Digital Commons Network^™

From Survival To Social: The Evolution Of Strategic Competence In B2 English Learners During Collaborative Board Gameplay, Hazza Bin Hazza

Theses and Dissertations

An examination of the communicative strategies of B2-level English language learners was conducted to investigate the evolutionary trajectory of strategic deployment in informal, collaborative, and non-instructional settings. While traditional research has predominantly focused on digital or explicitly educational games within controlled, single-session tasks, a notable gap remains in understanding how learners navigate the linguistic and social demands of non-pedagogical, commercially available board games over repeated encounters. This qualitative case study addressed this gap by observing four learners as they engaged in four sessions of Forbidden Desert, a collaborative survival board game.

The theoretical framework integrated Sociocultural Theory, Communicative Competence, and …

Increasing Equity In Technology Integration, Whitney Anne Colley

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of practice focuses on unequal integration of technology across the district. This action research study aimed to understand teachers’ experiences and promote equitable use of technology in classrooms by implementing a coaching cycle centered on co-teaching and collaboration, which supports teachers beyond simply substituting traditional tools with technology, toward more meaningful integration that improves learning. Teachers often use technology as a direct substitute due to limited time and rushed professional development, which can affect their confidence and effectiveness. The study took place in a public elementary school serving 700 students, in which all students from second to fifth …

Examining Shifts In Attitudes Toward Mathematics: A Mixed Methods Study In Undergraduate Business Calculus, Kathryn Pedings-Behling

Theses and Dissertations

Students in my non-theoretical Business Calculus course at the College of Eastshore almost never begin the class with a positive attitude towards mathematics. They are taking the course to fulfill their general education requirements in mathematics, and for most of them, this will be their last experience in a formal classroom setting with a mathematics educator. This profile of a math-reluctant student is not unique to my Business Calculus course; I have spoken with many fellow educators in similar situations who experience the same persistence of negative attitudes toward mathematics from their own students. Their attitude not only has implications …

Generalized Planning Using Language Models And Its Applications, Vishal Pallagani

Theses and Dissertations

Planning is a fundamental capability for intelligent systems, yet classical planners remain difcult to scale and generalize across domains due to their reliance on hand- engineered models, brittle search procedures, and limited adaptability. These limita- tions constrain real-world applications that require fexible reasoning, robust decision- making, and the ability to operate across diverse environments.

Large language models have emerged as powerful learners supported by their ar- chitectures and large-scale training data, demonstrating strong capabilities in tasks such as question answering, code generation, summarization, and reasoning. Moti- vated by their broad generalization abilities, I investigate whether language models can be systematically …

A Compilation Of Works For Soprano By Moravian Composers From North Carolina, Laura Kay Hutchins

Theses and Dissertations

Moravians are among the first people to compose art music for both instrumental ensembles and works for solo voice in the American colonies. However, if you examine the repertoire taught and available to students of singing, you’ll find the songs of the Moravians are notably missing. To increase awareness, narrow the gap in research, and point teachers toward solo vocal repertoire, this document provides biographical information on several Moravian composers who lived and worked in North Carolina, as well as a compilation of selected works for solo soprano. As a secondary goal, the paper also highlights the contributions of several …

Strain-Induced Oxygen Vacancy Effect On Thermoelectric Properties In Oxide Thin Films, Ebenezer Seesi

Theses and Dissertations

The development of highly efficient and cost-effective thermoelectric (TE) materials is critical for converting waste heat into electricity in advanced power generators. For high-temperature TE applications, transition metal oxides (TMOs) have attracted significant interest because they are comparatively safe, earth-abundant, and stable under oxidizing conditions where many conventional heavy-metal and chalcogenide TE materials degrade. However, the TE performance of TMOs is limited by the intrinsic trade-off between the Seebeck coefficient (S) and electrical conductivity (σ), both of which depend inversely on charge carrier concentration. This constraint limits the achievable power factor (PF = S²∙σ) and remains a central obstacle for …

A Conductor’S Guide To Charles Villiers Stanford’S Songs Of The Sea & Songs Of The Fleet, Brian Niu

