Digital Commons Network^™

The Ethics Of Involuntary Psychiatric Hospitalization: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Policies, Practice, And Ethical Oversight, Mariah Chobany

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As a specialized field of medicine, psychiatry presents unique ethical challenges and dilemmas distinct from other medical disciplines. A particularly complex aspect of psychiatric care involves the involuntary treatment of patients who may be unable to make informed decisions about their care or participation in research due to the debilitating effects of their psychiatric condition. This presents a significant challenge for providers and researchers, particularly concerning capacity issues and the informed consent process. Despite the intricacies and complexities of ethical dilemmas in psychiatric treatment and research, there is a notable lack of comprehensive guidance in policies and practices on addressing …

Efficient Development Of Density-Insensitive Near-Infrared Methods For In-Line Drug Content Monitoring In Continuous Powder Streams, Natasha L. Velez-Silva

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A well-defined action plan to respond effectively to sudden changes in product demand is critical for preventing drug shortages within the pharmaceutical industry. An effective way to increase the output of a continuous manufacturing (CM) process is through flow rate adjustments. However, robust analytical methods must be in place to ensure consistent analytical performance across varying flow rates. Existing approaches for mitigating the physical effects of flow rate on Near-Infrared (NIR) measurements are often burdensome. Thus, efficient robust modeling strategies that reduce the current calibration burden and ensure model insensitivity to the physical variations in CM systems are needed. In …

“Know What I’M Sayin’?”: Advocating Hip-Hop As A Primary Source For Historical Scholarship, Christopher Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rap, hip-hop’s most characteristic element, evolved from cultural practices combining in New York and spread across the United States in the latter half of the twentieth century. This thesis argues in favor of the use of rap as primary source material in future historical research. Authenticity has always surrounded hip-hop, making rap a window into artists’ perspectives. Storytelling traditions in rap’s roots allow for fiction’s use as a tool to discuss reality in lyrics. To demonstrate rap’s strengths as a primary source, the thesis examines Let’s Get Free, dead prez’s 2000 debut album. The song “They Schools” is dissected section-by-section …

Society Of American Foresters (Saf) Academic Publications As They Relate To The Curriculum Standards For Saf Forestry Program Accreditation: A Content Analysis, Lisa M. Bentley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Goals that impact decision-making components within academic programs in the university system have the potential to define and change the direction of a field of study, and, with that, should be thoughtfully approached with a certainty of evidence that supports responsible paradigms in forestry education. Periodic revision of the standards for accreditation by SAF influences institutional expectations that result in shifts in forestry education and should be consistent with professional forestry standards. The methodology utilized in this research contextualizes data from a sociological perspective intentionally as a method to holistically integrate data as evidence to support the interpretation of Society …

The Integration Of Environmental Concerns And Philosophy Into Business Strategies, Johann Thorne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

My thesis focuses on how a business can better integrate environmental philosophies and principles into their business model without detracting from the business's primary objectives, specifically that of generating profit. However, this thesis also seeks to extend the business's objectives to include the environment using these environmental philosophies, arguing that the business should have some obligation to the environment in terms of morality, as well as social obligations. This is an evolution of some common ethical theories used within the business world, but I argue they do not suffice to protect the environment. Instead, I develop an ethical pluralist framework …

Teachers’ Perception Of School Counselors’ Effectiveness When Supporting Middle-Level African American Males, Vanessa Dease

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Six teachers representing three sites in a single school district shared their perceptions through interviews regarding school counselors' effectiveness when supporting African American middle-level males academically, socially, and emotionally. A reflexive thematic analysis guided this study with the help of the sociocultural and expectancy theories. As participants shared their perceptions through interviews, they answered the three research questions that guided the research. The research questions are: (a) What are teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of school counselors in addressing the unique social and emotional needs of African American male students? (b) What do educators expect of school counselors regarding supporting …

