Digital Commons Network^™

Interplay Of Atomicity, Polarization, And Quantization On Performance And Reliability In Gan Finfets, Salim I. Almenshad

Dissertations

GaN based nanoscale high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) are the next generation of transistor technology that features the unique combination of higher power, wider bandwidth, low noise, higher efficiency, and temperature/radiation hardness than conventional AlGaAs and Si based technologies. However, enhancement mode operation for nanoscale channel region is the most recent needed area of research. As well as reliability of these devices remains a major concern. The main objective of this proposed research is to numerically investigate the role of atomistic inhomogeneity and quantization in low-dimensionality lateral tri-gated AlGaN/GaN FinFET devices. It is shown that 3-D configured AlGaN/GaN FinFETs with narrow enough …

Optimizing Few-Shot Learning In Pruned Large Language Models With Task-Specific Prompts, Danyal Aftab

Dissertations

Few-shot learning enables large language models to efficiently perform tasks given only a limited number of labeled examples. However, training these models entirely from scratch requires substantial computational resources, making it challenging for many organizations to fully leverage their potential. This thesis explores how structured pruning, task-specific prompting, and parameter-efficient fine-tuning can be combined to preserve few-shot learning capabilities in compressed LLMs, while also extending their utility to real-world recommendation systems.

In this research, we propose the Tailored LLM framework, which first reduces model size through structured pruning and then enhances few-shot learning performance using carefully designed prompts. We experiment …

A Trombone Studio Teacher's Guide To Non-Injury-Related Embouchure Changes, Austin A. Handley

Dissertations

This dissertation is a pedagogical guide for trombone studio teachers who will lead students through embouchure changes. These changes and adjustments are normal in brass pedagogy, but there is limited literature that addresses how teachers should identify the need for change, initiate the process, and support students through it. There are a growing number of resources available about embouchure injury and dysfunction, rehabilitation, and long-term prevention. This leaves a gap for teachers who are trying to help students using an inefficient embouchure setup.

The purpose of this study is to provide a practical resource for teachers by examining the experiences …

The Relationship Between Depression And Cognitive Proficiency Index Across Biological Sex, Angela N. Ferdinardo

Dissertations

Depression is a widely studied mood disorder, and understanding its effect on cognitive functioning has become an important area of research. While research has examined relationships among depression, working memory, and cognitive deficits, limited research has explored depressive symptoms and cognitive proficiency across biological sex. Depression manifests similarly in men and women, though men are more likely to experience irritability, impulsivity, and anger, while women tend to experience sadness, stress, and sleep disturbances (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2023). Women are also more likely to seek treatment and cope differently than men. This study examined the relationship between depression and cognitive proficiency …

The Legacy Of Trauma: Exploring The Effect Of Generational Stress On Gut Health And Mental Well-Being In Black Women, Jocelynn Jones

Dissertations

This dissertation examines how generational trauma and chronic stress may relate to gut health and mood outcomes among Black women. Using a literature review design, this work brings together research on intergenerational trauma, gendered racism, Superwoman Schema, weathering, allostatic load, mood disorders, reproductive health disparities, and the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The central argument is that depression, anxiety, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, reproductive vulnerability, and healthcare mistrust should not be understood as fully separate concerns when they may be shaped by shared stress conditions. The proposed integrated model does not claim that trauma directly causes gut dysbiosis or mood disorders. Instead, it suggests …

Power Signature-Based Hardware Security Techniques For The Internet Of Things, Ashish Mahanta

Dissertations

The rapid proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) has introduced significant security challenges, particularly concerning stealthy, instruction-level malicious code injections that evade traditional software defenses. While conventional power analysis techniques are highly effective at detecting such subtle abnormalities, they require capturing high-resolution, voluminous power trace data. This dependency necessitates bulky data acquisition (DAQ) instrumentation, power-hungry analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and intensive computational resources, making these methods impractical for deployment on resource-constrained IoT devices. To bridge this critical gap, this dissertation presents a novel hardware security paradigm, the Power Rising and Descending Signature (PRIDES) methodology. Instead of quantizing actual power consumption …

