Digital Commons Network^™

Computational Modeling Of Torque Arm And Load Cell Interactions In Uta Racing Brake Dynamometer, Anthony A. Aiyedun

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

The UTA Racing Team is developing a brake dynamometer to measure the coefficients of friction of various brake pads and calipers under controlled conditions. The dynamometer simulates on-track braking scenarios, testing brake pads at temperatures up to 1300ºF and pressures similar to racing environments. Its primary goal is to generate accurate friction vs. temperature graphs for various brake pad and rotor combinations, addressing the need for dedicated testing equipment. This project creates an ANSYS simulation of the torque arm and load cell interaction. The computational model accurately represents the relationship between applied torque and measured load cell force, incorporating precise …

Affordable Architecture: Promoting Mental Health Through Cost-Effective Design In Underfunded High Schools In Dallas-Fort Worth, Raphaella Malicay

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Mental health awareness has increased over the years as well as numerous strategies to support mental health. Some of these strategies include addressing the built environment. This paper explores the intersection between mental health and the built environment through the lens of affordable architectural methods that would be effective in underfunded secondary schools. This study examines how architecture influences students’ well-being and how certain design strategies can be implemented even in schools that lack the financial resources for adequate infrastructure. Here the focus is on investigating affordable solutions such as improving ventilation, optimizing natural light, having flexible learning spaces, and …

A Data Driven Approach To Student Success: Visualizing Engagement And Performance Metrics, Araohat Kokate

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Many tutoring centers lack tools to analyze and visualize key performance metrics, limiting data driven decision making. This study develops a data visualization feature for the CSE Student Success Center App at the University of Texas at Arlington, enabling administrators to track student engagement, tutor performance and session trends. Using the data of students and tutors, the feature provides interactive dashboards for real-time insights. Administrators can monitor attendance patterns, tutor workloads and booking trends, optimizing resource allocation. Findings indicate that real-time data visualization enhances decision-making, reducing manual effort while improving operational efficiency. This can further help improve student support services. …

Navigation Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Using Computer Vision In Raytheon Drone Competition, Joseph R. Pavlik Iii

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

A major problem with using GPS to navigate an unmanned aerial vehicle is that GPS signals do not accurately work while inside a building. This work presents the usage of the Simultaneous Localization and Mapping library, ORB-SLAM2, in C++ to solve this issue. By using the camera attached to the unmanned aerial vehicle, a map of the area covered by the drone will be created, and landmarks in area will be utilized to navigate throughout the interior of the building without the GPS. Based on previous studies, this navigation method should be viable. Preliminary tests show that this method will …

A Mixed Methods Study On Teacher Knowledge And Its Influence On Reducing Math Anxiety In Students, Shannon E. Cruz

Dissertations

Math anxiety has been a cause for concern in many people's lives before research commenced on its impact on math performance and learning. The dissertation in practice was focused on how a teacher’s lack of preparation and tools to support students with math anxiety could be changed in the field of education. Using a design thinking-based process, the student researcher identified a research question about how professional development about math anxiety helps teachers understand and support affected students while analyzing two null hypotheses regarding teacher understanding and ability to support students. Once the knowledge gap was identified, the student researcher …

Killing Through Death: An Empirical Study On The Drivers Of Modern Suicide Terrorism, Leopoldo García Beneito

Journal of Terrorism Studies

Departing from the idea that suicide attacks are a special form of terrorism, this article aims to shed light on some of its characteristics and particular dynamics to help better understand the phenomenon and effectively combat it. To that end, the article begins by exploring the trend of both types of terrorism, suicide and non-suicide, for after reviewing the main theories and findings on the topic by the academia in the literature review section. Following this overview, four variables are identified as potential drivers of suicide terrorism: inequality, foreign intervention, political freedom, and Islamic faith. The expected relationship between these …

