Digital Commons Network^™

Emotion Work In Emergency Communication Workers: A Mixed-Methods Analysis On Well-Being, Katherine Luann Sweeney

ETDs from 2020-2029

Emergency communication workers play a vital role in public safety and healthcare, but they are frequently an overlooked population when studying well-being. With a survey sample size of N=336, and an interview sample size of N=24, this dissertation utilizes a mixed-methods approach to explore what kind of factors influence dispatcher well-being. The mixed-methods findings lead to three important outcomes. First, there are detrimental consequences of shift work on dispatchers’ overall health. Second, dispatchers report high levels of emotional exhaustion, stress, and trauma exposure. The qualitative findings suggest that the rewards associated with helping people outweigh the mental health consequences. Lastly, …

June 9, 2026 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

June 5, 2026 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between The Environment And Pollution With Surgical Outcomes And Disparities, Wendelyn Marie Oslock

ETDs from 2020-2029

Air pollution exposure has been linked to many surgically managed diseases and adverse health events that occur in the postoperative period. Despite this, the impact of air pollution on postoperative recovery is poorly understood. This knowledge gap may be one of the underlying mechanisms for persistent disparities in surgical outcomes. Previous studies have found racial and economic disparities in air pollution exposure. These same communities have been shown to experience worse surgical outcomes. The goal of this thesis is to explore if exposure to air pollution impacts surgical outcomes and determine if disparities in socioeconomic factors impact this relationship. The …

Predictors And Outcomes Of Reading Intervention Success In Autistic Children: Memory And Brain Connectivity, Meagan Elizabeth Beckerson

ETDs from 2020-2029

Reading comprehension is a complex skill that relies on linguistic and cognitive abilities, including executive control processes. Creating a cohesive representation of text involves maintaining visual and verbal information in short term memory (STM) and using executive control skills to integrate information, apply it to questions, and draw inferences. Many autistic children demonstrate strong individual word reading (decoding) but poor comprehension, resulting in a discrepant reading profile. The role of STM and executive control—along with the underlying neural systems that support these processes—in reading comprehension and response to intervention has not been examined in autistic children with this profile. The …

Distribution, Abundance And Habitat Utilization Of Sea Turtles In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, With An Emphasis On Coastal Mississippi, Theresa Rose Madrigal

ETDs from 2020-2029

The Gulf of Mexico represents important habitat for a variety of sea turtle species. This includes habitats for the various life history stages ranging from the oceanic stage of hatchling and post-hatchling turtles, neritic subadults, to the adult foraging and reproduc-tive stages. In contrast to many areas of the Gulf of Mexico, there has been a limited amount of data reported on sea turtle nesting as well as sea turtle foraging and develop-mental habitat in the north central Gulf of Mexico. This thesis includes two studies which investigate the importance of the coastal areas of Mississippi as sea turtle habitat. …

Targeting Inflammatory And Growth Signaling Pathways In Breast Cancer Through Diet, Microbiome, And Metabolite Interactions, Brittany Lorraine Witt

ETDs from 2020-2029

Breast cancer (BC) accounts for 1 in 3 (or 30%) of all new female cancers each year and is the most common malignant cancer in women in the United States. Since the 1990s, there has been a 44% decrease in BC, but there is still a significant gap between certain groups in terms of mortality rates. Black women have a higher mortality rate and risk for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This may be due to social (inadequate access to health care facilities, insurance, or completion of therapy) and biological (genetic mutations, tumor characteristics, or comorbidity) factors between races and other …

The Malaugh Operations And The Quadratic Invariant Gaps Of $\Si_4^C$, Forrest M. Hilton

ETDs from 2020-2029

Connected Julia sets of polynomials generally correspond to laminations, sets of chords of the unit disc that reflect the dynamics of the Julia set. If the circle is measured in revolutions and the polynomials studied are of degree $d$, then the dynamics on the lamination is given by the covering map $\sigma_d(t) := td \pmod 1$ where chords are mapped by their end points. Every lamination has at least one laminational invariant set, which is loosely an invariant complementary component of the lamination. That set has a significant impact on the shape of the Julia set. James Malaugh showed how …

June 3, 2026 Blazer Weekly, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

Blazer Weekly (student newsletter)

No abstract provided.

