Digital Commons Network^™

Application Of Semantic Segmentation To An Automatic Target Recognition Problem, Bruce W. Rush Jr.

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is an active remote sensing system commonly used in aerial reconnaissance. SAR penetrates cloud cover and vegetation by recording reflected energy pulses. The resulting information content is difficult to interpret due to vast clutter data and sparse target data. The time-consuming process of analyzing SAR imagery can be greatly reduced by implementing an Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) algorithm. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) are capable of extracting identification features from SAR data content. Further research in this field indicates that high performing models are insufficiently robust due to high clutter correlation among classes in the Moving and …

The Affordable Care Act And The For-Profit Congregate Care Industry: How Good Policy Intent Turned A Fringe Industry Into A Taxpayer-Funded Multi Billion Dollar Industry, Erin Viehmann

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The Affordable Care Act significantly transformed the for-profit congregate care (FPCC) industry, which provides residential treatment for adolescents with behavioral and mental health issues. This study analyzes financial records from Universal Health Services (UHS), the largest provider in the industry, to examine how healthcare policy changes and economic conditions affected the industry's growth and funding structure. Through analysis of SEC Form 10-K filings from 2006-2016, the research documents how the ACA's mental health coverage mandates created new revenue streams that enabled dramatic industry expansion. Findings show that following ACA passage in 2010, UHS more than doubled its behavioral health capacity …

Dynamic Modulus Of Sbs-Modified Asphalt Mixtures Added With Ground Tire Rubber Content, Azharul Islam

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The study investigates the improvement of the dynamic shear modulus in the base and styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) modified asphalt mixture by accumulating varying amounts of ground tire rubber through an Asphalt mixture performance tester (AMPT). This thesis specifically explores how different percentages of ground tire rubber (GTR) influence the mechanical properties and durability of the asphalt mixture articulated with two grades, PG 64-22 and PG 76-22. The experimental framework consisted of preparing asphalt mixtures blended with 10% to 15% of the binder for PG 64-22 and 3% to 8% of GTR for PG 76-22. The laboratory testing involved using …

What Is Reasonable? Effects Of Different Jury Instructions In A Fatal Police Use Of Force Case, Katherine M. Kaylor

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Since the Supreme Court case Graham v. Connor, police officers charged with misusing force on duty are judged against a hypothetical reasonable officer. Graham focuses on split-second decisions police officers must make and states police should not be judged with the benefit of hindsight. California goes beyond the subjective language of Graham and instructs jurors to look at the totality of circumstances, meaning they must consider all events and actions of an officer and citizen when assessing cases. The current study investigated whether type of instruction (Graham vs. California) affected mock jurors’ verdicts. Participants in the California condition …

Response Of Galactic Disks To Dark Matter Halo Triaxiality, Alex J. Hutton

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In this study we examine the influence of dark matter halo triaxiality on the evolution of galactic disks. We do this by running a series of collisionless N-body models. In a first set of models we place the galactic disk within an oblate halo at various orientations and examine the resulting evolution. In our second set we construct fully self-consistent models of a stellar disk embedded within a spherical halo, with an impacting external dark matter dwarf galaxy. After evolving the simulations for a Hubble time, we examine the disk orientation and warping along with other quantities such as bar …

People Of The Ogeechee: Subsistence And Landscape Use In The Late Archaic Ogeechee River Valley, Caleb R. Jeck

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Precontact life in the Ogeechee River valley of Georgia’s Coastal Plain is significantly understudied in contrast to the adjacent Savannah River valley and the coast of Georgia. Research in these regions has provided a substantial amount of archaeological data that has helped us to understand Late Archaic period dynamics and the settlement patterns of precontact people, primarily those associated with Stallings culture. The Ogeechee River valley figured prominently during the Late Archaic period, especially during Classic Stallings times, yet the region’s archaeological record is largely unexamined. Settlement patterns for coastal Georgia and the middle Savannah River valley have been proposed …

Motivating Students Through Problem-Based And Project-Based Learning, Dennis J. Moore

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

As educators, motivating students can be a difficult task.Sixteen eighth-grade students discuss their perceptions of what makes educational programs motivating. In teacher-centered classrooms, teachers lecture while their students take notes, quizzes, and tests and practice memorization skills in preparation for high-stakes testing. Is this a fair assessment of a student's knowledge, and does this type of instruction fulfill students’ needs for a successful future? Research for this case study focused on students' perceptions of an agricultural program that utilizes problem-based and project-based learning with a sustainability focus.

