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A PROMISE DEFERRED: EXPLORING URBAN BLACK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACCESS TO DUAL ENROLLMENT
Get PDFDual enrollment programs provide high school students with an invaluable opportunity to access college-level courses and gain an early start on their higher education journey. This action research, titled "A Promise Deferred," investigates the systemic barriers faced by Black high school students in accessing dual enrollment opportunities, with a specific focus on the College Transfer (CT) pathway of the Career and College Promise (CCP) program in Durham, North Carolina. Despite the promise of dual enrollment, Black students in urban areas, particularly in Durham, experience significant disparities in participation rates and academic support. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative interviews, focus groups, and surveys with quantitative analysis, to uncover root causes of these disparities. Key barriers identified include limited accessibility to information, logistical challenges, and insufficient school support, with findings revealing that over 70% of students were unaware of CCP sessions.
Family dynamics and the lack of structured outreach further compound these challenges, underscoring the urgent need for intervention. Grounded in the belief that the experiences and perspectives of Black students can inspire transformative change, this research highlights the importance of community-based outreach and partnerships with local organizations to foster equity and opportunity. Recommendations include the implementation of dedicated dual enrollment counselors, expanded transportation assistance, and stronger collaboration between schools and community networks. The findings aim to inform educational policy and practice, serving as a foundation for future activism and policy change to address disparities in Durham and offer insights applicable to similar urban settings. Ultimately, "A Promise Deferred" seeks to illuminate pathways for dismantling systemic barriers and advancing equity, social justice, and access for Black students in dual enrollment programs, paving the way for a more inclusive educational landscape
ASSESSING NORTH CAROLINA PRE-K TEACHERS’ KNOWLEDGE, CONFIDENCE, AND EXPERIENCE ON TRAUMA INFORMED CARE
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, confidence teachers have in their actions with their students who have experienced trauma, and training received and wanted by NC Pre-K teachers on trauma-informed care. Quantitative data was collected utilizing a standardized Primary Early Childhood Educators Trauma-Informed Care Survey for Knowledge, Confidence, and Relationship Building scale (PECE-TICKCR, 2017). All participating NC Pre-K teachers (n=68) were females and had a 4-year degree in early childhood or other related field. Teachers’ knowledge related to trauma and their confidence in their own actions were highly correlated. However, teachers showcased they were most knowledgeable about the impact trauma has on students behavior with a mean of (3.93), compared to three other items on knowledge such as resources available to students and families who have experienced trauma (M=3.15), steps to take once a student is identified as experiencing trauma (M= 3.28), and steps to take if a student is suspected has experienced trauma (M=3.32). Similarly, observed means on the confidence scale revealed that teachers felt most confident in their ability to be positive with their students (M=4.31), compared to three other items on confidence like taking appropriate steps if a student is suspected of experiencing trauma (M=3.53), making behavioral observations when interacting with students (M=3.59), and taking steps to support students who have experienced a traumatic event (M=3.59). Further teachers who have experience working with children of trauma were more knowledgeable about TIC and also more confident in their actions as they worked with students on a daily basis compared to teachers who have never worked with children who are experiencing or have experienced trauma. Teachers continue to express interest in receiving more training on topics related to TIC. The study findings have implications for both, teacher preparation programs and teacher professional development and training, both at the pre-service and in-service training levels
SUPPORTING SCHOOL-LEVEL LEADERSHIP: EXAMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A SYSTEMATIC NON-RENEWAL LICENSURE MONITORING PROGRAM TO IMPROVE TEACHER RETENTION
Get PDFTeacher retention is an ongoing concern that is seen across the nation in the field of
education. One factor that research has shown reduces this concern is school-level leadership. In
the state of North Carolina, teachers with less than three years of experience leave the profession
continually at higher rates than experienced teachers. This study examined the effectiveness in
supporting school-level leaders through a systematic non-renewal licensure monitoring program
would impact teacher retention. This study used an explanatory sequential mixed method design
approach framed around four characteristics of Transformational Leadership Theory, in three
phases of improvement using the Plan, Do, Study, Act model. Both qualitative and quantitative
