Digital Commons Network^™

Professional Development Among Special Education Paraprofessionals: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Brandi A. Dejesus

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the professional development experiences of special education paraprofessionals in two public school divisions in Virginia. The theory guiding this study was Knowles’ adult learning theory as it serves as a framework for understanding the key characteristics of professional development and adult learning. The central research question for this study was: What are the professional development experiences of special education paraprofessionals in two public school divisions in Virginia? In this phenomenological study, 10 participants engaged in interviews, focus groups, and letter-writing opportunities to share their experiences and perceptions. Participants’ responses were …

A Unified Multiphase Composite Material Model: An Advanced Computational Continuum-Micro Mechanics Framework, Jaton N. Wince

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This work represents a transformational milestone that addresses the complex mechanical behavior of composite material systems within a unified framework for both inorganic and organic constituents. The motivation for this research stems from the need to accurately model and predict the mechanical behavior of these complex material systems, which are widely used in various industries. These materials present a unique challenge due to the intricate interplay of inorganic and organic phases, making them ideal candidates for an Internal State Variable (ISV) multiscale modeling approach.

The proposed model is a comprehensive ISV framework that seamlessly predicts inorganic and organic material behavior. …

A Multivariate Time Series Analysis Of Secular Stagnation: A Critical Realist Perspective, Francis N. Mensah

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The study investigated whether excess saving over investment explains secular stagnation or is linked to structural break (hysteresis) in aggregate economic activity as measured by the changes in the level of GDP. The U.S. economy, including the advanced economies, is experiencing secular stagnation, potentially caused by excess savings over investment. This condition, if present, could have significant implications for how we can conduct economic policy. Instead of focusing on gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of economic activity, the study extends the existing literature by concentrating on aggregate private-sector output. The rationale is that if there is secular stagnation or …

From Assistance To Impact: The Expanding Role Of Undergraduate Teaching Assistants In Higher Education, Erin Measom

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is presented in a three-article format. It explores the evolving role of undergraduate teaching assistants (UTAs) in higher education, with a particular focus on how they facilitate interaction, engagement, and student success in online courses. As higher education institutions expand online learning and seek innovative ways to enhance student support, UTAs have emerged as key players in bridging the gap between students and instructors. The first article provides a scoping review of the literature on UTAs, tracing their historical evolution and examining their expanding role. While traditionally viewed as logistical or grading assistants, UTAs are increasingly taking on …

Detection Of Electrical Fires In Residential Buildings Using A Gradient Boosting Machine Algorithm, Sharaban Taha Ahmed, Fadhil Aula

Polytechnic Journal

The paper discusses a technique for detecting electrical fires in residential buildings using the Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM) algorithm. The features of the algorithm processes data related to current, voltage, and total harmonic distortion from electrical systems, considering resistive loads, such as heating appliances, and inductive loads, like refrigerators and washing machines. The technique underscores the relationship between electrical characteristics and fire risks, demonstrating that the gradient boosting machine can accurately predict fire hazards under various fault conditions, including arc faults, overvoltage, and contact opening. Results from MATLAB simulations confirm the algorithm's efficacy, and high accuracy rates for heating systems …

Re: Conditional Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) 2025 Revised Draft Final Unreclaimed Sites Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Dated May 15, 2025), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

The Functionality Of Special Education Inclusion: A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers' Perceptions Of Inclusion, Collaboration, And Co-Teaching, Steven Andre Madden

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of educators utilizing inclusive collaborative teaching models within co-teaching environments to develop positive student academic experiences for students with disabilities and their peers without disabilities at various locations within the Long River School District (pseudonym) located in the Mid-South of the United States. The theory that guided this study was Lev Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, which underpins the postulation that a student can learn through the help of a more knowledgeable other with the aid of the zone of proximal development, which correlates to collaborative co-teaching as a mode …

The Discovery, Communication, And Implementation Of New Geologic Findings: Examining The Cascadia Earthquake, Saylor Brainard

University Honors Theses

The Cascadia Subduction Zone, located off the Coast of the Pacific Northwest, is at risk of generating a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in the near future. Despite its significance, the discovery of the seismic potential of Cascadia didn't occur until 1987, when geologist Brian Atwater searched for non-traditional forms of earthquake evidence. As decades of continued research fleshed out Atwater's initial discovery, the implications associated with the discovery became apparent, presenting Washington and Oregon with the high probability that a massive earthquake will take place within the next century. Communicating the severity of this geologic discovery to both the public and …

Investigation Of Isobaric Mixing As A Mechanism For Boundary-Layer Cloud Formation, Jaemin Yeom, Nithin Allwayin, Virendra P. Ghate, Katia Lamer, Fan Mei, Raymond A. Shaw