In problem-based learning (PBL) classes, students are given real-world problems and asked …

Survey And Identification Of Entomopathogenic Fungi In Millipede Species In Coastal Georgia, Kristin L. Campbell Bailey

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Entomopathogenic fungi are well-known, species-specific pathogens of a wide diversity of insects that infect, manipulate, and kill their insect hosts to complete their life cycle. Recently in Savannah, Georgia, millipedes belonging to the genus Eurymerodesmus were observed exhibiting pre-death climbing behaviors associated with pathogenic fungal infection. Dying millipedes summited vegetation and subsequently died in elevated positions along edge habitat transitioning a recreational field and forest. Upon inspection, fungal structures found emerging from dead millipedes anatomically resembled Arthrophaga myriapodina, which is the first documented entomophthoralean fungus to infect millipedes. The goal of this research was to obtain species-level identification of the …

Becoming, Being, And Belonging: Exploring The Intersections Of Black Manhood, Sexuality, And Rural Education Through Self-Study Using Ethno-Dramatic Renderings, Javious Canty

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Studies that center Black male teachers often lack nuance and tend to look at them as a monolithic group. This dissertation uses Quare theory (Johnson, 2001), African American Male Theory (AAMT) (Bush & Bush, 2013), along with self-study methodology represented through fictionalized ethno-dramatic scenes to examine the teaching practices of a queer Black male teacher in a rural context and the impact he has on the achievement of his rural Black students. One finding from this study is that breaking through Quare barriers using community, resilience, and cultural awareness leads to success. Another finding is that rural spaces carry educational …

Majority Decision Using Top-Performing Neural Networks Models For Improved Credit Risk Prediction, Vincent Dey

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Credit risk prediction remains both a challenging and high-interest problem due to the inherently unbalanced nature of financial datasets and the continuous drive for higher pre- dictive precision. In this work, I build upon previous advancements in credit risk modeling and introduce an ensemble-based Artificial Neural Network (ANN) architecture designed to enhance classification performance. By leveraging a selective ensemble of decision net- works, this approach not only improves prediction accuracy but also mitigates the chal- lenges posed by imbalanced data distributions. While the primary focus is on credit risk prediction, my analysis demonstrates that the proposed model can be effectively …

A Feminist Narrative Shaped By Bangladesh’S Threads, Salma Akter

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores the intersection of feminist theory and artistic practice, examining how materiality and abstraction reflect gender norms within the socio-political, religious, and colonial context of Bangladesh. It is grounded in four key theoretical frameworks: judith butler’s gender performativity, bell hooks’ intersectional feminism, julia kristeva’s abjection and systems theory. Together, these frameworks provide a comprehensive lens for analyzing how gender inequality is constructed, maintained, and resisted within the socio-political, religious, and colonial context of Bangladesh. Textile-based media serve as a means to engage with these layered systems, drawing from traditional nakshi kantha embroidery to explore patterns of labor, domesticity, …

Using Algal Turf Scrubber Biomass As A Feed Source For Juvenile Eastern Oysters, Taofeek Saka Jimoh

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Algal turf scrubber (ATS) is an engineered system that promotes natural wastewater treatment processes and improves water quality by passing a shallow stream of nutrient rich water over the surface of a gently sloped flow-way. Algae turf scrubber biomass is a combination of micro and macroalgae, as well as micro-invertebrates, ciliates, bacteria, and more. The overall aim of the study was to reduce the feeding cost of juvenile eastern oysters by replacing the commercial microalgae diet with ATS biomass. The experiment was designed to assess the viability of replacing commercial microalgal diet with ATS biomass at different substitution levels (0, …

Applying The Lagrangian Variational Method To Atom Interferometry, Jeffrey W. Heward

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Atom interferometry in Bose-Einstein condensate systems has emerged as a promising technique for precision metrology. The dynamics of these systems are well-described by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE), but direct numerical solution of this equation is infeasible for realistic systems. We use the Lagrangian Variational Method (LVM) to approximate solutions of the GPE in 1D and 3D, and we compare the LVM results to the exact solutions. We also present 3D LVM results for a case where numerical solution of the GPE is infeasible.

