Digital Commons Network^™

Cv: Mathias Plass (Cybersecurity), Mathias Plass

ECaMS Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Reducing Data Requirements In Polymer Science: Deep Neural Networks For Predicting Surface Tension Of Copolymer Compatibilizers, Md Mushfiqul Islam

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In polymer chemistry, compatibilization involves adding a substance often a block or graft copolymerto stabilize polymer blends that would otherwise not mix well, leading to rough structures and weak me- chanical properties. Compatibilizers improve miscibility and reduce interfacial tension, which is critical for applications such as mixed-waste polymer recycling. Sequence-controlled polymers offer unique potential by combining the tunable chemistry of synthetic polymers with the precise, function-driven design of biological macromolecules, but unlike proteins, they lack large, evolution-shaped datasets to guide discovery. This research develops a deep learning framework to predict the surface tension of sequence-controlled copolymer compatibilizers across varying concentrations. …

Speculative Automated Refactoring Of Imperative Deep Learning Programs To Graph Execution, Raffi T. Khatchadourian Ph.D., Tatiana Castro Vélez, Mehdi Bagherzadeh, Nan Jia, Anita Raja

Publications and Research

Efficiency is essential to support ever-growing datasets, especially for Deep Learning (DL) systems. DL frameworks have traditionally embraced deferred execution-style DL code---supporting symbolic, graph-based Deep Neural Network (DNN) computation. While scalable, such development is error-prone, non-intuitive, and difficult to debug. Consequently, more natural, imperative DL frameworks encouraging eager execution have emerged but at the expense of run-time performance. Though hybrid approaches aim for the "best of both worlds," using them effectively requires subtle considerations. Our key insight is that, while DL programs typically execute sequentially, hybridizing imperative DL code resembles parallelizing sequential code in traditional systems. Inspired by this, we …

Curricular Changes Proposed For 2025-2027 Morris Catalog, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Reports

No abstract provided.

Novice Teacher Voice Of Preservice Preparation To Support Low-Ses Students, Edna Richardson Richardson Billingsley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study was that there is a gap in the literature about the preparation of mid to lower elementary novice teachers to teach students with low-socioeconomic status (low-SES) in several districts throughout the Southern United States. Grounded in social justice theory, the purpose of the basic qualitative design was to explore lower to middle elementary teachers' perceptions on their preservice preparation to teach low-SES students. For this basic qualitative design, 12 novice teachers participated in semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis with the following three top themes emerging: (a) poor preparation towards …

Latent Classification Of Time-Dependent Transition Rates In Longitudinal Binary Outcome Data, Joonha Chang, Wenyaw Chan

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Continuous-time Markov chain (CTMC) models and latent classification methods are commonly used to analyze longitudinal categorical outcomes in medical research. While CTMC models are popular for their simplicity and effectiveness, their assumption of constant transition rates presents limitations in capturing dynamic behaviors. To address this, non-homogeneous continuous-time Markov chains (NH-CTMCs) have been developed, incorporating time-varying transition rates to enhance model flexibility. In this study, we leverage closed-form transition probabilities for a fully ergodic two-state NH-CTMC model and propose a latent class clustering approach to identify heterogeneous transition rate patterns within the population. We emphasize the potential advantages of these models …

A Phenomenological Study On The Influence Of Teacher Perceptions On Play-Based Learning, Courtney Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of implementing play-based learning for teachers at early childhood settings in Georgia. The theory guiding this study was Jon Dewey’s theory of experiential learning, as it addressed the significance of children learning through play. The Central Research Question was: What are the experiences of teachers implementing play-based learning in early childhood settings in Georgia? A qualitative methodology approach utilizing transcendental phenomenology was taken to describe the lived experiences of 13 teachers implementing play-based learning. The setting included early learning centers and schools in Georgia. A combination of snowball …

Just In Time: The Definitive Reconstruction Of Biblical Chronology From Adam To The Apostolic Age, James Allen Moseley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

By embedding a relational database of chronology within Scripture, the inspired authors handed down a framework so precise that it surpasses archaeology, carbon dating, and every other ancient record as the most reliable means of reconstructing history—shedding light on the why and how of biblical events by specifying their when.

