Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Morphine, Thc, And Lsd On Synaptic Plasticity Of The Ventral Tegmental Area, Michael Von Gunten

Theses and Dissertations

The brain is an intricate network of neurons that communicate via synapses. Synaptic plasticity, which is the ability to strengthen or weaken synaptic connections, plays a key role in learning, memory, and reward learning. Disruptions to synaptic plasticity play a central role in addiction, particularly in brain circuits involved in reward and motivation. The mesolimbic reward system, which includes the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and its dopaminergic projections, is a primary target of drugs of abuse, including opioids and cannabinoids. However, the physiological consequences of combined exposure to opioids and cannabinoids and the potential for psychedelics to reverse drug-induced neuroadaptations …

Leadership Perceptions Of Funds Of Knowledge In Alternative Secondary Education, Sara Stone

Theses and Dissertations

Funds of Knowledge (FOK) refer to the skills, assets, and resources that a learner draws from their environments and applies to their learning experiences. The FOK construct has in common with cultural capital and community cultural wealth a focus on the importance of the overlapping contexts in which learning takes place. For this qualitative study, the overlapping contexts for learners often include conflicts, adversity, and unique challenges. Participants include past and present leaders of schools and programs in New York City’s school district 79, also known as its alternative schools district. Schools and programs in district 79 are designed for …

Creating And Validating An Aphasia-Friendly Measure Of Marital Relationships: Preliminary Pilot Testing, Jasmine Espinoza

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to modify and validate an aphasia-friendly questionnaire that can be used to assess marital attachment for couples impacted by aphasia. Twenty participants (10 people with aphasia and their spouses) participated across two sessions. The study consisted of two phases. Phase 1 focused on modifying the Brief Accessibility, Responsiveness, and Engagement Scale (BARE) into an aphasia-friendly format through collaboration with an expert panel. Phase 2 involved piloting the revised questionnaire on participants with aphasia and their spouses along with a cognitive interview to obtain qualitative and descriptive data to assess the questionnaire's face validity and preliminary test-retest reliability …

Pride Flags And Five-Headed Monsters: A Portrait Of A Transgender College Student's Experiences In Campus Housing, Andrew Bamford

Theses and Dissertations

This study seeks to develop an understanding of how transgender students experience living in on-campus housing and how these experiences affect their senses of wellbeing, inclusion, safety, and connection with their college. Additionally, this study solicits suggestions from its participant that can help campus housing departments identify ways to best serve their transgender student populations. Imperative due to the precarity suffered by the transgender community, especially during the notoriously anti-trans second Trump administration (Francois, 2025), this research focuses on transgender student experiences in housing due to the heightened vulnerability they experience in the confines of their on-campus housing assignments (Brauer, …

Conversational Theatre Rehearsals For English Language Education, Empowerment, And Healing, Jennifer Schaupp

Theses and Dissertations

I set out to examine the history and current structure of the English-learning classroom, with a strong focus on adult learners in community-based classrooms, of immigrants, refugees, and more who arrive and make their home in the U.S. as well those born in the U.S. to multilingual homes. I incorporate elements of therapy and theatre, particularly improvisational comedy and Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed, as points of comparison to the teachers and students of the classroom by way of Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed. I use the concept of rehearsal to compare the three disciplines of psychology, language …

Relations Among Racism-Related Stress, Anxiety, Spirituality And Mindfulness In Black Sexual Minority Men, Kainaat Anwar

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Kainaat Anwar RELATIONS AMONG RACISM-RELATED STRESS, ANXIETY, SPIRITUALITY AND MINDFULNESS IN BLACK SEXUAL MINORITY MEN 2021-2022 Jonathan Mathias Lassiter, Ph.D. Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Black sexual minority men’s experiences of racism and anxiety have not been documented extensively in the literature. There is also a paucity of research exploring protective factors that can mitigate the effects of racial stress on anxiety in BSMM. Therefore, this study looked at the potential moderating effects of spirituality and mindfulness on the relationship between racism-related stress and anxiety in BSMM. Participants completed measures regarding socio-demographics, racism-related stress, anxiety symptoms, mindfulness and …

