Digital Commons Network^™

Examining The Home Interventionist Model Of Care In Pediatric Asthma, Katherine D. Lohr

Theses and Dissertations

Pediatric asthma disproportionately affects children living in urban areas and within families reporting an income below the poverty threshold. Home interventionist models of care, utilizing interventionists from the communities they serve, have been found to improve pediatric asthma symptoms and reduce Medicaid costs. Home interventionists, such as community health workers (CHWs) and Healthy Homes assessors (HHAs), focus on connecting care among schools, providers, and homes, and empowering families in accessing resources to overcome barriers to care. However, research is just beginning to understand how home interventionists create positive change among families within low-income, urban communities. This dissertation study used a …

Interactions Between Hiv And Opioids On Antiretroviral Accumulation, The Blood Brain Barrier, And The Inflammatory Response In The Brain., Kara Rademeyer

Theses and Dissertations

The complex mechanisms related to HIV infection, neurodegeneration, and chronic neuroinflammation collectively describe neuroHIV (Hauser et al. 2007; Chang et al. 2014; Smith et al. 2014). Specifically, opioid abuse, poor penetration of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, chronic inflammation and neuronal injury/degeneration are all implicated in neuroHIV (Fantuzzi et al. 2003; Letendre et al. 2004; Verani et al. 2005; Duncan and Sattentau 2011; Hong and Banks 2015; Simoes and Justino 2015; Olivier et al. 2018; Murphy et al. 2019; Osborne et al. 2020). For the first time, we demonstrate that morphine, fentanyl, and methadone in vivo alter the brain accumulation of ARVs, …

The Cultural Diplomacy Of U.S. Peace Corps: Understanding The Role Of Peace Corps Volunteers As Strategic Geopolitical Assets, Corey B. Miles

Theses and Dissertations

Beginning in the Summer of 1961, the United States government has deployed volunteer humanitarians around the world to serve the mission of U.S. Peace Corps and has since contributed to communities in 143 partner countries while enjoying widespread popularity. Its mission of promoting world peace and friendship is pursued through three operational goals: technical training, cultural exportation, and cultural importation. Since 2016, with the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, and continuing through the Covid-19 pandemic, which produced the first global service interruption in agency history, the value of the Peace Corps service model has been fundamentally challenged. As a …

Analysis, Development And Design For Early Fault Detection And Fire Safety In Lithium-Ion Battery Technology, Daniel Kelly Boakye Danquah

Theses and Dissertations

Energy storage technologies in its natural form play a key role in the electrical infrastructure, renewable and mobility industry. This form includes the material nomenclature for cell. technology, battery module design, Battery enclosure system design, control, and communication strategy, chemistry profile of various cell technologies, formation and formfactors of cell structure, electrical and mechanical properties of a lithium-ion cell, behavior of the cell under high voltage, low voltage, elevated temperature and lower temperature, multiple charging of a lithium-ion batteries. Energy storage industry is growing rapidly, and the industry is experiencing an unprecedented safety concern and issues in terms of fire …

Assessing Options For Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Increasing Energy Production From Municipal Solid Waste Utilizing Epa Models, Marcus Richburg

Theses and Dissertations

The population of the planet surpassed the 8-billion-person mark in 2022, and the increase in population has brought about an increase in waste, both household and commercial. The municipal solid waste that is created is primarily stored in landfills, particularly in the United States. These landfills release methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, creating what is known as anthropogenic emissions, due to their being caused by man-made issues. These two primary gases, along with others, make up greenhouse gases, and their reduction is key to potentially reducing or even reversing the greenhouse effect. Total municipal solid waste generation in …

Improving The Academic Success Of Technical College Students With Disabilities: A Multisite Descriptive Case Study, Andrea Colwell Ingram