Theses and Dissertations

Charles Villiers Stanford is best known for his contributions as a composer to the sacred choral genre and his role as Professor of Composition at the Royal College of Music in London during the Second English Musical Renaissance. Beyond his church music, which is still regularly performed today, Stanford’s secular compositions are largely underperformed, especially for a composer and teacher of his stature. This document provides a conductor’s guide to Charles V. Stanford’s two works: Songs of the Sea and Songs of the Fleet. These two choral-orchestral works are less than 25 minutes in duration each and are scored for …

The Czech Double Bass School: The History And Development Of Bass Education Through The Prague Conservatory, Geordan Raisler

Theses and Dissertations

As a member of the violin family, the double bass has existed for the majority of the instrument's history in an ephemeral state. Across Europe the instrument varied regionally, and differing performance practices hampered the development of pedagogical materials for the instrument, of which wouldn't be developed until the turn of the 19th century when the instrument’s construction began to stabilize.1

The focus of this document emerged from noticing a pattern between the increasing quality of bassists in Central Europe, particularly in the genre of solo music, and the development of pedagogical materials for the double bass during this time. …

Acoustics Of The Kettle Drum: A Scientific Approach To Timpani Performance, Yuesen Yang

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation bridges the gap between scientific and performance approaches in timpani pedagogy. While the timpani have long been a member of various ensembles, its pedagogy often relies on experiential knowledge of the performers. This study synthesizes findings from acoustical research with traditional teaching sources to establish a coherent framework for timpani pedagogy.

Chapter one introduces the study’s purpose, states the problem, and presents the methodology. It also clarifies the scope of this dissertation. It identifies the lack of consistency between acoustic research and current pedagogical approach, proposing a comparative analysis of scientific literature and established pedagogical texts.

Chapter two …

A Compositional Analysis For Selected Works Featuring Saxophone By Braxton Blake, Matthew Allen Floeter

Theses and Dissertations

During the 2025-2026 school year, I have had the pleasure of working with Braxton “Brad” Blake to analyze and present on his theoretical approach to composition. As part of this project, I have learned and performed all of the music in this document. I firmly believe that one’s understanding of compositional technique is more fully realized through the preparation and performance of it. This document will provide insight into the compositional method in Seven Places (1998), Partita (2018), Three Dances (2022), and a Four Pieces for Baritone Saxophone and Piano (2026), presented in chronological order. Additionally, I have conducted several …

The Effects Of Whole-Body Vibration On Countermovement Jump Kinetics And Performance, Garrett Reese Evans

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: Whole-body vibration (WBV) is reported to be an effective training modality for increasing vertical jump height. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear because limited studies have examined the effects of WBV on kinetic variables underling jump height. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of WBV on jump height (JH), modified reactive strength index (RSImod), and eccentric rate of force development (eRFD) during the countermovement jumps (CMJ) in recreationally-active young adults.

METHODS: Fifteen participants (13 male, 2 female, 21.5±1.89yr, 1.78±0.10m, 80.2±15.0kg) completed three randomly-ordered WBV exposures (0s, 30s, or 60s: 35Hz, 2mm amplitude). Three CMJ were …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of The Genetic Cancer Prevention Clinic As A Tool For Managing Patients At Elevated Risk For Cancer, Sydney Marlene Price

Theses and Dissertations

People with an inherited cancer predisposition but have not been affected with cancer or tumors themselves are known as previvors. A previous study suggested the need for the establishment of a specialized management clinic for previvors in the Midlands of South Carolina. In 2022, the Genetic Cancer Prevention Clinic (GCPC) was established to serve this patient population. This study examined effectiveness of the GCPC in helping previvors manage their psychological and medical needs. A mixed methods design consisting of a chart review of patients enrolled in the GCPC (N=34) and a semi-structured phone interview (n=3) was …

Bias Effects Of Priming Towards Huntington’S Disease Among Second- Year Medical, Physician Assistant, And Genetic Counseling Students, Cameron Lynn Galley

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with Huntington’s Disease (HD) have experienced bias in their interactions with the public and with health professionals. This study explored perceptions of HD and potential bias among students in interdisciplinary health professions. We hypothesized that the presence of symptoms in vignettes would reflect increased implicit bias, participants with exposure to HD would show less bias than those without, and genetic counseling students would exhibit lower bias towards HD than medical and physician assistant students.

