Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Synthetic Dataset Generator To Assist In Training Of Multilayer Perceptron Based Neural Network, Megan Leach

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Synthetic dataset generation attempts to solve the issue of needing large datasets to train models and observe behaviors in both a cost and time effective way. This project aims to highlight the value of synthetic data creation and how it was useful when training a neural network model by creating a synthetic dataset generator for a specific model in order to evaluate its behavior in difference scenarios. The model that was used in this project was created to select high-quality papers while maximizing the diversity of authors based on race, gender, and country characteristics, essentially mimicking a review process. The …

Leveraging P4 Programmable Switches For Resilient Operation And Design Of Phasor Measurement Unit Networks, Eva Casto

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The power grid utilizes a device called the phasor measurement unit (PMU), allowing power system administrators to remotely monitor and manage the state of the grid in Wide Area Monitoring Systems (WAMS). The advantages of PMUs – such as fine-grained, time-synchronized measurements and efficient, decentralized monitoring – are what make them key devices in the power grid. However, PMU technology also comes with new threats of the digital age, like malfunctions and cyberattacks, which can result in missing and faulty measurements that compromise power grid observability. P4 programmable networks can be used to detect faulty PMU data in a decentralized, …

An Introductory-Level Undergraduate Cs Course That Introduces Parallel Computing, Tia Newhall, Kevin C. Webb, Vasanta Chaganti, Andrew Danner

Computer Science Faculty Works

We present the curricular design, pedagogy, and goals of an introductory-level course on computer systems that introduces parallel and distributed computing (PDC) to students who have only a CS1 background. With the ubiquity of multicore processors, cloud computing, and hardware accelerators, PDC topics have become fundamental knowledge areas in the undergraduate CS curriculum. As a result, it is increasingly important for students to learn a common core of introductory parallel and distributed computing topics and to develop parallel thinking skills early in their CS studies. Our introductory-level course focuses on three main curricular goals: 1) understanding how a computer runs …

The Effectiveness Of Science Instruction With Digital Simulations In Elementary Settings For Quantitative Sensemaking, Joelle Prate

Education (PhD) Dissertations

The importance of elementary science education is well-documented, but many challenges persist, including a lack of time, space, and materials needed for students to have hands-on lab experiences. As a result, many students in California are falling behind, with less than one-third of all fifth graders meeting or exceeding standards in standardized test reporting. This study sought to employ single-case design methods and combine the best practices in sensemaking approaches with virtual simulations to determine whether these practices would provide effective intervention and improve students’ blended math and science sensemaking abilities at the qualitative and quantitative levels, as well as …

Nkosi Sikelel’Iafrika: Post Apartheid, Joanna Seibes

Student Zines

Examining the conditions of South Africa thirty years after the official end of apartheid in 1994, Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrika: Post Apartheid works to explain how political transition created new possibilities while also leaving unresolved issues of inequality, education, housing and governance. Comprising research, statistics and current examples, the zine shows how apartheid’s legacy continues to affect everyday life while pointing to areas where progress and change are still taking shape.

Diversity-Augmented Training For Generalizable Ai Agents, Wenjun Li

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Deep Reinforcement Learning (RL) has achieved remarkable success over the past decade, from superhuman performance in video games to real-world applications like robotics. However, RL models often lack generalization, making them unreliable when deployed in unfamiliar scenarios. For example, robots must adapt to varying terrains with different slopes and obstacles, yet standard RL training does not explicitly promote such adaptability. While various methods have been proposed to enhance RL robustness, achieving reliable generalization remains an open challenge.

This dissertation focuses on improving the generalization capability of agents in three major settings: infinite horizon RL agents, finite horizon RL agents, and …

2025 May - Tennessee Monthly Climate Report, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Monthly Reports

Hi All,

For May 2025, the main weather/climate stories were the continued pattern of severe weather impacting Tennessee as well as Chattanooga recording their wettest May in the 147-year weather history of the city. Starting with the record rainfall in Chattanooga, the Chattanooga airport weather station recorded a total of 12.02-inches of rainfall over May 2025, 8.08-inches above normal and 0.02-inches above the previous record wettest May in 1929. Many other areas of East Tennessee and the Cumberland Plateau also had well above normal rainfall this month, but they were emerging out of a drought from last fall and winter …

Statistical Designs For Learning User Preference And Experience, William S. Fisher