Heat Acclimated Algae Improves Heat Tolerance And Longevity In Daphnia, Ashit Dutta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Xenohormesis suggests that consuming stressed food provides physiological adaptation to the consumer for similar stresses. To evaluate this, Daphnia magna was provided with heat-stressed Nannochloropsis limnetica grown at 25℃ whereas the control group was provided Nannochloropsis limnetica grown at 12℃. In the heat tolerance experiment, Daphnia kept at 28℃ and 20℃ while consuming 25℃ algae had significantly higher heat tolerance compared to the control. Additionally, in stressed conditions, Daphnia consuming 25℃-grown food had significantly higher lifespan compared to the control. Next, Daphnia consuming 25℃-grown algae had significantly higher levels of antioxidants which could explain the lifespan extension. Finally, in fatty …

K-3 Teachers’ Self-Efficacy For Teaching Reading And Its Relationship On K-3 Students Reading Achievement: A Mixed-Methods Study, Adrienne Dowden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Educators persistently grapple with heightened levels of accountability concerning their professional job performance, concomitant with the imperative to maintain commensurate standards in facilitating student achievement. Such circumstances engender heightened personal strain, potentially precipitating diminished self-esteem and consequently impeding the delivery of effective educational services to students, thereby compromising overall professional performance. Bandura (1997) delineated self-efficacy as the cognitive appraisal of one's capacity to orchestrate and execute specific tasks effectively. Moreover, he posited that individuals' anticipated outcomes are significantly influenced by their assessments of their competence to execute tasks in various contexts. Analogously, teachers' perceptions and attitudes regarding their students' overall …

Comparison Of The Effect Of Heavy Pulls Vs Light Powers On A Subsequent Clean In Trained Athletes, Luke Devirgiliis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The sport of weightlifting has been competed since the first modern Olympiad. Competition in weightlifting consists of 3 attempts the snatch and clean and jerk declared by the athlete and their coach prior to the starting of the lift. While waiting for the athlete’s lift, waiting periods can change and warm up attempts may need to be adjusted. Often, coaches prescribe either a complete “light power” or partial “heavy pull” repetition of the competed movement during a long wait. Previous literature indicates that a heavier stimulus may cause a “post-activation potentiation”, or “post-activation performance enhancement” effect on the subsequent lift. …

Detecting Anomalies In Dynamic Attributed Graphs: An Unsupervised Learning Approach, Austin Hamilton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dynamic attributed graphs, which evolve over time and hold node-specific attributes, are essential in fields like social network analysis, where anomalous node detection is a growing area. Vehicular social networks (VSNs), a subset of these graphs, are ad hoc networks in which vehicles exchange data with one another and with infrastructure. In this dynamic context, identifying anomalous nodes is challenging but crucial for maintaining trust within the network. This work presents an unsupervised deep learning approach for anomalous node detection in VSNs. This model achieved an accuracy of 71% while detecting synthetic anomalies in a simulated network based on real-world …

Does Self-Care Moderate The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Trauma Symptoms, And Parental Reflective Functioning?, Vinaya Thomas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Unresolved adverse and traumatic experiences in parents can amplify the risk of perpetuating intergenerational transmission of trauma. Parents’ positive and adaptive practices such as self-care might act as a protective factor against this ripple effect. This study investigated whether self-care moderated the relationship between parental ACEs, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and parental reflective functioning in mothers who are experiencing high psychosocial stress (n = 59) residing in rural Appalachia. Within our sample, there was no statistically significant linear relationship between our predictors, ACE score and PTSD symptoms, and our outcome of interest, maternal pre-mentalizing. We did not find empirical support for …

Perceiving, Processing, And Evaluating Infant Facial Affect In Potential Parents: An Erp Study, Tiffany Bonnagio

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Evidence for differences between assigned female at birth (AFAB) and assigned male at birth (AMAB) perceiving, processing, and evaluating infant faces has been mixed. The current study examined whether expected parental self-efficacy (EPSE) and desire for children predicts event-related potentials (ERPs) to infant facial affect in potential parents. No scale for EPSE exists. Therefore, we reworded the Perceived Maternal Parental Self-Efficacy scale from present to future tense. There was no correlation with EPSE scores, ERPs, or behavioral data. No difference was found between AFAB and AMAB in accurately evaluating infant faces; however, AFABs responded more quickly. ERP data revealed significantly …

