Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Experienced Compassion At Work On Nursing Home Certified Nursing Assistants' Well-Being And Turnover Intentions, Kristin M. Macdonald

Theses and Dissertations

Statement of problem and objectives: Could experienced compassion at work alleviate nursing home certified nursing assistant (CNA) burnout? This study investigates whether experienced compassion at work predicts higher well-being (meaningfulness of work, psychological vitality, and resilience) for CNAs, and if well-being predicts lower turnover intentions.

Procedure followed: This is a prospective, observational, survey-based study with three timepoint data collection. Convenience sampling of Kansas and Virginia NHs was conducted (n=13). All CNAs working at the NHs were study eligible. CNAs received gift cards with laddered incentives for ongoing participation. There was in-person administration of a CNA survey at each timepoint. …

Planning Growth Management; The Rapid Urbanization Of Loudoun County, Virginia, Shaianna Trump

Theses and Dissertations

As the population grows, planners and politicians must decide how to direct growth. This thesis analyzes how growth management can control land use and development using Loudoun County, Virginia, as a case study. By looking at how Loudoun County has implemented growth management policies, a case can be made for why governments should look to growth management to manage growth pressures. This thesis looks at the past and present growth management policies in Loudoun County and analyzes the County’s 2019 Comprehensive Plan.

How To Forget, Jesse D. Hoyle

Theses and Dissertations

How To Forget was born from a need to give tangible form to the psychic residue left behind by a life lived. Through the use of silk-screening of red clay mud onto ink-jet photographs, archival textiles, and site-specific installations, I attempt to tie and/or divorce myself from my own and my family's extended history and examine the function of memory within the dynamics of the archive. How To Forget takes a non-linear, non-chronological approach to this examination, compressing decades of time and space through the manipulation of the archive and my own self-portraiture, designed specifically to deny myself from its …

The Incoherence Of Orientalists, Sarah Zaid Alafifi

Theses and Dissertations

Orientalism, the Western practice of fetishizing cultures, extends beyond mere misrepresentation of the “other;” it epitomizes the underlying structures of colonialism and imperialism, infiltrating everyday life and eroding the moral fabric of Islamic society.

This thesis analyzes colonial control through the exercise of political power and the production of knowledge, investigating key events related to Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign and the narratives of resistance that emerged in opposition to it.

Through the lens of this 18th-century expedition, the study examines how Western knowledge systematically contributed to the dismantling of Islamic systems of knowledge. Select phrases from Colonial-era printed proclamations are extracted …

The Effect Of 17Β Estradiol On Local Production Of Active Vitamin D3 Metabolites In Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Tillat Batool

Theses and Dissertations

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) has garnered attention as a sex-hormone-dependent cancer with notable responsiveness to 17β-estradiol (E₂), in which it’s tumorigenesis can be mediated through estrogen receptors (ER). The ESR1 gene encodes for the classical full-length ERα66, as well as splice variants ERα36 and ERα46. Previous studies have shown that an active vitamin D₃metabolite, 24R,25(OH)₂D_3. has pro-tumorigenic or anti-tumorigenic responses in LSCC cells with different ER profiles, and that the tumor cells have the capability of localized production of vitamin D metabolites at the cellular level when treated with 25(OH)D₃-d6 …

Obstacles To And Facilitators Of Services In Child Welfare In The Context Of The Family First Prevention Services Act, Juliet Wu

Theses and Dissertations

The child welfare system has generally focused on child wellbeing and protection in the context of abuse or neglect allegation, supporting caregivers with child rearing, and finding a stable, permanent home for children. Because children and caregivers involved with the child welfare system typically have complex needs, public departments of social services often collaborate with other entities to provide services to families. However, connecting families to services has often been difficult, with many barriers along the way that prevent families from receiving the services they need. The enactment of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) in 2018 aimed to …

Re-Programming Transcription Factor Function For Neuroscience Research Of Addiction: Investigating The Role Of Zinc Finger Proteins In Driving Cocaine Reinforcement In Mice, Joseph A. Picone

