Digital Commons Network^™

Cognitive Apprenticeship Strategies For The Media Literacy Classroom, Nate Floyd, Jaclyn Spraetz

Communications in Information Literacy

Inspired by the apprenticeship model of teaching and learning, two instructors report on their efforts to place current events at the center of a semester-long media and information literacy course. They discuss strategies to harness curiosity about contemporary topics (e.g., misinformation, climate change, algorithms, right-to-repair, blockchain, artificial intelligence, etc.), and create engagement-driven course content. The paper provides concrete examples of activities and assignments used to situate learning in real-world contexts and build students' confidence in navigating information independently. This case study offers insights for other educators seeking to apply cognitive apprenticeship principles to media and information literacy instruction.

Building On Strengths: A Collaborative, Asset-Focused Approach To Teaching Critical Information Literacy Skills, Rebecca B. Penrose, Kristi J. Chavez

Communications in Information Literacy

This article showcases an instructor–librarian collaborative model for teaching critical information literacy (CIL) skills in a higher education course by incorporating interactive workshops into a sequence of required course assignments. Using an asset-focused design, this assignment sequence allows students to first demonstrate their existing research strategies and then evaluate those strategies during workshop activities, applying the CIL principles they are learning. In this way, the approach recognizes students’ existing strengths and builds upon them, while emphasizing self-reflection opportunities and an intentional research focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and representation. Results from our one-year study are also highlighted. The suggested instructional …

A Faculty Workshop On Developing Students As Discipline-Situated Researchers, William Badke, Elizabeth Kreiter, Qinqin Zhang

Communications in Information Literacy

The reference librarians of Trinity Western University have a strong mission-driven commitment to teach information literacy, but there is a significant contrast between the amount of instruction they can provide and the demanding task of developing all students as skilled researchers. The growing teach-the-teacher model suggested an option to enlist faculty in providing a larger portion of information literacy instruction themselves. With strong support from academic administration, three librarians devised an initial faculty workshop as part of the university’s faculty professional development series, followed by four detailed weekly sessions. They based their activities on several factors: first, faculty members would …

Centering Relevance In Information Literacy Teaching And Learning, Anne Jumonville Graf

Communications in Information Literacy

The process of determining whether a source of information is relevant is multidimensional, dynamic, and subjective. This essay puts information science scholarship on relevance, including the process and nature of making relevance judgments, in conversation with models of teaching and learning information literacy. Teaching librarians are encouraged to recognize students’ relevance judgments as sites of reflection and instruction. This essay suggests a variety of ways librarians might do this, from re-thinking source evaluation methods to emphasizing the opportunities available at the source selection stage. The process of determining relevance is a practical site of reflective possibility and deserves greater attention …

Graduation Rates Of Students With Disabilities At A Participating Southern University, Kelly Mitchell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this non-experimental, correlational quantitative study was to compare the graduation rates of first-time, full-time students with disabilities to those of first-time, full-time students in the general population at the participating university. The sample used for analysis was full-time, first-time students entering between 2015 and 2020. Using archival data from the Disability Services database and the University's Banner system, four- and six-year graduation rates were compared. The original data set consisted of 22,070 students in the starting focus cohorts. After removing entering transfer students and students who enrolled in less than 15 credits for their entering semester, 8,337 …

Detecting Anomalies In Dynamic Attributed Graphs: An Unsupervised Learning Approach, Austin Hamilton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dynamic attributed graphs, which evolve over time and hold node-specific attributes, are essential in fields like social network analysis, where anomalous node detection is a growing area. Vehicular social networks (VSNs), a subset of these graphs, are ad hoc networks in which vehicles exchange data with one another and with infrastructure. In this dynamic context, identifying anomalous nodes is challenging but crucial for maintaining trust within the network. This work presents an unsupervised deep learning approach for anomalous node detection in VSNs. This model achieved an accuracy of 71% while detecting synthetic anomalies in a simulated network based on real-world …

Digital Storytelling Strategies For Viewer Engagement: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Youtube Videos By Nonprofit Healthcare Organizations, Maame Aba Afful

