Digital Commons Network^™

The Ability Of Mississippi School Personnel To Recognize And Act On Internalizing Disorders In Students, Madison Varner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Childhood internalizing disorders traditionally do not garner much attention in academic settings; however, previous research has found that 1 in 4 public school students in Mississippi experiences some form of an internalizing disorder. These disorders strongly affect both behavior (e.g. bullying, school attendance, and social performance) and academic performance (e.g. literacy, mathematical learning). Under several existing pieces of legislature, public schools should already be providing treatment for these disorders; however, few schools have any provisions for the numerous students silently struggling. The primary objective of this study was to investigate teachers’ understanding of internalizing disorders and their frequency in school …

Fatiguing Effects Of Electrical Stimulation Superimposed Onto Voluntary Contraction, William Matthew Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: The current understanding of fatigue is specific to voluntary exercise (VOL) or neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) separately. Currently, there is no data on the understanding of fatigue in VOL+NMES specific to motor control strategies.

PURPOSE: The main purpose of this research project was to compare the fatigability of two exercise conditions (VOL and VOL+NMES) in the elbow flexors and knee extensors.

METHODS: Thirty-six participants aged 18-35 completed this four-visit randomized, controlled study. Visit one included familiarization to procedures. Visits 2-4 included control, VOL, and VOL+NMES fatiguing exercise with the same pre- and post-measurements. Pre-measures included two isometric maximal voluntary …

Faculty Perceptions Of Barriers To Invention Disclosure And Researcher Engagement In University Technology Transfer: An Exploratory Study, Barbara K. Neyses

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For most institutions of higher education, the reduction in state and federal funding has caused a shift in focus to activities that are revenue generating. As Slaughter and Leslie (1997) pointed out, financial uncertainty at both the state and federal levels prompted faculty and institutions to focus on programs and research that intersect with the market. This expansion of the research mission with an emphasis on faculty entrepreneurial activities is both exciting and problematic. Through my research I will explore the barriers faced by faculty who are engaged in entrepreneurial activities related to technology commercialization.

This dissertation was completed using …

The Current State Of School Culture In Elementary Schools In Mississippi During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Rodney Harrison Hurt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the Spring of 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic changed not only the way in which our daily lives were carried out, but it also drastically effected the way schools operated. Many if not all school districts in the state of Mississippi began operating in some type of remote fashion during the spring of 2020. Some school districts switched to an online format while others operated using a hybrid model which may have included work packets being completed at home or a combination of the two. The type of model by which each school operated often depended on the resources available …

Cosmology Of Wanderers, Hussain Ahmed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

On the 14th of April 2014, a group of insurgents that the world later know to be Boko Haram, kidnapped 276 mostly female students in Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria. The disaster led to the death of thousands of military personnel and vigilante group members, mostly young men. Since that night, millions of people have been displaced. This thesis focused on inter and intra African migrations that result in the aftermath of the abduction.

A History Of Freed Slaves' Homes In Northern Nigeria, 1900-1926, Ajibola A. Abdulrahman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is about the children rescued from slave traders by the British colonial government in Northern Nigeria in the early twentieth century. The children were first settled in state-owned Freed Slaves Homes located at Zungeru and Borno provinces in 1904. After the state-owned Homes were abolished in 1909, they were moved to the privately-owned Lucy Memorial Freed Slaves’ Home. The study focuses on the experiences of these liberated children within the premises of the Freed Slaves' Homes and in settings outside of these institutions in Northern Nigeria. Drawing on previously unused archival materials obtained from various parts of the …

The Perception And Strategies Of Speech-Language Pathologists In Rapport Building With People With Aphasia Via Tele-Practice: Qualitative And Quantitative Mixed Design, Emily Hershberger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Tele-practice has become an important service delivery method, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic. A majority of research investigated effectiveness in therapeutic outcomes among children and adolescents, while tele-practice studies among people with aphasia were relatively limited. Rapport building may present more challenges in tele-practice compared to in-person services, yet no study compared it across the two therapy delivery approaches among people with aphasia.

Method: This current study conducted interviews regarding how rapport building is affected in tele-practice from speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who have experienced both in-person and tele-practice among people with aphasia. Nine SLPs were interviewed about their perceptions …

"The Wild Asleep": A Cultural And Environmental History Of Ramps, Catherine Jessee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ramps, wild onions, or allium tricoccum are a variety of spring ephemeral, or a flowering plant that emerges for a brief period every spring. In working through stereotypical ideas about Appalachian regional identity, I interpret the environmental history of this plant. Incorporating memory, oral histories, and folklore, this thesis complicates wider conceptions of home, community, and boundary. Tapping into an archive of ramps knowledge as it is created, I ask, what can the future of ramps tell us about place, space, and belonging?

