Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Psychosocial Services And Perceived Supports For Pediatric Patients, Samantha Martinez

Theses and Dissertations

In March 2020, the World Health Organization named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) a global pandemic. While the physiological damage of COVID-19 on individuals and communities is itself immeasurable, both because variants continue to spread and because of the unpredictable nature of “long COVID,” we know even less about the long-term psychological impacts on individuals. Lockdown procedures, including school closures, were necessary to prevent transmission of the virus and to protect the most vulnerable bodies (namely, the elderly and immuno-compromised). However, the effect of the closures disproportionately resulted in psychological damage to children and adolescents. Previous studies have …

Babe (Body Appreciation And Better Eating), Just Add A Dash Of Self-Compassion: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study For Black/African American Teenage Girls, Nkechi Bianca Okpara

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction

Body dissatisfaction contributes to disproportionately high rates of disordered eating behaviors observed in Black teenagers. Given that self-compassion is found to buffer against eating pathology and body dissatisfaction and is linked to reduced incidences of binge eating and disordered eating behavior. Incorporating the self-compassion construct, specifically centering on nutrition, with a program that combats negative body image, like the Body Project, may further help decrease body dissatisfaction and improve overall nutrition.

Purpose

The aim of this dissertation was to test (1) the acceptability and feasibility of a novel program, Body Appreciation and Better Eating, add self-compassion (BABE+SC), and to …

Beyond Vaccination Coverage: A Critical Look At Zero-Dose Children In Sub-Saharan Africa, Chamberline Ekene Ozigbu

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Despite continuous efforts to enhance childhood vaccination coverage, a considerable number of children in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remain unvaccinated (zero-dose). Recent estimates indicate that approximately 17 million zero-dose children reside mainly in 10 Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) in SSA. The Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) aims to reduce the number of zero-dose children by half, necessitating research to identify populations and groups at higher risk of being unvaccinated.

Objectives: This research sought to (1) examine individual and contextual factors associated with zero-dose status in SSA, (2) assess the geographical clustering of zero-dose children aged 12-59 months in SSA and …

Unlocking Population-Specific Treatments To Render Equitable Approaches And Management In Cardiovascular Disease (Upstream Cvd): African American Emerging Adults, Shannon Bright Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in America. African American people have disparate CVD outcomes, and African American emerging adults (AAEAs) aged 18-25 have CVD risk factors. This study aimed to examine the state of CVD risk factors in AAEAs, assess upstream and population factors in AAEAs attending a southeastern historically black college/university (HBCU), compare their perceived and objective CVD risk, explore their level of CVD knowledge, and examine responses when they learn their objective CVD risk.

Chapter 1 presents background literature on CVD in AAEAs and the research plan. Chapter 2 presents a newly synthesized situation-specific …

First Principles Doping Analysis Of Perovskite- And Ruddlesden-Popper-Based Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Nicholas Alexander Szaro

Theses and Dissertations

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have shown significant promise as a high efficiency energy conversion technology. SOFCs are solid-state, high temperature (600 – 1000 °C), and electrochemical conversion devices that can operate with a wide variety of fuels such as hydrogen, syngas, and hydrocarbon feedstocks. The state-of-the-art SOFC is manufactured with a lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) cathode, an yttria-stabilizedzirconia electrolyte (YSZ), and a nickel on yttria-stabilized-zirconia (Ni/YSZ) cermet anode. LSM || YSZ || Ni/YSZ SOFCs operate at or above 800 °C to achieve sufficient oxide mobility. The high temperatures introduce problems such as long device start-up, particle sintering, and material …

Effects Of A Self-Monitoring Tracking System Combined With Blended Learning Intervention Time On Students’ Self-Regulated Learning Skills And Academic Performance, Jennifer E. Augustine

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the effects of the implementation of blended learning combined with a self-monitoring achievement system on students’ self-regulated learning (SRL) skills and academic performance in an eighth-grade English language arts classroom. SRL has been linked to higher academic achievement and success in and out of school. However, many students lack SRL skills, especially at the middle school level. This study addressed three research questions in order to better understand how students’ SRL skills and academic performance could be improved: (1) How and in what ways does the implementation of blended learning, combined …

