Digital Commons Network^™

Curating Modernity: Carmen Giménez And The Shaping Of Post-Franco Spain, Ines Trafford

MA Theses

This thesis examines the interplay between political transformation and cultural development in Spain during the transition from dictatorship to democracy with a focus on the influential contribution of Carmen Giménez, a pivotal figure in modern and contemporary art. Spain’s recent history, marked by the profound fracture of the Franco regime, serves as the background for this exploration. The study highlights how Giménez’s curatorial vision and dedication to modernism have shaped the country’s cultural landscape in the post-Franco era. Born into a family deeply affected by the sociopolitical turbulence of 20th-century Spain, Giménez’s career reflects a nuanced understanding of the complexities …

Glenn H. Beyer Family Collection, Sara R. Huyser

Finding Aids

The Beyer Family Collection documents 100 years of family history in Sioux County, Iowa. Mae (Pas) Beyer (1892–1985) married Gerrit Jacob Beyer (1893–1954) in Orange City, Iowa, in 1917. Mae curated this collection of family photographs, letters, and ephemera from both the Beyer and Pas families. This collection also includes photographs and memorabilia from their daughter, Helen Beyer, who was crowned Tulip Festival Queen in 1948. Additionally, it preserves World War II-era correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera related to their eldest son, Glenn Beyer.

Exploration Of Various In-Space Fuels With Differing Characteristic Timescales For Small-Scale Rotating Detonation Rocket Engines, Raj Tejas Dave

Theses

This thesis summarizes the performance of a small-scale rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) using methane or hydrogen as the fuel with oxygen as the oxidizer. Specifically, a 25 mm RDRE with a 5 mm annular width and 31.2 mm length is experimentally evaluated at varying equivalence ratio for a fixed total mass flow rate of 0.076 kg/s, as well as varying total mass flow rate for fixed equivalence ratios of 1.25 and 1.00. Experimental measurements for the hot-fire tests include thrust, chamber pressure, specific impulse, and detonation mode parameters. For both sensitivity studies, hydrogen outperforms methane with a peak thrust …

Digital Commons Statistics For January 2025, Liberty University

Digital Commons Statistics

No abstract provided.

Block Schedules In Virginia Schools: Purposes, Outcomes, And Policy Considerations, David Naff, Meleah Ellison, Jamelle Simmons, Xun Liu, Martin Darby, Crystal R. Bell, Shelby Garofalo, Obed Boateng, Wendy Rodgers, Audrina Farrar, Karli Johansen, Mysia Perry, Maggie Szydlowski, Fatemah A. Khawaji, Katherine Urban

MERC Publications

When schools and divisions choose a daily schedule structure to follow, it is important to consider its purpose and potential impacts on students, educators, and families. The purpose of this MERC research and policy brief is to inform the work of school division leaders and school board members making decisions about whether to adopt or continue the use of block scheduling in middle and high schools. It explores the following questions:

1. What are block schedules and where are they used?

2. How are school schedules related to student outcomes and educator quality?

3. What policies at the federal, state, …

Supporting Students In Transition To And From Elementary School, Meleah Ellison, Jamelle Simmons, David B. Naff, Taryn G. Traylor, Meredith Dean, Sooyeon Moon, Jia Jia Liu, Latonja Y. Wright, Cameron Parkins, Jennifer Locasale-Crouch, Dana V. Yarbrough, Audrina Farrar, Obed Amoakoh Boateng

MERC Publications

This report is part of a two-part series focused on supporting students in transition across PK-12 education. Specifically, it explores transitions into and out of elementary school. The report includes a synthesis of recent peer-reviewed literature, analysis of publicly available data (with a specific focus on Virginia and the metropolitan Richmond region), and summary of relevant federal, state, and school division-level policies. It answers the following questions:

1. What are key considerations for supporting students in transition to and from elementary school in the MERC region?

2. How do federal, state, and division policies guide support for student transitions to …

Interobserver Variability Regarding Adequacy Of Oropharyngeal Exposure For Transoral Robotic Surgery May Necessitate Staging Endoscopy: Evaluating Tors Exposure, Colleen Schinderle, Kevin J. Carlson, Reem Sharaf Alddin, Jeffery J. Houlton, Matthew J. Bak, Daniel W. Karakla, Jonathan R. Mark

