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Sash: Student Academic Showcase And Honors 2025, Roger Williams University

Student Academic Showcase and Honors

A celebration of scholarship and creative activities for undergraduate and graduate students

A Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach To Analyze The Virtual Impactor In Pneumatic Aerosol Jet Printing, Akashita Sareen

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Aerosol jet printing (AJP) is a 3D printing, advanced manufacturing process that generates an aerosol mist appropriate for fine printing small, low-volume electronic parts. The pneumatic aerosol jet printing technology’s virtual impactor is the focus of this study. In this technology, high velocity nitrogen gas aerosolizes various inks in the atomizer. The aerosolized stream of ink is then transported to a virtual impactor (VI) to become dense and concentrated as it begins to enter the deposition head for high precision electronics printing. AJP faces challenges in large-scale adoption due to challenges related to overspray, instability, ink clogging etc. There is …

The Pittsburg Micropolitan Area Economic Report, Quarter 1, 2025, Pittsburg State University, Gladys A. Kelce College Of Business

Pittsburg Micropolitan Reports

The Pittsburg Micropolitan Area Economic Report is created by the Business and Economic Research Center (BERC) at Pittsburg State University.

The Impacts Of Artificial Intelligence In Radiology, Misty Farmer, Wendy Trzyna

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: There has been significant growth in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the healthcare industry, especially in Medical Imaging. Radiology has been the clear frontrunner in the adoption of AI in medicine, due in part to the massive amount of digital data available for use in Deep Learning (DL) AI integration has the potential to solve multiple challenges in radiology, address workload issues and transform the field.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of the research was to evaluate the impact of implementing Artificial Intelligence in radiology to determine if these technologies have had an impact …

Addressing Student Behavior: A Hands-Off Approach, Eduard Anthony Van Osterom

Community Engagement Student Work

This policy analysis capstone project focuses on gathering secondary research to address physical violence students experience perpetrated by educators in K-12 public school communities. This research is compiled in hopes of raising awareness of a lack of federal protections. By collecting research focused on tenets of Liberation Education and contrasting it with common practices found in public schools, this policy analysis capstone compiles a supported call for continued research and federal protections preventing physical violence against students perpetrated by educators. Key findings support these calls through examining publications from global studies, associations, and K-12 public school policy analysis. This policy …

Carbon Capture Deployment In U.S. Upstream Oil Fields: Engineering Feasibility And National Impact, Rebecca Gaisie

Student Research Submissions

The upstream oil and gas sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, particularly from extraction and initial processing activities. As the country accelerates its climate action under the Inflation Reduction Act and Net-Zero 2050 targets, carbon capture and storage (CCS) is increasingly viewed as a critical pathway for emissions mitigation in fossil fuel operations. This study investigates the technical and economic feasibility of deploying CCS technologies in U.S. upstream oil fields, using case studies from ExxonMobil-operated sites in Wyoming and Texas. A techno-economic analysis is conducted to evaluate carbon capture potential, energy requirements, infrastructure …

A Survey-Based Quantitative Analysis Of Stress Factors And Their Impacts Among Cybersecurity Professionals, Sunil Arora, John D. Hastings

Research & Publications

This study investigates the prevalence and underlying causes of work-related stress and burnout among cybersecurity professionals using a quantitative survey approach guided by the Job Demands-Resources model. Analysis of responses from 50 cybersecurity practitioners reveals an alarming reality: 44% report experiencing severe work-related stress and burnout, while an additional 28% are uncertain about their condition. The demanding nature of cybersecurity roles, unrealistic expectations, and unsupportive organizational cultures emerge as primary factors fueling this crisis. Notably, 66% of respondents perceive cybersecurity jobs as more stressful than other IT positions, with 84% facing additional challenges due to the pandemic and recent high-profile …

School Level Patterns In Student Engagement In Illinois’ Career And Technical Education Pathways: Exploring Patterns Between Enrollment And Postsecondary Matriculation In Three Pathways, Nikolas C. Butenhoff

Dissertations of Practice

This dissertation examined the relationship between high school career and technical education (CTE) program enrollment and postsecondary enrollments. It also examines current demographic enrollment trends within CTE programs. There were two objectives for this research. The first was to gather information that may be used to determine whether CTE programs are preparing students for careers in middle skill job areas like health sciences, information technology, and manufacturing. The other was to gain data to determine whether student tracking occurs for students enrolling in these programs.