Exploring Literary Responses To Culturally Relevant Texts Through An Asiancrit Lens: A Collective Case Study Of Chinese American Students In A Community-Based Book Club, Wenyu Guo

Theses and Dissertations

Building on AsianCrit, reader response theory, and critical literacy perspective, this dissertation study investigated how second-generation Chinese American students at age eight to twelve respond to culturally relevant texts which portray contemporary and historical Chinese American people’s lives and experiences in the United States. In addition, this study explored how these students negotiate their understanding of race, racism, and anti-Asian racism through associating with the stories, their everyday experiences, family traditions, and interactions with peers and researcher in a community-based book club. Specifically, this study examined how students of Chinese descent respond to xenophobia, discrimination, and racism towards Asian people, …

What Are They Thinking?: A Qualitative Study Of Secondary Students’ Critical Thinking In Online Classes, Scott Allan Nolt

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study emerged in response to students’ struggle to understand what critical thinking is and teachers’ corresponding struggle to develop students’ critical thinking skills. In my role as an instructional designer, I studied student and teacher reactions to interdisciplinary course design that used disciplinary inquiry, problem-posing, and concept-based online learning. The primarily qualitative study focused on students’ reflections across five different social studies and English courses, along with interview data from their teachers and post-course survey data. Exploring how students experience instruction designed to develop their critical thinking skills and how instruction in critical thinking impacts students’ critical …

Southeastern Conference (Sec) International Student-Athlete (Isa) Career Transitions - A Cultural Intelligence (Cq) Perspective, Tsu-Lin Yeh

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated international student-athletes’ (ISAs’) transition experiences of being recruited for, matriculating in, and then leaving high-performance and commercialized Southeastern Conference (SEC) institutions. Adopting the Cultural Intelligence (CQ) theory, this dissertation specifically examined how the four CQ elements (metacognition CQ, cognition CQ, motivation CQ, and behavior CQ) existed in an ISA’s transition process. CQ explains a person’s capability for performing well in culturally diverse environments (Fang et al., 2018). Traditional CQ studies have been utilized to manage international organizations’ diversity and inclusion (Triandis, 2006), particularly regarding employee retention, career transition and development (Mangla, 2021). However, although sports management is …

Exploring Chinese International Students’ Motivational Factors In Non-Mandatory Event Participation, Aimin Liao

Theses and Dissertations

This action research investigated Chinese international students’ motivational/demotivational factors and their perspectives on Virginia Tech’s non-mandatory events. The theoretical framework guided the research questions, literature reviews, and data design collection/analysis process. The self-determination theory provided the primary motivational factors for Chinese international students. The literacy/discourse theory explained their difficulties when practicing secondary Discourses in an American college. This action research utilized open-ended surveys and semi-structured interviews to understand Chinese international students’ motivations, struggles, and feedback in non-mandatory event participation. The qualitative research findings indicated that Chinese international students are motivated by autonomy, competency, and relatedness. Some Chinese international students’ inadequate …

Prosecutorial Discretion: District Attorneys, Public Opinion,And The Localized Rule Of Law, Yu-Hsien Sung

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses three fundamental questions regarding the politics of prosecutorial behavior. Specifically, it examines how the selectors of prosecutors influence prosecutorial decision-making under different selection methods, including electionbased systems and appointment-based systems. By using a political responsiveness framework and utilizing empirical strategies, including an experiment and the construction of prosecutor policy position data, this study offers novel insights into the subject. First, I find that voters care about prosecutors’ issue positions and rely on various cues to identify candidates whose policy positions align with their preferences, even in low-information elections. Second, elections show promise as a mechanism for holding …

Utilizing Case Studies To Increase Critical Thinking In An Undergraduate Anatomy & Physiology Classroom, Sarah E. Lehman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the implementation of case-based learning compared to traditional lecture in increasing critical thinking skills in an undergraduate Anatomy & Physiology I classroom. Throughout the course of one semester, five units were taught with the addition of a case study as an instructional tool while the other four units were taught utilizing only didactic (lecture) methods and did not teach content utilizing case study methodology. Two types of content-specific critical thinking data were analyzed: selected multiple-choice exam questions and End of Chapter (EOC) assignments. The Cornell Critical Thinking Test (CCTT) …

