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Free Church, Free State, Free Conscience: Baptist Ecclesiology and Church-State Attitudes in the Mid-Twentieth-Century United States
No full textOpen Access ArticleThis article explores the connection between the ecclesiology and the beliefs on church-state relations of Baptists in the mid-twentieth-century United States. The author analyzes white Baptists’ reactions to the US Supreme Court rulings in Everson v. Board of Education (1947) and McCollum v. Board of Education (1948), both of which inaugurated the modern era of strict separationist Establishment Clause jurisprudence. The author also traces the development of Baptist beliefs on how the institutional church relates to individual salvation—beliefs that distinguished Baptists from both Catholics and most other Protestants—and statements from US Baptist leadership supporting church-state separation. The author demonstrates that Baptists’ beliefs on the internal, individualistic, and non-sacramental nature of salvation induced them to see any government-sponsored religious activity as likely corrupting of a person’s genuine choice of salvation. Furthermore, Baptists’ origins as a persecuted minority in Europe and the United States reinforced their idea that government-sponsored religion would lead to the suppression of true Christianity. For both reasons, then, state-sponsored religion was not God’s design. Beginning with Everson and McCollum and continuing with later cases through the 1960s, Baptist’s strict separationism became the binding interpretation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause through Justice Hugo Black, who authored both the Everson and McCollum majority opinions. Although no longer a Baptist when the rulings were issued, Black retained his Baptist influence on church-state issues and enshrined strict separationism into American case law for decades, leading to a Baptist triumph that many Baptists themselves would later regret and attempt to reverse
Towards Neurorobotic Interface for Finger Joint Angle Estimation: A Multi-Stage CNN-LSTM Network with Transfer Learning
No full textTo maximize the autonomy of individuals with
upper limb amputations in daily activities, leveraging forearm
muscle information to infer movement intent is a promising
research direction. While current prosthetic hand technologies
can utilize forearm muscle data to achieve basic movements
such as grasping, accurately estimating finger joint angles
remains a significant challenge. Therefore, we propose a
Multi-Stage Cascade Convolutional Neural Network with Long
Short-Term Memory Network, where an upsampling module
is introduced before the downsampling module to enhance
model generalization. Additionally, we designed a transfer
learning (TL) framework based on parameter freezing, where
the pre-trained downsampling module is fixed, and only the
upsampling module is updated with a small amount of out-ofdistribution
data to achieve TL. Furthermore, we compared the
performance of unimodal and multimodal models, collecting
surface electromyography (sEMG) signals, brightness mode
ultrasound images (B-mode US images), and motion capture
data simultaneously. The results show that on the validation
set, the US image had the lowest error, while on the prediction
set, the four-channel sEMG achieved the lowest error. The
performance of the multimodal model in both datasets was
intermediate between the unimodal models. On the prediction
set, the average normalized root mean square error values for
the four-channel sEMG, US images, and sensor fusion models
across three subjects were 0.170, 0.203, and 0.186, respectively.
By utilizing advanced sensor fusion techniques and TL, our
approach can reduce the need for extensive data collection
and training for new users, making prosthetic control more
accessible and adaptable to individual needs
Make the Song Cry: a Critical Exploration of "Best Interests" Decisions in Two U.S. Systems Through the Counterstorytelling Songs of Black Young Adult Women
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationUsing an innovative culturally-grounded methodology informed by Critical Race Feminism, this dissertation is a critical examination of the historical foundations and current applications of "best interests" criteria used in the U.S. child welfare and juvenile justice systems to make determinations regarding placement decisions for children/youth. To inform interpretations of "best interests" practices, this dissertation utilized novel approaches to qualitative methods and counterstorytelling methodologies to engage Black young adult women study participants who reflected on their childhood/adolescent experiences in the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems. Inspired by the reflections of these Black young adult women, this dissertation introduces songwriting as a form of counterstorytelling and demonstrates how this new methodological approach to counterstorytelling was used to grapple with the implications of "best interests" decisions on the experiences of Black girls navigating child welfare and/or juvenile justice environments. Together, the chapters challenge the "best interests" precedent and its meaning and impact on the lives of Black girls
State of Health and State of Charge Based Control for Battery Management Systems