Applications Of Machine Learning For Nondestructive Evaluation Data Analysis, Connor Chase Seavers

Dissertations

A fourth industrial revolution is currently taking place in the manufacturing sector, called “Industry 4.0,” where material production and fabrication processes are becoming fully automated using integrated sensors, closed-loop feedback mechanisms, and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML). The nondestructive evaluation (NDE) field has begun to follow suit by integrating AI/ML techniques in material inspection processes to automate defect detection for many NDE methods. Since material inspection processes are paramount in ensuring safety and reliability in critical manufactured products, it is important that new AI/ML techniques are trustworthy for NDE data analysis. The current approach to building trust in new AI/ML methods …

Listening To Fire: Using Passive Acoustic Monitoring To Detect And Explain Prescribed Fire Effects On Avian Communities In Oak-Hickory Forests Of The Central Hardwood Region, Wesley Petty

Dissertations

Prescribed fire is an increasingly important tool for restoring oak-hickory forests in the Central Hardwood Region, yet its effects on avian communities remain poorly understood because traditional monitoring methods cannot easily capture wildlife responses across the large spatial and fine temporal scales at which fire effects unfold. This dissertation develops and tests a framework for using passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) to detect prescribed fire effects on avian communities and to explain the ecological mechanisms behind them. Acoustic data were collected at Giant City State Park and Touch of Nature Environmental Center in southern Illinois across six recording sites for seven …

Nitrogen Dynamics In Riverine Wetlands Of The Leveed Middle Mississippi River Floodplain, Joseph M. Krienert

Dissertations

Excess dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in the Mississippi River basin degrades aquatic ecosystems and drinking‑water quality. Riverine wetlands can mitigate these impacts by providing hydrologic and geochemical conditions that support nitrification and denitrification, converting DIN to inert nitrogen gas. This service may be especially important along high‑order rivers, yet its magnitude and controls remain unclear. This research evaluates DIN processing in two riverine wetlands along the 8th‑order middle Mississippi River (MMR) floodplain, one connected to the River and one disconnected by levees.This valley was shaped over millennia by lowland river processes and glacial outwash, filling the confined bedrock valley with …

A Qualitative Study Of Immigration Trauma, Posttraumatic Growth, And The College Experience Among Mena Immigrant Students, Braa A. Elkhidir

Dissertations

Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) immigrant students who are seeking to earn a higher education in the United States have to navigate acculturative stressors and systemic barriers. Prior research has focused primarily on the challenges MENA immigrant students experience without deeply exploring how these students adapt and grow. The focus in this qualitative study was to understand how MENA immigrant college students experience and make meaning of their academic journeys. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the academic experiences of seven MENA immigrant college students in the United States and assess how acculturative stressors, personal strengths, coping strategies, and …

Black Protection: Black Social Media Competency And Urban, Black Adolescents On Social Media, Taylor A. Williams

Dissertations

While urban, Black adolescents interact with racial identity content on social media, their identity is primarily shaped through offline experiences and later reflected or reinforced online. Through the concept of Black social media competency (B-SMC), this study examined the relationships between Black urban adolescents’ social media use, exposure to race-related content, and experiences navigating the digital environment. The study used a qualitative design, grounded in the phenomenological and ecological frameworks, with 21 adolescents recruited from two urban, Midwestern schools and programs to participate in semi-structured interviews, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns in how the participants …

Association Between Stress Mindset, Psychological Symptoms, And Psychosocial Risk In Liver Transplant Patients, Sarah Kay Brill

Dissertations

Psychosocial functioning is a central component of liver transplant evaluation, yet less is known about how cognitive factors, such as stress mindset, relate to transplant readiness. The present study examined the association between stress mindset and psychosocial risk, as well as its relationship with depressive symptoms, anxiety, and perceived stress among patients undergoing liver transplant evaluation. Patients included 62 adults completing standard pre-transplant assessment measures, including the Stress Mindset Measure–Specific (SMM-S), Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation (SIPAT), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Hierarchical logistic regression analyses indicated that stress mindset was …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Juvenile Offending: Client-Factor Variations And A Novel Intervention Approach, Madison M. Dobreff

