Digital Commons Network^™

Kindergarten Teachers’ Perceptions Of Instructional Approaches For Teaching Sequencing Concepts: Worksheet, Hands-On, And Beebot-Integrated Lessons, Savannah P. Partin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore kindergarten teachers’ perceptions of three instructional approaches for teaching sequencing concepts: worksheet-based instruction, hands-on manipulative instruction, and BeeBot-integrated instruction. Sequencing is a foundational early literacy skill that supports reading comprehension, story retelling, and understanding the order of events. Although sequencing is commonly taught through traditional instructional methods, limited research has examined how kindergarten teachers perceive the use of educational robotics as a tool for literacy instruction. The study was guided by constructivist theory, sociocultural theory, and developmental systems theory. Participants included six kindergarten teachers from a public elementary school in …

Perceptions, Attitudes, And Experiences Of Persons Who Work In Forensic Mental Health Systems, Abigail Wiser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The forensic mental health system serves clients with dual needs —serious mental health concerns like psychosis and suicidality, and management of risk. Experiences and perceptions of professional and direct care staff may impact daily and therapeutic interactions and client success. These experiences may be marked by stigma, such as beliefs about what led to hospitalization, treatability of mental health concerns, and intentionality of behavior. Understanding this stigma, as well as the role of vicarious trauma, workplace burnout, and other relevant individual factors, may help us understand staff experiences and guide training, thus improving client care. 146 staff members across three …

Computational Studies Of Triplet State Formation In Zinc Dipyrrin Complexes, Reuben Kwabla Adigbli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Zinc dipyrromethene complexes are promising earth-abundant photosensitizers due to their strong visible-light absorption and tunable excited states. To rationally design them for photocatalysis and photodynamic therapy, a molecular-level understanding of triplet-state formation is needed, but details of intersystem crossing remain unclear. To study the effect of π-extension, we synthesized an indole-substituted zinc dipyrrin complex: the dipyrromethane ligand was prepared from indole and mesitaldehyde, oxidized to the dipyrromethene, then coordinated with zinc. DFT and TD-DFT calculations determined ground and excited-state geometries and energies in different solvents, modeled absorption spectra, and visualized charge distributions. The results show how solvent polarity shifts energies …

An Assessment Of Accessibility And Affordability Of Inpatient Psychiatric Care In Tennessee, Kailee Havrda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Access to mental health has seen changes over the past decade, but little research and attention have been given to access to inpatient psychiatric facilities. Inpatient psychiatric care is crucial for patients experiencing mental health emergencies who need immediate access to care. Gaps in spatial accessibility, affordability, and the access and assessment process were identified due to a lack of available information in the field.

Methods: Secondary data from the Tennessee Department of Health were used to assess financial accessibility through payer source charges and patient encounters, as well as through mapping of inpatient psychiatric facilities and conducting drive …

Exploring Competitive Dynamics Between Pseudomonas Baetica And Salmonella In A Polymicrobial System, Braxton E.M. Stout

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The global rise in antimicrobial resistance has catalyzed a greater focus on polymicrobial research aimed at characterizing microbial interactions and uncovering new therapeutic strategies. Though it has long been of interest, environmental soil-derived bacteria remain largely under-represented in research and thus uncharacterized in this field. This project aimed to identify soil microbes that display inhibitory mechanisms to potential nosocomial pathogens. Soil sample S1S3-2 displayed inhibitory phenotypes toward numerous bacteria and was identified as Pseudomonas baetica. In both planktonic and biofilm growth, P. baetica was able to inhibit Salmonella arizonae through a contact-dependent and temperature-dependent manner. Screening of a transposon insertion …

Phytochemical And In-Vitro Cytotoxic Analyses Of Flavonoid Species Isolated From Chromolaena Leivensis, Luke A. Bryant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As a leading cause of death worldwide, cancer and its treatments remain a primary source of interest among researchers. Modern studies are looking into bioselective cytotoxicity to create new chemotherapies that do not have the same harsh side effects as those we use today. Natural product research has a promising future for the development of such treatments. Specifically, polar flavonoids may be the key to a bioselective treatment. Such flavonoid species are native to plants, often within flower petals or within the body. A natural antioxidant, they are designed not to harm healthy cells. This study focuses on the plant …