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

[First paragraph] Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer has become centered at tertiary referral centers. To avoid treatment delays or multiple anesthetics, the need for repeat operative endoscopy may be questioned when the diagnosis has been made at an outside institution. However, inadequate visualization of relevant anatomy can preclude TORS candidacy and may lead to procedure abortion or conversion to an open technique.²,³ To evaluate this dilemma, we explored the ability to assess oropharyngeal exposure for TORS candidacy via operative endoscopic photo-documentation.

Poor Cancer Prevention And Detection In Zimbabwe, Kenyon Chipman

Ballard Brief

In the wake of the AIDS/HIV epidemic, rates of non-communicable diseases such as cancer have increased. Although AIDS/HIV and other cancer-associated communicable diseases like HPV are on the decline, these diseases have laid the foundation for the rising cancer epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. While infectious diseases remain major contributors to the development of cancer, poor prevention and detection of cancer acts as the central catalyst in the nation’s inflated morbidity and mortality rate. A general lack of knowledge about the basics of cancer for both patients and health professionals, along with the barriers to preventative and detective resources and services, …

Inadequate Healthcare For Women In The United States, Grace Loveless

Ballard Brief

Barriers to adequate healthcare for women stem from a lack of research on their specific health needs, gender-based biases in healthcare, and harmful societal norms. One key aspect highlighting these disparities is the menstrual cycle—a topic unique to women. Menstrual health, defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, illustrates the urgent need for greater focus on reproductive health. Despite its significance, the dialogue and knowledge about reproductive health remain limited, exacerbated by societal attitudes of secrecy and shame. These attitudes create barriers that hinder many women in the United States from accessing adequate healthcare. As a …

Where Risk And Reward Meet Interfaith Engagement And Learning, Andrew C. Reed

BYU Studies

The Lutheran Bishop of Stockholm, Krister Stendahl, sought to accomplish one grand thing in the world. He hoped to help human beings learn to see others, to use Elder Dale G. Renlund’s words, “through Heavenly Father’s eyes.”1 While that may appear at first glance simple enough, the practice of doing so presents real challenges. Learning to see others as God does requires a curious empathy, one that fosters a desire to both know and appreciate. Stendahl publicly modeled what would become known as his “rules” for interfaith relationships in 1985 when he stood up for Latter-day Saints and their desire …

Royal Skousen’S Book Of Mormon Critical Text Project, Roger Terry

BYU Studies

Between 1984 and 1986, the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS) published a critical text of the Book of Mormon. While this early publication was useful in certain ways, it was also woefully inadequate. It was, for instance, based on a computerized text of the 1830 printed edition of the Book of Mormon rather than on the remnants of the two handwritten manuscripts.1 Recognizing its inadequacies, Brigham Young University linguistics professor Royal Skousen began in 1988 what would become a thirty-seven- year endeavor and his life’s work: a fully professional critical text of the Book of Mormon.2

Review: Latter-Day Saint Theology Among Christian Theologies By Grant Underwood William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2025, John G. Turner

BYU Studies

Grant Underwood’s Latter-day Saint Theology Among Christian Theologies is a project born out of hope. Underwood, a former Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding at Brigham Young University, has spent years in dialogue with other Christians. In particular, he was part of a “Mormon-Evangelical Dialogue” that met at least once a year for more than two decades. (Full disclosure: I attended two sessions.) Underwood didn’t only talk with other Christians. He read their theology—a lot of their theology.

Implementing A Z-Course Program At Fort Hays State University, Claire Nickerson

Library Faculty Publications

In 2018, the Fort Hays State University (FHSU) Open Educational Resource (OER) Committee proposed a Z-Course Program to track and incentivize the use of zero-cost course materials. It included a course-marking initiative, the implementation of a small cost-share fee to students to fund the program and incentivize departments to offer Z-courses, and a Z-Course Grant Program for faculty who wanted to convert their courses. The proposal was approved in 2020 and implemented beginning in 2021. Since then, the course-marking and fee implementation have been streamlined, and the committee is working on qualitative assessment.