Dissertations

Adverse childhood experiences have consistently been identified as risk factors for juvenile offending. However, this relationship is complex and varies based on individual factors. This critical literature review not only examined the current research on the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and juvenile offending but also identified client factor variations that influence the relationship. Client factors examined throughout include race/ethnicity, gender, age, internalized and externalized mental health symptoms, positive internal factors, familial and external social support, educational engagement, environmental factors, and positive childhood experiences. The relationship is further complicated by examining the effects of multiple client-factor variations on the adverse …

Seeing The Unspoken: A Pilot Eye-Tracking Study Of Moral Injury Among Veterans, Eva M. Valdez

Dissertations

This pilot study examined associations between self-reported moral distress, state distress, combat exposure, deployment history, and maximum pupil reactivity among veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Participants viewed neutral and morally relevant images while pupil responses were recorded using eye-tracking technology. Self-report measures included moral distress severity, exposure to potentially morally injurious events, Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) ratings, total deployments, number of combat deployments, and Combat Exposure Scale scores. Maximum pupil reactivity was calculated by subtracting the mean z-scored maximum pupil response during neutral image presentations from the mean z-scored maximum pupil response during morally relevant image presentations. This variable …

Pathways To The Streets: A Proposed Model Examining The Factors Influencing Gang Affiliation And Involvement Among Young Black Men In The United States, Ceauna L. Juarez

Dissertations

This literature review examined gang involvement among young Black men in the United States and explored the factors that contribute to joining gangs and the consequences that may follow. The first chapter provides a brief history of gang involvement in Black communities and introduces Erikson’s development model, self-determination theory, and the minorities’ diminished returns as the three theoretical frameworks. The second chapter discusses common challenges faced by young Black men who are currently involved in gangs or are at risk of joining. The chapter explores issues such as life expectancy after gang involvement, adverse childhood experiences, mental health concerns, and …

Intergenerational Trauma And Grief Among The Latine Community: Proposed Interventions And Treatment Considerations, Alexandra M. Johnson

Dissertations

The intersectionality of bereavement, trauma, and culture has many clinical considerations, including the impact on individuals and families. Traumatic events can impact an individual directly, collectively, and intergenerationally. The Latine community is one of the largest cultural groups in the United States, and mental health treatment often includes several cultural considerations. This critical literature review examined how the Latine community has been impacted by intergenerational trauma, specifically through experiences of grief and loss, to inform clinical focus, case conceptualization, and identify gaps in the literature. The first chapter provides a brief history of the intersectionality of intergenerational trauma and bereavement, …

The Influence Of Leadership On Leader Retention, Ruiwei Li

Dissertations

Prior research provided limited insight into how mid-to-senior leaders experienced and interpreted leadership in relation to retention. This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study explored how mid-to-senior leaders in a U.S. retail organization experienced and interpreted upper management leadership in relation to their retention decisions. Five leaders with at least four years of tenure participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Each account was analyzed idiographically before patterns of convergence, variation, and divergence were examined across cases. Findings showed that willingness to remain reflected continued internal growth and meaningful influence, supportive leadership that affirmed personal value while preserving agency, and relational and cultural …

Teaching Difficult Histories: An Exploratory Case Study Of Teacher Experiences And Student Demonstrations Of Historical Empathy In A Cdf Freedom School, Michael T. Miller

Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored two research questions: What did CDF Freedom School teachers experience while teaching elementary and middle school students how to learn history with a critical lens? How did CDF Freedom School students’ work demonstrate historical empathy and perspective-taking? Using secondary data collected by Dr. Johari Harris from the Summer 2023 CDF Freedom School in Charlottesville, VA, a thematic analysis was conducted of exit interviews from four teachers, classroom observation data from one teacher, and writing samples from students in grades 3-8 in response to materials from the Educating for Democracy curriculum. Themes were created from teacher …

