Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

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 …

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 …

Recently Terminated Ncaa Collegiate Football Coaches’ Perspectives On Organizational Support Received From Former Athletic Director And Athletic Department, Jeffery John Hancock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Every year, many head football coaches at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision are fired

without cause. The leading factor of these dismissals occurs when the team fails to meet

stakeholders’ expectations of winning enough games. Termination is not only problematic for

the coach, but the team, athletic department, its student-athletes, and the institution, as often a

change in coach does not solve the problem. Many factors lead to a losing season in both

athletics and corporations, including the level of organizational support. In the research on

collegiate coaching, this is an overlooked topic. The purpose of this qualitative, descriptive case …

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 …

A Qualitative Study: The 4 I’S Of Transformational Leadership And The Impact It Has On Building Employee Resiliency, Jewel Hale, Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a turbulent environment for governments and citizens worldwide. In this context, one concept stands out as particularly valuable: resilience. Resilience, the capacity to bounce back from adversity, is a key component in post-pandemic recovery and evolution. This phenomenological study explores the crisis through the experiences of small business owners and leaders in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas during the pandemic's peak. The participants were selected for successfully navigating the pandemic and remaining in business. The study aims to examine the leadership styles used to build employee resilience, focusing on their commonalities through phenomenological research. …

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 …

Sense Of Belonging Among Nontraditional Undergraduate Students, Julie Ann Sánchez Golden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study, viewed through a constructivist lens, was conducted with 16 nontraditional undergraduate students, comprising equal numbers from a two-year and a four-year higher education institution. The study delved into their perceptions of belonging, while exploring the commonalities and disparities of their experiences between the two types of institutions. Through semi-structured interviews, these participants shared their lived experiences to answer three research questions: 1) How do nontraditional undergraduate students at two-year and four-year higher education institutions describe their sense of belonging? 2) What influences their sense of belonging at these institutions, and 3) How does sense of belonging among …

A Pragmatic Legacy: Charles Wilson’S Politics And The Battle For His Archival Heritage, Jordan Coleman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Congressman Charlie Wilson served Texas and the United States with distinction throughout his political career, leaving a profound impact on East Texas and the global stage. Known for his progressive policies in the Texas Legislature and his influential role in U.S. foreign policy during his tenure in Congress, Wilson’s pragmatic political career and legacy is preserved in the Charlie Wilson Congressional Papers collection at the East Texas Research Center (ETRC). Despite its historical significance, the collection faced decades of delayed processing, disorganization, and neglect of archival best practices. This public history thesis confronts these challenges by detailing the efforts to …

Voices From The Field: Mental Health Therapists' Perceptions Of Collaboration With Child Protective Services Workers, Tamara P. Fields

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The child welfare system in the United States requires collaboration across various agencies in the provision of services. Although collaboration between mental health therapists and state agencies is fundamental when the goal is to provide quality care and achieve positive outcomes for families involved with Child Protective Services (CPS), the system is characterized as complicated and fragmented. Using Bronstein’s 2003 model of interprofessional collaboration to understand the dynamics of collaboration between mental health therapists and CPS workers in Texas, this qualitative descriptive research study described mental health therapists’ perceptions of collaborating with CPS workers in delivering therapy services to CPS-involved …

K–12 Educators’ Use Of Technology And Experiences With Technostress: A Case Study, Greg Blair Pittman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This dissertation explored the increased use of technology in K–12 classrooms, which is causing educators to experience technostress. The purpose of the qualitative, descriptive, single case study was to explore the experiences of K–12 teachers with technology and technostress—techno-insecurity, techno-invasion, techno-complexity, techno-uncertainty, and techno-overload—in a West Texas private school district. The researcher conducted one-to-one interviews with seven K-12 educators and two senior leadership team members. In addition, open-ended online questionnaires were available for K–12 educators and senior leadership team members. Thematic analysis was used to locate and communicate the findings. The principal research question was: How do K–12 classroom …

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 …

K-12 Leaders And Their Self-Perceptions Of Social Emotional Learning Competence, Karla S. De Luna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research on the impact of social-emotional learning on the competencies of school leaders is limited, posing challenges for developing targeted professional development programs. This causal-comparative study aimed to examine K-12 principals' perceptions of their social-emotional competencies, highlighting the need for effective professional development to address the challenges faced in their roles. The study also explored potential differences in perceptions between elementary and secondary principals and between male and female leaders. The study utilized 45 CASEL SEL Leadership survey questions regarding the principals' perceptions of their own social and emotional competence. The 45-item instrument, Personal Assessment, and Reflection—SEL Competencies for …

