DM group had higher …

Piloting A Novel Computational Framework For Identifying Prosthesis-Specific Contributions To Gait Deviations, Jacques Ezechiel N'Guessan, Muhammad Hassaan Ahmed, Matthew Leineweber, Sachin Goyal

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This paper introduces a novel computational framework for evaluating above-knee prostheses, addressing a major challenge in gait deviation studies: distinguishing between prosthesis-specific and patient-specific contributions to gait deviations. This innovative approach utilizes three separate computational models to quantify the changes in gait dynamics necessary to achieve a set of ideal gait kinematics across different prosthesis designs. The pilot study presented here employs a simple two-dimensional swing-phase model to conceptually demonstrate how the outcomes of this three-model framework can assess the extent to which prosthesis design impacts a user's ability to replicate the dynamics of able-bodied gait. Furthermore, this framework offers …

Evaluation Of 3d Beach Profiles: A New Method For Monitoring Changes In Beach Morphology And Grain Size, Kalinda Ellen Roberts

Graduate Masters Theses

Beach profiles are a simple and affordable approach to monitoring changes in beach morphology. However, traditional methods offer limited resolution and dimension. Recent advancements in technologies, particularly structure-from-motion (SfM) and grain size detection models (GSDMs), can be integrated into conventional beach profiling techniques, enabling more detailed spatial and temporal analysis of slope and grain sizes. This research introduces a new technique for coastal monitoring, termed “3D Beach Profiles,” which integrates SfM technology to create high-resolution three-dimensional digital surface models (DSMs) and orthomosaics of beach surfaces. These digital surfaces enable the extraction of beach slopes with orders of magnitude more data …

The Application Of High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry For The Analysis Of Biopolymers, Metabolites, And Biologically Relevant Small Molecules, Christ Duc Tran

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), as its name suggests, possesses high resolving power that enables the separation of ions with very close mass values. This is particularly beneficial for analyzing complex samples where numerous compounds may have similar masses, as it helps prevent signal overlaps and ensures an accurate spectral analysis. The current work explores the diverse applications of high-resolution mass spectrometry in oligonucleotide research, organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. Oligonucleotide research: Chapters 2-5 present the research results from studies that employed ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) to understand the pharmacokinetics of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics. The …

Lennie Tristano’S Pedagogical Model In Jazz Education: A Critical Analysis Of Pertinent Components From The 1950s For Current Classroom Implementation, Robert Ngobi

Dissertations

Lennie Tristano's pedagogical model, established in the mid-20th century, transformed jazz education by focusing on ear training through singing with solos and melodic development based on a systematic, individualized approach to teaching and learning. This dissertation explores Tristano's model through the lens of educational psychology and cognitive science. While it does not profoundly explore either field, it highlights aspects relevant to Tristano's pedagogical strategies. The study addresses the following research questions: (1) What are the specific components of Tristano's model, and how did they reshape the jazz educational landscape of the 1950s? (2) How can these components be adapted to …

Physicochemical Property Effects On Immune Modulating Polymeric Nanoparticles: Potential Applications In Spinal Cord Injury, Daniel J. Kolpek, Jaechang Kim, Hisham Mohammed, John C. Gensel, Jonghyuck Park

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Nanoparticles (NPs) offer promising potential as therapeutic agents for inflammation-related diseases, owing to their capabilities in drug delivery and immune modulation. In preclinical studies focusing on spinal cord injury (SCI), polymeric NPs have demonstrated the ability to reprogram innate immune cells. This reprogramming results in redirecting immune cells away from the injury site, downregulating pro-inflammatory signaling, and promoting a regenerative environment post-injury. However, to fully understand the mechanisms driving these effects and maximize therapeutic efficacy, it is crucial to assess NP interactions with innate immune cells. This review examines how the physicochemical properties of polymeric NPs influence their modulation of …

Assessing Khumbu Region Glaciers Mass Balance Change Using Geospatial Techniques From 2012 To 2024, Yashvi Jagatbhai Shah

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya are critical for sustaining the water supply of South Asia's major rivers, upon which over 230 million people, both in the mountainous regions and lowland areas, depend. Climate change is driving rapid glaciers melt near the summit of Mount Everest, located at an elevation of approximately 7,906 meters (25,938 feet). This has resulted in glacier thinning occurring up to 80 times faster than the original ice formation. However, due to their disposition in a complex topographic setting and inaccessible terrain, continuous glacier observations pose significant challenges.

