Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Insufficient Sleep And Early Class Start Times On U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Health And Performance, Stephanie Osborn

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Emerging adults face a set of unique obstacles that combine to make getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night a challenge. Internally, adolescents and young adults have a biologically based tendency to go to sleep and wake up later. Externally, they may participate in scheduled activities that wake them up early or keep them awake late. One primary obligation that can contribute to short sleep duration in students is early class start times. Emerging adults attending a civilian college may benefit from the ability to set their bedtimes and class schedule. However, their same-aged peers attending a military …

Singers’ Experiences Of Community In The Shenandoah Valley Children’S Choir, Heidi B. King

Masters Theses, 2020-current

In the music and education fields, researchers have explored the ways people experience community in classroom and ensemble settings; however, few studies have focused on the ways adolescents experience community in the children’s choir setting. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore singers’ perspectives of their experience of community in the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir. Fifteen singers participated in focus group interviews to generate primary data; rehearsal observations and document analysis served as secondary data sources. Analysis revealed that participants’ goals and motivations aligned with the stated goals of the organization, and that these shared goals gave …

Multicultural Music Education: Preparedness, Perceptions, And Practice Among Virginia Elementary Music Educators, Benjamin J. Luna

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Benjamin Joel Luna, M. M.

James Madison University, 2021

Supervisor: Lisa M. Maynard

The purpose of this study was to examine the Multicultural Music Education (MME) practices of established (i.e. more than three years of music teaching experience) Elementary Music Teachers in the state of Virginia by examining their responses to a series of survey questions specific to the topic. Participants (N=18) were all current Elementary Music Teachers in the state of Virginia with more than three years of experience.

Participants were asked to use Likert-scale ratings for the majority of the questions but were also given the …

Factors Influencing Student Continuance In Instrumental Music Classes: A Quantitative Analysis, Andrew Duncan

Masters Theses, 2020-current

In this quantitative study I investigated relationships between motivation, music aptitude, academic achievement, race, gender, and instrument type and student continuance in their first year of instrumental music study. Beginning instrumental music students (n = 30) completed the EVC Survey (Kosovich et al., 2015) to determine expectancy, value, and cost. I collected data on music aptitude, gender, race, and instrument type from teacher and school records, and conducted binary logistic regression and Chi-Square tests in order to determine predictors of continuance in instrumental music classes. I excluded gender, race, and instrument type from the logistic regression model because they did …

Online Art Education: Teaching Through A Pandemic, Jordan Pepper

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020, most school systems have been forced to move to online instruction presenting a unique set of unprecedented challenges for art educators. This thesis analyzed what three individual art teachers experienced when transitioning from an in-person art classroom to a virtual one through the use of interviews as the primary source of data collection. This research project examined what art teachers experienced with online art education; how art teachers learned about, adjusted to, or prepared for an online visual art education; and the ways in which art teachers responded to issues of inequity related …

Identifying The Molecular Pathways That Drive Retinal Degeneration In The Childhood Neurodegenerative Disease: Mucolipidosis Type Iv, Michael Pamonag

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Humans, like many other vertebrates, possess five Aristotelian senses (vision, olfaction, hearing, taste, and touch) which we use to experience and navigate our environment. Our visual system is the only source of light detection and light signaling in our bodies. This makes our visual system essential for detecting movement, distance, time of day, and seasonal changes in the length of days within our environment. The visual systems of most animals are designed to capture photons of visible light and convert that energy into a neurological signal (visual signal) to be transmitted to brain regions responsible for visual perception1 . This …

Investigating The Self In Self-Report, Samantha L. Boddy

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Self-report items are ubiquitous in social sciences and services and medical centers. However, there is some concern about whether people are able to accurately report about themselves. One well-known source of concern is social desirability bias (SDB) or socially desirable responding (SDR), which involves people providing overly-positive responses about themselves that better align with social norms than might their actual attitudes or behaviors. However, several researchers (e.g., Brenner & DeLamater, 2016; Hadaway et al., 1998) suggest that a person’s identity in the area of interest may bias their responding. Specifically, that people interpret and respond to items in terms of …

Binge-Watching And The Spacing Effect, Michael R. Austin

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Binge-watching, defined as consuming at least three episodes or three hours of video media in one sitting, is an increasingly prevalent behavior in the digital age. But scant research exists investigating how binge-watching affects memory for what was watched. Literature surrounding the spacing effect, defined as superior memory for information presented repeatedly across longer spans of time, would predict a memory deficit for binged material. However, findings from previous unpublished research by Fogler and colleagues do not align with this prediction. To investigate the dissonance, the aim of this research is to replicate and extend the work of Fogler and …

Is Immediate Flexibility Present In A Vocal Mimic, The Gray Catbird (Dumetella Carolinensis), Across An Urban Gradient?, Shannon K. Eppert