Giving And Receiving Social Support Among Individuals With Migraine, Lauren Thaxter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Migraine is among the most common and burdensome neurological disorders in the United States, significantly impairing daily functioning. Psychological variables such as depression, anxiety, stress, and fear of pain are known to exacerbate migraine experiences, while receiving social support has been broadly associated with improved health outcomes. Although giving and receiving social support are protective for physical and mental health, their specific influence on migraine outcomes remains underexplored. This study investigated experimentally whether giving social support increased pain tolerance and reduced pain intensity as measured using a cold pressor test among 117 individuals with migraine. This study also examined the …

Examining The Relationship Between Moral Injury, Belief In A Just World, And Substance Abuse In Military Veterans, Alyssa Mae Wood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Combat-exposed veterans and military service members are at high risk of experiencing mental health problems. Although moral injury is recognized as a unique contributor to mental health challenges in this population, the relationship between changes in world belief, PTSD, and substance use remains unexplored. This cross-sectional quantitative study investigated the relationship among moral injury symptoms, changes in belief in a just world (BJW) and belief in an unjust world (BUW), and substance use in a sample of 122 combat-exposed U.S. military Veterans and service members.

Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that changes in BUW following potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) significantly …

Modelling The Hydrologic Impact Of Land Cover On Stormwater Detention Basins In Harris County, Tx, Kabita Sapkota

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Harris County on the upper Gulf Coast in Southeast Texas is susceptible to both riverine and coastal flooding due to intense, short-duration thunderstorms, slow-moving frontal systems, and tropical hurricanes. Low-lying terrain, clay soils with poor drainage, high annual rainfall, and a widespread network of bayous and streams all contribute to frequent flooding. To reduce the impacts of urbanization and the loss of surface storage, the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) built detention basins throughout the county to temporarily store stormwater runoff and release it slowly, lowering peak flows and preventing downstream flooding and erosion. These basins vary in land …

A Framework For Fair And Trustworthy Multimodal Video Anomaly Detection: Fusion, Dataset Quality Auditing, Explainability, And Fairness, Omeshamisu Judith Anigala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Storage Conditions On The Composition, Physical Properties, And Functionalities Of Peas And Lentils, Fatimah Alsaeed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Peas (Pisum sativum L.) and lentils (Lens culinaris) are nutritionally rich pulses valued for their high protein, fiber, and starch content. Although their composition and health advantages are widely known, little is known about the effects of long-term storage on their functional qualities and nutritional value. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of storage conditions and duration on the proximate composition, physical attributes, and techno-functional traits of lentils and peas. Storage conditions included bin (BIN; -30 to 41°C, 20–98% RH), non-environmentally controlled warehouse (NECW; -23 to 32°C, 25–84% RH), and environmentally controlled warehouse (ECW; 19–21°C, 50–53% …

Pressure-Related Discrepancies In Landsat 8 Level 2 Collection 2 Surface Reflectance Products And Their Correction, Santosh Adhikari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Innovative Approaches To Enhancing The Functional Properties Of Dairy Products: Evaluating Water Hydration Effects On Fat-Free Mozzarella Baking Performance And Impact Of Hyaluronic Acid On The Functional Properties Of Milk, Suresh Ganpatbhai Sutariya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, the dairy sector has experienced a significant rise in the healthy eating trend, with consumers increasingly seeking products that are fat-free, free from added sugars, and high in protein. Additionally, specialized health dairy items enriched with functional ingredients such as probiotics, prebiotics, and bioactive peptides are gaining traction for their added health benefits. This dissertation covers three studies in two domains: the first on water hydration's impact on fat-free mozzarella baking, and the second on the influence of hyaluronic acid, and its combination with kappa-carrageenan, on the physical properties of milk. One such product, Fat-free mozzarella is …