All Dissertations

For any organization, designing a new product or planning the features of a new service is a complex decision-making process which depends on understanding its users' preferences and the experiences they have with prototypes of the new product or service. Design of experiments (DOE) offers a framework to aid in the modeling and collection of data to learn user preferences and experiences to facilitate this decision-making process. Questions such as ``which of our newly proposed products is preferred most by our customers" and ``which version of our new service results in the highest monthly revenue" can be readily addressed by …

A Risk Evaluation Framework And Comprehensive Security Compliance Assessment Solution For Space Information Networks (Sin), Bernard Afaare Dawaare

Masters Theses & Doctoral Dissertations

The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices into space information networks introduces unprecedented security challenges, necessitating advanced methods for information systems risk assessments. Some proposed approaches in terrestrial networks, predominantly based on Euclidean distance metrics, often fall short of capturing the nuanced and multidimensional nature of risks and vulnerabilities in the unique context of space environments. This paper proposes a novel risk management methodology that leverages both Euclidean distance metrics and probabilistic Monte Carlo-based models for evaluating the likelihood/frequency and impact/severity of vulnerabilities within space IoT systems. Leveraging vulnerability data from established sources such as the NIST and VARIoT …

All Mud In The End: Exploring Registration Between Handcraft And Digital Craft Through Ceramic 3d Printing, Emily Kloostra

Architecture Undergraduate Honors Theses

The goal of this research was to investigate the possible interconnections between handcrafted objects and digital fabrication technologies, specifically in ceramic 3D printing workflows. Digital fabrication tools have advanced rapidly in recent years, raising questions about the role handcraft can still play in the making of objects and buildings. While many artistic endeavors have investigated how far digital technology can be pushed, this study was focused on bringing handcrafted objects back into the conversation. Specifically, it sought to understand how irregular, handcrafted objects may be registered in the digital space and then used in 3D printing processes.

The study used …

East Tennessee General And Special Education High School Teachers' Perceptions Of Co-Teaching In Core Academic Classrooms, Michael A. Sanders

Ed.D. Dissertations

In April 2023, Tennessee legislators implemented rigorous graduation requirements for all students, disabled and non-disabled, including Algebra II and Chemistry or Physics. The legislators created angst among school leaders and educators across the state due to the more rigorous graduation requirements and the lack of qualified math, science, and special education teachers to help meet those new requirements. I found a lack of research on guidance for educators in how to address the changing of Tennessee’s high school graduation requirements in 2023. I also found a lack of research on how to better instruct special education and general education high …

Pre-Kindergarten Teachers' Perceptions Of Teaching Early Literacy Skills Incorporating The Science Of Reading, Sarah Dunn Cheek

Ed.D. Dissertations

Since every student has the right to receive a high-quality education that fosters reading proficiency, researchers have conducted considerable research on the most effective ways to teach students to read for many years. Researchers highlighted the importance of literacy instruction based on the science of reading. Still, there was a gap in the research on this type of instruction in pre-kindergarten classrooms. The purpose of my qualitative, interpretive study was to explore East Tennessee pre-kindergarten teachers’ perceptions of their abilities to implement science of reading-based literacy instruction and how these teachers were implementing this instruction in their classrooms. After collecting …

From The University To The Universe: Byu’S West Mountain Observatory, Amber Zendejas, Dan Broadbent

BYU West Mountain Observatory Project

Brigham Young University’s West Mountain Observatory (WMO) is a research facility that offers primarily undergraduate students valuable mentoring and hands-on learning opportunities. Established in 1981, the observatory was built in response to increasing light pollution in Provo, Utah, which began affecting research at the Orson Pratt Observatory (OPO) atop the Eyring Science Center on the BYU main campus. Before WMO was created, OPO served as the primary observatory for astronomical research at BYU. Construction plans for a new observatory began in the late 1970s, as university planners and astronomers sought a location with minimal light pollution, favorable elevation, relatively easy …

Deepfakes On Trial: Developing A High-Accuracy, Court-Admissible Ai Pipeline For Deepfake Detection In Corporate Fraud Litigation, Aiden J. Green

Honors College Theses

As deepfake technology advances, cybercriminals are increasingly using AI-generated videos and audios to impersonate executives and carry out sophisticated CEO fraud schemes. These synthetic forgeries target human trust and corporate communication systems, creating an urgent need for forensic tools capable of authenticating digital evidence with legal accuracy. This thesis presents a forensic-grade AI deepfake detection pipeline designed for this purpose, emphasizing courtroom admissibility, reproducibility, and evidentiary integrity. Built entirely with free, opensource tools, the framework combines metadata analysis, AI-powered spectrogram analysis, neural artifact detection, and facial manipulation recognition into a transparent workflow that accurately identifies synthetic media. It was trained …

An Exploration In Using Aesthetic Creative Modalities In Professional Supervision, Linda Young

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This project examines the integration of aesthetic and creative modalities into professional supervision, traditionally dominated by conversation-based methods. Drawing on over thirty years of experience in education, ministry, and supervision, it addresses the need for more creative, diverse, expressive, and reflective tools to be used in professional supervision practice. The study proposes a theoretically and theologically grounded curriculum to equip supervisors in postgraduate training with creative approaches that enrich learning, insight, and practice within the evolving landscape of professional supervision in Australia.

