Digital Commons Network^™

Self-Concept Clarity And Relationship Satisfaction: The Mediating Role Of Approach And Avoidance Motives For Sacrifice Among Heterosexual Couples, Hannah F. Hatch

Theses and Dissertations

While individuals often engage in relational sacrifice to promote positive outcomes like connection (approach motives), they may also sacrifice for a partner to avoid negative outcomes like conflict (avoidance motives). These distinct motives for sacrifice have been repeatedly linked with divergent couple outcomes, yet little is known about the personal and relational factors which shape them. The current study addressed this gap using dyadic data from 289 mixed-gender couples to examine how self-concept clarity (SCC) predicted changes in relationship satisfaction via approach and avoidance motives for sacrifice. Participants represented diverse ethnic and sociodemographic backgrounds across all demographic regions of the …

The Lookahead Transformer, Justin P. Olcott

Theses and Dissertations

Large Language Models (LLMs) are transformer models that generate text autoregressively in two stages: prefill and decode. The prefill stage processes all input tokens in parallel and caches them into the KV cache. The decode stage uses the KV cache, processes a single token at a time, and is generally memory-bandwidth constrained. Each decode step generates a token probability distribution, samples from it, appends the token to the cache, and repeats. This left-to-right, one-at-a-time generation paradigm has proven effective for language modeling in many domains; however, it also has limitations such as token permanence, constant compute per token generation, constant …

From Admission To Readiness: Evaluating School Admissions And Supporting Early Childhood Development At Middle Tennessee Christian School, Tessa B. Barto

OTD Capstone Projects

This capstone project evaluated the admissions criteria and processes at Middle Tennessee Christian School (MTCS) to better support early childhood development and school readiness. Methods included reviewing current protocols, conducting stakeholder interviews, analyzing kindergarten-readiness trends, and comparing practices to evidence-based standards. Findings revealed variability in academic skills and highlighted social-emotional development, self-regulation, and functional independence as key areas of need. Results also emphasized the importance of a holistic admissions approach and strong family engagement in student success. In response, evidence-based recommendations were developed to enhance the admissions process. Additionally, the Early Learning Center (ELC) Classroom Support Strategies resource was created …

Developing Inclusive, Evidence-Based Curriculum And Educational Resources For Neurodiverse Learners, Cristina N. Cinca

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone was completed in partnership with Wildflower Learning Center in Nolensville, Tennessee, a non-traditional educational program offering group academic classes within an inclusive and supportive learning environment for children with disabilities, neurodiverse learners, and neurotypical peers in grades 3–8. Wildflower Learning Center utilizes an interdisciplinary model that supports academic, social, language, and functional skill development through group-based instruction. The primary goal of this project was to develop an inclusive, evidence-based curriculum aimed at enhancing students’ interoceptive awareness through structured lesson plans, engaging activities, and supportive educational resources. A comprehensive 14-week brain class curriculum was created in both digital …

Life Skills Workshops For Young Adults With Histories Of Trauma At Crossroads Campus, Perrin G. Shuler

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Crossroads Campus, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides career training in animal-related fields, offers affordable housing, and gives comprehensive support services to help young adults overcome housing and employment challenges. The purpose of this project was to address gaps in daily life skills among young adults with a history of trauma. Key outcomes included facilitating life skills workshops, developing a comprehensive workshop manual for future participants, and designing pre- and post-assessments to evaluate changes in life skills competency.