Using Accelerometry To Determine Loss Of Active Eccentric Control During The Nordic Hamstring Exercise, Makenna Kulzer

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Hamstring strain injuries are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries in sports with high recurrence rates. The Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) is a commonly used eccentric exercise intervention to reduce injury risk but has generated controversy regarding its utility due to limited sport specificity. Research examining how NHE performance affects its efficacy remains scarce. Therefore, this study investigated whether accelerometry data could describe the loss of active eccentric control (Q2) and if there is an interaction between leg preference and repetition on time to Q2. METHODS: Thirty college-aged students with >3 months of resistance training experience (1-2x/week). were recruited. Participants …

Comparative Analysis Of Lidar And Close-Range Photogrammetry Techniques For Inspection Of Mse Walls In Two Georgia Bridges, Md. Mehrab Hossain

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) retaining walls are durable, settlement tolerant, easy to install, and present cost-effectiveness, in highway bridges. Nevertheless, the cost of repairing MSE walls is high, and it is crucial to have an accurate, quantitative, and scalable inspection method for early detection of potential problems. This study aims to analyze and evaluate undesired displacements that may affect these walls over time. For this, two remote-sensing technologies are considered: Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and 3D Close Range Photogrammetry (CRP). Their performances are compared against an accurate Robotic Total Station (RTS) device, serving as the benchmarking instrument. This work …

Towards A Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff Theorem In Positive Characteristic, Nikolas A. Koutroulakis

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

We investigate whether there is an analog of the Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff (BCH) theorem for Lie algebras over fields of positive characteristic. We begin by introducing the proof of the BCH formula in characteristic zero. We then introduce the Artin-Hasse exponential and show that it is $p$-integral. Our main result provides sufficient conditions under which a BCH-type formula exists for the Artin-Hasse exponential in positive characteristic. Additionally, we derive a formula for computing an inverse of the Artin-Hasse exponential.

Defect Detection In Extrusion-Based Bio-Printed Constructs Using Video-Based Vibration Analysis, Md Anisur Rahman

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Bio-additive manufacturing has emerged as a transformative advancement in biomedical engineering, enabling the fabrication of complex biological structures. However, maintaining the precision and quality of printed constructs remains a significant challenge, particularly in applications such as bioprinted organ transplants. Among the key factors affecting structural integrity, dimensional inconsistencies and interlayer defects present major obstacles, potentially compromising mechanical stability and functionality. This study explores the detection of defects caused by variations in dimensional accuracy and layer-to-layer adhesion. To address these challenges, a video-based motion estimation technique is employed as a non-contact and non-destructive evaluation method. Traditional approaches, such as contact-based and …

Accuracy In Real World To Pixel Coordinate Conversion, Noredia O. Imudia

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The field of computer vision has numerous applications of the real-world to pixel coordinate conversion. Related fields of machine learning, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality share similar benefits. My contribution involves assessing the accuracy of multiple coordinate conversion methods through experimentation. The Focal Length Calibration method allows for manual calibration using the scale factor. I have concluded that manual camera calibration causes the greatest improvements to accuracy when the method focuses on every point in the image. Methods that localize accuracy still increase accuracy, but not to the same degree.