Michigan Tech Publications

This study investigates the potential role of isobaric mixing in the formation of marine boundary layer clouds. Cloud formation theory emphasizes uplift and adiabatic cooling, but recent observations support the existence of small clouds forming at various altitudes, even below the lifting condensation level. Isobaric mixing of air with different thermodynamic properties can generate localized supersaturation. A Gaussian mixing model is employed to simulate this process, considering the correlation between temperature and water vapor. Cloud droplet size distributions from aircraft measurements show a persistent and prominent mode of small droplets at 9 (Formula presented.) m, and the size of this …

Using Microsoft Teams Class Notebook E-Portfolios As A Reflective Tool In Education For Sustainable Development Business Writing: Learners’ Perspectives, Mona Abdelfattah

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective

This study investigates the efficacy of Microsoft Teams Class Notebook ePortfolios as a reflective tool in business writing courses. This study addresses gaps in the literature regarding ePortfolio use in business writing courses in F2F classes, focusing on student perceptions, its impact on writing skills, the convenience of the MS Teams Class Notebook, and how it fosters critical thinking regarding their learning which is one of the important goals of Education for sustainable development (ESD).

Methods

The iterative cross-sectional study was conducted over 13 weeks at a private college in Oman with 60 undergraduate students in two business writing …

Re: Conditional Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) 2025 Revised Draft Final Unreclaimed Sites Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Dated May 15, 2025), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

الكفايات التدريسية لدى طلبة قسم التربية البدنية خلال فترة التدريب الميداني بجامعة قطر, Ayat Alshaer

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدف المقال تحديد مستوى الكفايات التدريسية لدى طلبة قسم التربية البدنية خلال فترة التدريب الميداني، وتم استخدام المنهج الوصفي عن طريق الاستبانة كأداة لجمع المعلومات، حيث تشكلت عينة الدراسة من (52) طالباً وطالبة من المسجلين في مقرر التدريب الميداني خلال العام الدراسي 2023م في جامعة قطر. وتم خلال الدراسة تقييم مختلف الكفايات التدريسية بما في ذلك الكفايات المهنية وكفايات إدارة الفصل وكفايات التقييم. وأشارت النتائج إلى أن الطلاب يعتقدون أنهم يتمتعون بكفايات تدريسية عالية، بمتوسط حسابي بلغ (4.41) أما فيما يتعلق بالمجالات (كفايات إدارة الصف، الكفايات المهنية، كفايات التدريس للطالب المعلم بكلية التربية، وكفايات التقييم الصفي) فقد جاءت جميعها بدرجة …

Mechanisms Of The Quality Changes Of Polygonati Rhizoma Processed By Steaming-Drying Cycles, Zicong Yu, Liuping Fan

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to investigate the effects of steaming-drying cycles on the quality changes of Polygonati rhizoma and optimize the processing technology to enhance its application value.[Method ] Slices of Polygonati rhizoma processed by 0~5 steaming-drying cycles were prepared.The drying rate and drying kinetics during the drying stage after each cycle were analyzed,and a drying model was fitted.Changes in color difference,appearance,hardness,and mass fractions of polysaccharides,reducing sugars,polyphenols,flavonoids,saponins,and calcium oxalate raphides were measured.[Result ] The number of steaming-drying cycles significantly affected the quality of Polygonati rhizoma.The drying rate decreased as the drying time increased,conforming to the Modified Page model,while the …

A Compression-Based Dependence Measure For Causal Discovery By Additive Noise Models, H. J. Ong, B. G. Lim, B. R. Tiu, Renzo Roel P. Tan

Quantitative Methods and Information Technology Faculty Publications

In this work, we introduce a novel compression-based dependence measure (CDM) for causal discovery. Our proposed measure leverages data compression to quantify dependence, offering a new approach that is effective even with small data sizes. Through extensive simulations with general additive noise models, causal additive models, and linear non-Gaussian acyclic models, we demonstrate the relative superiority of CDM over existing methods. Additionally, we validate our approach using the cause-effect pairs benchmark dataset, where CDM shows comparable accuracy across various sample sizes. To close, we discuss the sensitivity of CDM to data scales, an issue shared by other causal discovery methods. …

Mechanisms Of The Quality Changes Of Polygonati Rhizoma Processed By Steaming-Drying Cycles, Zicong Yu, Liuping Fan

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to investigate the effects of steaming-drying cycles on the quality changes of Polygonati rhizoma and optimize the processing technology to enhance its application value.[Method ] Slices of Polygonati rhizoma processed by 0~5 steaming-drying cycles were prepared.The drying rate and drying kinetics during the drying stage after each cycle were analyzed,and a drying model was fitted.Changes in color difference,appearance,hardness,and mass fractions of polysaccharides,reducing sugars,polyphenols,flavonoids,saponins,and calcium oxalate raphides were measured.[Result ] The number of steaming-drying cycles significantly affected the quality of Polygonati rhizoma.The drying rate decreased as the drying time increased,conforming to the Modified Page model,while the …

