Digital Commons Network^™

Thanatechnology: Designing For Death, Samantha Grace Bruner

Theses and Dissertations

Thanatechnology, or the study of death technology, is based within the human need to “figure out” death. Through the ages, humans have used technology to further our understanding of what it means to die and what it means to mourn as a way of figuring out what it means to live. Digital data is a huge part of recent digital technology and includes social media data which is a part of many peoples’ daily lives. This leads to many questions including what happens to social media pages when someone dies. These “digital graveyards” leave a lasting impact on many social …

The Effectiveness Of Planned And Incidental Focus On Form In Learning Grammatical Concepts In Two Spanish As L 2 Classrooms, Rebeca Monasterio

Theses and Dissertations

The present research study examines the effectiveness of two types of in two Spanish classrooms for beginner students: planned focus on form and incidental focus on form. Focus on form is understood as an instructional practice that creates a real-life context to let students practice some aspects of the language in a communicative environment based on both meaning and form. In this study, planned focus on form is operationalized as input enhancement in classroom materials and teacher talk. On the other hand, incidental focus on form involves teacher´s spontaneous attention to form in teacher talk. Language learning was measured through …

The Effects Of Online Learning On Students' Anxiety And Motivation., Andrea Iturbe Zúñiga

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research project was to investigate the effects of online education on students’ anxiety and motivation. Modified versions of the Foreign Language Classroom Scale (FLCAS) and the Attitude/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB) were administered to a group of 18 beginning-level Spanish students. Data were analyzed quantitatively to find out whether students described feeling more anxious or less motivated in the online setting versus the in-person setting and to examine what features participants identified with anxiety or motivation. Results show that lower motivation and higher anxiety were present in the online mode of instruction than in the in person …

The Impact Of Flipped Learning On The Language Performance And Attitudes Of Beginning Spanish As A Second Language Learners, Susana Dimas

Theses and Dissertations

The present study evaluated student academic performance on grammar focused tasks in a Spanish L2 flipped classroom compared to a non-flipped classroom as well as examined learners’ attitudes towards the implementation of the flipped model in the Spanish L2 instruction. This research included a between-group design, which involved a control group being instructed via a flipped approach and a comparison group learning the same material under a non-flipped model; and a within-group design with a group of learners combining these two different methodologies during one semester. Results in grammar-focused pre and post-tests indicated that Spanish L2 learners did not improve …

Empathy Matters: Building Relationships One Story At A Time, David Lee Lafrance

Theses and Dissertations

EMPATHY MATTERS: BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS ONE STORY AT A TIME

DAVID L. LAFRANCE

100 Pages

We all have a story; doesn’t it make a difference when we know them? As I get older and as I see my own children grow, I’ve noticed the fast pace we are living. Society has a self-destructive addiction to faster living and the world will tell you to always move forward and there are no limits to how far you can get. Don’t pause, don’t reflect. Over-scheduling and double booking as you juggle ten plates in your busy week. We are seeing an alarming increase …

Toward An Asian American Antiracist Pedagogy For First Year Writing, Dorothy Margaret Stone

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis seeks to demonstrate a need for an antiracist writing curriculum in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which contributed to an upswing of violent acts against Asians and Asian Americans living in the United States. Asian Americans have faced fluctuating status over the course of this country’s history, yet these stories are hardly represented by the canon and are instead misconstrued by hegemonic narratives. I seek to speak back against these narratives by designing a writing course based on critical race counterstory—those lived experiences that conflict with mainstream perceptions. By designing a methodological framework for teaching first-year writing through …

Using Behavior Skills Training To Promote Self-Advocating Behaviors: A Single Subject Research Design To Examine The Effectiveness Of Behavior Interventions Among Teachers, Clarence Cooper

Theses and Dissertations

Using Behavioral Skills Training to Promote Self-Advocating Behaviors: A Single-Subject Research Design to Examine the Effectiveness of Behavior Interventions Among Teachers. Clarence Cooper, 2022: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: applied behavior analysis, behavioral skills training, inclusion, individual education plan, operant conditioning, prompting, reinforcer, self-advocacy, accommodation

This applied dissertation utilized the behavioral skills training to train teachers on how to prompt, identify, and reinforce self-advocacy behaviors among students with learning disabilities. In applying behavioral analytic interventions to strengthen desired outcomes, a one- day intervention that was grounded in a …

Trypanosome Infection Disturbs The Gut Microbiota Of Bumble Bee Hosts, Bryan Sierra-Rivera

