Digital Commons Network^™

Burnout And Quality Of Life As Predictors Of Compassion Fatigue In Inner-City Teachers In The United States, Helen Richelle Ceballo-Hernández

Dissertations

Problem

Teachers are under great stress which can result in burnout and the feeling of being overloaded with work. In turn, burnout can induce compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue is often referred to in the literature as repeated exposure to others’ trauma endured by first responders, nurses, and other medical professionals as well as others in the helping profession such as therapists and social workers. The empathy of helping professionals incites compassion fatigue for those whom they help. Teachers, though not originally classified as part of the helping professions, are susceptible to compassion fatigue due to their empathy and the amount …

Exploring Educator Burnout: Experiences And Perceptions Of Teachers And Principals In Canadian K-12 Seventh-Day Adventist Schools, David Anthony Elias

Dissertations

Problem

Burnout among educators is a growing concern, particularly within faith-based school systems where teachers often balance high professional expectations with spiritual commitments. In K-12 Canadian Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) schools, limited research has explored how burnout manifests, the factors contributing to it, and its impact on teacher retention. This study aimed to examine the levels and causes of burnout among SDA educators, as well as the systemic factors influencing their experiences.

Method

This study employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected using the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Educators Survey (MBI-ES) to measure emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced …

Navigating Big Data In Cyber Archaeology: An Updated Four-Field Approach Applied To San Miceli, Jared Wilson

Dissertations

Problem

This dissertation examines the evolving role of digital technologies in archaeological research, focusing on the management and interpretation of extensive digital datasets generated by modern excavations. Drawing on six years of comprehensive fieldwork at San Miceli, Sicily, this study critically evaluates and updates the established four-field methodology proposed by Levy et al. (2012), encompassing acquisition, analysis, dissemination, and curation. While traditional archaeological documentation methods rely heavily on analog techniques, these approaches increasingly fall short due to the rapid expansion and complexity of digital data.

Method

To address this gap, the dissertation refines and expands the current methodological framework by …

Perceived Social Support And Religious Attitudes As Correlates Of Spiritual Well-Being Among Senior Undergraduate Students At Northeast Brazil Adventist University, Hebert Davi Liessi

Dissertations

Problem

Even though the study of spirituality has been a recurrent theme in academia, in Brazil there has been little emphasis on the analysis of spiritual well-being in the context of university students. Few studies have examined the correlation of spiritual well-being with perceived social support or religious attitudes among university students, and most of these have been in the fields of health care or health recovery. Some research has indicated that religious attitudes may be partially disconnected from improvements in the level of spirituality. -- This study aimed to verify whether this disconnection is real or relevant, and assumed …

Developing The Leadership Competency Of Critical Thinking In College Students: A Quasi-Experimental Mixed Methods Study At A Small Christian College, Norberto Restrepo

Dissertations

Our world of constant change and complex challenges requires citizens who know how to exercise higher-order thinking skills, and individuals who have developed their metacognitive abilities to a higher extent are better prepared to perform effectively as leaders. This quasi-experimental mixed methods study employed a pre and posttest design to determine whether the critical thinking skills of students at Hartland College could be improved over the course of a one quarter ten week term through the use of biblical worldview instructional approaches such as biblical worldview development, faith learning integration, and deep Bible study that had critical thinking activities embedded …

Relationship Between Financial Literacy And Financial Behavior Among Seventh-Day Adventist Full-Time Pastors In The North American Division Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Edwin G. Romero

Dissertations

Problem

This investigation intended to examine the relationship between the financial literacy components of full-time pastors and their financial behavior components. Many pastors struggle with their finances and often retire unprepared due to having inaccurate or incomplete knowledge of relevant financial information and planning strategies.