School Leadership And Collaboration: A Case Study Of Leaders’ Experience Implementing Vertical Alignment Practices, Tara R. Wehmeyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Changing student demographics within a large elementary school increased the need for collaboration between leadership and staff as they implemented a wide range of initiatives to support student learning. Grounded in the transformational leadership theoretical framework, this exploratory case study sought to systematically observe and gather knowledge about the experiences of campus leaders as they implement vertical alignment teams to foster a collaborative approach while instituting required initiatives. The sample included seven campus leadership team members and data collection utilized transcribed semistructured interviews, debriefing sessions after vertical alignment team meetings, meeting observations, and a researcher’s journal. All data were analyzed …

Enterococcus Abundance, Distribution, And Environmental Controls At A Sandy Shoreline, South Carolina, Usa, Helen Kehoe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Water quality monitoring crucially protects the health of beachgoers around the world. However, water-adjacent sediments, such as sandy beaches, are known to harbor harmful bacteria, yet are not monitored despite their intensive recreational use. This project monitored the abundance of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), specifically Enterococci, in sandy beach sediments at beaches routinely monitored for water quality in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Surface sediment core sampling (0-5 cm) in the swash zone was conducted once per month for 4 months at 24 beaches in tandem with state-accredited surf-water FIB monitoring using IDEXX’s Enterolert test (Standard Method …

Long-Term Trends And Drivers Of Commercial Shrimp Fisheries Across The Southeastern U.S. Atlantic Coast, Trinity Assels

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Long-term dynamics of southeastern U.S. Atlantic commercial shrimp fisheries reflect interacting environmental and socioeconomic processes rather than uniform regional decline. However, integrated, multi-state assessments linking these drivers to fishery-dependent indicators remain limited for the region. This study analyzed over four decades (1980–2023) of confidential fishery-dependent data from coastal South Carolina, Georgia, and northeastern Florida, focusing on the region where white and brown shrimp dominate commercial landings. Segmented regression analysis was used to identify structural shifts in long-term trends of landings, participation, and catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE), while multiple linear regression models identified seasonal temperature variables associated with interannual variation in shrimp CPUE. …

Trophic Ecology Of A South Carolina Estuarine Predator Guild, Shane John Molander

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Estuaries are among the world’s most productive ecosystems in the world and are characterized by the convergence of two distinct habitats, creating a mosaic of environmental conditions from inland rivers to the nearshore ocean. Many fishes occupy estuaries during various life stages for growth, reproduction, or foraging, and may reside in them seasonally. The co-occurrence of species, particularly upper-trophic level carnivores, can result in competitive interactions for prey resources within a shared environment. Identifying the degree of these interactions as well as understanding basal energy consumption can inform food web dynamics and how overlapping species use shared spaces. I used …

Adolescent Depressive Symptoms And Adult Functioning Within Major U.S. Racial Groups, Summer N. A. Millwood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Depression is the leading cause of disability among adults in the U.S and is associated with negative short- and long-term social, emotional, economic, and physical health outcomes. Notably, rates of depression among children and adolescents are rapidly increasing across the globe. Depression in youth disrupts crucial developmental processes that can adversely affect concurrent and longitudinal socioeconomic and health outcomes. Although extant research delineates the consequences of adolescent depression for adult functioning (e.g., lower educational attainment, fewer economic resources, worse physical health), studies that examine these associations within racially minoritized populations are scarce. This gap in the literature is especially striking …

The Development And Validation Of Gains-Id, A Guidebook For Adapting Intervention Sessions For Students With Intellectual Disability, Kayla Mccreadie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Targeted interventions can equip students with intellectual disabilities (ID) with essential academic skills that support positive post-secondary outcomes. However, the lack of interventions specifically designed for this population creates barriers to equitable education. Until more interventions are developed, educators may benefit from resources that help adapt evidence-based practices to meet the needs of students with IDD.

