Digital Commons Network^™

Extended Days On Feed: Influences On Growth Performance, Efficiency, And Carcass Characteristics Of Steers And Heifers Of Different Proportions Of Angus And Limousin Genetics, Grace Henley Olinger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recently, cattle feeders have extended days on feed (DOF) resulting in hot carcass weights (HCW) exceeding the limits of existing serial slaughter datasets. This study's goal was to determine the impact extended DOF exerts on growth performance, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics of steers and heifers with varying proportions of Angus (AN) and Limousin (LM) genetics. In 2022, commercial AN cows from two MT ranches were artificially inseminated to 9 sires from 3 breeds (AN, LM, and Limflex (LF)) with parentage confirmed by DNA. In 2023, 216 calves (sired by 72 AN, 73 LF, and 71 LM; 105 steers and …

Replicating Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd) Behavioral Profiles In School-Age Children: A Multi-Informant Investigation Of Emotional, Behavioral, And Cognitive Functioning, Tarah K. Todd Mrs.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties with attention, behavioral regulation, and impulsivity. Traditional diagnostic methods rely on categorical subtypes, often failing to capture the substantial heterogeneity observed across children with ADHD. As a result, there is growing support for data-driven, person-centered approaches that identify naturally occurring behavioral profiles rather than relying solely on categorical subtypes.

The present study sought to replicate previously identified ADHD-related behavioral profiles using contemporary clinical measures. BASC-3 Parent Rating Scale (PRS) data served as the foundation for replication of behavioral profiles, and then these profiles were examined across teacher ratings, executive-function …

What Do We Get Out Of Our Entertainment? Empirically Determining The Differences Between Narrative Engagement And Flow Using Video Games, Lars Wagener

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Immersion is an important aspect of entertainment media because it both drives the use of media and heightens one’s experience with that media (Nilsson et al., 2016). There are three core aspects of immersion. These aspects are (1) narrative engagement, (2) flow, and (3) enjoyment. This study set out to determine whether these aspects are statistically distinct from one another when observed in video games. The result indicated that these aspects were distinct from one another when examined through a structural equation model. This indicates that creating an overarching immersion variable that combines the different aspects of immersion may not …

Lunar Payload Logistics: Advancing Autonomous Control For Lunar Surface Transporter Vehicles, Liam Murray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Slum Area Detection In Dhaka City, Bangladesh, Using Satellite Remote Sensing And Deep Learning, Soubhoon Sadeq Shinjini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dhaka City, a rapidly growing megacity and high-density developing area in Bangladesh, faces numerous urbanization challenges. Among these, informal settlements or slum areas pose serious concerns for authorities and policymakers striving to improve living conditions for slum dwellers. Dhaka City’s slums are characterized by high-density, one- or two-story structures made of low-cost materials, often located adjacent to natural water bodies and lacking basic public infrastructure (Ahmed 2014; Iqbal 2014; Jahan 2012). The need for accurate and up-to-date data on these settlements is crucial for researchers and policymakers, particularly for implementing slum upgradation and resettlement programs. However, traditional field surveys for …

Characterizing A Free-Roaming Cat Population To Predict Predation Of Threatened Species In An Island Ecosystem, Sarah Gheida

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Formation And Degradation Of Carboxysomes During Heterocyst Development In Filamentous Cyanobacteria, Maxwell Anton Jakubiak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Photosynthetic carbon (CO2) fixation and solar-powered nitrogen (N2) fixation are foundational biochemical processes that introduce essential elements into the biosphere. While atmospheric dinitrogen gas (N2) is unusable to most organisms, diazotrophs utilize the nitrogenase enzyme to reduce N2 to ammonia. Because all known nitrogenases are highly susceptible to irreversible oxygen inactivation, N2 fixation is generally incompatible with oxygenic photosynthesis. However, several cyanobacteria are both photosynthetic and diazotrophic, balancing these opposing metabolisms by temporally or spatially separating the respective enzymes. Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 is a model multicellular cyanobacterium that grows in filaments of photosynthetic vegetative cells, which respond to nitrogen …

Exploring The Perceptions Of School Leaders And Teachers Towards The Role And Value Of School Librarians, Amanda Galliton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the perceptions of school leaders and teachers toward the role and value of school librarians in a North Central Texas Education Service Center area. The study investigated how superintendents, principals, and teachers view the contributions of certified school librarians to student achievement and school culture, particularly in light of budget cuts and the elimination of librarian positions. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research gathered information from superintendents, principals, and teachers, using quantitative and qualitative data and then quantitizing that data. The results reveal a significant variance in perceptions among superintendents, principals, and teachers, as well as a …