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As reliance on digital media and social media platforms such as YouTube increases, health organizations infuse rhetorical strategies to create memorable and impactful health-related videos to raise awareness and attract support. Nonprofit healthcare organizations use digital storytelling to communicate their impact. In this study, I conduct a rhetorical analysis of five digital storytelling videos shared on the YouTube pages of nonprofit healthcare organizations to: identify how the videos leverage rhetorical appeals, point-of-view (POV), and metadata; and discuss how such strategies might influence viewer engagement or brand objectives. My findings suggest that nonprofit healthcare organizations integrate positive and negative emotional appeals …

Landslide Inventory And Unstable Slope Monitoring Along Highways In Eastern Tennessee, Robert Mcsweeney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research introduces an unstable slope management program (USMP) for Tennessee based on federal slope management standards, along with improved methods for landslide monitoring with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) lidar and photogrammetry. In mountainous regions, monitoring slope hazards is a critical function of transportation management. A mobile field assessment form created with Survey123 was used to collect 22 unstable slope ratings in eastern Tennessee. Location points were appended with photographs, notes, and site information. Landslide scores ranged from 325 (Fair) to 1005 (Poor). UAS monitoring of a slow-moving soil landslide along I-40 near Rockwood, TN, produced high-resolution lidar and photogrammetry …

Investigating Phytosulfokine Trafficking: Insights Into The Role Of Phytohormones In Plant Signaling, Martin Tindi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phytosulfokine is a critical signaling peptide involved in plant growth, development, and stress responses. This thesis investigates the trafficking mechanisms of Phytosulfokine (PSK) in Arabidopsis thaliana, employing fluorescently labelled PSK for non-destructive imaging using a custom-built fiber-optic fluorescence microscope. The study aims to determine the mobility and fate of PSK in plant tissues. Experimental results reveal the short-range and long-range movement of PSK across leaves. Additionally, the project highlights the optimization of non-destructive imaging techniques and the synthesis of caged dexamethasone to facilitate optogenetic studies. These findings provide new insights into PSK trafficking mechanisms in plants, enhancing our understanding …

Extracting Permittivity And Permeability Using The Position-Insensitive And Calibration-Independent Method On A Rectangular Waveguide, James Conrad Denemark

Theses and Dissertations

Classic methods for extracting material characteristics require known measurements to accurately calibrate the network analyzer. Previous work demonstrated a position-insensitive and calibration-independent (PiCi) transmission/reflection method to extract a material’s permittivity. This thesis proposes a method with the same function, manipulated to use one empty measurement and then two samples of different thicknesses. The PiCi method is first adopted for rectangular waveguide which resulted in inaccurate permittivity data when compared to the calibrated solution. Once detector mismatch corrections were applied, the PiCi method produced accurate results. Using a 2-D numerical root search, permittivity and permeability material characteristics are now successfully extracted …

The Impact Of Benevolent Sexism On Evaluations Of Female Leaders, Daniella A. Lockhart

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of benevolent sexism beliefs on evaluations of female leadership candidates in hiring decisions, as well as the moderating effects of occupational gender composition and the gender of the comparison candidate. While seemingly positive, benevolent sexism subtly reinforces traditional gender roles by portraying women as warm but less competent, particularly in leadership roles where competence is crucial. The data in this study was collected from 146 participants via an online questionnaire using MTurk and snowball sampling. Aligning with previous research on gender bias, results indicated that benevolent sexism negatively impacts perceptions of competence and warmth, especially …

Digital Footprint Management: Youth And Social Media On Protecting Your Online Identity And Reputation, Jorge Aguiar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Fifty percent (50%) of youth between the ages of 8 and 17 have been discovered to use the internet and social media services on a daily basis. This (50%) also demonstrates the rising issues between digital footprints, cyberbullying, and cybercrime rates against these types of youth. It was discovered that youths, between the ages of 8 and 17 years old, are savvy with technology, based on gender, grade, and socioeconomic status, but also lack the awareness of their own digital footprint and how to manage it. Researchers have discovered that issuing cybersecurity awareness school lesson plans and parental controls may …