Exploring Illuminate Academy’S House Of Growth Framework: An Immersive Capstone Experience And Literature Review, Claire Grobe

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with Illuminate Academy in Nashville, an educational program providing a homeschool-based alternative for children with autism and developmental disabilities. The purpose of this project was to address the agency’s need for improved understanding and communication of the House of Growth Framework among educators, families, and community partners. The primary goal of this project was to improve understanding and consistent use of the House of Growth Framework to support student engagement, regulation, and overall development. The project included a needs assessment, a comprehensive literature review, and immersive participation within the learning environment to …

Using An Administrative Lens To Facilitate Improvement Of Long-Term Acute Care Patient Outcomes Following The Continuum Of Care, Elizabeth M. Eisenga

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in collaboration with Select Specialty Hospital Nashville West, a local critical illness recovery hospital. Select Specialty Hospital Nashville West provides care to individuals with a range of diagnoses who require extended hospital stays, including those needing ventilator weaning. The overarching goal of this project was to improve patient outcomes using an administrative lens. To accomplish this goal, patient education materials were developed for clinical liaisons and other staff to help delineate patients' locations along the continuum of care. In addition, staff in services and a collection of resources on best practices were provided, with …

Advancing Caregiver Support In Community-Based Care: Advocacy, Resources, And Education Supporting Nicu Transition And Families With Complex Needs, Leah G. Rickard-Breeden

OTD Capstone Projects

This capstone project was completed in partnership with Nurses for Newborns (NFN), a nonprofit organization that is seeking to improve maternal and infant health outcomes across Middle Tennessee through free, in-home nursing visits. They provide education, health assessments, and connections to community resources for prenatal and postpartum mothers and their infants; specifically, those facing medical, emotional, or social barriers. The focus of this project was to create a comprehensive resource to support caregivers of infants through their transition from the NICU to home. A needs assessment revealed that families would benefit from additional support and resources to help bridge the …

Nutrition And Meal Preparation Programming And Development At E.L.I.'S House, Kara E. Nienhaus

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with E.L.I.’s House in Franklin, Tennessee. E.L.I.’s House is a nonprofit organization that exists to help women and their children thrive after trauma. The desired outcome of this project was to create programming to provide education and life skills training to participants, and to develop manageable systems for grocery shopping and nutrition in the site handbook. Goals promoted occupational therapy-based skills such as meal preparation, nutrition management, cognitive flexibility, and task sequencing. The project involved creating a house recipe book with balanced meals, accessible information on basic nutritional needs for adults …

Flip For Function: Strengthening School Participation And Parent Understanding, Ashley Caceres

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with Flip for Function, an adaptive gymnastics program that integrates occupational therapy principles to support children with and without developmental differences. The purpose of this project was to support program growth through improved school collaboration, program evaluation, and community awareness. A literature review was conducted to examine the impact of movement-based and adaptive programming on participation and school-related outcomes for children with and without disabilities. Based on these findings, several resources were developed, including pre–post outcome measures, a caregiver survey, a student take-home flyer, and a school partnership implementation guide. These tools …

Promoting Optimal Bowel And Bladder Function Through Diet And Fluid Education At Bridges For Parkinson's, Emma R. Floum

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone was completed in partnership with Bridges for Parkinson’s, RockSteady Boxing, a local nonprofit organization offering group fitness classes for those diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological disorders in Nashville and surrounding areas. The goal of this project was to educate individuals and their caregivers on the optimization of healthy bowel and bladder function, specifically in the Parkinson’s Disease population. Participants and their caregivers were given the opportunity to attend an educational seminar, including receiving an informational pamphlet. Pre and posttest survey ratings suggested that the participants’ knowledge about the topic increased. The educational pamphlet was also …

Promoting Emotional Regulation And Rest For The Parkinson's Disease Population At Bridges For Parkinson's, Charlotte Palmer

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone was completed in partnership with Bridges for Parkinson’s, a local nonprofit offering specialized exercise programs for those living with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. The goal of this project was to develop educational resources to provide participants and care partners with practical strategies for managing sleep and emotional changes. An inservice, including handouts, was provided focusing on practical emotional regulation and sleep strategies to use during and outside of boxing classes. These resources were designed to be sustainable for agency staff and future participants. Participants demonstrated increased knowledge of the effects of Parkinson’s disease on emotional …

