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A Phenomenological Study Examining The Lived Experiences Of Middle School Students Who Have Demonstrated Challenges In Math And Their Expectations To Improve Their Performance, Steven Duane Fencl

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of middle school students who have challenges in math and their expectations of opportunities provided to improve their performance at a middle school in the Spring Valley School District. The theory that guided this study was Vroom’s expectancy theory, which argues that the tendency of a person to act in a certain way depends on what the person expects to happen, that it will be favorable to the person, and that the person feels the result will provide a potential gain. The central research question was, “How do …

Essays In Corporate Governance, Jun Mok Kim

Olin Business School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This thesis consists of two essays that deal with institutional investors and corporate governance. In particular the first chapter studies the relationship between higher temperatures and institutions’ proxy voting. Analyzing voting decisions by U.S. mutual funds, I find that heat exposure negatively correlates with voting against management. The findings concentrate on companies or shareholder proposals where a stockholding in the firm represents a larger share of an institution’s portfolio. The heat-voting relationship is stronger when an institutional shareholder is experiencing unusually hotter temperatures. My results suggest potentially significant but hidden corporate governance implications of climate change. The second chapter studies …

Essays In Accounting And Financial Institutions, Hanmeng Wang

Olin Business School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Financial institutions, e.g., mutual funds and banks, are important entities in the capital markets. They make decisions based on accounting information. Further, their activities influence information production on the firm side, because interests are aligned between institutional investors and firms either through contracting or through market price pressure. Within this context, my dissertation focuses on the interactions between financial institutions and firms. In Chapter 1, I study how institutional investors’ myopia affects firms’ voluntary disclosures. This research question is motivated by the concurrent debate in accounting theory about whether myopia leads to more or less voluntary disclosures. I explore the …

Determining The Role Of Ddr2 In Acquired Chemo-Resistance In Ovarian Cancer, Alyssa Oplt

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer death in women with a 5-year survival rate around 30%. Up to 80% of ovarian cancer patients experience disease recurrence and the majority of those cases are resistant to treatment. Therefore, there is a need to understand the mechanisms of chemo-resistance in order to create new therapies and increase patient survival. To accomplish this, I first developed novel, chemo-resistant, syngeneic mouse ovarian cancer cell lines by serial passaging ovarian cancer cells through mice and treating with increasing doses of chemotherapy. These cell lines fill a need in the field for matched …

Geochemical Processes On The Martian Surface: An Investigation Of Dust, Mineral Transformations, And Trace Elements Along Rover Traverses, Abigail Leigh Knight

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Martian surfaces processes often result in changes in mineralogy and chemical perturbations in surface materials. Trace elements can serve as geochemical indicators of past aqueous and volcanic activity, and the mineralogy of the surface can offer evidence of specific mineral transformation pathways and therefore past conditions on Mars. Constraining past surface environments is critical to assessing the potential habitability of Mars in its past. Further, the composition of the Martian surface informs the availability of bioessential elements. Acquiring data from Mars to investigate its composition requires immense resources to plan, develop, and operate missions. Utilization of Mars rover payload instruments …

Using Functional Principal Component Analysis (Fpca) To Quantify Sitting Patterns Derived From Wearable Sensors., Rong W. Zablocki, Sheri J. Hartman, Chongzhi Di, Jingjing Zou, Jordan A. Carlson, Paul R. Hibbing, Dori E. Rosenberg, Mikael Anne Greenwood-Hickman, Lindsay Dillon, Andrea Z. Lacroix, Loki Natarajan

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Sedentary behavior (SB) is a recognized risk factor for many chronic diseases. ActiGraph and activPAL are two commonly used wearable accelerometers in SB research. The former measures body movement and the latter measures body posture. The goal of the current study is to quantify the pattern and variation of movement (by ActiGraph activity counts) during activPAL-identified sitting events, and examine associations between patterns and health-related outcomes, such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP).

METHODS: The current study included 314 overweight postmenopausal women, who were instructed to wear an activPAL (at thigh) and ActiGraph (at waist) simultaneously …

Teacher Perceptions Of Instructional Influence On Students’ 21st Century Soft Skills Retention And Transference, Zoraida Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many career and technical education (CTE) programs have moved from face-to-face to virtual internships (VIs) to train students who are expected to enter the job market. The problem was that many graduates of CTE VIs demonstrate 21st century soft skills during VIs, but upon entering the workplace, are unable to demonstrate the same soft skills. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore secondary CTE teachers’ perceptions of how their instruction during VIs influenced students’ 21st-century soft skills to make student skills retainable and transferable; the TPACK conceptual framework was used as a lens for analysis. Semi-structured open-ended …

