Digital Commons Network^™

Hyper Segregation And Poverty: An Examination Of The Historical Forces That Shape The Academic Self-Concept Of African-American High School Students 1900 To 2000, David Byer-Tyre

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this historical qualitative study was to identify the historical consequences of segregation, racism, and poverty on African Americans residents of Hempstead Long Island, and how these phenomena shaped contemporary Black students’ academic self-concepts. Among the issues that purportedly afflict American public education are the low academic achievements of African-American students in what might be termed “inner suburban” schools. The history of how Black communities and school were created and sustained was examined through a historical review of Black education in America, and a comparative analysis of the oral histories of fourteen graduates of Hempstead High school between …

Reflecting Upon Writing Challenges Among Students With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Claudia Rose Addeo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to disclose the writing challenges faced by students in Grades 5–8 who have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and writing strategies that can be helpful for these specific students. Six students were recruited as participants within a school district located in a suburban area in the Northeast region of the United States. This study was guided by two leading research questions, the first inquiring about the writing challenges that are prevalent among students with ADHD in Grades 5–8, and the second research question aiming to determine supportive writing practices. First-hand data were gathered …

Sleep’S Impact On Music Processing In The Developing Brain, Rigel Leonard Baron

Theses and Dissertations

Sleep plays a crucial role in human development, particularly in early childhood. While its influence on brain function is well documented, the relationship between sleep and auditory processing in the developing brain remains underexplored. The present study aimed to investigate how sleep duration impacts cortical responses to music, focusing on children aged 5 to 10. Using a six-feature passive listening oddball paradigm, analysis was conducted on event-related potentials (ERPs) across six music conditions: intensity, location, pitch, rhythm, slide, and timbre. Participants were divided into two groups based on average sleep duration (more or less than 10 hours per night). ERP …

Unraveling The Roots: A Historical And Sociocultural Perspective Of Family Literacy Practices And Parent Involvement In Black Communities Through A Critical Lens, Tasean D. Baldwin

Theses and Dissertations

Family literacy plays an essential role in a child's educational journey by laying the foundation for their academic success and shaping their attitudes toward learning. Social and cultural factors influence the value of literacy and education within families and communities. In Black communities, literacy has significant social and cultural influences, acting as a tool for resistance, empowerment, cultural preservation, identity formation, community building, and social and economic mobility while also historically facing obstacles due to systemic and institutional racism, which continues to impact access to education, resources, and opportunities today. This qualitative study explores the relationship between home and school …

College Students’ Beliefs: Association Between Skin Color And Acceptance, Christopher James Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

The Multiracial population represents the fastest-growing demographic group in the United States and is expected to more than double by 2060 (Vespa et al., 2018). Despite this rapid increase in the Multiracial population, there is a dearth of research regarding racial identity development, anxiety, and depression on this group. Social inclusion has been recognized as a fundamental human need, and Multiracial individuals may be more likely to be accepted into a majority group if their appearance is racially ambiguous. The current study builds on previous knowledge by utilizing a novel measure developed to examine the beliefs held by Monoracial and …

Biological And Chemical Evaluation Of Amide-Based Cjoc42 Derivatives As Potential Gankyrin-Inhibitors For The Treatment Of Breast, Lung, And Liver Cancer, Benita Britton-George

Theses and Dissertations

Gankyrin is an ankyrin-repeat protein overexpressed in certain cancers and is responsible for cell growth and proliferation. Gankyrin is important to the development of many types of cancer, including breast, lung, and liver cancer. Consequently, gankyrin and its various protein-protein interactions, are prospective therapeutic targets for inhibiting the progression of certain cancers. In 2016, the first small molecule inhibitor of gankyrin, cjoc42, was discovered and subsequently demonstrated modest antiproliferative activity against liver cancer cells. Previous work from our lab demonstrated that replacing the sulfonate ester of cjoc42 with an amide group significantly improved gankyrin binding while enhancing antiproliferative activity against …

The Psychometric Properties Of A Spanish Version Of The Attitudes And Beliefs Scale-2 Short Form In A Mexican Sample, Verónica Compeán

