Digital Commons Network^™

Summer Critical Reading Initiative Helping Talent Search Students Redefine Their College Potential Through Literature, Tania Dominguez

Theses

Despite efforts to improve college access and develop college readiness skills, students are graduating high school unprepared for college. Each year, fewer students choose to enroll or drop out within their first semester of a post-secondary institution after high school graduation. The figures are even more dire for students who are from low-income and first-generation backgrounds. Furthermore, data shows that college-bound participants from federal pre-college TRIO programs are underserved in the most critical time of their high school journey. There is an educational gap in the services that pre-college programs, such as Talent Search, provide students. Educators and college counselors …

The Impact Of Rosenwald Schools On Black Communities In The Southern United States From 1912 - 1932, Kimberly Chapman

Theses

This is a story of Black people who transitioned from slavery to freedom, rising early in the mornings to work in the fields but also to get their children ready to walk miles to school. Many adults took night classes to learn the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. These simple things, such as knowing how to spell their names, had great meaning for formerly enslaved people, who wanted the opportunity to be identified by their names rather than a number or simply “boy” or “gal.” Some parents felt it was too late for them, but they were determined for …

Cougars And Lambs, Lonna Adams

Theses

"Cougars and Lambs is an original novella written for my Master of Arts thesis in Creative Writing. The heroine of the story has escaped an abusive relationship and chooses to hide out in a small Northern Californian town. She opens a cafe and gets to know the locals in this tightly knot community. Unfortunately, her abuser tracks her down and is hell-bent on destroying her new life and possessing her once more. This story deals with crimes against women and the lives it affects.(This novella is actually 115 pages and just under 30,000 words. However, in order to fit the …

Revitalizing Lagrange, Jessie Johnson

Theses

LaGrange Mountain is located in Colbert County, Alabama, approximately sixteen miles from the University of North Alabama. The mountain is the site of a prehistoric bluff shelter used by Native Americans, Alabama’s first chartered college-- LaGrange College--as well as a nineteenth century village that included a school for women, and, today is the location of a distillery that is owned by the Dawson family. The LaGrange Living History Association currently manages the college site, which includes an open-air museum that explores early pioneer life and Civil War history as it connects to LaGrange College. The current interpretation of the site …

Factors That Lead To The Adoption Of Alternative Energy Options In Developing Nations, Anna Bukina

Theses

Environmental degradation and climate change are pressing issues nowadays. While developed nations have been improving their current energy trends by implementing alternative energy options, developing nations are falling behind and still significantly contributing to the degradation of the planet by emitting a significant amount of carbon emissions. The present study investigated the driving forces behind the deployment of renewable energy sources in developing nations. The methods of this study included utilizing data from multiple datasets on energy use worldwide for the year 2017 to create an original data set with randomly selected thirty developing countries. Regression analysis was conducted to …

Alabama Postcards, Katie Nethery

Theses

I chose to write Alabama Postcards to give my reader a clear view of what different areas of Alabama are like, as well as the kinds of people you can find there, based on personal experiences throughout life. I also feel these essays serve as a memoir about my family and how they have helped shape me into who I am today, even those I never got to meet. I chose to use “postcards” in the title since I chose to write about different areas of Alabama, and aimed to give my reader a clear image of what these towns …

Extending The Prediction Of Fear Of Crime, Doreen Boateng

Theses

This study aims to expand what we know about fear of crime to reveal the different levels of fear among genders. Although there exists extensive research on the subject matter, the current work examines how different each gender perceives crime given the predictors as vulnerability, disorder and social integration. This study therefore addresses these gaps by assessing gender differences in crime fear and how these models separately influence each gender. To do that, crosstabulations and logistic regression analysis was used in analyzing the relationship between gender, perceptions of neighborhood disorder (street graffiti/litter), social integration (family ties), to determine the relationship …

Fetishized Portraits In Victorian Literature, Rachel Smith

Theses

No abstract provided.

