Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating A Web-Based System For Tracking Public Health Practice Experiences: User Perceptions, Challenges, And Recommendations For Technology Improvement, Matthew Mcgrievy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive research study was to evaluate the web-based practice experience tracking system at a school of public health (SPH) at a large southeastern university. Applied practice experiences (APEs) are a key component of public health education, and schools and programs of public health in the United States must provide documentation of APEs and practice-related activities to meet accreditation standards. A descriptive research evaluation examined how users perceive and use the existing web-based system designed to document APEs in the SPH. Research questions investigated what factors influence the use of the existing system, identified challenges users face …

Developing A Hierarchical Digital Twin Framework For Dc Microgrid Implementation, Khari Sado

Theses and Dissertations

This research introduces a hierarchical digital twin framework for DC microgrids implementation, particularly those utilized in naval power systems. Unlike traditional digital twins, this hierarchical digital twin structure offers a layered perspective. Hierarchical digital twin design promotes computational efficiency by distributing computational burden across a layered configuration that integrates lower-level digital twin blocks with a system digital twin. The layered approach breaks down complex systems into smaller manageable units that can be examined individually and collectively. Central to this strategy is the adoption of a multi-domain and multi-functional technique through the integration of the digital image framework. This allows the …

Examining The Overall Impact Of Computer-Based Mathematics Instruction On Math Achievement In An Alternative High School, Jacqueline Levon Gilyard

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past decade, the United States has witnessed a remarkable surge in computer-based instruction, revolutionizing the way students learn and educators teach. This action research study aimed to investigate the overall impact of computer-based instruction on mathematics achievement in the alternative high school setting. The research design incorporated both quantitative and qualitative methods to gather comprehensive data for twenty high school students enrolled in an alternative high school setting. The quantitative data analysis involved examining pre-and post-test scores, graduation data, and final course grades to assess the effect of computer-based instruction on mathematics achievement. All of the students showed …

The Crucial Role Of The Ahr-Ilc3-Il22 Pathway In I3c-Mediated Protection Against Colitis And Associated Microbial Dysbiosis, Chandani Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations

Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by dysregulation of the immune system that results in chronic inflammation and dysbiosis. Previously we showed that a naturally sourced aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligand, indole-3-carbinol (I3C), was effective in the reduction of colitis-associated disease severity through innate lymphoid type 3 cells (ILC3s) in an interleukin-22 (IL-22) dependent manner. In one of our studies, we used single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) analysis of colonic lamina propria cells from colitis models treated with I3C. Our results indicated that there were changes in the expressions of genes integral to IL-22 signaling when I3C was used …

An Assessment Of Drinking Water Equity In South Carolina: Access, Affordability, Quality, And Private Well Resources, Catherine Lippert Min

Theses and Dissertations

Universal access to good quality, affordable drinking water is a goal that has not yet been reached in the United States. Recently, national studies have investigated drinking water burdens including lack of access to complete plumbing, unaffordability, and poor quality individually. However, no study has examined all of these drinking water burdens together to identify communities facing multiple burdens. This study addresses this gap by analyzing disparities in access to complete plumbing, affordability of public water sources, and drinking water quality of community water systems in South Carolina and identifying communities that face multiple burdens. This study also provides the …

Exploring Heat Variations In Columbia, South Carolina, Michael Graeme Hohlfeld

Theses and Dissertations

As the leading cause of weather-related fatalities in the United States, the concept of heat as a hazard has been studied for decades, especially in the urban environment. Urban heat island research is limited by the fact that most investigate land surface temperature rather than air temperature and other variables that affect human comfort including humidity. This thesis utilizes a public network of weather stations in Richland County, South Carolina to investigate differences in heat between the city of Columbia, and more rural parts of the county. The study period was June, July, and August of 2022. Results indicate that …

Microchannel Slip Flow Characteristics By Time Travel After Photobleaching Velocimetry, Brandon James Sellers