Lawrence University One Hundred Seventy-Sixth Commencement, Sunday, June 15, 2025, Lawrence University

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

How’S It Growing? Tools For Observing Snow And Sea Ice In A Changing Arctic Ocean, Ian Alexander Raphael

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

September Arctic sea ice extent has diminished by roughly 50% in the 45 years since satellite observations began. The Arctic Ocean may experience ice-free summers within the next decade, with implications for habitat, resource extraction, geopolitics, and local and global climate change. To predict how Arctic sea ice will change in the future, we need to understand its behavior in the present. In situ sea ice mass balance measurements (snow accumulation, ice growth, snow and ice surface melt, and bottom melt) are essential for studying the processes driving rapid changes in the ice pack, and for validating remote sensing measurements …

Magicicada And Mathematics: What The Parochiality Of Our Explanations Means For The Indispensability Argument, Jadyn Malone

Philosophy Senior Theses

This thesis examines whether the indispensability argument justifies belief in the existence of mathematical entities. I adopt ontological naturalism, arguing that we should believe in entities that feature in our best scientific theories, which are determined through inference to the best explanation. The indispensability argument contends that because mathematical entities are explanatorily indispensable to our best scientific theories – as demonstrated by examples like the prime number explanation of cicada life cycles – we should believe they exist just as we believe in electrons and stars.

However, I identify a challenge: our scientific explanations are inherently parochial, shaped by human …

Optimization Of Pile Construction Sequence Using Cfa Machines, Omar Wael Ammar

Theses and Dissertations

In most construction projects with deep foundations, piling activities are critical to the project schedule and often fall on the critical path. The piling construction process requires a diverse range of resources, including equipment, materials, and skilful labour. Without carefully planning the construction process according to installation standards, there is a significant risk of time and cost overruns. These overruns are caused by inefficiencies such as equipment idle or lost time due to required lags between closely spaced piles. Therefore, it is essential to develop an optimized construction sequence to minimize these risks and enhance overall project efficiency. The primary …

Probabilities With Values In Scaled Hyperbolic Numbers, Daniel Alpay, Ilwoo Choo

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

In this paper, we introduce a notion of a probabilistic measure which takes values in t-scaled hyperbolic numbers for t ∈ R, with a system of axioms generalizing directly Kolmogorov’s axioms. i.e., we establish a suitable measure theory in the set Dt of all t-scaled hyperbolic numbers for arbitrarily fixed t ∈ R.

Multi-Parameter Optimization Of Brine Desalination Using Machine Learning, Elaf Mman Seif

Theses and Dissertations

Air Gap Membrane Distillation (AGMD) is a promising desalination technology with significant potential for addressing global water scarcity. However, the interplay of operational parameters significantly impacts its performance, making optimization a challenging task. This research focuses on brine desalination as a means to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of brine disposal which will eventually help in provide a sustainable solution for handling brine while producing freshwater. The study seeks to develop a predictive model and optimize the AGMD process for efficient brine desalination. To achieve this, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) were utilized to develop predictive …

Maximising Solar Pv Potential: A Comprehensive Review Of Factors Affecting Photovoltaic Installation And Generation In A Mild Temperate Oceanic Climate, Aiza Ahmad, Niamh Power, Evan Finnegan

Publications

The urgency of addressing the climate emergency and clean energy transitions have spurred worldwide initiatives to increase utilisation of renewable energy sources. The integration of rooftop photovoltaic panels at domestic level, often underestimated, is a priority across Europe to meet targets of net-zero emissions by 2050. PV systems represent a crucial technology for renewable energy generation and mitigating climate change. However, their performance and potential are influenced by various factors, including environmental conditions, building parameters and geographical factors. This paper demonstrates multiple factors that affect PV potential in mild temperate oceanic climates, using Ireland as a representative case study. Unlike …

Continuum Of Academic Collaboration: Issues Of Inconsistent Terminology In Multilingual Context, Cristo Leon Ph.D., James Lipuma Ph.D., Marcos O. Cabobianco, Maria B. Daizo

STEM for Success Resources

Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics
1690-4524 (Online)

Revitalization Of Endangered Languages With Ai, Ivory Yang

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

The preservation and revitalization of endangered languages, particularly those with minimal digital presence, presents significant challenges for computational linguistics. This thesis addresses these challenges by proposing novel methods for language identification and data generation, focusing on underrepresented Indigenous languages, specifically Nüshu, Native American and Native Alaskan languages.