Tracing Clovis Landscapes: Chert Sourcing At The Copelin Valley Site In Kentucky., Shaylee Scott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study conducts a raw material sourcing analysis of Clovis lithic artifacts from Copelin Valley, Hart County, Kentucky, a key Clovis occupation site. Over a decade of documenting private collections and recent archaeological investigations confirm the site's significance within the Paleoindian landscape. Using reflectance spectroscopy, a non-destructive technique, this research assesses chert source probabilities for over 100 Clovis points and tools. By integrating spectral data with geological sourcing frameworks, this study examines raw material procurement strategies and their implications for Clovis mobility and settlement. The findings reveal patterns in material selection, shedding light on occupation intensity, technological organization, and landscape …

Exploring The Impact Of Social Interactions And Representation On The Development Of Engineering Students' Sense Of Belonging In A Summer Program., Liliana Martinez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown that engineering students from underrepresented minority (URM) populations experience significant retention gaps compared to their majority peers (Dickerson et al., 2014). One factor that can significantly promote academic success, retention, persistence, and psychological adjustment is a sense of belonging (Hausmann et al., 2007; Hoffman et al., 2002). There is evidence showing that Summer Bridge Programs (SBPs) can foster students’ sense of belonging (Strayhorn, 2019); however, little is known about the mechanisms through which an SBP impacts URM engineering students’ sense of belonging. This study addresses this knowledge gap by investigating the impact of the Brown Forman …

New Bayesian Methods For Longitudinal Data Analysis With Complex Dependence Structures., Anish Mukherjee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Longitudinal data in real-world settings are frequently found to be heterogeneous and exhibit intricate spatio-temporal dependence structures. Analyzing such complex data to obtain reliable estimation while quantifying uncertainty necessitates using sophisticated Bayesian methodology. In this work, we present novel Bayesian methods developed to address these challenges. We often observe heterogeneity in longitudinal data, where the mean and variance for certain profiles meaningfully differs from the rest. Some profiles may also exhibit outliers at a limited number of measurements. Using a standard mixed effects model, which assumes homogeneity, can lead to overestimating the residual variance and inefficient estimation. In this work, …

Genetic Influence Of Allelic Variation On The Phenotypic Variability Of Cognitive Outcomes In Individuals With Williams Syndrome., Marinie P. Joseph

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Williams syndrome (WS) is caused by a rare microdeletion of 25 – 27 genes on chromosome 7q11.23, characterized by a distinctive cognitive profile with considerable phenotypic heterogeneity. However, the genetic factors underlying this phenotypic variability remain unclear. I explored two genetic mechanisms—parent-of-origin (PoO) effects and genome-wide polygenic variation, as measured by polygenic scores (PGSs)—to elucidate possible influences on cognitive variability in WS. The first study examined PoO effects on cognitive abilities in two overlapping samples of children with WS (N = 211, N = 251). PoO refers to which parental homolog of chromosome 7 contains the WS deletion. Despite …

Perceptions Of Unstructured Recess And Classroom Behaviors In Elementary School Settings., Allison Shockley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The priority on core curriculum areas such as math and reading has resulted in limited physical activity and regular recess routines. With the increased time spent on core curriculum, teachers and administrators have shifted their focus towards standardized student testing achievement. This focus has resulted in limiting or doing away with unstructured recess with the hopes that students will gain more core curriculum knowledge. This dissertation will focus on educators' perceptions of elementary school student behavior with varying recess time structures. This study began by examining the history of recess while analyzing the trickled- down historical inequities elementary students experience …

Volatile Organic Compounds And Their Relation To Sympathetic Activation And Autonomic Balance In Humans., Cameron Kyle Stopforth

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a multifaceted pathology that affects almost half of Americans ≥20 years old. One modifiable risk factor associated with CVD is air pollution exposure. The intricacy of air pollution exposure and CVD can make it difficult to elucidate on the multitude of mechanisms underpinning these associations. In this dissertation, we selected a relevant exposure (i.e., volatile organic compounds (VOC)) and an intermediate outcome (i.e., autonomic balance) that may represent one of these pertinent mechanisms. We tested the central hypothesis that higher VOC exposures would lead to increased sympathetic activation and autonomic imbalance. Aim 1 (Chapter III …

