Digital Commons Network^™

Plotting For Change: Utilizing Computer-Based Scaffolding Through Desmos To Influence High School Students’ Performance And Attitudes Toward Mathematics, Jennifer Underwood Farmer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to understand the impact of computer-based instructional scaffolding in Desmos on Math 3 high school students’ performance and attitudes toward mathematics. The demand for societal mathematics literacy has increased significantly over the last decade and continues to grow. To achieve this literacy, students must reason, augment, communicate, model, and problem-solve with technology applications; development of these skills requires engagement and support through technology-rich learning opportunities.

Currently, Math 3 students are not performing at the proficient level on state exams and are displaying negative attitudes towards mathematics. Student attitudes and performance in technology enhanced …

Melding Of Traditions: African American Cultural And Learned Style Topics In The Music Of Roger Dickerson, Kenneth Green Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Roger Dickerson, born in 1934, is an African American composer, educator, and pianist from New Orleans. His compositions include multiple works for band, orchestra, voice, choir, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. Dickerson, a two-time Pulitzer Prize nominated composer, published only one work for wind band, Essay for Band in 1958. Unfortunately, this work was rarely performed in its first sixty years, and it is not known by many band directors. In recent years, there has been a movement to program music by composers from historically marginalized and underrepresented communities. Essay for Band has benefited from this movement which also seeks …

“…She Complained…”: The Female Complaint And Voice In F. Scott Fitzgerald’S Works, Kristina Syrigos

Theses and Dissertations

My thesis explores the themes of female complaint and female voices in the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald, specifically focusing on "The Cut-Glass Bowl," "Winter Dreams," and The Great Gatsby. Drawing on J. L. Austin's concept of performative speech and Sarah Ahmed and Lauren Berlant’s explorations of the female complaint, I argue that Fitzgerald's female characters are silenced, dismissed, and punished when they express their wants, desires, and grievances. Despite their attempts to use their voices, words, and complaints to enact change in their lives, these women are portrayed as nagging and powerless, oftentimes being punished for speaking up, …

Sappho And Shakespeare: Aristotelian Views On Relationships, Catherine Corinne Reisinger

Theses and Dissertations

In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, he defines different relationships that people experience; youthful, incidental, and pure. Youthful relationships focus on strong emotions and intense passionate feelings between two individuals. Incidental relationships involve two individuals of drastically different ages, most notably mortals and deities. Pure relationships involve two individuals who are morally good and want nothing but the best for one another, showing their pure goodness. Though they lived several centuries apart, Sappho and Shakespeare display all three relationship types in their writings. Sappho showcases each type of relationship in her poetry, while Shakespeare most notably portrays all three relationships in …

Erodibility Of Sand-Silt-Xanthan Gum Mixtures, Edwin Kotey

Theses and Dissertations

The high frequency of earthen embankment failure recorded during floods has led to the general rule that embankments should not be overtopped. This notwithstanding, overtopping cannot be entirely avoided particularly during extreme events, such as winter storms and hurricanes. Reducing soil erodibility is thus fundamental to prevent and control disasters caused by embankment failure. Recent studies have explored the use of environmentally friendly additives, such as biopolymers, to improve soil properties. Geotechnical tests have shown that biopolymers can effectively increase soil strength, but little is known about biopolymer-treated soil resistance to erosion by flowing water. Results of flume experiments to …

The Crucial Role Of The Ahr-Ilc3-Il22 Pathway In I3c-Mediated Protection Against Colitis And Associated Microbial Dysbiosis, Chandani Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations

Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by dysregulation of the immune system that results in chronic inflammation and dysbiosis. Previously we showed that a naturally sourced aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligand, indole-3-carbinol (I3C), was effective in the reduction of colitis-associated disease severity through innate lymphoid type 3 cells (ILC3s) in an interleukin-22 (IL-22) dependent manner. In one of our studies, we used single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) analysis of colonic lamina propria cells from colitis models treated with I3C. Our results indicated that there were changes in the expressions of genes integral to IL-22 signaling when I3C was used …