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Increasing urbanization has increased anthropogenic noise levels near developed areas. Urban noise is high amplitude and low-frequency, and these frequencies can overlap with the signals animals use to communicate, including bird songs. Many urban birds sing higher minimum frequencies in urban areas, which avoids some masking by noise, but the mechanism behind this difference is not well understood. Immediate flexibility is the ability to alter song in real-time in the presence of sudden noise, allowing for avoidance of masking and better signal transmission. I investigated if male catbirds increased signal transmission in the presence of anthropogenic versus high-frequency noise playback …

Development Of A String Orchestra Method Book And Online Resources With A Hip-Hop Focus, Emily T. Waters

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The main purpose of this master’s Capstone Project was to create a prototype beginning String Orchestra Method Book, “Stringdom”, and a related Website with resources to accompany the book. The link to the website is: https://emilymthomas10.wixsite.com/stringdom. I had three main objectives or purposes for developing this book: (1) to increase engagement in my orchestra class, and potentially orchestra classes around the country, using music that students already know and love; (2) to increase the representation of artists and composers of color in the string community; and (3) to create a method book that is more accessible and reflects …

A Stable-Isotope Probing Approach To Modeling Bidirectional Nutrient Exchange In The Microcystis Phycosphere, Malia Gardner

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) plague freshwater systems worldwide and are projected to increase in intensity in the coming decades. cHABs damage aquatic ecosystems by blocking light penetration into the water column, creating hypoxic conditions, and releasing toxins. One of the most prolific cHAB formers is the cosmopolitan genus of cyanobacteria Microcystis. Global climate change and anthropogenic loading of nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fuel Microcystis bloom formation. Increasing global temperatures favor Microcystis because of its high optimal growth temperature. N input is of particular importance for Microcystis because it is unable to fix atmospheric N, …

Ecophysiology Of Toxic Bloom-Forming Cyanobacteria And Their Symbionts, Dominique J. Lockwood

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Currently, there is a pernicious microbe in the genus Microcystis that is putting the world’s freshwater resources at risk. A member of the phylum Cyanobacteria, otherwise referred to as blue-green algae, Microcystis forms massive algal blooms in lakes and has the potential to produce a toxin, which does not only harm humans, but also pets, livestock, and aquatic life. As recently as 2016, in the city of Toledo, Ohio, nearly 1 million residents went without clean drinking water for an entire weekend due to one of these Microcystis blooms. However, Microcystis does not only bloom in Ohio. In fact, …

Secondary Music Educators’ Perceptions Of And Relationships With Dominant Narratives Through Personal Philosophy, Pedagogy, And Practice, Kara Levchenko

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Recent calls for contemporary change in music education demand more than just an inclusive environment that prepares artistic citizens for lifelong music after public school. Our society has experienced overwhelming shifts since the introduction of music in the public schools in 1838. Yet, dominant narratives of secondary music ensemble education (SMEE) have been performed and expected as the norm since the establishment of large ensembles (e.g., bands, choirs, and orchestras), taking the stage to perform music of the traditional Western canon. The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods study was to discover ways in which secondary music ensemble teachers …

Relation Between Academic Advisor And Cohort Support With Well-Being In Graduate Students, Morgan Delong

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Well-being issues like the limitations of typical treatment protocols and common mitigating factors for mental health problems for graduate students, specifically the importance of therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLCs) were explored. The current study aims to determine if TLCs, individual engagement in the TLCs as well as support of them by mentors and peers, predict overall well-being, satisfaction with the graduate program, and job stress in masters’ students. This study was conducted during COVID-19 which is a limitation.

Military Religions In Roman Dacia: Patterns Of Epigraphic Dedications In Urban Centers, Jamie Bone

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Roman Dacia, as a frontier province of the Roman Empire, contained a substantial military population throughout its occupation. While this allowed the military to begin as the dominant agent in religious dedications, economic advancement and population growth allowed for a shift to a civilian-oriented dedicant base in major urban centers. This project looks to the epigraphic and archaeological record to examine the demographic information concerning the dedicants to four “military” deities: Mithras, Sol Invictus, IOM Dolichenus, and Mars. Doing so allows for an exploration into the dedicatory participation of the military and civilian populations, particularly in the case of gods …

The Law And The Household: Criminal Courts In Early Twentieth Century Rockingham County, Jennifer Taylor

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This thesis examines the early twentieth century as a period of transition for rural, southern communities where the state began to increase its authority in matters of the family and the household. This prompted a transition from traditional patriarchal authority to state paternalism. Using the criminal court case records from the Rockingham Criminal Court, it is possible to evaluate the rural population’s reaction to this transition. Certain populations, particularly women, were willing to use the law as a place to find justice against male power, while men continued to perpetuate traditional ideas about masculinity and informal, violent retribution as a …

