Digital Commons Network^™

Intersectionality In Juvenile Diversion Post-2018 Juvenile Justice And Delinquency Prevention Act Reauthorization, Bobby Powell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Strategies Health Care Leaders Use To Reduce Health Care Worker Absenteeism Due To Influenza, Adriene Yvonn Thornton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Exploring Organizational Responses To Clinician Turnover: A Baldrige Framework Approach, Sharayza Rachael Blakemore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Needs Assessment For Sexual Violence Education In An Afterschool Program In Liberia, Mabel Howe Watson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Culturally Informed Approaches To Support Perinatal Mental Health: Perceptions And Experiences Of Perinatal Depression And Support Systems Among Postpartum African-Born Women In The United States, Joyce O. Imafidon

ETDs from 2020-2029

Perinatal mental health (PMH) of African-born women (ABW) is underrepresented in research and practice in the United States (US) despite known consequences of poor mental wellbeing on one’s overall health, relationships and productivity. Beyond their fundamental role in family support, ABW contribute significantly to the US workforce, education sector, and economy. This three-paper dissertation enhances understanding on PMH outcomes, perception and experiences of ABW in the US. Perinatal depression (PD), one of the most common mood disorders affecting 1 in 8 women, is highlighted. The overarching question is to what extent does the US health system address PMH of ABW …

Behind The Screen: Exploring How Undergraduate Students Experience Sense Of Belonging In Online Learning Environments In The United States, Grace Ellen Kiersznowski

ETDs from 2020-2029

Enrollment in online courses in higher education has been rising rapidly over the past couple of decades and has accelerated since the COVID-19 pandemic. This has made higher learning more accessible for students who would otherwise have difficulty earning a degree. Online education poses many barriers to students’ development of a sense of belonging, something research has been found to be of great importance to student success and well-being. Relatively little was known about students’ sense of belonging in online learning environments prior to the pandemic. Since the pandemic, online education has undergone major changes, changing the landscape in a …

Bone Marrow Adiposity, Obesity, And Tumor Burden In Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma, Ananya Deshpande

ETDs from 2020-2029

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematologic malignancy in the United States. It is characterized by the accumulation of clonally expanded plasma cells in the bone marrow, which leads to end organ damage and myeloma-defining events requiring treatment. The only modifiable risk factor for MM is obesity. However, associations between obesity, bone marrow adipocytes, and tumor burden at MM diagnosis remain unclear. We evaluated associations of bone marrow adipocytes, body mass index (BMI), and clinical features of tumor burden among 168 patients with histologically confirmed newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) enrolled in the Integrative Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology …

Why Gentlemen Prefer Chi Omega: The Impact Of The Sorority Tier System On The Member Experience, Cameron Pannell

ETDs from 2020-2029

Sorority life is situated in a social hierarchy, in which the hierarchical tiers are determined by sorority women’s feminine worth. The hierarchical system in sorority life originates from women’s pursuit of hegemonic femininity. This study utilized semi-structured interviews of eight sorority women to fulfill the purpose of this study, which was to investigate how the sorority tier system shapes members’ experiences in Greek life and in college. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings of this study reveal that access to top-tier chapters is limited to elite women; women choose their chapter either for deep connections or for reputation …

Nazi Propaganda In The United States Prior To American Entry Into The Second World War, Trenton Alexander Bowen

ETDs from 2020-2029

This thesis examines the multifaceted nature of Nazi propaganda in the United States during the interwar years. I argue that these publications were not just a parade of familiar cliches about Jews or the wisdom of American neutrality. Rather, they and the organizations that disseminated them presented a jumbled patchwork of lies, hypocritical claims, contradictions, and distortions. In other words, I argue that Nazi propaganda was so dangerous in the United States because it relied on mixed and confusing messaging, and in turn, on the ignorance of Americans about the nature of the “new Germany.”