This quantitative study examined CTE programs in traditional high schools in the state of Illinois …

Science Identity Development Among Minoritized Students In Professional Stem Student Organizations: A Basic Qualitative Study, Michaela Friedrichova Holtz

Dissertations of Practice

Despite national efforts to broaden participation in STEM, underrepresented minoritized (URM) students continue to face systemic barriers to persistence and degree completion. While many intervention programs focus on academic preparedness, less is known about the role of co-curricular experiences—specifically professional STEM student organizations—in shaping science identity, a key predictor of persistence and success. This qualitative study explored how involvement in race- and gender-based STEM student organizations at a public research university in the Midwest influenced URM students’ science identity development, persistence in STEM majors, and career aspirations. Using the science identity framework developed in 2007 by Carlone and Johnson, semi-structured …

Why Do Teachers Stay Or Leave?: The Relationship Of Administrative Support, Peer Perceptions, Satisfaction Of Salary And Student Behavior On The Big Career Decision, Thomas Kanwischer

Dissertations of Practice

This study explores the impact of teacher retention on the education system and possible reasons that teachers decide to leave. Exploring working conditions of salary satisfaction, student behavior, administrative support and peer perceptions, this study draws correlations between these conditions to see the impact on a teacher's decision to stay or leave. The results of this study help build a picture of the complex decision-making process that a teacher may go through in their career to stay or leave the profession. This information can be used to inform districts, boards, administrators and unions to build policy and practice that is …

Constructing A Strong Foundation On Which To Build: Skillsusa Illinois Apprenticeship And Work-Based Learning Landscape Analysis, Jason Klein, Brian Richard, Jennifer Foil

Reports, Whitepapers, Articles, and Other Publications

At the request of SkillsUSA Illinois, a research team composed of experts with both research and practical experience from the Illinois P-20 Network and the Workforce Policy Lab at Northern Illinois University’s (NIU) Center for Governmental Studies conducted a comprehensive landscape analysis. This effort, part of the NIU P-20 Research and Data Collaborative, examined the state of apprenticeships, internships, and work-based learning across various industries and communities throughout Illinois.

Impulsivity And Investment Risks: A Behavioral-Economic Analysis Of Magnitude Effects In Decision-Making, Samuel C. Latty

Psychology

Human decision making involves weighing probabilistic outcomes and uncertainty alongside the magnitude of potential gains and losses. Delay discounting refers to a perceived decline in the present value of a reward as the delay to acquisition increases. Impulsivity can be reflected by an individual's preference for smaller, immediate reward compared to larger, delayed reward. Experimental manipulation of tasks such as the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) have been introduced to evaluate individual sensitivity to risk in monetary decision-making scenarios. In the current study, we compared two versions of the IGT, one with original magnitudes and one with high magnitudes. We proposed …

Faculty Convocation Program 2025, Seton Hall University

Faculty Convocation Programs

No abstract provided.

On The Gumbel-Weibull{Cauchy} Distribution, Jennifer D. Pippin

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Developing new statistical distributions and seeking higher flexibility in modeling different shapes of data remain a strong emphasis in research. The T-R{Y } framework, introduced in [3], utilizes three statistical distributions in order to generate a new distribution. Many research papers appeared in literature to develop distributions based on the T-R{Y } framework. In this thesis, a member of the T-R{Y } framework, namely the Gumbel-Weibull{Cauchy} (GWC), is introduced. Statistical properties of the GWC are studied, such as the quantile function, the hazard function, transformations, Shannon entropy, the …

2024 Celebration Of Faculty Scholars Condensed Program, University Of Northern Colorado Libraries

Celebration of Faculty Scholars

The Office of the Provost, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, and University Libraries are proud to host the fourth annual Celebration of Faculty Scholars. This year, we recognize the achievements of 272 faculty, who have contributed over 1,000 publications, presentations, and creative works, and secured more than $6,000,000 in grant funding in 2024.

