Digital Commons Network^™

Early Childhood Teachers’ Perspectives On Implementing Developmentally Appropriate Practice During Online Instruction, Charmaine Bonds

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early childhood teachers had to restructure instruction when the COVID-19 pandemic began, and instruction was completed online. The problem was that early childhood teachers faced challenges using developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) in online instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood teachers’ perspectives on implementing DAP in online instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic and what they needed to improve their use of quality DAP online instruction. The conceptual framework comprised the DAP and the positive technology development theories. The research questions were used to explore pre-K and kindergarten teachers' perspectives on …

2024 December 19 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

Post-Processing National Water Model Long-Range Forecasts With Random Forest Regression In The Cloud To Improve Forecast Accuracy For Decision-Makers And Water Managers, Jacob Matthew Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Post-processing bias correction of streamflow forecasts can be useful in the hydrologic modeling workflow to fine-tune forecasts for operations, water management, and decision-making. Hydrologic model runoff simulations include errors, uncertainties, and biases, leading to less accuracy and precision for applications in real-world scenarios. We used random forest regression to correct biases and errors in streamflow predictions from the U.S. National Water Model (NWM) long-range streamflow forecasts, considering U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge station measurements as a proxy for true streamflow. We used other features in model training, including watershed characteristics, time fraction of year, and lagged streamflow values, to help …

Geochemical Characterization And Predictive Soil Mapping Of Ice-Free Regions In Antarctica, Rachel Willmore

Theses and Dissertations

Antarctic soils are formed by extreme climate, minimal biological activity, and diverse geological settings. This study analyzes 201 soil samples across four ice-free Antarctic Conservation Biogeographic Regions - North-west Antarctic Peninsula, Transantarctic Mountains, South Victoria Land, and North Victoria Land - to create a geochemical database (pH, EC, CEC, C and N, and ion concentrations) as well as to determine if there are consistent trends between geochemical properties and soil forming factors (SCORPAN). Despite variation in geochemical properties and SCORPAN covariates, some consistent trends emerged across all regions and individual Antarctic Conservation Biogeographic Regions. Using SCORPAN covariates and multiple linear …

Modeling Stormwater Driven Plastic Debris In The Lake Ontario Watershed, Jayson A. Kucharek

Theses

Stormwater-driven plastic debris has emerged as a significant contributor to environmental pollution, particularly in urbanized watersheds like the Lake Ontario basin. This study focuses on developing a comprehensive framework to quantify and predict anthropogenic debris (AD) inputs and transport pathways across Monroe County, NY, using stormwater systems as a key vector. Over two years, empirical data on plastic debris were collected from storm drains retrofitted with LittaTrap™ devices across urban and suburban areas. Debris was weighed, categorized by material and use, and paired with spatial and temporal variables such as land use, rainfall, temperature, and wind events. A Support Vector …

Pepperbox - December 19, 2024, Student Newspaper Of Arcata High School

The Pepperbox

Volume 97, Number 2

[Previous publication listed as Number 2, this is suspected to be Number 3]

Analysis And Optimization Of The Adsorption Of Lead Ions On A New Material Based On Silica Synthesized From Blast Furnace Slag, Toufik Chouchane, Ouahida Khireddine, Sabiha Chouchane, Mohamed Tayeb Abedghars, Hazem Meradi

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

A novel silica-based material (SBM), synthesized from chemically, thermally, and mechanically treated blast furnace slag (TBFS), was examined for its batch-mode lead adsorption capacity, based on various parameters. Physico-chemical examinations revealed that the formulation of the new material (SBM) consists mainly of silica, which represents 81.79% of its total composition. After modification, the measured specific surface area changed significantly, from 275.8 to 480.13 m2/g, with a point of zero charge (PZC) of approximately 3.4 on the pH scale. The experiment revealed that the driving factors (contact time, stirring speed, solution pH, temperature, and initial concentration) greatly influenced the improvement of …

Navigating Cultures, Engaging In The Process: International Graduate Students' Leadership Process, Laura Vaughn

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Disciplinary Variation In Curriculum Internationalization: Findings From A Global Pilot Study, Pouneh Eftekhari

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Racial And Ethnic Differences In Outcomes Of Neonates Born At Less Than 30 Weeks' Gestation, 2018-2022, Nansi S. Boghossian, Marco Geraci, Erika M. Edwards, Jeffrey D. Horbar

