Digital Commons Network^™

The Burden Of (Hand)Writing: The Lived Experiences Of Secondary Students With Dysgraphia, Eleesha S. Romasko

Theses and Dissertations

Developmental dysgraphia is a disability that impacts the writing of students and has long-term effects on their education. While past research has primarily focused on clinical aspects, there is scarce qualitative research. The purpose of this study was to give a voice to the experiences of secondary students (grades 6-12) with dysgraphia using a phenomenological approach. The study was grounded in Piaget’s cognitive constructivism and uses a Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenological approach to understand the lived experience of students with dysgraphia. The research utilized purposive sampling to find four participants with dysgraphia who were in grades 6-12. Data was collected through …

Nuestro Testimonio: The Experiences And Testimonios Of Early-Career World Language Educators In An Urban High School, Bonny Guadalupe

Theses and Dissertations

Research shows that teaching Spanish language and culture often reinforces biases, stereotypes, and suffers from limited economic and institutional support (Avendaño, 1979; Carter, 2014; Heredia & Altarriba, 2001; Potowski, 2002; Quan, 2021; Randolph Jr., 2017). These challenges restrict the social and academic mobility of Spanish-speaking students, especially in urban areas like New York City. This qualitative narrative inquiry addresses two questions: how do early-career high school World Language educators decolonize the AP Spanish Language and Culture curriculum, and how does engagement in Sealy-Ruiz’s Archeology of Self framework influence their teaching? The study examines the intersections of personal identity, professional growth, …

Multi-Tier Systems Of Support: A K–12 Case Study, Christopher Foster

Theses and Dissertations

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) has emerged as a widely adopted framework intended to address student academic and behavioral needs through tiered intervention systems and data-informed decision making. While many school districts have implemented MTSS frameworks, variability in implementation across grade levels and school contexts continues to affect the consistency and effectiveness of these systems. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the implementation of MTSS across the K–12 continuum within a public school district in the northeastern United States. The study explored three central areas: the structural features supporting MTSS implementation, stakeholder perceptions of MTSS effectiveness, …

Using High Speed Kinematics To Investigate Kinematic Variation Across Populations Of Astyanax Mexicanus, Agniva Sinha

Theses and Dissertations

Kinematic analysis pipelines now provide temporal and geometric resolution for determining a variety of body movement. These machine-learning trained programs allow behavioral neuroscientists to dissect complex behaviors and relate changes in those movements to conserved neural assemblages. These analyses are common in model organisms, but a lack of ethologically driven kinematic work in non-models has hampered our understanding of how evolution shapes behavior through sensorimotor circuits. Astyanax Mexicanus is a unique model organism that allows us to understand how evolutionary divergence as a result of adaptation to environmental conditions leads to genotypic and associated phenotypic changes in brain development and …

Embracing Pluralism In Catholic Schools: Administrative And Faculty Perspectives On Multiculturalism In Education, Gerard J. Buckley

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative, nonexperimental study examined faculty and administrative perspectives on multiculturalism in Catholic schools across New York State. Archived New York State Education Department (NYSED) data were analyzed to identify student race/ethnicity enrollment trends in Catholic schools from 2013 to 2025, alongside survey data measuring Catholic school educators’ perceptions of multiculturalism. Survey participants included faculty and administrators from seven dioceses across New York State. Data were analyzed using ANOVAs and multiple regression. The study addressed two primary areas: changes in racial/ethnic enrollment over time and differences in educator perceptions on multiculturalism based on demographic and professional factors. Findings showed a …

The Relation Between Referral Source And Completion Of Trauma-Specific Assessment And Therapy In A Community-Based Training Clinic, Olivia Fiallo

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, more than 60% of youth experience at least one trauma by age 16, and about one-third develop a trauma-related disorder. Evidence-based trauma-specific cognitive behavioral therapies (TS-CBTs) exist, yet fewer than 20% of trauma-exposed youth receive trauma-focused treatment, with dropout rates as high as 75% after treatment initiation. Referral sources are gatekeepers to TS-CBTs and may be a key system-level factor shaping barriers to starting and staying in treatment. This study examined whether referral source was associated with entry into and completion of a full TS-CBT service delivery pathway in a community-based trauma clinic. Participants were 346 …

Examining Community School Hubs In Creating Sustainable And Transformative Spaces For English Learners And Families: A Qualitative Study, Elizabeth Ortiz-Wright