Attitudes towards those with HD were assessed through one of four vignettes about a fictional character in which a presymptomatic diagnosis was present or absent, …

Comparative Study Of Modern Chinese And Claude Debussy’S Piano “Water” Theme Works, Jingxia Kuang

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the music depiction of "water" and explores the similarities and differences between the piano works of modern Chinese compositions and French composer Claude Debussy, with particular attention to musical texture and performance techniques. It begins by examining the aesthetic parallels and cultural differences between French Symbolist literature and classical Chinese poetry, both of which are grounded in symbolic expression, indirect suggestion, and sensory resonance. Influenced deeply by Symbolist poets such as Mallarmé and Verlaine, Debussy often approached music composition through the lens of poetic thinking, constructing soundscapes rich in implication and ambiguity. Similarly, symbolic imagery plays …

Parent & Provider Perspectives On Rehabilitative Therapies For Children With Mucopolysaccharidosis Type Iii, Laura Denise Ciccarelli

Theses and Dissertations

Mucopolysaccharidosis type III (MPS III) is a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder characterized by autistic behaviors and skill regression. Although there is currently no cure for MPS III, various therapeutic approaches are recommended to manage the associated clinical manifestations. The aim of this exploratory study was to assess the perspectives of parents and providers on rehabilitative therapy for their children or patients with MPS III. Furthermore, it evaluated the potential benefit of an MPS III therapy resource developed by genetic counselors. Interview and survey responses were collected between September 2025 and January 2026. Eligible providers included certified speech, physical, occupational, and …

Musculoskeletal Physiology In Piano Pedagogy: Mechanistic Insight, Movement Exploration, And Technique-Building Exercises, Ziyue Gao

Theses and Dissertations

Piano technique requires the coordinated movements of multiple body parts; therefore, a clear understanding of the physiological principles underlying these movements is essential for effective technical instruction. Although existing literature— such as Thomas Marks’s What Every Pianist Needs to Know About the Body—provides detailed anatomical descriptions, it is often unclear how such knowledge can be systematically translated into pedagogical practice. To address this gap, this dissertation draws on musculoskeletal physiology to examine the movement mechanisms underlying major piano techniques. These mechanisms encompass thumb function, the fourth and fifth fingers, finger independence, wrist function, forearm rotation, the integration of natural arm …

Evaluating Genetic Counseling Perspectives Around The Use Of Chat-Ai As A Standardized Patient, Mary Claire Sherman

Theses and Dissertations

Roleplays and standardized patients (SPs) are widely utilized and valued training tools in medical education. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a novel component of medical education, though its applications in genetic counseling remain underexplored. This study examined perceptions of genetic counseling students, recent graduates, and educators on chatbot artificial intelligence (chat-AI) as a SP in roleplay exercises. Eligible participants completed a survey requiring a roleplay interaction with ChatGPT. Standardized prompts included roleplay instructions and a framework based on the American Board of Genetic Counseling Practice-Based Competencies (PBCs) and the Reciprocal Engagement Model (REM) for chat-AI to provide feedback on …

Patient-Centered Insights Into The Triage And Diagnostic Experience Of Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome In Clinical Genetics Services., Rylan Makenzie Sweitzer

Theses and Dissertations

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) is the only form of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) without a known genetic etiology. One of the criteria for diagnosing hEDS is the exclusion of other possible causes. This often leads to referrals for a clinical diagnosis with a medical geneticist or genetic testing for other forms of EDS. This study aimed to investigate the education that individuals diagnosed with or suspected to have hEDS are receiving and what genetic providers include in their appointments with these patients. This study included two original online surveys. The first was sent to patients through providers at Indiana University and …