Ai Enabled Scrabble Scoring System : Design And Implementation, Aditya Narayan Jha

Theses

The scope of this thesis is to present an AI-powered system for automatically scoring real-world Scrabble games using computer vision and deep learning. To achieve this purpose a DeepLabv3 model is trained to segment the board from top- down images, while an EfficientNet-B0 classifier identifies individual tile characters, including blank and empty tiles. The system continuously tracks the gameplay by detecting newly placed tiles and applies official Scrabble rules to compute scores, including crosswords, bonus tiles, and bingo logic simultaneously. The scoring engine supports multi-move gameplay, player turns, and endgame handling. All moves are visualized with a color-coded board and …

Why Believe An Unreliable Jailhouse Informant? : The Role Of Prosecutorial Vouching In Juror Decision-Making, Libbi A. Geoghagan

Theses

The present study asked jurors to explain why they believe jailhouse informant (JI) testimony, and investigated the role of prosecutorial vouching (i.e., the assumption that any witness called by the prosecution is credible) in jurors’ decision-making. A total of 89 juryeligible participants read a trial summary in which the JI was either absent, reliable (i.e., testified to consistent and accurate crime facts), or unreliable (i.e., accurate facts during trial, but inaccurate facts in initial statement). Primary results were that (a) in open-ended responses, participants assumed that the prosecution would not allow a dishonest or uncredible JI to testify (i.e., prosecutorial …

Dual-Mode Linear Phased Array Antennas For Monopulse Radars, Jonathan Waters

Theses

Phased array antennas are widely used around the world. Much research is focused on extending capabilities of modern wireless systems and radars. Dual-mode elements are researched for use in beamforming, monopulse radar and multi-frequency applications. Beamforming in itself is an extensively researched topic, aimed at canceling interference and/or finding signal angle-of-arrivals. The goals of this thesis are two-fold. Firstly, to take the monopulse capabilities of a dual-mode antenna element to allow for a linear phased array antenna to generate the sum, delta-azimuth, and delta-elevation channels whereas normal linear phased array antennas can only generate a single difference channel. Secondly, to …

The Effects Of Color, Framing, And System Certainty Information On Human-Machine Teaming, Bryanna S. Hamblin

Theses

This study examined the effects of socially learned predispositions, such as framing and color, on the use of certainty information from an automated teammate in the context of human-machine teaming. Participants were randomly assigned to a color condition (red, green, black) and saw a series of 30 certainty icons (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) in each framing condition (success, failure). A 2 x 5 x 3 mixed subjects design was used to analyze the effects of each of these factors on the acceptance rates of the automation’s suggestion and the decision response time. The analysis found that color, framing, and …

Investigation Into Floral Structure Traits In Miscanthus, Wren Jenkins

Theses

Awns and callus hairs are significant dispersal traits of Miscanthus - understanding them will be essential in domesticating this crop. Due to their small size, these structures can be challenging to phenotype. To aid this, a method has been developed for automated length measurement via computational image analysis in Python. Lengths for both structures have been collected and processed for all plants in both the Mississippi State University and Alabama A&M University research fields. The measurements from both sites were compiled and mapped against the Miscanthus genome to create multiple Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) maps of inflorescence trait-affecting genes. Chromosomes …

Heat Transfer Of Additively Manufactured Turbine Alloy Blade Tips With Different Surface Enhancement Post-Processing Methods, Morgan Tatge

Theses

The investigation results presented here consider the heat transfer characteristics of seven different turbine blade tips. Six of the blades are additive manufactured with GRX-810, followed by different surface enhancement post processing techniques. Those techniques include as built, abrasive flow machining, chemical polishing with chemical mechanical polishing, micromachining, chemical polishing, and electropolishing. The seventh blade is machined with 1016 steel. These procedures give a different surface texture roughness for each blade. A transonic linear cascade within a transonic/supersonic wind tunnel is utilized. The impulse response method is employed to determine heat transfer coefficient distributions for the blades. The Tad/T0i temperature …