Strategies For Success: Developing The Hero Within To Increase Persistence Of Community College Students Returning From Academic Dismissal, Angela Cavazos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students are enrolling in college at a higher rate than ever before, yet retention rates continue to be problematic for higher education institutions across the United States. Many students fail to persist beyond their first year and are often forced out due to academic difficulties. Students who return from academic dismissal are likely to be dismissed again. This quasi-experimental quantitative action research study aimed to evaluate the impact that a student success intervention course designed through an asset-based positive self-leadership framework and focused on the development of psychological capital constructs of hope, efficacy, resilience, and self-efficacy (HERO) had on the …

A Higher Calling: How Christian Student Affairs Administrators Integrate Their Faith While Working At Public Community Colleges, Danielle J. Ward

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The cornerstone of the student affairs field was the intentional focus on holistic student development, their mind and spirit. The problem addressed was that many student affairs professionals felt ill-equipped and uncomfortable discussing and expressing their personal faith at some institutions of higher education. As a result, some were hesitant about integrating faith at work, personally and professionally. The study sought to identify faith's role in Christian student affairs administrators who worked at public open-admission community colleges and the administrators’ perceptions of how their personal faith integration at work impacted their relationships with students and colleagues. The paradigm for …

Perceptions Of Communication And Collaboration Between Special Education And Career And Technical Education Teachers, Alexander Novickoff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the communication and collaboration between Local Education Agency’s (LEA) special education staff and Career and Technical Center (CTC) staff in supporting students with disabilities (SWD). Given the critical role of effective interagency communication in providing comprehensive support to SWD, this study seeks to identify the perceptions, methods, and frequencies of communication between these entities. The research is set within the context of non-comprehensive CTCs in Pennsylvania, where students split their time between their home schools and regional CTCs. Through a quantitative approach, consisting of a detailed survey distributed to both LEA and CTC staff, this study examines …

Interactions Of The Sars-Cov-2 Viral Genome 3’-Untranslated Region With Viral And Host Rnas, Caleb Frye, Mihaela Rita Mihailescu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the characterization of RNA-RNA interactions within the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome and with host microRNAs. As the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), SARS-CoV-2 has evolved rapidly since its appearance. This has warranted prompt characterization of the virus particularly of its single stranded RNA (ssRNA) genome. By using a combination of bioinformatics, biophysics, and/or biological assays, we analyzed the SARS-CoV-2 viral genomic RNA and uncovered interactions of genomic RNA with host RNAs, highlighting an underutilized method of targeting RNA viruses. We showed here that the conserved elements in the viral genomic …

Gatekeeper, Keep Thyself: How Impairment Impacts The Integration Of Counselor Wellness Competencies, Curtis Lee Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined counselor educators’ beliefs regarding the importance of Counselor Wellness Competencies (CWCs) and how effectively they teach them to their counselors-in-training (CIT). This study focused on significant relationships between the importance and effective teaching, self-care, and burnout. Counselor educators who place higher importance on the CWCs reported having higher self-efficacy in teaching them. The findings suggest that counselor educators with more self-care behaviors experienced less burnout and were better able to show congruence between the importance and effective teaching of the CWCs. The conclusion of this report explores limitations and directions for future research.

Evaluating The Implementation Of Community Schools’ Strategies To Address Post-Pandemic Student Mental Health, Dawn Gordon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research explores the systemic and structural barriers affecting the effectiveness of community schools, particularly in providing mental health services and support, with a specific focus on how principals have responded to these needs in the post-COVID-19 era. Employing qualitative methods, including focus groups with principals from schools implementing the community schools’ model, the study identifies three major themes: difficulties with lead agency collaboration and coordination with host schools, systemic and structural barriers to effective functioning, and holistic approaches to enhancing student support and well-being with mental health.

Difficulties with lead agency collaboration and coordination reveal how inadequate communication and …

Excessive Before It Begins: A Critical Analysis Of Racialized Encounters Between Police And African American Men, Lucas Goodwin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the last decade, the racial violence that plagues relations between African Americans and the police has been brought to the attention of the American public by means of cell phone video footage of police use of excessive, and at times lethal, force in encounters with African American men. The images of police brutality that have emerged in this time have outraged millions of Americans, sparking nationwide protests, as well as various social and political movements. While perspectives may abound regarding the causes and significance of such brutality, the data is clear on one thing: Police violence disproportionately harms African …

Factors Affecting Involvement Of Parents Of Students With Learning Disabilities In Saudi Elementary Schools, Mohammed Alyahya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The research explores the factors that influence parental involvement in school children with learning disabilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Understanding these factors is crucial, as parental involvement is widely recognized as essential for the academic success of children, particularly those with learning disabilities. This study used a quantitative approach to collect data from parents of students with learning disabilities, including parents' age, gender, income, employment status, and parental beliefs (responsibilities and capabilities). The findings reveal that parental beliefs regarding their responsibilities towards their child's education are the only significant predictor of parental involvement. In contrast, other variables, including age, gender, …

Understanding Widowhood Cultural Practices, Values, And Beliefs, Of Nigerian American Women: An Ethnonursing Study, Prisca Anuforo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Many widowhood cultural practices are detrimental to the health and well-being of widows in Nigeria. Little is known about the experiences of widowhood for Nigerian American women, their cultural practices, and how it affects their health.

