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Fayetteville State University Spring Commencement May 9, 2025, Fayetteville St University

Graduation Exhibit

Program for Fayetteville State University Spring Commencement May 9, 2025

Keynote Speaker: Mayor Mitch Colvin, City of Fayetteville Mayor 2017-2025

Application Of Alexander Technique In The Practice And Performance Of The Sibelius Violin Concerto, Op. 47, Rebeca Rathlef Todd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Musicians often struggle with excessive tension, inefficient movement, and performance-related discomfort, which can hinder technical development and artistic expression. Alexander Technique (AT) has been widely recognized for improving coordination, reducing strain, and fostering a more mindful approach to performance. However, its integration into violin practice often lacks a systematic framework that students can apply without prior AT experience. This study investigates the development of a structured methodology for applying AT principles in the daily practice of college-level violin students, using Jean Sibelius’s Violin Concerto, Op. 47 as a case study. I implemented weekly AT lessons with licensed instructor Eleni Vosniadou …

Single Vesicle Surface Protein Profiling And Machine Learning - Assisted Dual Image Analysis For Breast Cancer Detection, Mitchell Lee Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Single vesicle molecular profiling of cancer-associated EVs is increasingly recognized as a powerful tool for cancer detection and monitoring. Mask and target dual imaging offers a straightforward method to quantify the fraction of molecularly targeted EVs in biofluids at the single vesicle level. However, accurate and efficient dual imaging analysis remains challenging due to interference from false signals in mask images and the need to process large volumes of clinical sample data. A fully automated dual imaging analysis method based on machine learning, integrated with dual imaging single-vesicle technology (DISVT), for breast cancer detection at various stages is presented here. …

Linking Neural And Physiological Indicators Of Turn-Taking: The Importance Of Live Engagement, Brandon Alexander Copping

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Introduction: Many turn-taking studies examine measures from temporal, neural, or respiratory domains separately as well as limit the turn-taking behaviors participants can engage in by dictating when and for how long they are allowed to speak. A multi-domain approach that does not restrict when participants are allowed to respond would be able to bridge these gaps. Objectives: Determine whether the presence of a live presenter elicits more ecologically valid response times in a question-answer paradigm than the use of pre-recorded audio. Also, determine whether participants begin executing speech motor plans upon recognition of answer-relevant information or upon detection of a …

The Interplay Of Poetry And Musical Style In Ned Rorem's Song Cycle Aftermath: A Reflection Of His Quaker And Pacifist Beliefs, Brianna Marie Reilly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This document is an analysis of the contemporary ten-movement song cycle Aftermath, written by Ned Rorem. Aftermath was composed in 2002 as a commentary on the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, in the United States of America and explores themes of loss, grief, survival, and reflection. This document includes historical information about the attacks of September 11, 2001, biographical information on Ned Rorem, information on the texts and the poets whose works Rorem integrated into Aftermath, and an analysis of the musical and textual elements utilized. As Rorem is a Quaker and a Pacifist, each song in …

Balancing Act: Retrofitting Office Design To Enrich Communities, Luke A. Griffith

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The office workplace has shifted tremendously in the last decade. The world is adapting quickly to new technology and culture changes, but office buildings seem to be stuck in the past. COVID-19 has brought the world to a stand still and moved the way to do business to our homes. This shift has taught the workforce that most work can be done as efficiently at home than in the office. This leads to existing office buildings becoming rapidly vacant due to the lack of consistent occupancy throughout the work week. Where does that leave the future of the existing office …

Interactive Bodies: Creating A Haptic Dialogue, Evan R. Haller

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

BUILDINGS ARE BORING. The majority of modern buildings often fail to have meaningful engagements with their occupants, resulting in static spaces that prioritize function over experience. If we continue to design for pure functionality, are we any different from machines? My thesis, “Interactive Bodies: Creating a Haptic Dialogue,” explores a shift in architectural design where spaces can adapt and change depending on the users’ ability to interact with them.