Applying Residence Time Distribution Theory To Coronary Thermodilution Curves., Jacob Michael Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide and coronary microvascular dysfunction is one cardiovascular disease which is particularly challenging to diagnose and treat. Coronary thermodilution is a widely used, invasive procedure to evaluate microvascular function by generating physiological indices such as coronary flow reserve and the index of microvascular resistance. Although commonly cited as an indicator dilution method in the cardiovascular literature, current coronary thermodilution techniques lack rigorous application of the accompanying mathematical framework, thereby leaving potentially valuable diagnostic information unexploited. This study bridges that gap by demonstrating the equivalence between indicator-dilution theory and residence time distribution theory …

An Automatic Colorectal Polyps Detection Approach For Ct Colonography., Mohamed Yousuf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is a significant health concern, with increasing incidence rates, particularly among individuals under 50. This rise has led experts to recommend the introduction of regular screenings at 45 years of age for adults at average risk. Early detection through such screenings can identify precancerous polyps, allowing their removal before they develop into cancer. This proactive approach has the potential to reduce colorectal cancer deaths by up to 60%. In addition, research indicates that people diagnosed before age 50 have better survival rates, which emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis. Therefore, adhering to recommended …

Studies Of Pathways To T2d And Interventions Through A Dynamical System Model., Rafiqul Islam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Existing mathematical models investigating the progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D) over time primarily focus on glucose, insulin, β-cell mass, and other related factors, while often omitting fatty acids (FA) as an explicit variable—despite FA being a major energy source for the body. There exists a complex network of dynamical interactions among glucose, insulin, FA, and β-cell mass. To gain deeper insights into the metabolic dynamics and pathophysiology of T2D, it is essential to incorporate FA into such models. In this study, we extend the classic Topp’s GIβ model by explicitly incorporating FA and exploring its interactions with glucose, insulin, …

Bayesian Model Updating Of Structural Parameters Using Temperature Variation Data., Ujjwal Adhikari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Physical digital twins have now emerged as a technology in structural health monitoring and other domains of structural modeling. A Finite Element Model can be a tool for digital twin technology in conjunction with measured physical data. Developing an accurate digital model requires the integration of various parameters to replicate the real structure; however, temperature is dynamically changing, resulting in difficulty in the identification of structural parameters. Typically, temperature is considered noise or filtered out. Limited research has addressed the physics-based model using temperature variation related to structural modal properties. Finite Element Model Updating (FEMU) is a typical inverse problem-solving …

Thin-Film Optical Filters For Selective Transmission And Black-Body Reflection In Pyroelectric Energy Systems., Cedric Cruz Silva

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Essential to pyroelectric energy systems is the ability for a pyroelectric material to achieve high temperatures rapidly. In pursuit of augmenting this process, several thin-film optical filters were designed for transmitting laser excitation in the near-infrared region, while simultaneously reflecting black-body radiation for pyroelectric materials. Designs include a classical Fabry-Perot structure with gold and tantalum pentoxide, an induced transmittance filter with silica, hafnia, and gold, and an indium-tin-oxide filter with silica, alumina, and ITO. Performance varies depending on the design. The Fabry-Perot filter experimentally showed a maximum transmittance of 42% at 1.04 μm and an infrared reflectance of 98%. The …

Near-Earth Object (Neo) Surveyor Development: Challenges And Opportunities In Support Of Planetary Defense, G. Loftus, B. Carlsen, P. Scott, S. Backlund, L. Reinhart, T. Martin, T. Hoenes, R. Burgon, S. Ashby, J. Peterson, B. Lamborn, J. Bowman

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

The Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission is a key element in our future planetary defense portfolio, which will survey our solar system in the infrared to discover and characterize asteroids and comets.

The mission is designed to detect, track, and characterize small bodies throughout our solar system. By United States Congress mandate, NASA must discover more than 90% of all asteroids and comets that are larger than 140 meters in diameter and could potentially impact Earth. NEO Surveyor will provide critical decision support for stakeholders who must assess the risks of NEO impacts to Earth and identify potential mitigation strategies. …

Development Of Soil Water Characteristic Curves Through Control Of Relative Humidity, Lauren E. Johnson, Julia I. Loshelder, Richard A. Coffman

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The relationship between soil suction and soil water content in unsaturated soil mechanics is important but can be difficult to measure. The objective of the research described herein was to develop soil water characteristic curves (SWCC) from relative humidity values by incorporating the use of glycerin-water mixtures. Glycerin-water mixtures can be used to achieve different relative humidity levels by varying the concentration of glycerin within the mixture. The relative humidity created by each mixture was measured with a relative humidity sensor, and the relative humidity values and Kelvin’s equation were used to compute the total suction.

