Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding And Enhancing Performance And Microarchitecture Security In Modern And Emerging Computer Systems, Md Hafizul Islam Chowdhuryy

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Ensuring information security and scalable performance are critical in modern processor architecture designs. High-performance, data-intensive applications demand robust microarchitectures that are both secure-by-design and efficient. This dissertation explores new information leakage threats in modern processors and proposes secure-by-design architectures for emerging systems.

First, we examine vulnerabilities in existing microarchitectures, focusing on speculative execution's security implications. We reveal that branch predictor designs in modern processors are speculatively updated, leading to a novel speculative execution side channel. We propose a secure branch predictor architecture to mitigate this issue while maintaining performance benefits.

Second, we address challenges with emerging non-volatile memory (NVM) technologies. …

Addressing Aggressive Behaviors In Long Term Care Settings: How Do Caregivers Feel Supported?, Betty Kortey

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Caregivers are faced with great challenges when it comes to handling aggressive behaviors among long term care residents and, therefore, need support in managing resident aggression. Qualitative in depth interviews will be cond ucted with a convenience sample of caregivers on the occurrence and management of aggressive behaviors in long term care settings. The findings of the research will show that caregivers have difficulties handling aggressive situations which sometimes leads to caregiver stress and high turnover. Long term care facilities give inadequate support in managing aggressive behaviors leading to challenges in staffing. Findings will help fill the gap in the …

Practices To Recruit And Retain Teachers Of Color In Rural Minnesota Schools, Eric Hudspith

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study delves into the relationships between strategic recruitment and retention practices implemented by rural Minnesota school districts and the recruitment and retention rates of teachers of color within these districts. The research assesses whether districts implementing strategic recruitment practices demonstrate a higher proportion of teacher candidates of color and subsequent hiring rates compared to their peer districts. The study also investigates the relationships between strategic retention practices and the actual retention data observed in districts. Participants included administrators representing districts identified as rural that have a significant percentage of students of color. were selected based on predetermined criteria encompassing …

Enhancing College And Career Readiness Of Hmong Adolescents Through Group Work In High School, Xeev Vang

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Hmong adolescents face many challenges during high school, particularly college and career readiness. School counselors are trained professionals who can help. This transcendental phenomenology study explored the lived experiences of six Hmong adolescents and how they make sense of college and career lessons in a group work format over six weeks. Data was collected through participant journals and interviews. Each participant interview was recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using Moustakas (1994) phenomenology method of data analysis. Five domains, sixteen themes, and three subthemes emerged. Family members are crucial influencers in college and career decision-making. Barriers include language, financial, family, culture, and …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Utilization Of Student Voice By Midwest Urban Secondary Schools Within School Improvement Plan Strategies, Jessica Peifer Busse

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This phenomenological study aims to understand and establish the influence of student voice, particularly from marginalized students, in the school improvement process to yield positive student experiences for urban, comprehensive ninth- through twelfth-grade high schools in the United States Midwest. The focus of this study will be to compare the experiences of White students and students of color within the school system, compare the experiences of students when student voice is utilized as a school improvement plan strategy, and identify the correlation between the student voice strategy and school leadership viewpoints. The study of student voice will begin with a …

Virtual Classes In The U.S. University: Exploring Zoom Fatigue Experience Based On English Competency And Course Engagement Among International Students, Esther Son

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Online video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, are widely used for virtual classes. Zoom platforms bring flexibility and convenience, but also contribute to fatigue which is called “Zoom fatigue”. The purpose of the study is to investigate Zoom fatigue among international students at the U.S. university, and its links to Zoom-mediated communication in the field of education. The study investigates 152 international students to examine how English competency affects Zoom fatigue, and how course engagement affects Zoom fatigue in virtual classes at the U.S. university. The results show that English competency and course engagement have a negative relationship with Zoom …

Prompting And Protecting Radical Environmental Justice Activism, Ava Corey-Gruenes

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

As environmental crises are systemic, intersectional, and extreme, this thesis frames corresponding action as a necessary and appropriate response. Using semi-structured interviews with people who identified as having engaged in radical environmental justice (EJ) activism, this study explores the following two research questions: the types of environmental actions and attitudes these activists report engaging in, and the types of factors and experiences they report as inhibiting and encouraging those actions and attitudes. This information might help unearth actions and policies that can help prompt, sustain, and protect engagement in radical EJ activism, which is here defined as activism that addresses …

Takt Time Reduction Of Genset Assembly Line Using Process Optimization And Lean Manufacturing Tools, Ninad Joshi