Multiliteracy That Connects The Dots To Global Citizenship, Puja Khatri

RhetTech

My experience of learning multiple languages, including Nepali, English, and Hindi, made me realize how multiliteracy can help to connect with people around the globe. This essay examined how multiliteracy develops compassion, wisdom, and courage that enhance our perspectives about the world, which are critical aspects of global citizenship. Talking to people from all over the world in different languages can help us understand the problems they face and grow kinder and more empathetic. This helps us to build connections among people from different places. I started learning Nepali as my native language and became fluent through continuous encouragement from …

2025 Nsu Undergraduate Commencement Program, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Commencement Programs

May 5, 2025

• Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center
• Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice
• College of Psychology
• H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship
• Shepard Broad College of Law

May 6, 2025

• Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences
• Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing

Understanding University-Level Food Recovery Programs’ Approaches To Minimizing Food Waste While Combating Food Insecurity In The United States, Ella F. Flesher

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Food is wasted every day at each level of the food system from production to consumption. This surplus has significant negative impacts on the environment after food is sent to the landfill and allowed to rot. However, some surplus food can be repurposed and diverted from the landfill. This study served as an initial investigation to explore multiple food waste diversion programs and analyze their structure, best practices, and methods to divert leftover food. This study specifically aimed to compare and contrast food recovery programs by interviewing participants from three food recovery programs from different university institutions. With the key …

Land8fire: A Complete Study On Wildfire Segmentation Through Comprehensive Review, Human-Annotated Multispectral Dataset, And Extensive Benchmarking, Anh Tran

Data Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Early and accurate wildfire detection is critical for minimizing environmental damage and ensuring a timely response. However, existing satellite-based wildfire datasets suffer from limitations such as coarse ground truth, poor spectral coverage, and class imbalance, which hinder progress in developing robust segmentation models. In this paper, we introduce Land8Fire, a new large-scale wildfire segmentation dataset composed of over 20,000 multispectral image patches derived from Landsat 8 and manually annotated for high-quality fire masks. Building on the ActiveFire dataset, Land8Fire improves ground truth reliability and offers predefined splits for consistent benchmarking. We evaluate a range of state-of-the-art convolutional and transformer-based models, …

Exploring The Robustness Of The Effect Of Evo On Intention Valuation Through Replication: Supplemental Material, Yesugen Baatartogtokh, Kaitlyn Cook, Alicia M. Grubb

Computer Science: Faculty Publications

Supplemental material for the paper: "Exploring the Robustness of the Effect of EVO on Intention Valuation through Replication"

Moving To Learn: Georgia, K-12 Teachers' Perspectives On Physical Movement Strategies In The Classroom, Remel Williams

Ed.D. Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, interpretive research study was to better understand Georgia K-12 core content area teachers’ perceptions of physical movement, how students responded to physical movement strategies, as well as understand any supports and barriers when planning for physical movement strategies during the 2023-2024 school year. Data for this study was collected from public K-12 core content area (math, science, reading, language arts, foreign language, history/social studies) teachers who had been in the classroom for at least one year. Their responses were gathered through a Qualtrics questionnaire and through interviews and focus groups via Zoom. Through the study, …

Tennessee Science Teachers’ Views, Challenges, And Practices Addressing Scientific Misinformation In The Science Classroom, Lauren Wilmoth

Ed.D. Dissertations

Scientific misinformation was a major threat to society in the 2020s because individuals often made ill-informed decisions impacting their well-being and the well-being of others. Because of the unique nature of scientific misinformation, key stakeholders advocated for science education to incorporate skills associated with identifying scientific misinformation into science curricula. Despite the call for action, there was little extant research about how high school science teachers addressed and felt about addressing scientific misinformation. Therefore, the purpose of my interpretive qualitative study was to determine Tennessee high school science teachers’ views, challenges, and practices addressing scientific misinformation in the science classroom. …