data analyzed from surveys and focus groups of school-level leaders measured the impact of the
program. While the results from the implementation of this program did improve the school-level
leader’s professional growth, knowledge of licensure in the state, as well as the non-renewal
process and implementation practices to better support teachers, the actual retention of teachers
within the schools was inconclusive. The characteristics of Transformational Leadership Theory
helped to deepen the school-level leader’s professional relationships and connections with their
teachers
Risk-Based Test Case Prioritization Using Large Language Models in Regression Testing
Get PDFRegression testing is critical to ensuring software quality after performing code modifications. However, complete test execution on complex and robust test suites can be infeasible due to time and resource constraints. Therefore, test case prioritization (TCP) strategies aim to organize test cases to increase fault detection rates early during test execution. This study proposes a risk-based test case prioritization approach that leverages large language models (LLMs) to estimate the fault-proneness of individual methods to guide the prior- itization process. An LLM is fine-tuned to predict the risk score of each function based on several software metrics, which is used to perform static analysis of test cases to determine an overall risk ranking. The prioritized test suites are evaluated using established metrics, including Fault Detection Rate (FDR) and Average Percentage of Faults Detected (APFD). The evaluation of this approach is compared against baseline techniques such as coverage-based and randomized prioritization. The results of this experiment, conducted on open-source Java projects, determined that the risk-based LLM prioritization approach outperforms traditional TCP methods in early fault detection, highlighting the potential of including LLMs in regression testing workflows
Enhancing library discovery: An approach to understanding user access to electronic resources
Get PDFThe exponential increase in electronic resources in parallel with the development of discovery systems has expanded the research environment for library users well beyond the traditional library catalog. In response, a large public university library grapples with the best ways to deploy research tools to provide access to the many electronic resources it licenses for its users. Library staff seek to direct users most efficiently to needed resources, to save staff time, and to contain costs. The authors used a variety of methods to gather data to support their decision making, including search log analysis, surveys of other institutions, interviews with students, and cross-departmental discussion within the institution. The library made improvements to the website and search tool interfaces as well as developed a new approach to loading MARC records for electronic resources to the library catalog, which resulted in a slimmed down catalog paired with a newly promoted discovery system. This analysis is intended to inspire other libraries to develop a more deliberate approach to providing access to electronic resources
Testing Multipath TCP and Congestion Controls on the Linux 6.8 Kernel in a Proxmox Virtual Environment
Get PDFThis thesis investigates the performance of Multipath TCP (MPTCP) in Linux Kernel 6.8 using a low-cost Proxmox virtual environment. Key findings reveal that MPTCP in Linux Kernel 6.8 is significantly influenced by single-path congestion control configurations, allowing for better optimization for wireless networks than expected from specifications in RFC 8685. The research identifies optimal congestion control settings for MPTCP in a simulated 5G and Wi-Fi 6 environment: BBR and BIC for maximizing bandwidth, Westwood+ for ensuring fairness, and Vegas for low-priority, low-latency flows. While MPTCP achieved 1.125-1.4 times more bandwidth than a competing single-path TCP flow, it maintained high fairness as measured by Jain’s Fairness Index. Additionally, the study finds that TCP-LP, designed for low-priority traffic, is dysfunctional in Linux Kernel 6.8, indicating a need for kernel updates. These findings provide actionable guidance to system administrators and application developers seeking to optimize network utilization, particularly for mobile devices with dual connectivity. Moreover, they have implications for emerging protocols like QUIC and MPQUIC, which share similar congestion control mechanisms with TCP and MPTCP, and the future of the HTTP/3 internet
COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT INSECTICIDE EXPOSURE METHODS TO ASSESS INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE IN MOSQUITOES
No full textMosquito issues related to pathogen transmission and nuisance are handled by mosquito control programs throughout North Carolina and elsewhere. Field trials are a common method for evaluating the efficacy of insecticide-formulated products (FP); however, this method is cumbersome, expensive, and labor-intensive. A novel compact wind tunnel used in a laboratory setting was developed as an alternative method for evaluating FP efficacy and mosquito mortality was compared between the field trial and wind tunnel methods of exposure.