Injury Prevention Exercise Guidelines For Flutists, Ziqing Guan

Theses and Dissertations

Playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) have long been a common topic among performing musicians. There are studies of PRMDs specific to flutists, but not much detailed guidance of playing-related injury prevention has been provided. As increasing numbers of students have taken up the flute in recent years, PRMDs in flutists have become more of a concern. However, large numbers of flutists are still lacking education on prevention of PRMDs. The purpose of this document is to help flutists better understand the major muscle groups that we use in playing the flute, how these muscles are affected by flute-playing, and to introduce …

Leveraging Programmable Switches To Enhance The Performance Of Networks: Active And Passive Deployments, Elie Kfoury

Theses and Dissertations

The performance of networks today is drastically affected by: 1) switches equipped with large buffers, referred to as “bloated buffers”: due to the lack of programmability and traffic visibility in legacy switches, operators nowadays configure large buffers statically without considering the characteristics or dynamics of flows. Such buffers increase the delays on packets, causing the Quality of Service (QoS) of networked applications (e.g., voice over IP, web browsing) to degrade; 2) switches forwarding packets on a best-effort basis: traffic crossing a switch is heterogeneous in many ways. Mixing such traffic in a single queue without any QoS measures can drastically …

The Impact Of Institutional Merit Aid On Student Enrollment And Persistence, Richard Scott Verzyl

Theses and Dissertations

Institutional merit-based financial aid awards are widely utilized by enrollment management practitioners to attract and retain students desired by the institution and to increase net tuition revenue. While much research has been conducted on federal need-based aid and statewide merit aid, relatively few studies have been conducted on merit aid awarded at the institutional level. This study sought to contribute to the literature by examining the effect of institutional merit aid on initial enrollment as well as student persistence at a large public research university located in the Southeastern United States. A quasi-experimental design was used to study two nearly …

Statistical Methods For Single Cell Sequencing Data Analysis, Fei Qin

Theses and Dissertations

The recent emergence of single cell sequencing (SCS) technology has provided us with single-cell DNA or RNA sequencing (scDNA/RNA-seq) information to investigate cellular evolutionary relationships. Despite many analysis methods have been developed to infer intra-tumor genetic heterogeneity, cluster cellular subclones, detect genetic mutations, and investigate spatially variable (SV) genes, exploring SCS data remains statistically challenging due to its noisy nature.

To identify subclones with scDNA-seq data, many existing studies use an independent statistical model to detect copy number profile in the first step, followed by classical clustering methods for subclone identification in downstream analyses. However, spurious results might be generated …

Revisiting The Volumetric Swing Frequency Response Method For The Determination Of Limiting Mass Transfer Mechanisms Of N2 And O2 In Carbon Molecular Sieve 3k172, Adam Marshall Burke

Theses and Dissertations

Adsorption-based separations processes, along with the adsorbents that enable them, have benefited from a greater particular focus in recent years, following a desire to improve process energy efficiencies and cost economics. One such adsorbent, carbon molecular sieves (CMS), have likewise been a greater focus. CMS materials offer several key practical uses, such as the separation of nitrogen and oxygen, and the removal of carbon dioxide from methane process streams. In order to effectively design and implement an industrial scale process using a CMS material, the behavior of these gases on the chosen material must be known, including the limiting mass …

Archetypes Revisited: Investigating The Power Of Universals In Soviet And Hollywood Cinema, Iana Guselnikova

Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines the concept of archetypes in Soviet and Hollywood films, drawing perspectives from ancient philosophy and the thought of Carl Jung and post-Jungians. While psychoanalysis provides a valuable framework for understanding the human psyche and the idea of archetypes, it has its limitations and gaps that require further exploration. To address these issues, this paper proposes the adoption of a structuralist approach, with reference to the work of Vladimir Propp on the morphology of the fairy tale. Incorporating Propp's ideas can complement psychoanalytic theory and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying patterns and structures that shape …

Deep Learning Methods For Some Problems In Scientific Computing, Yuankai Teng

Theses and Dissertations

Deep learning has emerged as a powerful approach for solving complex problems in scientific computing due to the increasing availability of large-scale data and computational resources. This thesis explores the potential of deep learning methods for three specific problems in scientific computing: (i) reducing the dimensions of variables in function approximation, (ii) solving linear reaction-diffusion equations, and (iii) finding the parametric representations of parameters in the numerical schemes for solving time-dependent partial differential equations.