Overcoming The Barrier To The Clinical Application Of Naloxone: Application Of Drug Delivery Technologies, Akeemat O. Tijani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Opioid overdose crisis continues to demand innovative solutions for rapid and effective drug administration. Naloxone (NAL), a critical opioid antagonist, has been the primary treatment for reversing opioid-induced respiratory depression. However, its current delivery methods, such as intravenous and intranasal formulations, are limited by their invasive nature, short half-life, and the need for repeated dosing. This dissertation investigates advanced drug delivery technologies aimed at overcoming these challenges and enhancing the clinical utility of NAL.

This research focused on improving the transdermal and transnasal delivery of NAL using minimally invasive techniques. Various approaches were evaluated, including sonophoresis, microneedles, laser ablation, dermaplaning …

Factors Impacting Ehr Implementation: A Case Study In Belize, Jessica Y. Resendiz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Electronic health record systems are a tool used throughout healthcare organizations to provide safe and efficient patient care. They are used to record and retrieve patient information related to health history, diagnostics, and treatment plans. Electronic health records have become increasingly integrated into healthcare practice and are demonstrative of safe and quality care. Healthcare organizations that do not have electronic health record systems in place jeopardize safe and efficient patient care. In addition, access and financial means to implement electronic health record systems in developing countries are challenging as resources are often restricted. This project aims to identify factors that …

Organizational Toxicity: Exploring Factors That Cultivate Toxicity In Air Force Maintenance Organizations And Their Impact On Enlisted Airmen, Bryan Keith Wong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Workplace toxicity negatively impacts organizations and harms employees within those organizations. However, each organization is subject to various influences and contexts, and understanding toxicity within specific contexts provides practitioners with the knowledge of its origin, influential factors, and how to respond. The U.S. Air Force is rich in culture and subcultures; it is also subject to toxicity, which is affected by several military-unique factors. Yet, toxicity in the military has been primarily explored through the leadership lens with limited insights into other influential elements, such as followers and the workplace environment. Additionally, little attention has been placed on the effects …

Implementation Of A Transition-Of-Care Model For Adult Ischemic Stroke Survivors, Megan Akacsos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The lasting physical and cognitive deficits associated with the complexities of newly acquired

disabilities resulting from an acute ischemic stroke (AIS) may lead to hospital readmissions. The

participating healthcare facility on the U.S. West Coast reported a hospital readmission rate for

AIS survivors of 24.29% within 30 days of discharge. This doctoral nursing project aimed to

determine if implementing the Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) model

would reduce 30-day readmission rates compared to no standardized transition-of-care model in

adult AIS survivors over 30 days. Implementing the COMPASS model in this patient population

was expected to better educate and support stroke …

Mapping Amis Mill In Rogersville, Tennessee In The 1780s Using Geophysical Methods And Remote Sensing, Amy Collins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Geophysics and remote sensing were used at the Amis Mill and Homesite to determine the location of structures during the 1780s. Areas of interest were surveyed using shallow geophysical and remote sensing techniques including the orchard, horse pasture, original kitchen on the east side of the house, the west side of the house, plowed field, store site, and cemetery. After analyzing the results of the geophysical surveys and remote sensing, 22 sites were chosen to test inside and outside potential features. A large rectangular feature, possibly a tavern with a cellar, was discovered. Four other features were identified, three of …

Elevation And Population Size Effects On The Survival Of Drosera Rotundifolia, Jessica Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Carnivorous plants face significant conservation challenges due to habitat destruction, climate change, and illegal harvesting. This study explores how elevation and population size influence key-life history traits of D. rotundifolia, such as flowering phenology, prey capture efficiency, seed production, and germination rates. Higher elevations and larger populations are associated with extended flowering durations and increased prey capture. However, seed production and germination rates show complex patterns that are likely influenced by genetic diversity, resource availability, or environmental conditions. These insights inform targeted conservation strategies, emphasizing habitat preservation, enhancing prey availability, and maintaining genetic diversity. Public education and community engagement …

