Digital Commons Network^™

Assistive Technology Abandonment With Veterans And Leisure Activities, Tara Lamson, Lee Ann Hoffman, Mary Greer

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

Veterans using assistive technology (AT) often face barriers that limit their participation in meaningful leisure activities, negatively impacting their mental health and quality of life. This project aimed to address these challenges by developing an educational program focused on improving AT management, reducing abandonment, and promoting leisure engagement. A needs assessment of veterans in Abilene, TX, revealed critical issues, including barriers to leisure, limited community involvement, and gaps in AT maintenance education. The program delivered web-based and in-person resources on AT use, adaptive leisure strategies, and equipment recycling. Key outcomes included enhanced social participation, improved independence, and sustainable solutions for …

Parents' Perceptions On The Impact Of Recreation On Emotion Regulation In At-Risk Youth, Latasha Harvey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the thoughts, attitudes, experiences, and beliefs of parents of at-risk youth participating in inner-city neighborhood programs regarding the use of fitness, sports, and cultural arts in recreation to attain emotion regulation. The self-determination theory, developed by Ryan and Deci (2017), guided this study. The theory is based on the principle that individuals possess the ability to think logically, manage their emotions, and judge optimistically. The central research question for this case was How do parents view involvement in recreation for at-risk youth as it pertains to emotional development? The study design …

Post-Secondary Education Experiences Of Military-Connected Students: A Phenomenological Study, Craig J. Alia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the influence that lifelong stressors had on the lived experiences of adult military-connected students in U.S. post-secondary educational institutions. Military-connected students were defined as the adult children or step-children of military members who attended a minimum of four years in primary school while their parent was on active duty and attended both high school and post-secondary school while their parent(s) were either active duty or retired. The theory guiding this was Pearlin’s stress process, which explains the interaction among and between military-connected students’ (MCS’) stressors, stress mediators, and the resultant …

The Soil Test: Facilitating Increased Receptivity To Spiritual Formation In A Large Church Through Education, Motivation, And Resources, Rosemary Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Decades of recent research and writing about spiritual formation and discipleship assume that there will be growth in spiritual maturity if churches have more models and biblical information. However, the literature addresses the wrong problem; it presupposes that the church is ready for spiritual formation. In their efforts to facilitate it, those trying to help the church are like the farmer who sows seed onto unprepared soil. Good seeds, such as discipleship groups, are sown into the soil of the church without paying attention to whether the soil can produce a harvest. The project posited that five conditions should be …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experience Of Institutional Betrayal And Help-Seeking Behaviors Of Military Sexual Trauma, Victoria Sheree Tolbert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe military sexual trauma survivors' experiences of military institutional betrayal and help-seeking behaviors. The study was grounded in Jennifer Freyd’s institutional betrayal theory. Using institutional betrayal as a framework was useful in illuminating the effects of institutional betrayal on survivors' perceptions of trust, safety, and decision-making regarding seeking support. The study aimed to understand the complex dynamics between institutional responses, perceived betrayal, and subsequent support-seeking actions among MST survivors within military contexts. Data collection included in-depth interviews, journaling, and cognitive representations with purposively sampled MST survivors. The study used thematic analysis to …

Exploring Nutrition Teachers' Perspectives Of Enacted Nutrition Policies To Address Childhood Obesity In The Bahamas, Shondell M. De Velde

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain a comprehensive understanding of nutrition teachers' perspectives on enacted nutrition policies aimed at combating childhood obesity in The Bahamas. The central phenomenon of the study is teachers' perspectives of enacted nutrition policies to address childhood obesity in The Bahamas. The Health Belief Model (HBM) developed by Irwin M. Rosenstock in the 1950s was used to provide a theoretical framework, that can be used to understand nutrition teachers' perceptions and actions related to enacted nutrition policies. The HBM delves into an individual’s motivation to accept healthy behavior and is thus constructed to …

Title I Music Programs In Tennessee: Administrative Decisions In Allocated Funding, Aisha R. Allen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The study of this project overviews a qualitative research study on the lack of funding for music education programs through allocated funding for Title I schools. The research reflects the choices made by the administration in different Title I schools and how these funds are applied. Classroom resources needed to develop these music education classes include performance equipment, instruments, and more. The state of Tennessee allocates a certain amount of funding for every school. However, most of these funds are used for testing, leaving the remainder of the funds available for music programs. Because the administration controls the funds, music …

Implementation Strategies To Improve Medication Adherence In Adolescents (Aged 13 To 17 Years) With Antipsychotic Induced Weight Gain: Educational Toolkit For Clinicians, Joy Asike

