Digital Commons Network^™

Variable Selection In Mixture Cure Models Using Elastic Net Penalty: Application To Covid-19 Data, Aluwani Ramalata, Akim Adekpedjou, Maseka Lesaoana

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

In survival analysis, it is often assumed that all individuals will eventually experience the event of interest if followed long enough. However, in many real-world scenarios, a subset of individuals remains event-free indefinitely. For instance, in clinical studies, some patients never relapse and are considered cured rather than censored. Traditional survival models are inadequate for capturing this heterogeneity. Mixture cure models address this limitation by distinguishing between cured and susceptible individuals while modeling the survival of the latter. A key challenge in mixture cure modeling is selecting relevant covariates, particularly when dealing with time-varying effects. This study develops a penalized …

The Mechanics Of Angular Momentum Generation In Discus Throwing, Andreas Maheras

Track and Field Faculty Publications

Angular momentum development in the back of the ring, during the first double and first single support, is of paramount importance in discus throwing because this is where almost all the angular momentum the thrower can generate will be generated. From a purely mechanical point of view, to achieve that, the thrower should keep her arms spread apart, and also actively throw both the right leg and the left arm and shoulders CCW. Those actions will collectively contribute in slowing down the lower body, as the thrower actively chooses to pass as much angular momentum to the upper body at …

Changes In Classroom Environment And Its Impact On Student Learning Behaviors, Adam A. Gaines

Master of Education Program Theses

This action research study investigated the impact of playing background music on the time-on-task behavior of students in a high school American Studies class. The research participants were thirteen high school students attending a small K-12 private school in the Pacific Northwest during the 2024-2025 school year. During the first phase of the study, students engaged in working on homework tasks during in-class worktime without any music playing in the classroom. During the second phase, students worked with music playing in the background. This study used an interrupted time-series design to record the percentage of time-on-task for each day of …

Effect Of The Sequencing Of Instruction On Students’ Perceptions Of Engagement And Learning, Ingrid Etherton

Master of Education Program Theses

Inquiry-based learning has become a hallmark of science education, in part through the introduction of the Next Generation Science Standards. Research has shown inquiry and direct instruction are effective and essential components of student learning; however, effective implementation of these strategies requires intentional sequencing and understanding of student cognition and motivation. This action research project sought to investigate the relationship between the sequence of inquiry and direct instruction and students’ perceptions of their learning through inquiry. The results of this study indicate that inquiry activities are effective for student learning and interest in the content; however, further research is needed …

A Hierarchical Soft Computational Model For Optimizing Agricultural Uavs: Recruiting Neutrosophic Theory And Tree Soft Sets, Mona Mohamed, Nurhan Alaa, Bilal Arain, Karam M. Sallam

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Precision agriculture is being transformed by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which make it possible for yield optimization, targeted spraying, and sophisticated crop monitoring. With an emphasis on their operational capabilities, economic feasibility, and environmental implications, this research explores the revolutionary potential of UAV technology in contemporary farming systems. Practically speaking, the procedure of opting UAVs for agricultural applications is complicated by several competing aspects, inherent uncertainties, and differing stakeholder agendas. This paper suggests a new hybrid decision framework that combines Tree Soft Sets (TrSS), Neutrosophic theory, and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) to methodically handle these issues. Hence, the robust hybrid model …

Towards Explainable And Robust Nlp: Neutrosophic Probability Augmentation In Text Classification, Nabil M. Abdel-Aziz, Mahmoud Ibrahim, Khalid A. Eldrandaly

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

The rapid growth of textual data necessitates advanced text classification models. However, traditional methods struggle with ambiguity and uncertainty in natural language, reducing classification reliability. To address this, we integrate neutrosophic logic, which explicitly models truth, indeterminacy, and falsity, into a DistilBERT-based text classification framework. Additionally, we employ data augmentation using synonym replacement to enhance generalization. Our approach is evaluated on the AG News dataset, classifying articles into four categories: World, Sports, Business, and Science/Technology. By incorporating neutrosophic attributes, the proposed framework assesses text quality, mitigates uncertainty, and improves robustness against ambiguous inputs. Experimental results demonstrate an accuracy of 94.10%, …