Theses and Dissertations

Host-microbe interactions are ubiquitous with both positive and negative outcomes for host health and fitness. While pathogens abound, there has been an increased focus beneficial host-microbial community associations, such as native gut microbiota that can aid in disease resistance, nutrient sequestration, and detoxification. However, while beneficial microbes can protect against infection, there is a limited appreciation for how pathogen infection may disrupt healthy gut microbiota structure and function. Crithidia bombi is a common trypanosomatid gut parasite of bumble bees with fitness-relevant effects on individuals and colonies. The native bumble bee gut microbiota has been shown to increase protection against Crithidia, …

The Influence Of Language On Thematic Apperception Test Assessment Of Defenses In International Spanish-Speaking College Students, Ilenia Perez-Palen

Theses and Dissertations

Cultural influences, including the use of language, have been shown to affect personality development and are also likely to impact personality assessment results. The influence of language is particularly relevant in story-telling measures such as the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT; Morgan & Murray, 1935). The purpose of this study was to analyze TAT narratives delivered in English and Spanish to assess the application of defense mechanisms based on the Defense Mechanism Manual (DMM; Cramer, 1991) among Hispanic international students. No study to date has provided insight into Hispanic individuals’ use of language with the TAT, specifically on scores for the …

Working With Great Expectations: The Impact Of Met And Unmet Expectations On Employee Engagement And Intent To Leave, Megan Daigle

Theses and Dissertations

Expectations are a part of everyday life and whether expectations are met at work has consequences for employees and organizations. Met expectations can contribute to positive outcomes (e.g., successful workplace adjustment) and unmet expectations have been linked to undesirable outcomes (e.g., withdrawal). The outcomes of interest in this study were employee engagement and intent to leave or remain. Cross-sectional, archival survey data from employees of an electric utility company in the southwestern U.S. (N = 79) was used. This paper contributes to the literature by showing a direct association between met expectations and engagement. Further, employee empowerment and inclusion were …

Steps Towards Liberation For Low-Income Black Residents Through Anti-Racist And Counter-Racial Capitalist Community Development Practices, Natasha Moodie

Theses and Dissertations

Racial capitalism has historically and systematically disenfranchised Black residents in the United States of America. Racial capitalism perpetuates the racial wealth gap and continues to inhibit Black residents from accumulating wealth. I argue that the community development field must implement practices that address the disenfranchisement of Black residents by the systems of racial capitalism. This research aims to highlight community development processes and practices that counter the effects of racial capitalism on low-income Black residents. I conducted a case study on the City and County of San Francisco due to their anti-racist approach to housing and community development, specifically focusing …

Sers-Based Rapid Vertical Flow Immunoassay For Enhanced Point Of Care Diagnostics, Eunice Ama Ebbah

Theses and Dissertations

Many diagnostic tools for the accurate detection of diseases are time consuming and require multiple complex steps. Thus, there is a critical need to develop an alternative point of care test that provides rapid, reliable, and affordable results. Recently, surface-enhance Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been developed as an analytical technique that enables low levels of detection and quantitative chemical analysis. Here, we exploit SERS in the development of a rapid diagnostic test, using human IgG as a model diagnostic biomarker. The vertical flow immunoassay system designed, utilizes filter paper embedded with gold nanoparticles (AuNP) to form a plasmonic paper. Capture …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Employment Characteristics, Eliana Shatkin

Theses and Dissertations

The following study examines ways in which COVID-19 has disrupted the United States labor market. My findings present disproportionately negative effects of COVID-19 on employment, labor force participation, worker absence, and weekly working hours for the female population in my sample, as well as veterans, disabled persons, and racial minorities.

Conflict And Nature: How War In Cambodia Shaped Its Natural Landscape, Emily Lifs

Theses and Dissertations

Through the efforts of the Cambodian people and historians, the world is familiar with the tragic human story that unfolded over decades of war and the brutal rule of the Khmer Rouge. This thesis is an attempt to tell the equally tragic but untold story of how decades of conflict shaped the Cambodian landscape and the lives and populations of elephants and other animals.

Trends In Nutrients Load And Driving Factors In Illinois River Basins, Olaoluwa David Oladuji

Theses and Dissertations

The demand for clean and potable water increases as the population number grows, and surface water serves as a significant source of water supply to many municipalities. However, the quality of surface waters is altered due to excess load of nutrients in the water bodies. For example, excess nitrate and dissolved phosphorus in water may lead to eutrophication. The 2019 bi-annual Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategies reported about 13% and 35% increases in nitrate and total phosphorus, respectively, across the statewide basins compared to the previous baseline data of 1980-1996. The biannual report stated that Illinois River basin was a …

How Middle And High School Principals Provide Culturally Responsive Leadership For Underrepresented Students In Stem: A Qualitative Comparative Case Study, Kenneth Jerome Sanderson