Exploring Virtual Group Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Format On Participation Of Parents Of Children With Autism, Abigail Owen

Theses and Dissertations

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and co-occurring challenging behavior (e.g., aggression, self-injury, property destruction) experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, and poor overall well-being. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which encourages psychological flexibility, is an effective intervention for addressing well-being in this population when presented in various formats. Despite its potential to increase accessibility and improve social connectedness for parents, time commitment may impact parents’ willingness to participate in virtual ACT group interventions. The current study examined parents’ participation in and perceived acceptability of 6 hrs of virtual ACT groups in three different formats: a 6-hr workshop, …

First-Generation College Students' Transition Experiences After A Bridge Program, Alison Irvine Mcmurry

Theses and Dissertations

First-generation college students (FGCS) often encounter greater challenges than their peers. Universities offer transition programs like bridge programs, orientations, and advising, but service gaps contribute to FGCS difficulties. Bridge programs are often implemented for specific student groups that the university believes to be at-risk or more vulnerable than their peers. Targeted students are asked to come to campus early for additional training, education, and advising. The program is thought to bridge the gap between what they know and what they need to know to be college-ready and on-level with their peers. This case study examines the transition experiences of seven …

Structural Covariance And Episodic Memory: Sex Differences In Schizophrenia, Delaina Brooke Cimmino

Theses and Dissertations

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a chronic brain disease characterized by patterns of positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms that interfere with daily functioning and persist throughout the lifespan. Clinical and cognitive symptoms differ between males and females with the disease, suggesting neurobiological abnormalities that vary on the basis of biological sex. The present study used high-dimensional brain mapping and network analysis procedures of cortical and limbic regions known to be involved in memory formation to investigate sex differences in brain correlates of episodic memory among patients with schizophrenia. This study analyzed multi-site archival data from 363 male (M) and 108 female (F) …

Poetries Of Abandonment: A Study Of Plath And Glück, Yara Abdelmoneim

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the intersection between literature and trauma, which can be discerned in the key works of two poets, Sylvia Plath and Louise Glück. While offering readings of crucial poems, the thesis also examines the interrelations among trauma, memory and narrative as theorized by two contemporary psychiatrists, Bessel van der Kolk and Judith Herman. Both Plath and Glück wrote about personal and generational trauma after going through different experiences of abandonment. Absence, indirection and repetition provide the basis for literary techniques that allow their traumas to be better understood by authors and readers alike. The degree to which each …

Leading The Way: Preparing School Psychologists In Postsecondary Transition Training, Kaiya Joy Dawson

Theses and Dissertations

Students with disabilities face significant challenges in achieving postsecondary success, yet training on postsecondary transition planning within school psychology graduate programs remains limited. A content analysis of 252 accredited school psychology programs in the United States revealed major gaps in transition training, with only 1.6% of programs covering all critical domains. Results indicated that 67% of programs include some transition training in at least one domain. Family engagement (42%) and program structure (30%) had the most training, then interagency collaboration (20%), student focused planning (3%) and student development (6%). Notably, programs with larger cohort sizes were correlated with more transition …

Commercial Pressures And Editorial Independence: Egyptian Journalists' Perceptions Of Advertiser Influence In Contemporary Media, Mohamed Ahmed Salem

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the complex interplay between commercial imperatives and editorial autonomy in Egypt’s contemporary media landscape, focusing on journalists’ perceptions of advertising influence. Drawing on Cognitive Dissonance Theory (CDT) and informed by Political Economy and Institutional Theory, the study investigates how Egyptian journalists navigate ethical tensions arising from advertiser demands—both state-linked and private—within a hybrid media system marked by economic precarity, political control, and digital disruption. Through 20 in-depth interviews with journalists, alongside insights from PR professionals, media managers, and academic experts, the research reveals a pervasive erosion of the editorial-commercial boundary. Journalists report widespread self-censorship, blurred content labelling, …

Perceptions Of Faculty On Trauma-Informed Practices At The American University In Cairo, Marwa M. Emara