Theses and Dissertations

Interfacial science follows the study of observing behavior between two or more phases of matter when in contact. For example, a liquid solution passes through a microchannel, and the walls interact with the fluid shearing along the surface. The fluid particles develop momentum changes from interfacial phenomena and slip along the wall begins to affect the fluid body. Slip flow is a name for the phenomenon, and with it, modeling velocity for the interfacial behavior demands both resolution and minimal interference. Laser-induced fluorescence photobleaching anemometry (LIFPA) works as a sound method for acquiring data on microchannel flow, but it needed …

Examining The Impact Of A Professional Learning Community On Teachers' Awareness Of Neurodiversity In The Classroom, Taylor Diane Williams

Theses and Dissertations

In this action research study, the researcher sought to explore the influence of Professional Learning Community (PLC) participation on the recognition and awareness of general education teachers on neurodiversity in their classrooms. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the effects of the teachers’ awareness on their instructional approaches. The participants of this study hail from a variety of cultures and languages from around the world. Conducted over a six-week period in an international school in southern Germany, the participants demonstrated an enhanced understandings of neurodiversity through their engagement in the PLC sessions. The data collection tools used in the study …

Evaluating Nutrient Limitation Of Phytoplankton Growth In North Inlet Estuary, Sc, Catherine Schlenker

Theses and Dissertations

The biolimiting nutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are vital components of molecules essential to life. In marine systems, N:P ratios tend to follow the “Redfield ratio” of 16:1, which is often used to infer nutrient limitation of phytoplankton biomass. Traditionally, estuaries are thought to be N-limited (N:P < 16), but there have been increasing instances of P-limitation (N:P > 16) in coastal waters worldwide. Over the last few decades, nutrient loading in North Inlet Estuary (NIE) has changed such that dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN):dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) ratios have increased by ca. 130%. This increase suggests that the estuary may be transitioning to N and P colimitation or primary P-limitation. We …

Environmental Implication Of Environmental Disclosure, Jie Lian

Theses and Dissertations

Recent environmental incidents and disasters have intensified awareness and concerns about environmental issues, making the reduction of the private sector’s environmental impact a pressing necessity. The path to better environmental performance depends on enhancing environmental disclosure. While an increasing number of firms are embracing environmental disclosure, and legislative efforts are steering towards mandating such disclosures, the comprehensive understanding of the environmental implications of these disclosures remains surprisingly limited. A significant gap exists in understanding the challenges of environmental disclosure in promoting sustainability and complex consequences in various contexts.

The dissertation aims to fill this literature gap by focusing on the …

“…She Complained…”: The Female Complaint And Voice In F. Scott Fitzgerald’S Works, Kristina Syrigos

Theses and Dissertations

My thesis explores the themes of female complaint and female voices in the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald, specifically focusing on "The Cut-Glass Bowl," "Winter Dreams," and The Great Gatsby. Drawing on J. L. Austin's concept of performative speech and Sarah Ahmed and Lauren Berlant’s explorations of the female complaint, I argue that Fitzgerald's female characters are silenced, dismissed, and punished when they express their wants, desires, and grievances. Despite their attempts to use their voices, words, and complaints to enact change in their lives, these women are portrayed as nagging and powerless, oftentimes being punished for speaking up, …

Multilevel Factors Affecting Covid-19 Vaccination Among African American Communities In South Carolina, Ran Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Persistent health disparities has led to significant public health challenges, especially for African American (AAs) communities, and have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Achieving high population vaccination rates are crucial to controlling the virus’ spread. However, AAs have higher rates of COVID-19 infection and mortality than Whites, yet their vaccination rates remain relatively low. The dissertation aimed to investigate the multilevel factors and mechanisms that affect AAs’ vaccination behavior. The first objective is to assess the impact of the intrapersonal level factor (i.e., perceived barriers to vaccination) on vaccination behavior. The second objective is to investigate the impact …