Developing And Validating Asian American General Strain Theory, Hyeseon Noh

Theses and Dissertations

General Strain Theory (GST) has been extensively tested across diverse populations, yet Asian Americans, the fastest-growing racial group in the United States, remain largely absent from this body of research. This study addresses this critical gap by developing and validating an Asian American GST that incorporates both traditional and culturally specific strains while examining how collectivist cultural values moderate strain-emotion-coping pathways. Using primary data from 904 Asian American adults across five generational cohorts, this research employed a moderated mediation framework across three interconnected studies. Study 1 tested foundational GST mechanisms, examining direct and mediated effects of strain on three coping …

Artificial Intelligence For Better Inclusive Higher Education: A Study Of A Private University In Cairo, Shereen Ismail

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores how artificial intelligence (AI) tools relate to accessibility for visually impaired students in Egyptian higher education, focusing on University Y in Cairo. Grounded in the Social Model of Disability and Universal Design for Learning, it examines visually impaired students’ lived experiences of AI mediated access and the institutional conditions that shape these experiences. A qualitative phenomenological design was used, with semi-structured interviews conducted with visually impaired undergraduate students and key staff involved in assistive technology, teaching and learning, and student wellbeing; data were analyzed thematically. The findings indicate that participants experience AI tools (e.g., chatbots, transcription and …

Parental Perspectives On Preparedness Of Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities For Transition To Adulthood, Oretha Bennett-Spence

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Oretha Bennett-Spence PARENTAL PERSPECTIVES ON PREPAREDNESS OF YOUNG ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES FOR TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD 2026 JoAnn Manning, Ed.D. Doctor of Education The transition from high school to adulthood presents significant challenges for young adults with intellectual disabilities and their families. Although schools are required to provide transition services, limited research has examined parents’ lived experiences navigating this process. This qualitative study explored how parents perceive their child’s preparedness for adulthood and postsecondary life. Guided by Schlossberg’s (1981) 4S Transition Framework and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the study examined the experiences of six parents whose young adults were …

A Study Of Early Childhood Coaches’ Preparedness To Implement Lgbtq+ Affirming Social–Emotional Practices, Nicole Lynn Muñoz

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative collective instrumental case study examined how early childhood consultation specialists (coaches) perceive and implement LGBTQ+ affirming practices in early learning environments serving children from birth to five. Although legal and policy advancements have increased recognition of LGBTQ+ identities, early childhood education remains an underexamined context for inclusive practice. Grounded in a constructivist and interpretivist paradigm and informed by Queer Theory, Transformative Leadership Theory, Practice-Based Coaching, and the Pyramid Model, data were collected through interviews, surveys, and reflective field notes with a purposeful sample of New Jersey coaches. Findings highlight how coaches define inclusion, navigate organizational conditions, and identify …

An Interpretable Hybrid Deep And Reinforcement Learning Paradigm For Glioma Prognosis, Renuga Devi M Ms

Theses and Dissertations

Brain tumors are highly aggressive and lethal types of cancer, particularly gliomas. These cancerous growths show complicated pathophysiological behaviours and with poor prognosis despite therapeutic advances. Due to their biological differences and infiltrating growth, as well as overlapping radiological characteristics, they pose great difficulty in diagnosis, grading, and survival prediction. Artificial intelligence technology, which includes machine learning , deep learning, and reinforcement learning has developed into a new paradigm for the automation of brain tumor diagnostics and personalized treatment. The main goal of this study is to create an integrated AI-based framework that can perform brain tumor segmentation, grading and …

Does Concurrent Completion Of A Computer Task Interfere With Talking? Comparing Younger And Older Adults, Emma Simpson Hymas

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the impact of a computer-based divided attention task on spoken language and compares the impact between younger (18–30 years) and older (55–82 years) adults. Sixty adults participated in a speaking task and two computer tasks which varied in difficulty. The Level 1 computer task involved highlighting each instance of the word “the” and the Level 2 computer task involved highlighting each instance of the word “the” while also underlining each instance of the word “a”. Each task was completed alone and then two computer tasks with different levels of difficulty were completed concurrently with a procedural discourse …