Sex And Eugenics : A Memoir In Poetry And Prose, Amy Vaillancourt

Theses

This memoir is a work of hybrid creative nonfiction which incorporates the genres of essay, memoir and poetry. The memoirist uses multiple forms to address topics from their experience with Turner Syndrome, accessing medical care, medicine and coming to identify as disabled among many aspects of themself. The memoir asks the question; how do we live in a world where both sex and eugenics exist? It starts with the local -- the experience of one individual and expands into something farther reaching – the experiences of others over time. It begins with the perspective and understanding of the author’s own …

Nonlinear Dynamics And Data Driven Modeling, Mattan Tseng

Theses

The research areas of dynamics and data-driven modeling overlap in existing literature. Some research uses dynamical systems as a test bed while developing new modeling methods. Other papers attempt to use data-driven modeling as a tool to better understand, or potentially predict the behavior of a dynamical system. The primary goal of this thesis is to further the symbiotic relationship between these two research areas. Firstly, this paper provides a concrete example of how a basis function decomposition of the Lorenz system can provide a quantitative performance metric for data-driven modeling methods. Secondly, a novel application of an existing modeling …

Experimental And Numerical Investigation Of Combined Mechanical, Electrical, And Thermal Response Of Lr61 Alkaline Batteries At Various Loading Rates, Abigail C. Schauer

Theses

Lithium batteries are present in most electronic devices and machines but pose a serious threat to users if they are over heated, over charged, or otherwise physically damaged. In order to better understand the underlying causes of lithium battery fires, testing procedures at various rates of low, intermediate, and dynamic are established with less volatile 1.5 V LR61 alkaline batteries. The various rates are to cover representative loading rates from scenarios ranging from dropping a cell phone a short distance to a high-rate drone collision with an aircraft. Material characterization is also done on the metal casing to better understand …

Characterization And Comparison Of Skin And Exoskeleton Microbiomes Of Stygobiotic Fauna And The Influence Of Environmental Variables On Microbiome Diversity And Composition, Bjorn Van Peterson

Theses

Caves and other subterranean ecosystems are among the most understudied ecosystems globally and house unique and ecologically important biodiversity. While several studies have characterized the microbial communities of respective cave systems, research on microbiomes of cave fauna has been limited. This study investigated microbiomes for aquatic cave fauna in the southern Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee and Alabama, USA. Exoskeleton and skin swabs were taken from three species of cave-dwelling crayfishes, two species of salamanders, and one cavefish. Bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) identified in microbiomes of hosts included primarily members of the phylum Pseudomonadota, but also the phyla Acidobacteriota, Actinomycetota, …

Expression, Purification, And Characterization Of The Angiopoietin-Like 4 Protein N-Terminus, Alexis Leann Paskach

Theses

This research focused on developing protocols to express and purify the N-terminus of angiopoietin-like protein 4 (nANGPTL4), and identify its structural characteristics to understand its possible contribution to cancer metastasis. Bacteria expression was optimized by adding magnesium, calcium, and glycerol to the initial Luria-Bertani (LB) broth incubation, then transferring to Terrific Broth (TB) for induction. Purification was enhanced through overnight nickel resin suspension, extended sonification, and buffer adjustments. Protein recovery was further improved by transferring size exclusion columns to G50 superfine resin. Protein purity was analyzed using SDS-PAGE and native gel electrophoresis, while protein content was determined through UV-Vis spectroscopy. …

Design, Development, And Analysis Of A Pulsed Power System Using A Thyristor To Fire A Coaxial Plasma Gun, Neil P. Laya