Erodibility Of Sand-Silt-Xanthan Gum Mixtures, Edwin Kotey

Theses and Dissertations

The high frequency of earthen embankment failure recorded during floods has led to the general rule that embankments should not be overtopped. This notwithstanding, overtopping cannot be entirely avoided particularly during extreme events, such as winter storms and hurricanes. Reducing soil erodibility is thus fundamental to prevent and control disasters caused by embankment failure. Recent studies have explored the use of environmentally friendly additives, such as biopolymers, to improve soil properties. Geotechnical tests have shown that biopolymers can effectively increase soil strength, but little is known about biopolymer-treated soil resistance to erosion by flowing water. Results of flume experiments to …

Examining The Effects Of Physical Education Teacher Behaviors On Actual Motor Competence And The Associations Among Actual Motor Competence, Perceived Motor Competence, Enjoyment In Physical Education, And Physical Activity In Early Childhood, Unjong Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Physical Education (PE) can be considered a black box when the interactions between the teacher and the students are unknown. PE as the black box has been embedded in the process-product paradigm. PE teachers can be critical role models for fostering students’ actual motor competence (AMC) because students can learn from what they observe from teachers’ behaviors. Additionally, AMC, perceived motor competence (PMC), and enjoyment in PE can be potential factors to increase students’ PA in schoolbased setting. Therefore, this dissertation consists of two studies that examine PE teacher behaviors, AMC, PMC, enjoyment in PE, and PA in early childhood …

Using Latent Class Analysis To Conceptualize Heterogeneity Among Non-Resident Parents With Current Child Support Orders And Arrears: Identifying Windows Of Opportunity, Victoria Adkins Charles

Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 40% of children living in poverty are in a single parent household headed by their mother (Grall, 2017). The public child support services program exists to provide the service of establishing and enforcing child support orders for parents with primary legal custody of their child. Even with the child support services system in place, child support goes uncollected (Grall, 2020). Many of the non-resident parents (NRP) who are not paying live at poverty level as well. Child support research has focused primarily on NRPs’ ability to pay, but, generally, has drawn on the information contained in the constellation of …

Illuminating The Twilight Zone: In-Situ Imaging Facilitates Discovery Of Mesopelagic Plankton Dynamics And Community Structure, Alexander Barth

Theses and Dissertations

Ocean ecosystems provide both food and regulation of climate. Much of ocean ecosystem functioning occurs through processes in the pelagic, where plankton are the dominant organisms. While plankton have been researched for several centuries, recent advances in technology are greatly improving the ability to better understand plankton and how their communities are structured. Specifically, in-situ imaging allows oceanographers and plankton ecologists to better sample fragile taxa and record organisms’ true traits at high frequencies. These tools can facilitate investigation into new topics in plankton ecology and better understand critically understudied habitats, like the mesopelagic of open-ocean systems. However, in-situ imaging …

The Effects Of Writing Groups On Student Self-Efficacy, Katie Francom

Theses and Dissertations

High school students often lack confidence in their writing. One way to change this is by increasing their self-efficacy regarding writing. Previous studies suggest that writing groups have effectively improved students' self-efficacy in higher education. However, more must be done to see if this same intervention would succeed in high school. This study aimed to test this hypothesis and answer the question: How does participating in writing groups shape adolescents' writing self-efficacy? To do this, 57 11th-grade students participated in writing groups in an Honors English 11 class over a semester. For the study, they were surveyed about their writerly …

Wellness Interventions For College Students With Intellectual Or Developmental Disability: A Multi-Manuscript Dissertation, Madeline Bree Saunders

Theses and Dissertations

This multi-manuscript dissertation comprises two interconnected articles that collectively explore the experiences of college students with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) engaging in wellness interventions within inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) settings in the southeastern region of the United States. Wellness interventions within both manuscripts adhere to procedures outlined by the Wellness Counseling Intervention (WCI; Barrio Minton et al., n.d.) and group adaptation (WCI-G; Ohrt & Castle, n.d.). Manuscript 1 (Chapter 3) involves a mixed-method approach to understand the experiences six student participants, group members, engaging in the WCI-G across a total of 10-weeks. Manuscript 2 (Chapter 4) adheres to consensual …