Secondary Biology Teachers’ Understandings Of Growth Mindset, Kathryn Chapman

Dissertations

This case study investigates how high school biology teachers understand and apply growth mindset principles in their daily instruction. Using surveys, semi‑structured interviews, and focus groups, the study examines how biology teachers interpret mindset, how they attempt to enact it, and how curriculum demands shape their efforts. Findings show that teachers’ beliefs about intelligence strongly influence their feedback, expectations, and instructional decisions. Teachers described biology as a subject in which struggle is highly visible, emotionally charged, and often tied to students’ prior knowledge, making mindset work both necessary and challenging. Results also indicate that students’ mindsets are shaped by broader …

Understanding The Impact Of Parenting, Self-Determination Theory, And Adverse Childhood Experiences On College Students, Melanie D. Prater

Dissertations

College students are at high risk for experiencing psychological distress which impacts their academic, mental, and physical well-being (Eskin et al., 2016; Reed‑Fitzke & Lucier‑Greer, 2020; Sharp & Theiler, 2018). The Self Determination Theory (SDT) serves as a suitable framework for investigating the impact of parental autonomy support (PAS) and parental psychological control (PPC) on college students’ well-being and distress. According to SDT, the satisfaction of three foundational needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) supports well-being, while thwarting of these needs may be associated with psychological distress and resilience (Costa et al., 2016; Lera & Abualkibash, 2022; Reed‑Fitzke & Lucier‑Greer, 2020; …

Exploring Perceptions Of Self-Efficacy Among Newly Graduated Nurses In The Labor And Delivery Unit After The Use Of Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice For Obstetric Emergencies, Amber L. Hulsey

Dissertations

Background: The average turnover rate among newly graduated nurses (NGNs) in the United States is 25-30% within their first year, with increased rates in high-stress units like obstetrics and critical care. Many risk factors contribute to the high turnover rate of NGNs, but one modifiable factor is feelings of self-efficacy. Studies have shown that simulation training can increase self-efficacy in obstetric emergencies. This study was conducted to explore feelings of self-efficacy among NGNs working in the labor and delivery unit after a rapid cycle deliberate practice (RCDP) simulation of an OB emergency.

Methods: The study used a descriptive …

The Use Of A Sepsis Escape Room Simulation To Enhance Undergraduate Nursing Student's Clinical Judgment, Alaina Peterson

Dissertations

Background: Less than 10% of new graduate registered nurses meet practice-ready expectations for clinical judgment competencies, and 52% of critical care nurses are unable to adequately define sepsis. Traditional clinical rotations offer inconsistent exposure to high-acuity, low-frequency events such as sepsis, leaving new graduates unprepared for independent practice. Escape room simulations use the proven effectiveness of high-fidelity simulations with gamification to develop clinical judgment through active learning, teamwork and problem-solving.

Objective: The purpose of this project was to determine the effectiveness of a sepsis escape room simulation to improve perceived clinical judgment skills of undergraduate nursing students. The intervention was …

Exercise Self-Efficacy And Physical Wellness In A Worksite Wellness Program: Exploring Factor Structure And Perceptions, Micah B. Mcglathery

Dissertations

Exploring Perceptions of Exercise Self-Efficacy and Physical Wellness in a Worksite Wellness Program

Abstract

Worksite wellness programs are increasingly adopted to address insufficient exercise participation and other health-related behaviors that put employees at risk of chronic disease. Although quantitative outcomes are well-documented, there is limited research exploring how employees perceive these programs' impact on personal behavior change, particularly in relation to exercise self-efficacy. Guided by the Social Cognitive Theory and the Exercise is Medicine initiative, this study qualitatively investigates employee perceptions of a worksite wellness program’s influence on physical wellness and confidence to exercise. A phenomenological approach using semi-structured interviews …

Supports And Challenges For Esns In Higher Education: A State University Qualitative Study, Dilkash Ahmed

Dissertations

Although extensive support needs students (ESNS) benefit from access to inclusive higher education opportunities, research shows that navigating college settings has been challenging for these students. This study examined the supports available to ESNS enrolled in college classes and the challenges they encounter within a university setting. Using a State University as the research site, this qualitative study collected data through semi-structured interviews, observations, and reflection responses to capture the experiences of ESNS, faculty, and peer mentors in higher education. The study examined ESNS experiences in classes through the perspectives of faculty on teaching ESNS, peer mentors’ (who support students …