Faculty Publications

Importance: Previous research has examined outcomes among very preterm newborns by the birthing parent's race and ethnicity, but knowledge about these trends during the COVID-19 pandemic is limited. Objective: To examine trends in outcomes among Black, Hispanic, and Asian preterm newborns compared with White preterm newborns. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study (2018-2022) took place at 774 neonatal intensive care units in the Vermont Oxford Network. Participants were newborns born at 22 to 29 weeks' gestation. Exposure: Race and ethnicity. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were mortality and complications, including respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), early-onset …

Contributions Of Glacier Meltwater To Water Resources And Water Quality Below The Ablating Coropuna Ice Cap In The Arid Peruvian Andes, Alexis Rowley

Theses and Dissertations

Rapidly retreating glaciers in the arid tropics are an invaluable resource for communities that depend on meltwater to support drinking water, agriculture, hydropower production, and mining. There is limited understanding of how glacier loss will impact regional water resources, groundwater flow paths, and water quality, especially during the dry season. The Nevado Coropuna volcano in Southern Peru has one of the largest remaining ice caps in the tropics, but has experienced rapid ice loss in the past few decades and is projected to disappear in the next century due to climate change. Located in the northern Atacama Desert, the arid …

Using Two-Dimensional Terahertz Spectroscopy To Explore Vibrations, Magnetism, And Their Coupling, Megan Faux Biggs

Theses and Dissertations

Terahertz (THz) light is at the resonant frequency of important fundamental excitations within crystalline materials such as carrier dynamics, phonons, and spin-wave excitations called magnons. THz light can be produced at high field strengths using optical rectification in nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals. N-benzyl-2-methyl-4-nitroaniline (BNA) is one such crystal commonly used to produce THz when pumping with 800 nm light. Here, we improve upon the design of the molecular building blocks of BNA by replacing a hydrogen atom with a fluorine atom, leading to improved THz generation and a higher crystal damage threshold. Later, we focus on using THz light to …

Computer-Mediated Communication And Artificial Intelligence Strategies In Arts Entrepreneurship, Anna Blake

Journal of Arts Entrepreneurship Education

This study analyzes the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) using computer-mediated communication (CMC) theory to prospect areas for innovation in an emerging field that is rapidly becoming integrated within our everyday lives as well as in the marketplace. In order to demonstrate how arts entrepreneurs can effectively and ethically leverage AI technologies to communicate with their audiences and stakeholders, I examine as case studies the work of individual artists including Grimes. The CMC framework is used to examine art as a form of communication, illustrate how AI changes the nature of art, challenge the extant concepts of identity and intellectual …

Progress Monitoring Importance, Challenges, And Solutions, Brenda Steffens-Romereim

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The project includes information from a literature review of progress monitoring since the Endrew F vs. Douglas County School District case and how progress monitoring requirements have changed. The project continues to explain two challenges and two solutions to progress monitoring and how to improve it for a teacher with many students on the caseload.

The Impacts And Interplay Of Adolescent Personal Contexts And Sense Of Belonging To Mathematics On Postsecondary Stem Field Interests And Intentions, Monica J. Weir

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This quantitative correlational research sought to examine the relationship between high school students’ sense of belonging to mathematics and their interests and intentions to pursue fields of study and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). With a theoretical framework based on the belongingness hypothesis and social cognitive career theory (SCCT), the author explicitly linked the universality of the phenomenon of sense of belonging to individual, contextual, environmental, and experiential factors that influence career-related interest development. A sample of 328 high school students attending one private, Catholic, college preparatory school in the Upper Midwest of the United States responded …

Kinetic Modeling Of Bacteria Removal From Suspensions By Magnetic Nanoparticle Capture And Magnetic Separation, Bowen J. Houser

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the kinetic modeling of bacteria removal from suspensions using magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) capture and magnetic separation. Functionalized magnetic nanoparticles, especially those coated with polydopamine (pDA), were employed to bind with various bacterial species in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), apple juice, whole blood, and its components. By analyzing the capture efficiency and kinetics of capture across different bacterial species and mediums, we developed mathematical models describing the capture kinetics of bacteria by the pDA-MNPs. Experimental results demonstrated that pDA-coated MNPs achieved high capture efficiency with certain Gram-positive species like Staphylococcus aureus, and one Gram-negative species, Neisseria perflava; however, capture …