Microbial Community Stabilization By Restored Oyster Reefs: Implications For Blue Carbon Storage, Natalie Boydstun

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Coastal ecosystems provide critical carbon sequestration services, yet the microbial mechanisms underlying carbon storage remain poorly understood, particularly in non-vegetated habitats. This study investigated whether restored oyster reefs (Crassostrea virginica) enhance sediment carbon storage potential by stabilizing microbial communities and promoting efficient organic matter processing. I hypothesized that reef-mediated sediment stabilization and organic deposition would create conditions favoring microbial degradation of complex carbon compounds into stable soil organic matter, ultimately supporting anaerobic carbon storage. To test this, I compared sediment biogeochemistry, enzyme activity, and microbial community structure between three restored oyster reef sites and two unstructured control sites …

Synthesis And Processing Of Co-Axial/Tri-Axial Multi-Layered Nano-Particles, Jannatul Ferdaus

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Electro-spraying has been used as an effective processing method of nanoparticle fabrication for the application of targeted drug delivery. The study demonstrates the feasibility of a non-conventional triaxial electro-spraying setup for multi-layered nano-drug fabrication and proposes optimized parameters. Two different drugs, XAV939 and Dextran 40000, were used to study the process parameters (voltage and solution concentration) of coaxial electro spraying. The particle size of Dextran-PCL was an average of 166.3 nm for PCL-Dextran at 32.5 kV and 18-hour sonication. The SEM analysis and UV-spectrum showed the encapsulation of Dextran with PCL, though the in vitro study in mice after 24 …

School And Community Factors That Influence Retention Of Highly Qualified Teachers In A Small Rural School District, Brian C. Scott

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The retention of teachers has long been a concern among schools of all sizes and locations throughout the United States. In addition to school related factors, often small, rural communities lack the services and amenities of larger districts. This combination of school related shortcomings and lack of community offerings has created a critical teacher shortage for many small, rural school districts and requires urgent attention in regard to teacher retention strategies.

This quantitative study focused on the impacts of both school and community related factors as related to teacher retention in a small, rural school district. Using survey data, this …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Lived Experiences Of First-Generation African American Students To Improve Retention Rates, Jaleesa Porter

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Colleges and universities play an important role in maintaining high retention rates and getting students from matriculation to graduation. There are several studies related to the reasons and barriers that result in low retention rates. This qualitative study examined how one university in southeast Georgia can improve retention rates among first-generation African American students by enhancing its practices. The findings from this study the revealed lived experiences of college students that resulted in a range of emotions, resources and barriers, and communication. Discussion and implications of the findings provide recommendations for practice and future research.

Experimental Study Of Deformation Behavior For A Novel Elastohydrodynamic Seal For Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Cycles, William A. Adams

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) Brayton cycles are a strong contender for future power generation systems due to their high thermal efficiency and compact nature. Sealing is one of the key challenges presented by such systems that has a direct impact on the system's overall efficiency. This research is the first experimental study to investigate the deformation behavior of an elastohydrodynamic (EHD) seal made from bearing-grade polyether ether ketone (PEEK). A testing apparatus was developed to integrate four strain gauges positioned along the seal to quantify the deformation occurring up to pressures of 13 MPa. Mass flow rate measurements …

Fresh Eyes: Viewing Education Through A Critical Lens, Glennda Shealey-Griffiths

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation confronts neoliberal ideology in public education, where standardized testing and market-driven accountability systematically undermine teacher autonomy and creative learning. Moving beyond critique to action, this study develops a practical pedagogical framework empowering educators to resist these dehumanizing forces and cultivate democratic learning spaces through arts-integrated professional learning as critical aesthetic pedagogy. Drawing on Henry Giroux, Maxine Greene, Paolo Freire, and Jacques Rancière, this qualitative case study examines a professional learning initiative with public school teachers through interviews, classroom observations, and analysis of participants' photographic projects. These visual works function not merely as documentation but as catalysts for Giroux's …

Keep Pushing It, Owen Isachsen

Intertidal

No abstract provided.

Harmony In Spring, Yagmur Wernimont

Intertidal

No abstract provided.

My Grandfather’S Childhood Bedroom, Shelby Anderson

Intertidal

No abstract provided.

Almost The Day After Death, Samantha J. Pomerantz

Intertidal

No abstract provided.

Lily, Rylyn Jaggar

Intertidal

No abstract provided.

Drown, Derek Sadorra

Intertidal

No abstract provided.