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nonadherence to medication leads to relapses of condition, frequent hospitalization and poor outcomes. Although antipsychotics are effective in the management of mental disorders and psychosis, the side effects, especially weight gain negatively influence medication compliance. Anti-psychotics related to weight gain is one of the most concerning treatment-emergent side leading to a great burden on patients, parents, and clinicians. Obesity and antipsychotic-related weight gain increase the risks to short- and long-term physical health problems such as metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension. Evidence has shown that there is generally low guideline adherence regarding the monitoring of antipsychotics, especially in children and adolescents. …

Covid-19 Effects On School Choral Music Programs’ Rehearsal Instruction: Exploring Responses, Sharing Teacher Perceptions On Future Preparedness, Watson Chilala

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The US experienced increased hospitalizations resulting from a resurgence of COVID-19 infections from Late July to mid-September 2023. Among educators and parents, the trend brought back memories of government school closures and their school instruction-related repercussions. This qualitative holistic case study explored how school choral music directors perceive their choral music programs' preparedness to mitigate instruction-related losses should future pandemics or long-term disruptions to instruction occur. The study examined relevant literature vis-a-vis journal articles and books and conducted open-ended interviews online, by phone, and in person. This study can empower choral music education with teaching strategies to improve SCMPs’ future …

Analyzing Errors Across Nonword Repetition Tasks For Clinical Utility Among Children Who Speak African American English, Tatum Carver-Dews

LSU Master's Theses

Purpose

Within the context of African American English (AAE), this study aimed to examine the clinical utility of three different types of NWR tasks to differentiate children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) from those who are typically developing (TD), by percentage of phonemes correct (PPC) and by type of error (e.g., consonants or vowels; omissions or substitutions). Additionally, this study allowed for examination of the relationship between the children’s NWR performance and their density of dialect-specific forms.

Methods

The data came from 50 kindergarteners (25 females, 25 males) who had participated in a multi-year study of childhood DLD within the …

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 …

Strengthening Tobacco Control Research: Key Factors Impacting Policy Outcomes And Health Equity, Bukola Usidame, Natalie Mcarthur, Andrea Titus

Department of Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

In this policy brief, we explore several potential drivers of heterogeneity in policy outcomes that can be examined in tobacco control policy evaluations, expanding the evidence base to contribute to continued, equitable progress in reducing tobacco-related health outcomes. We discuss these factors in the context of a hypothetical evaluation of the impact of smoke-free laws on current smoking and quit attempts in the Tobacco Nation. Despite a similar policy environment within the Tobacco Nation, there is variation in the strength of smoke-free law coverage across states. This commentary considers how policy design and other contextual factors, including co-occurring policies, and …

Increasing Self-Esteem In Early Adolescents, Megan Ostendorf

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Self-esteem is how someone views themselves in different aspects of their life. It can fluctuate throughout a person’s life. The literature review in this paper looks at the impact that it makes on their academics, connectedness to school, peer interactions, and how parenting styles play a role in a student's self-esteem. School counselors play a role in helping students to better succeed academically using a variety of interventions using small groups throughout their day. The small group in this paper is used to increase early adolescent students with their self-esteem. The small group takes place once a week for eight …

Stigma In Special Education Services With Student Focused Solutions, Deion Heinen

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Stigma can impact groups in many different ways. Special education students have endured stigma and the effects of this stigma for decades as proven by years of research. However, student focused solutions have been lacking in the literature and this is critical to give our educators tools to use in order to promote a positive learning environment in their classroom. While in this study, stigma was not proven in students that I currently teach that have IEPs or receive intervention services it was indicated that students rate themselves lower than general education students about how they perceive school. While more …

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 …

The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On Juvenile Delinquency, Abigail Holmquist

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

Youth that have been exposed to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are at a much higher risk of delinquent acts and involvement in the juvenile legal system. This study includes discussion on two studies of ACEs, conducted by Felitti et al. (2019) and Cronholm et al. (2015), reviews the impact of ACEs on juvenile delinquency in certain demographics, and includes case examples of how I have seen ACEs impact previous clients I had on my caseload. Discussion includes examples of how Social Control Theory and General Strain Theory apply to the relationship of ACEs and juvenile delinquency. Future research recommendations …

Fans In Ancient Egypt: Iconographic And Contextual Study Of Fans In The Predynastic, Old, And Middle Kingdoms, Nadra Zaki

Theses and Dissertations

A variety of fans existed throughout ancient Egyptian history. They had several forms and were made of different materials. They appear in two- and three-dimensional representations, as well as in texts. They relate to royalty and high officials and also feature in domestic settings, both out- and indoors. Fans were used for creating breeze, and providing shade in real life, and also during the journey to the afterlife, where they combined physical and metaphysical protection. Several names were associated with fans, depending on their functions, both in the secular and sacred world.