Method

This study adopted a quantitative, descriptive, and correlational approach to investigate the financial and demographic characteristics of pastors. The questionnaire completed by participants was the financial literacy questionnaire developed by Stella et al. (2020), which helped measure general financial literacy among full-time pastors, and the Financial Management Behavior Scale (FMBS) developed by Xiao (2008) …

Assessment Of The Level Of Relevancy Of Theological Education In The Chinese Context, Jacky Yeung

Dissertations

Problem

The contextualization of theological education has been a topic of academic discussion for many years with scholars exploring various angles related to this subject. Despite the ongoing need for contextualized theological education, an assessment of its relevancy in the Chinese setting has not been extensively studied. This dissertation aims to fill this research gap by assessing the relevancy of Adventist theological education in China and providing recommendations for improvement.

Method

The study employs a mixed-method approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue. The quantitative stage involves a survey administered to …

International Students' Perceptions Of Enrollment Support Services At Andrews University: An Analysis Of 2021-2024 Data, Erica Fernanda Zaccariotto Batista

Dissertations

Problem

Enrollment services are crucial in shaping students' early experiences by guiding them through complex administrative processes and facilitating their adjustment to the higher education environment. Research indicates that the quality of these services significantly impacts students' first impressions, engagement, and overall satisfaction with their educational journey. However, a gap exists in research specifically focused on how enrollment services affect the experiences of international students navigating higher education. This study examines international students' perceptions regarding enrollment services at Andrews University from 2021 to 2024. It aims to identify the key factors that influence international student enrollment data, evaluate their perceptions …

Talk Like An Egyptian: Egyptian Influence And Appropriation In The Book Of Exodus, Dorian W. Alexander

Dissertations

Problem

It is an inarguable truth that ancient Egypt has left a legacy upon world culture. However, the one area of Egyptian influence and legacy that remains to be studied in greater scholarship is the Bible. While many have made observations in effort to detract from and even outrightly refute any Egyptian influence on the Bible, one merely need read through any number of passages in the Bible (particularly the Old Testament) to witness just how large of an imprint is made upon it by ancient Egypt.

Method

Within just the limits of the book of Exodus alone, one finds …

The Inequitable Access: Black And Latinx Students In Ap Courses, Jean C. Woolcock

Dissertations

This study posits that in American high schools, the preparation of Black and Latinx students, starting from the freshman year, can be effective in helping to increase their participation in Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Structural inequities, in how schools are resourced, affect the ways in which Black and Latinx students are denied equal opportunities. On the contrary, members of their peers do obtain this kind of preparation. As a framework, Critical Race Theory (CRT) contends that race, the law, and power are deeply ingrained in maintaining established bastions of wealth and dominance. Gaps in opportunity and achievement spill over into …

Educator Perspectives Of High School Long-Term English Learners, Martin Gutierrez Jr.

Dissertations

This qualitative study was twofold. The study began by exploring how educators perceive students who are Long Term English Learners (LTELs) and then moved to an autoethnographic examination of the researcher’s own secondary school experiences as an LTEL. The research reviewed teacher and administrator perceptions by focusing on three high school teachers who taught Long Term English Learners during the study period to understand the reclassification process. The researcher interviewed a district-level administrator to understand institutional policies and procedures that determine LTEL student identification and reclassification processes. The researcher presented their autoethnographic narrative to explore how holistic measures support multilingual …

Bilingual Latinx Adolescents Experiences In A Predominantly White Institution: A Mixed Method Study, Danieli Marie Mercado Ramos

Dissertations

Extent scholarship has provided insight into how Latinx adolescents actively experience exclusion. These adolescents are often the targets of microaggressions tied to their language (Gonzalez et al., 2018), ethnicity, race, and intersecting identities--such as being bilingual Latinx students--which serve as reminders that they do not belong. However, little is known about Spanish-English bilingual Latinx adolescents and how their heritage language plays a role in predominantly white spaces and institutions. This convergent parallel mixed methods study explored how Spanish-English bilingual Latinx students in the Midwest described their experiences in a predominantly white institution (PWI). A total of 42 Spanish-English bilingual Latinx …

Evolution Of Bacteria: The Subsequent Relationships Between Different Species And Their Hosts, Helen Appleberry

