Digital Commons Network^™

Children's Understanding Of The Internet As A Moderator For Age-Related Trust Tendencies, Travis Hicks

Theses and Dissertations

Children take many factors into consideration when deciding to trust an informant, several of which are applicable to the internet as well. No research has been dedicated to studying whether children’s understanding of the internet’s social complexity (capacity to affect society in both good and bad ways) affects the amount of trust they place in the internet. Child participants (N = 97) ages 5 to 11 years were recruited to examine the relationship between age, time spent online, internet use, and trust in the internet, as well as the influence of social complexity understanding on the relationship between age and …

Factors Of Preparedness For Flooding In Shoreline Communities: A Case Study Of Ocean Gate, Roy D. Voss

Theses and Dissertations

Factors are often described as one that actively contributes to the production of a result. With communities more at risk of severe flooding due to factors such as climate change in the near future, it is vital to community preparedness and their resilience that we understand those factors that make a community resilient or vulnerable. This study seeks to identify the salient factors that contribute to community and individual preparedness for flooding events. The study examines the shoreline community Ocean Gate in New Jersey to identify common factors that either facilitate or do not facilitate preparedness. This study found that …

Discovery Of Oligomeric States And Small Molecules That Affect Deacylase Activities Of Human Sirtuin-2 (Sirt2), Jie Yang

Theses and Dissertations

Human sirtuin isoform 2 (SIRT2) is an NAD+-dependent enzyme that removes various acyl modifications from lysine residues. SIRT2 is involved in many biological processes, such as transcription, DNA repair, cell proliferation, and metabolism. Due to its diverse functions, SIRT2 is implicated in various disease states, including cancers and neurodegenerative disorders. This dissertation aimed to understand the regulation of SIRT2’s deacylase activities and to discover small molecule modulators of SIRT2. In this work, we found that SIRT2 dimerized in solution, and the dimerization decreased the deacetylase activities without affecting the defatty-acylase activity of this protein. Dimerized SIRT2 dissociates into monomers upon …

Mathematical Modeling And Understanding The Physiological Mechanisms Of Vibration On Wound Healing And Scar Remodeling, Devin Rion Needs

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic wounds and pathological scars reduce the quality of life for millions of people worldwide. Through mathematical modeling and clinical testing, understanding of how these conditions occur continues to increase. These tools have also been employed to investigate the efficacy of treatments that could impact wound healing and scar remodeling. The purpose of this work is to investigate the physiological effects of vibration treatment on wound healing, blood flow, and scar remodeling through mathematical modeling and experimental testing. This work presents and validates a mathematical murine model for whole body vibration enhanced wound healing (VEWH). This VEWH model builds on …

Effects Of Professional Development On Secondary School Teachers’ Self-Efficacy, Knowledge, And Attitudes About Adhd, Rebecca Jeanne Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Educators in general are not likely to have an accurate understanding of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including its etiology, how it presents, or how it is treated. Teachers also report lower satisfaction with students who have ADHD, including frustration with classroom experiences. Additionally, teachers express a desire to learn more about ADHD and how to manage related behaviors in their classrooms. Students with ADHD report wishing their teachers liked them more and understood that they aren't trying to be difficult. Accurate knowledge of ADHD has been shown to improve teacher efficacy. The current research study is adapted from Latouche …

Control, Localization, And Shock Optimization Of Icosahedral Tensegrity Systems, Brett Layer

Theses and Dissertations

Exploring the design space of tensegrity systems is the basis of the work presented in this thesis. The areas explored as part of this research include the optimization of tensegrity structures to minimize the size of a tensegrity structure given payload shock constraints, and the control and locomotion of an icosahedral tensegrity system using movable masses and using an accelerometer in conjunction with leveraging geometrical knowledge of an icosahedral tensegrity system to localize the system after the system moves. In the optimization design space, a simplified model was created to represent an icosahedral tensegrity structure. This was done by assuming …

The User-Side Perspective On Implementing Electronic Health Records In Egypt, Nayrouz Ibrahim A. Romana

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Electronic health records (EHR) have been recognized as an important tool to increase patient safety and overall improve efficiency in healthcare delivery. Despite this common knowledge, there is evidence that EHR has been slowly implemented in most developing countries. This research sought to identify factors that affect the adoption of EHR in Egypt from the perspectives of healthcare providers.