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

With rapid developments in the field of AI and data centers, there is a soaring demand for backup power and due to this, genset manufacturers are compelled to increase their throughput and reduce lead times. This study focuses on incorporating process optimization and lean tools for lowering the overall takt time by reducing the cycle time of the generator assembly process of Line 1 at Rolls Royce Solutions America Inc. The eventual goal is to increase the throughput from 6 generators per day to 7 per day. The paper follows a step-by-step methodology starting from the problem statement and uses …

Intelligent Traffic Management Systems, Mohammad Mazhar

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

With the increase in population and in particular urban population. The traffic and travel times in between cities and inside cities has increased due to more and more people using private means of transportation. Due to this need arose for tackling the increase in traffic by managing it using various means. For this we look towards The Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS). ITMS is an AI-powered solution designed to optimize traffic flow, reduce congestion, and improve overall road safety. The system will monitor real-time traffic data using a combination of cameras and sensors, identify traffic jams, and send alerts to …

Optimizing Production In An Electronics Manufacturing Industry Using Six Sigma: A Dmaic Approach To Process Enhancement, Shubham Parekh

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This paper focuses on the application of DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) process of Six Sigma methodology for increasing the production numbers in an electronics manufacturing industry. The overall production numbers are improved by identifying the root causes and improving the process efficiency. Detailed analysis of the process cycle time for all stations is conducted and key areas for improvement are identified. Proper implementation of the suggested changes is conducted, and the results are verified. Further recommendations are provided for addressing the key improvement areas for reducing the cycle time of the bottleneck process. The findings highlight the …

Developing A Snow Detection Algorithm Using Spatial Attention For Pedestrian Safety, Ricardo De Deijn

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

SNOW-COVERED SIDEWALKS POSE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARDS, ESPECIALLY FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS SUCH AS THE ELDERLY AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED. THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE SNOW DETECTION SYSTEMS IS CRUCIAL FOR ENHANCING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. THIS RESEARCH AIMS TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES BY DEVELOPING A SNOW DETECTION ALGORITHM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR SIDEWALKS. THE PROPOSED ALGORITHM USES A CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORK (CNN) ARCHITECTURE INCORPORATING A 2-DIMENSIONAL SPATIAL ATTENTION MECHANISM TO FOCUS ON RELEVANT FEATURES IN IMAGES, IMPROVING SNOW DETECTION ACCURACY. DUE TO THE SEASONAL AND GEOGRAPHIC LIMITATIONS OF SNOW DATA COLLECTION, SYNTHETIC DATA GENERATION USING INVERSE DIFFUSION MODELS WAS EMPLOYED TO AUGMENT THE REAL-WORLD DATASET. ALTHOUGH …

Metaheuristics For White-Box Path Attraction Attacks In Hidden Markov Models, Brandon Koch

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) play a pivotal role in fields such as speech recognition, spam detection, and autonomous vehicles, where reliable predictive capabilities are essential. However, the rapid adoption of HMMs has heightened their susceptibility to adversarial attacks. This research investigates inherent weaknesses in traditional HMMs by examining how adversarial manipulation of observable data impacts model performance. We address three core questions: How does varying HMM parameters influence a path attraction problem? Which metaheuristic methods most effectively optimize these attacks in a white-box scenario? What key vulnerabilities emerge in HMMs under adversarial manipulation? To explore these questions, we design HMMs …

Examining Latinx Principals' And Assistant Principals' "Desafios" In K-12 Education In The Upper Midwest, Melisa Rivera

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Despite the increasing number of Latinx students in Upper Midwest schools, Latinx school leaders remain underrepresented. This quantitative study explored the experiences of Latinx principals and assistant principals in K-12 schools across the region, focusing on community perception, stress, coping, and resilience. Data were collected from twenty-three principals and assistant principals, including fourteen women and nine men. The Brief Sense of Community Scale (BSCS) showed a mean score of 13.52 (SD = 4.87). The Brief COPE Inventory (BCI) revealed a high mean score for problem-focused coping, indicating effective coping strategies. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) indicated higher stress levels (mean …

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 29. Extraterrestrial Entertainment: Are We Being Monitored By Alien Beings?, Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Alfred Russel Wallace (1823−1913) was an early advocate for the rational assessment of likelihood of extraterrestrial life. Current efforts to evaluate the situation have ranged from the heavily self-indulgent to the more objective, and it is still often difficult to decide just how much of the information we are receiving on the subject is dependable. An attempt is made here to cut through the haze and reduce the matter to elementals.