Earlier studies have either generally examined fans …

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 …

The Impact Of The Virginia Department Of Education On Music Education During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Erica S. Denham

Masters Theses

This research was to identify how the Virginia Department of Education handled Music Education during the COVID-19 pandemic. When proper support from the Department of Education is given, music educators can run their programs efficiently without doing much research on their own. By examining the COVID-19 policies and procedures created by the Virginia Department of Education, this qualitative study investigated how much emphasis was put on the unique needs of an education in music. Therefore, this investigation examined these policies and procedures to note in what ways music education was taken into special consideration. This study explored three distinct phases …

Jesus's Use Of "Woman" In The Fourth Gospel, Cori Mcgrew

Masters Theses

In John's Gospel, Jesus uses the word "woman" in surprising ways: to address his mother at the wedding in Cana and at the Cross, to address a woman in Samaria, in a parable about a woman giving birth in his Final Discourse, and finally, to address Mary Magdalene at the garden tomb. This thesis uses the unusual way Jesus addresses his mother in the Fourth Gospel as a catalyst to find a connection between all five uses of "woman" by Jesus in John's Gospel, concluding that these instances evoke creation imagery, in particular of Genesis 3:15. The allusion to Genesis …

Chilling- And Dark-Regulated Photoprotection In Miscanthus, An Economically Important C4 Grass, Jared Haupt, Katarzyna Glowacka

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Tolerance of chilling dictates the geographical distribution, establishment, and productivity of C4 crops. Chilling reduces enzyme rate, limiting the sink for the absorbed light energy leading to the need for quick energy dissipation via non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Here, we characterize NPQ upon chilling in three Miscanthus accessions representing diverse chilling tolerance in C4 grasses. High chilling tolerant accessions accumulate substantial amounts of zeaxanthin during chilling nights in both field and growth chamber settings. Chilling-induced zeaxanthin accumulation in the dark enhances rate of NPQ induction by 66% in the following morning. Based on our data, the emerging ways for the unique …

Matter Of 160 E. 84th St. Assoc. Llc V. New York State Div. Of Hous. & Community Renewal

All Decisions

In this case, the landlord challenged DHCR's interpretation of the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA), which repealed luxury deregulation. The landlord argued that apartments with pending deregulation orders prior to the HSTPA's enactment should still be deregulated upon lease expiration. The Court of Appeals affirmed DHCR's interpretation, holding that the HSTPA effectively repealed luxury deregulation for apartments whose leases expired after the statute's effective date. (Such apartments are still subject to rent stabilization.) The court emphasized the legislative intent behind the HSTPA and rejected the landlord's arguments regarding undue delay in DHCR's processing of deregulation applications.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy In Trauma Patients With Grade Iv-V Duodenal Or Pancreatic Injuries: A Post Hoc Analysis Of An East Multicenter Trial, Rachel Leah Choron, Charoo Piplani, Julia Kuzinar, Amanda L. Teichman, Christopher Bargoud, Jason D. Sciarretta, Randi N. Smith, Dustin Hanos, Iman N. Afif, Jessica H. Beard, Navpreet Kaur Dhillon, Ashling Zhang, Mira Ghneim, Rebekah Devasahayam, Oliver Gunter, Alison A. Smith, Brandi Sun, Chloe S. Cao, Jessica K. Reynolds, Lauren A. Hilt, Daniel N. Holena, Grace Chang, Meghan Jonikas, Karla Echeverria-Rosario, Nathaniel S. Fung, Aaron Anderson, Caitlin A. Fitzgerald, Ryan Peter Dumas, Jeremy H. Levin, Et Al

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: The utility of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for high-grade traumatic injuries remains unclear and data surrounding its use are limited. We hypothesized that PD does not result in improved outcomes when compared with non-PD surgical management of grade IV-V pancreaticoduodenal injuries. METHODS: This is a retrospective, multicenter analysis from 35 level 1 trauma centers from January 2010 to December 2020. Included patients were ≥ 15 years of age with the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade IV-V duodenal and/or pancreatic injuries. The study compared operative repair strategy: PD versus non-PD. RESULTS: The sample (n=95) was young (26 years), male …

Factors Associated With Cognitive Flexibility In People With Opioid-Use Disorder: A Pilot Study, Paul S. Regier, Thais Costa Macedo De Arruda, Laura Sinko, Anne M. Teitelman, Anna Rose Childress