No Person Is An Island: A Multi-Level Analysis Of The Relationship Between Self-Determination Theory And Well-Being, Lauren Nichole Jordan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Individuals frequently work collaboratively with others in school, workplaces, and in their daily lives. As such, the group literature has focused on several concerns that individuals have in groups such as making choices with others, feeling competent, and getting along with others. One such theory that addresses these concerns at the individual level is self-determination theory, or the idea that people must be satisfied in their needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness to experience growth and well-being. The purpose of this project was to determine whether self-determination theory replicates in groups and whether individuals’ perceptions that their groups are autonomous, …

Assessing The Effectiveness And Utility Of A Mindfulness-Based Ecological Momentary Intervention In College Students, Jeffrey Pavlacic

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mental health problems are common and increasing in college students. Despite the high prevalence rates of mental health problems in college students, a small percentage of students seek treatment. Low treatment seeking is associated with different factors, such as stigma, financial barriers, and emotion dysregulation. Identifying and delivering evidence-based treatments is critical to curtailing mental health problems and promoting psychological well-being in this population. One intervention that offers significant promise is Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI), which incorporates technology to administer interventions. EMIs are widely applied for heterogeneous psychological problems and effective through different modalities. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) ameliorate psychological distress …

Improving Three-Dimensional Instructional Practices Via Professional Development, Alethea Henry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this applied research study was to improve the use of three-dimensional pedagogy in science classes in chronically low-performing schools. The need to build teacher capacity became evident after the state adopted more rigorous science standards revealing deficits in teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge. This study utilized two elements, three-dimensional professional development and the science cadre, to build teacher capacity as well as foster collaboration and create buy-in throughout the district among science leaders. Data collected and analyzed from classroom observations, student surveys, and teacher interviews revealed improved usage of three-dimensional instruction and increased buy-in throughout the district to …

Expressions Of Femininity, Black Feminism, And Pan-Africanist Rhetoric In Black Popular Music, Alonya Lei Castillo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Black women have long been subjected to misrepresentations and stereotypes which have denied them full access to their own femininity and womanhood. These misrepresentations and stereotypes are pervasive in Euro-American culture and can be clearly observed in film, television, and music. As a result, these women have combatted such narratives as an expression of agency. One of the most notable ways Black women have accomplished these goals is through Rap and R&B, genres that have allowed them to shape and reshape notions of femininity and Black womanhood. The participation of Black women in these musical traditions frequently draw on womanist …

Supports For College Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Views Of Postsecondary Practitioners And Faculty Regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder Student Service Provision, Susan Byrd Jenkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are matriculating to higher education at growing rates and are now believed to make up roughly one to two percent of the postsecondary student population (Cox & South, 2017; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as cited in Gobbo & Shmulsky, 2013). Service provision for college students with ASD typically falls under the oversight of student disability services practitioners who provide guidance to faculty and staff regarding accommodations. The professionals who carry out ASD service delivery are a source of expertise, insight and understanding regarding recommended supports for students on the spectrum. This study …

The Longitudinal Influence Of Adhd Status And Stimulant Medication On Body Mass Index And Blood Pressure Among Obese Youth, Sophie Kollin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Youth with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more vulnerable to developing obesity, as they have significantly higher body mass index (BMI) and are at increased risk of food addiction and binge eating. Stimulant medication use, which is an evidence-based treatment for ADHD, is associated with lower BMI and higher blood pressure among normal weight youth. The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal influence of ADHD and stimulant medication use on BMI and blood pressure trajectories among a sample of 456 youth treated in a weight management clinic. Mixed linear modeling examined the main and interactive effects of …

Amphiphilic Janus Polymer Nanoparticles For Pharmaceutical And Biomedical Applications, Mahesh Loku Yaddehige

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Amphiphilic hybrid polymers have attracted significant interest as biomaterials for both fundamental research and practical clinical applications due to their unique polymer structure and properties relative to the conventional symmetric polymers. Often referred to as “Janus” polymers combine two different polymer segments (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) of varying degrees, sizes, and functionalities to obtain a single amphiphilic or hetero-functional macromolecule with characteristic features. In particular, amphiphilic “Janus” polymers and their self-assemblies have shown apparent success in nanomedicine owing to their ability to provide highly ordered nanoscale multimolecular aggregates, including micelles and vesicles. However, engineering these polymeric materials on a large scale …