Electrochemical Sensors And Processes In Molten Salts: Chlorine Production, Electroanalytical Chemistry, And Thin-Layer Electrodes, Tyler Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Molten salt electrochemistry has historically played a substantial role in the metallurgical industry, and this trend is only accelerating in areas of green steel, direct ore processing, and rare-earth processing. In addition, the recent surge of interest in molten salt nuclear reactors has provided an additional application for molten salt electrochemical processes, including the reprocessing of used nuclear fuels and the development of electrochemical sensors for nuclear applications. In this work, the development of a chloride volatility separation process for used nuclear fuel is advanced; electroanalytical methods are improved for identifying and quantifying unknown analytes with and without the presence …

Generalizing Networks To Address Data Imbalance For Facial Action Unit Recognition, Andrew W. Sumsion

Theses and Dissertations

Facial action unit (AU) recognition is used in a variety of downstream applications, including sign language translation, dementia detection, pain detection, and other high-impact tasks that require understanding facial motion. Although AU recognition is a well-established field, a number of unresolved issues remain. An initial problem is the need to improve overall performance on the benchmark datasets, as measured by the average F1 score. Also, the performance across all individual AUs, not just the average F1 score, needs to be increased. Recently, the field has shifted its attention towards ensuring that AU recognition models generalize beyond the distributions represented in …

Tusqh: Topological Control Of Volume-Fraction Meshes Near Small Features And Dirty Geometry, Brian Reese Shawcroft

Theses and Dissertations

This work develops a framework to create meshes with user-specified homology from potentially dirty geometry by coupling background grids, persistent homology, and a generalization of volume fractions. For a mesh with fixed grid size, the topology of the output mesh changes predictably and monotonically as its volume-fraction threshold decreases. Topological anti-aliasing methods are introduced to resolve pinch points and disconnected regions that are artifacts of user choice of grid size and orientation, making the output meshes suitable for downstream processes including analysis. The methodology is demonstrated on geographical, mechanical, and graphics models in two-dimensions (2D) and three-dimensions (3D) using a …

Database-Driven Revelations In Epilepsy: Patient Reporting Accuracy And The Circadian Timing Of Seizures, Ithay Biton

Theses and Dissertations

For over thirty years, patients have been visiting the Arkansas Epilepsy Program for diagnosis and treatment for seizures and seizure-like episodes. As part of their clinical evaluation, patients often undergo ambulatory EEG (electroencephalogram) monitoring. This routine process produces valuable data for treating the patient. In this study, over 2000 ambulatory EEG reports from 1998 to 2016 were reviewed. A large database of seizures was created from the reports, with information on 407 patients, 1611 EEG-confirmed seizures, and 1726 patient-reported seizures (IRB Protocol #17-093). The database was used to address two important issues in epilepsy. The first topic of the study …

Jackfruit Peel Valorization Through An Integrated Biorefinery Approach, Rohil Kumar K Mr

Theses and Dissertations

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) peel (JFP), an abundantly available lignocellulosic biomass, remains largely underutilized despite being rich in cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin. In India, approximately 13,460 hectares are under jackfruit cultivation, with Panruti in Tamil Nadu as a major production zone. The discarded peel often contributes to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The present study emphasizes sustainable valorization of JFP through an integrated biorefinery framework for generating value-added bioproducts.

Major biopolymers, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin were extracted and fractionated, followed by detailed physicochemical characterization using FTIR, NMR, XRD, SEM, TGA, DSC, GPC, and BET analyses. Pectin extraction with …

Gendered Harms In Armed Conflict: International Legal Responses To The Gendered Effects Of The War In Sudan, Naima Dams

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis interrogates how international law conceptualizes, prosecutes, and ultimately limits the understanding of sexual violence in contexts of war and displacement. Drawing on feminist legal theory, postcolonial critique, and ethnographic fieldwork with Sudanese women displaced in Egypt, it questions the dominant legal framing of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) as episodic, exceptional, and individualized. Instead, it reveals sexual violence as structural, continuous, and embedded in the everyday realities of racialized, gendered, and colonial harm.

Through ethnographical narratives, the study exposes how survivors' experiences often exceed the legibility frameworks of humanitarian and legal institutions, which prioritize spectacular, forensic evidence over slow, …