Digital Commons Network^™

Revisiting Visualization Literacy: What Standardized Assessments Reveal And Conceal Across Instruments, Cultures, And Ai Systems, Saugat Pandey

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Data visualizations are now a primary medium for public communication, scientific reasoning, and decision-making. By transforming complex data into accessible graphical forms, visualizations are widely assumed to make information comprehensible to broad audiences. Yet the ability to accurately read, interpret, and critically evaluate a visualization, what researchers call visualization literacy, is neither uniform nor universal. It is a learned, multidimensional skill shaped by prior exposure, educational opportunity, and context. While the field has developed standardized instruments to measure visualization literacy, these tools were built under narrow assumptions: participants are typically paid, English-speaking, and recruited from Western online panels. When any …

Deep Learning Enhanced Multimodal Endoscopy For Colorectal Cancer: From Real-Time Software Architecture To Clinical Response Assessment, Haolin Nie

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with a concerning rise in incidence among younger adults. Clinical management is currently shifting toward organ-preserving ``watch-and-wait" strategies for rectal cancer and precision endoscopic resection for early-stage polyps. However, current diagnostic standards, including white-light colonoscopy (WLC) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), lack the resolution and functional specificity to accurately assess the invasion depth of precancerous polyps or to reliably distinguish post-treatment fibrosis from residual viable tumor. This dissertation advances colorectal cancer diagnostics through three integrated contributions: CPU-optimized photoacoustic …

Benefits Of Traffic Reprofiling For Delay Sensitive Networking, Jiaming Qiu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Deterministic networking systems, such as Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) and Deterministic Networking (DetNet), require strict end-to-end delay guarantees while efficiently utilizing limited network resources. Conventional approaches typically focus on fixed traffic profiles, which can lead to suboptimal resource utilization in scheduling or admission control problems. This dissertation investigates traffic reprofiling—the proactive reshaping of traffic arrival patterns—as a complementary mechanism for improving both resource efficiency and delay performance under strict service guarantees. The dissertation consists of three parts. The first part studies bandwidth minimization under hard delay constraints for Service Curve Earliest Deadline First (SCED) schedulers. We show that traffic reprofiling can …

Inference-Time Scaling For Robust And Adaptive Computational Imaging, Yuyang Hu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Computational imaging has transformed fields such as medical imaging, computational photography, and remote sensing by combining physical measurement models with advanced image reconstruction algorithms. Two major paradigms have driven significant progress: model-based deep learning (MBDL), which integrates learned priors with physics-based data consistency, and generative models, especially diffusion models, which capture complex image distributions and enable posterior sampling for uncertainty quantification. Despite their success, most existing methods still operate under static inference: they rely on fixed pretrained priors, predetermined sampling procedures, and a fixed forward model during reconstruction. This rigidity limits their robustness in the presence of distribution shift, complex …

Beyond The Game: A Four-Phase Financial Development Program For Student-Athletes, Joanna Cirrincione

Masters Projects

Student-athletes face unique challenges including, but not limited to, significant time demands, limited financial socialization, and emerging name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities that influence their financial knowledge and behaviors. Although financial education exists, it is often inconsistent and not tailored to the needs of the population which the education intends to serve. This project is grounded in Nancy Schlossberg’s (1984) transition theory and Nevitt Sanford’s (1962) theory of challenge and support, framing financial literacy development as a process requiring intentional challenge and support as student-athletes transition into life after collegiate athletics. A four-phased, structured development program is proposed to …

Lindenwood Digest, April 29, 2026, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

Event & Date: The Lindenwood University Employee Digest, dated April 29, 2026, details several upcoming campus events including the Center’s Block Party on May 1, 2026; the Honors Cord Ceremony on May 1, 2026; the Spring Fashion Show on May 2, 2026; and Late Night Breakfast on May 4, 2026. 

Geographic Grounding: Institutional activities are scheduled at the Pavilion, the Lindenwood Theater at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts, and Dunseth Auditorium in Harmon Hall, all located at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. 