Methods: This research was conducted in 2023 using mixed methodology. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to a sample of healthcare providers to assess their knowledge, attitude, and intention towards using the system. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts …

Using Rna Sequencing Methodologies To Uncover Common Pathways In Neural Tube Defects: A Comparative Study Of Three Oxidative Neurotoxicants, Aubrey Coleen Johansen

Theses and Dissertations

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the second most common type of congenital birth defect that affect infants worldwide. There are several proposed mechanisms for NTDs, but no definitive mechanism has yet been described. One possible mechanism is oxidative disruption of normal developmental signaling. The purpose of this study is to culture whole mouse embryos with three common developmental toxicants, mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP, a plastic pollutant), Fumonisin B1 (FB1, a corn mold), and valproic acid (VPA, an anticonvulsant drug), all of which are known to cause NTDs, and compare their shifts in redox potential and changes to important signaling pathways through …

Transition-Based Services And Community Support: Improving Knowledge Of Community Resources For Youth With Disabilities In Role Transitions, Ian Christopher Gee

Theses and Dissertations

Youth with disabilities often struggle to transition into new areas of life; many of these youth have difficulty finding and keeping jobs, making friends, and living independently. The present study evaluated the effects of accessing an online guide detailing how to access supports in one's community. The goal was to increase knowledge of community support options for four students with intellectual and learning disabilities from a transition-support program in the Mountain West. The guide included information on applying for a job, making friends by joining a social club, and finding where to attend church. Results indicated that each student learned …

Perceptual, Acoustic, And Kinematic Measures Of Speech Precision And Steadiness, Jessica Jamiel Martin

Theses and Dissertations

Clinicians rely on perceptual analysis in the assessment and diagnosis of motor speech disorders. However, connecting perceptual measures to quantitative data has proved challenging. This study uses correlational analyses to explore the relationship between perceptual, acoustic, and kinematic measures. Twenty typical speakers provided speech samples of rapid syllable repetition and speech tasks, which were then rated by 12 listeners for precision and steadiness on a visual analog scale. Data was analyzed to identify significant correlations between the measures. We found evidence of a modest perceptual-acoustic relationship, with results suggesting that acoustic rate may be correlated with perceptual features. Our findings …

Preparing For And Engaging Middle School Students In Read-Alouds Of Expository Texts, Kari L. Allsup

Theses and Dissertations

As most classroom teachers primarily select narrative texts for interactive read-alouds, there is a lack of research that explores interactive read-alouds of expository texts. To address the call for greater equity between narrative and expository texts in curriculum, the purpose of this study was to examine how a seventh-grade English language arts teacher prepared for and engaged students in interactive read-alouds using expository texts. Using a self-study methodology, data were collected in three ways: field notes that captured preparation, video recordings that captured the read-alouds, and post read-aloud reflections that captured impressions following the read-alouds. Findings are organized into two …

Black Stereotypes In Basketball Films, Carsen Jackson Williams

Theses and Dissertations

This study conducts a frequency analysis on the Black stereotypes portrayed in popular basketball films through the lens of media framing. Academic literature has made a frequent topic of racial bias and its role in professional sports, particularly through sports media. However, there is a gap in the literature when looking specifically at basketball films as a whole and the prevalence therein of racial stereotypes, specifically Black stereotypes. Using framing theory as the backbone of the study, a frequency analysis was completed of main characters in the ten most popular basketball films to identify what Black Stereotypes arise. Most common …

Episodic Memory Influences On Decision-Making: An Fmri Investigation Of Young And Older Adult Populations, Julie Van

Theses and Dissertations

Episodic memory involves the ability to remember specific events and personal experiences. It shares computational and neural resources with episodic future thinking, or the ability to simulate future episodes in anticipation of situations that have not yet occurred. Activity in the frontal lobe has been associated with episodic memory formation, as functional connectivity between the medial temporal lobe (MTL) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been associated with the organization and manipulation of information when forming memories. At its core, episodic memory extends to several other functional domains by recombining past information to construct future scenarios, facilitating an aspect of "mental …

Back To The Future: A Case For The Resurgence Of Approximation Theory For Enabling Data Driven “Intelligence”, Michael Dominic Ciocco

Theses and Dissertations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has exploded into mainstream consciousness with commercial investments exceeding $90 billion in the last year alone. Inasmuch as consumer-facing applications such ChatGPT offer astounding access to algorithms that were hitherto restricted to academic research labs, public focus of attention on AI has created an avalanche of misinformation. The nexus of investor-driven hype, “surprising” inaccuracies in the answers provided by AI models – now anthropomorphically labeled as “hallucinations”, and impending legislation by well-meaning and concerned governments has resulted in a crisis of confidence in the science of AI. The primary driver for AI’s recent growth is the convergence …

Speech Prosody In People With Non-Fluent Aphasia: A Descriptive Study Of Between And Within Utterance Pause, Makayla Brielle Newcombe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of pause duration and frequency in speakers with moderate nonfluent aphasia and apraxia. The speech recordings analyzed in this study were produced by 16 adult speakers of American English (8 males and 8 females). Speech samples were provided by the AphasiaBank database (i.e., narrative samples from the Cinderella Story). Praat acoustic analysis software was used to code the speech samples for utterance boundaries and durations, as well as between and within filled and silent pause durations and frequencies. Results found a difference in silent versus filled pause durations, with silent pauses …

Investment Strategies Of Gcc Sovereign Wealth Funds: Aligning National Development And Geopolitical Goals, Roy Conners

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) prioritize and implement investment strategies in the context of national development and geopolitical dynamics. Using a qualitative case study approach, it analyzes the assets, key industries, leadership, and historical evolution of major GCC SWFs (ADIA, Mubadala, ADQ, QIA, and PIF) based on publicly made available information.