Quality Control: How School Districts Define, Recruit, And Retain High-Quality Teachers, A Qualitative Case Study, Tandalaya White

Dissertations of Practice

This research investigates how school administrators define, recruit, and retain highquality teachers and examines the implications of these efforts on student outcomes. Emphasizing the distinction between teacher quality: skills, abilities, and dispositions and teacher qualifications: certificates, degrees, and credentials, the study explores their overlap and importance in meeting the unique needs of districts, particularly in high-needs areas such as English as a second language (ESL) and special education. The presence or absence of such teachers critically impacts academic performance and social-emotional development, disproportionately affecting students of color and those in impoverished areas. Inadequate practices may contribute to the misidentification of …

A Qualitative Examination Of Multilingual Latino Students’ Perspectives Of Their Educational Journeys In Preparation For Careers In Stem, Rebecca S. Powers

Dissertations of Practice

This qualitative study examines the perspectives of six bilingual Latino students regarding their experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses in high school, and how these experiences influenced their decision to pursue STEM careers. Using Norton-Peirce's investment theory as a theoretical framework along with Gay’s culturally responsive pedagogy, the study explores how participants' identities, social and cultural capital, and ideologies interact with their educational experiences.

The findings reveal that family involvement, bilingual mentors, and students' funds of knowledge played a crucial role in their academic success and career choice. However, participants also faced significant challenges, including: segregation, negative …

Reimagining Traditional Education Through Humanizing Models Of Personalized Learning: Examining Implementation In The Midwest, Laura R. Garland

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

REIMAGINING TRADITIONAL EDUCATION THROUGH HUMANIZING MODELS OF PERSONALIZED LEARNING: EXAMINING IMPLEMENTATION IN THE MIDWEST

Laura Garland, EdD

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Northern Illinois University, 2025

Michael Manderino, Director

This qualitative document analysis, supported by semi-structured interviews, investigated the ways in which three Midwestern, K-12 public school districts implemented humanizing models of personalized learning, as a method of shifting from a traditional, teacher-centered instructional paradigm to a learner-centered one. Additionally, it sought to identify how the pedagogical attributes employed in participant districts explicitly and implicitly aligned with humanizing pedagogies. Participant districts were chosen based on their relationship with the …

Devising Optimized Maize Nitrogen Stress Indices In Complex Field Conditions From Uav Hyperspectral Imagery, Jiating Li, Yufeng Ge, Laila A. Puntel, Derek M. Heeren, Geng Bai, Guillermo R. Balboa, John A. Gamon, Timothy J. Arkebauer, Yeyin Shi

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Nitrogen Sufficiency Index (NSI) is an important nitrogen (N) stress indicator for precision N management. It is usually calculated using variables such as leaf chlorophyll meter readings (SPAD) and vegetation indices (VIs). However, no consensus has been reached on the most preferred variable. Additionally, conventional NSI (NSI_uni) calculation assumes N being the sole yield-limiting factor, neglecting other factors such as soil water variability. To tackle these issues, this study compared various variables for NSI calculation and evaluated two new N stress indicators in minimizing the impact of confounding water treatment. The following ground- and aerial-derived variables were compared …

Proficiency And Positivity: Investigating Learner Affect Toward L2 Instructional Methods, Learner Goals, And L2 Success, Natalie Spiva

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Second language (L2) learning outcomes vary widely due to factors both internal and external to the learner, including learning and usage contexts and learner goals and motivations. Learners may feel more proficient in and positive towards an L2 if they have intrinsic motivation and positive experience with the L2. Many students in the United States are first exposed to an L2 later in life as an academic requirement, which often impedes L2 learning success and can limit the learner’s relationship with the L2 and related cultures. Because of the highly interconnected global society, investigating the experiences of today’s language learners …

Effects Of Regulations On Digital Asset Prices: Evidence From The Counter-Strike Game Series, John Logan Stewart

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Counter-Strike 2 are first-person-shooter video games in which players can own cosmetics for their weapons, known as “skins”. These skins can be traded, bought, or sold through various means. This study seeks to examine the effects of a regulation implemented by developers of the game which banned the sale and trade of a common tax-free medium of exchange (case keys) for these skins and seeks to classify them as either a utility-based collectible or purely a digital commodity like cryptocurrencies. Using a novel and expansive panel data set gathered from the Steam Market and econometric models …

The Influence Of Sustainable Lighting On Modern Structures And The Methods Used To Bring Artistic Elements To The Forefront Of Sustainable Lighting Design, Abigail Abrams

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Sustainability in architecture is a broad subject in the discipline that has been gaining popularity across the globe for the past three decades. While sustainable technologies are heavily researched, more specific methods in which sustainability blends within a building are infrequently studied. In particular, the way sustainability is integrated into the lighting design of buildings is a topic receiving limited study from architects and researchers alike. This paper and project explore the methods modern architects use in establishing a design-centered lighting system throughout a building that reflects a new age of building materials, sustainable technology, and construction practices. Using architectural …