Critical Reading Pedagogical Approaches To College Literature In A Post-Pandemic, Mckenzie London

Theses

This project uses a mixed methods approach to study the impact of COVID-19 on faculty and students in the English college classroom. Research indicates that COVID-19 correlates with changes in students’ academic performance, but there is a need for research concerning how to approach these changes in the English classroom through critical reading practices. “Critical reading” is complex to define and even more challenging to exemplify or illustrate. Critical reading practices are often the center of the college English classroom, but with changing technology and a cultural shift from COVID-19, students now approach critical reading differently. The purpose of this …

Cybersecurity Awareness And Risks Among Students, Staff & Faculty At The University Of North Alabama, Jerry Lwamba

Theses

As individuals and organizations become significantly connected to the internet, cybercriminals find an increasing number of ways to exploit their targets (Broadhurst, 2018). This study explores the world of cybersecurity awareness of risks associated with online activities within the University of North Alabama (UNA). This research aims to assess the level of cybersecurity awareness of risks university stakeholders face, and to also understand behaviors that expose them to cybercrime and emphasize the urge for comprehensive cybersecurity best practices. When cybercriminals employ tactics such as spam, phishing, or spear phishing in their attempts to break into network systems, distribute malware, or …

Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, Exercise Dependence, Injury Prevalence, And Fueling Habits In Female Crossfit® Participants, Alyssum Reno-Smith

Theses

No abstract provided.

Hierarchical Multi-Label Text Classification In Earth Science Datasets, Rajashree Dahal

Theses

This thesis addresses the challenging problem of hierarchical multi-label text classification and introduces a novel zero-shot approach that recommends the label up to the depth of hierarchy in which it is confident. In order to validate the efficacy of the proposed method, we experimented using various potential embedding models such as text-embedding-ada-002, mpnet-all, instructor embeddings, and nasa-smd-ibm-st on Earth science datasets. The experimental results reveal that all considered embedding models surpass the baseline model supervised learning classifier, demonstrating the superiority of the proposed zero-shot approach. This proposed solution can minimize the label imbalance problem typically observed in the supervised learning …

Data Fusion Approach To Assessing Hurricane Impacts On Us Gulf Coast Wetlands: Case Studies Of Hurricanes Ida And Ian, Trent W. Cowan

Theses

This thesis employs data fusion techniques to analyze the damage to US Gulf Coast wetlands caused by Hurricanes Ida and Ian. The relationship between ecosystem damage and wave stress is evaluated using salt marsh classifications derived from PlanetScope imagery and atmospheric and ocean modeling (WRF, ADCIRC+SWAN). Short-term vegetation recovery following Hurricane Ian is assessed using HLS-derived NDVI data. A multi-decadal analysis of salt marsh vegetation off the Louisiana coast is conducted with statistical models incorporating MODIS NDVI and MERRA-2 climate variables. The analysis reveals the following key findings: 1) -38.7% and -93.25% of wetland area changed following the passage of …

Hesychasm And The Jesus Prayer: Spiritual Formation In An Ecumenical World – Exploring The Practice Of The Eastern Orthodox Jesus Prayer With The Evangelical Protestant Tradition, Craig Francis Bosman

Theses

The question that forms the heart of this research is: “Can the Jesus Prayer establish roots to develop and flourish, and be accepted as a new, legitimate practice in Evangelicalism?” To begin answering, the practice will be explored within its Eastern Orthodox context focusing on the Jesus Prayers’ biblical roots, early development, and official acceptance within Orthodoxy. Then the Evangelical movement will be surveyed to gain an understanding of its identity from a sociological and theological perspective with special attention on its soteriological framework, customary spiritual disciplines, and general attitudes toward mysticism (defined as direct experience of God through apophatic, …

Traumatic Heterotopic Ossification: Pathophysiological Mechanisms, Epidemiological Characteristics, And Risk Factors, Nicola Kate Foster

Theses

Traumatic heterotopic ossification (tHO) refers to the complication of pathological formation of ectopic bone in soft tissues, which follows tissue insult secondary to burn, neurological and orthopaedic injury [2]. Common to these diagnoses is the involvement of central and or peripheral nervous system trauma. Although known risk factors are associated with developing tHO, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Research to date, primarily in single injury cohorts, has provided minimal translatable results [2]. Thus, clinical guidelines for early screening and prophylactic drug therapy are lacking, and treatment options are limited. To move the body of knowledge …

Exploring The Experiences Of A South Asian Client And Facilitators Of Men's Behaviour Change Programs In Western Australia, Madhuri Mathisen

Theses

This study explores the experiences of male perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) attending men’s behaviour change programs in Western Australia from the perspective of program facilitators and a South Asian client. Informed by social and contextual constructionism with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study examines the experience of 10 mixed culture facilitators who worked with South Asian intimate partner violence perpetrators in men’s behaviour change programs and one South Asian client of an intervention. The participants’ experiences were contextualised through a semi-structured interview. The facilitators’ findings revealed that South Asian clients demonstrated patriarchal beliefs with a victim-blaming tendency and …