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Trauma-informed education is gaining momentum in higher education as a framework that seeks to create learning environments that are safe, inclusive, and responsive to the emotional and psychological needs of students—particularly those who have experienced trauma. This qualitative study, situated at the American University in Cairo (AUC), explores how faculty perceive, understand, and implement trauma-informed practices in a diverse university context that includes refugee and displaced students. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with seventeen faculty members from various disciplines and incorporating an autoethnographic reflection. An expert interview was conducted with Dr. Mays Imad, a leading scholar in trauma-informed …

“Sometimes The World Don’T Give You What You Need”: Black Motherhood And Kinship As Resistance To Necropolitics In Jesmyn Ward’S Bois Sauvage, Hailey N. Reeder

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores how Black motherhood and kinship serve as subversive forces within necropolitical landscapes in Jesmyn Ward’s Where the Line Bleeds, Salvage the Bones, and Sing, Unburied, Sing. Drawing on Achille Mbembe’s theory of necropolitics, this study examines how the economic and social constraints of these environments disrupt Black family structures, emphasizing the necessity of kinship for survival. In Where the Line Bleeds, Cille’s absence disrupts traditional family roles, yet kinship networks allow the family to endure. In Salvage the Bones, Esch’s journey redefines the “bad” Black teen mother stereotype, highlighting how kinship offers support amidst stigma. In Sing, …

The Influence Of Incorrectly Labelled Ai-Generated Images On Subjective Feelings Of Truth And Memory, Tanner Mckenzie Grubbs

Theses and Dissertations

Artificial intelligence (AI) photo generators generated more than 15 billion images in the past year alone (Valyaeva, 2023). To subdue concerns about misinformation, many online platforms have mandated that content generated with AI be labelled as such (Bond, 2023), but the efficacy of these warning labels is largely unknown. Previous research shows that the presence of an image affects how much we trust the information we are exposed to, so we would expect these AI-generated images to influence people’s beliefs. The purpose of the present research was to examine how AI-generated warning labels influence people’s trust in claims presented with …

In Search Of Educational Justice: Lived Experiences Of Community College Presidents And Their Authentic Critical Leadership, Juan Felipe Arzola

Theses and Dissertations

There are several gaps in research related to the fields of study of community college leadership and its influence on shared governance discussions and decision-making. The purpose of the current study is to address the gap in the study of community college leadership and its influence on shared governance discussions and decision-making through a critical, intersectional investigation of authentic critical leadership and its potential to influence shared governance group discussions and decision-making in distinctively different ways than those advocated by mainstream leadership theories. Participants participated in semi-structured interviews and were observed in a shared governance group meeting to identify evidence …

Promoting Collaboration And Multi-Directional Reliance By Sharing Mental Model Information For Effective Multi-Agent Teaming, Audrey L. Aldridge

Theses and Dissertations

Successful human-agent teaming requires teammates to form and maintain a shared or common understanding of several attributes regarding taskwork and teamwork. With enhanced information sharing, mental model development, and team functionality, teammates (human, autonomous) can learn to anticipate each others' behaviors, preferences, and needs as well as understand their capabilities and limitations. In designing a framework to support this type of cooperative teaming, there is a need to determine how sharing knowledge, mental models, and common understandings impacts teaming dynamics and performance. By incorporating each individual's understanding into a human-agent interface, this research enables better team coordination and performance through …

The Teaching Experiences Of Black Women Faculty In Educator Preparation Providers Licensure Programs At Predominantly White Institutions, Tiffiney M. Atterberry

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the experiences that Black women faculty encounter in instructional spaces of Educator Preparation Providers licensure programs (hereafter referred to as EPPs) at predominantly White institutions are important for institutional change and reform to occur. In spaces of EPPs, Black women faculty are forced to cope and deal with racialized issues such as feelings of social isolation, a lack of inclusion, acts of microaggression from students, disrespectful acts, and students challenging their knowledge and credentials. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how Black women faculty narrate their teaching experiences in EPPs at PWIs. The use of Collins’ …

The Influence Of Nature On Design: A Focus On The Flora And Fauna Influence On 18th And 19th Century Decorative Arts, Rachel Ann Bozeman

Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to assist interior designers and preservationists in enhancing interior decoration by appreciating decorative arts in a historically accurate and visually appealing manner. It places a strong emphasis on the profound influence of nature on design. For centuries, creatives have drawn inspiration from nature, leading to the creation of unique design elements and decorative objects. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, naturalists produced floral and faunal prints that reflected this inspiration. Nature's impact on design extends beyond aesthetics; it also affects how individuals feel within a space. The environment one person inhabits influences his or her state of …

Impact Of An Automated Brush System On Intensively Managed Lactating Dairy Cattle Behavior, Production, And Stress Physiology, Allison Lyn Griffin

Theses and Dissertations

The dairy industry has increasingly prioritized improving animal welfare for intensively housed cows. This study evaluated the effects of environmental enrichment (EE) using an automated brush system on stress physiology, behavior, and productivity of lactating dairy cows. Fifty-nine pregnant and lactating dairy cows were divided into two groups: CON (no brush) and TRT (automated brush system). Saliva samples were collected to measure cortisol concentrations, and behaviors were monitored in the morning (07:00 h - 11:00 h) and evening (19:00 h - 23:00 h) using high-resolution cameras. The results indicated that cows with brush access had lower cortisol concentrations, suggesting reduced …

How Do Tuition Benefits Affect University Staff Retention, Social Connection, And Institutional Commitment?, Lian A. Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Employee retention is costly for many companies, including colleges and universities. Tuition benefits have been shown to be helpful in recruitment and retention. This study looked at how tuition benefits used by university staff members affected turnover intentions, workplace belonging and institutional commitment. Benefits eligible university staff members, who were in primarily non-teaching roles at one rural, four-years land grant university were asked to complete an electronic survey, and 250 responses were collected. To measure the variables of interest the survey combined scale items representing each of the dependent variables; turnover intention (Bothma & Roodt, 2013), workplace belonging (Jena & …

Over And Under Identification Of Emotional Disturbance (Emd) In Minority Students: Implications For Best Practices In Emd Assessment, Danielle Chanell Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

Emotional Disturbance (EmD) remains one of the most inconsistently defined and assessed categories under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), leading to widespread misidentification that disproportionately affects minority students. This study investigates systemic biases in EmD assessment practices, highlighting how subjective criteria and a heavy reliance on clinical judgment perpetuate disparities in identifying African American and Latino students in special education. To better understand these biases, the study sought to identify which assessment components school psychologists most frequently utilized when making eligibility determinations for EmD. Quantitative analysis revealed that while race was not a statistically significant predictor of EmD …

Designing An Instructional Coaching Model For Residency-Based Alternate Route Teacher Candidates In Mississippi To Improve Instructional Competencies And Self-Efficacy, Lamareshia Daoma Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Alternate route teachers are adult learners who enter the teaching profession through nontraditional pathways, often without formal training in education. While they bring diverse experiences and a commitment to student success, they frequently face challenges in translating theoretical knowledge into effective classroom practice. Research indicates that instructional coaching serves as a critical bridge between pedagogical theory and practical application, providing job-embedded professional development that enhances instructional competencies. At its core, instructional coaching is a collaborative partnership built on trust and respect, offering teachers a supportive space to reflect on their practice, receive targeted feedback, and develop their professional identity. Alternate …

An In Depth Examination Of Educational, Family, Economic, And Personal Determinants On Academic Performance, Engagement, And Stress: A Comprehensive Study Among Engineering Students, Oumaima Larif

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the effects of family, education, economic, and personal factors on students’ decisions to pursue engineering as a profession and their long-term impact on performance as engineering students. We adopted a mixed-method approach, collecting data through surveys administered to undergraduate and graduate engineering students at Mississippi State University. The study results revealed that family, education, economic, and personal factors profoundly influence students' decisions to study engineering. We found that parental expectations, background information, and socioeconomic status, in conjunction with cultural norms, values, gender expectations, and religious beliefs, affect students. Additionally, this study identified gaps in the existing literature …

Cyber Security Threat Recognition And Preparedness Of Undergraduate Students, Litany Hope Lineberry