The Effects Of The Replication Crisis Instruction On Skepticism, Ericka Hoppes

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Over the past decade, there has been growing concern regarding the Replication Crisis in psychology. The crisis has called into question the credibility of psychological research by highlighting the field’s difficulty in reproducing findings (Open Science Collaboration, 2015), as well as the prevalence of questionable research practices amongst psychologists (e.g., p-hacking, falsifying data, incomplete reporting of measures, etc.). Given that the crisis presents psychological research through a critical lens, learning about the aspects of the crisis can be a useful pedagogical tool for helping students develop a healthy sense of skepticism regarding scientific studies. The present study investigated how teaching …

Perceptions Of Teachers, Administrators And Counselors On The Adaptation And Integration Of Social Emotional Learning Standards In Academic Settings, Meva Black Rhooms

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study aims to explore the perceptions of teachers, administrators, and counselors on the definition, adaptation, and integration of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) within Mae Wright School District. The district’s commitment to educating the whole child has prompted efforts to incorporate SEL into the academic and social environments. Through semi-structured interviews, this study examines how teachers, administrators, and counselors define SEL and their perceptions on the adaptation and integration of SEL standards in academic settings.. Findings reveal diverse interpretations of SEL, with varying levels of support and understanding among participants. Teachers highlighted the need for practical strategies, while administrators …

Challenges In Numerical Simulation Of Frost Heave, Antai Dong, Xiong Zhang

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Frost heave of soil extensively exists in northern regions and poses a significant threat to infrastructure in cold regions. Despite over a century of research, challenges persist in numerically simulating frost heave. This study addresses two key issues: (1) What is the primary driving force for liquid water transfer during the freezing process? (2) How can we correctly represent unfrozen water content? Critical insights are derived from the theoretical analysis of coupled hydrothermal migration during soil freezing processes, followed by a case simulation using COMSOL Multiphysics. It concludes that of the water content gradient, suction gradient, and hydraulic gradient, only …

Undergraduate Catalog Of Studies, University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Undergraduate Catalog of Studies

No abstract provided.

2024 San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative Annual Report, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative is a network for public agencies that serves the San Diego region to share expertise, leverage resources and advance comprehensive solutions to facilitate climate change planning. By partnering with academia, nonprofits, and businesses, the SDRCC also works to leverage the profile of regional leadership. This is the 2024 San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative Annual Report.

A Landscape Analysis Of Civic And Community Engagement In Community Colleges, Carrie Kisker, Carol Cutler White, Stephanie King, Janet Johnson, Will Bowlin

CoE Publications

Providing opportunities for civic learning and democratic engagement has been central to the community college mission for over 100 years. This report presents findings from the 2024 AmeriCorps Civic Engagement among Community Colleges Project (ACECCP) survey, highlighting the ways and extent to which community colleges demonstrate an intentional commitment to civic and community engagement, illustrating how they incorporate this intentionality into curricular and co-curricular structures, and identifying the barriers and challenges that may preclude some colleges from engaging more fully in their civic mission. The report offers recommendations for future research on the positive impacts of community colleges in their …

Influence Of Biochar On Rooting And Establishment Of Chamaecyparis And Thuga Species, Megan Mudd

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study investigated the effects of biochar amendment on the rooting and establishment of evergreen propagules, thus addressing the critical need for improved nutrient use efficiency and water retention in containerized substrates within the horticulture and floriculture industry. Biochar, a product of biomass pyrolysis, offers promising potential due to its high porosity and surface area, which contribute to enhanced soil fertility and water retention. Two experiments were conducted, one in a greenhouse and the other in a cold frame, using cuttings from Chamaecyparis obtusa, Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Vintage Gold’, and Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald Green’. Treatments included varying percentages of biochar …

Analysis Of Computational Approaches To Cognitive Diagnosis, Andrew Toussaint

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Access to good education is crucial to the well-being of individuals as well as communities. Recent technological advancements in the field of computer science show promise of generating precise descriptions of student cognitive states regarding specified knowledge concepts through a process called cognitive diagnosis. This can facilitate the creation of more targeted lesson plans and more personalized educational software. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of four computerized cognitive diagnosis models. The models include three existing models: Item Response Theory, Neural Cognitive Diagnosis, Knowledge Association Neural Cognitive Diagnosis, and a proposed model, Concept Agnostic Knowledge Evaluation, which was used …