Objectively Identifying Transverse Cirrus Bands In Tropical Cyclones Using A Convolutional Neural Network, John Mark Mayhall

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Channel Prediction For Underwater Acoustic Communication: A Review And Performance Evaluation Of Algorithms, Haotian Liu, Lu Ma, Zhaohui Wang, Gang Qiao

Michigan Tech Publications

Underwater acoustic (UWA) channel prediction technology, as an important topic in UWA communication, has played an important role in UWA adaptive communication network and underwater target perception. Although many significant advancements have been achieved in underwater acoustic channel prediction over the years, a comprehensive summary and introduction is still lacking. As the first comprehensive overview of UWA channel prediction, this paper introduces past works and algorithm implementation methods of channel prediction from the perspective of linear, kernel-based, and deep learning approaches. Importantly, based on available at-sea experiment datasets, this paper compares the performance of current primary UWA channel prediction algorithms …

Volume Cxliii, Number 20, April 26, 2024, Lawrence University

The Lawrentian

No abstract provided.

Alignment Of Multi-Tiered Support Systems Following A School-Based Suicide Risk Assessment: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of School-Based Mental Health Professionals, Lorraine Z. May

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of school-based mental health professionals (SBMHP) alignment of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) with completed suicide risk assessments (SRA). This qualitative, phenomenological study investigated the experiences of SBMHP with school-based SRA and MTSS. The experiences of SBMHP regarding aligning MTSS with completed SRA prior to this study were unknown. The social ecological model (SEM) provided the framework as it outlines the multiple systems that SBMHP should consider when aligning interventions within a MTSS when working with students, while Joiner’s interpersonal theory of suicide (ITS) provided the grounding for suicidal behavior. …

Stem Smart Goal Planning For Elementary Educators In Rural North Texas: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Katherine Marie Mccandless

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experience of educators setting pre-STEMs SMART goals and implementation at the elementary classroom level in rural North Texas districts. The pre-STEM areas are important to develop and intervene early as they are foundational building blocks later to STEM education and professional opportunities for the rural population. The study's central research question was: What are the experiences of elementary educators in planning STEM SMART goals? The theory guiding the study is Locke's goal-setting theory (1968), based on his five tenets. The tenets of Locke's theory were used to guide …

Comparing Sense Of Community Scores Between Online Information Technology Students Based Domestically And Those Based Internationally, Spencer Degraw

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study is to investigate a student’s sense of community within a globally-available, online, asynchronous, Information Technology (IT) course and explore whether there is a difference in the sense of community scores if the student is currently residing in the United States or is currently residing outside of the United States. A sample size of N = 297 students was drawn from a convenience sample of online students who had self-enrolled in IT classes as part of an IT degree program. The Rovai’s Classroom Community Scale was used to calculate the sense of classroom community …

Equipping Local Pastors To Develop A Comprehensive Chaplaincy Ministry For The Cullman County Sheriff's Office, Matthew W. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Law enforcement officers’ high incidence of suicides and career abandonment is often attributed to work stress and inadequate support. The unmet emotional, physical, and spiritual needs further compound this situation. The researcher addressed the problem of unmet needs by training local pastors to serve as chaplains. Seven deputies, including six males and one female, and ten ministers, including eight males and two females, participated in the program. The training sessions included the following topics: introduction to law enforcement chaplaincy, personal issues LEOs’ battle, ministry of presence, building relationships, the chaplain’s purpose and role, qualities desired in a chaplain, ride-alongs, death …

The Influence Of Prayer On Anxiety In Black Males: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Robin Houston Stitt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Prayer is a primary indicator that Christians use to infuse meaning into their lives and navigate life's difficulties. Acquiring the capacity to cope with anxious feelings through spiritual disciplines, practices, and rituals can assist in anxiety relief. The literature indicates that the church has always served as a refuge when life-altering events occur. According to I Corinthians 12:13, the church is one body of believers, unified for a common purpose. Anxiety is defined as a state of distress caused by a perceived social threat. The purpose of this study in Pastoral Care and Counseling was to ascertain why studies have …

Providing Biblical Knowledge To Women Ages 25–70 To Place Women In Ministry And Leadership Positions In The Church, Evelyn Diane Scott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide biblical knowledge to equip women to assume scriptural roles in church ministry and leadership. The project was conducted at The Word Ministry Church in rural Dallas County, Alabama. The writer reviewed women’s challenges and issues in the Christian community dominated by patriarchal theories. This project provides an overview of the study group and the training criteria for preparing women for ministry and leadership. The goal was to educate women not serving in leadership or ministry positions to obtain biblical knowledge to give them the confidence and support to accept their gift of …

