Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Loving-Kindness Meditation (Lkm) On Relationship Satisfaction In Couple Therapy, Ruimeng Gao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the integration of loving-kindness meditation (LKM) into couple therapy sessions and its impact on relationship satisfaction. Meditation, historically rooted in religious practices, has increasingly been adopted in Western therapeutic contexts due to its demonstrated benefits for mental health and interpersonal well-being. Although mindfulness-based interventions have gained popularity in psychotherapy, research specifically examining the use of LKM in couple therapy remains limited. This study investigates whether incorporating LKM into therapy sessions enhances relationship satisfaction compared to standard therapy alone. Couples were randomly assigned to either a control group, which received standard therapy, or an experimental group, which practiced …

La Narcocultura In Mexico: Analyzing Representations Of Gender, Religion, And Law Enforcement Through The Silver Screen, Emma M. Plutnicki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work analyzes the ways in which la narcocultura is represented in films about Mexican drug trafficking through the lens of gender, religion, and law enforcement. The four selected films Savages (2012), Heli (2013), Sicario (2015), and Emilia Pérez (2024) are used to assess how stereotypical images of the Mexican narco world are consumed by the public. The aim of this work is to bring attention to potential misrepresentations within the Mexican drug trafficking world. By exploring the portrayal of gender, religion, and law enforcement, this work highlights the ways in which filmmakers perpetuate and reinforce damaging stereotypes. The consumption …

Improving Timely Administration Of Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Within A Medical Surgical Unit, Valerie Escamilla

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hospital-acquired venous thromboembolisms are a highly preventable condition. Despite the availability of multiple evidence-based guidelines, there continues to be suboptimal use of timely venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. The purpose of this doctoral nursing quality improvement project was to determine if the implementation of an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital-Associated Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Guideline would impact the rate of timely administration of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis as compared to current practice in hospitalized adult patients admitted to a medical-surgical unit over 4 weeks. The organization measures the rate of timely administration of prophylaxis by monitoring the VTE-1 metric. All medical-surgical units …

Impact Of A Transplant Nurse Navigator In The Dialysis Setting, Judith D. Pozzerle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Patients with kidney disease have better patient outcomes and quality of life with a kidney transplant. However, the transplant process is complicated with inherent inequalities and biases and patients frequently fail to initiate a referral for transplant evaluation. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have now placed financial incentives to improve the number of patients transplanted. The only way to increase the number of patients transplanted is to start with a referral for evaluation. Studies have been done highlighting the barriers, but there is a lack of studies implementing strategies to improve these numbers. Utilizing Kotter’s change theory and describing …

Inside A Youth Participatory Action Research (Ypar) Process: A Practitioner’S Communicative Experience Navigating Processual And Relational Power Dynamics Within Ypar, Lacey Nicole Stein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the communicative dimensions of Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR), with particular attention to the power dynamics embedded in the processual and relational aspects of the research process. Through a meta-level examination of a nearly two-year YPAR project, this study illuminates how communication can function for YPAR practitioners as they navigate YPAR's complex power structures, thereby addressing a significant gap in existing literature. The study employs Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis to reveal nuanced findings in two key areas. First, it identifies the communicative complexities of enacting multiple adult roles within YPAR, including those of "superior" adult, facilitator, …

Bridging The Gap Between Muslim Students And School Leadership In The United States, Sahar Khawaja

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Entering the third decade of the 21st century, the political landscape in the United States presents a challenging environment for Muslims, mirroring the global trend of oppression and discrimination faced by this community (Neptune, 2021). Despite being the fastest-growing demographic in the nation (Lipka, 2017), Muslim Americans increasingly encounter discrimination. By actively addressing and dismantling these stereotypes, educators can cultivate an inclusive environment where the needs of Muslim students are understood and respected. Understanding the stories and experiences of these students is vital for school leaders, as it enables the creation of an environment where every student feels a genuine …

Value-Based Healthcare Reimagined: A Mixed-Methods Study On Behavioral Health Clinicians' Perspectives, Amanda L. Strickland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores how behavioral health clinicians perceive Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC), a model designed by Porter and Teisberg (2006) to improve outcomes relative to costs. While widely promoted in healthcare reform, VBHC poses unique challenges when applied to behavioral health settings. Using an explanatory mixed-methods design, this study first assessed clinicians’ awareness of VBHC through a survey of 23 licensed clinicians at a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) in Colorado. Quantitative findings revealed that one-third of participants were aware of VBHC with awareness differing by role prompting further exploration in a qualitative phase. Semi-structured interviews with eight clinicians provided deeper …