Two different FP (Biomist® 3+15 and Duet®) were applied to wild and laboratory populations of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens/quinquefasciatus. The field trial included FP application via truck-mounted ultra-low volume (ULV) equipment to caged mosquitoes set up in a 9 x 3 grid with 100 ft distances between rows of stations. Mosquitoes were transferred to clean cages immediately post-exposure, incubated at 28°C, and mortality monitored for 36 h. Wind tunnel experiments consisted of exposing each replicate mosquito cage to aerosolized FP for 10 s, following the same post-exposure methods as in the field trial. Mosquito knockdown was recorded 2 h post-exposure, and mortality was recorded at 36 h. Mosquito mortality in the group exposed to FP at 100 ft (closest location to ULV treatment) during the field trial was similar (p>0.05) to mosquitoes exposed in the wind tunnel for Biomist® and Duet®. Mosquito mortality in the group exposed to FP 200 ft and 300 ft from the field trial spray line was similar to the wind tunnel for Duet®, but significantly lower than wind tunnel results for Biomist® (200 ft: p=0.019, 300 ft: p=0.049). There was nearly 100% mortality in the lab Ae. albopictus, wild Ae. albopictus, and lab Cx. pipiens/quinquefasciatus for Biomist® and Duet® in the wind tunnel, but field trial results varied depending on distance from the spray line and mosquito population. Wild Cx. pipiens/quinquefasciatus showed insecticide resistance in both the field trial and wind tunnel experiments for all tested FP. Based on these results, the wind tunnel could be used as a screening step for FP or a potential alternative testing method when field trials are not possible
Addressing Opioid Overdose in Wake County Through Collaboration of EMS and Peer Support Professionals: Executive Summary
No full textThe opioid epidemic continues to be a significant public health crisis in North Carolina (NC), with more than 37,000 opioid-related deaths between 2000 and 2022. In response, Wake County established the Drug Overdose Prevention Coalition and launched the Post-Overdose Response Team (PORT) initiative to decrease opioid overdoses and improve outcomes for people with substance use disorder (SUD). This doctoral project aimed to improve post-overdose care by utilizing certified peer support professionals in the PORT program to conduct a brief, three-question assessment during follow-up visits.
From January to April 2025, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) reported 269 opioid overdose incidents in Wake County. The PORT attempted outreach to 115 individuals (43%) and successfully contacted 36 (31%). Naloxone was the most common resource distributed, and one individual was connected to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Barriers such as housing instability and safety concerns prevented outreach to the remaining 57% of overdose survivors.
The project demonstrated the value of peer support professionals in building trust and engaging overdose survivors, especially when traditional systems often fail to reach this group. However, logistical and engagement challenges limited its overall effect.
This community-based, collaborative approach highlights the potential for peer-led interventions to lower overdose deaths and enhance the quality of life for individuals with SUD in Wake County.D.N.P
INVESTIGATING MITOCHONDRIAL METABOLISM IN HIGH-FAT DIET INDUCED FATTY LIVER DISEASE USING WESTERN BLOT ANALYSIS
No full textFatty liver disease (FLD) is the most prevalent liver disorder in industrialized nations. Although FLD is becoming more common as time goes on, there are no approved pharmaceutical treatments currently for the disease. The lack of approved pharmaceutical treatments makes it critical to understand the underlying metabolic defects contributing to disease progression. This study looks at how the disruption of mitochondrial fatty acid transport, through liver-specific knockouts of carnitine acylcarnitine translocase (CACT) impairs mitochondrial and peroxisomal metabolism, leading to liver toxicity. Mice were fed a high-fat, choline-deficient diet (CDAHFD) to induce fatty liver disease, and were treated with fenofibrate, which is a PPAR-α agonist that is known to enhance fatty acid oxidation. Western blot analysis was used to quantify the expression of proteins involved in mitochondrial function, fatty acid transport, and lipid storage. The western blot results are critical because they show how the CACT deficiency impairs mitochondrial fatty acid transport, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, lipid accumulation, and energy stress. After analysis of the western blots, results do not provide insight indicating that CACT knockout mice show decreased mitochondrial function, leading to the progression of fatty liver disease
Ageism in Hiring: The Influence of Implicit Cues on Perceptions of Candidate Warmth, Competence, Suitability, and Trainability
No full textThis study investigates how implicit age cues in resumes and perceived technology ability influence hiring evaluations. Drawing from the Stereotype Content Model (Fiske et al., 2002), we examine how these cues affect perceptions of warmth and competence, which in turn shape judgments of trainability and suitability. In an experimental design with 588 participants, resumes were manipulated to include subtle age indicators and technology skill levels. Results showed that perceived technology ability significantly predicted warmth in some models, though this effect was not consistently observed across all analyses. Implicit age cues and their interaction did not significantly predict warmth or competence. Warmth did not significantly predict trainability or suitability, nor did it mediate the effects of age-related cues on outcomes. Competence significantly predicted both trainability and suitability, reinforcing its primacy in task-oriented evaluations. This supports prior findings that competence stereotypes play a central role in age-based hiring decisions (Cuddy et al., 2008; Hashim & Wok, 2013). Additionally, raters’ ageist beliefs predicted lower suitability and competence ratings, but higher trainability, suggesting complex prescriptive biases in candidate evaluations (North & Fiske, 2013b). These findings underscore how subtle cues and evaluator biases shape early hiring judgments and highlight the need for more structured, bias-reducing hiring practices (Derous & Decoster, 2017; Green et al., 2020)