Dissecting The Role Of Chromatin Remodeling In Direct Lineage Reprogramming, Kunal Jindal

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Direct reprogramming, the direct forced conversion of one somatic cell type to another has widespread applications in regenerative medicine. Owing to its highly complex nature, discovery and validation of new factors for direct reprogramming is challenging and many current protocols suffer from low conversion efficiency, failing to create mature cell types comparable to their in vivo counterparts. Recent advances in single-cell have coupled cell ancestry and transcriptomic state measurement in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) assays. In reprogramming and development, these have allowed mapping lineage specific transcriptional changes both before and during cell fate specification. These methods work by encoding lineage …

The Impact Of Disability Support Services On The Success Of Student Veterans: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Chante Kimberly Burnell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology was to explore the lived experiences of student veterans using disability support services at postsecondary institutions. Disability support services for student veterans was generally defined as any resource or service providing accessibility and support to aid academic success. Therefore, the central research question focused on the experiences of student veterans when utilizing disability support services. The conceptual framework used to guide this study was Vacchi’s (2017) Model of Student Veteran Support, as it establishes veteran-friendly propositions and suggests cornerstones needed to support the successful degree completion of student veterans. Data triangulation was used to …

An Exploratory Case Study Of Student Grit With Educational Technology In Learning Environments, Crystal Rees

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to understand the expectations Generation Alpha (Gen Alpha), those born between 2010 and 2024, has on educational technology (edtech) in learning environments and how those students rate their grit with 12 participants in third through ninth grade. The theory guiding this study was grit theory by Angela Duckworth regarding grit. This qualitative study was conducted with 12 student participants in their learning environment using a qualitative questionnaire, student interview, and student observation during their dedicated homework time. Memoing was used during observations and interviews to record common phrases between participants when describing …

A Study On The Barriers And Challenges For The Usage Of Active Transportation In Sri Lanka, J. Ranawake, S. Siriwardene

Journal of Innovation in Science, Engineering and Technology

Active transportation includes human-powered travel like walking, cycling, and skating. Active Transportation offers various benefits for users, society, and the economy in Sri Lanka. However it is not widely recognized as a primary commuting mode for daily travelers. This study mainly focuses on identifying potential barriers and potential challenges to the usage of active transportation in Sri Lanka and identifying the relationship between them especially focusing on the Colombo district. The study is limited only into the cycling because of the availability of data. The study has a quantitative approach and its cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was distributed physically and …

Characteristic Of Dual Polarization Sentinel-1 For Estimation Of Seawater Intrusion On Kalianda Coast, South Lampung: A Preliminary Study, Choirunnisa Salsabila, Mochamad Firman Ghazali, Ananda Dermawan, Lauditta Zahra, Ni Made Mega Melliana, Mila Aulia

Jurnal Geografi Lingkungan Tropik (Journal of Geography of Tropical Environments)

Seawater intrusion can increase soil salinity, which occurs due to flooding, evaporation, and land cover changes in coastal areas. This research aims to map and observe the characteristics of seawater intrusion in Way Urang, Kalianda, South Lampung, using Dual-polarization of Sentinel-1 SAR imagery with VV, VH, VV+VH, and (VV+VH)/2 polarization. There were 28 samples used in this research which were divided into two types, GCP (ground control point) and ICP (independent check point). GCP samples are used to create a seawater intrusion estimation model using the regression method, while ICP samples are used to test the validation model using the …

Contradictions Among The People: Mao Zedong And The Aims Of The Hundred Flowers Policy, Cameron C. Nielsen

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

As the year 1956 dawned, the People's Republic of China (PRC) was at a crossroads. After a mere six years in power, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had successfully consolidated its control of mainland China, stabilized and reformed the economy, won the hearts of the peasants through land redistribution, fought the United States to a standstill in Korea, and silenced dissent through re-education campaigns. However, questions began to arise over where to go from there. To the surprise of many, at this moment of the Party's uncertainty, Mao Zedong began to push for greater openness to critical voices. Known as …

Reed Smoot And The League Of Nations: Duty To Church And Party, Brandon Hellewell

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

Senator Reed Smoot (R-UT) lived his life with two great devotions, the Republican Party and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1919, he held high positions in both. At that time, and in his seventeenth year as a senator, Smoot served as a member of the Senate Finance Committee. He also served as an Apostle of the LDS Church. These two parts of Smoot's life created tensions at several junctures, including 1919 when the Republican Party and LDS Church took opposing sides in the battle over United States membership in the League of Nations. The Church supported …

Gmr-29 Identification Of Ai-Generated Images, Chris Foster, Joshua Brock, Harini Kottala, Srilatha Korrapati

C-Day Computing Showcase

With the quick rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), generative AI models have greatly increased the volume and velocity of data creation. Among that data, AI-generated images have become a highly discussed topic, especially when discussing the potential dangers of these AI models. Due to these dangers, being able to distinguish AI-generated art from human-made art is becoming a necessity. Additionally, as these AI-models improve, it is becoming increasingly difficult for humans to determine whether art is AI-generated or human-made. This paper proposes the further exploration of the effectiveness of a current state of the art AI-image identification model.