Theses and Dissertations

Students with disabilities in higher education have lower retention and graduation rates than students without disabilities. While postsecondary administrators are attempting to meet the needs of students by implementing necessary reforms, barriers remain like issues with disclosure, transition planning, and faculty knowledge. This present qualitative descriptive case study sought to explore the instructional practices that were implemented by technical college educators to accommodate students with learning challenges, including students with disabilities, utilizing the Universal Design for Learning framework to determine which current technical college faculty instructional accommodations practices intersect with or diverge from Universal Design for Learning principles. The participants …

Teacher Perceptions Of The Implementation Of Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports (Swpbis) In A Rural Southwest Georgia School District, Angela E. Bell

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined teacher perspectives of SWPBIS and how those perceptions impacted school discipline in a rural, Title I middle school located in southwest Georgia. This paper reviewed the history of school discipline policies and discipline practices. The focus was on teacher perceptions of SWPBIS and how those perceptions impacted school discipline in a rural, Title I middle school in a southwest Georgia county. Results were obtained using a quantitative survey and focus groups. Overall, the findings discovered that all respondents believed that SWPBIS had helpful benefits.

A Longitudinal Analysis: Interpreting Pbis Sas Results And Disciplinary Patterns In A Middle Georgia School District, Johnathan Andrew Gross

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between staff perceptions of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Office Discipline Referrals (ODR) across elementary, middle, and high schools in a middle Georgia school district over a three-year period (2019-2022). PBIS is a research-based framework that aims to improve school-discipline procedures, effectively reduce ODR, and enhance school climate. The study focused on the Self-Assessment Survey (SAS) data and ODRs to determine whether staff perceptions of PBIS impacted student behavior management across all levels of the district. Using causal-comparative and correlational research designs, the study analyzed staff perceptions obtained through the SAS survey instrument …

Impact Of Social Media On The Mental Health Of College Student Athletes, Maria Blasco Maurici

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the influence of social media on the mental health of college student-athletes. With the adoption of social media platforms and the challenges faced by college student-athletes, understanding the implications of social media usage becomes a priority. This study examines the potential positive and negative effects of social media on the mental health of collegiate student-athletes and considers the role of social media in shaping their self-perception and identity. By comparing with existing research and conducting qualitative and quantitative analysis, this thesis aims to find answers on the relationship between social media and the mental health of college …

Assessing Academic Advisement Preferences Among Master’S Students: A Modification Of The Prescriptive/Developmental Preference Scale, Marian "Gina" Sample

Theses and Dissertations

Academic advisement plays a significant role in enrollment retention and degree attainment. Little is known, however, about what master’s students want and need from their advisement experience, as most research on advisement preferences has focused on undergraduate students. The Prescriptive/Developmental Preference Scale (Yarbrough, 2010) was designed to assess students’ academic advisement preferences, particularly as they relate to prescriptive and developmental advisement. The author of the PDPS, which was piloted with undergraduate students, found that the instrument had construct validity issues, especially regarding the Prescriptive construct. This study aimed to modify and expand the PDPS to reliably assess master’s students’ advisement …

Gamification: Game-Based Learning / Serious Games And 21st Century Soft Skill Development In Nursing Education, Stephanie Marie Adams

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the development of 21st century skills through gamification, game-based learning (GBL), and serious games in nursing education in institutions of higher education in the United States. This paper reviews the history of gamification in nursing pedagogy through three domains of research. It includes an overview of research related to the development and implementation of gamification, GBL, and serious games in nursing education as well as the impact on the development of 21st century skills in digital natives. The focus was on the historical literature related to gamification, GBL, and serious games at institutions of higher education in …

Agency Development Of Preservice Teachers Progressing Through An Undergraduate Education Program, Tracy Christina Stockdale

Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests student achievement improves when teachers connect with their students and create lessons and instruction based on their needs (Hattie, 2003; Stronge, 2018). Unfortunately, educators throughout the United States report losing control over the educational decisions they make in their classrooms at startling rates (Ingersoll, 2011; Wright, 2020). A recent study by Ingersoll, Merrill, Stuckey, and Collins (2018) found that approximately 50% of educators leave the profession within their first five years of teaching. An analysis of the attrition data showed that teachers often leave the profession due to perceptions of low classroom autonomy (Ingersoll et al., 2018). The …