The first manuscript introduces GAINS-ID (Guide for Adapting INtervention Sessions for Intellectual Disabilities). Based on best practices and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), the guide offers examples of adaptations to various intervention components—such as time, materials, environment, …

Biases Toward Threat In Categorization And Attention Allocation When Evaluating Static And Dynamic Emotional Crowds, Delaney Mcdonagh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Visual representations are often biased, and these biases can manifest across many different stages of perception. For example, when categorizing nuanced, ambiguous, or fleeting emotional expressions, most perceivers are biased to interpret expressions as negative. Biases also manifest at the level of attention-allocation as observers dynamically examine and attend to expressions as they visually navigate a crowd. To comprehensively understand biased emotion perception, it remains critical to understand how bias manifests across the process of making emotional judgements, both as observers gather information about faces over time and as they make a final categorization of what they see. Biased patterns …

Ensuring Safety In Battery Management Systems: A Control Barrier Function Approach, Magdalena Kossek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Safe and efficient operation of batteries is paramount to extending their lifespan and ensuring reliability in battery management systems. This work presents a new approach for maximizing safety and performance of lithium-ion batteries in a variety of applications with a view towards efficiency in computation. The aim is to maximize a battery’s output (its power, speed of charging, and overall efficiency) while preserving its longevity and ensuring operational safety. This challenge is tackled by developing a novel control algorithm for advanced lithium-ion battery management leveraging control barrier functions (CBFs) to ensure safe and efficient operation during fast charging and discharging. …

Behind Prison Walls: Unmasking The Victimization Experience Of A Transgender Inmate: A Narrative Study, Kevin E. Hemminger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Transgender individuals experience disproportionately high rates of victimization within the U.S. criminal justice system, at rates some studies estimate as four times greater than those of cisgender individuals (Marchi et al., 2025). Victimization may occur at the hands of correctional officers, institutional staff, or fellow inmates. This narrative study focuses on the life story of a formerly incarcerated transgender woman, tracing her experiences before incarceration, throughout her time at two different correctional facilities in two different states, and her life following release. While Community Based Research (CBR) was not adopted as a formal methodological framework, its principles — centering lived …

Compact 1 Ghz Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectrometers For Preclinical Imaging Studies, Tanden A. Hovey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Magnetic resonance is one of the most generally useful scientific techniques. New horizons of understanding are revealed as technological advances make possible explorations of nuclear spins and electron spins at higher and lower magnetic fields and electromagnetic frequencies. While the greatest current effort is on ever higher magnetic fields and microwave frequencies, both in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), the Eaton lab focusses on developing high signal-to-noise performance EPR at low microwave frequencies. EPR provides information about O2, pH, viscosity, glutathione concentrations, and reactive oxygen species in living organisms that MRI cannot. To yield clinically or …

Investigating Caveolar Systems: Spatiotemporal Quantification Of Caveolin-1 And The Mechanotransducive Function Of Ehd2, Jasper Stanae Farrington

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Caveolae are 50-100nm cholesterol rich flask shaped invaginations found in many differentiated cells. Namely, these structures have been seen to be abundant in endothelial cells where they are involved in many signaling contexts. However, under mechanical stress, the characteristics of caveolae alter, flattening to increase membrane compliance, while displaced proteins can shift from structural roles to mechanosensitive signaling functions. Caveolin-1 (Cav1) is the principal protein required for Caveolar formation while Eps15 Homology Domain Containing Protein 2 (EHD2) is a membrane ATPase that acts to stabilize caveolae at the surface. Despite their emerging importance, understanding the organization and dynamic regulation of …

Examining Intimate Partner Violence After Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury, Rebecca R. Suzuki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is linked with social problems in peer relationships that can last into adulthood. Little is known about how social problems impact the development of intimate relationships as pediatric TBI survivors grow up. This study addressed this gap by examining risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) in a sample of 50 young adult survivors of pediatric TBI prior to age 13 (M age = 22.96, SD = 1.70, 60% women) and tested social information processing (SIP) as a potential process through which TBI influences risk for IPV. Participants were recruited via Prolific and social media …