Theses and Dissertations

Economically disadvantaged English learner students are at risk for poor academic outcomes. These challenges are exacerbated by inaccessibility to nutritious food, educational resources, healthcare, and stable housing. These cyclical and persistent issues require a community-based response. Community school hubs emerged as a response to the numerous academic and social challenges for English learner families who are living in vulnerable communities. This qualitative narrative study examined the perceptions of English learner parents and members of one community school hub regarding the available resources. Research questions examined the overall perceptions of one community school hub, including challenges and necessary changes to strengthen …

The Impact Of Music Education On Language Acquisition Of English Language Learners, Andrew David Frey-Gould

Theses and Dissertations

Schools continue to face increasing accountability pressures to improve English language proficiency outcomes for English Language Learners (ELLs), while access to arts education, particularly music, has declined in many districts. This study examines whether music education can serve as an effective and equitable support for language development among elementary ELL students. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to determine whether participation in ensemble-based music programs (i.e., band, orchestra, and chorus) is associated with greater gains in English language proficiency than participation in compulsory general music instruction. This study is grounded in Krashen’s Second Language Acquisition theory and Patel’s resource-sharing …

Interference Under Pressure: Task-Switching And Cognitive Control In Adhd, Rocio Belen Varela

Theses and Dissertations

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a widespread neurodevelopmental condition associated with significant academic difficulties, often resulting in students scoring a year below average on standardized examinations (Lawrence et al., 2020; Mohammadi et al., 2019). A proposed core feature of the disorder involves impairments in working memory (WM), specifically the Central Executive component responsible for attentional control (Alderson et al., 2013; Kofler et al., 2008). These WM operations are governed by two cognitive control modalities: proactive control (sustained, anticipatory maintenance) and reactive control (cue-driven, on-demand processing) (Braver et al., 2007). This quasi-experimental study investigated whether a natural tendency toward reactive control grants …

Program Evaluation: A Study To Evaluate A Traditional Suspension Program Versus An Alternate Suspension Program, Ruth Desronvil

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, millions of students face out-of-school suspensions from public schools each year. Black and Hispanic students, in particular, are suspended at higher rates than their white peers (Cobb-Clark et al., 2015). Students miss class time and valuable learning, which widens the achievement gap between Black, Hispanic, and White students. Suspended students also face additional consequences, such as social alienation from schools and a higher likelihood of engagement in delinquency. Several programs seek to improve the effects of suspensions on students’ outcomes. In this dissertation response, I examine the effectiveness of one such program: an alternative suspension educational …

Don’T Hit Mommy! Associations Between Harsh Parenting And Aggression In Toddlerhood: The Moderating Role Of Temperament, Serah Betancourt

Theses and Dissertations

Physical aggression is known to be particularly common in toddlerhood. Further, harsh parenting practices and certain temperament traits in children have been found to be associated with aggressive behaviors. Recently, aggression has been demonstrated to be differentiated between provoked and unprovoked aggression. The current study examined early aggression and explored the mechanisms by which harsh parenting practices and temperament traits may predict different types of aggression and how that may also change depending on the stage of development in toddlerhood. That is, we proposed that harsh parenting would be more strongly associated with provoked aggression among toddlers with higher negative …

Mentoring Matters: A Phenomenological Study Of How Principals Support New Teacher Development And Retention In Inner-City Catholic Schools, Helena Castilla-Byrne

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the lived experiences surrounding the phenomenon of being a new teacher in an inner-city Catholic school by looking at teachers’ professional learning and development to facilitate the new teacher’s retention, growth, well-being, and success in inner-city Catholic schools through the lens of the school principal leading them. According to the National Education Association, 55 percent of educators are thinking about leaving the profession earlier than they had planned (Walker, 2022). With many new teachers leaving the profession within the first few years, schools must find ways to support and retain them. …

Vulnerable Narcissism In Borderline Personality Disorder: Impact On Emotion Dysregulation, Identity Disturbance, And Rejection Sensitivity In Psychiatric Inpatients, Lauren Baker Lloveras

Theses and Dissertations

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe personality disorder frequently seen in clinical settings due to high service utilization. It is characterized by emotion dysregulation, identity disturbance, suicidal behavior, fear of abandonment, and impulsive or risky behavior. BPD is categorized as a Cluster B personality disorder, alongside narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), which is defined by grandiosity, attention-seeking, and a lack of empathy. NPD can be further conceptualized across two subtypes: grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism (VN). Unlike grandiose narcissism, VN has been largely neglected in research – despite overlapping features with personality and mood disorders, especially BPD. These shared features …