The Medicalization Of Rapists In Psychiatry From 2000-2024, Lily Plowden

ETDs from 2020-2029

The process of human problems coming to be defined as medical conditions and thus under the purview of medical professionals is called medicalization. This study examines how psychiatrists medicalize perpetrators of sexual violence, looking particularly at debates around whether to include a new disorder, Paraphilic Coercive Disorder, in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition. Using a content analysis of n=102 articles, it finds that discussions of the pathology of sexual violence perpetration were prevalent among psychiatric journals from 2000-2024. Psychiatrists medicalize rapists through three pathways: advocating for a new medical disorder; attributing the cause of sexual …

Investigation Of The Noise Reduction Performance Of A Commercial Active Noise Canceling (Anc) Device, Eli O'Connor

ETDs from 2020-2029

It is estimated that 22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at work each year. According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), active noise canceling (ANC) devices are generally not adequate to use for hearing protection in an occupation setting. This study examined the noise attenuation of AirPod Pros 3, to investigate how the device performs at different sound levels. AirPods Pros 3 and a CARL mannequin were used for this study. Two dosimeters were placed inside the mannequin’s right and left ear canals. A speaker played pink noise at external ear sound levels of 90, 95, …

Potential Noise Exposure During Post-Trip Inspection Among Commercial Freight Truck Operators, Makayla Ashley Baker

ETDs from 2020-2029

Noise exposure is one of the most common occupational hazards. Transportation and mate-rial moving occupations reported exposure to noise levels that ranged from moderate (81.4%), loud (15.9%), to very loud (< 0.5%). This study aimed to assess the working noise environment of freight truck operators while completing post-trip inspection. Area noise sampling was performed while freight truck engines were in idle states. A type 2 sound level meter (SLM) was utilized to record noise levels, positioned at rear of the truck cab with the microphone towards the source at a height of 5 feet. The SLM was set up for three noise metrics: Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) and Hearing Conservation (HC) action level in addition to the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold limit value (TLV). 4 trucks were sampled and for each truck, recording duration lasted approximately 15 minutes, reflecting the time spent conducting post inspections. Data collection included the average sound level (Lavg), A-weighted equivalent continuous sound level (LAeq), and maximum A-weighted sound level (LASmax). The measurements were repeated 3 times for each truck and the data were averaged. Lavg was compared to the three respective occupa-tional exposure limits (OELs), assuming a worst-case scenario. Lavg values of each sampling round among four trucks obtained using the OSHA PEL values ranged from 45.1 to 51.4 dB(A), OSHA HC criteria ranged from 37.8 to 51.9 dB(A), and ACGIH TLV values ranged from 55.5 to 67.9 dB(A). The average LAeq of three sampling rounds of the four trucks ranged from 75.4 to 76.9 dB(A) with Truck 3 having the highest average level. The average LASmax of three sampling rounds ranged from 79.3 to 92.0 dB(A), with Truck 3 having the highest average level. Though none of Lavg averages exceeded the respective OELs, Truck 3 under the ACGIH TLV criterion had the highest Lavg at 51.6.9 dB(A), LAeq at 76.9 dB(A), as well as the highest LASmax at 92.0 dB(A). The elevated sound level may be attributed to engine turnover from automated shutoff in prolonged idle states. Further studies need be conducted to investigate other potential factors such as air-brake systems, engine/cab model and age.

Clinical Validation Of Tabpfn-2.5: Zero-Shot Performance, Data-Scarce Robustness, And Distilled Models For Real-Time Clinical Decision Support, Baraa Aljawawdeh

ETDs from 2020-2029

Accurate clinical risk prediction plays an important role in improving patient outcomes, particularly in perioperative settings where early intervention can influence care decisions. Although machine learning has shown promising results using electronic health record (EHR) data, its use in clinical practice is often limited by complex development processes, the need for hyperparameter tuning, and variability in performance across datasets. These challenges are especially relevant in data-scarce clinical settings. This thesis evaluates TabPFN-2.5, a transformer-based tabular foundation model designed to perform classification without dataset-specific training. The model was applied to two real-world perioperative prediction tasks: unplanned care escalation (UCE) following post-anesthesia …

Leadership In Parent Engagement: A Phenomenological Study Of School Principals’ Preparedness To Lead Parent Engagement, Aqila Malpass