Building Cultural Competence In Schools Through Teacher Capacity, Latonya R. Robinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand the dynamics of how teaching culturally responsive strategies to teachers can help eliminate the opportunity gap between students of color and their White counterparts. The action research method involved first collecting quantitative data through several surveys and then explaining the quantitative results with in- depth qualitative data through interviews and professional learning communities. In the first phase of the study, the culturally responsive and teacher efficacy scale data was collected from the participants within the study and the district at large. While the district survey was not mandated, it was strongly encouraged. …

Metaphors In Language Learning And Teaching: Discovering The Underlying Factors Affecting Demotivation In Anglophone Learners Of Modern Foreign Languages, Holly Sallah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In response to increased levels of demotivation in anglophone students of modern foreignlanguages, this thesis attempted to discover potential underlying causes through the use of metaphor elicitation directed at tertiary learners in the United States of America. Students were asked to metaphorize both the language learning process and the role of the language teacher. Afterwards, a qualitative metaphor analysis revealed that participants were overwhelmingly positive in respect to the role of the language teacher, but more mixed in their metaphors regarding the language learning process, with high frequency words such as “work” and “skill”. Contrary to the literature, the role …

This Is Home: Stories Of H-2a Placemaking In The U.S. And Mexico, Lillian Slaughter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis contextualizes the lived experiences of two agricultural guest workers who I work with in Kentucky. Beginning in 1917, the history of agricultural guest worker programs in the United States is detailed up until today with the H-2A visa program. The first chapter pro-vides this history and pays close attention to the impact of the liberalization of Mexico’s econo-my and integration into the larger agricultural market between the US and Canada. In chapter two, census data of Kentucky and the county that the farm is located, provides a background on the Latino population. This chapter focuses on the growth …

Fair Sharing Of Channel Resources In The Coexistence Of Heterogeneous Wireless Networks, Sudat Tuladhar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increasing spectrum resources in cellular networks are always needed to carry the exponential data traffic growth in wireless cellular networks. Limited spectrum resources in the licensed band have necessitated Long-Term Evolution (LTE) to explore available unlicensed spectrum where an incumbent WiFi system already exists. With the deployment of Licensed Assisted Access (LAA) that utilizes Listen Before Talk (LBT) for channel access in the unlicensed spectrum along with an incumbent WiFi, the coexistence of LAA and WiFi with acceptable fairness is a major challenge. In this work, we address the issues of licensed assisted access coexisting with incumbent WiFi in an …

Perceptions Of English Learner Support Provided By K-12 Leaders To Educators In Mississippi, Ladonna Thomas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The demographic of public schools in America is continuously changing. According to the United States Department of Education (USDE), the English learner population increased in over 25 states from the 2009-2010 school year to the 2014-2015 school year (USDE, 2017). In 2014-15, there were more than 4,800,000 English learners enrolled in schools, accounting for 10% of the total student population (USDE, 2017). With this shifting demographic, educators must be prepared to meet the needs of EL students.

The purpose of this study is to examine educators and instructional leaders’ perceptions of EL instructional support and to highlight the need for …

Reimagining Mississippi: Black Power And The Student Activist Plight To Dismantle White Supremacy, Jasmine Stansberry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite the recent scholarship exploring Black student activism at Mississippi colleges and universities during the twentieth century, the formation of a statewide coalition of Black students from historically Black colleges and predominantly white institutions remains unexamined. Historians interested in Mississippi’s Black Student Movement have failed to include a study that explores the Black intercollegiate ad hoc committee that formed after the mass arrests of Black students at Mississippi Valley State College and the University of Mississippi in February of 1970. Between 1969 and 1970, law enforcement officials arrested and detained over one thousand Black college students at Mississippi’s infamous Parchman …

Perceptions Of Black First-Generation College Students Regarding The Impact Of Recruitment Practices At A Predominantly White Institution During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Deann Handy Walter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 2020, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) plagued the United States, becoming one of the greatest disruptions to the U.S. higher education system in history. Affecting every aspect of institution’s operations, prospective fall 2020 and beyond students were impacted greatly by the interruption of traditional college recruitment practices which would have occurred as they made their enrollment decisions. Most affected by this interruption were students of underrepresented groups. This dissertation focuses particularly on Black first-generation students and their perceptions regarding the impact of recruitment practices at a Predominantly White Institution during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative study is proposed as the …

Auditors Are Known By The Companies That Keep Them: The Effect Of Media Sensationalism And Audit Firm Responses On Auditor Ratification, Latoya Flint