Dissertations

To explore the relationship between two recently identified bacterial species (S. anginosus and S. urinae), three aims were designed. First, niche ranges were identified via two metagenome databases. Different niche ranges were identified between the two groups. S. urinae was more specific to the urogenital tract. S. anginosus appeared to be present across human anatomical niches. Secondly, specific genes to the S. urinae group were identified. This gives insight into the genomic and phenotypic differences previously identified. Thirdly, a temporal study was created to view S. urinae in female urine over 8 weeks. This showed stability in the urinary microbiome …

Deciphering The Source Of Escherichia Coli In Urinary Tract Infections: A Comparative Metagenomic Analysis Of The Female Urogenital Microbiome, Alexis Annabel Avalos

Dissertations

In 2019, there was a 140.19% increase in deaths due to urinary tract infections (UTIs) compared to 1990, worldwide. One of the common uropathogens known to associate with UTIs in females is Escherichia coli. The prevailing belief is that E. coli in the bladder originates in the rectum, passing its way from the perineal, to the vagina, and finally into the bladder. Known as the Fecal-Perineal-Urethral (FPU) hypothesis, this “origin story” has been supported by several studies that have relied on genotyping or serotyping isolates collected from the bladder and rectum. Most notably, culturing isolates from samples has been central …

Reconceptualizing Christian Nationalism, Robert Stevenson

Dissertations

This thesis sets out to critically engage with existing research on Christian nationalism. It argues that current research suffers from a methodological focus that is too broad, and theoretical grounding that is too imprecise, both of which prevent researchers from grasping the full scope and intent of Christian nationalism, as imagined by Christian nationalists themselves. Drawing on data collected from X accounts (formerly Twitter) of Christian nationalist users, Christian nationalist podcasts, and Christian nationalist books, it employs qualitative content analysis, mapped to Bourdieusian field theory to provide a structured approach for the understanding complex data involving multiple spheres of power, …

Refining Cross-Population Polygenic Risk Scores Across Diverse Populations, Mansi Patel

Dissertations

Large biobanks containing whole genome sequences connected to the deidentified electronic health records of hundreds of thousands of individuals are increasingly available to researchers. This has facilitated the development of polygenic risk scores (PRS), which use machine learning to predict risk of disease and other phenotypes from millions of genetic variants. Due to Eurocentricity of available genetic data, PRS have primarily been trained in populations of European descent. Differences in allele frequencies, effect sizes, and linkage disequilibrium patterns between populations can limit the transferability of PRS across different populations. Given that most data are from European genetic ancestry populations, we …

Decoding The Origins Of Infection: A Machine Learning Framework, Nirupama G. Shanbhag

Dissertations

Many infections can be attributed to a specific microorganism. For example, while there can be many causes of urinary tract infections (UTIs), such as the bacterial species Klebsiella pneumoniae or Enterococcus sp., the most widespread cause for UTIs is uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Generally, diseases or infections that are the result of a single pathogenic organism are more easily understood. Other diseases, such as irritable bowel disease (IBD), cannot be attributed to one member in the community; rather, it is a result of dysbiosis of the microbial community (microbiota) of the gastrointestinal tract, a combination of an overgrowth of problematic members …

What Makes A Teacher A Teacher: A Philosophical Approach Aligned With Plato, Sojung Kim Hinterkopf

Dissertations

This thesis investigates how contemporary U.S. educational accountability policies—namely No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Race to the Top (RttT)—redefine the role of teachers through a compliance-oriented lens. Moving beyond logistical and emotional impacts, this study applies Plato’s Allegory of the Cave as a philosophical framework to uncover the intellectual and ethical constraints imposed on educators. Through qualitative document analysis of federal policy texts, three metaphorical themes—shackles, shadows, and enlightenment—emerged to represent how teachers are bound by data-driven mandates, compelled to perform surface-level success, and yet still retain the potential to guide students toward deeper intellectual engagement. The findings reveal …