Determining The Effects Of Water Quality On Stream Metabolic Function Of Urban Stream Corridors In Columbus, Georgia, Md Abu Raihan

Theses and Dissertations

Urbanization alters streams, disrupting their natural habitat and inducing changes in nutrient dynamics and primary productivity. These human-induced interventions diminish ecological structure, homogenizing once-diverse ecosystems and posing a risk of impairment or destruction. Continuous monitoring of stream ecosystem metabolism emerges as an essential tool for a comprehensive understanding and effective intervention in response to these challenges. This study delves into the intricate dynamics of nutrient levels and productivity within the urbanized context of the Weracoba Creek watershed located in Columbus, Georgia, USA. Through a cross-sectional study, we explore spatial and temporal variations in nutrient concentrations (NH4, NO3, PO4, TP, TN) …

Work Life Balance: Organizational Leadership And Best Practices To Overcome Burnout For Female Realtors, Carmen Sarkis

Theses and Dissertations

Women Realtors in residential real estate have a difficult time avoiding burnout and are commonly ineffective in achieving work life balance (WLB). This qualitative, phenomenological research study focused on understanding the issues of WLB and burnout which female Realtors faced, and best strategies in overcoming these issues. There were four main research questions and a total of 12 interview questions which were used as a method to collect data for research purposes. Fifteen participants who met the criteria of inclusion as discussed in Chapter 3 participated in this study, and were located using LinkedIn, and the National Association of Realtors. …

Successfully Transitioning Executives During Times Of Multidimensional Change: A Delphi Study Examining Organizational Practices In Large Hospital Systems, Lilicia Bailey

Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare is the fastest growing industry in the United States and globally. Economists forecast that as the population grows and life expectancy increases, the healthcare sector will continue expanding to meet consumer needs domestically and globally. Population aging and the emergence of global pandemics has substantially increased the demand for healthcare services and has created volatile, complex, uncertain, and ambiguous conditions that ignite social, economic, and workforce shifts within and outside the organization. While these factors require growth and agility within healthcare organizations, high turnover in the healthcare workforce threatens these organizations’ ability to effectively fulfill their mission. The high …

Examining Transformational Leadership Self-Perceptions Of Current Chief Executive Officers Within Executive Peer Advisory Groups, Israel Passwater

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined the leadership perceptions of current chief executive officers from executive peer groups. The goal of this examination was to investigate to what extent these leaders view their behaviors as being transformational. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) 5X was used as the research instrument. The results indicate significant relationships between the 5 I’s of transformational leadership and the demographic questions in several key areas. Conclusions and recommendations for further research are provided based on the results of this study.

Unlocking The Potential Of Sustainable Low-Cobalt Cathodes For Lithium-Ion Battery Applications, Temitayo Ojuetimi Ikuerowo

Theses and Dissertations

The pursuit of effective energy storage solutions, essential for the progress of renewable integration, electric cars, and grid-scale applications, has resulted in the popularity of lithium-ionbatteries. However, the high cost and environmental concerns associated with cobalt, a key component in the cathode, limits widespread adoption. Therefore, to address these issues whilst also increasing the capacity of current technologies, research has gone into the development of Nickel (Ni)-rich and Co-poor or Co-free materials for lithium-ion battery applications; however, the impacts of lower cobalt levels in these materials are not fully understood. This study investigates the impact of low cobalt doping levels …

Effective Approaches To Establishing And Maintaining A Strong Therapeutic Alliance With Men: A Qualitative Systematic Review, Ferdinand Aliga

