Digital Commons Network^™

Level Up Your Teaching: A Qualitative Analysis Of Teachers’ Perceptions On Gamification As A Tool For Learning, Bryant Wesley Lazenby

Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated K-12 teachers’ views about gamification as an instructional tool to increase student motivation, self-efficacy, and learning mastery. Kelly’s Curriculum Theory and Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory were used to investigate how gamified learning environments affect teacher practice and self-efficacy. Seventeen teachers participated in a researcher-designed Qualtrics survey that included both Likert-style and open-ended items. The researcher used descriptive statistics and thematic coding of responses, based on participants’ self-identified levels of gamification experience. The research produced three main findings, which showed that (1) Gamification motivates students through collaborative work, challenging tasks, and progress tracking systems, (2) Students build self-efficacy …

What Does Graptolite Origination And Extinction Reveal About The Cause Of The Late Ordovician Mass Extinction?, Charles E. Mitchell, H. David Sheets, Michael J. Melchin, Chris Holmden

Computer and Data Science Faculty Publications

Assesses the macroevolutionary turnover of paleotropical planktic graptolites during the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction (LOME) via automated sequencing and capture-mark-recapture modeling. Graptolites exhibited a succession of turnover pulses (sensu Elizabeth Vrba) that were coincident with the main phases of the Hirnantian glaciation and during which the Diplograptina experienced declining metapopulation size, elevated extinction, zero species originations, and ultimately, complete extermination. Concurrently, the Neograptina (latest Katian temperate zone immigrants) exhibit pulses of both extinction and adaptive radiation. Thus, the LOME involved intense species selection and the wholesale alteration of the clade diversity structure of a major element of the zooplankton. The …

Understanding Florida's Hb 1105: What Parents Need To Know About The End Of Special Education Certificates Of Completion, Noelle Mercer, Valerie Sheehe, Joshua Wilkenson

Gator Team Child Juvenile Law Clinic

The goal of this white paper is to explain the implications of HB 1105 for students with disabilities and their families. It outlines the background of Florida’s previous graduation framework, describes the new diploma options now available, and explores both the potential benefits and challenges of this transition. Finally, it provides practical guidance for parents, including steps to take within Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings, questions to ask school administrators, and community resources that can assist families navigating this change.

Linking Shoreline Change, Environmental Forcings, And Sedimentological Resilience In Nourished Beaches Of Cape May And Wildwood, New Jersey, Usa: A Multi-Decadal Synthesis, Divomi Balasuriya, Greg Pope

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Beach nourishment is a widely used strategy to mitigate coastal erosion, yet its long-term geological impacts remain poorly understood. This study provides a multi-decadal synthesis of shoreline change and sedimentological evolution on the nourished beaches of Cape May and Wildwood, New Jersey, USA. Using shoreline positions from 1991 to 2024, we identify contrasting trajectories: Wildwood exhibits ‘persistent transition’ with severe northern erosion (EPR: −10.0 m/yr) feeding southwards accretion, while Cape May demonstrates a ‘managed equilibrium’ with widespread accretion (mean EPR: +1.15 m/yr). Wave energy correlations account for less than 15% of shoreline variability, indicating natural drivers have been superseded by …

Marco Lee's Inspiring Journey To The Young Alumni Award, Lindenwood University

Archived Lindenwood Press Releases

No abstract provided.

2025 December 18 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

A Systematic Study Of Passkey User Experience Consistency, Bernhardt Ramat

Theses and Dissertations

Passkeys have emerged as a more secure authentication method than passwords, providing a passwordless alternative resistant to phishing and credential theft attacks. Despite their growing adoption, a systematic study into the user experience of passkeys across various websites has yet to be conducted. Usability heuristics suggest that users transfer their expectations from one product to another, and therefore, inconsistencies in passkey deployments can increase cognitive load, resulting in frustration and possible rejection. To address this knowledge gap, this paper presents a comparative analysis of the external functional consistency of the passkey user experience across 111 websites. Our research reveals that …