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationTo ensure safe and efficient operation of battery systems, battery management systems (BMS) are utilized. The work presented in this dissertation focuses on addressing some of the challenges associated with BMS for battery-powered applications. The topics of this dissertation mainly include battery state of health (SOH) estimation, battery health-aware control, battery cell balancing, and power electronic topologies for battery systems. Chapter 1 provides an overview of BMS functions along with some challenges associated with the state-of-the-art battery systems. Chapter 2 presents data-driven impedance-based SOH estimation for lithium-ion batteries across a SOH range of ~96% to ~60%. Battery health indicators at the transition frequency of the battery impedance Nyquist plot are utilized to develop an SOH estimator based on an artificial neural network (ANN). In addition, two more ANN-based SOH estimators utilizing some impedance magnitude and phase values are developed. Spearman correlation analysis is utilized to identify the frequency points at which the impedance magnitude and phase values show strong correlations with SOH values for utilization as SOH indicators. The performance evaluation of the developed SOH estimators shows that the developed SOH estimators are capable of accurately estimating the SOH. The SOH estimation model development presented in chapter 4 provides a framework that can be followed for batteries of different chemistries and characteristics. Chapter 3 presents a health-aware control scheme for battery systems. To enhance battery systems' energy utilization and prolong their lifetime, bidirectional module-level DC-DC converters are utilized to manage the charging and discharging rates for every module in the battery pack based on every module's SOH. The presented controller adjusts the rate at which energy is supplied from or received by each battery module according to the module's SOH value without a need to communicate control commands and/or information between battery modules in the pack. The presented health-aware control scheme eliminates the effects/drawbacks of direct series and parallel connections between battery modules. When battery modules of different health levels are directly connected, the battery module with low health discharges and charges at a faster rate than healthy battery modules. As a result, unhealthy battery modules reach their minimum and maximum allowed voltage levels before other modules which forces the BMS to stop the battery pack operation which limits the energy utilization of battery packs. Also, operating battery systems with direct series/parallel connections results in accelerated aging of battery modules. The presented control scheme is implemented in series, parallel, and series-parallel battery module converters. Voltage (or state of charge "SOC") balancing between batteries is needed to allow for a better utilization of the battery back energy. This is because, without balancing, batteries with low/high voltage (SOC) will force the BMS to interrupt the system operation although other batteries can still supply/receive energy. Chapter 4 presents a current-mode controller for switched-inductor battery balancing topology to achieve voltage (SOC) balancing between battery cells or modules in a battery pack while operating at peak efficiency. The presented method yields several advantages and/or eliminates several drawbacks of the existing conventional fixed duty cycle scheme. Among these advantages: 1) the balancing current is well controlled instead of being a function of battery cells' voltages and system parasitic elements, which might result in exceeding the current ratings of the components, and 2) the balancing current reference is selected such that the balancing circuit operates at its maximum efficiency point and, therefore, yielding lower balancing power losses. Also, the battery balancing algorithm achieves open circuit voltage balancing, which is a more accurate indicator of SOC compared to terminal voltage. Experimental results obtained from a laboratory prototype are presented to evaluate the presented current control and balancing method under different modes of operation. In Chapter 5, a flexible multi-battery system with active balancing and voltage regulation is presented. The presented battery system allows for achieving active balancing between batteries connected in series/parallel and can operate with a smaller number of batteries while still achieving balancing and load voltage regulation. These features make the presented system suitable for applications where energy supply continuity is highly desired. Experimental results obtained from a laboratory prototype are presented to evaluate the features of the battery system. Chapter 6 summarizes this dissertation's work, provides conclusions, and discusses some potential directions for future research related to the work in this dissertation
Implementation Facilitation Activities Used by an External Facilitator in a Quality Improvement Intervention
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationImplementation facilitation is a dynamic, multi-faceted practice that supports both the execution and sustainability of interventions, but there is limited understanding of how implementation facilitation activities are carried out. This knowledge gap may have implications for facilitator training and the long-term success of facilitated interventions. Previous studies have relied mainly on interviews with facilitators. To address this gap, this study examines transcripts of recorded meetings between an implementation facilitator and nursing home leadership teams during a complex, psychosocial quality improvement intervention. This study analyzed transcripts from 24 meetings across two nursing home sites, using Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analytical approach (2021). The study identified three themes regarding facilitation activities used by an implementation facilitator: (1) Building Relationships with the Team Through a Compassionate and Strength-Focused Approach; (2) Fostering Critical Thinking of Resident Care Practices; and (3) Co-designing Goals and Action Plans. The theme of fostering critical thinking also highlighted the active involvement of the leadership team in these discussions. This research deepens our understanding of facilitation practices and offers insights for improving the training of facilitators and the design of implementation efforts, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of interventions in healthcare settings