Forget About Ferpa: How Foia Protects Student-Athlete Privacy In The Nil Era, Kamron Cox

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

The start of the name, image, and likeness (NIL) era stirred public fervor about the new earning potential of high-profile student-athletes. Since institutional policies and state laws governing NIL require student-athletes to broadly disclose information about their NIL activities to their respective institutions, the several state laws that follow the approach of the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) can jeopardize the privacy of student-athlete NIL information. Major universities have repeatedly resorted to the unreliable defense of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act as well as sporadic state legislation to protect student-athlete privacy in the new NIL space. However, …

Exploring Barriers And Pathways To Public Engagement On Climate Change, Monica Mayer

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Despite evidence of its severity and urgency, climate change elicits relatively high skepticism and low concern within the U.S. This study explores psychological barriers preventing people from prioritizing the issue as well as potential strategies to overcome those barriers. Interviews with individuals living in Florida identifying as cautious, disengaged, or doubtful about climate change were conducted between September and October 2023. Participants expressed skepticism over humanity’s impact on the climate. They further conveyed that other nations have a larger impact on climate change than the U.S, that the issue’s criticality is exaggerated, and that observable weather shifts are not the …

Humor As An Instructional Communication Tool: Revisiting Humor And Exploring The New Punchline In Human-Machine Communication, Melissa M. Looney

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This research examined the role of humor in instructional communication, focusing on human-to-human and human-machine communication (HMC). As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in learning environments, it is critical to understand how elements such as humor influence user perceptions and, consequently, affective learning outcomes. Previous arguments about humor in educational settings, particularly those centered on traditional student-teacher interactions, have been arguably derelict. Therefore, this research revisited earlier assertions about humor, extending the inquiry to include online communication and AI-driven chatbots in learning management systems. Specifically, the study explored how humor and the type of agent (human or AI chatbot) …

Effectively Communicating Uncertainty In Tropical Cyclone Intensity Forecasts, Robert W. Eicher

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This body of research investigated methods for effectively communicating the inherent, technical uncertainty in tropical cyclone intensity forecasts through three separate studies. The first investigation uses Hurricane Laura as a case study. Laura rapidly intensified before making landfall in Cameron, Louisiana, catching some residents off guard. The study demonstrates how publics could be more effectively alerted to future hurricane worst-case scenarios using best practices recommended by the risk communication literature. The second study is an experiment that examines the effectiveness of adding numerical probability information to hurricane forecasts. Prior research suggests that using numeric probability information along with words and …

"What Do You Mean By...?" The Role Of Plain Language In Jury Instructions, Jamie L. Vega

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Extant literature indicates there are significant problems related to how jurors comprehend instructions. Cognitive fluency literature explains that when information is presented in plain language, it enhances cognitive fluency by reducing the cognitive load on the reader or listener. Therefore, utilizing a quantitative experiment, this study sought to explore the use of plain language and its role when presenting instructions to jurors. A total of 212 participants were randomly assigned to one of the two jury instruction conditions and one of the six case facts, where they were asked to read a hypothetical self-defense case scenario followed by the corresponding …

Effects Of Language Differences On Healthcare Barriers Experienced By Arab Americans, Abigail Yazdiya

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study analyzes the effects of language differences on healthcare services for Arab Americans. The research specifically investigates the subpopulation of ESL (English Second Language)/bilingual Arab Americans, in order to learn about the effect of a lack of interpretation services and therefore the use of family translators on healthcare treatment. There has been a lack of research on this growing population in the United States. Language barriers can hinder the already difficult process of healthcare. These barriers, combined with other barriers, such as cultural factors, can negatively affect healthcare treatment and outcomes. This study uses surveys to reach people in …

Exploring Hypervigilance Among Trans+ People Navigating Cisgendered Healthcare, Emma M. Tukdarian

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

This thesis uses the limited research on LGBTQ+ specific hypervigilance and queer battle fatigue to explore the prevalence of hypervigilance and fatigue in trans+ medical experiences, even when emotions aren't centered in their narratives, while also using participants' narratives and minority stress theory to suggest changes to the American medical system. Data was taken from a previous study of in-depth interviews on healthcare experiences of 60 trans+ young adults ages 18-24. Analysis of the data was done in NVivo using line-by-line coding for mentions of emotional responses linked to hypervigilance within interview transcripts. Results show that 67% of participants shared …

A Social Portal To Online Higher Education: How Students With Disabilities Experience Online Courses, Marisa Lucca

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Although people with disabilities have made significant strides toward educational equity, they continue to face struggles in college that perpetuate their dismal college outcomes. Current research focuses on struggles endured in the on-campus setting and provides little insight into online course experiences. Toward addressing the knowledge gap, the study opened a social portal to online higher education, leveraging disability as an experiential lens to understand online course challenges and the potential for universal design for learning practices to reduce obstacles to academic success. We considered online course experiences concerning impairment effects and disablism within a social relational disability studies perspective. …

Competing Narratives And Converging Perspectives: Analyzing The Dynamics Of The Pulse Memorial Crisis, Amy E. Maciel