Key Honorees/Awards: High-achieving students graduating with University Honors will be recognized at the Honors Cord …

Designing Break-Glass Access The Preserves Accountability, Hattin Gram Berryman

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Second Person Pronouns In The King James Bible, Drew Barrett Chandler

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Diverse Directions, Sadie Smith

B.A./B.S. Practicum Group Exhibit (ART 499)

My work explores the complex interactions between individuals  and the way we interact with family and romantic partners within the household. My sculptures display these interactions while each exemplifying the unique emotions associated with the situation, juxtaposing amorphous, body-like ceramic forms with the nostalgia of antique wallpapers, carpets, and furniture. Each piece reflects my overall theme of this interpersonal interaction by creating different subnarratives in relation to it. One example of my work is “The Ambivalent.”. Its stiff, body-like appearance encases a smaller fabric object laying peacefully inside. This mother and child impression between the figures relates back to my …

Diverse Directions, Grace L. Rittenhouse

B.A./B.S. Practicum Group Exhibit (ART 499)

This body of work explores an evolving fantasy world of my creation through painted illustrations. It emphasizes the beauty of humans and nature using small details like intricate patterns and subtle expressions with soft, blended art in a wide range of vibrant colors. This exploration is mainly through portraiture and original characters.

By using oils, I focus on creating unique characters; drawing inspiration from mythology, folklore, and cultures from across the globe. The two works Newborn Star and Moon Prince take inspiration from traditional Chinese fashion, the symbolism of marigold flowers within Mexican culture, and the traditional uses of opium …

Centering Access: Reimagining Basic Writing Through Critical Disability Frameworks, Jason Burton Mccormick

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Despite decades of scholarship arguing otherwise, developmental writing spaces are still often treated as places of deficit in higher education. This deficit positioning emerges in the ways the courses are discussed (as barriers and burdens to graduation), the way learners are imagined (being “unprepared” for college work), and the way placement is understood as punishment. Developmental educators continue to fight this stigma, but rely on stories of students “overcoming” rather than acknowledging that the stigma is a product of the institution and its discriminatory norms, not the offering itself.

My work reimagines the developmental writing classroom as an essential liminal …

Development Of A Decision Aid For Single-Sided Deafness Intervention For Adults: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study, Priya Karimuddanahalli Premkumar

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Individuals with single-sided deafness (SSD) encounter challenges such as difficulty localizing sounds, understanding speech in noisy environments, heightened auditory fatigue, and a diminished quality of life. The available treatment options for SSD are diverse, ranging from contralateral routing of signal (CROS) devices and bone conduction devices (BCD) to osseointegrated auditory implants (OAI), cochlear implants (CI), or even opting for no device at all. However, each of these treatment choices comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Navigating the decision-making process for SSD treatment can be challenging due to each option's unique pros and cons. Furthermore, there remains a …

Echoes Of Malignancy: Triple-Hit Lymphoma Presenting As An Isolated Pericardial Effusion, Nathan Fletcher, Anne Marie Bonaguro, Yanxia Li

Advocate GME

Background: Malignancy is the second most common cause of pericardial effusion, typically occurring in advanced stages. Lymphomas account for a minority of malignant effusions, with symptomatic pericardial disease as their initial presentation being exceptionally rare. Case: A 64-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presented with two weeks of progressive dyspnea, orthopnea, and productive cough. Chest radiograph showed an enlarged cardiac silhouette and bibasilar opacities. Computed tomography of the chest revealed a complex circumferential pericardial effusion up to 3.6 cm, confirmed on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with diastolic underfilling but no tamponade physiology. Pericardiocentesis yielded 660 mL of sanguineous fluid (glucose …

Baseline Nt-Probnp As A Predictor Of 1-Year Heart Failure Hospitalizations In Cardiac Amyloidosis, Hannah Runnoe, Anne Marie Bonaguro, Valentina Turbay Caballero, Mariane Cindy Ndiaye, Mark Dela Cruz

Advocate GME

No abstract provided.