The Myth Of Post-Graduate Employment: How Ableism And A Minority-Rights Approach To Equality Creates Barriers To Employment For University Graduates With Disability, Veronica Nelson

Theses

Despite continued growth in the number of people with disability completing university studies in Australia, this has not been reflected with an increase in employment participation post-graduation. In comparison with non-disabled graduates, university graduates with disability have lower rates of employment participation and higher levels of underemployment. This research explores the reasons for this disadvantage from the perspective of the university graduates with disability, using a qualitative methodological approach to gain new insights and to prioritise their voice, their lived experience, and their expertise. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with university graduates with disability who had graduated from 2009 onwards. The …

The Development, Implementation, And Evaluation Of An Online Program For Emergency Nurses Caring For Victims Of Interpersonal Violence: A Mixed Methods Study, Melanie Brown

Theses

Forensic nursing encompasses a range of skills that can be utilised across healthcare services and legal services. The delivery of forensic nursing care covers a vast number of roles and practice areas that can improve patient outcome, including the care of victims of interpersonal violence who often face multiple barriers in achieving a positive medicolegal outcome. A nurse’s ability to identify a potential victim and initiate forensic nursing care in an emergency care setting can positively influence the patient’s engagement with support services and the justice system. Despite this, a review of the Australian literature has identified inconsistencies in forensic …

The Philosophy Behind The Vatican's Approach To Relations With China, John Ogilvie

Theses

The Vatican has always played a significant role in global politics, and it continues to do so in the contemporary World. The Vatican’s relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have drawn considerable attention in recent years, especially following the signing of the 2018 Vatican-China Agreement. Some scholars and commentators suggest that the 2018 Agreement and its terms represent a significant deviation from the norm in Vatican diplomacy. In light of that controversy, the present thesis provides an introductory examination of the philosophy that possibly guides the Vatican’s relations with the PRC and the implications this holds for an …

Ernst Jünger’S Epistemology And Metaphysics, Angus Baird

Theses

Jünger is typically interpreted in the philosophical literature according to a Heideggerian reading to be a metaphysical Nietzschean who took the will to power to be the essence of reality. This is especially so for Jünger's “Gestalt of the worker.” Yet Jünger likened his Gestalt to Goethe’s “Urpflanze,” a phenomenological, not metaphysical, conception. And Jünger's uses of "will to power" and "eternal return" are inconsistent with cosmological readings of Nietzsche.

This thesis will argue that the core of Jünger’s epistemology is an account of “intuitive perceptions.” Through these intuitive perceptions Jünger thought he grasped metaphysical reality. Through this grasping Jünger …

Economical And Environmental Evaluation Of Non-Residential Demand Response In The European Transition To Zero-Carbon Energy, Markus Fleshutz

Theses

To meet climate objectives, major energy consumers with local multi-energy systems (L- MESs) must transition to renewable energy sources soon. The variability of renewable energies requires increased operational flexibility for integration. In this context, demand response (DR), a strategy in which electricity consumers adjust their load profiles in response to incentives, has become crucial, offering cost-effective flexibility. It supports L-MESs in integrating renewable energy, reducing decarbonization costs, and enhancing resilience. However, quantifying the economic DR potentials for L-MESs under carbon emission constraints is complex, especially when considering investment options in distributed energy resources. This complexity hinders the rapid adoption of …

The Impact Of The National Breeding Index For Dairy Cows On The Beef Merit Of Their Progeny, Shauna Mulhall

Theses

The expansion of the dairy herd, along with enhanced fertility in dairy cows, and increased adoption of sexed semen technologies, has resulted in a growing number of beef cattle originating from the dairy sector. Breeding programs in dairy cows have been primarily focused on improving fertility and milk production, with limited attention given to progeny intended for beef production. To establish a sustainable dairy and beef sector, enhancing the performance and efficiency of beef calves from dairy herds is crucial. This thesis aims to assess how current breeding strategies in Irish dairy farming impact downstream beef merit. The thesis will …

Improving The Most Gg Model To Predict Environmental Impact And Improve On Farm Grass Growth Prediction, Laeticia Bonnard