Purpose: Understand widowhood cultural practices among Nigerian Americans and how these experiences may affect health and wellbeing.

Methods: The qualitative ethnonursing method was used to collect data from 25 Nigerian American widows. Data were analyzed using NVivo qualitative data manager software guided by Leininger’s four phases of qualitative analysis.

Results: Widowhood cultural practices are modified and undertaken to preserve health and honor the …

Toward Effective Interfaith Relations Between Christianity And Indigenous African Religious Tradition In The Obolo Context In Nigeria – A Decolonial Theological Approach, Jerome Etenduk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the need for effective interfaith relations between Christianity and the Indigenous African Religious Tradition (IART) in a post-colonial Obolo context in Nigeria. It explores a history of complex religious crises in Obolo and identifies that Eurocentric/colonial theological imagination constitutes a significant reason for the problematic interfaith relations in Obolo. The dominant Eurocentric/colonial theology is founded on the theoretical framework that assumes that Europe (and America) is the hubris of knowledge. It negates and discounts the knowledge systems of other people. To know, they must learn from Europe and America. In this way, European missionaries to Obolo …

Philosophical Hermeneutic Approaches To Communication Studies, David Errera

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation proposes the viability of philosophical hermeneutics as a theoretical framework for communication studies. It has five chapters that each develop this argument. The first chapter provides an overview and justification for the dissertation along with a review of the historical development of philosophical hermeneutics. This provides a sense of general themes and the theoretical basis for philosophical hermeneutics. The second chapter sets out to expound on the viability of philosophical hermeneutics to inform communication research as a form of research praxis. This chapter develops the three main themes from philosophical hermeneutics that this dissertation proposes to integrate into …

Challenges To Reproductive Justice: An Ethical Analysis Of Reproductive Technologies And Disparities, Courtney Brenner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation analyzes the Reproductive Justice Framework to describe possible solutions to the ethical challenges related to reproductive healthcare disparities. Various frameworks to support reproductive equity fail to address the challenges marginalized individuals face in accessing reproductive health services. The four ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice serve as foundational tools to support reducing these disparities. This dissertation uses the Reproductive Justice Framework to analyze the unequal distribution of harms among marginalized women. It highlights how access to care, such as Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), is disproportionately inaccessible to marginalized women. Then, it discusses the relationship between marginalized …

How Do Expert Forensic Evaluators Do It? A Qualitative Study Exploring Forensic Evaluators’ Lived Experiences Conducting Psychosexual Evaluations Of Sex Offenders With Suspected Autism, Jessica K. Gazzola

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative inquiry utilized semi-structured interviews with eight expert forensic evaluators to explore their lived experiences engaging in psychosexual evaluations of sex offenders with a suspected diagnosis of autism. The purpose of this study was to identify current best practices, principles, and challenges faced by forensic evaluators when assessing sex offenders with a suspected diagnosis of autism. The results provide a variety of autism-specific screening tools and assessments used by forensic evaluators in their psychosexual evaluation process. Four emergent themes were developed using a descriptive phenomenological approach and social constructivist framework. These themes encompass forensic evaluators’ role in conducting psychosexual …

College Instructors’ Experiences Of Online English As Second Language (Esl) Teaching And Learning Environments, Jianan Zhou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates college ESL instructors' experiences in teaching online ESL courses. It explores the differences in teaching focus and online modes for teaching speaking, listening, reading, and writing courses. It also investigates how ESL instructors' perceived level of technology competence varies across different online teaching modes and examines how teaching and learner engagement strategies differ depending on the instructional modality. Key findings include the observation that both BICS and CALP were prevalent in online reading courses. Although no significant difference in technology competence between asynchronous and synchronous modes was found, it was shown that instructors used more synchronous modes …

Application Of Peer-Mediated Instruction And Intervention (Pmii) To Enhance Social Interaction Skills In Early Elementary-Level Saudi Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd) In An Inclusion Setting, Inam Alghamdi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In Saudi Arabia, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is on the rise, and the government is committed to improving nationwide special education services through legislative measures aimed at enhancing the flexibility of inclusion for students with ASD within school settings. However, students with ASD often encounter social challenges, especially in their interactions with peers. This increasing trend underscores the importance of implementing effective strategies to foster the social skills of these students. Evidence-based practice (EBP) is one approach that can assist in delivering services to students with ASD, proving essential for their social development. Nonetheless, limited research has been conducted on …