Role Of Coronavirus Envelope Protein On Infectivity, Garrett E. Zaagman

Dissertations

Coronaviruses infect a wide range of hosts and have caused recent human pandemics. While much has been learned, gaps remain in understanding viral assembly and egress, particularly the role of the envelope (E) protein in specific infectivity. To study this, recombinant MHV viruses were created with E gene deletions and HiBiT-tagged spike (S) proteins to monitor virion release. In mouse cells, MHV∆E S-HiBiT secreted less spike and fewer infectious particles, indicating reduced specific infectivity. Comparisons between human HeLa-CEACAM and mouse DBT cells showed species-specific support for virus production. TMED10, a host membrane protein, was tested as a potential E-interacting partner …

Investigating Whether Txnrd2 Is A Therapeutic Target Against Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using African American-Derived Models, Keacha Chang

Dissertations

Despite similar breast cancer incidence rates, African American (AA) women experience a 40% higher mortality rate compared to Caucasian American (CA) women. This disparity is multifactorial and particularly pronounced in the Chicago area. AA women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), often at a younger age and with more aggressive disease. TNBC is a heterogeneous subtype lacking targeted therapies and is associated with the poorest prognosis among breast cancer types. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies for TNBC, especially those tailored to AA patients. The thioredoxin pathway is essential for …

Examining Secretory Pathways In Inflammasome Activated Innate Immune Cells, Alejandra Castellanos Urquidez

Dissertations

Innate immune cells serve as the first line of defense by detecting pathogens through pathogen- and damage-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs and DAMPs). Recognition of PAMPs triggers the synthesis and secretion of pro-inflammatory proteins, with the inflammasome playing a key role in the secretion of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), a crucial part of the innate immune response. Upon inflammasome activation, the release of signal-peptide lacking cytoplasmic proteins such as IL-1β occurs through non-classical pathways known as unconventional protein secretion (UCPS), which vary depending on the cell type and stimulus which helps tailor the extent of pro-inflammatory protein secretion. Broadly, UCPS cargoes are released …

Capturing Diverse Adolescents’ Social Contexts: The Development Of An Ethnic-Racial Microaffirmations Scale For Peer Interactions, Maria Radulescu

Dissertations

The development of a strong and positive sense of ethnic-racial identity (ERI) has been identified as an asset for ethnically and racially marginalized adolescents. Peer interactions during the adolescent years can support ERI development. In particular, a subtle micro-level form of peer support—microaffirmations—may be protective for ERI processes. However, the field of microaffirmations is very small, and there is no scale that captures adolescents’ experiences of ethnic-racial microaffirmations from their peers. The current study developed an ethnic-racial peer microaffirmations scale based on extant literature and feedback from 4 focus groups with 22 sophomore high school students. Findings indicated that 5 …

The Bacterial Sensing Nuclear-Oligomerization Domain 2 Receptor In The Brain: Location And Potential Function, Julia Smyth

Dissertations

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-2 (NOD2) is a cytosolic receptor, activated by bacterial peptides that initiates innate immune responses through nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and Caspase-1 pathways. While the role of NOD2 in inflammation outside the central nervous system (CNS) is well-established, especially in the gastrointestinal system, its expression and function in the brain remain poorly defined. Previous genetic studies suggest a link between NOD2 and neurological and psychiatric conditions, including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and schizophrenia. However, information regarding NOD2 expression, localization, and function in the CNS is limited. In this work, we investigated NOD2 expression, localization, and regulation …

Keep It In Your Pants: How Sexual Regulation Becomes Identity Regulation, Madelyn Shoemaker

Dissertations

White Evangelicalism has been studied quantitatively for many years; however, this article examines in-depth interviews with ex-congregants of a specific church located in Chicago. Building from Orit Avasai’s framework of “doing religion,” I argue that due to a high saturation of isolation, sexual regulation and patriarchal power, this specific church’s script of religious performance claims master status in individual identity building, leading to adverse effects in adulthood. Much of the rhetoric utilized to justify the intense regulation of identity mirrors that of the New Right movement of the 1980’s, as well as modern political discourse. This study will assist in …

