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A Mindful Search For Basic Writing Identities: Constellating Contemplative Classroom Pedagogies, Classroom Community Circles, And Critical Discourse Analysis In A Cultural Rhetorics Ecology, Elizabeth Edwards Weems

English Theses & Dissertations

Many Basic Writing students have stories which are informed by traumas, othering, and marginalization. Finding pedagogies which address students’ stories, in addition to meeting academic goals, is crucial. Sometimes, students question how improving their reading and writing skills can help them navigate other areas of their education and experiences, especially their lives outside of academia. I have worked to create a kairotic pedagogy which invites students to read and write ‘the word and the world’ (Freire, 1970; 1988). Using Contemplative Classroom Pedagogies, I attempted to follow Freire’s (1992) call to make “teaching a creative act, a critical act, and not …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Self-Identified Politically Conservative Students In Graduate Counseling Programs In Public Universities, Elizabeth A. Orrison

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Professionals within the fields of social science predominantly identify as liberal (Woessner & Kelly-Woessner, 2015) and many issues related to politics, such as power and oppression, are inherent and central to the social science fields (Lerner, 2020). Past research has shown the potential for political bias in academia, which has been linked to the lack of representation of various political identities. Most research on political academic bias is not current, making it difficult to find relevant research on this topic published within the last ten years. Currently, there has been no identified research or scholarly production that specifically explores self-identified …

Dental Hygiene Students Reported Physiological Symptoms Associated With Wearing An N95 Respirator Mask, Peyton Shea Butler

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: Physiological symptoms and comfort levels while wearing an N95 respiratory mask has not been examined with dental hygienists. The purpose of this study was to investigate dental hygiene students reported physiological symptoms and comfort perception while wearing an N95 respirator mask during patient care appointments. Methods: After IRB approval (IRB #1987754-2), a 16-item questionnaire was distributed through email to a convenience sample of 65 dental hygiene students. Questions assessed respiratory, dermatologic, cardiac, mask mouth and general physiological symptoms, as well as comfort levels. Additionally, participants were asked to respond to demographic questions and one open ended question inquiring about …

The Effects Of Self-Regulated Learning On Community College Students Metacognition, Motivation And Achievement In Geoscience Courses, Melani A. Loney

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of training in self-regulated learning on community college, geoscience students’ achievement, metacognition, time management, and science motivation scales. The study also investigated the impact of SRL training on these outcomes as a function of gender and ethnicity. During the Fall of 2022, 70 community college geoscience students from 9 different classes participated in the study. The classes were bifurcated with one half of the students in each class randomly assigned to the SRL treatment and the other half to the control condition. Each week, for 10 weeks during the semester, students in the treatment group …

Emotional Intelligence In Difficult Decision-Making: A Multiple-Case Study Of Community College Academic Deans, Ekaterina Kalinina Brooks

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The decisions made by leaders noticeably impact employee morale and influence the fulfillment of the organizational mission. However, making decisions can be challenging when options are complex and involve multiple risks and benefits. Navigating such decisions in an era of technology when decisions are more transparent than ever before can be particularly difficult for academic deans in community colleges. These mid-level administrators often face internal conflicts stemming from the nature of their positions, campus politics, and the challenge of working between the competing interests of faculty and senior leaders.

Over the last three decades, research has pointed out that strong …

Machine Learning Approach To Activity Categorization In Young Adults Using Biomechanical Metrics, Nathan Q. C. Holland

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Inactive adults often have decreased musculoskeletal health and increased risk factors for chronic diseases. However, there is limited data linking biomechanical measurements of generally healthy young adults to their physical activity levels assessed through questionnaires. Commonly used data collection methods in biomechanics for assessing musculoskeletal health include but are not limited to muscle quality (measured as echo intensity when using ultrasound), isokinetic (i.e., dynamic) muscle strength, muscle activations, and functional movement assessments using motion capture systems. These assessments can be time consuming for both data collection and processing. Therefore, understanding if all biomechanical assessments are necessary to classify the activity …