ETDs from 2020-2029

Researchers consistently report a strong positive correlation between parent engagement and student achievement. When parents are engaged, students benefit in all grade levels and backgrounds (Auerbach, 2010; Epstein, 2011; Henderson & Mapp, 2002; Jeynes, 2005; Weiss et al., 2010). Policy-makers and educators acknowledge the influence of parent engagement on student outcomes (Mapp, 2012). Consequently, communities need effective parent engagement systems and structures within their schools. Principals should understand parent engagement and be equipped to lead its implementation in their schools. It is also necessary to identify key training and support conditions that help to equip principals to lead effective parent …

Learnable Structured Attention For Student-Aware Knowledge Distillation In Dense Prediction, Chen Liu

ETDs from 2020-2029

Dense prediction tasks, including object detection and semantic segmentation, require models to produce structured predictions and are widely used in real-world vision applications. Although deep networks have achieved strong performance on these tasks, their high computational cost limits deployment on resource-constrained systems such as autonomous-driving vehicles. Knowledge distillation (KD) addresses this issue by transferring knowledge from a large teacher model to a compact student model. However, existing distillation methods for dense prediction face greater challenges than those for classification due to the more complex task requirements. To overcome the challenges, this thesis presents a unified study of adaptive distillation for …

The Minutes Of The Marshall University Staff Council Meeting, June 2026, Marshall University Staff Council

Staff Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Intrathecal (G4c2)149 Delivery In C9orf72-Deficient Mice Yields Mild Motor Dysfunction And Als/Ftd Pathological Hallmarks, Katelyn Russell, Amelia Shahrabi, Suleyman Akerman, Matthew D. Byrne, Jeffrey Rothstein, Davide Trotti, Brigid Jensen, Aaron Haeusler

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

A repeat expansion in C9ORF72 is the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), yet existing mouse models incompletely engage spinal regions implicated in disease. Here, an adeno-associated virus encoding (G4C2)149 repeats was delivered via neonatal intrathecal injection, achieving widespread CNS expression with robust spinal cord targeting. This approach was applied to mice with graded loss of endogenous C9orf72 to interrogate both gain- and loss-of-function mechanisms. Longitudinal motor, behavioral, and pathological analyses revealed that repeat expression primarily drives mild, progressive muscle weakness, whereas coordination deficits were largely genotype dependent. Subtle gait abnormalities and hyperactivity …

Paying Dividends: An Empirical Examination Of How Student Compensation Enhances Externships, Neha Lall

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

Externships provide impactful experiential education opportunities that enable law students to acquire the skills, networks, and self-awareness they need to launch their legal careers. Since 2016, the American Bar Association (“ABA”) has allowed students to receive compensation in addition to credit in field placement courses. Despite the increasing popularity of paid externships, questions linger about whether law schools can maintain high quality learning experiences when students are on the placement’s payroll. In the first empirical examination of its kind, this Article analyzes a carefully curated four-year dataset detailing externship program enrollment, evaluation, and student demographic data from one school, The …

Centralized Review Of Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias Biomedical Repositories And Computational Methods, Johaan Kathilankal, Kewei Chen, Chen Zhao, Lingtao Chen, Seyedamin Pouriyeh, Zongxing Xie, Yixin Xie

Faculty Articles

lzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are neurodegenerative conditions characterized by progressive cognitive and functional decline. AD pathology is associated with extracellular amyloid-β plaques, intracellular tau neurofibrillary tangles, synaptic dysfunction, and neuronal loss. AD accounts for approximately 60–80% of dementia cases globally. In 2022, AD was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, and the number of Americans aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s dementia is projected to increase substantially by 2060. Despite decades of research, AD/ADRD data resources remain fragmented across clinical, imaging, genetic, genomic, and therapeutic domains. This paper addresses that gap by providing …

Production, Purification, And Crystallization Of The Recombinant Her2 Tyrosine Kinase Domain (Her2-Tkd), Edanur Topalan, Hali̇li̇brahi̇m Çi̇ftçi̇, Hasan Demi̇rci̇

