Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Formally Trained Teacher Leaders On Student Outcomes, Jodi Notch

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study examined the relationship between teacher leadership and student achievement through the lens of Distributed Leadership Theory. Specifically, it addresses three research questions: (a) To what extent is the implementation of teacher leadership by formally trained teacher leaders associated with academic success in schools? (b) Is there a difference in impact between formal teacher leader positions versus informal teacher leader positions? (c) How does having multiple teacher leaders in a school impact student outcomes? Using a two-way fixed effects design with a longitudinal panel data set, the analysis investigates the effects of employing teacher leaders trained through a formal …

Integrating Post-Quantum Cryptography Into A Cdn-Style Pki: Tls And Quic Performance Across Pqc Suites, Katrina Mary Parsom

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) adds larger certificates and extra workload to the Transport Layer Security (TLS) handshake. In order to analyze the effect of that change on content delivery, a controlled testbed with conditions replicating a Content Delivery Network (CDN) is used. The system uses a standard X.509 certificate chain over TLS 1.3. It compares RSA with classical key exchange, RSA with hybrid key encapsulation mechanism (KEM), and Module Lattice-based Digital Signature Algorithm (ML-DSA) with hybrid KEM. The test harness generates and provides certificates and establishes TLS parameters. The test harness also supports mixed web workloads and records key metrics, including …

Navigating Leadership In Bilingual Education: Exploring The Preparation, Experiences, And Adaptability Of Bilingual Education Leaders In The Southwest, Cynthia Romero

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study explored the experiences of school-level bilingual program leaders in the Southwestern United States, focusing on how their preparation, lived experiences, and local contexts shaped their leadership practices and decision-making. Drawing on Bourdieu’s theory of practice, the research examined how habitus and various forms of capital (cultural, social, and symbolic) influenced leaders’ approaches to developing and sustaining bilingual programs. Yosso’s theory of community cultural wealth (CCW) further expanded this lens by highlighting the aspirational, linguistic, familial, social, navigational, and resistant forms of capital.

Using a qualitative multi-case study design, the research analyzed policy documents, leadership preparation coursework, and semi-structured …

First-Principles Insights Into Binary Oxide Systems Under Extreme Pressure, Daniel Schacher

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Pressure is powerful tool by which one can manipulate the properties of materials. In this work we utilize pressure to explore binary oxide systems and characterize their structural and electronic properties. The observation of anomalous structural and electronic behavior in the rutile to CaCl2 phase transition in SnO2 led to the prediction that such behavior is inherent to all oxides experiencing such a phase transition sequence.[1] Here, the ultra-wide band gap semiconductor GeO2 is confirmed to exhibit anomalous behavior during the rutile to CaCl2 phase transition. A phase pure rutile GeO2 sample synthesized under high-pressure, high-temperature, conditions is probed using …

Ultrafast Dynamics Of Two-Dimensional Electron Systems, Randy Michael Sterbentz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

On-chip terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) is a technique useful for measuring the ultrafast electrodynamics of two-dimensional (2D) electronic systems. Charge carrier collisions occur on the sub-picosecond time scale, and strongly correlated electron interactions (such as superconductivity) typically have energies on the order of milli-electron-volts. These phenomena fall within the terahertz bandwidth, which has historically been difficult to access. Commercial electronics operate with transistors capable of switching rates of around 100 GHz, while small band gap semiconductors (like InGaAs) can detect light down to 0.75 eV (180 THz). When combined with the difficulty of measuring 2D layered materials, with lateral sizes …

A Comparison Of Airborne Tree Pollen In The Las Vegas Valley From 2017 – 2021, Asma Tahir

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Airborne pollen are a predominant cause of asthma, allergic disease, and respiratory infections. The strong allergenic potential of tree pollen is of a public health concern. Several allergenic trees grow in the Mojave Desert, but not all are native to the region. Concentrations of airborne tree pollen are affected by atmospheric, environmental, ecological, and geospatial factors. Previous research has reported high tree pollen concentrations in the Las Vegas Valley, but long-term comparison studies are lacking. This study measured and compared tree pollen concentrations from five different collection stations in Las Vegas. Pollen samples collected from January 1, 2017, to December …

Modeling The Mojave: A Multiphase, Mixed Methods Phenomenological Investigation Of Novice Understanding Of A Complex Ecological System, Nicole Juliana Thomas

