Digital Commons Network^™

Structural Social Determinants And Pacific Islanders' Attitudes Toward Psychological Help Seeking, Abigail Elizabeth Norton

Theses and Dissertations

Pacific Islanders (PIs) report encountering various structural barriers to seeking mental health services. This study aimed to: (a) Evaluate the relationship between structural social determinants of health (SSDH) and attitudes toward help seeking, and (b) Test the mediating role of value and need in seeking treatment on demographic characteristics and openness to seeking professional help. A total of 129 participants (69% female) aged 18–74 (Mage = 34.33, SD = 12.73) completed questionnaires assessing SSDH barriers, demographic characteristics, and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. Descriptive analyses, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling were performed. We found that being unable …

Mental Illness Amongst Incarcerated Individuals And Its Effect On Gaining Employment, Tionna S. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

More than half the correctional population has a mental health disorder (NIH, 2022). Having a mental health disorder can severely interfere in one’s transition back into the community, specifically surrounding their access to employment. This dissertation analyzes the extent to which the mental health of previously incarcerated individuals affects their employment upon release. Results from this study concluded that having a mental health diagnosis did interfere with previously incarcerated individuals’ access to employment, especially if those individuals were black. This dissertation concludes with a discussion of the findings, limitations, contributions, as well as implications for practitioners, policy makers and researchers.

Design And Analysis Of Optimal Energy Efficient Routing Protocols For Lifetime Maximization And Qos Enhancement In Wireless Body Area Networks, Karthikeyan S

Theses and Dissertations

In recent times, Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN) a subsection of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) a promising technology for the future healthcare realm with cutting-edge technologies that can assist healthcare professionals like doctors, nurses and biomedical engineers which enables one-to-one care by implementing Tele-Medicine and Tele-Health solutions. Machine Learning (ML) and Internet of Things (IoT) enabled medical big data is the future of the healthcare sector and Medical Technology-based industries leading to applications in other sectors such as fitness tracking for commercial purposes, Sportsperson health monitoring to track their day-to-day activities and wearable devices for critical and emergency care.

Recent …

Development Of An Evidence-Based Policy Handbook Utilizing A Hub And Spoke Practice Model: A Quality Improvement Dnp Project, Leah M. Coffman

Theses and Dissertations

Diagnosing a child with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in the State of Alaska requires a team-based approach. The current model is a hub model where providers refer to one of a few certified 4-Digit Code method teams in the geographically vast State of Alaska. Telehealth has been suggested as a viable alternative to in-person hub evaluations for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). The State of Alaska FASD program and the Alaska Mental Health Trust Fund’s goals of moving towards a telehealth program for FASD evaluation, diagnosis, and management (WICHE-BHP, 2021). This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project sought to …

"If Someone Had Stopped The First World Racist, There Would Be No Racism Today": Empowering African American Muslim Elementary Students Through A Critical Literacy(Critlit) Project, Faten Baroudi

Theses and Dissertations

The Critical Literacy (CritLit) project promotes using critical texts to engage readers in examining their lived experiences and understanding of social justice issues. This study used a qualitative participatory approach with a narrative design to research the students’ engagement in a book club using critical texts. Participants were fourth- and fifth-grade African American students who participated in a 4-week project at a weekend Islamic school in Philadelphia. I organized my study into four sessions. Three book club sessions were audio-recorded and observed. Field notes were taken; pre and post-interviews were conducted; student/teacher reflections were collected with students’ notes and handouts; …

Understanding Patterns Of Hope And Sense Of Belonging From Mentoring Through Latent Class Analysis, Bailey Dow

Theses and Dissertations

Youth who have safe, stable, nurturing relationships (SSNRs) are more resilient to adverse childhood experiences and have better mental health. Compared to prior generations, today’s youth feel lonelier and more socially isolated than ever, and they crave the sense of belonging and hope that comes from meaningful social connections. Mentors can play a crucial role in bolstering these attributes. Mentors help youth in different ways, depending on the mentee's characteristics, preferences, or circumstances. Despite the well-known significance of natural mentoring relationships as a SSNR, researchers have paid little attention to how and why natural mentoring benefits vary among mentees. The …