Theses and Dissertations

Administration of addictive drugs like cocaine or morphine initiates aberrant gene transcription within brain reward circuitry neurons, which contributes to the lasting behavioral maladaptations that define addiction. The drug-induced expression and function of key brain transcription factors (TFs) is one major mechanism through which these drugs are able to regulate transcription, and as a consequence, lasting damaging drug-related behaviors including compulsive drug use. The goal of this dissertation is to more fully understand the molecular mechanistic drug-specific actions of TFs within the rodent nucleus accumbens (NAc). The findings from these studies could serve as the basis to identify novel candidate …

The Cultural Adaptation Of An Eating Disorders Assessment Tool For South Asian American Women, Neha J. Goel

Theses and Dissertations

South Asians (SAs) are less likely to be screened, referred, and treated for eating disorders (EDs), although they experience these serious health conditions at rates similar to those of their White counterparts. Available ED assessment tools do not adequately capture cultural nuances in the presentation of eating psychopathology in SAs. Thus, the current study culturally adapted the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) to enhance its validity, applicability, and cultural relevance for SA women living in the US. During the cultural adaptation phase, the principal investigator consulted with participant experts (N=24) and research experts (n=4) to create the …

A Multilevel, Mixed Methods Examination Of Food Insecurity, Housing Instability, And Cardiovascular Health, Sarah Collins

Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND

Housing instability and food access are both robust risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which claims more lives annually in the U.S. than cancer and chronic lung disease combined. We hypothesized that experiencing both housing instability and food insecurity would have an additive effect on CVD risk, resulting in elevated blood pressure (BP) and perceived stress among young adults (YA).

METHODS

This research examined the relationships between food insecurity, housing instability, stress, and cardiovascular disease risk through three aims. First, multivariate linear regression was used to assess associations among YA, focusing on eviction, food insecurity, and blood pressure. Second, …

Transgender Perceptions Of Breast Health Care And Utilization Of Preventative Breast Imaging Services, Cherish Parham

Theses and Dissertations

Little information exists on transgender patient perceptions of breast imaging care at mammography facilities. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of transgender patients at mammography facilities, their knowledge of breast care, and how these experiences have shaped their perceptions of the breast imaging community and attitude toward breast cancer screening. By applying the revised the Gelberg-Andersen Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations, this study addressed factors specific to the transgender population that may affect their healthcare utilization and how that impacts health outcomes. Researchers collected data from transgender/non-binary individuals in the Richmond, Virginia region …

Efficient Connectivity Management And Path Planning For Iot And Uav Networks, Amirahmad Chapnevis

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores how to better manage resources in mobile networks, especially for enhancing the performance of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)-supported IoT networks. We explored ways to set up a flexible communication architecture that can handle large IoT deployments by making good use of mobile core network resources like bearers and data paths. We developed strategies that meet the needs of IoT networks and enhance network performance. We also developed and tested a system that combines traffic from several mobile devices that use the same user identity and network resources within the core mobile network. We used everyday smartphones, SIM …

Photoluminescence Of Beryllium-Related Defects In Gallium Nitride, Mykhailo Vorobiov, Mykhailo Vorobiov

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the potential of beryllium (Be) as an alternative dopant to magnesium (Mg) for achieving higher hole concentrations in gallium nitride (GaN). Despite Mg prominence as an acceptor in optoelectronic and high-power devices, its deep acceptor level at 0.22 eV above the valence band limits its effectiveness. By examining Be, this research aims to pave the way to overcoming these limitations and extend the findings to aluminum nitride and aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) alloy. Key contributions of this work include. i)Identification of three Be-related luminescence bands in GaN through photoluminescence spectroscopy, improving the understanding needed for further material …

Analyzing The Role Of Slc25a32 In Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Mimansha Shah