Examining The Effects Of Physical Education Teacher Behaviors On Actual Motor Competence And The Associations Among Actual Motor Competence, Perceived Motor Competence, Enjoyment In Physical Education, And Physical Activity In Early Childhood, Unjong Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Physical Education (PE) can be considered a black box when the interactions between the teacher and the students are unknown. PE as the black box has been embedded in the process-product paradigm. PE teachers can be critical role models for fostering students’ actual motor competence (AMC) because students can learn from what they observe from teachers’ behaviors. Additionally, AMC, perceived motor competence (PMC), and enjoyment in PE can be potential factors to increase students’ PA in schoolbased setting. Therefore, this dissertation consists of two studies that examine PE teacher behaviors, AMC, PMC, enjoyment in PE, and PA in early childhood …

Long-Range White Matter Fibres And Post-Stroke Verbal And Non-Verbal Cognition, Rebecca W. Roth, Deena Schwen Blackett, Ezequiel Gleichgerrcht, Janina Wilmskoetter, Chris Rorden, Roger Newman-Norlund, Souvik Sen, Julius Fridriksson Ph.D., Natalie Busby, Leonardo Bonilha

Faculty Publications

Among stroke survivors, linguistic and non-linguistic impairments exhibit substantial inter-individual variability. Stroke lesion volume and location do not sufficiently explain outcomes, and the neural mechanisms underlying the severity of aphasia or non-verbal cognitive deficits remain inadequately understood. Converging evidence supports the idea that white matter is particularly susceptible to ischaemic injury, and long-range fibres are commonly associated with verbal and non-verbal function. Here, we investigated the relationship among post-stroke aphasia severity, cognition, and white matter integrity. Eighty-seven individuals in the chronic stage of stroke underwent diffusion MRI and behavioural testing, including language and cognitive measures. We used whole-brain structural connectomes …

Addressing A Crisis In Nursing Practice: Exploring The Impact Of Multimedia Case-Based Learning On The Clinical Judgment Of Undergraduate Nursing Students, Macy Jenette Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

Clinical judgment is a priority nursing skill to ensure the delivery of safe and effective nursing care. New graduate nurses and nursing students lack the clinical judgment skills that are necessary for entry-level nursing practice. Nurse educators must therefore implement teaching strategies that facilitate clinical judgment. This study evaluated the clinical judgment of undergraduate nursing students after the implementation of multimedia case studies related to the concept of perfusion. Two research questions guided this study: (a) in what ways do undergraduate nursing students demonstrate clinical judgment after completing a series of perfusion-related multimedia case studies and (b) to what extent …

Second-Grade Students’ Lived Experiences During Formal And Informal Music Learning Activities, Celina Liana Reed

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, elementary music educators have led their classrooms using predominantly formal, teacher-led activities. Recently, music educators have allowed students to organize their own informal music learning activities. Few researchers have examined elementary students’ lived experiences during formal and informal music activities. My education and 9 years of early childhood and elementary music teaching experiences contribute to my research qualifications. The purpose of this research was to examine my second-grade students’ lived experiences during formal and informal music learning activities. Following were the guiding research questions: (a) What do second-grade students think and how do they feel during formal music learning …

Black Mph Internship Experiences In Racialized Organizations: Critical Counter-Narratives For A More Racially Just Public Health Workforce, Zach Jenkins

Theses and Dissertations

Internships are a vital component of Master of Public Health (MPH) programs. Despite 14% of MPH students identifying as Black, limited research has examined their internship experiences. This is particularly troubling given the racial demographics of the public health workforce and the racialized nature of most public health organizations. Using critical race theory (CRT) as a theoretical framework and critical counter-narrative as a methodology, this study sought to answer the following research questions: 1) How do Black MPH students describe their racialized experiences in their internships? and 2) What are the implications of Black MPH students’ narratives for policies and …

A Holistic Quality Management Model For Optimization Of Quality Assurance In Manufacturing, Devon Blakeney Clark