Through various case studies on kinetic architecture and interactive design experiments, as well as inspiration from Archigram, my research investigates how kinetic components can foster a more meaningful relationship between people …

Improving Therapeutic Communication Between Patients And Nurses Using The Commit To Sit Method In The Obgyn/Postpartum/Mother-Baby Unit, Simisola A. Shodunke

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose

To improve patients’ perceptions of nurses by listening to their needs, helping nurses to engage with their patients therapeutically in the OBGYN/Postpartum/Mother-Baby unit. Aiming to increase patient satisfaction scores from 62.5% to 70% by December 2024 using the "Commit to Sit" method.

Background

The project was implemented in an OBGYN/Postpartum/Mother-Baby Unit, addressing the concerns of the patient’s perception of nurses not listening and addressing their needs which has contributed to a decline in patient satisfaction scores.

Methodology

The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model was used. Nurses were trained to sit at eye level with patients for 3–5 minutes per shift. Data …

Mitochondrial Network Expansion And Loss During Oligodendrocyte Life And Death, Xhoela Bame

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Oligodendrocytes are the myelinating cells of the central nervous system, known for modulating signal transmission, refining neural circuits, and providing metabolic support to axons. Oligodendrocytes are generated throughout life from oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and are damaged or lost in demyelinating and neurodegenerative diseases and age-related pathologies. Thus, understanding the cellular checkpoints that occur during the generation and degeneration of oligodendrocytes is crucial for maintaining their population in health and recovering it in disease and aging.

Using high-resolution optical imaging, I have discovered a dynamic redistribution and subcellular partitioning of mitochondria during oligodendrogenesis. Mitochondria transiently expanded towards the differentiating OPC …

First-Principles Studies Of Electrical Polarization Effects In Ferroelectrics, Antiferroelectrics And Defects, Louis Alaerts

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Over the last few decades, density functional theory (DFT) has emerged as a formidable tool in the field of computational material science. Not only has it become a complementary method approach to experiments by rationalizing the many complex properties of materials but its formidable predictive power can also be used to identify the most promising candidates for specific applications. Point defects in semiconductors have become an important platform for the development of quantum networks due to their ability to act as spin-photon interfaces. Spectral diffusion, the broadening of the optical emission line, can significantly impact the performance of these defect-based …

Language Mapping During Awake Brain Surgery In A Deaf Patient With A Brain Tumor: Illustrative Case, Ene Chibawanye I, Elizabeth Silva, Kyle Noll, Mariana Bradshaw, Katherine Connelly, Ho-Ling Liu, Ravi Tummala, David Ferson, Frederick F Lang, Vinodh A Kumar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Signed language integrates complex sensorimotor processes involving visual and motor networks. The contribution of language regions such as Broca's and Wernicke's areas during signing is not well established. Here, the authors report the case of a 45-year-old right-handed male with congenital deafness, who communicates using American Sign Language (ASL) and Signed English, presenting with focal seizures. Imaging showed a diffuse infiltrative glioma in the right cerebral hemisphere.

Observations: Remarkably, preoperative functional MRI language activations were bihemispheric and overlapped for both traditional language paradigms and sign paradigms, suggesting that the same cortical regions of the brain are used for language …

Implementation Of Classroom Technology For Elementary Students With Adhd, Melanie Flemming

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is the teacher-reported increase in behavioral problems among students with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) since a mandated introduction of educational technology in the classroom aimed at improving student performance. Using the PICRAT (passive, interactive, creative, replacement, amplification, transformation) describes the impact of technology on a teacher's previous practice model as the conceptual scaffold, this study was conducted to explore teachers’ experiences integrating educational technology and any corresponding student behavioral changes in classrooms that include students with ADHD. Following a basic qualitative design, data were collected through semistructured interviews, using a self-designed interview protocol, with …

Staff Education To Early Detection And Response To Patient Decline, Kein Gareth Rufino Pantaleon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project implemented a staff education program to enhance early recognition and escalation of patient deterioration. Conducted at a 343-bed acute care hospital, the initiative addressed the ongoing problem of delayed detection and response to clinical decline, which often results in rapid response team activations and code blue events. Delays in intervention increase patient morbidity and mortality, despite many of these events being preventable through timely action. The project evaluated whether an interactive targeted education program could improve nursing staff’s knowledge, confidence, and willingness to activate escalation protocols, including Condition H and Code Help. Pre- and post-education surveys were …

