Digital Commons Network^™

Accessing Campus Mental Health Services In A Nigerian Southwestern University: Barriers To Academic Success, Caroline Dada

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mental health disorders are a significant health concern among higher education institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. A substantial treatment gap exists in the Nigerian healthcare system, and this gap is further worsened by cultural and religious barriers, which reinforce stigma that discourages students from seeking professional help. This qualitative narrative inquiry explored the barriers students encountered when accessing mental health services at a university in Southwestern Nigeria, to increase service access. Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with seven professional mental health providers at a university counseling center between March and April 2025. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify …

Ai-Assisted Wheat Spike And Spikelet Detection And Density Mapping Using Multiscale Remote Sensing Data To Support Wheat Grain Yield Forecasting, Hillson Ghimire

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wheat grain yield is determined by the number of spikes per unit area, the number of grains per spike, and kernel weight. However, spike number and spikelets per spike are still measured predominantly through manual counting, a labor-intensive and subjective process that limits phenotyping throughput and selection intensity in modern wheat breeding programs. This thesis develops and evaluates a deep learning framework for automated, high-throughput phenotyping of wheat spike and spikelet traits across complementary imaging scales and implements the framework as a deployable platform. First, two large-scale benchmark datasets with oriented bounding box (OBB) annotations were established, comprising 48,521 spike …

Evaluating Supplementation Strategies Using Precision Livestock Technologies And Energy Based Models In Developing Beef Heifers Grazing Dormant Rangeland, Kali-Jo Bentz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Replacement beef heifer development in extensive grazing systems is challenged by variation in forage quality, supplement intake, and animal behavior, all of which influence the ability to achieve targeted growth prior to breeding. Precision livestock technologies (PLT) enable continuous monitoring of individual animal performance, while energy-based nutritional models support individualized supplementation. However, their application under extensive grazing conditions remains poorly understood. Therefore, the objectives of this thesis were to (1) evaluate heifer utilization of multiple precision livestock technologies and their relationship with animal performance and (2) evaluate the accuracy of an individualized energy-based supplementation model by comparing predicted supplement allotments …

A Multiscale Computational Framework Bridging Molecular Dyanmics, Phase-Field, And Elasto–Viscoplstic Fast Fourier Transform: Applications To Process–Structure–Property Relationships In Metallic Materials, Chaimae Jouhari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Metallic materials exhibit process–structure–property relationships that arise from physical mechanisms operating across multiple length and time scales. Atomistic processes control diffusion, thermal response, and interfacial behavior; mesoscale mechanisms govern grain morphology, interface migration, and microstructure evolution; full-field crystal-plasticity calculations resolve heterogeneous mechanical fields; and continuum-scale finite-element (FE) models connect material response to component-level deformation, damage, and performance. Because no single simulation method can resolve all of these mechanisms, predictive modeling requires a framework in which information obtained at one scale can be transferred to the next. This dissertation develops a multiscale computational framework that bridges molecular dynamics (MD), phase-field (PF) …

Finite Mixture Modeling Towards Applications In Material Science And Biomedical Data, Jason Hasse

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation contains three chapters on different applications of mixture regression models, broadly in materials science and public health. We begin with a basic application of finite mixture models and regression mixture models. The materials science analysis was performed entirely using data from finite element simulations of the additive manufacturing process via powder bed fusion. Visualization of the clustering solution as applied to the additive manufacturing designs highlighted the intuitive patterns that could be found. These patterns simultaneously yield the regression coefficients and subgroups of the geometric regions, providing a way to predict stresses and strains in a new geometry …

New Era Of Academic Advising: Integration Of Artificial Intelligence Within Academic Advising By, Rachel Elaine Schmitz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Academic advising is a critical component of student success, directly impacting institutional retention, GPA, and student autonomy. This thesis explores the transition of this profession into my proposed fifth era characterized by the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a supportive tool, rather than a replacement, for human connection. Grounded in Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Theory (IRT), this study examines advisors’ perception of how advanced technology can impact the interpersonal process between students and advisors. A qualitative methodology was used, consisting of seven (N = 7) semi-structured interviews with professional advisors at South Dakota State University. Thematic analysis revealed that AI …