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

The ability to adapt to changing circumstances has strong survival value. Individuals with substance use disorders tend to get "stuck" over-responding to drug-reward signals and pursuing drugs despite negative consequences. A lack of flexibility may be tied to impairments in neurocognition, including learning, memory, and executive function. However, results are often mixed, potentially due to heterogeneity in factors such as mental health, personality traits, or prior adversity. This study aimed to identify which factors influence neurocognitive variations within the opioid use disorder (OUD) population. Based on prior literature, we hypothesized that individuals with OUD would show deficits (vs. controls) in …

Novel Approach To Advance Directive Training: Hospice And Palliative Care Fellow Led Workshop Feasible And Effective In Increasing Confidence In End Of Life Conversations, Chelsea Chang, Jose Cano, Juan Lopez-Alvarenga, Josenny Rodriguez Paez, Sonya R. Montes, Rosa White, Meghana Rao

School of Medicine Publications

Despite the benefits of Advance directives, approximately only 1 in 3 U.S adults have documented advance directives. In medical school and residency, learners are often not taught or given very brief information on conducting end-of-life planning conversations with patients. Due to this deficiency, some institutions have conducted advance directive workshops but not many have been both palliative fellow and resident led, though some have been led by a geriatric fellow. Therefore, we approached advance directives with a resident and palliative fellow-led workshop. We aimed to develop and conduct a workshop on advance directives to assess feasibility and effectiveness in raising …

A Phenomenological Analysis Of African American Clergy And Congregation Weight Loss Interventions, Linda Fay Carper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This phenomenological study examines the lived experiences of Houston African American clergy regarding their roles and effectiveness in leading weight loss interventions within their faith-based communities. The research addresses the gap in peer-reviewed literature on the impact of Houston-area African American faith-based leadership on the success of weight loss initiatives. Grounded in the Transtheoretical Theory, the study explores clergy perceptions of decisional balance, self-efficacy, and processes of change to inform future health interventions. Ten purposive participants, meeting the inclusion criteria of being clergy leaders in Houston-based congregations with at least 50% African American membership, shared their insights. Data were collected …

Influence Of Social Media On Business Performance Of Small And Medium Enterprises, Annmarie Jennifer Calvert-Antoye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the significant advantages of using social media marketing, an estimated 25% of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) promote products and services through social media. However, the lack of use by many convenience store managers often results in missed opportunities for increasing sales revenue and reaching a broader customer base. Grounded in the technology acceptance model, this qualitative descriptive study explored convenience store owners' social media strategies to increase brand awareness and grow sales to improve performance. The participants were eight convenience store owners in the Midwestern United States. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of public …

The Impact Of Mental Health Education On Nigerian Immigrants In The United States, Paschal Chinedu Ukwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although there is a general awareness of the importance of mental health, the role of mental health education in shaping the perceptions and attitudes of Nigerian immigrants in the United States remains understudied. This qualitative study aimed to explore and understand the impact of mental health education on the attitudes and beliefs of Nigerian immigrants in the United States. The theoretical foundation for this study was the health belief model, which posits that an individual’s beliefs about health, perceived risks, and perceived benefits play a significant role in their health behaviors. The central research question concerned how mental health education …

Assessing Tolerability With The Functional Assessment Of Cancer Therapy Item Gp5: Psychometric Evidence From Libretto-531, A Phase 3 Trial Of Selpercatinib In Medullary Thyroid Cancer, Antoine Regnault, Laurine Bunod, Angely Loubert, Marcia S. Brose, Lisa M. Hess, Patricia Maeda, Yan Lin, Rebecca M. Speck, Adrienne M. Gilligan, Nalin Payakachat

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: This psychometric analysis generated evidence to support the use of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy item GP5 (GP5) as a measure of tolerability and confirms the appropriateness of categorizing "high side-effect burden" using a rating of 3 or 4 (score ranges 0-4) in patients with advanced/metastatic RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).

METHODOLOGY: Blinded, pooled interim data from the safety population (n=290) enrolled in the phase 3 LIBRETTO-531 trial (NCT04211337) were used. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for test-retest reliability using data from cycles 1-2 post-baseline. Construct validity was evaluated by examining the correlations of GP5 ratings with …

Counselors’ Lived Experiences Supporting Emerging Adults With Psychiatric Disorders Secure Competitive Employment, Cheryl Lakisha Andrews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Transitioning from childhood to adulthood is a challenging life experience, further intensified for individuals with psychiatric disorders. While strong social support serves as a key resilience factor, emerging adults with psychiatric disorders face unique challenges in addition to those encountered by their peers. This population is at heightened risk for adverse outcomes, including difficulty securing employment, a critical milestone for adult independence. Counselors play a pivotal role in supporting these individuals but often report feelings of inadequacy and reluctance to engage with this complex developmental stage. This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology study explores the lived experiences of counselors who assist emerging …