Theses and Dissertations

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite advances in understanding its molecular pathogenesis, treatment options for HCC remain limited, highlighting the need for identifying novel therapeutic targets. This study investigates the role of SLC25A32, a mitochondrial transporter gene located on chromosome 8q22.3, in HCC progression. SLC25A32 is involved in the transport of tetrahydrofolate (THF) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) into mitochondria, playing a crucial role in one-carbon metabolism and redox balance. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we generated potential SLC25A32 knockout clones in the HCC cell line Huh-7. Quantitative PCR …

Shape Inverse Prediction Of Magnetic Field-Actuated Soft Robots By Neural Network Machine Learning, Lineth J. Perez Monsalve

Theses and Dissertations

Soft robotics has drawn tremendous interest in recent years because the compliance and motion of soft robotics enable biocompatibility and versatility for many applications, such as human-machine interaction, wearable and assistive devices, and health monitoring. This study introduces a novel predictive modeling approach using neural networks for shape control of magnetic soft robots. The robots are made of silicone materials embedded with hard magnetic particles, which respond to the external magnetic field provided by a ring-type of permanent magnet. These robots, free from physical connections to external devices, i.e., non-tethered actuation, hold significant potential for applications in healthcare, such as …

Role Of Human Intermediate Form Prl Receptor I-Tail In The Pathogenesis Of Breast Cancer, Shanwei Shen

Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer continues to be the second most common cancer in women in the United States. The neuroendocrine hormone human prolactin (hPRL) plays an important role in normal mammary gland development and growth, stimulating normal breast tissue proliferation and differentiation. Considerable evidence has shown that hPRL is involved in the malignant transformation of human breast tissue. hPRL enhances viability, invasiveness, and proliferation of breast cancer cells in vitro. Evidence from epidemiologic and genetic studies also implicates role of hPRL in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Its cognate receptor the human prolactin receptor (hPRLr) is required for the action of hPRL. …

Opioid System's Potential Involvement In Ketamine's Cognitive And Antidepressant-Like Effects In Rats, Fan Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Depression stands as one of the most pervasive mental health challenges worldwide, including the United States. Conventional antidepressants typically display a delayed onset of therapeutic action (4-8 weeks) and lack efficacy in a substantial portion of patients (over 40% of depressed patients are treatment-resistant). The dissociative anesthetic ketamine, which is a glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist, has emerged as a promising novel treatment due to its rapid and prolonged antidepressant effects, and it is especially beneficial for treatment-resistant depression. Nevertheless, the precise neurochemical mechanisms underlying ketamine’s antidepressant properties remain elusive, hampering the development of safer and more efficacious treatments. The present …

The Relationship Between Material Circumstances And Primary Care Utilization After Enrollment In Virginia’S Medicaid Expansion, Hannah Shadowen

Theses and Dissertations

Health and health equity encompass not only healthcare but individual level material circumstances like food and housing, neighborhood level conditions like local consequences of residential segregation, and state and federal policies like Medicaid expansion. However, we are just beginning to understand how state level health insurance policy changes operate in the relationship between material circumstances, healthcare use, and health outcomes. This work focuses on newly enrolled Virginia Medicaid expansion members by using both claims data and survey data collected at the point individuals enrolled in Medicaid expansion and a year after Medicaid coverage.

Paper 1 asks if newly enrolled Medicaid …

Bayesian Estimation Of Hierarchical Linear Models From Incomplete Data: Cluster-Level Non-Linear Effects And Small Sample Sizes, Dongho Shin

Theses and Dissertations

We consider Bayesian estimation of a hierarchical linear model (HLM) from small sample sizes. The continuous response Y and covariates C are partially observed and assumed missing at random. With C having linear effects, the HLM may be efficiently estimated by available methods. When C includes cluster-level covariates having interactive or other nonlinear effects given small sample sizes, however, maximum likelihood estimation is suboptimal, and existing Gibbs samplers are based on a Bayesian joint distribution compatible with the HLM, but impute missing values of C by a Metropolis algorithm via a proposal density having a constant variance while the target …

Development Of Novel Hydrogel Materials For Viscoelastically Accurate Brain Phantoms, Lila G. Schandler

Theses and Dissertations

Current methods such as concussion tests and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans only reveal structural damage post-injury. Creating an anatomically accurate model of the brain that mimics brain structure and viscoelastic properties will further allow medical professionals to analyze concussion events and create curated and personalized plans of recovery for a patient’s unique brain injury.