Cybernest: A Step Forward For Training Cybersecurity Professionals, Justin Mott

Theses and Dissertations

The growing complexity of cyber threats has exposed a critical gap between academic cybersecurity education and the operational demands of the workforce. This thesis presents a pilot study for a use-case of CyberNEST, a simulation-based training platform that integrates adversary emulation and threat-informed learning to create realistic, hands-on experiences for cybersecurity students.(17) The system was designed to replicate Security Operations Center (SOC) environments and incident response workflows, allowing participants to investigate, analyze, and respond to simulated attacks under authentic conditions. This pilot-study performed training simulations using the CyberNEST platform, developed by Brigham Young University, with students, collecting data from pre- …

Impact Of Gas Supersaturation On The Development Of Gas Bubble Trauma In Paedomorphic Eurycea Salamanders, Trent Furr

Biology Theses

There are eleven species of paedomorphic lungless salamanders endemic to Texas. Of these, eight are considered threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). One of these, the Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum), is found only in springs and aquifers in and around Austin, Texas. A large population of this species is found in Barton Springs, located in Austin, TX–where dissolved gas saturation has been measured as high as 134%. Morbidity and mortality events in Barton Springs Salamanders have been documented coinciding with periods of dissolved gas supersaturation. This study seeks to understand what environmental conditions lead to …

Encouraging Young Writers With Multiliteracies And Transformative Works, Charlene A. Amarello

Honors Program Theses and Projects

In the wake of COVID-19’s devastating effect on education, educators are faced once again with the daunting task of reaching students in the English classroom. Meanwhile, fanfiction and multiliteracies are burgeoning subjects of research. As of January 1st, 2025, over 14 million fanfictions have been published on the website AO3, a well-known fanfiction archive, and educators have begun to design assignments with fanfiction in mind. Likewise, multiliteracies continues to make headway in conversations about pedagogy. Research continues to delve into both as practices, though the creation of practical suggestions for educators grounded in data is still in its infancy. There …

Quantifying Dna Groove Binding Dynamics Of Netropsin Using Optical Tweezers, Jacob Mcnally

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Netropsin is a small molecule that binds to the minor groove of DNA and serves as a model scaffold for DNA-minor groove binding anticancer drugs. Understanding how Netropsin interacts with DNA under mechanical stress is important for characterizing how similar molecules function in biological environments. In this work, we used dual-beam optical tweezers to study how Netropsin binding affects the mechanical behavior of single DNA molecules under applied force. Individual DNA molecules were held under controlled forces while Netropsin was introduced at varying concentrations. Constant-force measurements were used to probe binding dynamics; however, we found binding occurred too rapidly to …

Assessing Multilingual Learners: Necessary Reforms In Language And Literacy Evaluation, Victoria Gibson

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Assessing multilingual learners can look different for every student, teacher, and school. Assessing multilingual learners presents challenges because traditional tools often fail to capture students’ true abilities, with scoring inconsistencies, cultural bias, and teacher assumptions further affecting outcomes. Early identification tools, like the frequently used Home Language Survey used by Salerno and Andrei (2024), can misclassify students, impacting placement and support. Research highlights more equitable alternatives, such as formative, classroom-based, and culturally responsive assessments, that better reflect students’ full linguistic abilities and promote fair, accurate evaluation.

Academic Standards Subcommittee Minutes December 18, 2025, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Welcome and approval of November 20, 2025 minutes
• Topic 1: Proposed Academic Grievance Policy rewrite
• Topic 2: Proposal to add Bachelor of Applied Sciences (BAS) academic degree requirements
• Topic 3: Information Item

Infrasound From Snoqualmie Falls, Wa, Usa, Jacob Anderson

Fluvial Acoustics Data

This is one of the datasets referred to in a paper on waterfall infrasound by Anderson, Ortiz, and Barber, that relates a waterfall's infrasound to its physical characteristics (height, discharge, and power), maps infrasound power over the waterfall's surroundings, and models audibility distance for pigeons as an example of a well-studied infrasound-sensitive animal.