Israeli Educational Policy Procedures On The Book “Geography Of Palestine And Its Modern And Contemporary History” For The Tenth Grade, Mirvat R. Abu Asab, Soheil H. Salha

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Objective: The study aimed to verify the procedures of the Israeli educational policy on the book “Geography of Palestine and its Modern and Contemporary History” for the tenth grade. Method: The descriptive analytical approach was used by analyzing and comparing the content of “The Geography of Palestine and its Modern and Contemporary History” for the tenth grade, first and second parts, issued by the Palestinian Ministry of Education, with the content of the same one that the Israeli censorship in the Ministry of Education and the Jerusalem Municipality changed it, and determined the size and quality of the change. Results: …

Abel Inversion Comparison Of Geant4 Simulation And Ozone Production Using Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy In Nitrogen/Oxygen Mixtures In The Presence Of Alpha Radiation, Sidney John Gautrau

Dissertations

The effects of radioactive materials on atmospheric gases have been a topic of interest for years. Radioactive materials ionize the surrounding air, and subsequent reactions lead to molecules such as ozone and nitrogen oxides. The presence of these species above background levels can be used as a marker for radioactive materials which has desirable defense applications like remote detection of radioactive materials. The molecules created in the presence of radioactive materials have been quantified in literature using G-values, which is the number of molecules of a product produced per 100 eV of deposited energy. In this work, Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy …

Aligning Education And Industry: Analyzing Public School Curriculums' Influence On Skilled Trade Preparedness In Texas, Lee Bryan Whitten Iii

Theses & Dissertations

Existing literature on education and industry pipeline underscores the rising call for addressing the alignment of the two sectors to achieve relevant career pathways for students. These efforts were demonstrated when Congress enacted the Perkins Act in 1984, emphasizing career and education alignment by strengthening CTE programs in public schools. This study quantitatively determined the students’ skilled trade preparedness by analyzing the relationship between the student's College and Career Readiness Standard (CCRS) skills and those of students who pursued CTE courses and their counterparts. Three student categories composed of STEM, STEM-related, and non-CTE concentrates who graduated in May 2023 from …

A Review Of Disassembly Systems For Circular Product Design, Giovanni Formentini, Joao Pj. Prioli, Junwon Ko, Buddhika M. Hapuwatte, Vincenzo Ferrero, Fazleena Badurdeen, Jeremy L. Rickli, Devarajan Ramanujan

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Circular Economy (CE) is described as a means for maintaining products and materials in circulation while regenerating nature. This shift requires considering aspects at the product design phase that were not previously prioritized. One such aspect, disassembly, is a key enabler for CE. Design for Disassembly methodologies have been deployed for several years to enhance disassembly performance. However, when CE is of interest, it is essential to consider how disassembly affects the entire product life cycle system. In this regard, this paper proposes a literature review of relevant DfD methods from a system engineering perspective to evaluate their effects on …

The Search For Slow Particles And Magnetic Monopoles With Nova, John Clark

Poster Presentations

Singular magnetic poles, north or south, have been theorized to exist for hundreds of years. In the modern day, the elusive singular magnetic pole still remains undiscovered. The appearance of this particle would help confirm many Grand Unified Theories, GUTs, and revolutionize our understanding of some of the fundamental forces of the universe. Fermilab's NOvA collaboration is working on ways to screen and detect magnetic monopoles and other slow-moving particles coming from outer space alongside their main mission to study neutrinos. The aim of this work is to determine and improve the Far Detector’s efficiency at identifying slow moving particles. …

Effective Best Practices In Social Studies Education: Empowering Students Despite Institutional Barriers, Shelbie A. Merriweather