Values have been established for the necessary viscoelastic properties (time constants and elasticity) to mimic the native human brain tissue such as grey matter and white matter. The mechanical properties of the hydrogel are tunable by varying the concentration of Phytagel (PHY), a protein binding …

Applying X-Ray Fluorescence With Monte Carlo Methods For Analysis Of Surface Defects On Coated Zr4, James Tyler Cahill

Theses and Dissertations

Chromium-coated Zircaloy-4 cladding represents a novel solution for creating nuclear cladding that has passive safety features. This and related developments aimed at improving nuclear safety are broadly categorized as accident-tolerant fuel and cladding. However, implementing this material presents practical challenges such as the vulnerability that cladding has to surface damage such as fretting wear. This research aims to determine if the pre-existing technique of X-ray fluorescence analysis is applicable for detecting these defects on the surface of the cladding. This was done by developing Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport models of a handheld device, the XL-5, alongside experimental measurements using this …

Observed Parent And Child Differences In Black Mothers Of Children With And Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Sydney E. Padgett

Theses and Dissertations

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is childhood's most common neuro- developmental disorder, mainly distinguished by a pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity. Compared to the plethora of research on White children with ADHD, the research on Black children with ADHD is limited. Looking more closely at the functions related to parenting children with ADHD, there is even less information known on the interactions between Black children and their parents compared to White children and their parents. The primary aim of the thesis study was to compare observed parenting and child behaviors between Black mother/child dyads of children with and without ADHD. This …

Systems Check: A Qualitative Case Study Of Educators And Parent-Educators Supporting Adolescent Readers From An Ecological Systems Perspective, Kristi Nicole Grooms

Theses and Dissertations

In spite of decades of research and an abundance of well-intentioned intervention efforts, supporting adolescent readers, particularly at the middle level, remains a significant area of concern for educators in the United States. The struggles are present for educators working to help underperforming readers reach grade-level and keep advanced readers motivated and engaged. At home, parents and guardians experience similar challenges. Data on adolescent comprehension performance continues to be frustrating in terms of producing consistent positive results. This qualitative action research study investigated the ongoing challenge of supporting adolescent readers, specifically within the context of 7th grade, through a systems …

Factors That Influence The Use Of Culturally Relevant And Responsive Pedagogies For Elementary School Leaders, Stephanie Lindstrom

Theses and Dissertations

The presence of minority students in public schools has highlighted the need for teachers and school leaders to seek and implement exclusive instructional strategies that will foster cultural diversity. The climate, culture, and vision of a school are a direct reflection of the school’s leadership. The purpose of this study was to explore the cultural readiness of elementary school leaders, as measured by the cultural readiness leadership scale (CRLS), and their beliefs and perceptions of culturally relevant and responsive practices. The foundational philosophy used to support this research was the transformational leadership theory. The research methodology entailed a mixed-method approach …

An Exploratory Study Of The Effects Of Bis-Substituted Triazolium Bromide Salts On The Proliferation Of Wi-38 Lung Cells And H-1299 Lung Cancer Cells, Rakaiya Martin

Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The battle against this disease continues to challenge physicians and scientists daily, due to its various forms, treatments, and responses. Depending on the grade and stage of the disease, treatments can be extensive, encompassing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Though these therapeutics can prolong a patient’s life, they often have significant ramifications. For instance, radiation therapy has an extensive list of side effects, from organ damage to loss of fertility. These outcomes have driven scientists to explore the applicability of novel cancer treatments. Imidazolium and benzimidazolium salts have been shown …

