The Coping Of Special Education Directors In The Western United States, Emily Mrazek Jones

Dissertations

The special education director in a school district has a wide-reaching role. Directors rely on extensive knowledge of educational law, instruction, child development, employee supervision, school finance, and more to positively impact the education of students with disabilities. Due to the extensive nature of the role, the practice of special education administration has been found to be stressful, and many practitioners experience burnout. Thus far, research has explored the nature of the role, the reasons for special education director stress, and directors’ preferences on surveys of positive coping strategies, but has not stepped back to ask the directors how they …

Culturally Responsive Functional Communication Training For Asian Families: A Single-Subject Design Study, Guofeng Shen

Dissertations

Children with disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID), frequently experience challenges related to social communication and are at increased risk of exhibiting challenging behaviors (CBs), particularly when they lack effective means to express their needs and desires. Functional communication training (FCT) is an evidence-based intervention shown to reduce CBs by teaching functional communication skills. However, limited research has explored the use of culturally responsive adaptations of FCT (CRFCT), particularly in the context of training parents from culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse backgrounds. This study addressed this gap by examining the effects of culturally responsive FCT …

Exploring The Use Of Culturally And Linguistically Responsive Practices Within The Multi-Tiered System Of Support (Mtss) Framework When Supporting Students With Disabilities At A Dual Language Immersion School, Sylvia Simmons

Dissertations

The integration of culturally and linguistically responsive practices (CLRP) within the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework has been recognized as a promising method for improving learning opportunities for diverse students. However, little to no research has been conducted on the intersection of CLRP within the MTSS framework to support students with disabilities in dual language immersion schools (DLI). This lack of research has posed challenges for educators seeking effective strategies to support diverse learners with disabilities in such settings. Therefore, the purposes of this qualitative case study were to (a) explore how a dual language immersion school utilizes the …

0525, Evelyn Chow, Special Collections, Fleet Library

12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest 2026

Entry for the 12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest. Opening reception and award ceremony Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 6:30pm, Fleet Library, 1st Floor Main Reading Room. Juror: Gabrielle Reed.

Happy Meal, Abigail Yang, Special Collections, Fleet Library

12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest 2026

Entry for the 12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest. Opening reception and award ceremony Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 6:30pm, Fleet Library, 1st Floor Main Reading Room. Juror: Gabrielle Reed.

“Wu Fu Lin Men” (Five Blessings Arrive), Emma Hsieh, Special Collections, Fleet Library

12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest 2026

Entry for the 12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest. Opening reception and award ceremony Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 6:30pm, Fleet Library, 1st Floor Main Reading Room. Juror: Gabrielle Reed.

The Menu, Tonya Lin, Special Collections, Fleet Library

12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest 2026

Entry for the 12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest. Opening reception and award ceremony Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 6:30pm, Fleet Library, 1st Floor Main Reading Room. Juror: Gabrielle Reed.

Wearable Triboelectric Nanogenerators Based Sensors For Human Cardiovascular Monitoring: Progress And Perspectives, Mashrufa Akther, Andrea K. Quezada, Md. Arafat Hossain, Julia I. Salas, Md. Mahmud Alam, Mohammed Jasim Uddin

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Cardiovascular conditions remain the leading cause of death worldwide, driving a critical need for non-invasive, continuous, and dependable health monitoring results. Triboelectric nanogenerators have emerged as a groundbreaking technology enabling self-powered wearable sensors that convert natural biomechanical energy, such as heartbeat, pulse wave, and body motion, into electrical signals. The paper reviews the recent progress and development in TENG-based wearable sensors for cardiovascular monitoring, with a focus on monitoring particular and clinical healthcare. The working principles, advanced materials, structural designs, and integration with wireless data transmission, machine literacy, and bio-signal processing technologies are explored in this article. Operations, including heart …

Student Engagement In High School Mathematics Blended Learning Classrooms, Therese A. Rinehart

Dissertations

Engagement is a student’s interest, participation, and motivation in the learning process and is a cornerstone of success in the classroom. The COVID-19 Pandemic overturned the traditional classroom, making the task of fostering engagement nearly impossible. Although pandemic-related research has largely focused on mental health and academic achievement, less attention has been given to instructional models promoting engagement in remote learning environments. Self-directed learning (SDL) is one model offering students digital autonomy and access to teachers and peers. This study examined the longitudinal data of student perceptions of their engagement through the COVID-19 Pandemic at an alternative high school and …

How Secondary Online Teachers Perceive And Implement Executive Function Strategies In Online Classrooms: A Qualitative Case Study, Erin M. Hall

Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored how secondary online teachers perceive and implement executive function (EF) strategies in fully asynchronous online learning environment. Grounded in the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework and the Unity and Diversity Model of Executive Function, the study examined how instructional practices support cognitive flexibility, working memory, and inhibitory control. Data were collected through interviews, a focus group, and artifacts submitted by eleven secondary online teachers. Using iterative thematic analysis, four key findings emerged: (1) teachers used intentional scaffolding strategies- such as modeling, pacing tools, and checklists to support EF development; (2) they emphasized shifting cognitive responsibility …

Using The Time We Have: Exploring Collaborative Instructional Planning For 8th Grade Georgia Studies In A Title I School, Bambara Timmerman

Dissertations

Teacher collaboration in middle schools is often emphasized in educational research and policy, yet content-specific collaboration, specifically for Georgia Studies (GAS), remains underexplored. This participatory qualitative case study explored how middle school GAS teachers perceive the influence of collaborative planning on their self-efficacy, the obstacles they face when attempting to collaborate, and what they perceive would foster a culture that supports ongoing collaborative planning. Grounded in constructivist theory, including social learning theory, situated learning, and social constructivism, this study focused on teachers in a rural Title I middle school. Data collection included demographic questionnaires, interviews, observations, document analysis, and researcher …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Administrators, Teachers, And School Personnel With Justice-Involved Students, Kandra Cosby

Dissertations

This hermeneutic phenomenological research study examined the experiences of six educational professionals, including administrators, teachers, and support staff, as they supported justice-involved students in their reintegration into traditional public schools. The study was based on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, Hirschi’s social control theory, and Glasser’s choice theory. Semistructured interviews were used and revealed six themes: (a) fighting systems while trying to serve students, (b) relationships as safety nets, (c) protecting students from the stigma of judgment, (d) fighting bureaucratic silos, (e) philosophy wars in action, and (f) seeing the whole child. The findings indicated successful reintegration was less connected to …

Teacher Leadership And Specially Designed Instruction: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Teacher Leaders And Special Education Teachers In Elementary Settings, Tangie M. Rahming

Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of teacher leaders and special education teachers as they implemented Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) in elementary school settings. Despite SDI being a federally mandated component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), research consistently shows wide variation in how teachers interpret, deliver, and sustain SDI in real classrooms. Limited professional development, inconsistent coaching structures, and varying understandings of SDI across schools contribute to persistent gaps in implementation fidelity. To address these challenges, this study explored how teacher leaders support SDI implementation and how special education teachers make meaning of their instructional …

Culturally Relevant Pedagogy In Teaching And Learning In High School Social Studies Curricula In Georgia: A Case Study, Sharon Ann Mcmeans-Lukiri

Dissertations

Despite increasing diversity within Georgia’s high school student population, it remains unclear to what extent social studies teachers incorporate Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP) in the planning and implementation of their instruction. Recent research indicates that many educators continue to struggle with developing effective instructional practices that meet the learning needs of students from vulnerable communities (Liasidou & Symeou, 2018). Students from these communities often experience lower academic achievement (Ladson-Billings, 2009), and when the curriculum fails to reflect or respond to their cultural backgrounds, they are more likely to disengage from school (Ladson-Billings, 2009). This gap between students’ cultural needs and …

A Phenomenographical Study Of Rural Teacher Retention Before, During, And After The Covid-10 Global Pandemic, Stacey Lb Collins

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This phenomenographical study investigated rural teachers’ perceptions regarding their decisions to remain teaching in rural areas, with attention to experiences before, during, and after the COVID-19 global pandemic. The research was guided by two questions: (1) What experiences do rural teachers perceive impact their decision to remain teaching in rural school systems before, during, and after the COVID-19 global pandemic? and (2) How do rural teachers perceive the role of school administrators in retaining teachers in rural systems, before, during, and after the COVID-19 global pandemic? Participants were teachers who served in rural districts prior to, during, and after …

Civics Teachers’ Perceptions Of Disciplinary Literacy Strategies That Use Primary Sources: A Case Study, Whitney Williams

Dissertations

This study has been designed as a case study to examine teachers’ perceptions of document-based strategies when combined with primary sources as pedagogical tools. The participants were ninth grade civics teachers. Semi-structured interviews, focused observations, and artifact collection were the sources of collected data. As the researcher, my constructivism guided this study through the lens of Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory (SCT). Therefore, the participants’ perception will be interpreted through SCT concepts such as personal influences, behavioral influences, and environmental influences. Findings show a handful of disciplinary literacy strategies that occurred most often across all participants. Teachers valued an emphasis …

Favorability Mapping For Hydrothermal Power Resource Assessments Of The Great Basin, Usa, Stanley P. Mordensky, Erick R. Burns, John Lipor, Jacob Deangelo