Personalities Of Victims: A Look Into What Makes The Human Mind More Susceptible To Social Engineering, Matthew Ulloa

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Social engineering is a frequent attack used to steal information from victims. This attack has plagued businesses worldwide for many years and continues to get worse every year as it deals with the human aspect of cyber security, something often ignored in cyberspace. Humans have been deemed as the weakest link in cyber security. Previous researchers have taken it upon themselves to discover links between the human mind and social engineering. This graduate research paper was conducted on the foundation of these research papers, based on the Five Factor Model of Personalities (FFM) and susceptibility to social engineering. This research …

Assessing Khumbu Region Glaciers Mass Balance Change Using Geospatial Techniques From 2012 To 2024, Yashvi Jagatbhai Shah

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya are critical for sustaining the water supply of South Asia's major rivers, upon which over 230 million people, both in the mountainous regions and lowland areas, depend. Climate change is driving rapid glaciers melt near the summit of Mount Everest, located at an elevation of approximately 7,906 meters (25,938 feet). This has resulted in glacier thinning occurring up to 80 times faster than the original ice formation. However, due to their disposition in a complex topographic setting and inaccessible terrain, continuous glacier observations pose significant challenges.

This study evaluated the mass balance of …

The Practical Adoption And Application Of Blockchain Technology Within The Beverage Industry, Alexander Adams Jr

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Abstract

The beverage industry is facing heightened scrutiny as the demand for transparency and accountability reaches new heights. In the age of information technology, companies must prioritize enhanced traceability to ensure product safety, comply with government regulations, maintain customer trust, and protect brand integrity. This thesis explores the potential of blockchain technology as a solution to these challenges, focusing on its ability to decentralize data, improve traceability, and expedite response times during safety recalls. The research provides an overview of the evolution of food safety regulations, beginning with the first establishment by Upland Sinclair, and examines current traceability practices and …

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Vidhya Lakshmi Jeevarathinam

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis requires an integrative approach that combines behavioral, biomedical, and computational methodologies for enhanced accuracy. This study introduces a comprehensive framework that employs machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques alongside linear regression to model relationships between behavioral traits, biomedical markers, and ASD likelihood. Behavioral inputs, such as social interaction patterns, repetitive behaviors, and communication characteristics, are analyzed using linear regression to identify significant predictors of ASD. Simultaneously, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is trained on image datasets to detect visual cues, such as facial expressions, associated with ASD. Advanced techniques, including transfer learning and …

Unraveling Phytosulfokine Trafficking In Arabidopsis Thaliana Using Fiber-Optic Fluorescence Microscopy, Issaka Obuaba

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As sessile organisms, plants manage stress through complex signaling networks involving phytohormones such as phytosulfokine (PSK). PSK, a disulfated pentapeptide, regulates plant growth, development, and stress responses by interacting with specific PSK receptors (PSKRs). In this study, we explored the trafficking dynamics of PSK, its post-application fate, and the synthesis of an analog. We administered both native PSK and a fluorescent version tagged with TAMRA (5(6)-carboxytetramethylrhodamine) to various Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes, including wild type, a PSKR-deficient mutant, and a strain overexpressing PSKR1 tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP) over the wild-type background. Fiber-optic fluorescence microscopy revealed that receptor presence influences …

Uniting Science And Society: The Role Of Leadership Studies, Scientific, And Political Leaders In Combating Science Polarization, Kathryn E. Reda

Interdisciplinary Journal of Leadership Studies

This commentary discusses the recent political polarization of scientific research and how this polarization threatens the neutrality of science in American society. It contends further that leadership studies, along with scientific studies, have become a contentious battleground themselves, particularly on topics like climate change, energy policy, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This is exacerbated by mass media misinformation and declining public trust. Science polarization poses a significant challenge for leadership as it erodes informed decision making, making it crucial for leaders to bridge rather than deepen ideological divides. Leadership studies as a discipline has a responsibility to explore the causes of …