This study evaluated the mass balance of …

A Comparative Study Of Patterns, Causes, And Impacts Of Data Breaches Across Geographical Regions And Time Frames, Bhavish Balsara

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The rise of digital technologies and interconnected systems has made data breaches a growing global concern. This culmination project explores the patterns, causes, and impacts of data breaches across various countries with varying levels of economic development and cybersecurity infrastructure from 2020 to 2023. This research aims to provide insights into the global landscape of data breaches and how they have evolved in recent years. The research questions are: (Q1) How do data breach patterns differ between countries with different levels of economic development and cybersecurity infrastructure? (Q2) What patterns and trends can be identified in data breaches when analyzing …

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Vidhya Lakshmi Jeevarathinam

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis requires an integrative approach that combines behavioral, biomedical, and computational methodologies for enhanced accuracy. This study introduces a comprehensive framework that employs machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques alongside linear regression to model relationships between behavioral traits, biomedical markers, and ASD likelihood. Behavioral inputs, such as social interaction patterns, repetitive behaviors, and communication characteristics, are analyzed using linear regression to identify significant predictors of ASD. Simultaneously, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is trained on image datasets to detect visual cues, such as facial expressions, associated with ASD. Advanced techniques, including transfer learning and …

Harnessing The Power Of Peer Collaboration: Effects Of Cooperative Mock Exams On Statistics Anxiety And Self-Efficacy, Kristof Csaba

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of collaborative mock exams on test anxiety and self-efficacy in undergraduate statistics courses. Students completed a mock exam individually or in pairs and provided pre- and post-activity measures of test anxiety and self-efficacy. Results showed that the collaborative condition exhibited lower statistics anxiety and exam-specific anxiety compared to the individual condition, but no significant difference in post-activity self-efficacy was found. Within-group analyses revealed a decrease in exam-specific anxiety and an increase in self-efficacy across both conditions. Condition by time interactions were not significant, although the pattern of results trended in the expected direction for exam-specific …

The Impact Of Wellness Programs On Teacher Stress And Coping, Jessica Brinkley

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of ten secondary-level educators and their perceptions of work-related stress and wellness programs as a coping mechanism. Participants were middle and high school teachers in one school district in the Pacific Northwest that has a wellness program. Through semi-structured interviews, it employs a transcendental phenomenological analysis to merge participants’ experiences with Lazarus and Folkman’s (1987) Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. The research underscores the need for systemic changes to address teacher stress and well-being before wellness programs can serve as an effective coping mechanism. Critical themes found are High Workload and Time …

Comparative Assessment Of Machine Learning And Deep Learning Models For Drug Effectiveness Using Sentiment Analysis, Blessing Ogechukwu Nwogu

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In recent years, the proliferation of online patient-generated drug reviews has created a valuable resource for assessing drug effectiveness and patient satisfaction, with sentiment analysis emerging as a powerful tool for extracting insights from this unstructured data.

This culminating research project conducted a comparative analysis of traditional Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) models for assessing drug effectiveness using sentiment analysis of participant reviews. The research aimed to evaluate the performance of Support Vector Machine (SVM), XGBoost, Random Forest, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) models in this context. This culminating research project addressed …

Container Runtime Vulnerability Mitigation Using User Namespace Isolation, Alexander Edsell

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Although containers have revolutionized application deployment by allowing for rapid and consistent deployment, their growing adoption has also raised significant security concerns. Each container is an isolated instance of an operating system that comes pre-packaged with the users desired applications. With multiple containers running on a host machine, an adversary can potentially break out of the container into the host machine. This project investigates the effectiveness of user namespace isolation as a security mechanism to mitigate container escape vulnerabilities that target the container’s runtime.