June 2, 2026 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Lesson Plan For Dataone Lifecycle’S “Describe” Stage Using Historical Data From The Alabama Insane Hospital Annual Report (Aihar) Collection, Marla Hertz, Tricia Martone

Libraries Professional Work

This activity will teach the value of documentation in research data management using real data from Alabama mental institutions. During the Describe stage of data management, the why, who, what, when, where, and how of the data is provided to improve the interpretation and reuse of research data. This lesson includes options to complete the activity in an analog or digital fashion and is appropriate for undergraduate students and up.

Learning outcomes:

• Learners will be able to articulate the value of documentation in data creation and sharing.
• Learners will be able to construct a data README to describe their data …

Novel Oral Fluid Drug Screening Device Evaluation, Sarah Jenkins

ETDs from 2020-2029

Oral fluid (OF) has been determined comparable to blood while being a more accurate specimen to reflect recent use than urine. OF roadside testing devices utilize the ease of access and toxicological information provided by OF. These devices are designed to be used as a roadside screening device that can detect the presence of drugs. In 2018, Alabama was the first state in America to implement a comprehensive state OF drug testing program for screening and laboratory testing. At the current moment, there are five approved devices for use in Alabama. Part of the development of the program involved evaluating …

Applying Signal Detection Theory Using Evofinder To A 10-Consecutively Manufactured Barrel Study That Included Damaged Bullets, Ruheen Firoz Charania

ETDs from 2020-2029

The science of firearm and tool mark identification is based on the premise that no two tools produce the same microscopic detail and the tool that made the marks can be distinguished from all others. Based on the AFTE Theory of Identification, firearms comparisons can be classified as Identification, Elimination, Inconclusive, or Unsuitable for examination, with inconclusive indicating insufficient individual characteristics to support identification or exclusion. Error rates in firearm examinations are typically calculated by counting how often examiners make false-positive and false-negative conclusions relative to known ground truth, but inconclusive decisions complicate these calculations because they neither support nor …

Metabolic Mechanisms Underlying Obesity In Children Exposed In Utero To Maternal Obesity Or Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Alysha B. Everett

ETDs from 2020-2029

Background: Childhood obesity increases risk for diseases including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The in utero environment plays an important role in the metabolic programming of offspring, with children exposed to maternal obesity or gestational diabetes (GDM) having high risk for obesity. In adults, metabolic mechanisms such as leptin resistance, energy expenditure, and substrate oxidation are associated with prospective weight and adiposity gain, but less is known in children. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify metabolic mechanisms associated with risk for obesity following in utero exposure to maternal obesity, with or without exposure to GDM. Methods: …

High-Pressure Studies Of Magnetic Topological Materials, Greeshma Chireckal Jose

ETDs from 2020-2029

Quantum technology leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to transform emerging fields such as quantum computing, spintronics, and next-generation electronics. A crucial step in advancing this frontier is the detailed understanding of fundamental quantum phenomena in materials that can drive quantum innovation. This research aims to systematically investigate quantum phase transitions and unconventional emergent behaviors in magnetic topological materials subjected to external pressure. This study focuses on three representative systems: EuCd2As2, EuMnBi2, and FeSn, each serving as a model for exploring intrinsic magnetic topological states. EuCd2As2, a candidate Weyl semimetal (WSM), is expected to exhibit pressure-induced topological phase transitions, making …

Inverse Modeling The Geo-Spread Of Covid-19 In Brazil, Cameron Keith Mills

ETDs from 2020-2029

In 2021 Fitzgibbon, Morgan, Webb, and Wu used a modified SEIR (susceptible, exposed, infected, and recovered) model to predict how COVID-19 spread through Brazil [12]. For their model, six constant coefficients were used that were fitted, referenced, or assumed. In this thesis, we geo-spatially modify their SEIR model and formulate an inverse problem to recover the now spatial coefficients of the model. We first show there exists a unique solution to the modified model. To solve the inverse problem, we modify an inverse method [17] that focused on minimizing convex functionals. These recovered spatial coefficients can be used with Matlab’s …

Neuroinflammation And Neuropathology In A Novel Tau, Amyloid-Beta And Alpha-Synuclein Co-Pathology Model, Jhodi Mickayla Webster