This study defends that thesis, demonstrating that the Bible presents a continuous timeline from Adam to Christ—a mathematically coherent whole often overlooked or misunderstood by modern scholarship. Many modern chronologists assign speculative dates to Abraham, Moses, or David without grounding them in the Genesis genealogies. Few construct a defensible framework …

Exploring Professors’ Lived Experiences Of Interacting With Artificial Intelligence In The Classroom: A Phenomenological Study, Joshua A. Baltzell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of higher education professors’ interactions with AI in their teaching practices. This study was guided by Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior, which provided a contextual understanding of the concepts that influence higher education professors’ perceptions of AI in their classrooms. A qualitative hermeneutical phenomenological design was employed, utilizing a combination of criterion and snowball sampling. There were 13 participants recruited from higher education institutions from around the United States. Semi-structured individual interviews, a letter-writing exercise, and a qualitative survey were used to collect data from participants. Thematic …

Motivation And Self-Efficacy Among Higher Education Developmental And College-Level Mathematic Students: A Causal-Comparative Study, James Brian Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative causal-comparative study aims to determine if there are differences in motivation and self-efficacy between developmental math students (elementary and intermediate algebra) and college-level math students (pre-calculus algebra and finite mathematics) in community colleges. The study is grounded in Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory and Bandura's self-efficacy theory, which emphasizes the importance of autonomy, competence, relatedness, and perceived capabilities in shaping academic outcomes. Many students struggle with math learning and achievement, particularly those entering higher education with weak foundational skills. Developmental math courses have historically aimed to bridge these gaps. Still, low completion rates persist, often hindered by barriers …

The Retention Of African American Male Educators In Urban Schools: A Phenomenological Study, Justin Askew Standifer Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of retention for male educators in urban public schools in a large metropolitan area in the United States. The theory guiding this study is Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory, as it offers insights into the intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting job satisfaction and retention, directly aligning with the focus on understanding what motivates male educators to remain in or leave their teaching positions. The central research question guiding this study is: " What are the lived experiences of retention for male educators in urban public schools?" This study employed …

November 13, 2025, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

Thermodynamic Feasibility Of Nanoenergetic Systems Based On Metal Oxynitrides, Manoj Chhetri, Mkhitar A. Hobosyan, Maxim Zyskin, Karen S. Martirosyan

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

A comprehensive computational study was conducted to identify and evaluate nano-energetic systems utilizing aluminum (Al) as the fuel and a range of metal oxynitrides as oxidizers. The primary objective was to determine combinations that yield highly exothermic reactions, specifically those that maximize gas generation, adiabatic combustion temperature, and energy release. These parameters are critical for optimizing the performance of energetic materials in applications such as controlled energy delivery, propulsion, and pyrotechnics. By systematically analyzing thermodynamic properties including the heat of formation, enthalpy of reaction, Gibbs free energy, and equilibrium reaction products across a range of Al/oxynitride stoichiometries, the study aimed …

Accuracy Matters: Evaluating The Value Of Ai Tools For Summaries In Metadata, Emily Baldoni, Angela Yon

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

Since the introduction of ChatGPT in 2022, the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence on library workflows has been a topic of immense interest—and sometimes anxiety—in the library profession. In the area of cataloging and metadata, one frequently cited potential use for AI (particularly Large Language Models (LLMs)) is constructing summaries and abstracts of information resources. However, very little systematic assessment has been done of the characteristics, quality, and utility of AI-generated abstracts for library materials, leaving information professionals with little evidence on which to make data-driven decisions as to how, if at all, to implement AI-assisted workflows for this aspect …

Comparing Machine Learning, Deep Learning, And Reinforcement Learning Performance In Culex Pipiens Predictive Modeling, Wei Yin, Sanad H. Ragab, Michael G. Tyshenko, Teresa Patricia Feria-Arroyo, Tamer Oraby

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Several machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) methods have been used to predict the presence of species in classification problems. Another set of methods, called reinforcement learning (RL), has been used in training agents to perform various tasks, but not in predicting species distribution. Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae), commonly known as the common house mosquito, is a globally distributed species prevalent in temperate and subtropical regions. They serve as a primary vector for West Nile Virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne pathogen that affects humans and other animals. The study objective is to compare the performance of logistic regression, random forest …

Male Post-Secondary Students’ Experiences With Social Isolation Enrolled In Online Classes: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Patrick Ide