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

In the wake of the Pulse nightclub massacre, the effort to create a memorial devolved into a crisis and ultimate failure amidst a complex interplay of divergent claims. This study explored the evolving memorialization process for the creation of a Pulse Memorial, utilizing Fisher's narrative paradigm to analyze articles from the Orlando Sentinel published between January 1st, 2023, and January 31st, 2024. By employing Fisher's framework, which emphasizes narrative fidelity and narrative probability, this study investigated the dynamic evolution of storytelling related to the Pulse Memorial Crisis. Through thematic analysis, the study explored how stakeholders constructed and challenged the memory …

A Closer Look At Denali’S Alpine Wildlife: Assessing The Influences Of Climate And Vegetation Changes On Species In Alaska, Jennifer Lynn Wall

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Climate change is amplified in polar regions and could have considerable consequences for biodiversity. Arctic and boreal regions, in particular, have warmed more than double the global average and are experiencing increasing precipitation, thawing permafrost, shrinking snow seasons, and increasing shrub- and tree-line encroachment. These changes are suspected to influence key alpine biodiversity, including species such as collared pikas (Ochotona collaris), hoary marmots (Marmota caligata), and Arctic ground squirrels (Urocitellus parryii). But, we have limited understanding of whether this is true and, if so, which factors drive distributional shifts in response to climate change. For this dissertation, I collected data …

Leaving Them In Stitches: Novel Methods For Splice-Aware Sequence Annotation, Alexander Nord

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Pre-mRNA intron splicing is essential to the production of many eukaryotic proteins, but it is relatively uncommon for sequence analysis tools to account for this process in their methods. In this dissertation I present three tools for biological sequence analysis, demonstrating the benefits that they derive from their explicit awareness of intron splicing. First, I present Mirage2, an updated implementation of the Mirage multiple sequence alignment program, which produces alignments of protein isoforms according to spliced genome mapping coordinates. I then present Diviner, which synthesizes the output data produced by Mirage2 to locate novel coding regions on eukaryotic …

Graduate School : Dissertation Manual

Academic Affairs – Policy Library

No abstract provided.

Beyond The Classroom: An Internship Model That Builds Age-Friendliness & Career Readiness, Kristin Souza, Skye N. Leedahl, Emma Pascuzzi, Alexandra Morelli

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

Since 2015, the University of Rhode Island (URI) Engaging Generations Cyber-Seniors Program has provided over 500 students from 19 different majors with the opportunity to mentor older adults through internships and service learning courses. Due to the pandemic, interest in the program significantly increased from the community and from students in need of opportunities to work with individuals. As a result, a robust internship program was developed that focused on building age and digital inclusivity across campus and throughout the state. The program integrates a three-pronged approach where students complete field hours, enhance the Career Readiness Competencies employers seek in …

Mobile Payment, Financial Behavior And Financial Anxiety: A Multi-Group Structural Equation Modeling Study, Ting An, Jing Jian Xiao, Nilton Porto, Luiz Cruz

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study aims to examine the association between mobile payment usage and financial anxiety, and explores the mediating role of financial behavior. Moreover, this research also compares the moderating effects of financial education and financial knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach: A sample of 18,584 consumers from the 2021 National Financial Capability Study in the U.S. was analyzed. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to explore indirect associations between mobile payment usage and financial anxiety. Two undesirable financial behaviors, overspending and over-indebtedness were used as mediators between mobile payment and financial anxiety. Moreover, multi-group analyses was conducted for two financial knowledge …

Estimating South Dakota’S Capacity To Meet K-12 School Meal Fruit And Vegetable Requirements With State-Grown Produce, Bridgette Bienias

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Quantify South Dakota (SD)’s capacity to procure locally-sourced fruit and vegetables (FVs) for K-12 school meals.
Methods: Secondary analysis of 2017 SD agricultural census and school meal data. Yields were converted to edible cups of FVs using school meal guidelines provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Student enrollment and meal redemptions were used to estimate the number of FV cups needed.
Results: Estimated SD FV production met minimum total K-12 cup requirements, except for total fruit (66%) and dark green vegetables (80%). Legumes supplied 77% of the total cups of vegetables produced in 2017, whereas dark green vegetables …

Structural Construction And Surface Modification Of Copper Current Collectors For Lithium Metal Batteries, Yaohua Liang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Graphene, a prevalent anode material in commercial lithium-ion batteries, has reached its theoretical capacity limit. The imperative is to develop high-capacity anode materials to meet the growing demand for energy density. Lithium metal, renowned for its exceptionally high theoretical specific capacity density (3680 mAh g-1) and low reduction potential (-3.04 V, relative to the standard hydrogen electrode), is commonly dubbed the "Holy Grail" for negative electrode materials in high-energy-density batteries. However, practical advancements in lithium metal anodes face obstacles like low Coulombic efficiency, limited cycle life, and heightened reactivity to the electrolyte and internal short circuits resulting from lithium dendrite …