The Effectiveness Of Postincarceration Reentry Programming In Fostering Community Reintegration For Women, La Shawn B. Kelley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Identifying gaps in reentry programs for formerly incarcerated women is challenging due to the lack of evaluations that include the perspectives of the transitioning women on which components most effectively support their reintegration. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of transitioning women who received reentry services, in order to assess program effectiveness in community reintegration and inform future interventions. The research question for this study was, how do women served by Organization A’s reentry program describe the program’s effectiveness in preparing them for community reintegration after incarceration? To answer the practice-focused research …

Genome Announcement Of Four Parechovirus A3 Isolates From The United States Of America., Debarpan Dhar, Terry Fei Fan Ng, Christopher J. Harrison, Eric Rhoden, Bernardo A Mainou, Anjana Sasidharan, Katelyn E. Vandonge, Varun Chandra Boinpelly, Rangaraj Selvarangan

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

We report the complete genome sequences of four parechovirus-A3 (PeV-A3) isolates from Children's Mercy Kansas City (CMKC), United States of America (USA): PeV-A3-MO-12-CMKC/CSF/MO/USA/2012 (isolated in 2012 from cerebrospinal fluid), PeV-A3-8C-CMKC/CSF/MO/USA/2022/ (isolated in 2022 from cerebrospinal fluid), PeV-A3-9C-CMKC/CSF/MO/USA/2022 (isolated in 2022 from cerebrospinal fluid), and PeV-A3-11B-CMKC/Blood/MO/USA/2022 (isolated in 2022 from blood). Sequence analysis revealed multiple mutations throughout the genome of the PeV-A3 isolates in comparison to the prototypic PeV-A3 A308/99 reference sequence (AB084913). Several unique amino acid changes were observed in the PeV-A3 isolates from 2022 that were absent in the PeV-A3 isolate from 2012. Phylogenetic analysis comparison determined that the …

How Much Should Consumers With Mild To Moderate Hearing Loss Spend On Hearing Devices?, Vinaya Manchaiah, Steve Taddei, Abram Bailey, De Wet Swanepoel, Hansapani Rodrigo, Andrew Sabin

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: This study examined the relationship between hearing device price and sound quality. Method: A novel consumer-centric metric of sound quality (“SoundScore”) was used to assess hearing devices’ audio performance. Each hearing device is tested with two fittings. The “Initial Fit” is designed to approximate the most likely fitting for an individual with a mild-to-moderate sloping sensorineural hearing loss. The “Tuned Fit” includes adjusting parameters optimized to hit prescriptive fitting targets (NAL NL2) on an acoustic manikin. Each fitting is evaluated across five dimensions. Both fittings are combined using a weighted average to create a single number from 0 to …

Speech Stigma: Exploring Predictors Of Attitudes Toward Nonspeaking Autistic Individuals, Kate Herrmann

Honors College Theses

Roughly 30% of autistic individuals are nonspeaking, meaning they do not (or very minimally) communicate with speech. Many nonspeaking individuals have the ability to communicate with others by using augmentative and alternative communication, such as speech-generating devices or communication boards. The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of speaking individuals toward nonspeaking autistic people through a survey measuring attitudes and stigma toward nonspeaking people, autistic people, and disabled people, respectively. Predictors of attitudes, such as contact, knowledge, gender, and psychological inflexibility were examined. It was hypothesized that participants who have more contact with and knowledge of nonspeaking, …

Probation Officers Perceptions Of Probationers Economic Barriers To Successfully Complete Probation In Eastern North Carolina, Dwayne Ponton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study explored probation officers’ perceptions of the economic barriers that prevent probationers in Eastern North Carolina from successfully completing probation. Challenges such as unemployment, financial sanctions, housing instability, and debt were identified as key obstacles contributing to noncompliance and recidivism. Grounded in Merton’s Strain Theory, the study addressed a gap in research by focusing on the experiences of officers who directly supervise probationers facing economic hardship. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with twelve officers and analyzed using thematic analysis. The study was guided by two research questions: (1) What economic barriers prevent probationers from successfully completing …