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines media influence on auditor relationships with client shareholders. Audit firms are concerned about client loss due to reputational damage. Sensationalized media reports of corporate accounting frauds can be misleading in their description of the auditor’s responsibility for fraud detection. Although audit firms do not control media sensationalism, they can respond to it. I conduct an experiment to examine the impact of media sensationalism and audit firm responses on shareholders’ likelihood to support auditor ratification. I predict and find that high media sensationalism leads shareholders to perceive a higher level of audit firm control over adverse fraud outcomes. …

Speech Fluency Changes Following Deep Brain Stimulation Of The Subthalamic Nucleus In Parkinson’S Disease: A Meta-Analysis, Emily Morphis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Speech fluency changes following deep brain stimulation are one aspect that is crucial to consider when exploring treatments for Parkinson’s disease. Deep brain stimulation, specifically of the subthalamic nucleus, has been linked to a decrease in speech fluency despite improved bodily motor control. This acquired dysfluency is referred to as “neurogenic stuttering.” The purpose of the current study is to determine the incidence and severity of speech fluency decline following deep brain stimulation in patients with Parkinson’s disease. A meta-analysis was conducted with 7 studies (239 subjects) that recorded changes in speech fluency. All studies used a quantitative assessment, …

Race, Religion, And Politics: An Analysis From A Conjoint Experiment, Joseph Murphy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Building on existing research, I seek to understand how both religious and racial identities can shape the religious and ideological perceptions of voters in low-information environments. Using a conjoint experiment, I test the effects of multiple identity traits on respondents’ religious and ideological evaluations of political candidates, as well as the willingness to support the candidate. Consistent with previous research showing the importance of perceptions on voting behavior, I find evidence that candidate identities can shape the ideological and religious perceptions of voters, and influence the willingness of respondents to vote for the candidate in a low-information setting.

The Impact Of The Good Behavior Game On Adolescent Student Behavior In Restrictive And Inclusive Learning Environments, Allison Nicole Oliver

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three articles investigating the effects of the Good Behavior Game to increase academic engagement and decrease disruptive behaviors in students who have behavior disorders. Previous literature examined the effects of the Good Behavior Game on student populations in elementary and mainstream settings. Unfortunately, there is a lack of investigation with use of the Good Behavior Game in secondary settings with students with disabilities, especially behavioral disorders. Collectively, these three articles will determine the impact of the Good Behavior Game in secondary settings with students with behavior disorders in mainstream, inclusive and restrictive learning environments. This dissertation …

Role Of Astrocytic Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 In The Regulation Of Behavior, Cognition, And Neuroinflammation, Brayden Thomas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Modern medicine has consistently extended life expectancy over recent decades and centuries. Despite this, age-associated cognitive decline and risk of neurodegenerative disease grow in parallel with lifespan, meaning the capacity to live healthier has not mirrored that to live longer. Many studies in both human and rodents have shown the association between age-related cognitive impairment and reduction of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling. Additional research has indicated that dysregulated IGF-1 signaling, either systemic or local to the central nervous system (CNS) in cells like neurons and glia, leads to impaired spatial learning and memory in mice. Glia, or glial cells, …

The Impact Of Ethnicity Within The Field Of Speech-Language Pathology, Maliah Wilkinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The estimated racial/ethnic diversity within the field of speech-language pathology is considered to be less than 10% despite population trends predicting that over half of the United States’ population will be identified as a racial/ethnic minority by 2044 (Projections of the Size and Composition of the U.S. Population: 2014 to 2060, 2014). The limited diversity is likely to be coupled with inclusion and equity barriers in higher education (i.e., barriers related to financial and educational demographics, graduate school preparedness/support, etc.). In the field of speech language pathology, little is known about the impact of these challenges experienced by students from …

Closing The Opportunity Gap In Mathematics Education, Candies Nicole Winfun-Cook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Shifting our attention from the achievement gap (standardized test results) to the opportunity gap (unequal opportunities and experiences among students of differing socioeconomic and racial backgrounds) is necessary to shrink gaps in the American educational system. Although previous studies have focused on the achievement gap in terms of students’ success on standardized tests, there has been limited research on the missed opportunities experienced by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in high school mathematics classrooms. This qualitative study revealed the lived experiences of BIPOC students as participating in college and career mathematics readiness activities in a single high school …

Understanding Classroom Engagement For Middle School Students, Jason W. Wood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand the dynamics of student engagement and motivation in middle school students. The action research method involves collecting quantitative data through a student survey first and then explaining the quantitative results with in-depth qualitative data through interviews and focus groups. In the first, quantitative phase of the study, the motivation and engagement scale data will be collected from middle school students in the fifth through eighth grade of Regents School of Oxford to test the motivation and engagement of these students to assess whether intrinsic motivations relate to classroom student engagement. The second …