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored how principals who have experienced success in working with underrepresented students in STEM have challenged inequitable practices and transformed the culture of their schools so that all students can thrive. A purposeful sampling strategy was used to identify four principals who served as the cases for the study. The research revealed that culturally responsive school leadership (CRSL) behaviors and practices were regularly used by the principals to provide a STEM program that was responsive to the needs of underrepresented students. The principals in the study formed a critical consciousness by engaging in self-reflection about their leadership practices …

Parental Reports Of Vaccine Information Statement Usage In Utah, Angela T. Jacobs

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Little is known about the parental perception of usage and delivery of Vaccine Information Statements (VISs), the timing of VIS delivery, parent opportunity to read VISs, and time for discussing content of VISs with providers. Parental reports of dissemination and use of VISs are explored in this study, including parental use, experience, and perceptions. Method: Data for this pilot cross-sectional descriptive study were collected via an online survey. The instrument consisted of 21questions including five demographic questions, 11 questions about VIS distribution, four questions about parental use and understanding of VISs, and one open-ended question about finding information about …

Mapping The Distribution Of The Scarlet-Banded Barbet ( Capito Wallacei ) Using Geographic Information Systems ( Gis ) And Species Distribution Modeling ( Sdm ), Stephanie Marie Scherer

Theses and Dissertations

The Scarlet-banded Barbet (Capito wallacei) is a Neotropical barbet discovered in 1996 in the eastern Andean foothills of Peru. Despite being fairly common at the site of discovery, its known distribution is limited to two sites, and searching for other suitable sites is difficult in the wilderness of the eastern Andes. Through the use of geographic information sysems (GIS), remote sensing methods, and Maxent, we constructed a species distribution model (SDM) to determine the likelihood of occupancy of the Scarlet-banded Barbet outside of its current known distribution. The model predicted the occupancy with an area under the curve (AUC) of …

Hearts Of Gold: Adapting The Lives Of 19th Century Alaskan Sex Workers Into A Biopic, Kelly Pierce

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation will present my work as a scholar-practitioner who seeks to find the balance between the scholarly knowledge and practitioner knowledge needed to adapt a nonfiction book for the screen. In grounding my project between these two knowledge bases, I am hoping to make a contribution to the scholarship surrounding adaptation theories when applied to film while producing a screenplay informed by both knowledges.

Effects Of Depth And Cover Crop Treatment On The Functioning And Diversity Of Soil Microbial Communities, Emily N. Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

Globally, agriculture is strained by the unpredictable effects of climate change, as well as flooding, drought, erosion, and decreases in soil fertility. To meet these challenges, agricultural systems must develop new techniques while promoting sustainable intensification practices. Cover crops can provide farmers with an off-season cash crop, while also positively impacting the soil and reducing reliance on less sustainable conventional farming practices. The objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of different cover crops on soil microbial communities at varying depths. Soils were sampled in the fall and spring from experimental plots (ISU Farm, Lexington, IL) that contained …

High School Principal's Perception And Experience With Student Voice And Youth-Adult Partnerships, James D. Flynn

Theses and Dissertations

High school principals can foster student voice (SV) and youth-adult partnerships (YAP) while leading their students towards being engaged and informed citizens in our democracy. It is critical to understand the advantages and opportunities high school principals have in listening to and partnering with their students. It is also critical to understand the challenges facing high school principals in their journey towards SV and YAP. A qualitative multicase study of 10 high school principals from across the nation was used to understand the perception and experiences of high school principals in the area of SV and YAP. In addition, this …

Asymmetry Of Gains And Losses In Human Decision-Making And Choice: Behavioral Correlates Of Loss Aversion, Money, Food, And The Menstrual Cycle, Marcia Mackley Ventura

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to determine if loss aversion is replicable as an overt behavioral response to potential gains and losses in complex, recurring, uncertain, and risky choice with real gains and losses of money and food. Cognitive methods used to determine the effect of loss have primarily measured verbal response to hypothetical choice scenarios in which participants cognitively predict their behavior in a series of bets or situations involving imagined monetary gains and losses. Less has been done using behavioral methods that measure overt behavioral response to gains and losses of actual commodities. The present study uses …

Do “You Have To Be Better? ”: A Narrative Inquiry Exploration Of Black Female Former Ncaa Division I Student-Athletes’ Experiences In Athletic Departments, Jessica Jeanne Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore how former National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (DI) Black female student-athletes experienced their mid-major athletic departments and to better understand how they navigated these anti-Black spaces. BlackCrit theory (Dumas & Ross, 2019; Johnson, 2019), Black Feminist Thought (BFT) (Collins, 2000), and Intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989; Collins & Bilge, 2016) comprised the theoretical framework used to examine Black female former NCAA DI student-athletes’ lived experiences with athletic departments that lead, cultivate experiences, develop policies, and monitor the safety of student-athletes. Seven Black female former NCAA DI student-athletes who played at mid-major colleges …

Extensions Of Discrete Choice Experiment Theory For Public Health, Farahnaz Islam

Theses and Dissertations

A discrete choice experiment (DCE) allows researchers to understand how individuals value characteristics of a product or service in hypothetical scenarios and the trade-offs these individuals are willing to make between these characteristics. DCEs quickly gained traction in public health but as more researchers utilized DCEs in broader contexts, several methodological questions have arisen. This dissertation addresses some of these gaps in the literature.