Structural Insights Into The Cl-Par-4 Protein: Ionic Requirements, Conformational Transitions, And Interaction With Cisplatin, Krishna Kumar Raut

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Cancer continues to be the leading global cause of death, with challenges in early diagnosis, drug resistance, non-specific drug targeting, and cancer recurrence and metastasis posing formidable obstacles in cancer therapy. In this context, Prostate Apoptosis Response-4 (Par-4), a pro-apoptotic tumor suppressor protein, emerged as a promising therapeutic target due to its ability to selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells, thereby minimizing the drug-associated adverse effects. However, a comprehensive understanding of the structural features of Par-4, specifically the caspase-cleaved fragment (cl-Par-4), is crucial for therapeutic advancements.

This dissertation investigated the effects of various ions, both monovalent and divalent, on the …

Do Microplastics, Vibrio Bacteria, And Warming Water Temperatures Cause Disease In The Northern Star Coral, Astrangia Poculata?, Heather Leigh Sheffey

OES Theses and Dissertations

As marine plastic pollution increases, it becomes imperative to study the effects of microplastics on marine fauna. Marine plastic debris is a vector for disease to marine invertebrates (Lamb et al., 2018; Rotjan et al., 2019). In this context, studies have shown Astrangia poculata will consume microplastics as they do their normal food (Allen et al, 2017; Rotjan et al., 2019). Further, with temperatures increasing worldwide, there is a concern the virulence of disease-causing bacteria will increase (Vezzulli et al., 2015). In a series of manipulative laboratory experiments, this study quantified changes in respiration rates and visual health of Astrangia …

Genotyping Of The Tick-Borne Pathogen Rickettsia Parkeri, Rebecca Lynn Ferrara

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Rickettsia parkeri is a pathogen of interest to public health as the causative agent of R. parkeri rickettsiosis. Amblyomma maculatum, a vector of R. parkeri, is currently undergoing a range expansion out of its historic range along the Gulf Coast of the United States, including northwards into Southeastern Virginia. Within this expansion front, the prevalence of R. parkeri within A. maculatum differs from the historic range; the historic range has a prevalence of 7.9- 38.6% while the expansion front in SE VA has a prevalence of 41.8-55.7%. While the reason for this disparity has not been established, one …

Tracing And Segmentation Of Molecular Patterns In 3-Dimensional Cryo-Et/Em Density Maps Through Algorithmic Image Processing And Deep Learning-Based Techniques, Salim Sazzed

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

Understanding the structures of biological macromolecules is highly important as they are closely associated with cellular functionalities. Comprehending the precise organization of actin filaments is crucial because they form the dynamic cytoskeleton, which offers structural support to cells and connects the cell’s interior with its surroundings. However, determining the precise organization of actin filaments is challenging due to the poor quality of cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) images, which suffer from low signal-to-noise (SNR) ratios and the presence of missing wedge, as well as diverse shape characteristics of actin filaments. To address these formidable challenges, the primary component of this dissertation focuses …

Modified Vaccine Vectors To Understand Adjuvant Functions Of Listeria During Chronic Schistosomiasis, Stephanie K. Norwood

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Vaccination is one of the most effective strategies employed to prevent infectious diseases. Successful vaccination is dependent upon the induction of a specific, robust, and prolonged immune response. One of the major challenges faced by vaccine development is vaccine failure due to host-related factors that can modulate the immune system, which leads to non-responsiveness to vaccinations. The generation of new vaccine strategies is imperative to combat these effects. Live bacterial vectors are one approach used as they can elicit humoral immunity, cellular immunity, or both. Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram positive, intracellular pathogen that is an effective bacterial vaccine vector …

Fabrication Of Smooth Sac305 Thin Films Via Magnetron Sputtering And Evaluations Of Microstructure, Creep, And Electrical Resistivity, Manish Ojha