Fucoxanthin: A Review Of Potential Benefits Relative To Human Health, Michael R. White

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid sourced and extracted mainly from dark orange and brown seaweeds found in the pacific ocean, such as the wakame algae. The allenic bonds and unique oxygen groups give fucoxanthin its unique structure and are thought to be part of the reason fucoxanthin has unique physiological functions. Fucoxanthin has potentially numerous effects on the physiology of human health, ranging from skin health to metabolic health, which have been demonstrated in animal model research. The goal of this review is to examine current literature to discuss fucoxanthin’s potential application as a nutraceutical, treatment for obesity, type 2 diabetes, …

“Without Obscuring Deeper Truths:” Interpreting Slavery And Jefferson At Monticello, Andrew Miles

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This thesis examines the paradigmatic shift in interpretation that occurred at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello during the 1980s and 1990s. For decades, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation presented the site as a marvel of architecture, décor, as well as exemplifying Jefferson’s tranquil domestic life and intellectual talents. Beginning in the 1980s, the Foundation began to address slavery at the site. Chapter one introduction of slavery interpretation during this period. Early attempts to interpret slavery became intertwined with the Foundation’s positive portrayal of Jefferson before becoming more varied and provocative in the 1990s. Chapter two examines the parallel evolution in Jefferson scholarship, …

Identifying Rater Effects For Writing And Critical Thinking: Applying The Many-Facets Rasch Model To The Value Institute, Yelisey A. Shapovalov

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Performance assessments require examinees to carry out a process or produce a product and can be designed to have high fidelity to real-world application of higher-order skills. As such, performance assessments are highly valued in higher education settings. However, performance assessment is vulnerable to psychometric challenges that threaten the validity of scores due to the subjective nature of the scoring process. Specifically, raters must exercise judgement to provide scores to examinee work, which may be impacted by rater effects, or systematic differences in how raters evaluate performance assessment artifacts. Research has indicated that performance assessment may never be fully free …

Effects Of First- And Third-Person Point Of View On The Acquisition Of Behaviors Using Video Modeling, Robert Harper Iii

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Video modeling is an evidence-based practice for teaching behaviors and chains of behaviors to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the viewing perspective of these models played a role in influencing a learner’s acquisition of the target behavior or behaviors. An adapted alternating treatments design was used to examine the effects of these different perspectives affected the learning of two similar behavioral chains in a learner with ASD. Video models from both viewing perspectives were provided to the learner with no additional prompting other than brief verbal acknowledgement of a step’s …

Voluntary Alcohol Consumption And Sleep Deprivation In Rats, Aesha Khan

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Alcohol is one of the most common psychoactive drugs and has depressant effects on the central nervous system. The vast majority of research on alcohol and sleep commonly indicates chronic alcohol use has a detrimental impact on sleep architecture and homeostasis. However, less research has been conducted investigating the effects of sleep deprivation on alcohol consumption. Our lab's previous studies have looked at a potential bi-directional relationship between sleep and alcohol with promising results. However, there was concern that the method of sleep deprivation may have resulted in stress. The present study examines the effect of sleep deprivation on voluntary …

The Effect Of Temporal Discounting And Loss Aversion On Mock Plea Bargain Decision-Making, Anisha Patel

Masters Theses, 2020-current

An overwhelming majority of criminal cases in the United States utilize plea bargaining (90-95%). A plea bargain is an agreement between a criminal defendant and a prosecuting attorney where the defendant agrees to plead guilty, or nolo contendre (no contest), to one or more charges to reduce or drop other charges. The decision to accept a plea bargain must be made by the defendant, so a defendant’s ability to make or communicate competent choices regarding a plea bargain is important. However, defendant decision-making in plea bargaining is not sufficiently prevalent in plea bargaining or decision-making literature. While factors such as …

Seeking New Understanding Of Primarycare Policy Constraints: A Qualitative Assessment Of Health Workers And Community Perspectives On The Role Of Communication In The Implementation Of Ghana‘S National Community Health Policy, Mathias Aboba

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Ghana has been implementing the Community-based Health Planning and Service (CHPS) initiative as a national health policy for over twenty years. The CHPS program is designed for delivering Primary Health Care services to under-served population who mostly reside in economically poor and hard to reach locations. Over the years studies looking at various aspects of the operation of the policy have found that community members and other stakeholders lack proper understanding of the program. This study analyzed qualitative data collected in two districts in Northern and Volta Regions of Ghana to assess health workers and community members’ perspectives on the …

Sleeping With Storyville: The Influence Of Media, Race, And Morality In New Orleans’ Red Light District, Tiffany R. Nelson

Masters Theses, 2020-current

In 1897, the red-light district of Storyville was officially consecrated in New Orleans, Louisiana. Storyville encapsulated centuries’ worth of Southern cultural, social, and political values that culminated in the creation of a legally recognized district of vice. New Orleans was an economically situated city, profiting from the business and tourist routes provided by the Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi River. Known throughout the nation for a plethora of negative attributes, such as disease, prostitution, and murder, New Orleans developed a national reputation as a city of immorality, which was only furthered by the creation of a red-light district.