Harvesting Health: The Role Of City Policy In Urban Agriculture And The Downstream Effects On Youth, Lesley Leake

Theses and Dissertations

Contextualizing environmental health within the socio-ecological framework, acknowledges the diverse factors at play in the environment-human dynamic. The research design, methods, and study populations of each chapter vary to match the socio-ecological level(s) of focus and reinforce the translational and interdisciplinary nature of this research. Chapter 2 examines the policy-supports for urban agriculture using a mixed-methods case-study of the City of Charleston, SC to understand how municipal policy (societal) impacts urban agriculture implementation (community) and what impact this has on residents (relationship and individual). Chapter 3 centers on the potential impact of urban farms (community) and their programming (community and …

Systemic Inflammation And Neurocognitive Deficits In School-Age Children With Sickle Cell Disease., Elizabeth A. Gillooly

Theses and Dissertations

Sickle cell disease (SCD) causes inflammation that contributes to poor clinical outcomes, including cerebrovascular disease (CVD). CVD can take several forms in SCD, including neurocognitive deficits without visible cerebral infarction. The role of chronic inflammation in cognitive development in SCD has received little attention to-date. We aimed to study novel markers of systemic inflammation: neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and the systemic inflammation index (SII) to describe developmental trends and relationships to cognitive outcomes in SCD at early elementary school-age. Sixty-one children with SCD and no history of stroke were identified who completed an early elementary school age cognitive …

Exploring Culturally Relevant School Leadership Practices: An Autoethnographic Study, Kezia Myers

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this autoethnographic study was on the implementation and impact of Culturally Responsive School Leadership (CRSL) within an elementary school. The school is comprised of approximately 400 P-5 students, with a predominantly Black student body (77%), along with students who identify as Hispanic, multiracial, White, and other ethnic backgrounds.

Three research questions were posed: 1) In what ways have I, as a school principal, integrated culturally relevant leadership practices into the decision-making framework at the school? 2) How might what I learn about other principals’ implementation of CRP in their respective schools inform my understanding of its effectiveness …

Increasing Engagement And Self-Efficacy Levels In Underachieving 5Th Grade Students: A Qualitative Study, Raney Altman

Theses and Dissertations

Student achievement and mastery of content taught in reading is measured each year in the state of South Carolina. A pattern of low achievement was identified, but more specifically, there were patterns of low engagement and self-efficacy levels in 5th grade students in this study. Because reading is a critical tool needed to participate in all life necessities such as finding work and experiencing interviews, paying bills, and following simple everyday directions, it was evident in student behavior in the classroom that adjustments needed to be made instructionally to ensure success for all students in school and in future endeavors. …

Utilizing Project-Based Learning To Improve Statistical Literacy, Edward Sabat

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study examined the impact of Project-Based Learning (PBL) on statistical literacy among community college students enrolled in introductory statistics courses. The study addressed the challenge students face in interpreting statistical results in real-world contexts, despite achieving correct numerical answers. Utilizing a PBL approach during the hypothesis testing unit, the study employed an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, incorporating a pretest and posttest using the Reasoning and Literacy Instrument (REALI), followed by structured interviews. Quantitative results demonstrated improvement in statistical literacy in all areas assessed on the REALI, particularly in the area of hypothesis testing and p-values. Qualitative …

The Role Of Spatial Attention In The Maintenance Of Visual Working Memory: Modulatory Effect By Task-Relevance Of Spatial Information And Evidence From Alpha Oscillations, Sori Kim

Theses and Dissertations

The close interplay between spatial attention and visual working memory is essential for optimizing our visual experiences. The following studies investigated this interaction, focusing on how spatial attention influences visual working memory processes. In Chapter 2 a dual-task paradigm was used to examine how the relevance of spatial information to the task modulated the effects of spatial attention. The findings showed that shifting spatial attention away from a potential memory target impaired its consolidation in working memory. In Chapter 3, the experiment aimed to amplify these effects to observe clearer facilitatory and inhibitory processes. However, the results only demonstrated that …