Theses and Dissertations

The Attitudes and Beliefs Scale 2-Short Form (ABS2-SF) is one of the most widely used measures of irrational and rational beliefs central to Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). While evidence supports its reliability and validity in English-speaking populations, little is known about its applicability across cultural and linguistic groups. This study investigated the psychometric properties and cultural validity of the Spanish version of the ABS2-SF in a Mexican sample (n = 579) collected from undergraduate students in Tampico, Mexico, and compared them with English-speaking American non-clinical samples (n = 1,167). Using a bifactor multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA), I examined …

Neural Congruency Contrastive Learning Framework Validation Using Artificially Created Eeg Data For Dyslexia Research, Jacqueline M. Torres

Theses and Dissertations

Analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings in children with dyslexia has been commonly used to explore the neural mechanisms underlying reading disorders. Yet, challenges such as low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), high inter-subject and inter-trial variability, and the inherently multivariate nature of EEG signals hinder the isolation of neural components elicited during reading diagnostic tests. To mitigate these challenges, the neural-congruency analysis framework was recently proposed, leveraging traditional machine learning optimization methods to incorporate domain knowledge about the congruency of neural responses across participants (i.e., consistent neural responses among proficient readers). However, the application of deep learning techniques, specifically contrastive learning, remains …

Expression And Function Of Floral Symmetry Genes In The Regulation Of Flower Shape In Fedia Graciliflora, Theresa A. Mustacchio

Theses and Dissertations

Shifts between radial symmetry (actinomorphy) and bilateral symmetry (zygomorphy) in flowers have occurred multiple times independently within angiosperms (flowering plants). Evidence across angiosperms indicate the transcription factors RADIALIS (RAD), DIVARICATA (DIV), and CYCLOIDEA (CYC) play a major role in regulating floral symmetry and morphology. The CYC-like genes have been shown to shift their expression dorsally independently in nearly all shifts to bilaterally symmetrical flowers examined. Three core eudicot clades of CYC-like genes have been identified: CYC1, CYC2 and CYC3, with only CYC2 genes being shown to have a role in floral symmetry. We use the non-model plant, Fedia graciliflora (Caprifoliaceae) …

Propelling Whole-Cell Biosensor Creation By Leveraging Gene Fusion To Assemble Synthetic Functional Transcription Factors For The Detection Of Biomarkers, Samuel J. Verzino

Theses and Dissertations

Biosensors are analytical devices that leverage biological modules for the detection of molecules of interest. As customizable tools designed to aid in a wide array of diagnostics, these instruments are rapidly advancing the field of synthetic biology. While varied in their construction and purpose, biosensors are ultimately concerned with converting a physicochemical stimulus into a detectable signal. Among the many existing variants, whole-cell biosensors (WCBs) stand out due to their versatility and engineering potential. WCBs are a type of biosensor in which a physiologically active cell sustains an array of biomolecular elements - receptors, transporters, regulators, etc. - capable of …

As I Type: An Autoethnography Of Italian (Sicilian) Family Literacies Across Generations In The United States, Kailyn Nicole Giaccone

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation aims to investigate the racialization of my own family through the examination of migration and citizenship documents, primary sources, and oral histories as told by those who were present for or knew those present for events in question. Participants, including myself, were members of the same family, identified as either male or female, and ranged in age from 30 years to 80 years old. Participants were either monolingual English speakers or multilingual in English, Italian, and/or Sicilian. The methodology used to accomplish this research was autoethnography, which allowed the use of traditional database research, archival examinations of primary …

The Long Shadow Of Pride And Prejudice On Contemporary Fictions Of Arranged Marriage And Marriages Of Alliance, Candice Belluscio

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an examination of the conflicts between arranged marriage and companionate marriage in selected contemporary Anglo-Indian novels and novels about Orthodox Judaism. The project’s guiding focus is how modern ideals of independence and choice in marriage coexist simultaneously with older ideals of marriage as family or personal “alliance.” The dissertation has a historical chapter that shows that although ideals of companionate marriage have become norms of 20th century western society and literature, the term “companionate marriage” is a recent invention and convention, and that various degrees and forms of arranged marriage, or marriages of alliance, continue despite their …

Investigation Of The Binding Mechanisms Between Naphthenic Acids And Humic Acid Using Raman Spectroscopy And Computational Modeling, Jaelyn N. Palmer