For the first problem, a novel deep learning architecture is developed for reducing the dimensions of variables in function approximation. The proposed method achieves state-of-the-art performance …

The Role Of Geographic Context In Tornado Risk, Risk Perception, And Protective Action Behavior, Sarah L. Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

Our current understanding of tornado risk, risk perception, and protective action behavior lacks proper spatial consideration of local physical and social geographic contexts. This investigation asks how the conceptual drivers of tornado risk (geographic context, risk perception, and response) interact to create the spatiality of tornado risk. The study proposes that the inclusion of geographic context and its influence on perception and behavior produces differential tornado risk and seeks to determine which factors contribute to such variability. A novel, researcher-designed Tornado Risk of Place (TROP) conceptual model guides the methodological framework, incorporating statistical and geospatial analytics in an Illinois State …

Identification Of New Disinfection Byproducts In Drinking Water And Impacts Of Algae, Md. Tareq Aziz

Theses and Dissertations

The disinfection of water has been hailed as one of the most important triumphs for public health in the 20th century. Drinking water treatment plants produce safe drinking water by inactivating microorganisms through the use of disinfectants, including chlorine, chloramine, chlorine dioxide, UV irradiation, and ozone. However, these disinfectants also produce toxic disinfection by-products (DBPs), through reactions with natural organic matter and anthropogenic pollutants, as well as bromide and iodide present in source waters. The presence of bromide and iodide results in the formation of bromo- and iodo-DBPs which are much more toxic than DBPs containing chlorine. DBPs are always …

Modulation Of Eif2Α Signaling And The Integrated Stress Response By Targeted Therapeutic Attenuation Of Pkr Activity Contributes To Protection Of Dyt-Prkra Cells From Apoptosis, Kenneth L. Frederick

Theses and Dissertations

Luteolin is a natural flavonoid present in vegetables, fruits, and medicinal herbs that possesses anti-oxidative, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of luteolin on the integrated stress response (ISR), which is an evolutionarily conserved intracellular signaling network essential for adapting to environmental stresses to maintain healthy cells. Dysregulated ISR is involved in the etiology of many human diseases including the movement disorder DYT-PRKRA which is caused by mutations in the PRKRA gene. PRKRA encodes for PACT, the protein activator of interferon-induced, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-activated protein kinase PKR.PACT-mediated PKR activation regulates the …

Increasing Math Knowledge In 3Rd Grade: Evaluating Student Use & Teacher Perceptions Of Imagine Math, Paoze Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Students across the nation struggle with learning mathematics for a variety of reasons such as the abstract nature, there is only one correct answer and how math is foundational. With the recent increase in the use of digital programs, school districts across the nation have turned to digital math programs for math intervention and learning. School district leaders must weigh costs, effectiveness, and teacher perceptions. Eighty-seven percent of the third grade students at Reyes Elementary nearly met or did not meet California math standards, prompting the school to adopt Imagine Math. The purpose of this research was to evaluate if …

The Effects Of Poly-Strengths On Psychological Wellbeing Amongst Young Adults With Childhood Poly-Victimization, Nakisa Asefnia

Theses and Dissertations

The field of trauma and victimization has undergone many evolutions in its efforts to conceptualize the impacts of victimization and more recently poly-victimization. Poly-victimization refers to the experiencing of multiple types of victimization over the lifespan. This has led to an ever-growing base of literature highlighting the many deleterious effects of these experiences on individuals’ wellbeing, and the factors which may make a person more vulnerable to victimization. However, a growing movement in the field aims to take a more strengths-based perspective that highlights the resilience of individuals, rather than risk factors, in the hopes of better understanding the factors …