Creating Near Real-Time Alerts Of Illegal Gold Mining In The Peruvian Amazon Using Synthetic Aperture Radar, Milagros Becerra, Lucio Villa, Andréa Puzzi Nicolau, Kelsey E. Herndon, Sidney Novoa, Vanesa Martín-Arias, Karen Dyson, Kaitlin Walker, Karis Tenneson, David Saah

Student Publications [Scholarly]

Peru's Southeastern Amazon deforestation trends can be attributed to alluvial gold mining. Illegal mining occurring in forestry concessions, national parks, and the territories of Indigenous People Organizations is of particular concern. We present a methodology to create near real-time alerts of deforestation caused by alluvial gold mining. A time series of Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data from February to December 2022 is created in Google Earth Engine (GEE) and assessed using Morton Canty's Omnibus Q-test change detection algorithm. Resulting detections are validated with high-resolution optical imagery from Planet NICFI's monthly basemaps and Planet Scope daily imagery. The alerts identify …

Clusteredlog: Optimizing Log Structures For Efficient Data Recovery And Integrity Management In Database Systems, Mariha Siddika Ahmad, Brajendra Panda

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

In modern database systems, efficient log management is crucial for ensuring data integrity and facilitating swift recovery from potential data corruption or system failures. Traditional log structures, which store operations sequentially as they occur, often lead to significant delays in accessing and recovering specific data objects due to their scattered nature across the log. ClusteredLog addresses the limitations of traditional logging methods by implementing a novel logical organization of log entries. Instead of simply storing operations sequentially, it groups related operations for each data item into clusters. As a result, ClusteredLog enables faster identification and recovery of damaged data items …

Understanding Mental Health Awareness And Knowledge Of Flight Instructors, Eric Michael Buteau

Theses and Dissertations

Mental health has become an increasing concern in the aviation industry, with pilots often withholding health information for fear of losing their medical certification. Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs), who interact closely with students, are in a unique position to recognize and address mental health crises but lack sufficient training in this area. This study examines CFIs' awareness, knowledge, comfort, and willingness to engage with mental health issues in aviation. A survey was distributed to CFIs at a large aviation university. Survey results revealed no significant correlation between years of experience and knowledge or comfort with mental health topics. However, a …

Parp1 Modulates Gata3-Mediated Gene Regulation In Breast Cancer, Mikhala Cooper

Theses and Dissertations

In eukaryotic cells, chromatin acts as a physical barrier for many transcription factors, preventing them from efficiently binding to their recognition sequences within the nucleosome. Pioneer factors are a class of transcription factors that bind to nucleosomes and activate silent chromatin. Pioneer factors are frequently involved in various immune cell pathways, tissue development, and homeostasis, thereby underscoring their important roles in development and disease. Previous research found that pioneer factors have at least three fundamental properties: 1) they can interact with their cognate recognition sequences before transcription activation, 2) they can increase local chromatin accessibility, and 3) they have integral …

Advisor Impacts On Student Learning In Undergraduate Engineering Sae Competition Projects, Sam Ertl

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the effects of advisor characteristics on student learning in large scale undergraduate engineering project competitions. A survey was conducted to measure statistical significance between student ratings of their advisors and student ratings of their learning in key skill areas. Additional items measured include demographics and project characteristics which allowed for additional analyses. The purpose of this study was to identify areas of improvement for project advisors to advance the learning potential for student participants. The survey was distributed in an online format to students participating in five SAE University Program projects. Collected data was analyzed using Kendall’s …

An Investigation Into The Corrosivity Of Hydrocarbon Well Produced Water, Lucas James Jerylo

Theses and Dissertations

Produced water has been the largest byproduct of oil and gas production since the inception of the industry. Historically, very little concern was exhibited over what was done with this water. In recent decades, environmental concern has increased oversight on what happens to this produced water. Produced water is injected into deep formations, but this volume is limited due to concerns over seismic activity spawned from this practice. Produced water can be recycled in agricultural and municipal industries but it must first undergo a time-consuming and expensive cleaning process. This has turned oil and gas operators to utilizing this water …

Rational Design Of Engineered Soft Materials For Mineral Scale Control: Synthesis, Characterization, And Performance Evaluation, Nadhem Ismail