Infrasound From Niagara Falls, Jacob Anderson, Hugo Ortiz

Fluvial Acoustics Data

This is one of the datasets referred to in a paper on waterfall infrasound by Anderson, Ortiz, and Barber, that relates a waterfall's infrasound to its physical characteristics (height, discharge, and power), maps infrasound power over the waterfall's surroundings, and models audibility distance for pigeons as an example of a well-studied infrasound-sensitive animal.

Infrasound From Mesa Falls, Id, Usa, Jacob Anderson

Fluvial Acoustics Data

This is one of the datasets referred to in a paper on waterfall infrasound by Anderson, Ortiz, and Barber, that relates a waterfall's infrasound to its physical characteristics (height, discharge, and power), maps infrasound power over the waterfall's surroundings, and models audibility distance for pigeons as an example of a well-studied infrasound-sensitive animal.

Infrasound From Palouse Falls, Wa, Usa, Jacob Anderson

Fluvial Acoustics Data

This is one of the datasets referred to in a paper on waterfall infrasound by Anderson, Ortiz, and Barber, that relates a waterfall's infrasound to its physical characteristics (height, discharge, and power), maps infrasound power over the waterfall's surroundings, and models audibility distance for pigeons as an example of a well-studied infrasound-sensitive animal.

Infrasound From Shoshone Falls, Id, Usa, Jacob Anderson

Fluvial Acoustics Data

This is one of the datasets referred to in a paper on waterfall infrasound by Jacob Anderson, Hugo Ortiz, and Jesse Barber, that relates a waterfall's infrasound to its physical characteristics (height, discharge, and power), maps infrasound power over the waterfall's surroundings, and models audibility distance for pigeons as an example of a well-studied infrasound-sensitive animal.

Infrasound From Lady Face Falls, Custer County, Id, Usa, Jacob Anderson

Fluvial Acoustics Data

This is one of the datasets referred to in a paper on waterfall infrasound by Anderson, Ortiz, and Barber, that relates a waterfall's infrasound to its physical characteristics (height, discharge, and power), maps infrasound power over the waterfall's surroundings, and models audibility distance for pigeons as an example of a well-studied infrasound-sensitive animal.

Infrasound From Genesee Lower Falls, Rochester, Ny, Usa, Jacob Anderson, Hugo Ortiz

Fluvial Acoustics Data

This is one of the datasets referred to in a paper on waterfall infrasound by Anderson, Ortiz, and Barber, that relates a waterfall's infrasound to its physical characteristics (height, discharge, and power), maps infrasound power over the waterfall's surroundings, and models audibility distance for pigeons as an example of a well-studied infrasound-sensitive animal.

Infrasound From Tahquamenon Falls, Mi, Usa, Jacob Anderson

Fluvial Acoustics Data

This is one of the datasets referred to in a paper on waterfall infrasound by Anderson, Ortiz, and Barber, that relates a waterfall's infrasound to its physical characteristics (height, discharge, and power), maps infrasound power over the waterfall's surroundings, and models audibility distance for pigeons as an example of a well-studied infrasound-sensitive animal.

Infrasound From Genesee High Falls, Rochester, Ny, Usa, Jacob Anderson, Hugo Ortiz

Fluvial Acoustics Data

This is one of the datasets referred to in a paper on waterfall infrasound by Anderson, Ortiz, and Barber, that relates a waterfall's infrasound to its physical characteristics (height, discharge, and power), maps infrasound power over the waterfall's surroundings, and models audibility distance for pigeons as an example of a well-studied infrasound-sensitive animal.

Viral Warriors: Unlocking The Immune System’S Potential With Oncolytic Viruses In Cancer Immunotherapy, Reza Ghavimi, Leila Rahimian, Mohsen Mohammadi, Ojasvi Dutta, Harikrishnan Mohan, Vladimir Chouljenko, Tolulope O. Omolekan, Jean Christopher Chamcheu, Konstantin G. Kousoulas