The Correlation Between Bilingual Children’S Self-Reported Language Proficiency And Their Scores On Dual-Language Standardized Assessments, Andrea Elise Vargas

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to evaluate the relation between bilingual Spanish-English speaking children’s self-reported language proficiencies and bilingual experiences and their scores on norm-referenced standardized dual-language assessments. Additionally, the relation between bilingual children’s self-reported language proficiencies and bilingual experiences and parent reports of children’s Spanish and English input and output was examined. The Houston Questionnaire, a novel tool designed to provide insight into bilingual children’s self-perceptions of language proficiencies and experiences, was administered to gather such information for this study. A sample of bilingual children local to Columbia, South Carolina completed a battery of dual-language standardized assessments in kindergarten, and then …

Academic Impacts Of Intergenerational Trauma: Assessing The Relationship Between Ace Scores Of Parents And The Language And Literacy Development Of Their Elementary-Aged Children, Paige Lee Banaszak

Theses and Dissertations

This paper contributes to the current literature by investigating factors that may contribute to language and literacy difficulty among children, to support the future development of effective intervention techniques. The data analyzed in this paper was collected from children and families participating in Reach Every Reader, a research study currently being conducted to improve literacy outcomes in the U.S. by developing a computer-adaptive screening assessment tool to identify children at risk for language and literacy difficulties early in their educational development. Children enrolled in kindergarten through third grade completed tasks that target language and literacy skills, and their parent(s) completed …

University, City, And Community: Athletics Urban Renewal Projects And The University Of South Carolina’S Carolina Coliseum And Blatt Physical Education Center, 1964–1971, Theresa M. Harrison

Theses and Dissertations

Higher education institutions (HEIs) often are characterized by how they compete with other institutions. Institutions try to secure the most resources for their benefit, and this often includes expansion and land accumulation.1 Increasingly common is land acquisition for athletics expansion or enhancement, because successful athletics programs build perception and prominence.2 Historically, for large public universities in urban centers, athletics expansion or enhancement has negatively affected surrounding areas. Often, city centers are populated by Black and Brown community members due to the migration patterns of Blacks after World War II and subsequent racial segregation efforts that further segregated Communities by Color. …

Predictors Of Driving Performance Post-Stroke, Halle Elise Prine

Theses and Dissertations

Driving is a complex skill involving the interaction of various brain functions, making it challenging to determine the independent contributions of each process to driving proficiency. While past studies have identified assessments such as the Useful Field of View Test (UFOV) and the Trial Making Test (TMT) as strong predictors for driving skills, little research has explored the impact of visual search and movement inhibition on driving after stroke. This cross-sectional study includes participants between the ages of 21 to 80 years with residual disability caused by a unilateral middle cerebral artery stroke at least six months prior. The participants …

Impact Of Dam Height And Grain Size Distribution On Breaching Of Non-Cohesive Dams Due To Overtopping, Heather O'Donal

Theses and Dissertations

The National Inventory of Dams reports 74,400 earthen dams in the United States in 2021, of these dams approximately 27% are considered at high or significant hazard risk, that is dam failure will cause widespread damage and loss of lives. The most frequent cause of dam failure is breaching caused by overtopping. Accurate predictions of breach evolution are thus crucial to determine flood hydrographs for the safety of communities and properties at risk. Laboratory experiments were conducted on non-cohesive, compacted embankments to understand the role of dam height and sediment grain size on breaching caused by overtopping. Dam heights varied …

Groundwater Flow And Salt Marsh Migration: The Forest/Marsh Boundary, Camille Rossiello

Theses and Dissertations

Salt marshes migrate landward in response to sea level rise, but the rate of this migration is not constant and can be influenced by pulse disturbances. Long term observations at Sapelo Island, Georgia, show that salt marsh migration has occurred during droughts, but the mechanism for this migration is unclear. Drought is thought to influence salt marsh migration by reducing fresh groundwater discharge from the upland. Rising sea level also encroaches on the upland, which could cause movement of the freshwater lens inland. A two-dimensional numerical model was built to simulate groundwater flow and solute transport based on the Marsh …