Theses and Dissertations

Inorganic crystallization, referred to as mineral scaling, have been posing tremendous operational challenges to water-based industries over the years. Multiple recent initiatives have focused on developing sustainable and highly effective antiscalants/scale inhibitors; however, most of the investigated antiscalants have demonstrated low scaling ion tolerance and unknown scale inhibitor-mineral crystal interaction. Engineered soft materials, particularly Quantum Dots (QDs) and biopolymer-based formulations, are among the most desirable solutions since they both solve critical environmental issues and offer insights into the inhibition mechanism. This dissertation reports on the development and performance evaluation of three distinct soft materials-based formulations; Carboxyl-Silicon Quantum Dots (CSiQDs), Carboxymethylcellulose …

Numerical Simulation And Assessment Of Underground Blue Hydrogen Storage In Depleted Gas Reservoir, Abraham Kazala

Theses and Dissertations

Nowadays, the world needs more energy than ever before. This need emphasizes that the world also requires a sustainable system that can meet these growing demands while addressing the overall impact on the environment. For this reason, the international community, including all levels of environmental policymakers, have shown a great deal of concern about the tremendous negative effects of fossil fuels on the globe. The impact of carbon dioxide as a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) from burning fossil fuels on the ozone layer and what it entails in global warming and, therefore, climate change has motivated research on finding either alternatives …

Developing Inclusive Practices Through Peer Coaching In College Science Teaching, Briana Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Historically underrepresented students pursuing STEM majors encounter systemic barriers. Students are more likely to experience success when faculty implement inclusive practices. Faculty often lack the pedagogical training necessary to adopt inclusive practices, further perpetuating inequities. To eliminate barriers and offer equitable opportunities for success in STEM majors, this case study explores the implementation of peer coaching and Culturally Relevant Science Teaching (CRST) in college level science teaching, focusing on the experiences of three participating faculty. Through a year-long professional development (PD) cycle, three science faculty members from a small liberal arts college engaged in reflective practices aimed at improving their …

The Reservoir Geomechanics And Production Effects On Permafrost Stability During Polymer Eor, Shane S. Namie

Theses and Dissertations

The North Slope of Alaska (ANS) contains an estimated 40 billion barrels of heavy oil in relatively shallow formations (984 to 1,969 ft / 304 to 600 m) within the Prudhoe Bay Unit (PBU), Milne Point Unit (MPU) and Kuparuk River Unit (KRU). Extracting this resource presents unique challenges, especially when hydrocarbon-bearing zones are near the permafrost. Research on tertiary recovery processes in these shallow zones is limited, with prior studies indicating minor permafrost thawing and subsidence over 30 to 40 years but lacking a numerical simulation model supported by laboratory data.This study investigates the feasibility of an enhanced oil …

Techno-Economic Analysis Of Biogas Utilization In Refuse Power Plants, Marco Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

As the energy industry shifts towards a heavier priority on decreasing the environmental impact caused by power plants, an innovation that repurposes existing coal processing facilities has been in high demand. A Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) that focuses on transporting and co-firing biogas, a renewable fuel obtainable from landfills or through anaerobic digestion, with waste coal, which is a source of pollution in need of remediation, has been conducted to evaluate the benefits of net-negative carbon emissions. ASPEN Plus V14 simulations were constructed and utilized to aid the process estimation for the proposed power plant designs. The Levelized Cost of Electricity …

Petrophysical And Geomechanical Alterations During Supercritical Co2 Submerge: Laboratory Testing On Samples From The Middle Bakken, Ruichong Ni

Theses and Dissertations

The promising strategy of CO2 capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) aims to reduce CO2 emissions and tackle the pressing problem of global warming. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of changes in petrophysical and geomechanical characteristics in assessing target formations' capacity to sequester CO2. Permeability is one of these characteristics that is essential to the movement of CO2 inside rock formations and has a direct effect on how well CO2 is sequestered. Existing methods calculate permeability by using effective stress, but they have made unpractical assumptions that the effective stress coefficient could be stable or gradually increase after CO2 exposure. …