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 tyrosine kinase domain (HER2-TKD) is an important therapeutic target in oncology. In this study, we developed a practical and cost-effective approach for producing soluble recombinant HER2-TKD in Escherichia coli as a basis for structure-based drug discovery. The gene encoding HER2-TKD was cloned into a pET28a(+) expression vector and expressed in E. coli. Since the protein was initially obtained as inclusion bodies, solubilization with 1.5% sarcosyl was applied to recover it in soluble form. The purified protein was obtained through size-exclusion chromatography, followed by tag removal using reverse affinity purification. Crystallization trials were performed …

Quantum Engineered Mxene–Graphene–Plasmonic Nanocomposites For Next-Generation Transparent And Flexible Space Photovoltaics, Arash Vaghef-Koodehi

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

This study presents a quantum‑engineered, tricomponent heterostructure comprising Ti3C2T MXene quantum dots (2–5 nm), single‑layer graphene, and plasmonic gold nanoparticles (15 ± 3 nm) uniformly embedded within electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers. This integrated architecture demonstrates a remarkable combination of optical transparency (89.3 ± 1.1%) and power conversion efficiency (19.7 ± 0.4%) under AM0 solar illumination, representing 340% enhancement over state‑of‑the‑art transparent photovoltaic devices. A multiscale computational framework, bridging density functional theory and device‑level drift-diffusion modeling, identifies optimal interlayer spacing (3.4 ± 0.1 Å) as the key to achieving 89.3% charge‑transfer efficiency. Concurrently, localized surface plasmon resonances at 532 nm generate electromagnetic …

Efficient Heterogeneous Photo-Fenton Degradation Of Azo Dyes Using The Nanocomposite Mgfe2o4/Mos2, Zahra Zeinali, Leila Ershadi Afshar, Naz Chaibakhsh, Farnaz Isapour

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

In the present work, a facile hydrothermal route was employed to synthesize the nanocomposite MgFe2O4/MoS2, which acted as a heterogeneous photo-Fenton catalyst for the degradation of a synthetic diazo dye, Acid Blue 113 (AB113). The nanocatalyst produced underwent analysis using multiple characterization techniques. The parameters influencing the oxidative reaction were statistically modeled and optimized using response surface methodology. Optimal degradation efficiency for AB113 (94.92%) was attained at pH 8.79 using 10 mg of MgFe2O4/MoS2 nanocatalyst, 1.6 mL of H2O2, and a reaction duration of 27 min. The synergistic effect resulting from the formation of electron-hole pairs renders the combined photocatalysis …

Electrochemical Biosensing Of Alpha-Fetoprotein Based On Carboxylated Multi-Walled Nanotube-Polyazur A (In Des)-Gold Nanoparticles, Merve Yilmaz Çilçar, Meli̇ke Bi̇lgi̇ Kamaç

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

AFP, a cancer biomarker, is monitored during fetal development and in the serum of pregnant women. Sensitive and rapid monitoring of AFP is crucial for effective management. In this study, screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH), polyAzur A (PAA), which was prepared in a deep eutectic solution (DES), and gold nanoparticles (AuNP) were fabricated. AFP biosensors were developed for practical, sensitive, low-cost, and rapid detection of AFP. Optimizations of nanostructures (MWCNT-COOH, AuNP) and polymers (PAADES) were performed. The MWCNT-COOH, PAADES, and AuNP-modified SPCEs were characterized by FE-SEM-EDX, FTIR, and XRD techniques. The amounts of 6-MOH, APTES, …

[H]-Mediated Enhancement Of The Fenton Reaction Over A Pd/Uio-66(Zr)-F4 Catalyst, Juanhong Li, Suqin Wang, Xin Liu, Feng Liu

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

A [H]-accelerated catalytic Fenton system was developed using Pd/UiO-66(Zr)-F4 as the catalyst. This system enabled the regeneration of Fe²⁺ and facilitated the continuous generation of both ·OH and 1O2 through [H]-mediated electron transfer at ambient temperature and pressure. Under the conditions of 0.2 g L−1 catalyst (Pd loading 0.516 wt%), 25 μM Fe2+, 60 mL min−1 H2 flow (as the [H] source), 20 mM H2O2, and pH 3, approximately 89% of carbamazepine (initial concentration 20 mg L−1) was degraded within 3 h using trace iron. However, the catalytic activity of Pd/UiO-66(Zr)-F4 gradually declined from 89% to 53% over six reaction …