Towards Understanding The Relationship Between Hearing Loss And Cognition In Healthy Aging, Samaneh Nemati

Theses and Dissertations

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) has been increasingly linked to cognitive decline, both directly and through structural brain changes. This study utilized data from the Aging Brain Cohort project at the University of South Carolina (ABC@UofSC) to investigate the relationships between hearing impairments, cognitive performance, and gray matter volume across key brain regions. Specifically, the study aimed to: (i) examine the mediating role of gray matter volume in the relationship between ARHL and cognitive impairments; (ii) investigate the role of regional brain age gap in mediating the relationship between ARHL and cognitive decline; and (iii) delineate the distinctive impact of ARHL …

Autonomous Real-Time Model Updating Within Digital Twin Frameworks For Thermal Systems, Braden Robert Priddy

Theses and Dissertations

As engineering systems increase in scale and complexity in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, data-driven solutions will become essential in enabling the next generation of these systems. One of the trending tools that can aid in this transition is digital twins. As physical systems degrade throughout their life cycles, their behavior also changes. Digital twins use data assimilation to continuously update virtual models to represent the current state of their physical counterparts. A reliable digital twin can be leveraged by a system operator to perform diagnostics, optimize, and tests without ever needing the physical system. However, implementing effective …

Augmented Reality (Ar) And Virtual Reality (Vr)-Based Data Visualization Frameworks For The Manufacturing Industry, Nitol Saha

Theses and Dissertations

Industry 4.0 is transforming the manufacturing industry by integrating digital technologies throughout the production lifecycle, leading to the development of smart factories. The integration of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) alongside smart manufacturing is transforming traditional industry practices by establishing a robust cyber-physical infrastructure, enhanced data visualization, and improved task execution. This thesis aims to develop AR and VR-based data visualization frameworks for the manufacturing industry, focusing on detailed implementation strategies, initial results, and key findings of these frameworks. One major focus of these frameworks is the generalization of the technological assets so that these frameworks can be …

Augmented Reality Based Maintenance Operations And Training, Victor Scott Gadow

Theses and Dissertations

Augmented Reality (AR) is the process of superimposing virtual information on top of objects or other structures in the real-world environment. It is considered one of many paradigms included in the idea of smart manufacturing and can enable a mixture of the other technologies involved. A large increase in research on AR has been seen in the past decade as technologies have begun to evolve to become more robust and reliable. It has been implemented into several key areas of manufacturing such as maintenance, assembly, training, and quality control. The rise of industry 4.0 is changing how data is used …

Development Of Avalanche Photo Detector For Uv-C Using Gallium Oxide Material System, Md Ghulam Ghulam Zakir

Theses and Dissertations

This work describes the metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) optimization process for epitaxially grown gallium oxide (Ga2O3) layers, electrical field distribution, and the design for Avalanche Photo Detector (APD). MOCVD is a well-accepted process in the semiconductor industry, as it is well-known for its precise deposition of ultra-thin, high-quality semiconductor layers with extraordinary control over composition and thickness. The choice of Ga2O3 is due to r its distinctive properties of ultra-wide bandgap and low turn-on resistance. Thus, Ga₂O₃-based materials can withstand high voltage and current with the least energy loss, making them an attractive choice for …

Factors Affecting The Transition From Pediatric To Adult Care Among Culturally Deaf Young Adults And Young Adults Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Anna Strickland Kell

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Adolescence to adulthood is marked by many transitions, including the transition from a pediatric to an adult medical home, also referred to as a health home. For young adults who are culturally Deaf, deaf, or hard of hearing, this transition may be complicated by population-specific needs related to language, literacy, and accessibility. Prior research with transition-age adolescents and young adults who are culturally Deaf, deaf, or hard of hearing has primarily focused on education or hearing health exclusively. The purpose of this research was to investigate the transition of health care from pediatric to adult services among culturally Deaf …

From Classical To Contemporary: Popular Music's Role In Shaping Opera And Vocal Training, Craig Allen

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation advocates for the integration of contemporary popular music into classical voice education, addressing the evolving landscape of the performing arts. As the boundary between classical and popular music fades, incorporating popular elements into traditional opera training equips performers for modern industry demands.