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of male post-secondary students enrolled in a large university in the western part of the United States who have felt socially isolated while participating in an online learning environment. At this stage of the research, social isolation was defined as the state of being distant or disconnected from others with limited or no in-person connections. The central research question is: What are the lived experiences of male post-secondary students enrolled in online academic programs who have experienced social isolation? Sub-questions addressed the level of connectedness and how …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Teachers’ Growth Mindsets In Low, Middle, And High Socioeconomic Schools, Molly Bettencourt-Courtright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine if a significant difference exists among teachers’ growth mindsets among those teachers employed at low, middle, or high socioeconomic status schools. This study is important because teachers’ growth mindsets have an impact on students’ academic achievement through factors such as motivation and self-efficacy. Research has demonstrated the correlation between belonging to a low socioeconomic status and poor academic achievement or learning. Therefore, this study adds to the literature regarding the effects of teachers’ growth mindset by examining the differences in mindset among teachers employed at low, middle, and high socioeconomic …

Exploring The Fusion Of Technological Innovation And Education Among Higher Education Faculty Leaders In Distance Learning Programs: A Phenomenological Study, Jimmy Alexander Gomez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the influence of using emerging technologies on student learning outcomes for emergent faculty leaders at the College of Excellence in the Southwestern United States. The technological pedagogical content knowledge theory guided this study. The Central Research Question guiding this study was: What are the lived experiences of higher education faculty leaders influencing the use of emerging technologies to support student learning in distance learning programs? The integration of emerging technologies on student learning outcomes was generally defined as how new technologies can change student outcomes. The study included 10 emergent …

Culturally Relevant Project-Based Learning: A Quasi-Experimental Study Of The Effect Of Playwriting Instruction On Student Perceptions Of School Racial Climate, Gerald W. Aungst

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental posttest-only nonequivalent control group study with matched comparison groups was to determine if any differences exist in perceptions of school racial climate in four areas—quality of interaction, promotion of cultural competence, cultural socialization, and critical consciousness socialization—among middle-school students receiving culturally relevant project-based writing instruction, standard project-based writing instruction, and traditional writing instruction when controlling for prior English language arts achievement. A convenience sample of at 83 middle school students in two urban schools in Pennsylvania were given project-based playwriting instruction by a nonprofit arts organization. One similar school served as a control. Student …

Exploring The Perceptions Of Community College Leaders: Active Learning Strategies For Enhancing Student Engagement And Learning Outcomes, Bradley Robbins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study is to understand the perceptions of community college leaders about active learning strategies and their role in implementing these strategies on the campus of a rural community college in the east-central region of a southern state in the United States. The theory guiding this study is the self determination theory by Deci and Ryan as it frames the exploration within the fundamental psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The central research question of this study is: What do community college leaders perceive about active learning strategies and their impact on student learning outcomes? …

The Effects Of Visual And Audio Secondary Cognitive Tasks During Landing: A Statistical Parametric Mapping Analysis Of Hip And Knee Biomechanics, Hillary Nguyen, Amber Lyle, Kevin Tran, Dominic Espinoza, Gerwyn Hughes

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(7): 1367-1380, 2025. https://doi.org/10.70252/KGHI3479 ACL injuries often occur when athletes perform cognitive tasks while performing a landing/cutting movement. This study investigated the effects of secondary cognitive tasks on hip and knee biomechanics during single limb landing. Sixteen recreational athletes (10 females and 6 males, age: 21.6 ± 2.5 years, mass: 65.2 ± 8.9 kg, height 1.66 ± 0.07 m) performed landings on their dominant limb as a single task and while simultaneously performing secondary cognitive tasks (mental arithmetic) provided through audio and visual means. Hip and knee joint angles and moments were calculated in all …

Single Vs. Whole Muscle Group Assessments: Does The Specific Muscle Influence Its Association With Performance?, Carina M. Velasquez, Kealey J. Wohlgemuth, Mckenzie M. Hare, Kathryn E. Southall, Jacob A. Mota

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 6: Issue 1, Article 11, 2025. Biometric Muscle size and echo intensity are thought to influence muscle function. Unfortunately, previous works often will examine a single muscle from a group of agonists as a metric of whole muscle performance. This approach may not always be the most appropriate to assess performance outcomes. The purpose of the study was to 1) quantify the association of muscle size and echo intensity with vertical jump performance (VJ), 2) Compare the associations between individual and whole muscle group size and echo intensity, 3) determine whether single or …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Mathematics

No abstract provided.