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This research explores early college science majors’ conceptions of the Mojave Desert ecosystem as a complex system. A multi-level, explanatory sequential mixed methods design was employed to study college science majors’ understanding of the Mojave Desert ecosystem to better inform science pedagogy. The first level, the quantitative phase of the study, consisted of developing a mathematical representation of twelve ecosystem variables present within the Mojave Desert. The second level, the qualitative phase of the study, consisted of phenomenological semi-structured interviews with 23 early college science majors. The findings of this research suggest that the Mojave Desert operates as a complex, …

Integrating Chatgpt In Teacher Education: Examining Early Childhood And Elementary Pre-Service Teachers’ Experiences In Ai-Assisted Math Lesson Planning, Hae Min Yu, Hyeseong Lee, Seung Kim

Education Department Faculty Articles

This study examines how pre-service teachers in early childhood education (ECE) and elementary education (ELE) integrate ChatGPT into mathematics lesson planning. Using a mixed-methods case study framed by the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) with Contextual Knowledge (XK) framework and AI literacy, we analyzed the experiences of 44 pre-service teachers (24 ECE, 20 ELE) in mathematics method courses at a university in the Midwestern United States. Data sources included pre- and post-assessments, documentation of ChatGPT interactions, lesson plans, and reflection papers. Findings reveal significant gains in participants’ knowledge of and confidence in using ChatGPT, with increased willingness to incorporate generative …

Neutrosophic Assessment Of Ventilatory Dynamics: A Model For Performance Optimization, Darvin Manuel Ramírez Guerra, Yusleidy Marlie Gordo Gómez, Noel Batista-Hernández

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study expands upon neutrosophics by establishing a novel neutrosophic model for the evaluation of ventilatory capabilities of Peruvian league 1 soccer professionals in response to an urgent need for such scientific studies to accommodate uncertainty associated with generally physiological measurements. The union of neutrosophic statistics principles with spirometric results and cardiopulmonary exercise testing produces a neuto model that effectively operates at 93.2% accuracy measured by 3 factors—(1) identification of asymptomatic ventilatory deficiencies, (2) assessment of respiratory compensatory thresholds reached during play, (3) participant identification for ranking by neutrosophic determination of results and application of aggregation operators. Application of this …

Multidimensional Analysis Of Student Loyalty Using The Neutrosophic Biplot Method For Retention Strategies In Higher Education, Claudio Ruff, Marcelo Ruiz, Alexis Matheu, Bastián Gutiérrez, Luis Benites, Gerardo Anabalón

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Student loyalty in higher education represents a critical challenge for universities, particularly in the context of increasing competition and the need to ensure long-term retention. A key question arises: how can student loyalty be modeled when it is shaped by diverse and subjective perceptions? The relevance of this issue lies in its impact on institutional stability: when students withdraw before completing their programs, universities not only lose projected revenue but also face disruptions that may negatively influence academic rankings. Previous literature has explored drivers of satisfaction and determinants of loyalty; however, little attention has been given to approaches that explicitly …

Urban Shadows In Latin America: Detection Of Crime Hotspots Using Multivariate, Geospatial, And Neutrosophic Analytic Hierarchy Process (Nahp) Analytical Techniques, Johnny Pambabay-Calero, Sergio Bauz-Olvera, Oscar Scott-Macías, Pedro Luzuriaga Cedeño, Purificación Galindo-Villardón

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

In recent years, Guayaquil fell prey to higher levels of organized extortion compared to territorialized criminal organizations over territory, institutional weaknesses, and socio-spatial inequalities. Thus, while extortion emerged as an increasingly specialized crime, there are limited empirical studies to evaluate the crime's spatiotemporal nature or its determinants. Therefore, this study aims to identify and characterize extortion "criminal severity zones" of Guayaquil from 2021-2024, via a novel geostatistical approach, in addition to the Neutrosophic Analytic Hierarchy Process (NAHP). By implementing Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA), Kernel Density Estimation (KDE), dimensionality reduction techniques (PCA, MDS, and t-SNE), hierarchical clustering, and Bayesian hierarchical …

Identification Of Gaps In Ecuadorian Inclusive University Education Through Plithogenic Offsets, Genesis Carmen Alcívar Junco

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Although Ecuador has made strides in regulation, the barriers to inclusive universities reveal a fragmented vision for access and non-termination of special educational needs (SEN) persons. This research aims to assess the impact of physical, academic, and political-institutional barriers on successful inclusion. The importance of this study stems from the need to promote equality in education, a fundamental trait in equitable and fair societies where an increasingly diverse population renders diversity a value. Scholars note barriers regarding spaces and human resources; however, few touch upon the ambiguity and uncertainty of perceptions from all educational stakeholders. Thus, a mixed-method design approach …