Beyond The Heart: A Fatal Case Of Perforated Peptic Ulcer Presenting As Chest Pain, Noor Alkhawam, Hannah Runnoe, Colin Coughlin

Advocate GME

No abstract provided.

Risky Rash Riddle: A Case Of Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim-Induced Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Mimicking Iga Vasculitis, Paras Sahani, Ameer Abdeljaber, Devin Dixit, Megan Leitner, Aisha Ahmed, Hannah Runnoe, Matthew Posen

Advocate GME

No abstract provided.

Induced Membrane Reconstruction (Masquelet Technique) For An Open Pilon Fracture With Segmental Bone Loss: A Case Report, Courtney Gaines, Andrew Silman, Dylan Patel, Akhil Reddy

Advocate GME

No abstract provided.

An Autism-Centered Analysis Of The Aesthetics And Narrative Of Gene Wolfe’S Book Of The New Sun, Sebastian Peterson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Much of the recent work published within the literary neurodiversity studies field focuses on how certain writing techniques can be viewed as representing the experience of being autistic by influencing the reader so that they experience distinctly autistic patterns of cognition. Likewise, the Book of the New Sun series employs many such techniques within the narrative and prose. This is in addition to the fact that the plot contains elements that mirror the relationship and conflict between those with autism and neuronormative hegemony (that being the ways in which societies oppress, mistreat, and belittle those not deemed “neurotypical”). The goal …

What If You Were My Fucked Up Dad And I Was Your Fucked Up Boy And We Cried Together, Ferris Ramirez

Theses

When I was six, maybe seven, my father said I would be disowned if I ended up a faggot. Twenty years have passed since I learned to perform as someone else around my father. As I come to terms with our irreparable estrangement, I present a question to the father I fail to connect with and to an imagined man: What if you were my fucked up dad and I was your fucked up boy and we cried together? This line of inquiry is the very title of my multimedia series, framing concepts of projection, queer desire, fatherhood, role-playing, and …

Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Unmasked: The Role Of Intracardiac Echocardiography When Standard Imaging Fails, Rachel Morris, Carma Azhar, Hannah Runnoe, Laura Becker, Owais Shakir Abdul-Khafi, Ibrahim Kassas

Advocate GME

No abstract provided.

When High Turns Harmful: Synthetic Cannabinoid-Induced Stroke In A Patient With Cryptogenic Risk Factors, Rachel Morris, Rusheek Rawal, Hannah Runnoe, Radhika Huliyar, Matthew R. Leach

Advocate GME

No abstract provided.

Metastatic Masquerade: A Tragic Case Of Tuberculosis Meningitis Masquerading As A Metastatic Brain Lesion Complicated By Cardiac Arrest, Hannah Runnoe, Rusheek Rawal, Rachel Morris, Radhika Huliyar, Dana Mueller

Advocate GME

No abstract provided.

Optimization Of A Point Absorber Wave Energy Converter (Wec), Rutwa Dilipkumar Nagar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This study examines the performance and optimization of a point absorber wave energy converter with a partially submerged spherical float. A comprehensive open-source computational framework integrates frequency-domain hydrodynamic analysis with time-domain simulation using Capytaine, BEMIO, and WEC-Sim. Hydrodynamic coefficients such as added mass, radiation damping, and excitation forces are calculated and integrated into the governing equation of motion using the Cummins formulation. A parametric analysis varies the float diameter and geometric configurations across several cases. Hydrodynamic coefficients and response amplitude operators are assessed to analyze system behavior and resonance characteristics. Results indicate consistent trends in normalized added mass, with radiation …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Critical Thinking Skills In Community College And University Stem Students, Jason H. Tucker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to examine the relationship between STEM students’ classification (freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior) and their overall critical thinking scores among community colleges and universities in north central Ohio. This study is important because critical thinking has been shown to improve success in collegiate STEM programs and the future careers of their students. In addition, there has been growing interest in examining potential critical thinking differences between STEM students enrolled in two-year community colleges and four-year universities. The sample is composed of 231 community college and university students enrolled in STEM programs. Data …