Flip For Function Professional Development Workshop Curriculum & Staff Education Resource, Danielle R. Olsen

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in collaboration with Flip for Function, an adaptive gymnastics program that promotes confidence, participation, and inclusion for children with diverse developmental needs. A needs assessment identified a gap in consistent, evidence-informed training resources to support instructors in understanding how various diagnoses impact movement, regulation, sensory processing, and participation. The purpose of this project was to develop a comprehensive professional development guidebook and staff training resource grounded in occupational therapy principles. Deliverables included diagnosis-specific content (e.g. ADHD, Autism, Down syndrome, and sensory processing differences), activity adaptations, coaching strategies, and family education handouts to support home …

The Place We Live Which Does Not Exist, Jonathon Parker Yontz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The Place We Live Which Does Not Exist is a collection of stories examining the intersection of trauma and catharsis through a psychologically manufactured underground environment. By inhabiting the perspectives of multiple characters, each story builds toward a collective reality that exists parallel to our present. As the shortsightedness of hedonistic expression is shown, the viability of escapism as panacea is questioned, exploring the ends of a society increasingly dependent on reclusive tendencies.

Enhancing Lane Detection In Autonomous Vehicles Using Data Augmentation For Adverse Environmental Conditions, Rutvikkumar Dave

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

To make sure that self-driving and connected automobile technologies are safe and work well, it’s really important that they can correctly identify lanes. But lane detection Algorithms typically have a hard time working well when the weather is bad, such when it rains, fogs, or goes too fast. The circumstances cause visual distortions that make existing computer vision systems less reliable, which makes it harder requires autonomous navigation systems to work well. This paper introduces a comprehensive lane detection system that integrates synthetic Weather-informed data augmentation combined with a Weather-aware Temporal Lane Detection Network (WTLDNet) to make it easier for …

The Hate Circuit: A Collection Of Essays On Hate And Healing, Vivian Murphy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The Hate Circuit: A Collection of Essays on Hate and Healing is a lyric essay collection tracing the neuroscience, psychology, and lived experience of hatred and its slow unraveling. Rooted in the author’s relationship with her alcoholic mother, the essays move between memoir and scientific inquiry, examining how hatred forms in the brain, how it is inherited across generations, and what it costs to sustain it. Drawing on research in neuroscience, attachment theory, and the psychology of forgiveness, the collection argues that hatred is not simply an emotion but a circuit—one that can, with effort, be rewired. The essays ultimately …

The Myth Of Homespun, Valeria Delaportilla

Undergraduate Scholarly Works

In this work, delaPortilla analyzes the Homespun Movement, a boycott largely led by women during the American Revolution that encouraged the use of homespun fabrics to avoid purchasing fabrics from Europe. DelaPortilla argues that the homespun movement was not as widespread as existing historiography allows us to believe and explains that the movement was largely limited to people of means who could afford to commit to a fully homespun lifestyle. DelaPortilla further argues that the forceful application of the homespun movement in New England largely contributed to the mass criticism and in some occasions abuse of women.

Mason Avenue Culvert, Caden Boynton

Honors Theses

This project addressed the replacement of a culvert crossing Wabascon Creek along North Mason Avenue in Battle Creek, Michigan. Following significant flooding caused by snowmelt in 2023, the existing wooden box culvert—originally constructed in the 1960s—sustained damage when inlet wingwalls detached from the structure, requiring temporary repairs. Design alternatives were developed to provide a durable and reliable replacement, incorporating structural, water resources, transportation, and construction engineering considerations. The design process also addressed environmental sustainability requirements, cost-effectiveness and constructability. Final deliverables included engineering calculations, plans and specifications, a cost estimate and a project schedule to support implementation of a resilient long-term …

Ergonomic And Material Flow Improvements For A Medical Device Assembly Line, Matthew Kobus

Honors Theses

This project evaluated material handling inefficiencies and ergonomic concerns within Stryker’s Neptune medical device assembly line. Two primary issues were identified: lack of a standardized part-location system in the supermarket and excessive operator travel between subassembly and main assembly. These issues resulted in search waste, motion waste, lost production time, and increased ergonomic strain.