Perspectives On Transition To Adult Healthcare For Adults With Williams Syndrome And Their Caregivers, Andrea Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Transitioning to adult care services is a crucial time for young adults with a genetic condition. Many of these conditions are diagnosed early in childhood, with follow-up care fragmented and dependent on the specific needs of the individual. Williams syndrome (WS) is a complex genetic condition characterized by multisystemic features. The variation in the clinical presentation of adults with WS can influence the individual’s ability to transition from pediatric care because of its medical complications, variable and poorly characterized psychiatric needs, and intellectual disability that causes difficulty communicating health-related needs to providers. This study focused on understanding the needs of …

Simultaneous Crack & Wave Propagation And Acoustic Emission Signal Modelling Using Peri-Elastodynamic, Md Mushfiqur Rahman Fahim

Theses and Dissertations

This work presents the use of Peri-Elastodynamic, a guided wave simulation method based on meshfree non-local Peridynamics theory. To model simultaneous crack and wave propagation simulation and its application on Acoustic Emission (AE) signal modelling, a new formulation is presented. The field of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM) is slowly embracing the advancement in Machine Learning (ML) / Artificial Intelligence (AI) for better and cost-effective assessment of structures and damage prediction. AI/ML can revolutionize the NDE/SHM field by automating the data collection and analyzing processes. However, the big challenge is that the model needs a sheer amount …

Patients’ Experience Of Care Following Perinatal Case Conference, Mary Elise Nolen

Theses and Dissertations

The Perinatal Case Conference (PCC) at Prisma Health-Midlands Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) is a biweekly multidisciplinary meeting to discuss pregnancies with prenatally identified congenital anomalies. Patients are primarily cared for by MFM and may have appointments with various subspecialists during their pregnancy. The goals of the PCC are multidisciplinary collaboration in planning for the management of each pregnancy and familiarizing each practitioner with the pending cases, so if or when intervention is needed, the clinicians are familiar with the case.

Researchers performed a chart review and surveyed patients whose pregnancies were discussed in the PCC to learn the patient’s perspective of …

Enhancing Surface Texturing Of Zirconia Toughened Alumina Ceramic Through Optimized Electric Discharge Machining Utilizing The Assistive Electrode Method, Yazan Eyas Tuffaha

Theses and Dissertations

Zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) is a durable and biocompatible ceramic material commonly used in prosthetic hip implants because of its excellent mechanical properties and wear/corrosion resistance. Surface texturing can improve the lubricity and longevity of hip implant bearing surfaces, but precision machining of ceramic materials such as ZTA is very difficult due to suboptimal surface integrity results of traditional machining techniques. This thesis explores the optimization of machining ZTA using electric discharge machining (EDM) - a process usually reserved for conductive metals - to machine holes into the ceramic to create surface textures. EDM is made possible through the assistive …

Implicit Vs. Explicit Approaches When Teaching Reflexive Structures In A Fifth-Grade Spanish Dual Immersion Classroom, Paula Valeria Ward

Theses and Dissertations

Dual language immersion (DLI) students can develop high levels of proficiency in their second language at a young age. However, they often have difficulties with their accuracy using advanced grammatical constructions (Watzinger-Tharp et al., 2018), such as using different verbs tenses or gender and number agreement in speaking and writing (Bateman et al., 2020). The goal of this study is to test whether explicit or implicit instructional approaches are more effective in the teaching of one such grammatical concept, specifically reflexive constructions, in two DLI classrooms. In this research, I investigated results from a five-lesson treatment in a case study …

Reconstructing Visual Narratives: Mary Colter, Fred Kabotie, And The Myth Of The West At Desert View Watchtower, Allison M. Foster

Theses and Dissertations

Desert View Watchtower opened in 1933 on the Grand Canyon South Rim, under the management of the Fred Harvey Company. The structure contains many self-contradictions, in terms of style and use. In this thesis, I argue that these contradictions come from the dichotomous motives of Desert View Watchtower's architect, Mary Colter, and her employers, the Fred Harvey Company and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. New western history theory of the Mythical West is used to explain Harvey/Santa Fe marketing, which created a narrative suggesting that Native American lifeways were going to disappear from the Southwest. I argue that …