Faculty Perceptions Of Challenges To Faculty Retention In Workforce Training Programs At A Higher Education Center In The Southern United States, Brea Terry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is the challenges of retaining faculty in the workforce training program division at a higher education center in the southern United States. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore faculty perceptions regarding challenges to faculty retention in the workforce training program division at a higher education center in the southern United States and their recommendations for improved faculty retention. The conceptual framework that supported the study was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with eight full-time workforce training faculty members who had been employed with the …

Developing An Effective Business Strategy For Microinsurance Demand In Nigeria, Adewale Ayokunle Adewusi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nigerian insurance leaders face significant challenges in developing a sustainable microinsurance sector. Despite subsidies from governments and donors aimed at increasing demand, microinsurance operators struggle to expand and sustain their customer base, posing a critical challenge for industry leaders. Grounded in the cumulative prospect theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies some insurance leaders in Nigeria use to grow and sustain business demand for microinsurance products. The participants were five insurance leaders in Nigeria who had employed successful strategies to develop and sustain business demand for microinsurance products. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and …

Capstone Final Report: Coal To Nuclear – Nuclear Power Solutions, Owen Horiagon, James Russell, Thomas Scorpio, Nate Segar

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

This project focuses on repurposing the retired Brayton Point coal plant into a next-generation clean energy facility by integrating a small modular reactor (SMR) to power a 250 MW AI data center. The purpose is to demonstrate a sustainable and technically sound solution that addresses both the rising demand for computational power and the need to decarbonize legacy infrastructure. Our objectives include designing and validating the NuScale SMR process, ensuring reliable integration with existing site assets, maintaining strict safety and licensing standards, and achieving zero net carbon emissions. The scope of work encompasses the complete system design, site retrofit planning, …

Antiamyloid Monoclonal Antibodies In Alzheimer’S Disease, Part 1: Patient Selection, James R. Bateman, Tara C. Carlisle, Yanghong Yang, Christian Lachner, Melissa D. Stockbridge, Laura A. Flashman, Zeina Chemali, Nasir Alzbeidi, Peter S. Pressman, Carlos J. Martinez-Menendez

School of Medicine Publications

The availability of monoclonal antibodies directed against amyloid beta, for use as disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), represented a major shift in the field of AD research and treatment. U.S. Food and Drug Administration approvals for the monoclonal antibody–based medications lecanemab and, more recently, donanemab provide clinicians with two antiamyloid therapy (AAT) options for targeting early symptomatic AD. The emergence of AAT has made careful biomarker-informed diagnosis of AD paramount, which was once reserved for highly specialized centers and research settings. Patient selection is complex, and although appropriate-use recommendations have been published, clinicians caring for patients with AD across …

Examing The Role Of Complement Signaling In Viral Neuroinflammatory Responses, Marlene Kanmogne

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The complement system is an ancient pathway that serves dual roles as a key regulator of neuroinflammation and a critical regulator of neural networks. Few studies have addressed how these two pathways may interact during infection of the central nervous system. While some components of complement are expressed in the healthy developing brain, complement component 3a receptor (C3aR) is a G protein coupled receptor that is expressed by astrocytes, microglia and infiltrating immune cells during inflammatory states. We previously found that C3aR is required for engulfment of synaptic material by activated microglia during neuroinvasive viral infection. Here, we used a …

Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia-Linked Ryanodine Receptor Variants Exhibit Domain-Specific Calcium Leak And Calmodulin Affinity Properties, Hitoshi Uchinoumi, Xiaoqiong Dong, Ivanita Stefanon, Yi Yang, Eduardo Hertel Ribeiro, Bengt Svensson, Xander H T Wehrens, Takeshi Yamamoto, Razvan L Cornea, Robyn T Rebbeck, Masafumi Yano, Donald M Bers