Prioritization Of Risks Detected In Comprehensive Audits Using Neutrosophic Topsis And Hausdorff Distance, Sol David Lopezdominguez Rivas, Dixie Marisol Lopezdominguez Rivas, Leili Genoveva Lopezdominguez Rivas

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study addresses the phenomenon of prioritization of risks during large-scale audits as risks evident in the complicated environment and uncertain information are challenging to mitigate. The importance of the topic is that for complicated entities with high uncertainty, high impact, and low/high probability of audit detection, proper allocation in this resource sensitive 21st century is needed for effective audit. The literature demonstrates means to assess and rank risk for subsequent corrective actions that traditional statistical methods cannot capture. The developed hybrid model combines Random Forest, fuzzy logic, and neutrosophic logic are used to process homicide data, demographic variables, and …

Evolutionary Optimization Of Interdisciplinary Methodological Strategies Using Neutrosophic Genetic Algorithms To Develop Artistic Drawing Based On Text Comprehension, Yadyra De La Caridad Pinera Concepción, Nelly Hodelín Amable, Elizabeth Esther Vergel De Salazar, Braulio David Murillo Sánchez, Karla Yerina Toalombo Mancilla

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This research constructs aims to address a current pedagogical issue in art teaching—what are the most effective and efficient interdisciplinary interdisciplinary methodological combinations for development of art drawing from a text based on understanding the text. This is a current problem of pedagogical practice as it applies to today's classrooms because the simultaneous combination of linguistic and artistic, expressive capabilities will help cultivate the diversification of creative and critical thinking processes. This problem is not extensively explored within the literature—but noted gaps and inadequacies suggest that such an interdisciplinary approach has not been assessed, especially since few researchers seek to …

Representation Of Motivational Dynamics In School Environments Through Plithogenic N-Superhypergraphs With Family Participation, Nelly Hodelín Amable, Elizabeth Esther Vergel De Salazar, Martha Gloria Martínez Isaac, Olivia Catalina Olavarría Sánchez, Johanna Mariuxi Solís Palma

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

The study aimed to expand on motivational phenomena that transpires at the school level via Plithogenic n-SuperHyperGraphs via family guidance as one of the dominant features in establishing effective school/motivational environments. The study was conducted via a mixed-method quantitative and qualitative approach, including a questionnaire sent to parents/students, semi-structured interviews with teachers, and an observational approach for the grounded theory. All data were reflected via Plithogenic n-SuperHyperGraphs due to the interconnectedness of phenomena of motivation and pedagogical approaches and family guidance. The analysis of the study suggests that more motivated students are those who have more guided parents as they …

Plant Preservation: The Contribution Of Bacteriophage And Transposons To Pathogenic Xanthomonas Evolution, And The Demographic And Reproductive Analysis Of Castilleja Parvula, Ciara A. Green

Theses and Dissertations

Plant preservation, whether through disease research or endemic extinction analyses, plays an important role in the relationship between humans and our surrounding environment. In these analyses, both the role of mobile elements in the evolution of pathogenic Xanthomonas sp. bacteria, and the demographic and reproductive analysis of Castilleja parvula, an imperiled alpine plant, are evaluated. Xanthomonas species are one of the top agricultural threats, and are known to evolve rapidly. Until now, the contributions of mobile elements and particularly bacteriophage have not been thoroughly evaluated. The contribution of these agricultural diseases to food insecurity and the devastation of crops that …

Patterns Of Llm Weaponization: A Comparative Analysis Of Exploitation Incidents Across Commercial Ai Systems, George Antoniou

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

This comparative study examines patterns of Large Language Model (LLM) weaponization through systematic analysis of four major exploitation incidents spanning 2023-2025. While existing research focuses on isolated incidents or theoretical vulnerabilities, this study provides the first comprehensive comparative framework analyzing exploitation patterns across state-sponsored cyber-espionage (Anthropic Claude incident), academic security research (GPT-4 autonomous privilege escalation), social engineering platforms (SpearBot phishing framework), and underground criminal commoditization (WormGPT/FraudGPT ecosystem). Through comparative analysis across eight dimensions—adversary sophistication, target selection, exploitation techniques, autonomy levels, detection evasion, attribution challenges, defensive gaps, and capability democratization—this research identifies critical cross-case patterns informing defensive prioritization. Findings reveal three …