The first chapter offers a historical analysis, tracing opera’s origins from the late 16th century and showing how popular music influenced its development. Composers incorporated folk melodies and dance rhythms into early opera, setting a precedent for blending styles. Contemporary operas, such as Nkeiru Okoye’s Harriet Tubman and Nmon Ford’s House of Orfeus, continue this tradition, …

Impacts Of Ing4-Deficiency On Hematopoietic Stem And Progenitor Cells & Characterizing The Concerns Of Novice Stem Graduate Teaching Assistant, Georgina Alice Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The hematopoietic compartment is tasked with the establishment and maintenance of the entire blood program in steady-state and in response to stress. Key to this process are hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which possess the unique ability to self-renew and differentiate to replenish blood cells throughout an organism’s lifetime. Recent work has illustrated the vast mechanisms involved in regulating stress-induced hematopoiesis, including cytokine-mediated lineage bias, gene signature changes in aged HSCs associated with chronic inflammation, the impact of clonal hematopoiesis and stress tolerance. Inhibitor of Growth 4 (Ing4) has been identified as a critical regulator of HSC homeostasis. We show that …

Inducing And Interpreting Physical Transformation In Electroacoustic Chamber Music Via Experimental Applications Of Modular Synthesizers, Joseph Samuel Lyons

Theses and Dissertations

One of the most rapidly evolving musical genres of the 21st century is interactive electroacoustic chamber music. This is primarily due to the ongoing developments in creative technology that have increased both the idiom's technical accessibility and its potential for artistic expression. In particular, modern modular synthesizers enable electroacoustic musicians to transform the physical characteristics of sound with an extremely fine level of control. This research project has three major goals. The first goal is to explore the relationship between the many disciplines involved in this genre of music through a review of the scholarship of Aleister Crowley, Edgard Varèse, …

Innovative Strategies For Healthcare Data Integration: Enhancing Etl Efficiency Through Containerization And Parallel Computing, Ehsan Soltanmohammadi

Theses and Dissertations

The healthcare industry is rapidly transforming due to technology adoption, resulting in an explosion of data. Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) processes are crucial for integrating and analyzing this data to support decision-making and enhance patient care. However, ETL processes face significant challenges, including data diversity, quality issues, security and compliance, and scalability. Opportunities exist to optimize ETL processes through advanced technologies like big data analytics, containerization, and parallel computing, improving data quality, and enhancing security. This literature review examines current ETL processes in healthcare, highlighting challenges and opportunities for future improvement, ultimately aiming to enhance healthcare outcomes and patient experiences. …

Information Exchange Through Social Networks Links To Adoption Of Child Feeding Practices In Nepal, Mohammad Masudur Rahman

Theses and Dissertations

While there have been notable decreases in child undernutrition (i.e., stunting) over the past few decades, it remains a major concern in Nepal, with 25% of children under the age of five experiencing chronic undernourishment. There is considerable scope for improving nutrition-related behaviors to address this ongoing issue. In Nepal, knowledge regarding appropriate child feeding practices is often inadequate, and thus additional sources of accurate information are required. Information through multiple sources (i.e., interpersonal communication, mass media, and mobile SMS) provides opportunity to reach households who inadequately practice childcare. Information improves knowledge and information exchange (i.e., receiving or sharing) usually …

Integrating Digital Twin Technology For Real Time Blockage Detection In Water Cooled Electronics, Richard Scott Hainey Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This paper presents a culmination of research into integrating Digital Twin (DT) technology in water-cooled electronic systems to improve system reliability by detecting faults in the cooling system that maintains the proper operation of heat-producing electronic components and systems. A DT is a virtual representation of a physical twin (PT). This PT can represent real-world systems, individual components, or processes. Using the DT, operators can gain insight into the behavior and characteristics of the PT, thereby facilitating informed decisions to improve its health and optimize processes. The DT system is designed to detect obstructions forming in the waste heat-producing components …