Theses and Dissertations

Consequences of mental health issues in men that are left untreated can affect a man’s partner, friends, family, and co-workers. While much research has described the efficacy of psychotherapy with this population, adult male clients may be hesitant to even start treatment. This is due to several reasons including stigma, toxic masculinity, and accessibility. To combat this, the American Psychological Association published Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men in 2018. Research from 2005--the year the guidelines were conceived--to 2021 suggests that three therapeutic approaches are among the most effective in establishing or maintaining a therapeutic alliance. The approaches …

A Systematic Review Of Canine Assisted Psychotherapy For Youth At Risk Or With Mental Health Disorders, Hedieh Hakakian

Theses and Dissertations

Mental health disorders among youth are often underrepresented in research, resulting in a delay and under-treatment of their needs (Catania et al., 2011). While their needs are frequently under-treated, research suggests that youth often experience mental health problems that subsequently lead to difficulties in adulthood (Carballo et al., 2011) necessitating a need to identify efficacious treatments to these problems. This systematic review used a mixed-methods design to analyze current literature on the use of Canine-Assisted Psychotherapy (CAP) with youth ages 0-20. The aims of the study were to (a) understand the impact of CAP on mental health (i.e., clinical diagnosis …

Evaluating The Effects Of Organizational Culture On Post-Merger Integration, John M. Rose

Theses and Dissertations

This doctoral research project examines the impact of organizational culture on post-merger integration in the travel and travel services industry for acquisitions valued under $5B. The study uses a mixed-method research approach to determine whether culture plays a critical role in the success or failure of M&A deals. The research focuses on 50 M&A transactions that occurred between three and five years ago at the time of the study. Participants from both sides of the transactions completed an integration outcomes survey, reporting on financial, cultural, and overall success. In addition, each side had five participants who completed the Organizational Cultural …

Family Of Origin Influence On Workplace Dynamics: A Qualitative Study, Megan E. Malave

Theses and Dissertations

This study delves into the intricate interplay between Family of Origin influences and the professional practice of Organizational Development (OD) practitioners. Rooted in the recognition that Family of Origin experiences significantly shape individual perspectives and behaviors, this research investigates how OD practitioners leverage this understanding to navigate complex workplace dynamics. Grounded in the Use of Self framework, which emphasizes intentional utilization of one's complete being for enhanced effectiveness, this study explores the multifaceted connections between Family of Origin dynamics and common relational aspects such as leadership, influence, power, conflict, and belonging. Through qualitative analysis of OD practitioners' perspectives, the study …

A Global Perspective On Mindfulness-Based Interventions In Schools, Rebecca H. Laff

Theses and Dissertations

The practice of mindfulness, which originated in ancient Buddhist philosophy, has gained popularity in secular society through the work of Western researcher Jon Kabat-Zinn. Kabat-Zinn's focus on using mindfulness to help chronically ill patients cope with stress soon expanded into non-clinical areas, including education. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) adapted from Kabat-Zinn’s work, have been utilized in schools since 2005, but there has been a lack of systematic research on the effectiveness of MBIs in classroom settings globally. To address this gap, this critical interpretive synthesis (CIS) study conducted a comprehensive literature review of quantitative and qualitative studies from around the world …

Give And You May Receive: Examining Transparent Leadership Through The Lens Of Leader-Follower Relationships, Edward J. Piecek

Theses and Dissertations

Transparency is a term often used to describe a solution to many organizational problems and a fundamental quality that employees seek from their leaders, yet its definition and application to leadership theory remain unclear. This study adopted a grounded theory approach to examining transparent leadership, using semi-structured interviews to explore transparent leader behaviors across multiple contexts. The sample included 25 mid-level leaders working for six non-profit healthcare organizations in the western US. Based on analysis of interview responses, the results revealed a dynamic, reciprocal transparent leader-follower relationship distinct from existing leadership theories. As the first known empirical study of transparent …

Comparison Of Various Intermittent Fasting Dietary Interventions To The Ketogenic Dietary Interventions And Its Effects In Mitigating Hunger In Obese Adults, Aston Earl Francis Jr