Theses

The increasing need for highly productive and eco-friendly agriculture is driving demand for decision-support tools to assist agricultural operators in managing systems more precisely and sustainably. Although grasslands provide a cost-effective option for ruminant production and can offer many environmental benefits (biodiversity, carbon storage etc.), grasslands management is challenging due to the inherent climate and soil sensitivities and their potential negative impact on water quality. In Ireland, the Moorepark Saint Gilles Grass Growth (MoSt GG) model was developed for the dual purposes of research-based simulations and on-farm grass growth prediction for farmers. The objective of this thesis was to improve …

Optima: Optimal Protein For Optimal Ageing, Eunice Ti-Oluwani Olaniyan

Theses

The older adult population is increasing globally, and this is associated with an increased prevalence of chronic diseases. This, together with increased consumer concern regarding the overconsumption of animal proteins, has led to a need to consider alternative dietary strategies for older adults. This study developed novel plant protein blends using combinations of pumpkin, pea ad rice protein isolates, and investigated their amino acid profiles, protein content and bioactive properties to identify optimal blends for functional food formulation. A major objective of this study was to formulate protein-rich products. It was hypothesised that blending multiple sources of plant proteins in …

Envisioning Munster Technological University As A Trauma-Sensitive University, Marie Singleton

Theses

Trauma-informed care works on the assumption that individuals utilizing relevant services have experienced trauma (Palmer, 2020). The trauma-informed approach focuses on providing empathy and compassion to create healing relationships and ensure accessibility for all service users. This approach is aimed at understanding, identifying, and addressing trauma in organisations by making changes to practices, policies, and procedures (Champine et al., 2022). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (2014:10) states that ‘trauma results from an event, serie s of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or threatening and that has …

Radio Propagation Characteristics For In-Car Wireless Communications, Stefan Reis

Theses

Over the past number of years, more and more autonomous functions have been introduced into the newest car models by the automotive industry. These functions include electronic stability control, lane centring, left-turn assist, blind-spot monitoring, etc. The primary purpose of these functions is to increase road safety and, to some extent, the driver's comfort. With the increasing number of functions, more and more sensor devices are being installed in cars, increasing the complexity of the intra-vehicle network. Wireless sensor communication oers promising features that can reduce this complexity, provide more exibility in the sensor placement, and allow for more sensor …

Reclaiming Fantasy: The Female Protagonist In Works Of Visual Art, Literature And Film, Siobhán O'Connor

Theses

‘Reclaiming Fantasy: The Female Protagonist in Works of Visual Art, Literature and Film’ charts representations of the female protagonist through the media in which the archetype is most prominent. From fairy tales to the slasher film, the female protagonist’s representation has been consistent with narratives that pertain to patriarchal constructions of gender. This is particularly true of genres that work on a level of ‘suspension of disbelief’, such as fantasy. This thesis presents findings on the reclamation of the female protagonist by female voices using a multidisciplinary approach, combining feminist theory, literary criticism, and visual art studies. From the 17th …

Improving Long-Term Sustainable Profit For Beef Producers And Processors Through Genetic Selection, Stephen Connolly

Theses

The thesis served to quantify the phenotypic performance of animals differing in genetic merit based on the Irish Terminal Breeding Index. The data in the thesis included performance metrics of interest to both the primary producer and the meat processing industry. It is anticipated that the findings of the thesis will instil a level of confidence among primary producers and meat processors whereby the current terminal breeding objective is generating beef cattle with superior carcass performance, and improved farm margins along with a more desirable animal for meat processors. The impact of genetic differences among animals for performance traits on …

‘The Playful Entrepreneur’ Fostering Entrepreneurial Education In Early Childhood Education, Trudie Murray

Theses

This study explores the integration of entrepreneurial education within early childhood settings in Ireland, focusing on embedding entrepreneurial capabilities at the foundational stages of education. Recognising the critical role that early experiences play in lifelong learning, this research advocates for equipping preschool children with essential 21st-century skills, such as independence, creativity and problem-solving. Despite significant investment in early childhood education, the integration of entrepreneurial education remains limited within existing pedagogical frameworks, which prioritise social, emotional, and cognitive skills without explicitly addressing entrepreneurial capabilities. Utilising a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach, the study examines how early childhood educators can foster an entrepreneurial …

A Portfolio In Creative Writing, Cooper Golden

Theses

When I began writing my thesis project, it was difficult to figure out which stories I had written during my time at UNA would fit. Before, during, and even between semesters, I wrote several stories that might have been good selections, but as they weren’t school assignments, I couldn’t include them. However, making my project has allowed me to go back to three stories and not only revise but improve on what I had written. Something else that I’ve noticed in my project is how diverse the genres of my stories have been. For example, in two stories I focus …