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

SAC305 (96.5%Sn-3%Ag-0.5%Cu) is the leading alternative to the traditional Sn-Pb solder eutectic alloy owing to its low melting temperature, better compatibility with other components, and excellent mechanical/structural properties. In the realm of modern electronics, where devices are increasingly miniaturized, the design and characterization of thin solder joints become paramount. The orientation and size of the grains within the solder can influence its ability to withstand mechanical stresses. However, research on SAC thin films remains sparse, and these films present unique challenges and characteristics compared to their bulk counterparts, influenced by factors like interfaces, stresses, thickness, microstructure, and the nature of …

Relationship Between Learning Communities And Campus Residency On Sense Of Belonging Among First Year Undergraduates, Lanah Kathryn Stafford

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

In higher education, sense of belonging has been linked to improved outcomes such as retention and academic achievement (e,g., Pittman & Richmond, 2007). Previous research has also identified participation in learning communities and campus residency as interventions which improve sense of belonging for students in this context (e.g., Solanki et al., 2019; Soria & Roberts, 2021). However, little research has been conducted to empirically study sense of belonging as a multidimensional construct, and no research has investigated interactions between on-campus residency and learning community participation on its development.

Data were collected from 1,072 first-year students on the Sense of Belonging …

Cheiloscopy Examination And Classification Of Lip Prints With And Without Parafunctional Oral Habits: A Cross-Sectional Observation Study, Emily Smith Regan

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Problem: Lip prints are unique and have potential for use as a human identifier. The purpose of this study was to observe possible cheiloscopy differences of individuals with and without parafunctional oral habits. Additionally, inter-rater reliability (IRR) of lip print examiners was observed. Methods: This IRB approved blinded cross-sectional observational study collected lip prints from sixty-six individuals using lipstick and adhesive tape to transfer lip prints to white bond paper for viewing purposes. Each set of included lip prints was divided into quadrants and dichotomized as those with or without an oral parafunctional habit. Each quadrant sample was manually analyzed …

Help-Seeking Behavior Among Resettled Refugee, Mahfoudha Sid’Elemine

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

The refugee resettlement process is a huge part of refugees’ journeys in their new countries that has a lasting impact on their long-term integration. The literature highlights the importance of trust for successful refugee resettlement. This dissertation, however, challenges assumptions about the primary importance of “trust” and argues that the importance of trust is relative and can depend on the nature of the resettlement program and the perspective and background of refugees. In other words, there is not a one-size-fits-all of trust building in the context of resettlement. For certain resettlement programs trust building can be counterproductive when resources are …

Pulsed Electric Field Ablation: Mechanisms Of Differential Cell Sensitivity And Methods To Mitigate Neuromuscular Excitation, Emily Gudvangen

Biomedical Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Ablation therapies aim to destroy tumors while maintaining minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Pulsed electric field (PEF) ablation targets the cell membrane during the destruction of tissues, which consequently spares extracellular structures such as ducts and blood vessels, leaving the framework for tissue regeneration. However, the utility of PEF is limited by neuromuscular excitation, causing pain and involuntary muscle contraction. To identify PEF protocols that efficiently ablate tissue while minimizing neuromuscular stimulation, various PEF protocols differing in pulse duration, shape, and repetition rate were tested. The ratio of cell death and nerve excitation thresholds, which determines the range of …

Nightmares And Self-Injury Among High-Risk Adolescents: Examining The Role Of Emotion Regulation, Kinjal K. Patel

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) are a public health concern among youth. SITB rates rise drastically during adolescence -- a critical and sensitive developmental period characterized by dramatic changes in biological and social systems. Prior research has identified distal risk factors which tell us who is at risk for SITBs. Emerging research suggests proximal risk factors may be useful to identify when an individual may be at risk for SITBs. One promising proximal risk factor for SITBs is sleep problems. Although the relation between sleep problems and SITBs has been widely documented, little is known about the short-term, proximal links …

Using Multiple Modes Of Learning In A High School Genetic Engineering Lesson, Hannah Stuart