In the first study, a COLING 2025 paper, we present NüshuRescue, an AI-driven framework designed to facilitate the preservation of Nüshu, an endangered script used exclusively by Yao women in China. Using minimal seed data, we demonstrate how GPT-4-Turbo can generate new translations, expanding a publicly available Nüshu-Chinese corpus, achieving 48.69% accuracy in …

Late Holocene To Modern Dust Increases In Antarctic Ice Cores, Lillian D. Tipton

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Dust aerosols impact global climate by influencing direct and indirect radiative forcing, serving as cloud condensation nuclei, and supplying trace nutrients to the ocean that affect the marine biological pump. Antarctic ice core dust records show dust deposition changing in step with global climate over the past eight ice-age cycles. However, fewer studies have focused on Antarctic dust deposition during the late Holocene-to-modern period. Notably, 20^th-century increases in dust deposition have been observed in ice cores from James Ross Island (JRI) and Dronning Maud Land, with the JRI record hypothesized to reflect desertification and land-use changes in Patagonia. …

Design And Evaluation Of An Innovative Biomimetic Coral Transport Container, John-Christopher L. Calulo, Wilfredo Y. Licuanan, Leah D. Madrazo, Dana Isabelle P. Villano, Angel Nicole B. Villanueva

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Coral reefs are vulnerable to disruptive human activities such as pollution, overfishing, and coastal development—degrading water quality and reef structures. Active reef restoration entails temporarily relocating several corals to aquaculture facilities to achieve successful rehabilitation; however, current coral transport methods pose certain risks, such as stress-induced mortality, which can result from physical damage during transportation. Existing studies on coral transport have explored various techniques for collecting, shipping, and maintaining live coral specimens. The design consists of petal-shaped areas where the waves gather, akin to a coral reef’s grooves, separated by wedges—the spurs—that cause waves to divide. The different design modifications …

Investigating The Properties Of Eco-Bricks Composed Of Sawdust, Bamboo, And Varying Composition Of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash And Portland Cement, Wilfred Victor C. Marasigan, Julia Sophia Antonia S. Encarnacion, Czyrus Michael A. Bajeta, Alijah F. Gonzales, Juan Carlo T. Gumangan

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

With the construction industry contributing nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, there is a growing need for innovative and sustainable building materials. This research investigates a new eco-friendly concrete brick incorporating sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA), sawdust, and bamboo fibers. Three eco-brick mixtures, each containing 2% bamboo fiber and 10% sawdust by weight but with varying proportions of Portland cement (PC) and SCBA, were tested against a standard brick for compressive strength, flexural strength, and water absorption. The optimal mixture, with 2% bamboo fiber by weight, 10% sawdust by weight, 85% PC, and 15% SCBA, exhibits compressive and flexural strength …

Deep Neural Networks For Particle Identification In Simulated Proton-Proton Collisions At Lhc And Rhic, Omar Mazhar Khalaf

Theses and Dissertations

Particle identification is an essential part of experimental high-energy physics, which allows the study of the most fundamental constituents of matter. This thesis explores the use of deep neural networks for identifying particles in simulated proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The deep neural networks were trained on LHC datasets which have various momentum ranges including regions of high transverse momentum above 3 GeV/c. The key findings of thesis include achieving an accuracy of 99.99%, 98.3%, and 90.14% for 3-5 pt, 5-7 pt and above 7 pt regions respectively for the …

Expansively Framing Mathematics And Computer Science Teaching With Digital Technology In Elementary Classrooms, Kimberly E. Beck, Jessica F. Shumway, Patrick Ocran, Jody Clarke-Midura, Mimi Recker

Publications

Expansive Framing (EF) is a theory and an instructional technique to facilitate connections between content and contexts. We employed EF as an approach to create a series of integrated mathematics and computer science (CS) lessons, using digital technology as a tool to leverage shared mathematical and computational ideas. We used deductive theoretical qualitative analysis of transcripts of classroom implementations to investigate how two fifth-grade teachers and one computer lab paraprofessional educator used EF during their teaching and what the EF approach looked like in practice. Findings suggested that educators engaged in EF principles when they were present in curricular materials, …

Mesoscale Modelling For Investigating The Thermo-Mechanical Behaviour Of Geopolymer Concrete, Feiyu Shi, Long Yuan Li, Shanshan Cheng

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Advancing the understanding of the behaviour of geopolymer concrete subjected to both thermal and mechanical loadings provides valuable assistance in the fire safety design of geopolymer concrete structures. Here in this research, a mesoscale modelling technique was proposed to simulate the free thermal expansion and behaviours of geopolymer concrete subjected to two different loading schemes. Results showed that transient thermal strain was clearly observable in the mesoscale modelling, and due to the existence of transient thermal strain, behaviours of geopolymer concrete under heat-then-load and load-then-heat schemes were quite different. Another further close look at the effect of volume fraction of …