Theses and Dissertations

Quality Management (QM) is essential in manufacturing to ensure products are consistent and functional every time. Consumers expect high quality products that last, and industries unable to accomplish this are destined to fail. Therefore, product quality has always been at the forefront of manufacturer decision making, though it is normally viewed as a given more than as a goal. This means that businesses want quality because it is needed for their survival, but there has not been consideration for how to incorporate innovation into this essential field. Quality needs to be viewed holistically with regards to all manufacturing factors that …

Internalizing Mental Health Symptoms And Nicotine Use Among Adolescents In Canada, England, And The Us From 2020-2022, Emily E. Hackworth

Theses and Dissertations

Background: There is a well-established bi-directional relationship between cigarette smoking and internalizing mental health (IMH) symptoms (e.g., symptoms of depression, symptoms of anxiety). However, it is unclear whether IMH symptoms are associated with using different types of nicotine products among adolescents, as adolescents are using a variety of nicotine products, including combustible products (cigarettes), non-combustible products (e-cigarettes), or combinations of both types of products. This dissertation examines associations between IMH symptoms and current use of various types of nicotine products across three countries from 2020-2022.

Methods: Data come from the 2020-2022 waves of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Adolescents Tobacco …

The Role Of Telehealth And Obstetrics Capacity On Maternal Health Care: A Mixed Methods Approach, Shanikque L. Barksdale

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The United States (US) is experiencing a maternal health crisis, with rising severe maternal morbidity and mortality rates and persistent racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities. While telehealth can address access challenges, there is limited evidence of its impact on access to maternity care and outcomes among rural and minoritized communities. The overall objective of this study was to analyze the disparities in maternal outcomes and user satisfaction by hospital-based telehealth and obstetric care availability.

Methods: A convergent parallel mixed methods approach was used. A multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze whether the changes in the proportions of hospitals …

Cell Based Sodium Alginate Microcapsules Within Ocular Disease: A Proof Of Concept, Chelsea Marie Zizzi

Theses and Dissertations

Sodium alginate is a natural polymer that has been widely used as a drug delivery system due to its controlled-release qualities and low cellular toxicity. These capsules are effective at transporting therapeutics in various diseased animal models. Retinitis Pigmentosa is an incurable genetic disease affecting the retina, which causes gradual blindness as the disease progresses. In our study, we injected cell-based sodium alginate capsules into the vitreous cavity of C57BL/6 and Pde6b^rd10/J mice to observe the migration of these capsules in both wildtype and diseased mouse models over a course of 2 weeks. Our intention was …

Perspectives From Caregivers For Children With Retinoblastoma: Psychosocial Concerns And Genetic Counseling, Kayla Marie Lashinger

Theses and Dissertations

Caregivers play a vital role in the care of children affected with retinoblastoma as most cases are diagnosed before the age of five years old. While previous studies have explored the psychosocial needs of caregivers of children with pediatric cancer, these have not specifically focused on retinoblastoma in the United States (US). Prior research identified the profound emotional burden in terms of depression, anxiety, guilt, isolation, and loneliness experienced by caregivers. Given previous findings and the National Cancer Institute’s recommendation for genetic counseling and testing for all individuals affected with retinoblastoma, this study aimed to assess psychosocial concerns in relation …

Preimplantation Genetic Testing For Sickle Cell Disease; Exploring The Effect Health Disparities Have On Parental Awareness And Interest, Justine Frances Manigault

Theses and Dissertations

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of disorders of the hemoglobin resulting in episodes of chronic pain, pulmonary hypertension, progressive multiorgan damage, risk for stroke, and increased mortality. It is caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the HBB gene and 1 in 12 African Americans, 1 in 100 Hispanic individuals, and 1 in 30-50 Mediterranean people are reported to be carriers of the disease and have sickle cell trait (SCT). SCD is typically diagnosed through newborn screening; however, when prospective parents are aware of their carrier status, they can conceive via in vitro fertilization (IVF) and have genetic testing …

Action Research On Instructional Scaffolding In Information Literacy Instruction For Community College Students, Huyen Maluck