Demographic Impact And Diagnostic Evaluation Of Mycoplasma Ovipneumoniae In Bighorn Sheep Of The Pine Ridge Badlands, Jeffrey Tillery

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi) decimates bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) populations through acute die-offs followed by years or decades of failed lamb recruitment. Test-and-remove management has emerged as the primary intervention to restore population growth, and this thesis quantifies the demographic costs of endemic M. ovi infection and evaluates the diagnostic tools upon which this strategy depends. I quantified vital rates across five bighorn sheep subherds (four infected, one uninfected) on the Pine Ridge Reservation (2023–2025), supplemented by pre-outbreak data (2017–2018) from the North Unit of Badlands National Park. Infected subherds declined (λ = 0.965, 95% CrI: 0.813–1.039) while the uninfected …

Data-Driven Decision-Making Frameworks For Energy Procurement And Dynamic Pricing In Electric Vehicle Charging Networks, Pallavi Khanal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The continued growth of electric vehicles (EVs) is increasing the demand for charging infrastructure and creating new operational challenges for charging network operators (CNOs). Uncertainty in charging demand, electricity market prices, and user charging behavior can significantly impact both the economic performance and reliability of charging network operations. To address these challenges, this thesis develops an integrated data-driven framework that combines charging demand modeling, risk-aware energy procurement, machine learning, and reinforcement learning for intelligent EV charging network operation. The research begins by developing queueing-based models to characterize EV charging demand under time-varying and stochastic arrival conditions. Time-varying Mt/M/1 and Mt/M/c …

Primary Avian Tracheal Cell Models For The Isolation Of Emerging Avian Metapneumovirus Strains, Tricia Serrao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The emergence of avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) subgroups A and B in the United States poultry industry has created an urgent need for standardized, host-specific diagnostic platforms. Historically, reliance on continuous, multi-species cell lines has limited the primary isolation of field strains and introduced potential adaptation artifacts. To address these challenges, this research first established and characterized a reproducible primary cell culture system derived from the tracheal tissues of 1-day-old turkey poults. This system was maintained in an optimized DMEM/F-12 formulation supplemented with 5% FBS, EGF, and ITS, with early-passage cultures achieving 90% confluence within 24 to 48 hours. Morphological and …

Investigating The Cumulative Effect Of Nutrition Education And Nutrition Assistance On Measures Of Participant Health, Adity Chowdhury Kankon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the individual and combined associations of participation in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and nutrition assistance programs with diet quality and biomarkers of chronic disease risk. Multistate longitudinal data were analyzed using triple difference-in-differences regression models for body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and Diet Quality Index (DQI). EFNEP participation was associated with a reduction in BMI over time among participants not receiving nutrition assistance, but this association was attenuated among assistance participants. A similar differential pattern was observed for HbA1c. No significant differential changes were found for …

The Fate And Removal Of E. Coli Across Liquid And Sludge Treatment Stages In An Activated -Sludge Water Resource Recovery Facility, Shrawan Tandukar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluates the fate and removal efficiency of Escherichia coli (E. coli) across both liquid and sludge treatment processes at a full-scale activated sludge water resource recovery facility (WRRF) in Brookings, South Dakota. Understanding pathogen reduction within wastewater treatment systems is critical for protecting public health and ensuring regulatory compliance, particularly in facilities practicing water reuse and biosolids management. Liquid and sludge samples were collected from multiple treatment stages between January and July 2025 and analyzed using the IDEXX Colilert Quanti-Tray 2000 method. This study quantifies E. coli concentrations throughout the treatment train to assess removal performance and identify …