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is an inherited stress-induced arrhythmogenic disease often caused by point variants in the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) that enhance diastolic sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ leak. These RyR2 variants cluster in three hot-spots (N-terminal, central and C-terminal domains). We previously demonstrated a pathologic diastolic RyR2 conformation in heart failure, oxidative stress and CaMKII phosphorylation exhibiting a trilogy of effects: (1) reduced calmodulin (CaM)-RyR2 affinity, (2) enhanced unzipping peptide (DPc10) binding and (3) elevated diastolic SR Ca2+ leak that are dantrolene-sensitive. Here we test whether this pathological trilogy occurs in CPVT knock-in (KI) mice bearing N-terminal (R176Q/+), …

Personalizing Ai Models Using Low-Rank Adaptation And Direct Preference Optimization, Saravanan Ganesh, Yi Li, Yunfei Hu, Krystal Kallarackal, Kelvin Nguyen, Chu-Cheng Lin

Defensive Publications Series

Aligning a large language model (LLM) to individual preferences is difficult to perform at scale. This disclosure describes techniques that leverage direct preference optimization (DPO) and low-rank adaptation (LoRA) to enable scalable alignment of artificial intelligence (AI) models. With user permission, user’s edits to suggestions from the model are obtained. The context of the user’s written data or interaction with the LLM is obtained. The user’s edits serve as training data to contextually fine-tune the model using LoRA and DPO. Training data is created as a side product of the user's tasks assisted by the LLM. The training data is …

Enhanced Deixis In Video Conferencing With Floating Video And Synthesized Gestures, Xun Qian, David Kim, Ruofei Du

Defensive Publications Series

In traditional video conferencing with screensharing, presenters struggle to reference specific on-screen elements effectively due to the limitations of small video feeds and basic pointer tools. This disclosure describes video conferencing (VC) techniques for enhancing the ability to point (deixis) in a videoconference using synthesized hand gestures. The video feed of the presenter is integrated into the shared screen, while synthesized hand gestures are overlaid to align with speech and pointer movements. With user permission, a multimodal machine learning pipeline accepts as input shared screen content, pointer/controller data, and ongoing speech to generate gestures and to determine optimal video placement. …

Federated Ai Learning In Healthcare: Comprehensive Framework For Managing Urgent Care Denials, Kush Sharma

Defensive Publications Series

Federated learning (FL) represents a paradigm shift in artificial intelligence (AI) by enabling collaborative model training across decentralized entities—such as hospitals, insurance providers, and clinics—without requiring the exchange of raw patient data. This approach is particularly transformative in healthcare, where data privacy regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the U.S. and impose strict limitations on data sharing. In the context of urgent care denials—such as rejected pre-authorizations, triage prioritization errors, or resource allocation decisions—FL offers a way to improve AI-driven decision-making while preserving patient confidentiality.

This elaborates on a federated AI framework designed to address …

Machine Learning System And Method For Predicting Risk Of Drilling Component Failure, Baker Hughes Company

Defensive Publications Series

The invention addresses the problem of drilling tool failure risk assessment in the oil and gas industry. Tool failure in drilling operations can lead to significant financial losses, downtime, and safety risks. The invention aims to provide a solution for predicting and preventing these failures, which is crucial for maintaining safe and efficient drilling operations.

The invention proposes a solution by combining data-driven techniques with expert knowledge. It begins with data collection, including historical data on tool performance, and involves data cleaning and pre-processing. Relevant features are identified, and a predictive model is developed using machine learning techniques. The model …

Quantum Smart Entangled Fusion Reactor, Peter Branton

Defensive Publications Series

The invention relates to a compact, high-efficiency energy generation system employing

quantum-entangled hydrogen isotope fusion within nanoscale confinement structures. It

comprises a multiplicity of individually controlled fusion traps formed at nanometer scale, each

configured to receive pre-entangled pairs of hydrogen isotopes such as protium, deuterium, or

tritium. Each trap is stimulated by attosecond-timed electromagnetic resonance pulses to induce

fusion via quantum tunneling. Fusion events are monitored and optimised through an integrated

artificial intelligence (AI) control layer that ensures only coherence-validated, phase-aligned

pairs are activated. The system includes capacitive and inductive energy reclamation

components, and operates in inert gas environments without …

Volume 7 Complete Issue, James W. Gallagher

The Geographical Bulletin

Volume 7 Complete Issue