Evaluating The Success Of The Rev It Up! Curriculum Training On The Self-Efficacy Of Sdsu Extension Expanded Food And Nutrition Education Program (Efnep) & Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education (Snap-Ed) Paraprofessional Educators In Teaching Adolescents, Oluwatemilorun Akinsanya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Evaluate self-efficacy changes among Extension paraprofessional nutrition educators after receiving an adolescent curriculum (Rev It Up!) training. Methods: Paired t-tests on three adapted scales measured changes at pre- (T1), post- (T2), and 1 yr post-intervention (T3): the Teacher Interpersonal Self-Efficacy Scale (TISS), Nutrition Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale (NTSES), and Self-Efficacy and Nutrition Teaching Methods scale (SNTMS). Results: Six educators completed the TISS and NTSES; 5 completed the SNTMS. The TISS showed significant improvement from T1 to T2 only (p= 0.03); the NTSES showed improvement between T1 and T2 (p= 0.01) and T1 and T3 (0.01); and there were no significant …

Evaluation Of Established Perennial Clover Living Mulch And Soil Management Effects On Weed Suppression, Soil Health, And Broccolini Production For The Northern Great Plains, Connor Ruen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Vegetable cropping systems have long been reliant on the use of tillage to prepare favorable seedbeds and manage weed pressure. Tillage degrades soil structure, decreases water infiltration and leads to compaction. Due to recent droughts across the central United Stated, it is important for water conservation to improve infiltration and avoid run off and erosion. Changes in weather patterns not only influence drought conditions but bring heat waves that have made early and late planted cool season crops in the brassica family prone bolting, leading to unmarketable produce and economic losses for farmers. This 2023 and 2024 study was designed …

Determining The Pubertal Age Of Female Subadults Within The New Mexico Decedent Image Database, Jessica Destiny Parenti

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adolescence marks a critical period of social and biological transition, characterized by the onset of puberty—a pivotal milestone indicating sexual maturity. Shapland and Lewis (2013, 2014) proposed a method for tracking pubertal stages within the skeleton, encompassing observations of various skeletal developments such as the mandibular canine, hamate bone, distal radius, phalanges, and cervical vertebrae 3-5. This study analyzes the pubertal stages in 26 subadult females, aged eight to 20, from the New Mexico Decedent Image Database. By integrating the extensive background information provided by the New Mexico Decedent Image Database, this study explores the factors influencing the onset of …

Best Friends And Popular Peers As Sources Of Influence During Late Childhood And Early Adolescence, Mary Page James

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Across the transition into adolescence, changes in the child’s social world give rise to growing peer influence. As adult supervision declines and time with peers increases, children and adolescents become increasingly susceptible to influence from friends and popular peers. Unclear, however, is the relative magnitude of each and whether the scope of their influence varies across different domain behavior. Friends dominate private settings, where behaviors that promote reciprocity are particularly salient. Popular peers dominate public settings, where behaviors that promote hierarchy are particularly salient. The present study concerns the unique hypothesis that peer influence is domain specific, such that best …

Exploring The Use Of Commercial Wrist-Worn Wearables For Assessing Cardiovascular And Functional Outcomes, Safia Zoi Gecaj

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Several new wrist-worn devices estimate VO2 max; however, their validity has not been fully tested. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the validity of three wrist-worn devices (Polar Ignite 3, Garmin VivoActive 5, Garmin VivoSmart 5) for estimating VO2 max. Methods: Twenty-nine participants (21.9±2.1 years) participated.VO2 max was estimated using the three devices’ protocols. COSMED Quark CPET was used to measure VO2 max. Pearson Product-moment Correlations and paired t-tests compared device-estimated values to actual measurements. Agreement between device-estimates and measured values were determined using Bland Altman plots, mean absolute percentage error, and Intraclass Coefficients. Significance …

Multiscale Modeling Of Infectious Diseases: Identifiability Framework For Parameter Estimation And Model Validation, Ambegoda Liyanage

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understanding and controlling the spread of infectious diseases requires integrative mathematical models that connect biological processes across multiple scales, from individual-level transmission dynamics to population-level epidemic behavior. In this work, we develop and analyze multiscale mathematical models to investigate the transmission of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, with a strong focus on structural and practical identifiability to ensure model reliability.

We begin by investigating the transmission dynamics of the Usutu virus (USUV), an emerging mosquito-borne virus of growing concern in Europe and Africa. Understanding the epidemiology of such pathogens requires a systems-level approach that captures biological processes across multiple scales, …