Towards Spatial Inversion Of Aerial Gamma-Ray Survey Data For Measurement Of Naturally Occurring Radioactivity, Daniel A. Haber

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Aerial gamma-ray surveying (AGRS) is used in geologic and environmental contexts to provide data on the surface spatial distribution of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) or other gamma-ray-emitting isotopes. The standard data reduction workflow for AGRS data involves a process whereby pointwise gamma-ray spectral data are denoised, corrected for numerous sources of background radiation and aircraft height, and are finally converted to physical values by empirical conversion factors. The reduced pointwise data are then typically spatially interpolated to form a continuous surface map.

This dissertation introduces and explores a novel spatial inversion method for reduced AGRS data that considers aircraft …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Adolescents With Emotional Behavioral Disorders In High School, Melissa Lawson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) face significant challenges in forming and maintaining peer relationships, yet their voices and lived experiences remain largely absent from the research literature. This phenomenological study explored how high school students with EBD perceive the impact of peer relationships on their academic, social, and emotional experiences at school. Using Moustakas's (1994) modification of the StevickColaizzi-Keen method, the researcher conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with seven high school students (ages 15-18) who had received special education services under the EBD eligibility category for 5 to 10 years in a large, urban southwestern school district.

Five universal …

Reconstructing Central American Hydroclimate Changes Across Time From Isotopic Signatures In Modern And Paleo-Rainfall Records, Giuseppe Lucia

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Tropical monsoon rainfall is a key component of Earth’s climate system and supports the livelihood and economy of billions of people. Yet, projections of future monsoons remain highly uncertain, particularly in regions with distinct physiography and complex land-ocean-atmosphere interactions like Central America, where long and continuous high-resolution paleoclimate data to test climate model simulations are still limited. This series of studies aims to reconstruct monsoon dynamics and underlying forcing controls in Central America on multiple timescales by the analysis and integration of stable isotope data in modern and paleo-rainfall records from Guatemala.

In Chapter 2, I present a daily-resolution, two-year-long …

Ankimedbench: Evaluating Hierarchical Medical Knowledge In Language Model Embeddings, Neel Patel

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Despite achieving over 90% accuracy on medical benchmarks, recent studies show physicians cannot effectively leverage language models to improve clinical reasoning. Current benchmarks test isolated factual recall, but clinical practice requires hierarchical navigation through diagnostic categories—starting broad and narrowing systematically from chest pain to cardiovascular pathology to myocardial infarction to specific STEMI types. Existing evaluations cannot measure whether models preserve this taxonomic structure essential for clinical reasoning.

We introduce AnkiMedBench, built from 16,512 medical flashcards used by students preparing for licensing exams. Cards are organized across six hierarchy levels spanning 16 broad medical specialties to 672 specific diseases and conditions. …

Markets We Thought We Knew, Nicole J. Olynk Widmar, Michael L. Smith, Erin Robinson

Purdue University Press Books

Markets We Thought We Knew explores the evolving nature of markets and how they shape—and are shaped by—consumer behavior. From essential life necessities such as water to everyday commodities and products including locally sourced foods, this book covers a variety of topics and invites readers to examine a diverse range of markets through a reflective lens. By revisiting past market dynamics and real-world examples, readers are encouraged to rethink how preferences are formed, how opinions shift over time, and how value is assigned—sometimes in unexpected ways. What insights might you gather from a deeper understanding of local and global markets, …

150 Years Of Purdue Engineering: Celebrating Our Consequential Impact On The World, Arvind Raman, Jim Small

Purdue University Press Books

Since its founding 150 years ago, Purdue University’s College of Engineering has profoundly shaped and improved the world, amassing breakthroughs spanning nearly all facets of society. Highlighting the indomitable spirit, ingenuity, and achievements of more than 100 Boilermaker alumni and faculty members, 150 Years of Purdue Engineering describes the program’s journey to become one of the most consequential engineering colleges in the United States. Richly illustrated with archival and contemporary images, this book includes stories that focus on Purdue innovators who have created everything from the barcode and the electronic TV receiver to the soft-serve ice cream machine and artificial …

Re: Approval Letter For The Revised Draft Final Annual Operations And Maintenance (O&M) Report: Butte Treatment Lagoon (Btl) System - 2023 (Dated October 29, 2025), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Soil Fertility Forecasting With Neutrosophic-Based Uncertainty Management, Franklin Parrales-Bravo, Roberto Tolozano-Benites, Dayron Rumbaut-Rangel