Curriculum and Instruction Undergraduate Honors Theses

Social Studies has remained a prevalent feature of the curriculum taught in the United States education system since the start of the 20th century as society became concerned with teaching children to be active citizens in their communities, and has evolved to integrate the development of critical and historical thinking skills that will enable students to analyze historical events and figures to generate a historical narrative (Coleman, 2021; Smith et al., 1995). The lack of standardized tests centered around social studies has meant that legislation like No Child Left Behind limits the funding provided to social studies as opposed to …

Mapping Disparities: Spatial And Socioeconomic Analysis Of Medical Apartheid Regions In Spartanburg County, Anthony G. Tarulli

Student Scholarship

Medical Apartheid Regions (MARs) are a widely underesearched topic that are heavily prominent in the southeastern United States, specifically rural areas (Brînzac et al. 2023). Due to the historical implementation of redlining (Egede et al., 2023) and structural racism (Miller & Vasan, 2021) in the development of the southern United States, a reclassification of medical deserts needed to occur to truly assess the implications of a lack of healthcare acces.

Investigating Preservice Elementary Teachers (Psts’) Views Of Nature Of Science (Vnos) And Science Attitudes Following Engagement In An Integrated Physics And Chemistry Content Course, Anna Stahurski

Honors Theses

Students’ classroom experiences affect their views of science, placing importance on teachers’ instructional approaches. Current reform suggests that inquiry-based science instruction supports positive views of science. However, students and teachers have been shown to hold developing views of nature of science (VNOS), or understanding what science is and how it progresses. Compounding matters, every student has their own personal science experiences that shape their science understandings and attitudes. This project investigates the attitudes and VNOS among preservice elementary teachers (PSTs) enrolled in an integrated physics and chemistry content course (SCI142). Two course sections were surveyed throughout one semester (n = …

Simulations Of Magnetar Spin-Down Lifetimes Using Magnetic Braking Models, Sophie Wessel

Honors College Theses

The beginnings of magnetar lifetimes are not very well understood. It is important to improve our understanding of magnetar origins in order to investigate possible evolutionary connections to other classes of NS, such as X-ray dim isolated NSs (XDINSs). Here we follow in the steps of another paper1 in modeling the spin evolution of magnetars, utilizing two avenues of evolution: one involving exponential B-field decay, and the other involving suband super-exponential B-field decay. We replicate the results of the paper, utilizing Monte Carlo methods to generate and evolve synthetic populations of magnetars, which are then compared to the current known …

"Beyond The Display:" How Exhibits In Museums Can Be Used To Educate Public Visitors, Ryder Wynn

Honors Theses

Museums are institutions that can be found outside of a classroom setting, where visitors can educate themselves about a certain topic presented in the exhibits that the museums display. They can do this by creating engaging environments where visitors can become invested into the story and information of the exhibits, making them want to learn more about the information provided. A good exhibit can do this in at least one of three ways: developing critical thinking skills, which can involve visual models or "learning through play," creating memorable experiences or using collective memory to teach about historical events or using …

Toxicity And Biodegradability Of Novel Boronium Vs Conventional Ammonium Based Anti Microbial Compounds In Wastewater Treatment Systems, Noor Shalan

Poster Presentations

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are highly effective as disinfectants, herbicides, and pesticides; thus, overuse causes elevated levels of residual toxicity in domestic and industrial wastewater. QACs can be toxic to essential bacteria breaking down pollutants in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and can remain untreated in effluent, harming the environment, and contributing to antibiotic resistance, posing risks to human health. Novel boronium-based antimicrobial compounds have demonstrated efficacy in eliminating bacteria, fungi, and viruses. If the boronium compounds exhibit lower residual toxicity, they could offer a promising alternative to QACs. Because these compounds are still in development, their potential toxicity to the …

Binary Solid/Liquid Equilibrium Of Mixtures Of Thermally Robust Salts And Molecular Compounds For Use As Heat Transfer Fluids, Jared Ridge Mathews