One critique of DCEs is whether individuals would make the same choice in reality as they claimed they would have made in the hypothetical scenario. Perhaps the most efficient way to evaluate the predictive value of …

Urban Flooding Accelerates The Affordable Housing Shortage: A Case Study In Columbia, South Carolina, Mary Hannah Lindsay

Theses and Dissertations

The state of South Carolina stands at the corner where climate change and the housing crisis meet. The affordable housing stock across South Carolina continues to deplete as its major cities experience urban flooding events due to outdated and weakened infrastructure, compounded by an intensification of storm systems brought on by a changing climate. Lower income communities are forced to accept lesser living conditions and less resilient housing options because these options are more affordable. Renters are often met with more challenges when navigating disaster recovery compared to homeowners. Using a case study established in Columbia, South Carolina of the …

Spatial And Age Disparities In Covid-19 Outcomes, Qian Huang

Theses and Dissertations

COVID-19 has caused significant social, economic, environmental, and political impacts globally and affected communities unequally in the U.S. The pandemic has also sparked interest in age-specific manifestations of infection, for example, studies confirmed the risk of increasing age with COVID-19 severity. However, the nonstationarity effects of health determinants among age groups have not been well examined. This study aims to explore the nonstationarity effects of social, behavioral, environmental, health care access, and political contexts on COVID-19 outcomes. This study poses three broad questions: 1) how did COVID-19 vaccinations align with COVID-19 daily cases and deaths in the United States; 2) …

Speculative Pasts: American Historical Fiction In An Age Of Empire, Gregory William Deinert

Theses and Dissertations

This study identifies a new generic form termed here the “Speculative Historical Novel” within contemporary American fiction. The works that Speculative Pasts collect all agonize over the erasure of the past, and question how we can incorporate history into the present while accepting that full recuperation may be impossible. In their emphasis on the erasure of the past, these novels trace the manifold silences created by the imperial conquest of the New World and articulate how this past continues to structure the lived experiences of everyone on this continent.

This speculation is, on the one hand, necessarily suppositional. When faced …

Coastal Stormwater Pond Pollutants And The Potential For Development Of Antimicrobial Resistance In Vibrio And Enterococcus Bacteria, Cassandra L. Horton

Theses and Dissertations

The Southeastern coastal plain is the most rapidly urbanizing region in the United States. Associated landscape changes which increase imperviousness lead to hydrological cycle alterations, increasing runoff of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Urban and agricultural NPS runoff is generally discharged into stormwater ponds, which sequester chemical contaminants, nutrients, and microbes to reduce loading into coastal ecosystems. Studies of these ponds have indicated elevated levels of trace metals, antimicrobial compounds, and bacterial contamination (SCSGC 2018).

Interactions of aquatic pathogens Vibrio vulnificus and Enterococcus faecium with trace metals (arsenic, copper, zinc) and clinically relevant antimicrobials (triclosan, ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline) commonly found in coastal …

Novel Dietary Index For Gut Microbiota And Associations With Colorectal Cancer And Breast Cancer Risk, Bezawit Eyob Kase

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Diet serves as a driving force for shaping the gut microbiome. Understanding how diet may modify gut microbiota and subsequently may be associated with chronic disease is critical to public health prevention efforts. Aims: We aimed to develop a novel dietary index that captures the quality of diet with respect to attaining beneficial composition and function of gut microbiota. We then examined the relationship between the dietary index and two gut microbiota-related cancers, i.e., colorectal and breast cancers.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies that examined the effect of foods on gut microbiota in adult populations. Dietary …

Assessment Of The Quality Of Emergency Obstetric Care In Public Hospitals In Bangladesh: Evidence From The National Health Facility Assessment Survey, Kaji Korotki

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: The quality of obstetric care is low in Bangladesh, especially at the sub-district level, and below sub-district level facilities such as union health centers and community clinics. Using nationally representative health facility assessment survey data, this study assessed the change in the quality of basic and comprehensive obstetric care in terms of human resources, equipment, and service availability at sub-district public health facilities in 2014 and 2017.

METHODS: Based on Donabedian’s model of quality of care (QoC), the quality of comprehensive delivery care was measured using an index of 9 indicators known as Signal Functions (SF), while basic obstetric …