Gmr-72 Ai-Based Discourse Analysis System (Adas) For Improved Stem Education, Varun Gottam

C-Day Computing Showcase

In the rapidly evolving fields of Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing, significant opportunities have emerged to transform educational practices. Discourse analysis, particularly in science education, plays a critical role in fostering scientific thinking among students. However, the manual application of tools like the Classroom Discourse Analysis Tool is resource-intensive and impractical on a large scale. This abstract proposes the development of an AI-based Discourse Analysis System tailored for educational settings, designed to automate and enrich the analysis of classroom discourse. Leveraging the latest in Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing, this web-based application will provide teachers nationwide with the …

Uc-85 Helpr: Helping Extrapolate Labels For Police Reports Using Large Language Models, Hailey N Walker, William A Stigall

C-Day Computing Showcase

Police officers spend many hours a week documenting their findings when reporting to a 911 call. There is so much detail in these reports that they remain an untapped resource for future data analytics by the police department. The reports are currently being analyzed by human experts and categorized into the following categories: “Substance Abuse”, “Mental Health”, “Domestic/Social”, “Nondomestic/Social”, and “Other”. To assist the experts and reduce the amount of time that is spent on reading and analyzing, we are proposing the use of large language models (LLMs) to tag police reports based on their content. Two models, Mistral-7B and …

Gpr-103 Personalized Pedagogy Through A Llm-Based Recommender System, Mourya Teja Kunuku, Bharath Y Yadla

C-Day Computing Showcase

The educational domain is undergoing transformation due to the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Large Language Models (LLMs), and generative AI technologies, raising the need for educators to integrate cutting-edge technological advancements and methodologies into their teaching approaches. Pedagogical Design Patterns (PDPs) have become prominent for their role in sharing effective educational practices and narrowing the divide between academic research and actual teaching methods. Despite their potential, the lack of widely accessible resources and the scattered nature of publishing outlets pose significant barriers to the broad application of PDPS. To address this issue, we propose the application of large language …

Uc-48 Birding With Buddy, Lazare V Sawadogo, Ikhelowa E Adeji, Blake Graham, Zach Alpine, Troy C Sorrells

C-Day Computing Showcase

Birding with Buddy is an educational and entertaining immersive virtual 3D low-poly birdwatching to be experienced at the Carter Lake Nature Center to enable kids to embark on a quest to learn more about birds. Buddy the Beaver guides the user through different terrain types to identify diverse bird species with sounds. Integrate a bird identification system where players click on the binocular icon to switch to a binocular view. In this view, players can choose to Identify (multiple-choice) the correct bird, Hear the Call Again, or Consult a Field Guide. Featuring flippable pages with images and notable markings of …

Uc-69 Interactive Training Game Suite, Garrett J Perry, Joscelyn Cauley, Issabella Du, Sergiu Ursu, Rahaf Kokash

C-Day Computing Showcase

It is now common knowledge that simple lectures are not the most effective way for the average person to learn and retain knowledge. The Core of Engineers at the Warner Robins Air Logistic Center have tasked us to transform their PowerPoint presentations into interactive training games to improve comprehension, interaction and retention while saving time and logistical resources compared to giving a traditional lecture. We been tasked with creating game modules covering STINFO or what is or is not considered classified information, Records Management, and the No FEAR Act detailing whistleblower rights and protocols. Our team has developed a log …

Ur-62 Deep Learning Approach To Network Anomaly Detection, Rene P Lisasi, Jamia M Jackson

C-Day Computing Showcase

A model of network anomaly detection capable of detecting a multitude of network attacks. This model is based on the hypothesis that by studying a system’s network records for irregular patterns during system usage, network anomalies can be identified. This model contains information about the type of attacks and metrics. This model is to be used in any type of distributed environment. The general purpose of this model is to detect when an attack is or has happened using deep learning techniques to optimize the training speed, accuracy and robustness of attack detection. This is done to stop the epidemic …