Integration Of Ders Volt-Var Dynamic Constraint Into Time-Coupled Optimal Power Flow For System Stability, Shadrack T. Asiedu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The transition toward power systems with higher levels of inverter-based generation requires operating models that account for the dynamic support available from distribution-connected resources. Although inverter-based DERs can provide fast reactive-power support through functions such as Volt–VAR control, conventional optimal power flow models generally represent these resources as static power injections. In addition, transmission-level dispatch commonly represents the downstream distribution system as an aggregated load and does not explicitly consider the voltage at the point of common coupling. Consequently, an OPF solution may satisfy the transmission-bus voltage constraints while producing an operating point at which the downstream DERs do not …

The Influence Of Controlled Intake And Anabolic Implant Timing On Growth Performance And Carcass Traits In Feedlot Ruminants, Justin J. Delver

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation was to evaluate how previous plane of nutrition and anabolic implant timing interact to influence growth performance, composition of growth, and the carcass characteristics in ruminants. Three experiments were conducted using cattle and sheep models to determine the metabolic adaptations driving compensatory growth. In experiment 1, yearling beef steers (n = 192) were fed ad libitum for 141 days (ADLIB) or restricted to 92% of ad libitum intake for 56 (RES56) or 86 (RES86) days followed by realimentation. Cumulative dry matter intake (DMI) was reduced in both restricted groups (P = 0.002) with no difference …

Modeling Heterogeneous Trajectories Of Chronic Kidney Disease Progression With Finite Mixture Models Using The All Of Us Dataset, Yahaya Mumuni Musah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) does not progress uniformly across patients, and a single average trajectory often fails to capture this heterogeneity. Understanding variation in disease progression is important for improving risk stratification and clinical management. 
Objectives: This study aims to characterize the heterogeneity of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression using longitudinal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) data and to identify factors associated with distinct progression trajectory patterns. 
Methods: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted using data from the All of Us} Research Program collected between April 23, 2002, and October 1, 2023. Adult participants with repeated eGFR measurements were …

Enzyme Susceptibility And Functionality Of High Protein Retentates And Reconstituted Ingredients, Khushi Dubey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the effects of processing history on the enzymatic susceptibility and functional properties of high-protein dairy ingredients, with a specific focus on ultrafiltered (UF) and microfiltered (MF) retentates and spray-dried powders. While retentates and powders are often used interchangeably in industrial applications, processing steps, such as drying, can induce structural and physicochemical changes that affect protein functionality and enzyme accessibility. Milk protein concentrates (MPC) and micellar casein concentrates (MCC) were standardized to 10% protein and subjected to enzymatic treatments, including proteolysis (Alcalase and rennet) and crosslinking (transglutaminase and laccase). Structural modifications were evaluated using capillary gel electrophoresis, non-protein …

Effect Of Female Employment On Household Expenditure In Bangladesh, Fatema Binte Sharif

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Female labor force participation (FLFP) in Bangladesh has increased from 29.2% in 2005–06 to 42.8% in 2022, raising important questions about household resource allocation. This study examines the impact of female employment on household expenditure patterns and challenges the traditional unitary model of decision-making. It focuses on how income controlled by women influences spending across essential and non-essential categories. The analysis uses data from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. This research employs Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SURE) approach to estimate budget shares for food, housing, health, education, clothing, and transport. The study …

Detecting And Characterizing Latent Subpopulations Of Classes Via Mixture Models, Andrew Simpson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A class of problems in statistical pattern recognition exists in which there is high-dimensional data with few realizations per class, commonly referred to as few-shot learning. Data that arises in forensic source identification, which deals with providing a probabilistic value of evidence with regard to the source of some object, falls into this class of problems. Namely, the data is sampled from a hierarchical sampling process, lives in a high-dimensional space, the number of sources (or classes) tends towards infinity, and there are few observations per source. This can be thought of as a few-shot learning problem. Because of these …

Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation Of In-Situ Plasma- Assisted Cold Spray, Lucas Degen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cold spray is a solid-state form of additive manufacturing with high versatility and widespread applicability, especially in relation to metal coatings. Many applications exist within the fields of aerospace, defense and energy systems to obtain sustainable, temperature and corrosion resistant, robust coatings. High-strength alloys and refractory metals generally encounter challenges with regards to cold spray coating adhesion and overall deposition efficiency. Heat induced methods of post-processing or in-situ treatment have been explored to encourage particle softening in the cold spray plume, as well as coating recrystallization to enhance material properties. These approaches have primarily been limited to an experimental approach, …

Improving Human Dimensions Of Conservation Planning: Challenges And Opportunities For Sustainable Conservation Outcomes, Vivian Hulugh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Conservation planning is important to ensure both ecological and social benefits of natural resources, including the maintenance of functional ecosystems and stable wildlife populations as well as the provision of resources that communities rely on. Yet, the integration of the human dimensions of conservation planning remains limited in practice. This thesis examines conservation planning in South Dakota and within Joint Venture (JV) partnerships, using qualitative methods to identify challenges and opportunities for more effective and coordinated planning. In chapter one, I examine how collaboration, public participation, and the use of climate information are integrated conservation planning in South Dakota and …

The Spacetime Finite Element Method For Investigations Into Physics Ghost Systems And Time Parallel Preconditioning, Jax Wysong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work operates on two fronts, focusing on interesting physical phenomena before turning our attention to an interesting numerical math problem. First, using the spacetime finite element method (FEM), we investigate a PDE system consisting of two Klein Gordon equations, which are coupled nonlinearly through the potential energy. The system contains a ghost (negative kinetic energy term). Systems such as these are generally deemed physically unstable, resulting in infinite energy in finite time. However, recent work has shown that this is not always the case. We investigate multiple scenarios arising from different initial conditions to characterize if/when a ghost system …

Chemical Load: An Unseen Herbicide Filter In Restored Prairies?, Rylie Franklin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Community Assembly Theory is a framework used to describe the process by which species from a regional species pool disperse and encounter various abiotic and biotic conditions that act as filters, limiting which species will populate a specific local community. Prairie restoration success can be improved by understanding abiotic and biotic filters. As agricultural practices have adopted integrated weed management plans, that include the use of both chemical and non-chemical techniques, another filter needs to be considered during restoration: the chemical load of soils, i.e., herbicide residue from recent on-site applications and herbicide drift from adjacent areas. To examine the …

Towards Energy Access For All: Developing The Lived Energy Experience Index (Leei), Kentina Annie Ishimwe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Energy is the fuel that powers the engine of civilization. Energy access metrics ensure that nations continuously work towards providing access for all. However, the prevalent binary indicator fails to consider that energy needs to be usable, accessible, affordable, and reliable. As a result, numerous tiered and multidimensional metrics, such as the Multi-Tier Framework, came about to bridge the gap but proved to be complex and complicated to implement. This study presents the existing literature review, assesses the limitations of current energy access measurement frameworks, and compares household energy needs with reported access statistics. Based on the findings, the Lived …

Sustainable State: A Location-Based Analysis Of Recycling Habits On A University Campus, Valentyna Labrie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Universities are mini communities for the younger generation. Their role in advancing sustainable waste management practices is very valuable. That is why it is crucial to promote pro-environmental behavior, monitor consistent sorting accuracy, and maintain positive recycling indicators such as contamination and diversion rates. The research aim was to explore the impact of spatial context and visual communication strategies on recycling accuracy, contamination, and diversion rates at South Dakota State University (SDSU). The research analysed the impact of proximity to food service areas on waste composition. Another research interest was the impact of educational signage and stickers on recycling behavior …

The Impact Of Synchronous And Asynchronous Preference On The Performance Of Distance Learning Students, Christopher A. Wilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Distance learning is a growing part of education. The transition to distance learning was underway at higher education institutions, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced institutions of all types to rapidly transition to distance learning. The technology that was adapted during this emergency distance learning remained in the classroom once normal instruction resumed. This quantitative study examined two aspects of distance learning technology in education. The study examined student preference for either synchronous or asynchronous instruction through the framework of expectancy theory. Students who were more familiar with the course material were hypothesized to have a higher expectation of success and …