In exploring …

'Why Do They Make Her Wear That?': A Rhetorical Analysis Of Ramy Youssef: Feelings, Rania Zaied

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Muslims have often been portrayed in the media, as violent, barbaric, terrorists, and powerless victims, along with many other misconceptions of negative and stereotypical images. Ramy Youssef: Feelings (2019), is an hour-long stand-up comedy special presented by comic Ramy Youssef, who is a Muslim millennial Egyptian-American man. By conducting a rhetorical analysis of the special, this research combines the method of Critical Rhetoric with two of Lowery and Renegar’s (2016) three frameworks, those being Bicultural Otherness and Self and Culture Deprecating Humor, to analyze Youssef’s comedy special Feelings (2019). This research delineates how the media influences the rhetoric of Muslim …

An Exploration Of Embodiment, Narrative Identity, And Healing In Dungeons And Dragons, Joshua D. Crigger

Masters Theses, 2020-current

An Exploration of Embodiment, Narrative Identity, and Healing in Dungeons and Dragons is composed of two sister articles: the first is titled Me, Myself, and My D&D Character: The Recursive Process of Embodiment and Narrative Identity in Dungeons and Dragons, and the second is titled Dungeons and Dragons as a Site of Healing: Towards Embodied Writing as Healing. Dungeons and Dragons, or D&D, is a fantasy role-playing game where a Dungeon Master, leader and rules referee, leads a group of players acting as fantasy characters, or avatars, through a story together where outcomes are determined by rolling dice. …

Postprandial Exhaled Nitric Oxide Responses In Older And Younger Adults With And Without Acute Exercise, Molly Miller

Masters Theses, 2020-current

A single high fat meal (HFM) increases airway inflammation in young, healthy individuals. Additionally, aging increases airway resistance and inflammation, though the airway inflammatory response to a HFM has not been investigated. Exercise is a natural anti-inflammatory, but has yet to be administered with a HFM as a method to study postprandial airway inflammation in older adults. Purpose: To investigate whether older individuals have greater postprandial airway inflammation compared to younger counterparts, and to explore whether exercise may modify the postprandial airway response in older adults. Methods: 12 younger adults (23.3±3.9 years; 5 M/7 F) and 12 older adults (67.7±6 …

Ecofascist “Snakeoil” And The Imperative Of Racializing Environmental Justice For The 21st Century: A Burkean Rhetorical Criticism Of Contemporary Ecofascist Manifestos, Lantz Shifflett

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Ecofascism of the 21^st century is a revival of centuries-old white nationalist fascism integrated with a concern for environmental issues from the last few decades. Designated by their writers as “manifestos,” three ecofascists have widely disseminated their documents online just before committing acts of racially motivated terrorism in three different countries. Furthermore, these manifestos provide a lens into contemporary ecofascist conspiracies as well as their own concocted “snakeoils” that present their ecofascist agendas in the form of rhetorical “curatives” to environmental issues of pollution. These “cures” are grounded in a new “green nationalism” that attempts to disguise the white …

Antidepressants, Circadian Rhythms, And Cognition: The Effects Of Ssris And Snris On Circadian Rhythms And Cognitive Performance, Gabriel Gilmore

Masters Theses, 2020-current

It has been well documented that individuals with depression commonly experience sleep disturbances. Decreased sleep quality, diminished sleep efficiency, and increased nighttime awakenings are all typical ailments. Deficits in cognitive functioning often co-occur, including impairments in working memory, learning, inhibition, and set shifting. Many studies have found that upon taking antidepressants (i.e. serotonin agonists), individuals with depression experience normalized sleep and cognitive performance. The impact of antidepressants, especially SSRIs and SNRIs, on sleep stages, particularly REM and slow wave sleep, has been the subject of numerous studies. However, there is currently very limited literature that examines their impact on sleep …

Comparing The Effect Of Four Propagation Techniques On Hybrid Chestnut Seedling Quality, Taylor Evans

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Extensive resources have been used to breed hybrid chestnuts for reintroduction into the historical range of the American chestnut (Castanea dentata). Improving seedling quality is an efficacious method to improving restoration outcomes and nursery propagation methods can be selected to improve seedling quality, increasing the likelihood of survival. Four production methods (bed grown, air prune beds, container grown, and the Root Production Method®) and three media types (field soil, peat-perlite-vermiculite mix, and pine bark-rice hulls-sand mix) were compared across four measures of seedling quality (height, root collar diameter, root volume, and number of first order lateral roots) to …