Inclusive Strategies for Teaching Secondary Mathematics and Science

The goal of this article is to discuss a genetic engineering lesson presented to high school biology students to obtain mastery of the Biology Standard of Learning (BIO.5e) associated with genetic engineering products and practices. The lesson described in this article follows the 5E lesson plan model. Therefore, the article will describe the 5Es used in the creation and implementation of this lesson: engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate. This article focuses on the use of resources and activities that appeal to students with varying learning styles and looks at the effectiveness of individualized teacher-student attention during individual practice time. …

Microscope Investigations: An Inquiry-Based Cell Lab, Joshua Whittaker, R. Whitlow

Inclusive Strategies for Teaching Secondary Mathematics and Science

This lesson is a collaborative effort between a student teacher and a cooperating senior teacher to design and implement an engaging and exploratory microscope lab for 7th-grade students. The goal of this lesson is to cultivate excitement, interest, and exploration in students who are new to using microscopes, aligning with the Virginia 7th Grade Life Science Standards of Learning on cells and cell theory. This lab incorporates two microscope stations—one focusing on fundamental skills and the other on inquiry-based exploration. By employing the 5E model of instruction, this paper details how students progress through engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation …

A Cellular Division Called Mitosis, Betsy Kent

Inclusive Strategies for Teaching Secondary Mathematics and Science

In biology, cellular reproduction is a fundamental process that ensures the growth and repair of living organisms. This article will detail the lesson that meets the needs of students with disabilities by applying several Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. The plan will be taught over a span of five days and focus on the fundamental process that allows living organisms to grow, repair damaged tissues, and reproduce. The students will have several hands-on activities that will enhance the lecture part of the lesson. Understanding cellular reproduction is crucial in comprehending the complexity and resilience of life itself.

Teaching Cells To Diverse Learners In The Modern Classroom, Avery Tully

Inclusive Strategies for Teaching Secondary Mathematics and Science

During this lesson, my main focus was to engage students in deeper learning about the importance of cells and all the aspects of structure, function, and history. My classroom is extremely diverse as I teach in Northern Virginia, a true melting pot. I have attached the population of minorities in Northern Virginia. This shows that over half of the population is minorities, well over the national average. You will also see the graph of ESOL homes in Northern Virginia. This graph shows that over 35% of homes in Northern Virginia speak another primary language other than English in their homes.

Complex Dynamics Of Contention: Towards A Generative Model Of Social Dissent, Travis Holmes

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

In 2003, McAdam et al. released their seminal work Dynamics of Contention as a challenge to scholars within the field of contentious politics. In it, they claimed that the field required a refocusing from static and topical arguments splintered into various disciplines, to a more unified research agenda in search of causal mechanisms. In the spirit of their work, this study seeks to revisit this original critique considering more recent scholarship in the fields of Complexity and Systems Sciences along with certain technological advances in the field of computational social science, namely, the Agent-Based Model (ABM). In addition, both computational …

Organic Carbon Decay Mediated By Mesopelagic Microbial Communities, Noah Jonathan Craft

OES Theses and Dissertations

Substantial remineralization of organic carbon occurs in the mesopelagic zone (i.e., the biological pump), the efficiency of which is responsible for the oceans’ capacity to store carbon originally derived from the atmosphere. To better understand how a substrate’s composition influences its degradation by mesopelagic microbial communities, we added treatments made of live algal cells, dead particulate organic carbon and dissolved organic carbon from ¹⁴C-labeled algal cultures to mesopelagic water collected in-situ. Each incubation took place in the laboratory over a period of months, during which PO¹⁴C, DO¹⁴C, ATP, prokaryote abundances and biochemical fractions were measured. …

Investigation Of Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields (Nspef) Induced Anti-Cancer Mechanism And Enhanced B16f10 Melanoma Cancer Treatment, Kamal Asadipour