East Texas Master Gardener Characteristics, Volunteer Choices, And Willingness To Answer Questions From The Public, Damon Gregory Grant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

East Texas Master Gardener volunteers were asked to participate in an exploratory Qualtrics survey during the fall of 2023. This study examined the demographic characteristics, volunteer engagement choices, and challenges of Master Gardener volunteers in Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service District 5, focusing on whether current training adequately prepares volunteers for public-facing roles. Findings showed that volunteers were primarily older, retired, well-educated, white females, favoring hands-on activities like garden demonstrations and fundraising over Help Desk question answering roles due to perceived inadequacies in knowledge. Over 80% indicated that mentorship and advanced training could improve their confidence in public interactions. Recommendations …

The Lived Experiences Of Women In Construction: Career Supporting Strategies, Cheryl Anne Loar Croall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Women are underrepresented in the United States construction industry, representing only 11% of the workforce, and this lack of diversity in the male-dominated occupation results in barriers to female career advancement. The problem is that women in construction experience obstacles to career progression due to gender work life balance, sexual harassment, and pay inequality; barriers such as these keep women out of leadership roles. Three recommended techniques to support women’s career progression in construction and combat barriers to career advancement include social support, fighting back (openly challenging discrimination), and positive reappraisal (reframing negatives to positives). Understanding the effectiveness of these …

Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Based Metabolomics, Lipidomics And Epitranscriptomics., Raobo Xu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Metabolomics and lipidomics are the comprehensive studies of metabolites and lipids in cells, biological fluids, tissues, or organisms. These distinct chemical fingerprints are left behind by cellular processes. Epitranscriptomics is the field that focuses on examining chemical modifications on RNA molecules at the transcriptome level. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has been widely used in those omics studies. In this dissertation, I developed and applied both untargeted and targeted approaches using LC-MS based various analytical platforms to conduct omics studies. Firstly, I investigated caffeine metabolites in human urine and discovered three potential functional biomarkers to differentiate the stages of alcohol-associated liver …

Constitutive Chefs: The Ethos And Constitutive Rhetoric Of Anthony Bourdain, Sean Sherman, And Mashama Bailey., Michael Jared Benjamin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation project explores the motivation of chefs to become Public Chef Intellectuals and how they cultivate and engage with an audience that will never taste their food. Using a case study approach, this dissertation analyzes the intellectual missions of Anthony Bourdain, Sean Sherman, and Mahsama Bailey as told through their television shows, memoirs, cookbooks, and restaurant menus. I argue that for each chef, their cultural identity is inextricably tied to their ultimate purpose – the use of food as a Trojan horse to promote their vision for a collective American culture. This project underscores that this process happens dialogically …

Sing A New Song: Analyzing A Cappella Arrangements Of Contemporary Worship Music, Ashley S. Cox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Music is indispensable to Christian worship services, and pop/rock-influenced contemporary worship music (CWM) serves an important role in modern worship. This thesis explores strategies for arranging CWM for a cappella settings by comparing the originals with two a cappella arrangements: one intended for group performance and the other for congregational worship. This will be accomplished through examining the following five songs: “Hymn of Heaven,” “Raise a Hallelujah,” “Build Your Kingdom Here,” “Psalm 34 (Taste and See),” and “Battle Belongs.” Analysis of elements such as form, texture, harmony, and rhythm reveals many arranging techniques. The songs are categorized by the level …

Victims Unknown: An Evaluation Of The Way Louisville, Kentucky Communicated About Aids At The End Of The 20th Century, Alexander M. Vernon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This is thesis examines the way that printed news sources reported on AIDS during the height of the epidemic in Louisville, Kentucky. It compares between mainstream and grass-roots sources to work to identify shortcomings in reporting, and how reporting on a public health crisis can be improved upon in the future. It uses an intersectional framework to deconstruct why certain news sources reported on specific demographics of the population, across racialized and gendered lines. Chapter One analyzes the epidemic and then contextualizes the language that was used. Chapter Two focuses on mainstream local newspapers, while also defining demographics of AIDS …