ETDs from 2020-2029

Neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD) often present with overlapping proteinopathies rather than aggregated proteins in isolation. Amyloid-β (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau are found in a substantial proportion of idiopathic PD cases, while α-synuclein (α-syn) pathology is present in over half of AD cases. The presence of these co-pathologies is associated with accelerated cognitive decline and increase mortality in these patients. In parallel, neurodegenerative diseases are increasingly recognized as being shaped by interactions between central nervous system (CNS) pathology and the immune system. Despite this, most experimental animal models of neurodegenerative disease examine single pathologies in …

Biomedical Applications Of Structurally Defined Natural And Semi-Synthetic Saponins, Chaeeun Lim-Paik

ETDs from 2020-2029

Triterpenoid saponins are amphiphilic glycosides that exhibit a wide range of biological and pharmacological properties, including antifungal, antiviral, molluscicidal, hypoglycemic, and hypocholesterolemic effects. These biological and pharmacological properties make saponins attractive for diverse applications. In this work, we demonstrate three biological applications: (i) immunostimulant vaccine adjuvant, (ii) protein delivery enhancement, and (iii) gene transfection enhancement. In light of the strong structure dependence of saponin activity, expanding the structural diversity of available scaffolds is essential for establishing structure-activity relationships (SAR) across these applications. Here, we expanded our saponin collection through semi-synthetic derivatization and the isolation of new saponins from distinct natural …

Apples Don't Fall Far, Brianna Lynn Carnley

ETDs from 2020-2029

Whether we’d like to admit it or not, apples don’t fall very far from the tree. This expression was commonly used in my household growing up. Whenever my mom and I would say the same thing at the same time, my mom and Nana accidentally wore matching outfits to go shopping, or my Nana and I reacted the same exact way to news, “apples don’t fall far” would be said. The three of us have all lived very different lives, but are still extremely similar yet completely different. This creative-nonfiction work explores the generational threads between myself, my mother, and …

Heart And Blood, Nasreen Zankawah

ETDs from 2020-2029

Heart and Blood is a historical fiction, set in the 1890s colonial era in present-day Ghana, focusing on the royal family and two rival clans of the Dagbon Kingdom. At its center is Chentiwuni, the protagonist who shares a strained relationship with her father and king of Dagbon, Naa Dawuni Zulandi. She navigates life, barely conforming to traditions and rules and associates with people her father disapproves of. The rift between them deepens when Chenti falls in love with Yumzaa, a sub-chief from a rival clan and a prospective heir to the skin of Dagbon after Naa Dawuni. Chenti’s relationship …

With A Love So Hard And Filled With Defeat:' A Queer Reading Of Bruce Springsteen, Samuel Tucker Carden

ETDs from 2020-2029

Long an open, yet misinterpreted political artist, Bruce Springsteen has never shied away from calling out injustices through his songs. Over the course of his long career, he has used his platform to lyrically speak out against war, the brutality of American capitalism, and the struggles of marginalized people of all backgrounds. However, the potential queerness of his lyrics has remained an underdiscussed political aspect of his artistry for decades, especially in academic settings. Many of the themes that Springsteen returns to in his writing – the need to hide one’s true self, struggles with self-identity, the desperate desire to …

Phosphogypsum-Based Road Materials: A Review Of Practicality, Longevity, And Safety In The United States, Catesby Elisabeth Mallard

ETDs from 2020-2029

The development of the phosphate fertilizer industry, while integral to the success of modern-day agriculture, continues to produce staggering amounts of phosphogypsum (PG), an acidic and hazardous waste byproduct concentrated with heavy metals, technologically enhanced naturally occurring materials (TENORM), and other toxic elements. Due to the potentially harmful emission of radon from PG, the United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has regulated the disposal of PG in engineered stacks under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for nearly four decades. However, with roughly five tons of PG produced per single ton of phosphoric acid, and a …

Dock7 Is A Novel Modifier Of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Pathology, Katherine English

ETDs from 2020-2029

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive, x-linked neuromuscular disorder affecting 1/5000 male births every year. DMD results from mutations in DMD, a critical structural protein within the muscle. In the absence of Dystrophin, the muscle degrades, increasing inflammation, destabilizing the cell membrane and going through constant cycles of regeneration which depletes the stem cell population. Over time, muscle tissue is replaced by fibrosis and adipose tissue, leading to loss of ambulation, respiratory and cardiac failure leading to death by early 20s. The standard of care for DMD patients is corticosteroid treatment. However, gene therapies have recently emerged which present …