"I'M Not Having Fun Anymore": A Qualitative Analysis Of Gender And Harassment In Bars And Clubs, Phoebe Marie Jackson

Dissertations

Sexual harassment, while often spoken about in hushed tones or ignored altogether, happens frequently and often loudly. 66 percent of women who have experienced sexual harassment report that the harassment took place in a public space, such as work, school, or on the street (Kearl, 2018). Harassment is not discreet, but rather normalized, and those who experience it are expected to brush it off or take it in their stride. However, such harassment and subsequent dehumanization has a deteriorating effect on the mental well-being of those affected (Graham et. al., 2016). This study aims to hone in on the effect …

Systematic Review Examining How Black Youth In The United States Cope With Stressful And Traumatic Experiences, Marcus Aaron Flax

Dissertations

Coping is an important behavioral skillset that youth use to emotionally regulate after experiencing stress or trauma. Research has repeatedly highlighted the stressors that Black youth experience, often finding that Black youth face higher levels of stress and trauma than their White peers. However, there has been a lack of research in understanding how Black youth cope with these higher levels of stress. This systematic review includes 72 studies (N = 16,205 participants) examining the frequency and effectiveness of coping strategies used by Black youth in response to a trauma or stressor, along with the associations between utilized coping strategies …

Voices Of Chinese American Emerging Adults: Complex Racial Identities, Family Dynamics, And Mental Health Experiences, Maxwell Lou Xu

Dissertations

Although Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial minority group in the United States, they remain significantly underrepresented in mental health research. Furthermore, research on Asian American mental health often aggregates the experiences of different Asian ethnic groups, creating a limited understanding of how distinct ethnic groups may differ in their mental health experiences. This interview study with Chinese American emerging adults ages 18–25 from varied family contexts (single-race, multiracial, and adoptive households) examines how members of this population make sense of the relationships between their identity, family, and mental health. This thesis posits that Chinese Americans' nuanced experiences—particularly around …

Ultramodern Racism: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of The Impact Of Anti-Crt Legislation On Us History Curriculums, Amelia Gernand

Dissertations

In the wake of Donald Trump’s failed 2020 bid for a second presidential term, there was a surge in anti-CRT legislation targeting how issues of race and racism could be taught in public school curricula. While proponents claim that anti-CRT laws will protect students of all races from discrimination, curriculums have historically been used as a tool by those with symbolic power to legitimize white supremacy and perpetuate anti-Black and color-evasive racism. Two states--Florida and Arkansas--recently enacted anti-CRT legislation in addition to Black history mandates. While legislators in these two states claim that their goal is to expand the teaching …

The Forced Sterilization Of Quechua-Speaking Women In Peru: The Role Of Epistemic Injustice In The Perpetration Of Genocide, Geraldine Diaz

Dissertations

The forced sterilization of Quechua-speaking women in Peru from 1996 to 2000 represents a case of genocide in which the state as an epistemic agent has a fundamental role. Although the systematic sterilization was carried out under the guise of a family planning program, the targeting of these women provides strong circumstantial evidence of genocidal intent. According to the testimonies of these women, medical staff, acting on behalf of the government, performed tubal ligation procedures through coercion, threats, lies, bribery, manipulation, and other tactics where the state intentionally withheld information, misinformed women, and failed to obtain proper consent. This research …

Response Of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Structure And Aquatic Insect Secondary Production To Coarse Woody Debris Addition In Peri-Urban To Urban Golf Course Ponds, Ryan Johnson

Dissertations

Golf courses represent 29% and 26% of all greenspace areas in the U.S. urban regions and the Chicago metropolitan region, respectively; however, they are often overlooked among urban greenspaces as a tool to mitigate the impacts of increased urbanization on ecological communities. The primary aim of this research was to assess whether manipulating golf course pond habitats by adding coarse woody debris (CWD) would enhance aquatic invertebrate community structure and secondary production, with the potential to increase local biodiversity. One pond in each of six golf courses was selected for this study and sampled in summer 2020 before wood addition …