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the effect of instructional scaffolding on information literacy skills of college students in an English Composition I (ENG 101) course at Urban Community College in the Southeast. Information literacy is defined as a set of skills to recognize an information need as well as locate, evaluate, and effectively use information (American Library Association, 2021). Community college students may have insufficiencies in their information literacy skills due to lack prior information literacy experience in academic libraries or completing research projects (Head, 2013; Hincliffe et al., 2018). I developed an intervention that involved …

Impact Of Equitable Grading Practices On Student Outcomes And Biology Self-Efficacy In A Ninth Grade Biology Class, Laura Boyle

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study, set in a midwestern high school in the United States, was designed to investigate the impact of implementing equitable grading practices in a first semester freshman biology course. Many grading practices commonly used in classrooms in the United States are subjective, can be used to maintain compliance in the classroom, and do not accurately report what students know and can do. Ideas from Critical Race Theory and Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory guided this study. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through pre and post self-efficacy surveys, grading surveys, and semi-structured student interviews, along with quantitative grade data …

Molecular Rotors For Quantifying Kinetic Effects Of Stabilizing Non-Covalent Interactions, Binzhou Lin

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes the development of molecular machines as analytical instruments to measure the strength of non-covalent interactions and to test hypotheses of reaction mechanisms. The first chapter is a review of molecular rotors. The second chapter presents the development of a molecular rotor that can be controlled using electrostatic interactions. Previous examples have used electrostatic interactions to slow down or inhibit molecular motion. Our system is activated and sped up using electrostatic interactions. The third and fourth chapters describe the application of molecular rotors designed to experimentally measure the strength and stability trends for non-covalent pnictogen and chalcogen interactions. …

Housing Buyouts At The Intersection Of Flooding And Toxins: A Case Study Of Cheraw, South Carolina, Victoria Ponds

Theses and Dissertations

As climate change increases extreme weather events, efforts of managed retreat will also increase, particularly through housing buyout programs. The largest scale housing buyout programs are run through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These buyout programs focus primarily on flood hazards and exclude anthropogenic hazards. This policy is problematic in the modern technological age where compound hazards, including those involving toxin releases, are occurring more frequently. In this thesis, I investigate how disaster policies account for the intersection of these hazards in Community Development Block Grant-Mitigation buyouts in Cheraw, South …

The Effects Of Management’S Esg Disclosure Strategy And Voluntary Esg Assurance On Investment Judgments, Macy Knutson

Theses and Dissertations

Many investors desire to integrate a company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance into their investment decisions. Accordingly, most companies now disclose at least some ESG information in annual sustainability reports. However, little regulation exists over ESG reporting, creating a well-acknowledged agency problem for investors and making trust vitally important to investment. In this study, I examine two mechanisms which may facilitate trust amongst ESG investors: Management’s ESG disclosure strategy and ESG assurance. Contrary to traditional conceptions of persuasion theory, I find ESG investors reduce investment in response to more transparent negative disclosures when the ESG report is not independently …

A Plug-And-Produce Connectivity Framework For Manufacturing Systems, Theodros Abraham Tarekegne

Theses and Dissertations

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) movement has birthed technologies that enable the fusing of physical and digital environments. However, the extensive number of available options for industrial communication and data formatting has remained a barrier to achieving digital knowledge synonymy in industry. There have been previous attempts to establish standards for industrial connectivity and communication, but legacy machines, as well as custom and non-proprietary devices, still face issues communicating data with other manufacturing equipment. To address these challenges, the Industrial Internet of Things initiative has led to the creation of the Plug and Produce (PnP) concept to facilitate the …

A New Approach To Oboe Gouging Machines Using Router Tips And Traction Wheels, Pedro Falcon

Theses and Dissertations

This study will investigate different types of oboe gouging machines; describe the development of a newly-conceived product that uses routing machine technology; and compare the new machine to the other commercial gougers. The newly-conceived gouger described here uses spindle motors attached to router tips. Two spindle motors will be attached to a micrometric platform (z-axis). One motor will pre-gouge the piece of cane, and the other will gouge.