The findings show that GCC SWFs prioritize investments in strategic sectors, geographical destinations, and the private sector. These investments align closely with their respective national development plans, such as 'We the UAE 2031', Qatar National Vision 2030, and Saudi Arabia’s …

Caregiver And Clinician Impressions On The Development Of Spoken Language In Autistic Cochlear Implant Users, Courtney Dawn Marks

Theses and Dissertations

The current literature reports that oral language development is not a realistic goal for autistic cochlear implant users (ACI). This is curious, due to the general success of cochlear implants and the fact that many autistic individuals develop strong spoken language skills. Therefore, this study aimed to examine clinician and caregiver insights into spoken language development in the ACI population with the aim of elucidating the factors that influence the poor outcomes reported in the literature. We predicted that cochlear implant function would not be the limiting factor in ACI language development, but that device use and sensory atypicalities might …

Epck Transfer Between Math And Science, Elise Marie Joyner

Theses and Dissertations

Generalist elementary school teachers have little time to develop enacted pedagogical content knowledge (ePCK) in all content areas. Therefore, the transfer of ePCK from one content area to another, such as between math and science, can help generalist teachers build their knowledge needed for teaching regardless of their content area strengths. This self-study examines the ePCK components and their elements present in both math and science instruction. I am a fifth-grade teacher in Utah County who has been teaching for 4 years. Math is taught daily, and science is taught approximately three times a week. The self-study includes six video …

Dungeons & Dragons & Dissertations: A Study Of Therapeutically Applied Tabletop Roleplaying Game Groups At A University Counseling Center, Samuel Mischa Chun

Theses and Dissertations

Although there is a large body of research on the effects of unstructured group therapy among college students, there is inconclusive research on how implementing tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) as a structured activity affects group cohesion for therapy groups made up of college students. Participants were adult, full-time university students who are seeking therapy at the university counseling center. This study measured the effectiveness of therapeutically applied TTRPGs in group therapy with a mixed-methods approach. Participants took the Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45) to measure psychological functioning, the Group Questionnaire (GQ) to measure group cohesion, and answered five qualitative questions to describe …

Toward Overcoming The Double Empathy Problem: Bridging Autistic And Neurotypical Minds Through Science And Art, Elizabeth Rose Bessey

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, autistic people have been portrayed as lacking empathy. However, more recent research reveals mutual, rather than one-sided, gaps in empathy between autistic and neurotypical (NT) people. Decreased empathy can lead to marginalization and even violence, usually toward those in the minority. Regardless of diagnosis, however, there are fundamental aspects of the human experience upon which empathy could be built. In the present study, we explored commonalities and differences in how autistic and NT individuals experience comfort and discomfort. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to discover the causes, emotions, and reactions to comfortable and uncomfortable social situations and environments across autistic …

“Overcoming Is Everything”: Testimonios From Latina School Leaders Navigating Eurocentric Curriculum, Martha Elena Garza

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to unveil how school leaders, particularly school principals, navigate Eurocentric curricular structures in the implementation of bilingual programming. This is a relevant study given the widespread issues and concerns circulating around the achievement of English Learners, recent immigrants, and the politicized arena of testing and accountability. The research question that guided this study was: 1) How do school leaders navigate Eurocentric curricular structures in efforts to implement EL programming? In order to build background knowledge and layout the framework for this study, critical race theory, LatCrit, testimonio and eurocentrism had to be explored with …

Remote Profiling Of Atmospheric Turbulence: Enhanced Resolution With Stacked Rayleigh Beacons In Tardis, Benjamin C. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

A stacked beacon turbulence profiling methodology has been introduced and applied to have increased profiling on the Turbulence and Aerosol Research and Investigation System (TARDIS). The model was derived and demonstrated the applicability through discussion on data processing and inversion processes. The methodology was applied for two different nighttime experiments, one in Summer and one in Fall. C 2 n profiles were derived into the 1300 m altitude ranges for both nights and the summer experiment was compared to a co-located DELTA Sky measurements and LEEDR generated Climatological profiles. The comparison implied promise in the methodology with additional work needed …

Collisional Broadening And Shift Of Rubidium 42D5/2 → N2F Line Shapes With Helium And Electrons, Dillon T. Nice