Elucidating the Origin of Type Ia Supernovae Via the Double Detonation Scenario
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationObservations of Type Ia supernovae have been crucial for several fundamental advancements in astronomy and cosmology, most notably the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe. While there is general consensus that Type Ia supernovae arise from the explosions of white dwarfs, considerable debate remains regarding their precise progenitor systems and explosion mechanisms. Many origin scenarios have been proposed over the past several decades to varying degrees of success, yet no model, or collection of models, has been able to completely explain the nature of most observed Type Ia supernovae. One of the currently favored scenarios is the double detonation, which may occur in helium-shelled sub-Chandrasekhar white dwarfs that have a stellar companion. In the double detonation scenario, a detonation is triggered in the helium shell of the white dwarf as it begins to merge with its companion. This sends a shockwave inward, triggering a complete detonation of the carbon/oxygen core. While promising, double detonation models have been incongruent with observations of normal Type Ia supernovae until very recently, primarily due to issues involving a relatively thick helium shell. In this dissertation, I present my efforts to advance our understanding of the double detonation scenario and its candidacy as a Type Ia supernova channel, in addition to a method to generate more accurate synthetic observables from supernova models. First, I present a suite of multidimensional thin shell double detonation models, which was the first of its kind. This set of thin shell models were later shown to broadly reproduce the observed diversity of Type Ia supernovae. I also present the first multidimensional synthetic observables from the triple and quadruple detonation scenarios, recently proposed models in which the companion also undergoes a detonation. I find that these models mimic real Type Ia supernovae nearly as well as typical double detonations do, challenging the conventional view that Type Ia supernovae arise from the explosions of individual white dwarfs. Lastly, I show a novel method which can produce high-accuracy observables from multidimensional models at low computational cost, easing a constraint that has burdened comparisons between theory and observation
The Rhetorical Disengagement Phenomenon of Quiet Quitting in Organizational Behavior: Harmful Leadership, Muteness and Power
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationThis dissertation investigates the antecedents, mechanisms and outcomes of quiet quitting, focusing on the role of leadership behaviors and employee burnout. Invoking conservation of resources theory and muted group theory over the course of three empirical studies, this dissertation examines quiet quitting as a potential coping response to resource depletion and workplace muting of voice behaviors. Studies 1 and 2 employed a longitudinal survey design collecting data across four time points. Study 3 utilized the same survey scales to collect a single round of surveys from non-profit workers. Data were collected from U.S. employees identifying as employed full-time via Prolific.com. Moderated mediation analyses were used in all three studies to test proposed hypotheses. Study 1 interrogated the effects of supervisor undermining on job performance, organizational leadership behaviors (OCBs) and turnover intent via burnout with quiet quitting as a moderator between X and Y. Study 2 examined abusive supervision's impact on perceptions of interpersonal justice and quiet quitting with voice behaviors as a moderator of the relationship between X and Y. Study 3 focused on the non-profit sector to examine how supervisor undermining moderates the relationship between intrinsic motivation, affective commitment, burnout and quiet quitting, with transformational leadership added in post hoc analysis to discern any differences in positive vs. negative leadership behaviors. Findings across all studies indicate that harmful leadership behaviors consistently negatively influence burnout. While quiet quitting does not emerge concretely as a mitigating influence, its moderating role is statistically significant in several analyses. All three studies indicate quiet quitting serves as a symptom of disengagement and organizational disfunction. This dissertation contributes to nascent scholarship empirically defining quiet quitting and exploring its manifestation as both a coping mechanism and a muted strategy for resistance
Tensegrity and Soft Robots for Mobility and Manipulation in Unstructured Space Environments