How Do Elementary Induction Teachers Perceive Video Coaching As A Job-Embedded Professional Development Strategy?, Ursala Maddox Davis

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative narrative case study examines the perceptions of elementary school induction teachers on video coaching as a job-embedded professional development strategy. The research was conducted with 12 induction teachers from an urban school district in Georgia, utilizing questionnaires, focus groups, and individual interviews. Nine teachers participated in focus groups, and four in individual interviews. Initially, teachers expressed negative views about video coaching, primarily due to discomfort with being recorded. However, over time, increased self-reflection and structured mentor feedback led to a positive shift in perceptions. Teachers reported heightened self-awareness, instructional improvements, and a stronger emotional connection to their teaching …

Torricelli's Law And The Turn-Up Number, Bianca K. Hampel

Theses and Dissertations

We investigate Torricelli's differential law for solids of revolution. Computing the ratio of times of drainage under the same circumstances (same existing requirements) but rotating the solids 180 degrees allows us to define a "Torricelli turn-up number" associated with the solid. For various solids, we calculate this turn-up number and construct solids that are not symmetric under the 180-degree rotation but with a turn-up number of 1. That allows us to construct nonsymmetric clepsydra.

Academic Performance And Educator Efficacy In Supporting Military-Connected Adolescents Among High Schools In A Georgia School District, Megan Louise Jones

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of a parent’s military service on their children are well-researched in the post-9/11 era, particularly for elementary-aged students. However, research involving adolescents is much narrower, despite 25% of all military dependents ranging between 9th and 12th grade. These students are already enduring major changes as adolescents, but military-connected adolescents are also navigating the many stressors of their family’s military affiliation. These students are oftentimes burdened by frequent moves, parental deployment, and acclimation to their circumstances. While the military family is acutely aware of the heightened stressors that potentially create chaos among the family unit, teachers’ awareness of these …

Spin Wave Devices For Embedded Applications And Information Processing, Raisa Fabiha

Theses and Dissertations

Device miniaturization is a prerequisite for modern day electronics. Spintronics offers immense potential in energy efficient data storage, solid states devices, ultrafast computing and other electronic applications because of their low power consumption, non-volatile nature and unique activation mechanism. The conventional nano-antennas used for wireless communication, biomedical and wearable devices and IoT applications are limited by the traditional Harrington limit. As we attempt to miniaturize the antenna size beyond its emitted wavelength (also called “subwavelength” antenna), its gain and efficiency plummet. To overcome this challenge, the researchers have proposed magnetoelectric antennas. The ultra-thin film based magnetoelastic antennas suffer from eddy …

Photovoice As A Reflective Pedagogy For Undergraduate Community Psychology Students, Shereé Bielecki

Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive qualitative study was designed to understand the experiences of former Community Psychology (CP) undergraduate students who participated in a degree program at a California university. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore how former Community Psychology undergraduate students describe their experiences using reflective Photovoice activities to learn about and become involved in social justice. The theoretical frameworks that informed this study were in social justice theory, pedagogical practices related to teaching social justice using Photovoice, and the practice of self-reflection in college classrooms. Two primary research questions guide the inquiry: 1) How do former Community Psychology …

Leadership In Social Service Non-Profit Organizations: An Interpreative Phenomenlogical Analysis Of Executive Leadership High Attrition Levels And Proposals For Change, Stephanie Fredericka Wanza

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to address how leaders who are employed at non-profit organizations can utilize change management frameworks, leadership style, strategic planning and organizational best practices to reduce attrition levels at their organizations. The focus of this study is three-fold: a) to understand why high attrition takes place at non-profits; identify what change model/s, types of leadership styles and best practices can be effective in reducing leader attrition, b) explore the development of a leadership framework by understanding how to manage change at nonprofits through the Carnall (1986), Shields (1999) and Cummings and Worley (2009) change management …