In The Search Of Cosmopolitan Literacies: A Case Of Formerly Expatriated Language Teacher, Asiye Demir

Theses and Dissertations

Cosmopolitanism refers to becoming a world citizen who can live harmoniously with different cultures. Today, our classes in the United States have become diverse daily. While we teach students who can speak more than one language, our teachers are primarily monolingual and monocultural. Hence, teachers who can speak multiple languages are celebrated in the system (Pacheco et al., 2019). Expatriation refers to teacher mobility that can entail learning other languages and being exposed to different cultures. Expatriation, as a form of travel, is an essential construct for cosmopolitan literacies because cosmopolitan dispositions can be developed through traveling (Molz, 2006). Thus, …

On Parallelization Of Graph Algorithms, Performance Modelling And Autonomous 3d Printable Object Synthesis, Shams-Ul-Haq Syed

Theses and Dissertations

The degree of hardware level parallelism offered by today’s GPU architecture makes it ideal for problem domains with massive inherent parallelism potential, fields such as computer vision, image processing, graph theory and graph computations. We have identified three problem areas for purpose of this research dissertation, under the umbrella of performance improvement by harnessing the power of GPUs for novel applications. The first area is concerned with k-vertex connectivity in graph theory, the second area deals performance evaluation using extended roofline models for GPU parallel applications and finally the third problem area is related to synthesis 3D printable objects from …

Student Experiences With Self-Determination And Agency: Centering Disabled Voices Through Photovoice, Rebecca Boineau Smith Hill

Theses and Dissertations

Young adults with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) are less likely than young adults without disability to be employed, enrolled in postsecondary education, or live independently after high school (Lauer & Houtenville, 2017; Newman, et al., 2011). Self-determination, or the freedom to act as the primary causal agent in one’s life (Palmer & Wehmeyer, 1998), is a well-documented component of enhanced quality of life (Shogren et al., 2017) and a predictor of postschool success (Mazzotti et al., 2021; Test et al. 2009) for students with disabilities. People with IDD are less self-determined than their nondisabled peers, and often less self-determined …

Field Implementation Of A Stereo Vision System For Rnt And Stress Measurements In Cwr, Brittany Stinson

Theses and Dissertations

The use of Continuous Welded Rail (CWR) provides many advantages to the rail industry compared to the alternatively used jointed-track segments. However, one significant disadvantage is the development of thermal stresses longitudinally in the rail, which is not of concern when expansion joints are used. This is due to CWR’s inability to release thermal expansion in the absence of joints. The Rail Neutral Temperature (RNT) is the temperature at which the rail is in a stress-free state. A desired RNT is calculated based on local climate conditions and CWR installation practices are implemented to set the desired RNT at installation. …

Experimental And Computational Understanding Of Solid Oxide Iron Air Battery Performance, Chaitali Morey

Theses and Dissertations

Long-duration energy storage (LDES) (10+ hours) is considered a key technical solution for a widespread penetration of renewable energy into the utility market. However, the currently available storage technologies are limited to less than 10 hours for cost reasons. The benchmark Li-ion battery technology would be economically prohibitive if the storage time goes beyond 4 hours. Therefore, developing new low-cost LDES-compatible battery technologies is highly desirable. A solid oxide iron air battery (SOIAB) has been developed which consists of a reversible solid oxide cell (RSOC) and energy storage unit (ESU) of an iron bed. This battery is considered a promising …

High-Rate Production Of Thermoplastic Composite Structures For Urban Air Mobility Vehicles Utilizing Fastener-Free Assembly Methods, Robert H. Shumpert

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to develop a manufacturing plan for a Thermoplastic fiber-reinforced propeller blade for urban air mobility applications. This propeller blade offer a few unique challenges including the complex geometries of the blade. Another important aspect of the blade is using fusion bonding methods to increase the strength of joints in the product while reducing weight from fasteners and adhesives. This manufacturing process will be validated by producing a physical demonstrator to ascertain the efficacy of the manufacturing techniques used. First, the techniques that will make up the manufacturing plan must be selected. To do this, a review of …