Theses and Dissertations

Line shapes for three rubidium 4²D_5/2 → n²F transitions were collected using pump probe spectroscopy. Broadening rates for Rb-He collisions ranged from 139–171 MHz/Torr and shift rates ranged from 113–146 MHz/Torr. Then, line shapes were collected at different alkali densities to measure electron density. Electron density had a clear “runaway ionization density threshold” around 1.5×10¹³ cm⁻³. The three transitions agreed within 2% on the observed fractional ionization when calculated using the observed Stark width but did not agree on the observed fractional ionization when calculated using the observed Stark shift. These results …

Military Veteran Students’ Perceptions Of Support In College Writing Classrooms: A Qualitative Case Study, Jacqueline M. Beamen

Theses and Dissertations

Current literature indicates a disconnect between military veteran students’ experiences in college and what colleges claim they are doing to support these students. How support is manifested in writing classes at a medium-sized community college, as perceived by veteran students themselves, was unknown. This qualitative case study aimed to establish a deeper understanding of the unique needs of these students and how and whether they experienced support in their community college writing classrooms. The findings of this study showed that the participants’ military experiences impacted their perceptions of the college and of their writing classes. While they valued structure, rigor, …

Perceived And Preferred Methods To Adult Language Learning, Suzie Tse

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study is to understand the adult language learners in formal learning setting and know what do they perceive as the main methods of teaching and what do they prefer instead. If there is a gap between preferred methods of learning and perceived methods of learning, then there is a need that needs to be addressed. This is important because many students find language learning at best ineffective and at worst impossible. I hypothesize that there will be a difference between adult student perception and preference because student focuses more on speaking and listening skill over …

Utilizing Students’ Technological Knowledge To Develop Critical Reading Skills And Digital Literacy Identities, Rosemarie Mcgraw

Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to explore how teachers can purposefully integrate and connect students’ digital literacy funds of knowledge into in-school digital literacy meaning making to enhance critical reading and thinking, and how it supports students’ development of their digital literacy identity. The theories that guided this thesis were from New London Group, Freire, Gee, Knobel, and Lankshear. This was a qualitative research study that collected data from surveys, interviews, observations, and student work samples. Over the course of the study, students participated in a controlled choice research unit. Throughout the study, students received specific instruction on how to use multiliteracies …

Flexible And Rigid Endoscopic Evaluation Of In Vivo Rabbit Larynges: A Pilot Study, Shauntel Mei Li Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the comparability of flexible endoscopy to rigid endoscopy in the examination of rabbit vocal folds in vivo. This work was conducted within a larger parent project that has investigated the adverse effects of combination inhaled corticosteroids (ICs) on voice function in animal models and humans. In this study, both flexible and rigid vocal fold imaging was performed on eight rabbits; four having received ICs and four that were from control conditions. Original recordings were examined frame-by-frame to identify similar views, zoomed in and zoomed out, for flexible and rigid samples. Images were …

Identifying Barriers To Sustainability Of Dual Language Immersion Programs In Utah Schools, Jennifer Leigh Rowley

Theses and Dissertations

Dual Language Immersion (DLI) educational programming began in Utah in 2008. Within three short years, DLI programs in Utah schools had grown from 5 to 58 programs statewide. Presently, Utah now has over 301 DLI programs, including instruction in Spanish, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian, and German. DLI programs have many benefits and have attracted many student families. However, not much research has been done on program planning, implementation, and the sustainability of DLI programs within individual school cultures and climates. This study will examine the satisfaction level of faculty, staff, administrators, and parents at DLI schools (including how supported/understood each …

Knowledge Of Breast Cancer Risk Factors And Willingness To Undergo Screening Among Female Faculty, Staff, And Graduate Students Of Illinois State University, Esther Oshaji

Theses and Dissertations

Breast Cancer (BC) is a leading cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide. Early detection is key to combating the disease. Despite the U.S. having one of the highest BC rates globally, there is limited research on awareness of BC risk factors and willingness to undergo screening among university students, faculty, and staff. Drawing on the constructs of the Health Belief Model, this study assesses the knowledge and predictors of BC screening behaviors among female graduate students, faculty, and staff at a U.S. Midwestern University. This group is particularly important as BC risks increase with age. Understanding their perceptions of …

Exploring The Gap Between Self-Assessed And Actual Language Proficiency: A Comparative Analysis Of Japanese And Romance Language Learners, Megan Scarlet Keys

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores self-assessment accuracy among Japanese second language (L2) learners compared to learners of Romance languages. This research aims to investigate the extent of accuracy in self-assessment among Japanese learners and compare it with their counterparts studying Romance languages. Additionally, the study explores the variables influencing the accuracy of self-assessment in this context. The participants in this study comprised 144 undergraduate students enrolled in Japanese, French, Spanish, or Portuguese courses at Brigham Young University. Most participants possessed practical experience using their L2 in the target cultural context, complementing their academic coursework. The Language Ability Self-Evaluation Resource (LASER) was utilized …