Empowering Educators, Transforming Futures: An Explanatory Multiple Case Study Of The Smou Schools In Saudi Arabia, Hana Ali Alzandi Alghamdi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 emphasizes educational reform as a critical pathway for national development, highlighting the role of educators in fostering student success. The Smou program, a professional development initiative, seeks to enhance the instructional and leadership capacities of school leaders and teachers in elementary public schools. This study explores how school leaders navigate their role in supporting teachers’ application of Smou program strategies and how teachers perceive their preparation for implementing these strategies in their instructional practices. Using an explanatory multiple case study approach, the research explores two elementary schools in the Mecca region—one high-performing and one low-performing—selected based …

Development, Optimization, And Validation Of A High-Sensitivity Capillary Zone Electrophoresis System For Bioanalytical Applications, Aaron I. Mena

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) is a powerful analytical technique widely used for biomolecular separation due to its high resolution, efficiency, and sensitivity. This report presents the development and validation of a novel CZE system designed to improve modularity, reproducibility, and operational efficiency. The system integrates a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection method with a 488 nm laser, enhanced fluid control through a negative pressure system, and a user-friendly GUI for automated operation and data acquisition. Performance verification included pressure stability tests, fluorescence accuracy assessments, and electrophoretic reproducibility studies. Comparative analysis with a previous CZE iteration confirmed improved baseline stability, peak resolution, …

The Mediation Effect Of White Racial Affect On Color-Blind Racial Attitudes And Multicultural Counseling Competence, Noah Schieffer Scanlon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Racial bias is something that can impact many fields, including the field of psychology. There is growing research in examining the relationship between multicultural counseling competence and color-blind racial attitudes as well as other factors like White racial affect Few studies have examined the potential mediating relationship White racial affect may have on color-blind racial attitudes and multicultural counseling competence. To address this gap, this study provides insight into how White racial affect mediates the relationship between color-blind racial attitudes and multicultural counseling competence among white psychology trainees. This study also further examined the extent to which color-blind racial attitudes …

Understanding Parental Beliefs And Home Environment In Early Childhood Mathematics: A Perspective From The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Zhengqing Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the dynamics of parental beliefs and their influence on intentions to engage in the home math environment (HME) for early childhood mathematics learning, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a framework. Specifically, it explores how behavioral, normative, and control beliefs, along with background factors, shape parents' intentions to support children in formal and informal math practices at home. Employing a quantitative approach, the research utilizes a self-designed questionnaire to evaluate the TPB model's applicability and identify key predictors of parental intentions.

The findings reveal that parents' attitudes, perceived social norms, and perceived behavioral control significantly …

Vorticies In The Nonlinear Optical Fluid, Patrick C. Ford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, we review the dynamics of the propagation of a laser through a nonlinear medium, and the dynamics of a self-interacting superfluid phase, and show a mathematical analogy between them. We identify an equivalence that allows direct comparison of the properties and dynamics of the optical fluid with those of the Bose-Einstein condensate. Next, we describe some experimental techniques and methods for data capture and analysis on the way to presenting a novel experimental apparatus that has allowed us to study non-equilibrium nonlinear vortex dynamics in the optical fluid, and that will allow more general future studies of …

Advancing Tka Biomechanics: From Joint Simulator To Boundary Condition Development, Yashar Ali Behnam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses four specific aims that collectively attempted to advance the experimental and computational analysis of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) components. The first study focused on the development of a novel whole knee joint simulator capable of simultaneous tibiofemoral and patellofemoral knee loading. This simulator employs custom fixturing to facilitate dynamic, unconstrained, muscle-driven PF articulation alongside controlled TF contact mechanics. Validation against experimental measurements showed strong agreement, demonstrating the simulator's potential as a valuable tool for future TKA design and surgical technique investigations.

The second study verified implant-specific physiological boundary conditions which accurately simulate activities of daily living using …

Synthetic Protein Mimetic Based Therapies For Neurodegeneration, Nicholas H. Stillman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are crucial for the regulation of a majority of, if not every fundamental cellular process. Despite their role in regular biological processes, dysregulated and/or aberrant protein-protein interactions (aPPIs) are often related to the onset of disease including cancer, viral infection, and amyloid diseases. aPPIs have historically been deemed ‘undruggable’ due to their large surface area and lack of a binding cavity; however, today, more than 40 disease-related aPPIs have been targeted with small molecules and several of those have reached clinical trials.