To address the labeling issue, a standardized bin labeling system was developed and tested. A time study comparing labeled and unlabeled conditions showed that average retrieval time decreased from approximately 120 seconds to 22 seconds, an 81% reduction. Statistical analysis confirmed that this improvement was significant …

Effective Courts Of Last Resort: The Supreme Court’S Limited Docket And The Rise Of The Courts Of Appeals As Final Arbiter On Minors’ First Amendment Rights, Lillian Powers

Honors Theses

This thesis explores how the Supreme Court’s power of selecting its own docket has resulted in fewer cases being addressed annually and its effect on minors’ First Amendment rights. Minors’ First Amendment rights is one of the many niche areas of law that do not receive hearings in front of the Supreme Court. My research shows that the Supreme Court’s neglect of these issues led to Court of Appeals taking on the role of a court of last resort. As precedent from select Supreme Court cases such as Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969), Bethel School District …

Narratives, Neurons And Narcotics: The Neurological Impacts Of Biased Crime Media And How It Disproportionately Impacts Black And Brown Drug Defendants, Jade Celestine

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how crime media and neurological bias shape the experiences of Black and Brown drug defendants in the United States criminal justice system. Drawing on existing research in psychology and neuroscience, this explanation outlines the role of perception and threat detection in the formation of implicit bias while also emphasizing a need to expand the use of neurocriminology to all legal actors. Particular attention is given towards the influence of media portrayals of criminal cases, especially for drug-related offenses and how that impacts the audiences on a neurological level. An analysis of historical factors, such as the War …

Relationships Between Adolescents With Substance Use Disorders, Their Guardians, And Expressive Arts Therapy: A Literature Review, Sarah K. Unkefer

Expressive Therapies Theses

This literature review collects the comprehensive, current research around effective treatment of adolescents with substance use disorder (SUD) and explores ways to provide psychoeducation for the adolescent and their guardians to foster healthy relationships and open communication. This author explores the ways that expressive arts therapy influences treatment and long-term recovery of adolescents with substance use disorders (SUDs) by addressing familial communication and internalized stigma. Previous studies have shown that the current primary reaction from guardians is forcing abstinence, which often damages the adolescent-guardian relationship. Since this is one of the most important relationships in an adolescent’s projected recovery journey, …

Analyzing Proposed Unmanned Aerial System Regulations And Their Impact On Manned Aircraft Operations, Kordell Irish

Honors Theses

The purpose of the thesis is to investigate the current state of the proposed Part 108 regulations and to find possible solutions to the problems faced by Part 108 implementation, with a focus on the interactions between manned and unmanned aircraft. The thesis covers upcoming changes to federal aviation regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding unmanned aircraft systems and their integration into the national airspace system. Currently, most unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are regulated under Part 107 of the federal aviation regulation. A brief literature review will provide a background and timeline in the lead-up to the Part …

Studies On The Contribution Of Osh6 To The Functions Of Late Endosomes, William King

Theses and Dissertations

The late endosome (LE) is a hub organelle connecting endocytic, biosynthetic, exocytotic, and autophagic vesicle traffic pathways. Malfunctions of LEs are associated with multiple age dependent diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). Despite this significance, how cells refurbish lipids and proteins to LEs to maintain their sustained activities are not clear. Previous studies in the model organism budding yeast show that up-regulation of a lipid transporter Osh6 (PERG6-OSH6) accumulates phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P) on the trans-Golgi network. It also promotes vacuole fusion and maintains the robustness of vacuoles in aged cells. Since LEs are the organelle between the TGN and vacuoles in …

Biomechanical Effects Of Bilateral Torsion And Skeletal Fusion: A Case Study, Linnéa Forbes