Theses

A first of a kind fiber-optically controlled and thyristor switched coaxial plasma gun pulsed power system has been designed, built, and fired at up to 2 kV and 6.4 kA, with a 6.65 MW momentary peak power output from the capacitor. Total system firing jitter from initial digital signal to 90% peak current rise has been measured at 78.15 ns, representing 0.18% of the total pulse time of 44.10 µs. This includes both thyristor turn-on and coaxial plasma gun breakdown. Standard deviation of peak current over repeated firings has been measured to be 21.09 A (0.33%). The system has experienced …

Subterranean Drought Classification And Ecological Risk In Karst Systems, Shaelyn Deal

Theses

Cave ecosystems depend on stable groundwater inputs, yet no standard method exists for detecting subterranean drought. This study develops a framework to define and monitor drought in karst cave systems by adapting surface-based hydrologic indicators. Using long-term water level data from Bobcat Cave in northern Alabama, we identified drought events through percentile-based thresholds and evaluated multiple surface metrics, including the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and deep-layer soil moisture, as predictors of cave drought severity. Random Forest models supported the selection of key indicators and informed classification thresholds. These thresholds were then applied across the Middle Tennessee Elk watershed to map …

Augmenting Attention : An Ooda-Centric Framework For Explainable Ai In Ar Human-Ai Teaming Applications, Dylan Wright

Theses

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly deployed in high-stakes environments where success depends on more than computational accuracy; it also requires alignment with human perception and attention. Traditional explainable AI (XAI) methods provide static, post-hoc justifications that are poorly suited to time-critical decision cycles. This thesis investigates whether perceptually aligned, real-time explanations in Augmented Reality (AR) can enhance performance, workload balance, and trust within the Observe–Orient–Decide–Act (OODA) loop. A custom AR search-and-rescue simulation tested three conditions: no assistance, static overlays, and perceptually aligned explanations using adaptive cues such as occlusion-aware tethers and urgency-based visuals. The results show that any explanation improved …

Multi-Factor Mathematical Optimization For Healthcare Referral And Facility Placement, Mitchell Moody

Theses

This thesis addresses the challenge of optimizing patient referrals in healthcare systems by integrating clinical needs, geographic proximity, and dynamic infection risk. Healthcare referral networks (HRNs), which capture patient transfers between hospitals, serve as the foundation of the study. First, a recommendation algorithm is developed to assign patients by jointly considering clinical compatibility and logistical considerations like travel distance, striking a balance between quality and accessibility. Building on this, a reinforcement learning framework is proposed to dynamically adjust referral strategies for vulnerable patients by incorporating the evolving risk of hospital-acquired infections. Finally, long-term planning is explored through methods that recommend …

Evaluating The Accuracy Of Johnson-Cook Strain Rate Sensitivity For Fcc Aerospace Structural Materials, Sydney Carlota Resnick

Theses

Understanding aerospace materials’ strain rate sensitivity is crucial for accurate designs and analysis for structural performance in dynamic loading conditions, such as rocket launches, airplane collisions, and debris impacts. Three common aerospace face-centered cubic (FCC) metals are evaluated through various strain rate tests and FEA and simulation modeling. Quasi-static and intermediate tests are performed on a hydraulic load frame, and dynamic tests are run on a split-Hopkinson pressure bar, all in tensile motion. This covers the range of strain rates from 1x10-3 s-1 to 1x103 s-1. Results reveal little strain rate sensitivity at room temperature for A286 steel and AL7075 …

Utilizing Ground-Based Radar Analyses To Investigate Ocean-To-Land Differences In The Tropical Cyclone Wind Profile And Their Impacts On Tornadogenesis, Elizabeth M. Seiler

Theses

On 20 August 2008, the MAX radar was deployed southeast of the Jacksonville, FL WSR-88D radar to monitor the boundary layer before, during, and after the landfall of TS Fay. During the 57-hour deployment, MAX sampled around a tornadic rainband that produced at least one confirmed tornado. To illustrate TCBL changes across a coastal zone, VAD profiles from MAX and KJAX are compared, and a dual- Doppler analysis is performed. One key finding from the DDA was the consistent presence of southeasterly background flow, vertical vorticity, enhanced cyclonic shear zones, and minisupercells throughout the 1650-1725 UTC analysis period. The primary …