Poster Presentations

Fossil fuels, contributors to climate change that may bear catastrophic consequences, power the entire world. The human species is almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels for energy, but other sources of renewable and environmentally friendly energy must be developed. Concentrated solar power (CSP) is a promising source of renewable energy with hampered potential—better heat transfer fluids (HTFs) are needed for it to be economically feasible. Currently, the HTFs in industrial use are predominantly either synthetic oils or nitrate-based molten salts. Synthetic oils are only stable up to 400 °C, and molten salts often have high melting temperatures, making them prone …

Linear Dicyclopentadiene Copolymers: Synthesis And Thermal Analysis, Connor Lewis

Poster Presentations

To retain the existing advantages of L-pDCPD and to enhance its material properties, an incorporation of functionalized comonomers is being investigated. It is hypothesized that such functionalization will allow for higher theoretical molecular weights, increased oxidative resistance, and more durable thermal properties following air exposure. The use of heteroatoms in exemplary oxa-norbornene-based compounds is thought to strengthen intermolecular interactions and thus improve the structural stability of L-pDCPD. To better understand the polymerization initiated by GC3 and to identify potential ROCM processes, IR-active nitrile and hydroxyl groups were specifically incorporated. For this study, the comonomers were synthesized from exo-3,6-epoxy- 1,2,3,6 tetrahydrophthalic …

Ghosts In Glass: Ghost Crabs (Ocypode Quadrata) As Judges Of Glass Sand For Coastal Restoration, Emily Parrish

Poster Presentations

Coastal erosion is heavily impacting coastal ecosystems across the Gulf. For instance, the state of Louisiana loses a football field worth of land every 100 minutes (Couvillion, 2017). The drastic loss of coastline highlights the dire need for restoration in the Northern Gulf Coast. An unexpected solution to this sediment loss may solve two major environmental issues at once by diverting millions of tons of glass waste from entering America’s landfills each year. By crushing glass to create sand and gravel for coastal restoration, we may generate a consistent and sustainable source of substrate. Our goal is to determine the …

Designing An Interactive Exit Ticket System To Enhance Learning In Engineering Education, Tapanga Witt

McNair Scholars Manuscripts

Within Grand Valley State University's (GVSU) Padnos College of Engineering, many first-year Engineering courses consistently see pass rates below 70%, signaling a need for stronger academic support. This is an issue across many universities; students are underprepared and face a lot of challenges with workload, pace, and independence due to the transition from high school to college (Flanigan, 2024). For this project, I designed and developed a website-based exit ticket system to support student reflection and instructor feedback. Using UX design principles, the platform offers a weekly self-reflection form that recommends resources like tutoring, office hours, or study groups. Gamification …

Guide To The Linfield University Outdoor Plaques Collection, Linfield Archives

Linfield Archives Finding Aids

This finding aid represents a collection of outdoor plaques found throughout the Linfield University campus in McMinnville. It includes information about stone/bench engravings, plaques, and other memorials, with new material added since the initial inventory created in 2020. There had been no previous inventory of these plaques.

Collecting Human Subject Data For Modeling Maximum Potential Power At Specific Cadence And Fatigue Levels, Alexander John Minnich

Honors College Theses

The overarching goal of this research project was to investigate the relationship between a participant's maximum power (Watts) at a given cadence (RPM) on a specific fatigue level. Before conducting any experiments, we hypothesized that maximum power and cadence would decay linearly with fatigue. To do this, six days of testing for each of 4 human subjects were split across two phases. The first 4 days were devoted to Phase one, which focuses on determining the physical abilities of each unique participant and finding metabolic constants such as Critical Power and Anaerobic Work Capacity. Phase two then tests maximal power …

Collaborative Leadership Approaches’ Impact On Student Athlete Participation, Jacob Ledger

Leadership Education Capstones

The purpose of this study is to identify reasons for the decline in student athletes participating in high school football within the Big Nine Conference. The research is intended to identify several key reasons for the decline in youth sports, which contributes to high school sports, and ultimately football programs in the conference. The study also identifies two specific coaching and leadership styles and how they impact sports participation. Collaborative leadership and coaching styles compared to authoritative leadership and coaching styles. Using a qualitative research method using surveys and document review themes of sport specialization, Technology, burnout, Culture, and Feedback …