Early Childhood Teachers’ Perspectives On Implementing Developmentally Appropriate Practice During Online Instruction, Charmaine Bonds

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early childhood teachers had to restructure instruction when the COVID-19 pandemic began, and instruction was completed online. The problem was that early childhood teachers faced challenges using developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) in online instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood teachers’ perspectives on implementing DAP in online instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic and what they needed to improve their use of quality DAP online instruction. The conceptual framework comprised the DAP and the positive technology development theories. The research questions were used to explore pre-K and kindergarten teachers' perspectives on …

Navigating Transdisciplinary Communication: A Graduate Student's Perspective, Sirimuvva Pathikonda, James Lipuma, Cristo Leon

STEM for Success Resources

Discover "Navigating Transdisciplinary Communication: A Graduate Student’s Perspective," a comprehensive exploration of how diverse disciplines converge to tackle complex challenges. This study, presented at WMSCI 2024, employs a Constructivist lens to highlight the co-construction of knowledge, innovative teamwork tools, and practical strategies for research in STEM and beyond. Co-authored by Sirimuvva Pathikonda, MEM, and James Lipuma, Ph.D., the paper underscores the value of Transdisciplinary Communication (TDC) in fostering collaboration, innovation, and holistic problem-solving across fields. Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.54808/JSCI.22.06.151.

Secondary Teachers’ Perceptions About Strategies To Teach Reading Comprehension, Carol Judd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study examined the challenges teachers faced in teaching reading comprehension to secondary students within the study school. Reading comprehension is a key skill for academic success, yet many students struggle to understand complex texts in subjects such as history, science, and mathematics. The purpose of this research is to assess how teachers perceive the integration of reading strategies in core content areas and the impact of professional development on their teaching practices. The conceptual framework used to guide this study was the social cognitive theory of self-efficacy, which suggests that teachers' beliefs in their abilities to implement effective strategies …

Luke-Acts Divine Transitions: The Holy Spirit’S Role In Shaping Gentile Inclusion, Celeste Santiago

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation investigates the writings of Luke, specifically the book of Acts. In analyzing Luke’s writings, he transitions smoothly from one pertinent figure to another and from one significant event to another. One objective of this dissertation is to demonstrate Luke’s narrative of Peter and Paul as chosen leaders or ἐκλέγομαι found in Acts 1:2. “Until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen” (Acts 1:2). The research shows that Luke presents these early key figures, mainly Peter and Paul, in their unique way …

Predicting The Effects Of Cyberpatriot Participation, Internet Experience, Gender, And Grade Level On Cybersecurity Judgment (Intuitive And Rational) Among Middle And High School Students: A Quantitative Predictive Correlational Study, Sarah Shin Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to determine if cybersecurity judgment (intuitive and rational) could be predicted from a linear combination of years of CyberPatriot participation, internet experience, gender, and grade level among middle and high school students. The importance of this study lies in its potential to address a critical gap in understanding factors influencing cybersecurity judgment decisions among middle and high school students. From a suburban high school in the western part of the United States, 123 middle and high school students who participated in the CyberPatriot after-school program volunteered as samples in this study. …

Easy As 1, 2, 3: An Analysis Of Rhythm-Counting Systems And Their Affect On Performance Accuracy In Beginner Band Students, Brendan Beiersdorfer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Music educators implement rhythm-counting and syllable systems globally to guide students in rhythm interpretation and performance. These systems are often associated with music disciplines and cultural regions; however, the influence of these systems on students’ rhythmic performance accuracy is not well-documented. This quantitative, quasi-experimental study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Traditional, Kodály, and Takadimi rhythm-counting systems on the rhythmic performance of beginner band students. The sample included students from three educational settings (n = 146), each providing instruction in one of the three rhythm-counting systems. Pre- and post-instruction assessments were administered to measure rhythmic accuracy and compare each …

Finding A Correlation Between Emotional Intelligence And Burnout In Music Teachers In Southeastern Pennsylvania, Richard Raymond Freda