Soil water characteristic curves …

Relating Strength, Time, And Temperature For Bcsa Cement Concrete Using The Maturity Method, Daniel M. Passarelli

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Belite calcium sulfoaluminate (BCSA) cement is an extension of CSA cement technology designed to provide early setting times and rates of strength gain with reduced environmental impact compared with portland cement. However, its application in the field of structural concrete is widely unexplored. To that end, this paper details research conducted at the University of Arkansas Civil Engineering Research and Education Center (CEREC) exploring the rates of strength gain in concrete samples created using BCSA cement relative to various temperatures and ages. Following the practices outlined in ASTM C1074, the maturity method, compression strength tests were conducted on the aforementioned …

Concepts And Sources Of Authority In Early Christianity, Carter Dean Yancey

Masters Theses

The concept of authority, though seemingly clear in everyday discourse, is in fact a multifaceted and elusive subject upon closer examination. This paper seeks to untangle the intricacies of authority in order to better understand and discuss biblical and early Christian positions regarding the matter. The study begins by surveying the philosophical literature on authority to establish a clear and robust vocabulary for discussing the topic. Differentiating between the various concepts and paradigms of authority helps avoid the pitfalls of vague or inconsistent usage that have hindered the historical, philosophical, and theological debates on the matter.

Central to this thesis …

Assessment Of H2s-Induced Cracking Susceptibility In Steam Line Pipes And Weld Zones During Geothermal Well Construction, Riene Kaelamanda Pragitta, Yudha Pratesa

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

The susceptibility of steam line pipes, especially in the HAZ (heat-affected zone) and weldment areas, to hydrogen sulfide in the geothermal industry is crucial to understand from the early stages, particularly during construction. The combination of tensile stress from residual stresses after welding and metallurgical phase transformation makes the joint areas vulnerable to sulfide stress cracking. This condition becomes even more extreme when the equipment operates during the well stimulation phase. This research assesses the severity of H₂S-induced cracking using NACE MR0175 and ISO 15156-1 standards, focusing on the effects of pH and partial pressure of H₂S (p_{H₂S …}

A Pedagogy Of One: Engaging The ‘Missing Middle’ Toward Inclusion In Education, Jess H. Mitchell

Full-Text Theses & Dissertations

Attempts to implement inclusion practices in post-secondary education have heretofore focused mainly on diverse modes of content, presentation, delivery (tactical), and/or on largely abstract academic and policy calls to awareness of systemic social inequities (socioemotional).

This thesis argues that both strategies are necessary, but not sufficient to action an effective and implementable inclusive pedagogical practice. This thesis is an exploration of what is missing beyond the tactical and the socioemotional—conceptualizing how to address a gap in actioning inclusion. Arriving at that framework for understanding what is missing requires exploring barriers that persist in access to equitable education. This work is …

Supporting Novice Programmers With Scaffolded And Open-Ended Generative Ai Interfaces: Insights From A Design-Based Research Study, Justin Olmanson, Azadeh Hassani, Gretchen K. Larsen

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

In this study, we explore student experiences in coding and learning programming with scaffolded and unscaffolded generative AI interfaces. Specifically, we supported higher education students in using ChatGPT, an open ended interface for interacting with generative AI; and Giuseppe, a specialized interface with an OpenAI backend service that offers personalized supports specifically for helping students overcome early-stage challenges in learning to code, and working on education technology prototyping projects. This study contributes to the field by offering design insights for scaffolding initial learning interactions between generative AI interfaces and novice programmers. Our findings suggest that those new to coding welcome …