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Highlights

• • The new approach to predict hydrothermal resource favorability for the U.S. Great Basin is a synthesis of modern data-driven machine learning improvements from the last several years and predicts 85 % of power-producing systems with operating power plants in the most favorable 10 % of the total area with over half of the power-producing systems (10 of the 19 exposed power-producing systems and 5 of the 9 hidden power-producing systems) in the 99th percentile.
• • The new hydrothermal favorability map predicts both hidden and exposed power-producing hydrothermal systems equally well.
• • The new hydrothermal favorability map preferentially predicts …

Realization Of Deterministic Quantum Circuits For Non-Deterministic Or Incompletely Specified Quantum State Machines, Manjith Kumar, Marek Perkowski

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In classical logic design, there are machine learning methods based on converting a set of input-output traces to non-deterministic automata that are then converted to deterministic automata and synthesized using logic gates. This approach has not yet been extended to quantum automata. In this paper, we present a method to convert a set of input-output traces to a non-deterministic automaton, which is then converted to an incompletely specified multi-output Boolean function. The existing logic synthesis approaches for designing quantum circuits are insufficient to handle incompletely specified functions. So, we present a novel algorithm to synthesize logic functions with don’t cares …

Factors Affecting Diet Selection In Sheep Fed Endophyte-Infected Toxic Fescue, Jordan Thomas

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Tall fescue infected with endophyte‑producing fungi can induce fescue toxicosis in grazing ruminants, reducing performance and altering forage intake. Isoflavones—such as biochanin A, a major compound in red clover (Trifolium pratense)—have been proposed to mitigate these effects through improved palatability and vascular relaxation. This study examined whether inclusion of ground red clover (GRC)—either directly or combined with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)—affected voluntary diet selection in lambs offered toxic fescue.

Thirty‑two lambs were housed individually and assigned randomly to one of four diets: (1) toxic fescue silage (CONT), (2) silage + 5% GRC (RC5), (3) silage + 10% …

Establishment Of Native Warm-Season Forages Using Organic Practices, Kolten Ray Wright

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Grassland agriculture is seen as a particularly sustainable form of agriculture. Many opportunities are known to use organic production methods or incorporate native warm-season grasses (NWSG) to accomplish both production goals and environmental or social outcomes. Environmental concerns have led some practitioners to question the use of organic methods to establish NWSG. As limited work has been accomplished in the northern bermudagrass belt, this project sought to compare organic establishment strategies for common NWSG species. A field trial conducted at the USDA ARS Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center in Booneville, AR found that NWSG establishment success in the …

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

Tennessee Climate Office Monthly Reports

Hi All,

December was defined by quite a bit of temperature variability (though the temperature swings resulted in near-normal monthly averages) and an overall dry pattern.

The month started out cooler than normal, with a slight moderation in the second week of the month, before a strong cold front sent temperatures tumbling into the teens or single-digits and wind chills into the single digits or below zero on December 14 and 15 - with many locations stuck in the 20’s or even teens for high temperatures. Following this cold weather, temperatures quickly rebounded into the normal and then well above …

Artificial Intelligence In Educational Leadership: A Comprehensive Taxonomy And Future Directions, Martin Sposato

All Works

Educational institutions worldwide face mounting challenges in effectively integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into their operations, largely due to the absence of comprehensive frameworks for evaluation and implementation. This systemic gap has led to fragmented adoption practices, missed opportunities for innovation, and potential risks in deployment of AI solutions. The rapid proliferation of AI technologies in higher education has created significant challenges for institutional leaders who must balance technological advancement with educational outcomes, ethical considerations, and resource constraints. This study addresses these critical challenges by developing a comprehensive taxonomy of AI applications in higher education leadership. Through a systematic literature …

“Festivity Without Feast”: Autonomy, Prosperity, Mutuality And Inequality In A Mentawai Village, Darmanto Darmanto

Antropologi Indonesia

Among the Mentawai, autonomy, prosperity, and mutuality are core values that foster their egalitarian ethos. In the last few decades, they have reconfigured these values in their quest for equality with outsiders who have consistently looked down upon them. The state encourages and facilitates their pursuit by establishing a centralised village, implementing development projects, and promoting engagement in commodity production. These processes direct productive work results towards household livelihoods, legitimising wealth accumulation and sidelining sharing practices. In seeking equality with outsiders, the realisation of autonomy and productivity increasingly leads to internal inequality, which is the antithesis of their egalitarian quest …

Accepting Film: A Study On Tradition, Values Change And Continuity In Tebuireng Pesantren, Jombang, Nurman Hakim

Antropologi Indonesia

The pesantren tradition contains values that become a guide for life and become a source for the actions of santri and kiai. The values in the pesantren tradition in the form of akhlak (morals), ibadah (worship) and barokah (blessings) become an anchor for kiai and santri in responding to films that are considered products of modernity emerging from the west. In the past the act of watching and making films was rejected and considered contrary to the pesantren tradition, but slowly now films are used by pesantren to preserve the tradition itself. This article explores how values in the …