How Scientists Can Investigate Perception: Phenomenological Foundations For Qualitative Research, Kimberly Tucker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While medicine makes visible symptoms of disease, phenomenology provides a different tool for making illness experience visible. Phenomenology offers a tool for a new kind of description and a different kind of knowledge of disease. It holds a unique epistemic power through the descriptions it generates through the application of the transcendental phenomenological method. Husserl’s method, outlined in Ideas I, provides the steps for its implementation in clinical research. This dissertation explores the application of the transcendental phenomenological method as a foundation for research on perception, with the goal of characterizing phenomenological validity as a proper goal of medical epistemology. …

Teaching Video Game As A Leisure Skill To Arab American Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Video Modeling In A School Setting, Lubna Alzayyat

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Leisure activities are important in assisting individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to build relationships, learn to behave socially appropriately, and acquire new interests- competences that assist in cultivating positive self-consciousness (Specht et al., 2002; Womack et al., 2011). Statistics indicate that 2.3% of 8-year-old children in the United States are diagnosed with ASD (CDC, 2021). Despite these large numbers and the tremendous benefits of engaging in leisure activities, participation in leisure activities is lower among children with ASD when compared to their typically developing peers (Ratcliff et al., 2018). The situation is worse when compared to children with ASD …

“Repeat A Little:” Time And Freedom In Deleuze’S Difference And Repetition, Mine Sak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, I examine Gilles Deleuze’s philosophy of time as presented in Difference and Repetition and use it to construct a concept of freedom, which is notably absent in his work. I argue that Deleuze’s exposition of the three syntheses of time provides significant insights for exploring the ontological possibility and structure of freedom. Through an analysis of his theory of the three syntheses of time, I investigate the meanings of agency, destiny, and choice within Deleuze's framework. I demonstrate that free choice necessitates both involuntary and creative action. Given the apparent tension between freedom and involuntariness, I explore …

Ethical Considerations In The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Ferdinand Okafor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an ethical response to the ethical issues in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of autism. The problems that underlie the discussion are misconception about autism and Autistics. The misconception about autism and Autistics lead to misinterpretation of the neurological functioning, cognition, and the behaviors of Autistics. Consequently, it influences the approach and model of care in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of autism. Currently, the analytic approach and biomedical model of disease are applied in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of autism. The motive of the analytic approach and biomedical care is to cure autism. The consequence …

Development Of Methods For Predicting Second Harmonic Generation (Shg) Responses Of New Infrared Nonlinear Optical (Ir-Nlo) Materials, Katherine Colbaugh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dissertation supervised by Dr. Jennifer A. Aitken.

In this work, calculations-based methods were evaluated for use in prediction of second harmonic generation (SHG), specifically χ⁽²⁾ values, of infrared nonlinear optical (IR-NLO) materials. Net dipole moment and dipole moment per volume were calculated by the bond valence sum method. Average F-index, proposed in this research, and group F-index, both representing induced dipole moment were also calculated. Each calculation was evaluated by comparing the results to single crystal and powder χ⁽²⁾ measurements of IR-NLO materials. The selected dataset consisted of ninety-six compounds including polar and nonpolar structures, newly discovered and …

Saudi And American Students’ Motivation And Anxiety In Online Collaborative Learning In The United States, Nawal Alqarni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research study aims to explore motivation and anxiety Saudi and American students in online collaborative learning environments through online courses in U.S. universities and how they relate to their academic performance.

The study utilized a quantitative approach for data collection through an online survey of 99 Saudi students and 39 American students who were enrolled in U.S. universities. The results showed that there was no significant difference in motivation scores between undergraduate Saudi students and their American counterparts. Nor was a significant difference observed in motivation scores between graduate Saudi students and graduate American students. The data also indicated …

Muslim Spirituality As A Foundation In Bioethics For Patient Encounters In Health Care, Sara Rahman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spirituality plays a major role in decision making for individuals with faith-based values. There is often hesitation to discuss the role of faith in healthcare as a core value and coping mechanism. The growing cultural diversity amongst patients and physicians has increased the need to understand eastern religious principles and incorporate them into bioethical guidance. Even as the 2nd largest religion in the world, Islam has not been sufficiently integrated into religious bioethics in western medicine. Muslim populations of patients and physicians are growing, increasing the need for better understanding of how Islamic principles impact healthcare delivery. Although Islamic law …