"Girl I'Ll Figure It Out": First-Generation Women Of Color Navigating Higher Education, Prisilla Cortez

Dissertations

This qualitative study focused on understanding the experiences of first-generation women of color at a California public four-year institution and how their intersecting identities shape their academic experiences and overall well-being. Women of Color Feminist (Crenshaw, 1991), and intersectionality frameworks guided this study. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, and thematic analysis was used to identify patterns in participants’ experiences. Findings revealed three central themes, collective orientation and familial expectations, faculty interactions and sense of belonging, and institutional resources and access. Participants described navigating higher education while balancing family responsibilities, financial pressures, and academic demands. Although they demonstrated resilience …

Selected California State University Cybersecurity Readiness Policies And Related Guidance For Staff: A Qualitative Document Analysis, Andrew Hung-Nguyen

Dissertations

This study examines the cybersecurity and data privacy policy guiding the staff in the following four California State University campuses: Long Beach, San Bernardino, Chico, and Northridge. The purpose is to evaluate how institutional policies communicate expectations for staff and support cybersecurity readiness. Using a qualitative document analysis approach, the study analyzes publicly available policy documents as primary data sources. The analysis is guided by three frameworks, as follows: Weidman’s framework (2018), which assesses the presence of key policy elements; Karakoç’s framework (2022), which evaluates the depth of policy content; and the Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level formulas …

"A Door To The Future." A Case Study In Exploratory And Culturally Sustaining Theater Curriculum, Verónica Meza

Dissertations

This study addresses the persistent inequities in access to quality arts education for Latino immigrant and linguistically diverse communities in California. Despite progressive initiatives such as Proposition 28 (The Arts and Music in Schools Act) and the California Arts Council's Racial Equity Statement, systemic barriers prevent Latino and immigrant students from benefiting equitably from the arts. The central objective of this project is to understand how an exploratory, culturally sustaining theater curriculum can serve as a transformative and healing vehicle for adult immigrant Latino students, providing emotional protection, cultural affirmation, and language preservation within a U.S. educational context. This qualitative …

Rewriting The Plan: Environmental Justice, Community Resistance, And Governance Power In Hollister, California, Rolan Resendiz

Dissertations

This dissertation examines how community-led resistance in Hollister, California, challenged environmental injustice and infrastructure governance through grassroots civic action. Focusing on the Hollister Guardians, a coalition of primarily Latinx residents who organized in response to concerns about the city’s sewer system, this qualitative case study introduces the Critical Just Sustainability Policy Praxis (CJSPP) framework, developed by integrating Critical Policy Analysis and the Just Sustainability Paradigm with a praxis-oriented focus on community action. Using critical document analysis of city council meeting minutes, local media coverage, and community-authored texts mainly from 2023 to 2025, the study explores how policy discourse, institutional decision-making, …

Addressing The Lack Of Representation Of Hijab-Wearing Teachers Of Color In Education, Feroza Solaiman

Dissertations

This qualitative study examines the lived experiences of hijab-wearing teachers of color in TK–12 public schools in Northern California. Six participants shared perspectives on representation, inclusion, exclusion, and moments of joy within their school communities. The findings highlight that increased representation of teachers of color strengthens educators’ sense of belonging, supports students’ self-esteem, and enhances both teacher and student engagement. Participants emphasized the need for greater awareness of Muslim women’s diverse cultures, languages, celebrations, dietary practices, and professional attire, as well as the importance of challenging single-story narratives through dialogue, understanding, and upstander practices. Inclusive school environments were found to …

Guru Shishya Parampara: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Character Development Through Immersion, Shilpan Sheth

Dissertations

Processes that support the intentional effort to manifest virtue remain an under-described and poorly understood area of education research. In the literature, it is identified that immersion - a state of deep affective or cognitive engagement with one’s environment - holds implications for character development. Exploring the guru shishya parampara ((गुरुिश� पर�रा), a pedagogical tradition with roots in Vedic culture, through the lived experiences of an expert musician, this study relates immersive experiences to personal transformation. Data from interviews, lectures, and articles were analyzed. From the data, immersive experiences of the guru shishya tradition are understood to be embodied, intrinsic, …