Theses and Dissertations

The oil sand regions in Alberta, Canada have proven to be costly to the environment despite its economic benefits. The toxins produced during oil processing are sent to tailing ponds to be recycled, though often leaking into nearby waterways and soil. Naphthenic acids, NAs, are one of the most common toxins produced and have shown to be toxic to aquatic life, animals, and humans. As there is dissolved organic matter in tailing ponds and surrounding environments, tailing ponds often lead to NAs coming in contact with organic material. Humic acid, HA, is a major soil component that has been suspected …

Sonic Futures: Exploring Podcasting, Artificial Intelligence, And The Evolving Landscape Of Composition, Grant David Crawford

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates podcasting and audio projects as multimodal practices in composition, analyzing how audio-based assignments both challenge and reproduce traditional writing norms. Drawing from personal teaching experience and a dataset of publicly accessible assignment prompts, rubrics, and instructional guides, the study examines how podcast projects are framed, assessed, and implemented in higher education. While often promoted as creative and accessible alternatives to essays, these assignments frequently replicate the same thesis-driven, rubric-centered, and exclusionary structures that define conventional academic writing. Through a cross-textual analysis of fifteen podcast rubrics and fifteen assignment prompts, this project identifies recurring patterns, including paradoxical expectations …

Severity Profiles Of Preschool-Aged Children And Their Associations With Maternal Help-Seeking: A Latent Profile Analysis, Samuel T. Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

Parents of preschoolers are more likely to seek treatment for childhood depression compared to anxiety and behavioral disorders. Atypicality and stability have been implicated in relation to help-seeking, but it is not known how they differ between disorders and whether such differences impact help-seeking. The current study grouped mothers based on their atypicality and stability appraisals across disorders; tested for differences in appraisals between disorders; and then tested for differences in help-seeking based on group membership. Participants were 272 adult mothers of preschool-aged children. Mothers read a series of vignettes describing preschool-aged children with depression, anxiety, and ADHD, and then …

How Therapists’ Perceptions Impact Disseminating And Implementing Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Maddi R. Gervasio

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, 60% of youth experience a traumatic event before the age of 18 (Lawrence-Sidebottom et al., 2024) and childhood trauma is associated with a range of psychopathology. Although evidence-based therapies like Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT; Cohen et al., 2017) are available, only 14-22% of traumatized youth receive trauma-specific practices during treatment (Borntrager et al., 2013). Barriers to disseminating and implementing TF-CBT and similar interventions exist at the micro (e.g., therapist and client) and macro (e.g., systemic) levels (e.g., Gervasio & Herren, 2020). Emerging research focused on training in trauma therapists found that therapists’ negative perceptions about the …

Predicting Price Movements Of The S&P 500 Using Conventional And Alternative Market Indicators, Patrick M. Scarborough

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates whether integrating alternative data sources with conventional financial indicators enhances S&P 500 forecasting accuracy in modern financial markets characterized by increased complexity and rapid information flows. The study analyzes daily S&P 500 returns using twelve predictor variables comprising conventional indicators (VIX volatility index, WTI crude oil, gold futures, AAA bond yields, Federal Funds Rate, Treasury yield spreads) and alternative data sources (Bitcoin returns, Daily News Sentiment Index, Indeed job postings, Economic Policy Uncertainty Index) across 1,341 observations from February 2020 to June 2025. The methodology employs ordinary least squares regression and ARIMAX(5,5) modeling with rigorous preprocessing including …

Evaluating Task Demands And Task Characteristics Analysis Among School Psychologists, Alessandra Miceli

Theses and Dissertations

Cognitive ability assessments are central to psychoeducational evaluations, informing decisions regarding interventions and supports for students. While cognitive assessment theories have historically emphasized quantitative data in score interpretation, they have increasingly reflected the need to consider qualitative information, a longstanding tenet of neuropsychological assessment. Frameworks such as the Integrated School Neuropsychology/Cattell-Horn-Carroll (SNP/CHC) Model and the Cognitive Hypothesis Testing (CHT) Model emphasize the importance of analyzing subtest task demands and task characteristics to explain unexpected score discrepancies. Despite these recommendations, little is known about school psychologists’ familiarity with these analyses and their use in the interpretation of test performance. This study …