Faculty Publications

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) represent an exciting avenue in tumor immunotherapy, harnessing the power of viruses to overcome resistance and enhance immune responses. OVs achieve this by selectively targeting and destroying tumor cells. This cell lysis releases tumor-specific antigens (TAAs), effectively creating an in situ vaccine that educates the immune system. Moreover, OVs directly trigger both innate and adaptive immunity and can be genetically engineered to secrete immune-boosting factors. Early studies have shown promising synergistic antitumor effects when OVs are combined with other cancer therapies or immunotherapies. A key advantage of OVs is their capacity to reprogram the tumor microenvironment (TME), …

A Real-Time Framework For Forecasting Metal Prices, Andrea Bastianin, Luca Rossini, Lorenzo Tonni

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei Working Papers

This paper develops a real-time forecasting framework for monthly real prices of four key industrial metals – aluminum, copper, nickel, and zinc – whose demand is rising due to their widespread use in manufacturing and low-carbon technologies. To replicate the information set available to forecasters in real time, we construct a new dataset combining daily financial variables with first-release macroeconomic indicators and use nowcasting techniques to address publication lags. Within this real-time environment, we evaluate the predictive accuracy of a broad set of univariate, multivariate, and factor-augmented models, comparing their performance with two industry benchmarks: survey expectations and futures-spot spread …

Communicating Strategically In The Workplace: A Resource For Engineering And Science Majors, Karishma Chatterjee, Damla A. Ricks, Diane E Waryas Hughey

Mavs Open Press Open Educational Resources - Archive

We created this book to provide a targeted understanding of the process of communication to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) students. We have included specific and concise information in this book catering to technical and professional fields. Students will be able to develop their skills in writing, presenting, and interviewing, and improve their interpersonal relationships in the workplace.

Power Solutions For Large Loads: Mastering Electrical Supply For New Industrial Facilities, Chris Boyer, William Bourgeois, Skyler Bryant

Mavs Open Press Open Educational Resources - Archive

The next 25 years will see unprecedented growth in U.S. electricity demand, driven primarily by data centers for AI and industrial electrification. This surge presents unique challenges for power generation, especially for large loads requiring hundreds of megawatts to gigawatts from a single location. Conventional grid expansion is inadequate, prompting the need for innovative, flexible, and sustainable solutions. This book explores the opportunities, challenges, and hybrid generation strategies to support the evolving landscape of large-scale electric loads.

Preparing Students For College And Careers: Recommendations For Scaling College And Career Pathways In Southwestern Illinois, Laura Monteagudo

Reports, Analyses, and other Publications

Education Systems Center (EdSystems) at Northern Illinois University provided strategic counsel and support to Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) for a 12-month period to develop comprehensive college and career pathways. Our support included the development of a unified, regionwide college and career pathway system aligned with Illinois’ College and Career Pathway Endorsement framework, Perkins V, and the State of Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides.

Instead of each district building pathways independently, this regional approach brings together high schools, community college faculty, and local employers to create shared structures that reflect real workforce needs and rural access challenges.

In this report, …

Conquer And Prevail Issue 203 December 18 2025, Wofford College. Office Of Marketing And Communications

Conquer and Prevail Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Spatial And Temporal Variations In Canopy Cover And Ecosystem Services In Neighborhoods Of The City Of Orlando, Digna M. Rivera-Reyes, Elvia J. Melendez-Ackerman, Luis E. Velazquez-Roman

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Many cities are prioritizing urban tree planting to improve livability through ecosystem services. Yet, urban studies often reveal inequities in tree canopy cover across socio-economic groups. Using an environmental justice framework, this study analyzed 80 residential neighborhoods in Orlando, Florida—using census and iTree data—to assess relationships between land cover, canopy change, ecosystem services, and socio-economic variation. We specifically asked: a) Is tree canopy cover (and associated ecosystem services) equitably distributed across Orlando neighborhoods, or is it correlated with their socio-economic and demographic profiles? b) Has Orlando’s overall canopy cover increased since 2010? c) Do tree requests submitted by residents to …

Hotty Toddy Affords Opportunity For Lafayette Jrotc Cadets, Marisa C. Atkinson

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – If you have ever purchased a soft drink while sitting in the stands at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, there is a good chance that a Lafayette High School Air Force Junior ROTC cadet sold it to you.