Initial Pilot Test Of A Single-Session Social Support Program For Increasing Social Approach Behavior And Social Support In Emerging Adults, Emily L. Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Emerging adulthood, the developmental stage between adolescence and young adulthood (Arnett, 2000), is marked by increases in autonomy, changes in social dynamics, and identity exploration (Arnett, 2015). During this stage, social stressors may trigger or exacerbate preexisting mental health problems (Slavich & Auerbach, 2018), though few emerging adults seek or receive mental health support (Zhao et al., 2025). Single-session interventions, or “specific, structured programs that intentionally involve just one visit or encounter” (Schleider et al., 2019), may present an opportunity to provide some support to those who face barriers to participation in traditional forms of treatment (Janota et al., 2022). …

Disrupted Family Ecosystems: Intergenerational Estrangement, Nonnormative Events, And Perceptions Of Established Adults – A Case Study, Seth Wyncott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The issue of intergenerational family estrangement has gained increased exposure in research and popular literature; however, significant gaps remain in understanding the lived experience of adult-children who maintain separation from their parents. Complicating matters, the family is not a solitary unit but is intertangled within a macrolevel sociocultural ecosystem. This ecosystem includes normative and nonnormative stressors which are subject to diverse interpretations depending on the historic and evolving character of the family and its members. As such, it is important to examine the dynamic character of estrangement in familial and sociocultural context.

Utilizing a case study method with semi-structured phenomenological …

The Invisible Poet: Stories Of Higher Education Professional Staff Program Experiences Via Poetic Inquiry Through A Wellness Dimensions Framework, Freyja Hofler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is well documented that burnout and low levels of employee wellness have negative effects upon employees as well as the organizations that employ them (Gallup, 2019; Maurer, 2024; Wright & Bonett, 2007). This study was a program evaluation of the C2 Initiatives program via a constructivist paradigm, responsive evaluation approach, and summative outcome evaluation. The NWI’s Six Dimensions of Wellness model was utilized as the theoretical framework of the study and arts-based research was used as the conceptual framework.

Participants were given documents from the C2 Initiatives program as a text base to create blackout poetry, a type of …

Mystical Revelation And Knowledge Of God: Reclaiming Spirituality In Theology Through The Mystics, Elizabeth A. Merski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since the scholastic era, the pursuit of God has occurred preeminently through reason, leading to an imbalanced theology of God that persists to the present day in the form of intellect-centered theology. As a resolution, this work proposes that the mobilization of private, mystical revelation as a source of legitimized theological knowledge of God has the potential to close the existent epistemological gap between reason/belief and theology/spirituality, demonstrating the integral unity between authentic knowledge of God and the receiver’s personal acceptance of God in faith. After examining the required methodological components for the discipline of theology and identifying criteria for …

Bridging The Gap: Documenting The Effectiveness Of Counseling Education In A Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Program, Gianna Baker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to examine the impact of a required counseling course through Duquesne University's Speech-Language Pathology program, particularly regarding student’s counseling self-efficacy and their ability to apply counseling skills within clinical practice. Nineteen first year Master’s students in Speech-Language Pathology at Duquesne University during 2025 participated in this study while enrolled in a counseling course and providing therapy to clients. Students completed the Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scales for SLPs (CASES) (Victorino & Hinkle, 2019) prior to beginning and after completion of the required counseling course. While observing video-recorded therapy sessions, the Counselor Competencies Scale-Revised (CCS-R) (Lambie & Swank, 2024) …

The Decline Of Confidence In The U.S. Supreme Court: Evidence From The General Social Survey, 2004-2024, Lola Dragosavac