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite studies showing that individuals with higher levels of emotional intelligence report higher job satisfaction and happiness, relatively few studies have looked at the relationship between higher levels of emotional intelligence and lower levels of teacher burnout, especially among music teachers. With so many music teaching positions going unfilled and many music teachers leaving the profession, it was imperative to find a way to keep music teachers in the classroom. By making teachers aware of their emotional intelligence and how to understand their emotions, it is possible that more music teachers can be retained. In this quantitative study, music teachers …

Understanding Special Education Teachers’ Perspectives On The Least Restrictive Environment: A Collective Case Study, Taylor M. Hunter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to understand how special education teachers interpret and navigate the concept of the least restrictive environment (LRE) standard in providing educational support for students with intellectual disabilities and autism. The guiding theories for this study were behaviorism and social cognitive theory. These theories play a vital role in highlighting teacher efficacy skills and learned behavior, which are directly correlated to decision-making. The central research question for this study was: how do special education teachers interpret and navigate the concept of the LRE in providing educational support for students with intellectual disabilities and …

Leadership Professional Development On Teacher Self-Efficacy: A Causal-Comparative Study, Yolanda Michelle Gilyard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study is to determine if there is a difference in self-efficacy between teachers who are in the process of receiving leadership professional development, those who have completed leadership professional development, and those who have not received leadership professional development. This study is significant because it aims to determine if self-efficacy is different between teachers who are in the process of receiving leadership professional development, those who have completed leadership professional development, and those who have not received leadership professional development. The school district is a Title 1 school with an 87.9% poverty rate. Due …

School Structure As A Mechanism For Crime Deterrence, Daniel Glenn Hennigan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

An examination of the relationship between school structure and community strength will be conducted. School structure will be categorized based on the organizational structure of the institution. Schools are conceptualized and categorized as Kindergarten-12th grade (K-12th), 9th-12th grade schools (9th-12th) and Combination schools. Combination Schools are defined as any school that does not meet the criteria of either K-12th Grade or 9th-12th Grade, generally 6th-12th, 7th-12th or 8th-12th. Community strength will be examined through property crime rates, violent crime rates and individual crime statistics. Analyses will also include proportional or ratio examinations per 1,000 students. A literature review will be …

Studying The Dynamics Of Neuromodulators In The Brain By Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging, Pingchuan Ma

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Neuromodulators in the brain are fundamental to neuronal functions and animal behaviors in health and diseases. The modulatory actions of neuromodulators highly rely on their spatiotemporal dynamics. Recent research has demonstrated the importance of both sustained and transient change in neuromodulators, likely due to tonic and phasic neuromodulator release. However, no traditional methods could simultaneously record both types of dynamics. Fluorescence lifetime of optical reporters could offer a solution because it both allows high temporal resolution and is impervious to sensor expression differences across chronic periods. Nevertheless, no fluorescence lifetime change across the entire classes of neuromodulator sensors was previously …

Exploring The Homeostatic Functions And Driving Forces Of Lymphatic Outflow Pathways From The Central Nervous System, Zachary Matthew Papadopoulos

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Lymphatic drainage from the central nervous system (CNS) has been noted and described for several hundred years, yet its physiological roles have remained unclear. The fluid homeostasis of the CNS has long stood as an area of scientific interest due to primary disorders including hydrocephalus. However, the early days of neuroimmunology leaned on the lack of lymphatic vasculature in the CNS as a contributing explanation for ‘immune privilege’ in the CNS. As a result, the importance of lymphatics in CNS homeostasis has remained poorly understood and controversial. Following a renaissance in interest in the contribution of lymphatics to CNS homeostasis, …

New Chapters In An Old Book: New Discoveries In Transferrin's Blood Stream Modulators And Analytical Methods, Shelby Thomas Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Human serum transferrin is a 79 kDa glycoprotein responsible for the safe transport of iron throughout the blood stream. Transferrin binds up to two ferric ions in two domains known as the N-lobe and C-lobe respectively. Thus, there are four transferrin metalloforms: apo-Tf (with no iron bound), FeN-Tf (with one iron bound in the N-lobe), FeC-Tf (with one iron bound in the C-lobe) and holo-Tf(with two iron ions bound, one in each of the lobes). The two domains are homologous but feature differences in the kinetics and thermodynamics of iron binding and release. The two lobes are also different in …

Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Unreclaimed Sites And Insufficiently Reclaimed Areas – Racetrack Borrow Material Usage, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.