“Makings Of A Teenage Revolutionary”: An Analysis Of Power Through The Lenses Of Gender And Institution Within The Universes Of Frank Herbert’S Dune And Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, Ayah Cruzado

Theses and Dissertations

It is my objective within this paper to lead us through an in depth analysis of both Katniss Everdeen and Paul Atriedes, investigating every feature of their lives especially in the ways that they compare and differ to one another, after all, it is their written depth and complexity that makes them and their novels so fascinating to the public and earning them fame. Through my exploration, I hope to shed some light on the ways these three elements work and coincide with one another within both narratives. To separate them from one another and simply examine them as independent …

Synthesis And Sar Of Parp Inhibitory Quinoxalin-2(1h)-One Derivatives Carrying Potency- And Selectivity-Driving Adenine-Binding Motifs, Ugochi Ann Adiele

Theses and Dissertations

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is a superfamily of proteins comprising 17 members, with PARP1 and PARP2 most notable for their implications in different types of cancer. PARP inhibitors represent an intriguing class of anticancer agents that have garnered increasing interest over the past decade due to their demonstrated clinical efficacy. AZD-9574 is one of these promising PARP1 selective inhibitors with good blood-brain barrier permeability that is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of solid malignancies and previous research attributed its selectivity and efficacy to the presence of a piperazine ring linker in its structure. However, a structure-activity relationship conducted …

Developing Stiripentol Analogs As Potential Ldh Inhibitors For The Treatment Of Glioblastoma, Anshika Y. Jain

Theses and Dissertations

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly proliferative brain tumor that has a 5-year survival rate of ~7 %. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the current standard of care therapeutic for GBM. However, 50% of patients develop resistance to TMZ. Therefore, further investigation for new GBM therapeutics is necessary to overcome this issue of drug resistance. GBM patients are known to overexpress lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which is inversely correlated with their survival. This key glycolytic enzyme catalyzes the interconversion of pyruvate and lactate and plays an important role in cancer proliferation and invasion. Therefore, we aimed to inhibit LDH for developing therapeutics for …

Next-Gen Device For Uniform Cellular Migration Assay Execution, Nicholas M. Bittner

Theses and Dissertations

Cellular migration assays, particularly scratch assays, are pivotal in biomedical research for cell motility, wound healing, and metastasis. However, conventional scratch assays suffer from variability due to operator dependence, non-uniform scratch geometry, and a modified microenvironment that impacts reproducibility. This thesis presents the development and validation of a low-cost, 3D-printed device designed to standardize cellular migration assays. The device utilizes a spring mechanism and a biocompatible elastomer to create a uniform cellular exclusion zone without harming the surrounding cells. Through iterative prototyping and testing with MCF10A cell lines, the device demonstrated a significantly lower average standard deviation of length compared …

Enhancing Irs Localization Via Ml-Driven Aoa And Distance Estimation, Nikhila Kotlapara Surendran

Theses and Dissertations

Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRSs) are transforming next-generation wireless networks by enabling dynamic control of the propagation environment for improved localization and security. This thesis advances Angle-of-Arrival (AoA) and distance estimation in IRS-assisted systems using a hybrid architecture with active sensing and passive reflecting elements. A modified MUSIC algorithm, optimized for near-field localization, decouples 2‑D AoA and 1‑D range estimation using a grid-and-peak pseudo-spectrum scan, achieving sub-degree AoA (0.003 rad) and sub-meter range (0.05 m) accuracy with over 100× lower complexity than classical 3D MUSIC.

The study further applies the algorithm to the DeepMIMO dataset (O1_28 scenario, 3.5 GHz) using …

Beyond Homogeneity: Exploring Causal Heterogeneity In Psychopathology, Philip B. Vinh

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional models in psychiatric research often impose assumptions of causal homogeneity, treating population-level associations as reflective of uniform underlying mechanisms. This dissertation challenges that assumption by introducing statistical and machine learning frameworks designed to detect and model causal heterogeneity in the development of psychopathology. Central to this approach is the advancement of finite mixture structural equation modeling (FM-SEM) to identify latent subgroups characterized by distinct, and sometimes opposing, causal pathways.