The Lived Experience Of Special Education Director Retention: A Phenomenological Study Of Motivational And Organizational Influences, Matthew R. Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The stability of leadership in special education is crucial for ensuring regulatory compliance, programmatic quality, and equitable services for students with disabilities. However, U.S. public schools face persistent challenges in retaining special education directors, resulting in a loss of institutional knowledge, service fragmentation, and increased risk of compliance failure. Drawing on self-determination theory and job embeddedness theory, this phenomenological study explored the intrinsic and extrinsic aspects that influence special education directors’ decisions to remain in their roles. Ten experienced special education directors from diverse public school settings in Texas participated in semistructured interviews and follow-up quantitative questionnaires. The analysis revealed …

Faculty Perceptions Of Engaging Generation Z Students Through Positive Education In The Classroom, Ashley D. Ragsdale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the engagement gap between Generation Z students and faculty in higher education, emphasizing how positive education approaches can help faculty become more confident and effective instructors. Generation Z students prefer instant internet access and digital learning, have shorter attention spans, and tend to be disengaged when instructors rely on traditional teaching methods. After the COVID-19 pandemic, this engagement gap became more evident. This basic qualitative study used semistructured interviews, reflexive journaling, and nonparticipatory observations. Participants included full-time health science faculty at a private university in central Texas. Each had at least 2 years of teaching experience …

Likes For Love: Examining The Relationship Of Sociocultural Factors On Social Media Influences Of Instagram Use For Young Black Women, Cheria S. Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years there has been a push toward studying ethnic minority women related to the psychological implications of image and beauty, as historically the focus has been on the experiences of European women (Awad et al., 2015). Black women must process sexual development, attitudes, and behaviors through the lens of the sexual scripts and stereotypes of their ethnic group and must negotiate between mainstream and culture specific norms of sexuality (Daniels and Zurbriggen, 2016; Jerald et al., 2017). The presence of these scripts signifies a difference between Black women and other races about how they may internalize and react …

The Experience Of African American Male Counselor Educators Navigating Racial Battle Fatigue, Quincy J. Stephenson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A qualitative phenomenological approach was used in this research to explore the lived experiences of African American male counselor educators (AAMCEs) in historically or predominantly White universities who have obtained tenure and promotion. The need for equitable support, recruitment, and retention of faculty of color in counselor education has received more attention from universities in recent years. Although some advancement has occurred, AAMCEs continue to be underrepresented in academia, especially counselor education. There has been research concerning the impact of racism on and resilience of AAMCEs; however, there is a lack of research concerning how this specific population navigates racial …

Child Care For Student Parents: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Policy And Politics In Nys, Elizabeth M. Starks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This policy analysis dissertation explores the complex and multifaceted challenges that exist within New York State’s early childhood care and education (ECCE) system by critically examining the amendment of one NYS social services law. Guided by Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis, this study examines two research questions (under one overarching question):

1. What language and arguments are effective in making change in Early Childhood policy in NYS?
   1. What is the policy discourse surrounding the amendment of subdivision 1 of section 410-w social services law in NYS?
   2. What is the political discourse surrounding the amendment of subdivision 1 of section 410-w social services …

Limiting A Liberal Education: Exploring Technology Access And Equity Through Universal Design And Critical Disability Studies, Marisa R. Carlson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative improvement study investigates how classroom technology policies impact equity, access, and alignment with liberal arts values at a small Catholic liberal arts college. The study arose from concerns regarding academic accommodations, where students needed to formally request access to digital tools that were widely available. The focus is on inconsistent and sometimes restrictive technology policies that create barriers for students relying on these resources.

Interpreted through the conceptual frameworks of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Critical Disability Studies (CDS), this study was guided by the following research questions:

1. What expectations do students have regarding access to technology …