Physically Mixed Graphene Aerogel:Carbon Black (Ga:Cb)-Supported Pt Or Hydrothermally Synthesized Ga-Pt/Cb Hybrid Electrocatalysts For Pem Fuel Cells, Emi̇ne Teke Öner, Meli̇s Irmak Aydin, Merve Ni̇da Dursunoğlu, Ayşe Bayrakçeken

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Graphene aerogels (GAs), having the superior properties of graphene and aerogel structures, are promising support materials for Pt nanoparticles to be used as electrocatalysts for PEM fuel cells. In this study, two routes were followed to synthesize GA-based electrocatalysts. In the first route, after GA synthesis it was physically mixed with carbon black (CB) by changing the mass ratios from 0% to 100% with 25% increments and then decorated with Pt nanoparticles via microwave irradiation, resulting in Pt/GA:CB electrocatalysts. In the second route, firstly, Pt/CB electrocatalyst was synthesized and then GA was hydrothermally added to the Pt/CB by changing the …

Gold Medal Girl: Media Representations Of Aly Raisman During The Larry Nassar Scandal Through Lenses Of Whiteness, Vulnerability, And "Good" Patriarchy, Anna Mischelle Dean

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This thesis analyzed two media texts about former Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman and how these texts constructed her identity during and after the Larry Nassar scandal. I analyzed these texts through the lenses of whiteness, vulnerability, and carceral feminism. Looking at how the media acts as a disciplinary apparatus in this case, I argue that women athletes’ bodies are portrayed as having a vulnerability to abuse that only the "good" patriarchy can address. I seek to show that the media use depictions of women’s vulnerability and need for patriarchal help to remind women athletes that, in cases of abuse, who …

Digital Badge In Critical Thinking: A Collaborative Approach, Christa De Brun, Emmett Cullinane

Irish Journal of Academic Practice

This article explores the collaborative development of a digital badge in Critical Thinking, created through the partnership of a subject matter expert and a learning designer. Rooted in a shared commitment to student-centred learning, the project aims to equip students with the intellectual tools necessary for deep reflection, nuanced analysis, and responsible engagement with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. The article discusses the pedagogical importance of critical thinking, outlines the design and implementation process of the badge, and highlights the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in educational innovation. Central to the initiative is the integration of core critical thinking principles - …

Mental Health Service Utilization Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Secondary Analysis Of The 2021–2022 National Survey Of Children's Health, Emma N. Barnes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently experience co-occurring emotional, behavioral, and mental health concerns that increase the need for accessible behavioral health services. Although schools often serve as an important point of access for behavioral health support, disparities in service utilization continue to exist. Limited national research has examined recent patterns of mental health service utilization among children with ASD using updated nationally representative data.

The purpose of this study was to examine mental health service utilization among children with ASD and determine whether utilization differed across demographic and socioeconomic groups. Secondary data from the 2021–2022 National Survey of …

Using The Good Behavior Game To Decrease Challenging Behavior In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Andrea M. Babb

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Challenging behavior in school settings can negatively impact academic engagement, social relationships, and access to instruction. Previous research has shown that the Good Behavior Game (GBG) can improve academic performance and decrease challenging behavior. Generally, to play the GBG, the teacher establishes a set of rules (e.g., “remain seated during the lecture”) that the students should follow and divides the class into two teams. When a student on either team breaks a rule, the teacher gives that team a tally or hatch mark. The team with the fewest tallies at the end of the game wins a prize. The current …

Evaluating The Effects Of Response Cards On Active Student Responding And On-Task Behavior With Elementary Students Diagnosed With Autism And Other Disabilties, Joshua N. Alvarado

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

One of the most prominent difficulties that students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face in their education is consistently engaging in on-task behavior and active participation during whole-class group instruction. The use of response cards is one method that has been demonstrated to have beneficial effects for increasing on-task behavior and active participation for students with disabilities. However, there is limited research on effects with students diagnosed with ASD, particularly elementary students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of two response card types to increase active student responding, on-task behavior and correct responding for elementary …