Fossil Leaf Cuticle: Best Practices For Preparation And Paleo-Co2 Analysis, Xiaoqing Zhang, Dana L. Royer, Carina E. Colombi, Juan Martin Drovandi, Jennifer C. Mcelwain, Gaëtan Guignard, Qin Leng, Barry H. Lomax, Nathan D. Sheldon, Rebekah A. Stein, Garland R. Upchurch, Yongdong Wang, Hong Yang, Richard S. Barclay, Ying Cui, Wolfram Kürschner, Joseph N. Milligan, Isabel Montañez, Jon D. Richey, Tammo Reichgelt, Gongle Shi, Selena Y. Smith, Margret Steinthorsdottir

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Leaf cuticle is the waxy envelope that protects leaves from desiccation, UV damage, and abrasion. The cuticle encodes information about a plant's chemistry and leaf epidermal and stomatal cell morphology. Fossil leaf cuticle has been used to determine taxonomic affinities for almost two centuries and recognized in recent decades for its value in reconstructing paleoenvironments and paleoclimates, especially atmospheric CO2. Fossil leaf cuticle preparation techniques are typically reported as single workflows tied to individual studies, starting with finding fossils in the field through the steps of preparing cuticle for chemical and morphological analysis, including decisions about type of microscopy and …

Wildfires Impact On Water Treatment, Alli Willmarth, Matthew Jorgenson, Kyle Shimabuku

CURCI Student Research

Study Objective: Determine the effectiveness of using powder activated carbon to remove wildfire dissolved organic matter (DOM).

Effects Of Novel Dopamine D4 Receptor-Targeted Compounds On Locomotor Activity And Anxiety-Like Behavior In Male And Female Sprague Dawley Rats, Samantha Alyse Walkow, Noah A. Ivak, Daniel Chandler, John Tkaczynski, Thomas M. Keck, Comfort A. Boateng, Eleni Papadopoulos, Barry D. Waterhouse, Rachel L. Navarra

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The consequences of modulating subtypes of G protein coupled dopamine receptors are broadly studied for their role in decision making behavior, specifically in situations involving uncertain risk and reward. The actions of dopamine D4 receptors (D4Rs) on these complex processes are the least understood, particularly due to a lack of available compounds with suitable selectivity for D4Rs. Further, current research often fails to evaluate how modulating specific dopamine receptor subtypes may affect locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavior as confounding factors prior to assessing their function in behavioral assays of higher order decision making. The goal of the current study was …

Usage Of Natural Language Processing And Deep-Learning Techniques On Thematic Apperception Tests To Predict Big Five Personality Traits, Blayten Jones

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The usage of personality as a method of behavioral prediction and outcomes of success has grown considerably over the last few decades. This project explores predicting user personality profiles via the Big Five personality index through the integration of advanced natural language processing techniques as well as neural networks. Using a dataset provided by Dr. James W. Pennebaker, participants analyze an image—formally referred to as a thematic apperception test—and write a thorough paragraph describing the details. This free-form text, along with their personality test results, is captured in a structured dataset. Many deep-learning and machine learning models have been used …

A Novel Approach To Attention-Based Models In Image Completion: Weighted Spatial-Attention Using Radial Distance, Tyler D. Kuper

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Humans infer missing visual information by focusing on spatial relationships in the context of their surroundings. Machine learning aims to replicate this skill through image completion, a fundamental task in current computer vision research. While advances in self-attention layers have recently enhanced generative machine learning models for text, these mechanisms still currently lack the capability to handle sparse image completion efficiently. We introduce a distance-based attention mechanism that uses radial-based weights to efficiently reconstruct an image. We compare this attention mechanism with self-attention and a fully connected network on an image completion task using the MNIST dataset. Our results show …

Fairness In Recommender Systems: Balancing Bias In Academic Paper Selection, Zachary Bergin

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bias in academic paper selection remains a consistent issue, even within processes designed to promote fairness, such as double-blind peer review, bias stays persistent. In this paper we investigate demographic bias while particularly focusing on racial bias in the process of selecting academic papers and explore the impact of fairness aware recommender systems on the demographic parity. To build an effective system our focus is on the Special Interest Group on Computer Human Interaction (SIGCHI) a pillar in the community, we develop a neural network-based recommender system that uses real demographic data collected by other systems withing the context of …