The Anchorage School District (Asd) Project Management Curriculum Project, Julia Wigren

Student Projects for Graduate Degrees

The growing need for project management (PM) skills in post-secondary careers presents a significant opportunity for early career preparation. Industry projections indicate that millions of professionals will be needed in project management-oriented roles in the coming years. As the workforce becomes increasingly project-based, the demand for well-trained early career project managers continues to rise. Ensuring that students gain PM skills before graduation provides them with a competitive advantage in the job market. Recognizing this opportunity, the Anchorage School District (ASD) sought to incorporate PM education into its newly implemented Academies of Anchorage, aiming to prepare students for college, career, and …

Design, Testing, And Characterization Of A Dc-Discharge Miniature Gridded Ion Thruster, Ishaan Mishra

Senior Project - Physics and Optical Engineering

Gridded Ion Thrusters are a satellite propulsion system that generate a Low- Temperature Plasma and electrostatically accelerates the ions to produce thrust at a high specific impulse. This work presents the design, testing, and initial characterization of a 3- cm diameter DC-discharge ring-cusp Gridded Ion Thruster that utilizes Argon as a propellant. The test infrastructure including vacuum chamber, propellant feed system, and power supplies are detailed, and operation of the ion thruster described. The material selections and design details have been presented, along with characterization based on steady-state propellant and power inputs described. In addition, a Heaterless Hollow Cathode design …

Accelerating Knowledge Graph And Ontology Engineering With Large Language Models, Cogan Shimizu, Pascal Hitzler

Computer Science and Engineering Faculty Publications

Large Language Models bear the promise of significant acceleration of key Knowledge Graph and Ontology Engineering tasks, including ontology modeling, extension, modification, population, alignment, as well as entity disambiguation. We lay out LLM-based Knowledge Graph and Ontology Engineering as a new and coming area of research, and argue that modular approaches to ontologies will be of central importance.

Education In The Era Of Neurosymbolic Ai, Chris Davis Jaldi, Eleni Ilkou, Noah Schroeder, Cogan Shimizu

Computer Science and Engineering Faculty Publications

Education is poised for a transformative shift with the advent of neurosymbolic artificial intelligence (NAI), which will redefine how we support deeply adaptive and personalized learning experiences. The integration of Knowledge Graphs (KGs) with Large Language Models (LLMs), a significant and popular form of NAI, presents a promising avenue for advancing personalized instruction via neurosymbolic educational agents. By leveraging structured knowledge, these agents can provide individualized learning experiences that align with specific learner preferences and desired learning paths, while also mitigating biases inherent in traditional AI systems. NAI-powered education systems will be capable of interpreting complex human concepts and contexts …

Effects Of Thermal Interface Materials On Thermal Conductivity Measurement Using A Modified Astm D5470 Thermal Resistance Tester, Chinmaya Joshi

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this paper, we have investigated the effect of thermal interface materials (TIMs) on the accuracy and uncertainty of thermal conductivity measurements. A modified ASTM D5470 thermal resistance tester (TRT) is developed to measure the out-of-plane thermal conductivity of pyrolytic graphite (PG) and grade 2 titanium (TiG2) with and without TIMs. Compared to the ASTM D5470 standard, this modified design uses three thermocouples per side to support regressive analysis and explores the use of TIMs.s Nine PG samples and four TiG2 samples of varying thickness have been tested to obtain thermal resistance as a function of sample thickness. The steady-state …

Investigation Into The Microbiome Of Blow Fly Eggs Using Microseqtm Id, Samantha S. Davis, Drusilla Sheridan, Jennifer Rosati

Undergraduate Research

There is little published research characterizing the microbiome associated with blow fly eggs and how they may affect the colonization behaviors of certain blow fly species. Once deposited, blow fly eggs are rapidly introduced to a diverse range of microorganisms, which can vary depending on the species of blow fly, the environment, and the decomposition stage of the substrate (Junqueira et al., 2017). Since blow flies are among the first insects to colonize decomposing remains, the microbial communities present on their eggs could serve as key indicators of the decomposition stage at the time of egg-laying, thus providing a potential …

Deleting Values May Either Increase Or Decrease Variance, David L. Farnsworth

Articles

The impact upon variance when a value is deleted is addressed. It is shown that the cutoff for the deleted value yielding an increase or a decrease in variance is approximately one standard deviation from the mean for a univariate random variable with equally distributed probability on a finite set of elements and for a univariate set of observations. The influence of truncation of the domain for such a discrete random variable and for observations is considered.