Intention Or Perception? Signaling Theory In The Online World, Mohona Mandal

Theses and Dissertations

Backlash on social media in response to online behaviors is swift and often decisive with significant consequences. One possible reason for this is that online actions are perceived as reflective of a person’s true self. Signaling theory provides support for this argument and suggests that people intentionally display information about themselves to communicate their beliefs to others. While existing work suggests that social media posts are intentional, social media interactions such as likes, comments, and reposts might also function similarly (i.e., as a signal of beliefs). Two studies were conducted to explore whether interacting with online content is perceived as …

Leveraging The Usage Of Blockchain Towards Trust-Dominated Manufacturing Systems, Philip Joseph Samaha

Theses and Dissertations

Smart Manufacturing has elevated manufacturing processes, transitioning from automated systems to autonomous ones. This evolution has heightened the significance of data within manufacturing facilities. The role of data has evolved from solely monitoring processes to both monitoring and extracting insights from these processes, facilitating precise control. In this context, the data infrastructure plays a critical role, encompassing both internal data circulating within the facility—such as information exchanged between controllers and actuators—and external data transmitted to and from outside entities. When the factory's cyber infrastructure is connected to the internet, security concerns escalate significantly, amplifying associated risks. Therefore, the integration of …

Mitochondrial Function In The Maternal Brain: A New Perspective On Gestational Stress And Pathology Of Postpartum Depression, Erin Rene Gorman-Sandler

Theses and Dissertations

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major psychiatric complication of childbirth, affecting up to 20% of mothers, yet remains understudied. Mitochondria, dynamic organelles crucial for cell homeostasis and energy production, share links with many of the proposed mechanisms underlying PPD pathology. Brain mitochondrial function is affected by stress, a major risk factor for development of PPD, and is linked to avoidance and social behaviors. Considering the importance of mitochondria in regulating brain function and behavior, we hypothesized that mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with behavioral alterations in a chronic stress-induced rat model of PPD. Chronic mild unpredictable (CMUS) stress during late gestation …

Perception Of Recreational Water Quality In The Scholarly Literature: Where Have We Been & Where Should We Go, Xavier Alberto Basurto Cendeno

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores existing literature and research themes between water quality and recreational participation through use of a bibliometric analysis with content analysis. It identifies key researchers, institutions, and themes that have shaped the field. Despite the growing body of research, gaps remain in understanding the state of the research on this important topic. By analyzing trends and how these trends have changed over time, this study aims to offer insights for future research agendas. Ultimately, the findings will inform strategies for improving water quality management and fostering more resilient, timely water-based recreational research.

Plankton Dynamics In A Temperate Estuary:Size Structure And Trophic Implications, Nayan Mallick

Theses and Dissertations

Estuarine ecosystems provide goods and services to around 45% of the entire human population. In recent times, these ecosystems have been severely affected by multiple stressors such as pollution, eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, sea level rise, and, most importantly, climate change. Increasing temperature associated with climate change can have pervasive impacts throughout the ecosystem’s functions and processes. Plankton, a conspicuous member of estuarine food web, are among the first to respond to the changes in temperature due to their high sensitivity to changing environmental conditions.

In this dissertation, I investigated the plankton dynamics in an estuarine ecosystem through a combination …

Practicing Strategy And Performance Preparation Of György Ligeti’S Musica Ricercata., Xiyao Wang

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT Hungarian composer György Ligeti (1923–2006) is renowned as one of the most significant composers of the twentieth century. Musicians around the world have admired his innovative musical language. “Through the 1950s and 1960s, he went from composing in the style of his countryman Béla Bartók to working at the cutting edge of the Western European avant-garde.” His folk elements and avant-garde compositional techniques expanded through various genres, including orchestral, chamber, and keyboard compositions. This study's primary purpose is to explore Ligeti's piano work Musica Ricercata and ultimately provide a resource to other musicians that will assist in preparing and …