The research questions are: Question 1, does user namespace isolation mitigate container runtime vulnerabilities that target …

The Significance Of Continuous User Authentication On Mobile Devices, Mikayla Lawrence

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

With the constant evolution of technology specifically on mobile devices, keeping personal and sensitive information safe has become increasingly vital. Continuous user authentication marks a major step forward in mobile security because it provides ongoing verification of user identity beyond the initial log in. This research explores the significance of continuous user authentication systems across mobile devices through literature-based analysis. The following research questions are addressed: (Q1) How effective are continuous user authentication methods in mitigating mobile device threats? (Q2) What are the vulnerabilities associated with continuous user authentication systems on mobile devices? (Q3) How do different continuous user authentication …

Hardware Applications Of High-Speed Fault Detection Algorithms, Daniel Zintsmaster

All Theses

The growing need for a sustainable electric energy infrastructure has driven research into control, protection, and optimization of power systems. A key challenge is that the changing grid must operate at increasingly higher speeds, but many current hardware devices cannot meet these demands. This thesis focuses on power system protection, aiming to design a hardware solution that can detect and isolate faults in microseconds, ensuring faster, more reliable grid operations. The first hardware developed was for a low-voltage direct current (LVdc) microgrid, which faces challenges due to a lack of protection schemes and novel speed requirements. This thesis presents protection …

Exploiting Randomness In Secret Sharing, Cailyn Bass

All Theses

Shamir's (k,n)-threshold scheme is a method for sharing a secret among n participants such that any group of k or more participants can recover the secret. Additionally, any group of participants with size less than k should learn nothing about the secret. The scheme works by distributing a share to each participant, where each share is a linear combination of the secret and k-1 random symbols. This allows any group of k or more participants to solve a linear system to compute the secret. Any group of less than k participants does not have enough to determine anything about the …

Application Of Lossy And Lossless Compression To Dicom Files, Yizhe Yang

All Theses

The Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standard is widely utilized for the management, storage, and transfer of medical images. However, the substantial file sizes associated with DICOM data present challenges in terms of storage and data transmission. Data reduction techniques help address these challenges by minimizing the size of the data while preserving its integrity. This thesis examines various compression methods aimed at reducing the size of DICOM files. We evaluate five lossless compressors and four lossy compressors on DICOM data to compare and assess their performance. Through an analysis of each compressor’s compression efficiency and resulting image …

Multiple Cut Systems Of Cannabis Sativa L. For Micropropagation Without The Use Of Cytokinins, Molly Mckay

All Theses

Micropropagation is a technique used to propagate clean, high-quality clonal stock plants using plant growth regulators (PGR) in a single harvest batch system. This two-part study uses an in vitro multiple harvest system “hedging” combined with the fed- batch media process, to observe (1) the effects of modified physical state and (2) LED light quality to improve shoot production and quality. In Experiment 1, four genotypes of Cannabis sativa (‘Cherry 1’,‘BaOx’,‘T1’,‘Peach’) were observed in three different physical states: stationary agar (A), stationary Oasis® infused with liquid (OIL_s) and agitated Oasis® infused with liquid (OIL_a). Fifteen …

Ai At The Helm: Transforming Crisis Communication Through Theory And Advancing Technology, Timothy Whims

All Theses

This thesis investigates the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models, into crisis communication, focusing on how AI technologies can enhance response strategies and stakeholder engagement during crises. By leveraging established communication frameworks such as Image Repair Theory, Situational Crisis Communication Theory, and the Discourse of Renewal, this research explores the potential for AI to improve both the speed and precision of crisis responses. The study highlights how AI can assist in monitoring public sentiment, drafting tailored responses, and managing real-time information during crisis events. However, it also addresses the limitations of AI, such as its inability to …