Biomedical Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The use of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) has emerged as a promising area of research with vast implications across various scientific disciplines. The ability to generate ultra-short, high-voltage electric pulses has paved the way for numerous applications, ranging from fundamental investigations of biological phenomena to the development of innovative medical therapies. The aim of this thesis is to highlight the importance of nsPEF in two critical areas: 1) Understanding the impact of subtle postpulse waveforms through a comprehensive analysis of two common pulse generators and 2) using this knowledge to advance melanoma treatment by enhancing the therapeutic effect of …

Biomechanical Adaptations While Performing Bilateral Drop Landings With A Unilateral Ankle Tape Application, Eric Daniel Jenkins

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Ankle sprains are the most common injury in sport and exercise performance, which makes the utilization of ankle taping a common procedure to both prevent potential sprain, as well as protect against reinjury. However, unilateral ankle taping may have unintended consequences on the mechanics of the ankle and other joints of both legs. The aim of this dissertation was to determine the effects of ankle taping on lower body kinetics and kinematics, stiffness, and coordination during a bilateral landing task.

Twelve female participants completed a total of 90 drop landings across two visits, randomized from landing platforms of 30, 45, …

Third-Party Reactions To Performance Feedback, Daroon Mohammed Jalil

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Although the provision of feedback has traditionally been treated as a dyadic event, I argue for the existence of a neglected third-party - the witness. Drawing from the dual process model of vicarious mistreatment and feedback intervention theory, I hypothesize that 1) third parties experience negative [positive] affect when witnessing an unjust [just] feedback event, 2) negative [positive] affect is stronger when feedback cues are self-referenced [task-referenced], and 3) negative [positive] affect is related to a subsequent decrease [increase] in feedback seeking intentions. Results from a 2x2 between-subjects experiment with 470 participants provide partial support for the hypotheses. Third-parties experienced …

Monarch Science Observer, Volume 17, College Of Sciences, Old Dominion University

College of Sciences Newsletter

Fall 2023, issue of Monarch Science Observer, ODU Colleges of Sciences Newsletter.

Examining The Experience And Impact Of Teen-To-Teen Crisis Line Work For Youth Volunteers: A Pilot Study, Taylor Kalgren

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

For young people, suicide is a leading cause of death. In addition, suicidal thoughts and behaviors begin during adolescence, and rates are high during this developmental period. Crisis lines are one of the oldest suicide prevention strategies used today. Crisis line work is challenging, and therefore, examining the health and safety of these operators is critical. Teen-to-teen (t2t) crisis lines are a unique resource where adolescent volunteers help their similarity aged peers. The goal of this pilot study was to begin to evaluate the impact of t2t crisis lines for youth volunteers. Twenty youth crisis line volunteers (ages 15-20) were …

Assessing The Prevalence And Archival Rate Of Uris To Git Hosting Platforms In Scholarly Publications, Emily Escamilla

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

The definition of scholarly content has expanded to include the data and source code that contribute to a publication. While major archiving efforts to preserve conventional scholarly content, typically in PDFs (e.g., LOCKSS, CLOCKSS, Portico), are underway, no analogous effort has yet emerged to preserve the data and code referenced in those PDFs, particularly the scholarly code hosted online on Git Hosting Platforms (GHPs). Similarly, Software Heritage is working to archive public source code, but there is value in archiving the surrounding ephemera that provide important context to the code while maintaining their original URIs. In current implementations, source code …

Adaptation Of Nirtrifiers And Heterotrophs To Low Dissolved Oxygen In An Activated Sludge Biological Nutrient Removal Pilot Plant, Shashank Khatiwada

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Low dissolved oxygen (DO) operation is one of the innovative technologies in biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes that is being investigated due to the potential to reduce aeration requirements, reduce a treatment plant’s carbon footprint, and to lower costs associated with chemical addition to promote denitrification. These benefits are achieved through development of micro-zones, within aerated basins where simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) can occur. In this study, an activated sludge BNR pilot was run in an anerobic/aerobic (A/O) configuration at a controlled temperature and constant flow to observe microorganism-driven transformations of nitrogen and phosphorus at varying low DO conditions. …