The Control And Operation Of Optical Sensors For Environmental Monitoring With Microcontrollers As Data Acquisition And Processing Systems, Zechariah Kitzhaber

Theses and Dissertations

Phytoplankton are microscopic unicellular organisms, and they are ubiquitous in marine and freshwater environments across the globe. They play a critical role in primary production, carbon fixation, and O2 production through photosynthesis. Phytoplankton comprise an abundant variety of genera and species, and the taxonomic makeup of a community can be an important indicator of environmental health. Phytoplankton are spatially and taxonomically diverse; they change in size and cellular content throughout their lifetime, and they can also alter their pigmentation in response to environmental factors, so it is important to understand the variability in size and pigmentation between individuals of the …

Perception Of Alzheimer’S Actionability Among End Users Of Direct-To-Consumer Genetic Tests, Emily Mason

Theses and Dissertations

The APOE ε4 allele is the best-known genetic risk factor for developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Although new evidence is emerging, the extent to which lifestyle improvements can reduce Alzheimer’s risk needs further investigation. Research suggests that individuals with a higher genetic risk may be more likely to engage in risk-reducing health behavior changes following results disclosure. This study aimed to better understand these findings by assessing the health behavior and perceptions of Alzheimer’s actionability among consumers of DTC genetic tests. Our study revealed that individuals with 2 copies of the APOE ε4 allele were less likely to make lifestyle modifications …

Medieval To Modern: Morgan Le Fay As Folk Icon Of Women In Power In Modern King Arthur Stories, Colleen Victoria Etman

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation interrogates the ways that society views women with/in power through Arthurian adaptation. The body of work that makes up the Arthurian story is a sort of folk legend, a myth being told and retold by various authors in their own way. By using folk studies to analyze both medieval and modern texts, we can dissect what is important enough to remain over time. This signifies cultural values; things that have remained over time are reflective of the values of the writers producing these works, as well as the audiences consuming them. By interrogating these stories, we can make …

Maternal-Child Cortisol Attunement Differs In Preschoolers With Autism, Fragile X Syndrome, And Neurotypical Development, Rachel Hantman

Theses and Dissertations

Early maternal-child attunement sets a critical foundation for later social development. While maternal and child cortisol attunement in neurotypical (NT) development has been clearly established, little research has examined these relations in neurodevelopmental populations, such as those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). Given their elevated-risk for disrupted maternal-child attunement and given elevated stress and dysregulated cortisol patterns in both children with ASD and FXS and their parents independently, this is a critical gap. This study addressed this gap in the literature by examining early maternal-child cortisol attunement in 97 mother-child dyads (_nNT = …

Detection And Analysis Of Solid-Phase Nutrients In Complex Benthic Cyanobacterium Communities, Cassidy Ann Crandell

Theses and Dissertations

Eutrophication is one of the most serious water quality issues affecting aquatic systems in the United States. Densely populated urban areas as well as mining and agriculture are major sources of anthropogenic nutrient loading into lakes and rivers. Excess loading of nutrients like phosphorus (P) into these ecosystems can cause native algal species to be outcompeted by harmful algal bloom (HAB) species. Increases in these HAB events are a growing public health concern as contact with excreted toxins can be harmful for human, aquatic, and land species. Remediation techniques like total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) have been implemented to reduce …

Systemic Moves, Individual Impacts: Narratives Of Best Practices In Supporting Immigrant Women In Rural Community Colleges In The Canadian Prairies, Katherine Jean Stevenson

Theses and Dissertations

Rural Canada is in decline, and as such has begun recruiting immigrants to rural areas to fill crucial labour gaps. This study explores the ways in which rural community colleges can best support immigrant women in Canada. Using narrative inquiry, it captures the voices of women who successfully completed programs in a rural community college in the prairies. The study reveals best practices in supporting immigrant women and highlights the importance of creating programming that is tailored to student needs to ensure success.