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines public confidence in the United States Supreme Court and whether confidence has declined between 2004 and 2024. It also investigates whether demographic characteristics, political ideology, and confidence in other political institutions help explain the variation in confidence levels. Using data from the General Social Survey (GSS) for 2004, 2014, and 2024, this study employs a binary logistic regression approach to examine the predictors of confidence in the Court. The findings indicate that confidence in the Supreme Court declined significantly over the twenty-year period. Political ideology emerged as a strong predictor of confidence, with conservatives over three times …

Impact Of Taped Problems Intervention Modification On Children With Deafness, Clyniece Hodge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Children with hearing loss are at an increased risk of experiencing setbacks in various areas of life, including academic performance and employment opportunities. Academically, they are likely to experience poor academic achievement in reading, as well as in mathematics (ASHA, 2013). In comparison to gifted hearing students and average-ability hearing students, students with hearing loss are at a higher risk of low mathematics performance (Hassan & Mohammed, 2019). Despite these known challenges and risk factors, limited research has been conducted to identify effective intervention strategies for improving mathematical outcomes among this population. As such, this study aimed to evaluate the …

Dialogic Communication Ethics As A Hopeful Response To Artificial Intelligence, Kristen Haldeman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Within the past five years, a new technology has dominated modern culture: artificial intelligence. With a multiplicity of ways to respond to this new environment, this dissertation situates a response to artificial intelligence by combining the media ecology and communication ethics perspectives. Media ecology explores historical roots and biases of technology to learn about their influence of humanity. A dialogic communication ethics seeks to find an opening for hope to emerge. Hope, grounded in the works of Jacques Ellul and the Christian tradition, offers a new rhetorical perspective by shifting focus away from technology and to our neighbor.

Integrating Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions In Inclusive Classrooms To Support Autistic Students, Paige J. Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current trend of an increasing prevalence rate of autism spectrum disorder creates a growing need for evidence-based interventions that can be accessed in the natural environments, such as within inclusive educational settings. Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) integrate principles of applied behavior analysis and developmental psychology, and offer effective tools for increasing social communication behaviors in autistic children that align with the neurodiversity-affirming movement. The present study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of Behavior Skills Training (BST) in teaching core NDBI skills to a preschool teacher, examine changes in teacher self-efficacy related to supporting autistic students, and assess the …

Experiences Of Novice Assistant Principals: Perceptual Evidence From Texas, Gregory Vidal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Assistant principals play essential roles in supporting instructional leadership and campus operations. However, limited research has examined how novice assistant principals experience their transition into administration and interpret their preparation and support. This study addressed the gap in understanding how novice assistant principals in a suburban Texas public school district made sense of their preservice preparation and early leadership practice, and how these experiences shaped their perceptions of training and organizational supports. The purpose of this qualitative, experiential, phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of novice assistant principals during their first three years in the role. The study …

The Internet Did This To Me: Forms, Consequences, And Coping Strategies Of Cyberbullying, Isaac Oppong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined self-reported cyberbullying experiences recounted in a subreddit (r/cyberbullying) to identify forms of cyberbullying, its effects, and ways to cope with it. The findings indicate that there are several types of cyberbullying, such as verbal aggression, deceptive manipulation, privacy invasion, and coercive control. These experiences led to emotional, social, and behavioral consequences, including fear, anxiety, withdrawal, and decreased online activity. Based on concepts from Social Information Processing theory and Symbolic Interactionism, this study reveals how cyberbullying can produce the same or similar consequences as traditional bullying. People experienced disturbances in their self-presentation, contended with spoiled identities, and dealt …

Educator Experiences Of Schoolwide Pbis Discipline Implementation: Exploring School Culture In Private Pk–12 Schools, Jessica L. Guarneri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore educators’ lived experiences implementing schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) discipline systems and to understand how those experiences influenced school culture in private PK–12 schools. Historically, PBIS focused on specific outcomes, such as reductions in discipline referrals, suspensions, and behavioral incidents. Though these indicators are critical, they do not consider in what way educators experience disciplinary systems, nor how their lived experiences affect routine interactions with students. Educators play a key role in implementing PBIS; their experiences foster consistency, trust, and sustainability. The participants included certified educators and administrators employed …