A class of synthetic protein mimetics called oligopyridylamides (OPs) has been shown to inhibit disease-related …

The Pragmatic Engagement Arc, Nathaniel Ahrens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We don’t just buy tangible items anymore; we buy services that foster deeper and deeper relationships between ourselves and the companies that provide them. Even classic manufacturing companies have begun to consider the interaction with their customers as ongoing relationships beyond a goods exchange. Researchers in the field of consumer engagement view this relationship through consideration of intangible operant resources that generate value. The goal of this methodological study was to apply the methodology of educational criticism and connoisseurship to the field of consumer engagement. This approach allowed for consideration of the consumer-brand relationship without relying on discordant value-laden categories …

Determinants Of Knee Motion In Health, Disease, And Repair, Sean Edward Higinbotham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The human knee joint is a complex and intricate structure, enabling a wide range of motions and facilitating various dynamic activities throughout a person's lifetime. The combination of the knee's complexity and its role as a primary load-bearing joint has made it susceptible to regular wear and tear, leading to pain and the development of Osteoarthritis (OA), to which, the only treatment currently is total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Despite TKA being a mature procedure, 20% of patients receiving a TKA are dissatisfied with their “new” knee. To reduce that 20% dissatisfaction and improve surgical outcomes, orthopedic companies are developing advanced …

Teachers’ Perspectives On Incorporating Moodle In A Ninth-Grade Reading Classroom, Cathy L. Miamba

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Effective technology use in the classroom can help stimulate a variety of learning styles and engage students through fun and exciting activities that help the students comprehend the content. Although research reported the benefits of technology in the classroom, there is a lack of knowledge of the effects of technology like Moodle on students’ academic scores, engagement, motivation, and overall achievement. As such, the problem addressed in this study was the lack of effective use of technology that affects students’ motivation, engagement, and achievements in the classroom. Using Vygotsky’s constructivism theory as the theoretical foundation and qualitative case study as …

Management Of Aggressive And Disruptive Behavior In The Emergency Department Using De-Escalation Techniques And Simulation: A Quality Improvement Project To Improve The Knowledge And Confidence Of Emergency Department Nurses And Clinical Staff, Ernestine Darby-Littlejohn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Approximately 40% of all healthcare workers have reported episodes of violence by patients over the last 2 years. This Veteran’s Health Agency reported 824 disruptive events reported in the last 5 years, of which 56 occurred in the emergency department. Research shows that interventions are not always timely, resulting in the clinical staff requesting the Veteran’s Health Agency Police to intervene when a veteran’s level of stress is escalating. The gap in practice is shown to be related to a lack of knowledge in the clinical staff in managing high stress levels exhibited by some veterans, limited knowledge of …

School Principal Professional Development: A Case Study Of A Texas Rural School District, Deborah Nicole Wills Covault

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe professional development experiences in one rural school district in Texas as perceived by the campus administrators. Existing research has implied a disconnect between preparation programs and campus administration practices. Rural school administrators experience a lack of access to professional development opportunities throughout the school year due to the distance of their community to urban cities hosting training opportunities, funding, and school leadership infrastructure. Due to the increase in federal, state, and local demands, the role of the educational leader has become more complex as the demand for administrators to recruit and retain …

Improving Outcomes Of Depression Through Implementation Of Depression Screenings At A College Health Center, Shelby Leigh Hanigan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Depression is a common phenomenon. Depression and suicidality are a problem on university campuses. This quality improvement Doctor of Nursing project aimed to establish the importance of routine depression screenings within a college health clinic. The purpose of this project was to determine if implementing routine depression screenings at a university health clinic will or will not increase the number of counseling referrals when compared to the absence of depression screenings in place within an identified timeframe. This protocol screened for depression in college-aged students and suggested care to those students who screened positive. It also led an interprofessional team …

Advisor Satisfaction To Support Online Student Retention, Erica K. Whiddon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, the researcher explored the relationship between satisfaction with academic advising and online student retention. Online student retention is a critical issue in the context of increasing competition for students in higher education institutions. The specific problem was that online students have lower retention rates, and the reasons students typically select online degree programs are also the reasons they drop out of their degree programs. The purpose was to identify whether students’ reported satisfaction with their advisors mediated the relationship between the existence of external personal life factors and retention. A quantitative nonexperimental causal-comparative and correlational research design …

Panem’S Pitfalls: Reading The Hunger Games As A Critique Of Noncritical Media Consumption, Madison Phipps

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I utilize Collins’ YA dystopian series The Hunger Games to demonstrate that YA literature merits our attention as a valuable jumping point from which young adults can develop critical reading and thinking skills as well as develop enhanced media literacy. My first two chapters, in addition to situating Collins’ works within a long history of dystopian fiction, demonstrate how these works engage with the potential pitfalls of noncritical consumption in our media-saturated world. And in the third and final chapter, I examine how the series provides pathways to resistance and the potential for revolution.