Quantifying The Role Of Climate On Tropical River Flow (Guarare River) Along The Panama Pacific Coast, 1981 – 2020., Jessie Abrego - Bonilla

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Guarare River watershed on the Azuero Peninsula of Panama, part of the Panamanian Dry Arc, experiences significant hydrological variability driven by seasonal changes, elevation, and the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This study investigates precipitation and river discharge patterns over 40 years (1981 – 2020), showing that elevation influences rainfall distribution, with higher-altitude areas receiving more precipitation during the Neutral and El Niño phases. In contrast, La Niña phases bring increased rainfall to lower-elevation areas, such as Pocrí. Seasonal ENSO effects reveal that El Niño phases reduce dry-season precipitation, lowering river discharge. La Niña events sustain high wet-season rainfall, peaking …

Using Scaffolding, Gamification, And Self Awareness To Create Responsive Ux/Ui In Cad Software To Nurture Metacognition In Novice Users, Obed Ibrahim Gonzalez

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Computer-aided Design (CAD) software represents a significant shift from manual and analog design processes to digital workflows, offering substantial utility, accuracy, and productivity benefits. However, CAD software often presents a steep learning curve, particularly for novice users who are new to the software or possess only basic knowledge. Traditional CAD curricula have predominantly focused on technical problem-solving—teaching tools and systems—while often neglecting strategic knowledge that encompasses reflection, planning, and refining, which are essential components of metacognition. Metacognition is crucial for transforming novices into experts who use fewer and more complex commands, employ sophisticated planning, and achieve their goals more efficiently. …

Development And Investigation Of A Novel Near-Wall Methodology For Large-Eddy Simulation Based On Dynamic Hybrid Rans-Les, Michael Tullis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to test engineering designs with reduced cost and time compared to physical testing has become increasingly common in a range of industries and research fields. While numerical methods exist that can accurately solve the equations that govern the flow of fluids, these methods are computationally expensive for practical engineering problems due to the large amount of computational power needed to resolve the fluid flow over the entire range of length and time scales. Several different approaches have been introduced to address this computational cost issue, namely Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) modeling and scale resolving …

Generative Ai In Cs Education: Navigating The Intersection Of Student Usage And Faculty Vision, Matthew Scott Mcclenahan

Graduate Theses - Engineering Management

Generative AI tools are rapidly transforming both educational and professional landscapes, creating an imperative for computing education to adapt. This mixed-methods study investigates how Computer Science and Software Engineering students utilize these tools and how faculty perceive their impact within a small private STEM institution. Through surveys of 40 CS/SE students and 29 faculty members, complemented by in-depth interviews with 10 faculty, this dual perspective enables direct comparison between student practices and faculty perceptions, helping to identify areas where educational policies and practices may need adjustment.

Analysis identified six distinct categories of GenAI usage: Learning Enhancement (29.2%), Productivity and Efficiency …

Adults’ Remembered Stories Of Early-Grades Reading Groups: A Narrative Inquiry, Cari Brooks

All Dissertations

This study examined literacy narratives composed by participants aged 18 to 71 to learn how they remembered, described, and constructed stories about their experiences in ability-based reading groups when they were children learning to read in public schools. The purpose of this study was to add voices and perspectives to a decades-long debate over the varied impacts of using ability-based reading groups that separate children by skill level, particularly with regard to connections to learner academic and literacy self-perception and the perpetuation of systemic social inequity. The study was grounded in a critical pedagogy theoretical foundation and employed a narrative …

Western Australia’S Marine Heatwave Update - 9th May 2025, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Marine Heatwave Notification Reports

Category 1 – Moderate marine heatwave (MHW) conditions continue for the Gascoyne and South Coast Bioregions. Marine heatwave conditions in the North Coast Bioregion have abated and the West Coast Bioregion remains warm but neither are categorised as experiencing MHW conditions.