Patient, Provider, And Health System Characteristics Leading To The Delivery Of Low Value Health Care Services And Outcomes Of An Intervention For Mitigating Low Value Care., Philip Ray Rohrer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The United States spends more on health care than any other country, and Medicare accounted for nearly one-quarter of total personal health care spending in 2019. Waste within the health care system in the United States is estimated to represent approximately 25% of total U.S. health care expenditures. Low value care includes health care services that provide little or no benefit to patients, have potential to cause harm, incur unnecessary costs to patients, or waste limited healthcare resources. Low value care is estimated to represent roughly 10% of total health care waste, or between $75.7 billion and $101.2 billion dollars …

Co-Emulation Of Robotics And Software-Defined Radio Based 5g Wireless Communications., Bhaskara Venkata Raju Garuda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The convergence of robotics and 5G wireless communication technologies has opened new avenues for real-time, dynamic robotic applications. This dissertation introduces a novel framework that integrates the Robot Operating System (ROS), Software-Defined Radios (SDRs), and 5G wireless networks to achieve seamless coemulation of robotic systems. The research emphasizes the unique features of 5G, such as ultra-low latency and high throughput, which enable critical applications like remote surgery, industrial automation, and autonomous vehicles. The methodology combines ROS for robotic control, SDRs for programmable communication channels, and 5G testbeds for high-speed, reliable data transmission. The experimental evaluation focuses on both position-based and …

General Sport Skills Performance Following The Combined Use Of Accentuated Eccentric Loading And Cluster Sets During A Strength-Endurance Training Phase, David Nelson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of resistance training with accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) and cluster sets (CS) versus traditional resistance training (TRAD) on general sports skills and power performance in recreationally trained individuals. Seventeen subjects (11 males, 6 females; mean age 23.2 ± 4.1 years; body mass 81.3 ± 22.2 kg; height 172.1 ± 10.0 cm; relative 1 RM back squat 1.5 ± 0.3) were randomly assigned to AEL (n = 9) or TRAD (n = 8) groups. After an initial familiarization and baseline testing, both groups underwent a four-week strength-endurance training regimen. The AEL …

Graduation Rates Of Students With Disabilities At A Participating Southern University, Kelly Mitchell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this non-experimental, correlational quantitative study was to compare the graduation rates of first-time, full-time students with disabilities to those of first-time, full-time students in the general population at the participating university. The sample used for analysis was full-time, first-time students entering between 2015 and 2020. Using archival data from the Disability Services database and the University's Banner system, four- and six-year graduation rates were compared. The original data set consisted of 22,070 students in the starting focus cohorts. After removing entering transfer students and students who enrolled in less than 15 credits for their entering semester, 8,337 …

Leadership Emergence And Factors Preventing Emergence Of Elders In The Churches Of Christ In The Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly, Francis Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the persistent absence of formally appointed elders in five Churches of Christ within Teshie in the Ledzokuku municipal assembly, Ghana, despite these congregations’ existence for over two decades. The research seeks to critically examine the factors contributing to the inability of long-serving leaders to align with biblical qualifications. Utilizing a case study methodology, the research examines leadership emergence within the congregations, exploring the discrepancy between tenure and adherence to scriptural standards, and emphasizing the causes and implications for leadership effectiveness and spiritual integrity that facilitate or obstruct the ordination of elders. The study employs a qualitative research …

Before Ministry, Education Is Important (Bmei): A Comprehensive Enquiry About The Impact Of Education On Ministry, Mcclintock Acsmhour

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ministry has a variety of fields ranging from churches, social nonprofit organizations, and government ministries in agriculture, health, education, lands, and many more. While this study did not focus on other ministries apart from Christian non profit ministries like church, to some extent, all leaders in these ministries avow that one requires some level of education to be in leading positions in these ministries. In other words, the qualified individual must have been trained in a particular field within the ministry of interest. This indicates the importance of education in ministry. Therefore, this study was conducted to uncover the impact …