Honors Projects

As part of both a personal endeavor and an academic project, I have investigated the aetiology and treatment of seemingly idiopathic and debilitating leg pain in a patient over the past 10 years. Via collaboration with medical professionals at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati Premier Physical Therapy, and Cincinnati Women’s TriHealth, I have identified sources of pain at the anatomical level. The combination of internal femoral torsion, external tibial torsion, pes planus, and bony fusions appear to be major perpetuators of the pain. An effective treatment continues to be evasive. To date, I have attempted to find answers through genetic approaches, …

Improving Advanced Practice Provider Knowledge Of Urinary Tract Infection In Geriatric Populations, Ashley Denise Lang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Urinary tract infections (UTIs)in the geriatric population present unique diagnostic and management challenges. Improper classification and treatment plans contribute to increased morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality. This Doctor of Nursing staff education aimed to address a gap in Advanced Practice Provider knowledge regarding the differentiation of complicated versus uncomplicated UTIs in the geriatric population. Guided by the John Hopkins evidence-based practice model, a targeted educational intervention was developed and implemented. Evidence synthesis included 20 high-quality articles representing level 1-5 evidence. A pretest, educational PowerPoint presentation, and posttest were used to assess APP baseline knowledge and understanding of the education post-presentation. There …

Exploring School Administrators' Perceptions Of Zero Tolerance Policies For African American Female Students, Keysha D. Knight

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Zero tolerance policies disproportionately affect African American female students and contribute to their accelerated entry into the school-to-prison pipeline. Existing literature indicated that these policies subject African American female students to harsher disciplinary practices and that their behaviors were often misunderstood by school administrators. However, there is limited research on how school administrators’ discretionary implementation of zero-tolerance policies contributes to these disparities. The purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore how school administrators interpret and exercise discretion when implementing zero tolerance policies affecting African American female students through the lens of Lipsky’s street-level bureaucracy theory. Four themes were …

Highly Skilled First-Generation Immigrant Kenyan Women’S Lived Experiences With Workplace Integration Strategies In California, Lily Quiette Otieno

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unlocking the potential of highly skilled first-generation immigrant women in the workplace is critical in an era of globalization and multiculturalism. The social problem is that organizations face challenges integrating highly skilled first-generation immigrant women into the U.S. workforce due to a limited understanding of effective workplace integration strategies. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of highly skilled first-generation Kenyan women with workplace integration strategies in California. The study was grounded in Graen and Uhl-Bien’s leader-member exchange theory and Crenshaw’s intersectionality theory to understand how leadership relationships and intersecting identities shaped workplace experiences. …

The Relationship Between Leadership Communication Strategies And Employee Productivity, Motivation, And Engagement, Christopher Tucker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business leaders are concerned that change leaders’ communication strategy impacts organizational productivity and performance. These challenges can be attributed to business leaders and human resources managers not understanding the relationship between employee motivation, engagement, productivity, and leaders’ communication strategy. Grounded in the composite conceptual framework of Kotter’s eight-step model for change and the Burke-Litwin causal model of organizational performance, the purpose of this quantitative correlational project was to examine the relationship between employee’s motivation, engagement, productivity, and leaders’ communication strategy. The participants were 77 human resources professionals in the United States with at least 5 years of experience in their …

Leadership Practice And Organizational Culture In Reducing Burnout Among Sud Supervisors, Christine Arismendi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Burnout in supervisors/managers working in residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment settings poses serious threats to the agency, staffing, and client care. Behavioral health leaders need to understand how organizational culture and leadership practices shape burnout and resilience in their teams. This qualitative case study drew on the Leadership and Workforce categories of the Baldrige Excellence Framework to examine the influence of leadership and organizational culture on staff emotional well-being and resilience at a Boston-area nonprofit residential SUD treatment center. The study sought to answer: (a) how organizational culture and leadership affect supervisor and manager well-being and resilience; and (b) …