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study presents a machine learning framework that combines Random Forest classification with neutrosophic logic to predict soil fertility from 16 physicochemical properties. The model achieves robust classification accuracy (95%) while introducing a novel uncertainty quantification mechanism through neutrosophic truth (T ), indeterminacy (I) and falsity (F ) values derived from prediction probabilities, assigning high-confidence (T = 0.9) to probabilities ≥0.9, indeterminacy (I = 0.3) to borderline cases (0.5≤p

Faim: Fuzzy‑Neutrosophic Academic Integrity Model For University Students, Elsy Rodriguez Revelo, Lorenzo Cevallos Torres

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

The FAIM (Fuzzy-Neutrosophic Academic Integrity Model) is a novel approach developed to assess academic integrity among university students under conditions of uncertainty. This model emerged as a response to the challenges posed by the sudden shift from face-to-face to virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic. This environment saw a notable increase in dishonest academic behavior. FAIM integrates fuzzy logic and neutrosophic reasoning to capture the complexity and indeterminacy of students’ conduct. Key variables associated with academic dishonesty—motivation, justification, and opportunities—were examined across three simulated scenarios. The results validated FAIM’s capacity to differentiate integrity levels within the student population effectively. Unlike …

Dialectics Of Inclusion In Physical Education: A Neutrosophic N‑Alectic Approach To The Creation And Communication Of Digital Content, Giceya De La Caridad Maqueira Caraballo, Lenin Esteban Loaiza Dávila, Germán Rafael Rojas Valdés

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This is how digital creations can foster inclusion in physical education, one of the more applicable and challenging aspects of today's diverse school realities. This study is significant, considering that we live in a digital world that requires the balance of such creations to promote equitable environments for increasingly functional, diverse school populations. While previous studies focused on inclusion in the physical education arena at school, none have studied the field based upon the uncertainties and discrepancies associated with communication and pedagogical endeavors, let alone from a digital perspective. Thus, the gap in the research is filled by the Neutrosophic …

Stability Analysis Of Thermohaline Convection With A Time-Varying Shear Flow Using The Lyapunov Method, Kalin Kochnev

Honors Scholar Theses

This work applies the Lyapunov method to identify instabilities and compute the growth rate of a linear time-varying system. The linear system studied describes cold fresh water on top of hot salty water with a periodically time-varying background shear flow. A time-dependent weighting matrix is employed to construct a Lyapunov function candidate. The resulting linear matrix inequalities are discretized in time using the forward Euler method. As the number of temporal discretization points increases, the growth rate predicted by the Lyapunov method or Floquet theory, used for comparison, will converge to the same value obtained from numerical simulations. Furthermore, the …

Objective Vs. Perceived Maternal Smartphone Use And Observed Mother-Infant Interaction Quality, Alison K. Ventura, Lara N. Wolfers, Sarah M. Coyne, Rachel Pfafman, Sabrina Uva, Karla I. Ceja Almontes, Aniruddha S. Shinde, Adam M. Galovan, Brandon Mcdaniel

Health Services and Informatics Research

Introduction:

Prior research links maternal smartphone use to reduced sensitivity and responsiveness to infant cues, but emerging evidence suggests that mothers' perceptions of their smartphone use - such as feelings of empowerment or distress - may also shape the quality of mother-infant interactions. This study examined how both objective and perceived smartphone use related to mother-infant interaction quality in naturalistic settings.

Method:

Participants were 147 mother-infant dyads from a longitudinal study of smartphone use and infant development. When infants were 2 months old, mothers completed 5 days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA), reporting time spent with their infant, perceived smartphone-related …

Analysis Of Leakage In Nearshore Pipelines Using Fitness For Service Method To Ensure Mechanical Integrity Based On Api-579 Level 3, Elriandri Elriandri, Dedi Priadi

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

The Fitness for Service (FFS) analysis is performed as a quantitative assessment to evaluate the integrity condition of a pipeline. Essentially, FFS assessment helps determine whether equipment components can operate safely despite existing deficiencies. This evaluation is carried out using the Finite Element Method (FEM). In the case of an underwater pipeline that experiences leak due to anchor pull at the flange connection, it undergoes plastic deformation and is lifted approximately 1 meter. As a mitigation step, inspection and repairs have been carried out by the company. Subsequently, modeling is performed to reconstruct the deformation process of the pipeline. Then, …