Valorisasi Wayang Kulit: Tambal Sulam Pengalaman Pengrajin Wayang Kulit Dan Liyan Di Desa Wisata Wayang Sidowarno, Yayuk Windarti

Antropologi Indonesia

The emergence of Sidowarno Wayang Tourism Village indicates a significant transformation in the traditional art of wayang kulit (shadow puppetry). Wayang artisans in Sidowarno offer wayang kulit as an educational process packaged within a tourism village. However, as they adapt to the needs of others, the values embedded in wayang kulit undergo changes. This article addresses several questions, including: how do the roles of wayang kulit artisans in Butuh Village, Sidowarno contribute to the development of the wayang tourism village? How does the presence of other actors shape and transform the values of wayang kulit? Furthermore, how does …

When Two Worlds Collide: Caring In The Midst Of Bureaucratization Of Healthcare In Malinau, North Kalimantan, Anwar Arifin

Antropologi Indonesia

The issue of healthcare under neoliberalism has been a topic under scrutiny for anthropologists. With the rise of financial capitalism, the state is reconfigured to create a life where the logic of the market triumphs over all other aspects of life. This reconfiguration includes the healthcare sector, where new paradigms of neoliberal governance are incorporated into the fabric of healthcare. In continuing this analysis, I want to address a more specific approach regarding how neoliberal mechanisms work to disrupt caring practices, particularly through the use of bureaucracies. Drawing from various literature and my own ethnographic experiences in Malinau, this article …

Detection Of Phase-Binning And Interpolation Artifacts In 4-Dimensional Computed Tomography Imaging Using Deep Learning And Rule-Based Approaches, Jorge Cisneros, Nathan H. Feldt, Yevgeniy Vinogradskiy, Richard Castillo, Edward Castillo

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) imaging is a crucial component to lung cancer radiotherapy planning and enables CT-ventilation-based functional avoidance planning to mitigate radiation toxicity. However, 4DCT scans are frequently impaired by acquisition artifacts that corrupt downstream analyses that depend on lung segmentation and deformable image registration, such as CT-ventilation and dose accumulation.

PURPOSE: This study develops 3D deep learning models to identify phase-binning artifacts at the voxel level and a heuristic, rule-based method to identify interpolation slices within 4DCT images.

METHODS: We introduce a generator that systematically inserts synthetic phase-binning and interpolation artifacts into any artifact-free breathing phase obtained …

(Wp 2025-06) Ramsey And Keynes...And Sraffa And Wittgenstein: Change In Interwar Cambridge Economics And Policy, John B. Davis

Economics Working Papers

The Ramsey-Keynes exchange regarding the nature of probability is investigated in connection with the development of interwar Cambridge economics and Ramsey and Sraffa’s influences on Keynes and Wittgenstein. First discussed are Ramsey’s criticisms of Keynes and Wittgenstein; then Sraffa’s criticisms of Marshall and Wittgenstein. Ramsey was influenced by Peirce and pragmatism and Sraffa by Gramsci and the theory of cultural hegemony. Ramsey died in 1930 but Sraffa continued to interact with both Keynes and Wittgenstein. After his critique of Marshall he participated in the ‘Cambridge circus’ and turned to recovering the Classical economics of Ricardo. Keynes’s General Theory statement of …

A Strategic Audit Of Live Nation Entertainment: Industry Position, Competitive Dynamics, And Long-Term Growth Outlook, William H. Wooden Iv, Owen B. Crone, Reece L. Flores, Grace A. Schaefer, Eric M. Jacob, Sydney A. Beck

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Live Nation Entertainment is the dominant global leader in the concert and live events industry, supported by a vertically integrated model that spans artist management, concert promotion, venue operations, ticketing, and sponsorship. This strategic audit evaluates Live Nation’s internal strengths, external threats, competitive position, corporate governance, and long-term strategic prospects based on comprehensive analysis of company reports, industry dynamics, and market trends. Live Nation benefits from unmatched scale, global venue ownership, exclusive artist relationships, and the substantial network effects generated by Ticketmaster, which collectively create high barriers to entry and sustained competitive advantage. The audit also examines significant challenges such …

Introducing Statistical And Machine Learning-Based Methods Of Enhancing The Resiliency And Security Of Electrical-Based Critical Infrastructure, Joshua Tyler

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Since its introduction into society in the late 1800’s, electricity has become a critical component in how society has functioned. High-voltage electricity provides power for appliances that have become integral to daily living, such as lights, refrigeration, and Heating, Ventilation, And Cooling (HVAC). Low-voltage electricity is used to process and transmit information on and between computers. This information may pertain to medical, financial, and defense-related activities. Over the past hundred years, significant research has been performed to improve electrical-based technology’s capability, scale, resiliency, and security. This study focuses solely on resiliency and security, both of which require efficient data collection, …