Theses and Dissertations

Cybersecurity awareness and preparedness are critical competencies for individuals across academic disciplines and professional sectors. However, undergraduate students often lack sufficient knowledge and skills to recognize and mitigate cybersecurity threats. This dissertation examines cybersecurity threat recognition and preparedness among undergraduate students through a three-phase research approach. Study 1 explores faculty perspectives on students' cybersecurity awareness, identifying gaps in knowledge and preparedness across various fields of study. Study 2 investigates industry professionals' perceptions of new hires’ cybersecurity readiness, assessing the alignment between academic training and industry expectations. Study 3 evaluates the effectiveness of an online intervention designed to enhance students' cybersecurity …

The Effects Of Alfaxalone, Alone Or With Butorphanol, On The Ultrasonographic Appearance Of The Feline Spleen, Grace Mcbride

Theses and Dissertations

The sonographic effects of alfaxalone and butorphanol alone and in combination on feline splenic size, shape, margins, echogenicity, echotexture, and blood flow were investigated. In this randomized, prospective crossover study, 8 healthy adult cats were injected with alfaxalone 2.0 mg/kg IM, butorphanol 0.2 mg/kg IM, and each drug in combination. Splenic ultrasounds were performed before drug administration, then every 15 minutes for 1 hour. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and feline multiparametric sedation scores (FMSS) were recorded. Following at least a 7-day washout period, cats switched groups and the study was repeated. An increase in splenic size and no significant changes …

Investing In Your Own: How University Leaders Should Aim To Invest To Retain Quality Staff In Undergraduate Recruitment Offices, Grant Alexander Nerren

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative narrative inquiry study examined the experiences of undergraduate recruitment professionals, and the impact institutional investment can influence staff retention of these professionals within higher education. Using Job Embeddedness Theory often applied within private industry and Bolman and Deal’s (2017) human resource theoretical framework, the research question was: To what extent are specific dimensions (support, compensation, professional advancement) of institutional investment related to the retention of undergraduate recruitment professionals within higher education? Data were collected using an anonymous online survey that was shared with potential participants via email. Responses were analyzed through SPSS software using item-level and composite score …

The Importance Of Community: An Investigation Of Stress, Coping, And The Value Of Social Support For First Responders, Brian Reid

Theses and Dissertations

People are designed to be in community with others, to work together and share the load and weight of life. First responders are a community that has not emphasized the importance of social support to mitigate and buffer against the stress inherent in their jobs. This study investigates the sources of stress, coping methods, and social support of first responders. Results from the first study show the impact of workplace and family stress on the first responder is impactful from the beginning. The secondary study finds that adaptive coping methods are the preferred method to cope with stress and that …

The Relationship Between Internal Coherence And Student Learning In High Achieving Middle Schools: A Mississippi Study, Christina Coleman Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations

In order to determine ways in which Mississippi is improving in education, a quantitative research study was designed and conducted to examine ten high achieving middle schools in the state. The 10 schools had to obtain an A ranking or B ranking for the 2021-2022 school year and/or 2022 – 2023 school year from the MDE. The purpose of the study was to determine if relationships existed between the student achievement scores (Reading Proficiency, Reading Growth, Math Proficiency, and Math Growth) assigned by the state to each school and levels of Internal Coherence of the administrators and staff employed in …

An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Investigation Of Previous Sexual Health Communication Between Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Or Queer Young Adults And Their Parents, Haley Elizabeth Solace

Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests parent-child communication about sexual health can promote positive sexual health outcomes (e.g., Estrada-Martinez et al., 2020; Jayne et al., 2021); however, parent-child sexual health conversations are often infrequent and heteronormative (Estes, 2017). Few studies explore sexual health communication between LGBQ youth and their parents. This study explores previous experiences with parent-child sexual health communication between seven LGBQ young adults, aged 18 to 26, and four of their heterosexual mothers, to better understand parent-child sexual health communication and differences between parental-child reflections. Findings suggest LGBQ young adults and parents recall similar experiences, however, perceived discomfort and parental competency differently. …