Because Kids: Improving Reading Outcomes For Students In A Low-Performing Rural School, Cornishee Jekee Bruce

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this applied research study, I aimed to improve reading growth among at-risk, low-performing fifth and sixth-grade students at West Upper Elementary School, which was designated as a Comprehensive Support and Improvement school. I employed a data-driven decision-making framework, introduced the iReady reading computer program, and used high-quality instructional materials to address students' ongoing literacy issues. The research revealed a slight decline in the lowest reading percentiles by integrating quantitative and qualitative data collection methods through a Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle for continuous improvement. However, significant gains emerged in lower performance tiers, including significant decreases in the number of students at the …

Boundaries And Barriers: A Study On The Factors Influencing Bachelor’S Degree Attainment For Women In Arkansas At Regional Public Universities, Meagan Rochelle Bowling Fudge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arkansas consistently ranks among the bottom five states nationally for bachelor’s degree attainment. To explore the factors contributing to this trend and identify opportunities for increasing degree completion, this study focuses on women attending Regional Public Universities (RPUs) in Arkansas. By examining the barriers these women face, this research aims to uncover critical gaps and inform future areas for research, policy, and investment.

Women represent the largest segment of undergraduate enrollment in the state, consistently enrolling in college at higher rates than their male peers. RPUs enroll more bachelor's degree-seeking students than any other type of institution in Arkansas, including …

The Underrepresentation Of African American Male Educators In K-12 Education, Nisa Lewis Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The American education system has struggled with a significant teacher shortage for years. Alongside this shortage is the underrepresentation of African American male teachers. Despite the increasing diversity of the student population, African American men make up less than 2% of teachers nationwide (Aftunion, 2020). This disparity denies all kids access to diverse perspectives in the classroom and limits the presence of role models for students of color. Research studies have shown that African American students who have African American teachers show improvement in their grades, standardized test scores, attendance records, and graduation rates (Breazeale, 2023). This study aimed to …

A Profile Of Contempt: Its Expressive Function In The Age Of Profilicity, Eric Michael Servatius

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Contempt permeates modern political discourse and popular media. Nevertheless, within the psychological and philosophical literature on reactive attitudes, moral emotions, and negative sentiments, contempt remains comparatively understudied. In this paper, I examine contempt’s intimate connection with social identity and argue that existing accounts of contempt largely overlook the broader social role it plays in a contemporary moment characterized by digital communication and fluid group dynamics. I contend that public expressions of contempt serve two primary expressive functions in modern society: (1) to signal group identification and (2) to enforce group norms—not for the target of contempt, but for third party …

Human Papillomavirus Knowledge, Beliefs, And Behaviors Among Community College Students: Why Should It Matter?, Eric Pittman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States (U.S.). Approximately 42.5 million individuals in the U.S. are infected with disease-associated HPV, and 13 million new cases occur every year. It is estimated that 85% of sexually active adults will be infected with HPV at some point during their lifetime. Most individuals infected with HPV are asymptomatic and clear the virus without any complications. However, in some individuals, the virus persists. Prolonged HPV infection has been associated with six different types of cancer and genital warts. There are approximately 37,000 cases of HPV-associated cancers …

The Predictive Value Of College Entrance Exams On Retention Of Domestic, First-Time, Full-Time Freshman At The University Of Mississippi, James D. Corner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the predictive value of college entrance exams specifically the ACT and SAT on the academic retention of domestic, first-time, full-time freshmen at the University of Mississippi. With the rise of test-optional admissions models, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, this research investigates whether standardized test scores remain relevant in forecasting student success, defined by persistence from freshman to sophomore year and academic performance measured through GPA in the first and second semesters. Drawing upon a conceptual framework that includes pre-college characteristics, standardized assessments, and early academic performance, this study challenges the long-held assumption that standardized exams …

Distress Tolerance And Links With 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure, Colter K. Clayton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. Hypertension is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular related morbidity and mortality. Psychosocial factors are associated with blood pressure control and preliminary evidence has linked greater distress tolerance to lower blood pressure. The present study examined associations between distress tolerance and key blood pressure markers (24-hour mean blood pressure, nocturnal dipping) among community-dwelling adults (N = 60) using the noninvasive gold standard of blood pressure measurement—ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Separate hierarchal linear regression analyses did not reveal any significant relationships between distress tolerance and 24-hour mean systolic, …

Comprehensibility, Accentedness, And Intelligibility Of English Varieties As Perceived By Japanese Learners Of English, Kana Machida

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In response to Japanese learners of English having limited exposure to various English accents in education, this study investigates their comprehensibility, accentedness, intelligibility, and familiarity with different accents. Twelve participants evaluated how easy speakers were to understand and the extent of their accentedness, and transcribed their speech.

Quantitative analysis revealed that Japanese learners of English struggle with understanding certain accented varieties of English, particularly Nigerian English, and are unfamiliar with them. In contrast, General American English and Southern American English speakers were generally perceived as less accented and easier to understand. However, results from the listening transcription task indicated that …