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationAs mobile robots continue to venture further into harsh environments with unknown terrain, there is a growing need for affordable, robust options. This dissertation focuses on designing and modeling unconventional robots with embodied intelligence that can overcome non-uniform terrain where a priori information may not be available. Three robots designed based on this need are discussed. The Tensegrity eXploratory Robot, TeXploR, is a multi-point-of-contact system capable of piecewise-continuous rolling locomotion. The curved-links enable rolling like that of a sphere, and discontinuous endpoints provide stability. This makes TeXploR well-suited for unstructured exploration in space applications such as rolling within lunar craters. A static modeling framework borrows concepts from differential geometry and is generalizable to other robot morphologies. Holonomic constraints prove that TeXploR is a hybrid system switching between four states. Static equilibrium tests experimentally validate simulated results with a MAE of 4.36° on a preliminary prototype. The modeling framework is extended to dynamics with a non-holonomic rolling constraint. The design of a new prototype is described, and dynamic rolling experiments with an impact are performed. The Redundant, Extrinsically-Actuated Continuum Handling (REACH) robot is a tensegrity manipulator cable-driven via four motor tendon actuators fixed at the base. Rigid manipulators maintain a high strength-to-mass ratio but lack compliance, and soft/continuum manipulators are conformable but severely limited in lifting. The REACH robot offers a compromise; the low CoM and tensegrity nature provides a high lifting capacity while remaining flexible. A dynamic modeling framework with a recursive Newton-Euler algorithm is proposed. The system design of the REACH robot is discussed with dynamic manipulation and non-linear experiments shown. A soft robot equipped with a microspine array provides a solution for constrained environments where the two previous designs may not be feasible, such as traversing a boulder-like asteroid surface. Field tests are performed on four surfaces with varying roughness. These microspines grip onto asperities, increasing traversability/repeatability regardless of surface topography. Finally, the performance of semantic segmentation networks is discussed. The networks are trained on a custom, multimodal dataset targeting dynamic vehicles of interest with high accuracy on-the-edge. Future work includes modifying/deploying these networks onto the REACH robot
The Unique Contributions of Pretend Play Types to Skill Acquisition: a New Curriculum
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationResearch supports the notion that play is an important context for learning and development. Participation in play has been linked to developmental gains in cognition, communication, and socio-emotional intelligence (Ashiabi, 2007; Lai et al., 2018; Ogura, 1991). In more recent research, investigators have shifted focus to examine if the type of play (i.e., structured versus unstructured or fantastical versus realistic) matters regarding skill development (e.g., Colliver et al., 2022; Thibodeau et al., 2016; Thibodeau et al., 2020; Veraksa et al., 2022). However, results are mixed and appear to be dependent on the skill or developmental area being targeted. The current research aimed to investigate the unique influence of two common pretend play types (fantastical and sociodramatic) on skill development, specifically, in the promotion of executive functioning and social-emotional development. Participants included 138 preschool children who were assigned by classroom to one of three conditions: fantastical pretend play, sociodramatic pretend play; or business-as-usual (control). The study took place over 5-weeks, with teachers leading 15-minute play sessions outlined in their assigned curriculum every school day. Significant differences emerged between the conditions at posttest and interactions with attendance were found for the social-emotional outcomes. Implications for dissemination are discussed, and suggestions for future directions are given
Longitudinal Cognitive Diagnostic Models: Item Parameter Drift Detection, Missing Data Analysis, and Three-Step Approach
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationThis dissertation explored three related but independent studies that provide insight into application and methodological issues in [multilevel] longitudinal cognitive diagnosis model (CDM). The first study proposes the Wald test to detect item parameter drift (IPD) in longitudinal assessment through simulation and empirical study. Results from the simulation study show that high item quality consistently reduces the overall Type I error rate even for smaller sample sizes of 500. The findings also show that conditions with small IPD sizes have acceptable levels of empirical power with favorable conditions such as large sample sizes and high item quality. In the second study, we explored the impact of missing rates, missing patterns, and missing mechanisms in longitudinal CDM with the transition diagnostic classification model (TDCM) across three time points. The findings show that item quality accounted for a larger variation in parameter recovery, followed by sample size for conditions without missing data. When missing conditions were introduced, only item quality influenced parameter recovery. Also, item quality plays a crucial role in classification. The final study focused on multilevel longitudinal CDM in which we assessed the effectiveness of an educational intervention program and the impact of teacher's gender and students course level using the three-step approach with students nested within teachers. We obtained several findings. For example, at the pre-test level, none of the covariates influence the chemistry concepts of high school students. At the transition state, course level has a significant impact on the transition from nonmastery to mastery and the transition from mastery to nonmastery of reaction mechanism and nuclear chemistry suggesting that students may have engaged in careless responses behavior like guessing