Biblical Leadership And Gender: Balancing Cultural Context And Theological Conviction, Lorie Lynn Heath

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

God originally made male and female in His image, imparting to them a shared authority over creation. They were co-heirs equal in purpose, mission, and value. However, cultural practices and patriarchal traditions have long obscured this original biblical design. Consider a qualified young woman in a local church, called, talented, and valued by her congregation, yet repeatedly overlooked for preaching and teaching positions because of her gender. Her story is not unique. This misapplication of Scripture not only harms women but also weakens the body of Christ and impedes the church’s testimony to the gospel. Accurate comprehension of the Bible …

No Place To Stand: Gender, Discipline, And The Contradictions Of Military Womanhood, 1945–1975, Angela Bouma

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

From 1945 to 1975, American servicewomen stood inside an institution that depended on their labor while restricting their place within it. The post World War II military relied on women to sustain administrative, technical, and medical operations across a widening Cold War landscape, yet guarded the authority and recognition attached to combat and command. Women kept global communications running, delivered medical care in field hospitals, and carried out intelligence work that shaped military decisions. However, legal and cultural boundaries limited the reach of such contributions.

The 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act formalized this tension. Regular status came with ceilings …

A Phenomenological Study Describing The Lived Experiences Of Fire Chaplains With Clinical Pastoral Education (Cpe) Training Within The Federation Of Fire Chaplains’ Organization, Chaplain Cooper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of fire chaplains with CPE training who used CPE competencies when caring for firefighters. The foundation of spiritual care was based on the ten identified competencies used in CPE. The gap addressed in this research was the lack of spiritual care training for fire chaplains. Dr. Alan Wolfelt’s model of companioning served as the theoretical foundation guiding this research. This model of care emphasized a human-centered, heart-based approach, including active listening, empathy, and the practice of presence, which were essential components for fire chaplains providing spiritual care. This …

Distraction Or Tool? Exploring The Relationship Between Social Media And Practice Habits Of Collegiate Music Students With Adhd, Marianne Nicole Mills

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the relationship between social media use and the practice habits of collegiate music students with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). While social media platforms inspire collaboration, creativity, and educational resources, they also introduce potential distractions and barriers to initiating practice sessions, especially for students with executive functioning challenges. Using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework, five applied music students at a small, private college in Florida participated in semi-structured interviews and kept reflective practice journals for six weeks. Findings indicated that social media served as a dual-purpose influence, supporting learning and community while also increasing procrastination, …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Music Teacher Efficacy In Elementary Grade-Level Music Inclusive Classrooms Based On Special Education Training, Stanley N. Harris Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative causal-comparative study aimed to determine whether there is a significant difference in overall teacher self-efficacy scores between rural and urban elementary schools and between music educators with and without formal special education training. This study is important because teacher efficacy directly impacts teachers’ engagement in learning with students with special needs. Therefore, this study contributes to the literature on teacher efficacy by examining differences between music teachers with formal special education training and those without such training who teach in inclusive classrooms. The sample included 146 music educators from rural and urban elementary schools who teach students with …

An Exploration Of The Prioritization And Application Of Self-Care For Mental Health Therapists Working Within Mississippi Gulf Coast Community Mental Health Organizations: A Phenomenological Study, Elizabeth Lynn Leyva

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the prioritization and application of self-care for mental health therapists working within Mississippi Gulf Coast community mental health organizations. The theory guiding this study was Milton Rokeach’s belief system theory, which examined the significant impact of beliefs, attitudes, and values on decision-making regarding clinician self-care in personal and professional realms. The central research question for this study asked how mental health therapists in community mental health organizations described their experiences of prioritizing and applying self-care during and outside of therapy practice. There were three subquestions to support the central research …