Minding The Body: A Mixed Methods Analysis Of Somatic Experiences During Therapeutic Psychedelic Use, Daniel Grossman

ETDs from 2020-2029

Somatic phenomena, including shaking, spontaneous movement, vocalization, and purging, are commonly reported during psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT). However, despite their perceived importance to some users, their role in the therapeutic process has remained largely unexamined. This mixed-methods study provides the first systematic investigation of these experiences during therapeutic psychedelic use, with particular attention to observable bodily responses (OBRs) and release-like somatic experiences (RLSEs), defined as a subset characterized by sensations of physical discharge. An online retrospective survey (N = 286) assessed the prevalence of OBRs and RLSEs, and their relationships with body awareness, bodily dissociation, emotional breakthrough, and perceived therapeutic benefit. …

Middle School English Language Arts Teacher Perceptions About Literacy Self-Efficacy, Carrie Beth Buchanan

ETDs from 2020-2029

Historically, research has shown that teacher self-efficacy positively influences student achievement (Gibson & Dembo, 1984; Tschannen-Moran et al., 1998; Muijs & Reynolds, 2001). With the sudden shift to digital instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic and the changes in literacy practices and assessment, teachers have been required to implement new instructional strategies. Grounded in Bandura’s (1977) self-efficacy theory, my research explored how mastery experiences and teacher mindsets influence student success in this changing environment. This study employed an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design to investigate the perceptions of current middle school English Language Arts (MS ELA) teachers about their literacy self-efficacy. Data …

Finite Element Analysis Of Post Vs Threaded-Post Glenoid Baseplates In Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Comparative Study, Christopher Morgan

ETDs from 2020-2029

This study compared a standard‑post baseplate with a threaded‑post baseplate in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) to determine whether threaded central fixation improves micromotion and stress distribution. A finite element model of a left scapula with a commercially available rTSA system was created; the two designs differed only by the central post (standard press‑fit versus threaded). A 756 N physiological load was applied at 60°, 90°, and 120° of abduction. Outcomes included total and directional relative micromotion at the bone–implant interface and von Mises stress in the glenoid and baseplate. Total micromotion remained below the 150 µm osseointegration threshold for …

The Healthcare Transition Experiences Of Emerging Adults With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Leslie Noojin Pitts

ETDs from 2020-2029

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of disorders characterized by enzyme deficiencies impairing adrenal hormone production and requiring lifelong management. Individuals with CAH experience increased morbidity and mortality due to the underlying condition, steroid exposure, and inadequate preventative care. Despite clinical guidelines recommending a structured healthcare transition (HCT), little is known about the HCT experiences of emerging adults with CAH. Understanding these experiences is critical for identifying practice gaps and developing interventions to improve health outcomes. This qualitative descriptive study explored the HCT experiences, challenges, and outcomes of emerging adults with CAH, as guided by the refined Social Ecological …

Uab Libraries News, 06 2026, Uab Libraries

UAB Libraries News

No abstract provided.

Work-Life Dynamics And Career Success Of Physician-Scientists In Academic Medical Centers, Christine Eriks

ETDs from 2020-2029

Physician-scientists sustain careers within one of the most structurally demanding environments in academic medicine, balancing expectations across research, clinical care, teaching, and service during life stages often characterized by intensified personal responsibilities. Although concerns about the stability of the physician-scientist workforce have persisted for decades, less empirical attention has focused on how work-life role conflict shapes career outcomes within this population. This study examines the relationship between work-life role conflict and career success among physician-scientists in academic medical centers. Guided by role theory and boundary theory, this cross-sectional, national study surveyed physician-scientists who served as principal investigators on National Institutes …

There Be A Dragon, Audreanna Elliott

ETDs from 2020-2029

There Be a Dragon is set in a roughly medieval era world named Aleovion. Evren is the protagonist of the story, a young woman freshly seventeen on the cusp of what should be amazing things. She’s in her last year of schooling and will be on her way to escaping the misery her school has brought her, and on top of that, this is the year she should finally ‘manifest’. Evren’s a part of a sect of beings in this world called ‘Embodied’, people whose ancestry is touched by a mystical creature. This allows them to act as conduits for …