Theses and Dissertations

There have been many dietary strategies that can be used for fat loss and the most recent popular dietary interventions have been intermittent fasting and the ketogenic diet. Intermittent fasting (IF) dietary interventions and the ketogenic diet (KD) are popular diets that claim to promote weight loss which has also been speculated to have enhanced benefits than caloric restriction. Although these dietary strategies are growing in popularity, it is unclear if the intervention can manage hunger, which may increase adherence. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the literature on the impact of IF protocols compared to KD …

Csi Botany: Dna Barcode “Fingerprints” Identify Cryptic Urban Flora, Luis R. Vega

Theses and Dissertations

As short genomic markers, DNA barcodes can play a role in conservation by identifying cryptic species and hybrids when morphological approaches fall short. Here we present our application of barcodes to the identities of two wetland taxa as part of an ongoing floristic inventory of Van Cortlandt Park (VCP), Bronx, NY. Previous barcode data by Marriott et al. (2018) identified the VCP lake water lily as the exotic Nymphaea alba, rather than the native N. odorata as historically described. In addition, cattails in the park were historically identified as the native Typha latifolia and the exotic T. angustifolia …

The Final Straw: The Battle For Puerto Rico, Samantha N. Marrero

Theses and Dissertations

The Common Wealth of Puerto Rico has undergone tremendous amounts of oppression. The capstone will evaluate the policies imposed on the commonwealth by the United States, and the actions revolutionaries or independentistas took to have a liberated Puerto Rico

Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Impact Of Poverty On Instruction And Support With Elementary Students Experiencing Rural Poverty In A Rural Title I Elementary School, Mitzi Mccann Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

Nearly 30 million people in the United States live in households with an annual income of less than @25,962 for a family of four. To the United States Census Bureau, this income threshold constitutes a family (or individuals in a family) as being in poverty. Poverty is not solely about income thresholds; rather, how much income levels impact learning, education, and teachers is a greater area of concern. The purpose of this study was to explore how teachers’ perceptions of poverty impact how they instruct and support elementary students experiencing rural poverty, what differences exist in instruction and support between …

Lived Experiences Of College-Educated Black Women: Contextualizing Gendered Racial Health Disparities, Christiana L. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Black women are disproportionately affected by gendered racial health disparities. Public health research that seeks to unearth the root cause of these gendered racial health disparities is insufficient. More recently, researchers have turned their attention to structural inequities and their influence on the lived experiences of Black women. This study contributes to this body of work by using a theoretical concept derived from intersectionality⎯structural gendered racism⎯to identify key upstream social factors that shape nulliparous, college-educated Black women's lived experience and childbearing desires. Semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted with nulliparous, college-educated Black women (n=30), ages 25 to 35, living in the …

Risk And Resilience: An Exploration Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Protective Factors, And Internalizing Symptoms In Black Youth, Irene A. Jacobs

Theses and Dissertations

The study examines mechanisms of risk and resilience that influence the psychological well-being of Black youth. Previous literature has established a link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mental health outcomes in youth (Kerker et al., 2015; Thakur et al., 2020). A substantial amount of the ACEs literature solely focuses on risk factors (e.g., mental impairment, low SES, health risk behaviors) for poor outcomes associated with ACEs. Despite Black youth experiencing high rates of ACEs (Liu et al., 2019), the ACEs literature examining mechanisms of their resilience is sparse (Meeker et al., 2021). Given the state of the ACEs literature, …

Probing The Porphyromonas Gingivalis Nitrosative Stress Response Network, Alexandra Galina

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To persist in the oral cavity, the perio-pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis must have an efficient nitrosative stress response mechanism. To better understand how P. gingivalis responds to nitrite (NO₂^-) we must determine what genes are involved in the nitrosative stress response network.

Methods: Through genomic screening, a list of genes was generated that were hypothesized to be part of the nitrosative stress response network and believed to be involved in nitrate/nitrite metabolism or redox state of the cells. Protein coding regions were replaced with the ermF sequence by allelic exchange mutagenesis. 15 mutants were created …