On The Existence Of Solutions For Nonlinear Third-Order Q-Difference Equations With Boundary Conditions Involving Q-Integrals, İlker Gençtürk

Turkish Journal of Mathematics

In this research, we focus on investigating the existence of solutions for a q-integral boundary value problem associated with third-order nonlinear q-difference equations. To achieve this, we employ two fundamental mathematical tools: the Banach contraction principle and Krasnoselskii’s fixed point theorem, which provide the theoretical framework for our analysis. Furthermore, to illustrate the applicability and robustness of our results, we present and discuss several concrete examples that highlight the practical implications of the proposed methods.

Classifications Of Gradient Almost Ricci Solitons Within The Framework Of Closed Conformal Vector Fields, Akram Ali, Fatemah Mofarreh, Jae Won Lee

Turkish Journal of Mathematics

In this paper, we consider gradient almost Ricci solitons with nonparallel closed conformal vector fields. We classify gradient almost Ricci solitons and show that a complete, noncompact gradient almost Ricci soliton admitting a nonparallel closed conformal vector field, is locally a warped product with Einstein fibers, while in the second case, under additional hypothesis, gradient almost Ricci soliton is totally umbilical if and only if it has constant scalar curvature.

On Trinomial Units Of The Group Ring RcN, César A. Hernandez Melo, Fernanda Diniz De Melo Hernandez, Patricia Massae Kitani

Turkish Journal of Mathematics

Let R be an associative ring with identity, C_n be the cyclic group of order n, and g be a generator of C_n. In this manuscript, for i ∈ N such that 1 ≤ i < n and gcd(i, n) = 1, the algebraic properties of the trinomial elements h_i = -1 + g + g^-i in the group ring RC_n are investigated. More precisely, necessary and sufficient conditions are given for an element h_i to be a unit in RC_n. When h_i is a unit, explicit formulas for computing …

End-Regular Flower Graphs CR,S, Joerg Koppitz, Suparat Phantukang, Phurinut Srisawad, Somnuek Worawiset

Turkish Journal of Mathematics

In the present paper, we study the regularity of the endomorphism monoid of a class of graphs, which generalizes the cycle graph. We give a complete list of all end-regular r × s flower graphs. In particular, for an odd integer s ≥ 3, the s × s flower graph Cs,s has a regular endomorphism monoid, i.e., Cs,s is end-regular. For Cs,s, s ≥ 3 odd, we determine the cardinality and the rank of its endomorphism monoid (including a generating set of minimal size).

Generalized Szász–Mirakyan Operators In The Variation Seminorm, Sare Yumruçali, Harun Karsli, Fatma Taşdelen Yeşi̇ldal

Turkish Journal of Mathematics

The aim of the present paper is to introduce generalized Szász–Mirakyan operators. This article studies the property of variation seminorm and some approximation properties of generalized Szász–Mirakyan operators not only in normed spaces but also in variation seminorm. We obtain convergence properties of our operators using of Korovkin’s theorem and the order of convergence by using a classical approach, the second modulus of continuity and Peetre’s K functional. We also give asymptotic formula and the convergence of the derivatives for these operators. We investigate the variation detracting property of generalized Szász–Mirakyan operators. We show the convergence of generalized Szász–Mirakyan operators …

Some Properties Of Nabla Laplace Transform On Isolated Time Scales, Müfi̇t Şan, Huri̇ye Dağ, Manuel D. Ortigueira

Turkish Journal of Mathematics

This study presents the properties of the bilateral and unilateral nabla Laplace transform, defined on isolated time scales. Furthermore, it explores the nabla Laplace transforms of several elementary functions, employing various proof techniques from real and complex analysis. The findings are illustrated with examples, demonstrating the applicability of these definitions.

From Rough Categories To Rough Groupoids, Mehmet Mustafa Beydaği, Abdullah Fati̇h Özcan, İlhan İçen

Turkish Journal of Mathematics

In this study, we introduce the concepts of rough category and rough groupoid by combining the concepts of category theory and groupoid with rough set theory. We present some properties and examples of these concepts, which are discussed for the first time. Additionally, by defining a rough functor among the rough categories, the category of rough categories were created. Moreover, rough groupoid homomorphism, rough action groupoid, and category of the rough groupoids have been examined algebraically and introduced to the literature.