The dissertation comprises three integrated empirical studies. The first introduces mixDoC, a finite mixture extension of the classical Direction of Causation (DoC) model applied to twin data, enabling the detection …

Examining Multiple Stakeholder Perspectives On The Acceptability Of Pain-Mitigation As A Tool To Manage Needle Fear, Sarah C M Morton

Theses and Dissertations

Needle fear affects up to 63% of the global adult population and is associated with significant fear-based medical care avoidance (e.g., blood donation refusal, vaccine hesitancy, insulin injection adherence). Current behavioral treatments have low acceptance in this population, and often fail to address the experience of pain associated with needle procedures. Despite the existence of evidence-based pain-mitigation for needle procedures, these interventions are not commonly used in clinical settings. The current study used qualitative methods to examine patient and provider perceptions of: 1) current methods of needle fear management, and 2) the acceptability of pain-mitigation as an effective tool to …

Machine Learning-Guided Discovery Of Metal-Ligand Catalysts For Affordable Green Hydrogen Produced Via Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers, Achouak Benarbia

Theses and Dissertations

The rising demand for clean and sustainable energy sources has underscored the critical role of hydrogen in the global energy transition. However, the widespread adoption of green hydrogen remains constrained by the high cost and scarcity of platinum-based electrocatalysts used in Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. This dependence inflates production costs and poses long-term risks related to supply security and scalability. While numerous studies have explored alternative materials, the discovery of efficient and stable non-platinum catalysts remains a major bottleneck due to the vastness of chemical space and the resource-intensive nature of experimental screening. To address this challenge, this study …

Glossed Over, Rebecca Oh

Theses and Dissertations

Glossed Over is a collection of interdisciplinary artworks exploring my Korean-American diasporic identity and how gender, queerness, religion, neurodivergence, and internet culture intersect within that experience. Through a blend of painting, woodworking, and sculpture, this installation carries the various elements of undefinable 한 (pronounced: han), a concept I attempt to define and contextualize in the Introduction and throughout this thesis. Each artwork operates through coded language, metaphor, and partial disclosure, offering space for the othered to find recognition through subtle cues and signifiers. Through Glossed Over and this thesis, I scratch the surface of my journey in reconciling generational trauma …

Self-Regulation In Children With Fragile X Syndrome: Biobehavioral Underpinnings, Familial Predictors, And Outcomes, Erin Evelyn Hunt

Theses and Dissertations

Self-regulation is a multifaceted construct that occurs on biological, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral levels. Self-regulatory abilities typically emerge in the first years of life and continuously develop through early adulthood. There is considerable interindividual variability in developmental trajectories of self-regulation which are associated with numerous adaptive and maladaptive outcomes. Factors influencing the development of self-regulation include interacting genetic and social environmental factors. Given the high heritability of self-regulation, within-family associations are common.

Individuals with Fragile X syndrome (FXS), an inherited, single-gene neurodevelopmental disorder, have heightened vulnerability for self-regulation deficits that are evident in early infancy; however, the developmental trajectories and …

Cerebellar Contributions To Speech And Clinical Outcomes In Stroke: A Multimodal Investigation Of Structural Integrity Across Chronic And Acute Cohorts, Makayla Joy Gibson

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the critical role of the cerebellum in speech production, with a focus on chronic post-stroke apraxia of speech (AOS), lesion-related cerebellar degeneration, and age-related changes in cerebellar structure among healthy individuals. While speech deficits have traditionally been attributed to cortical lesions, mounting evidence suggests that the cerebellum contributes significantly to speech-motor planning, execution, and error correction. Using multimodal neuroimaging, lesion-symptom mapping, and standardized speech assessments, this research examines cerebellar gray matter volume (GMV) across three complementary studies.

Aim 1 evaluates the association between cerebellar GMV and AOS severity in individuals with chronic left hemisphere stroke. Findings support …

A Math Teacher’S Reflexive Journey Into The Opportunity Gap, Richard A. Ball Iii

Theses and Dissertations

This multiple case study sought to determine what educational factors, if any, impacted Black students in a public school located in the South-eastern United States, to enroll in a lower-level math course. The study also aimed to view the mathematical identities of these students and have myself reflect on my practice both locally and globally. This, however, is a result of the Problem of Practice, the opportunity gap. H. Richard Milner’s (2012) opportunity gap framework served as the theoretical framework for this study and for which all findings were situated. The data was analyzed using deductive coding, with the elements …