Prevention Of Inflammation-Associated Neurodegeneration: Assessing The Efficacy Of N,N-Dimethylacetamide (Dma) In Lipopolysaccharide (Lps)-Induced Neuroinflammation Using C57bl/6 Mice, Teeshavi Devi Acosta

Theses and Dissertations

Neurological function is closely linked to both longevity and quality of life. While some degree of neurodegeneration occurs naturally with aging, pathological neurodegeneration leads to devastating functional decline. The mechanisms underlying these processes remain incompletely understood; however, neuroinflammation is recognized as a key driver of neuronal dysfunction and death. Emerging evidence indicates that neuroinflammatory cascades can precede and potentiate hallmark features of neurodegenerative diseases, including synaptic loss and cognitive decline observed in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway contributes to amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide production, further amplifying a cycle of inflammation and neuronal injury. Preclinical work from …

2026-2027 Catalog, Governors State University

Catalogs

The 2026-2027 Governors State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog is a comprehensive listing of current information regarding:
Degree Requirements
Course Offerings
Undergraduate and Graduate Rules and Regulations

Regulatory Design Choices For Ai: The What, The Who And The How, Aziz Z. Huq

Public Law and Legal Theory Working Papers

This chapter identifies three common design choices that must be made in the course of an effort to regulate artificial intelligence “AI”). By isolating the way in which those different sovereign regulators approach these choices in respect to AI, it is possible to evaluate more clearly the likely effects of regulation, and to better understand aspects of regulatory design that to date have been overlooked. First, the “what” of AI regulation is not just a matter of how “AI” is defined, but also which element of the technology stack is targeted by law: compute, data, or models. Second, the “who” …

Training A Cellpose Model For T-Cell Cytoplasm And Nucleus Segmentation, William Laws, Matthew Lindley, Irene Georgakoudi

Wetterhahn Science Symposium Posters

Accurate single-cell segmentation of cytoplasm from nucleus in autofluorescence images is critical for quantifying cellular metabolism using the optical redox ratio (FAD / FAD+NAD(P)H). However, automated cytoplasmic segmentation of T cell two-photon excitation fluorescence images remains challenging due to low signal-to-noise ratio, small cell size, and variability in cell brightness across imaging conditions. Here, we present a pipeline combining a custom-trained Cellpose-SAM model with an adapted cytoplasmic post-processing algorithm (CPPA) for automated single-cell metabolic analysis of T cell NAD(P)H autofluorescence images. Raw 2048×2048 pixel images were spatially binned 4×4 in MATLAB to improve signal-to-noise ratio and reduce processing time. A …

Bureaucratic Responsiveness In Times Of Crisis, Anna Gunderson, Maggie Macdonald

Political Science Faculty Publications

In 2020, American cities experienced mass protest after fatal police violence against Black Americans. Did police address these protests differently after the murder of George Floyd or the protests in their communities? Did that response vary depending on the racial or ideological makeup of their constituents? We link policing protests and Facebook posts from about 4,000 American police departments to investigate differences in agency responses to protest. Departments posted more about protest after Floyd's death, especially in those communities that also had a policing protest. Republican cities were less likely to post about protests, but racial demographics are not associated …

Sharp Dual-Regime Thermal Transition Driven By Bead Morphology In Metal Fused Filament Fabrication, Martin Gamesu, Nelson K. Akafuah

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

This work develops a GPU-accelerated, bead-resolved digital twin for FFF that reconstructs super-elliptic filament geometries from G-code and simulates transient heat transfer via voxel-level activation synchronised to deposition order. Applied to a parametric study of two metal–polymer composites (Cu–PLA and IN718–PLA) across five super-ellipse exponents (n = 2.0, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0), the framework reveals a sharp thermal regime transition: a 43% increase in interlayer contact width (n = 2.0 → 2.7) and 53% (n = 2.0 → 2.9) produce negligible thermal change (|Cohen’s d| < 0.02 for IN718-PLA and < 0.2 for Cu-PLA), while n = 3.0 triggers +150–178% increases in bonding windows, −55 to −60% reductions in cooling rate, and a 27–45-fold increase in thermal reactivation. The transition amplifies across temperature thresholds (2× at 170 °C, 15.8× at the glass transition), reverses the deposition-order thermal gradient (r = −0.83 to +0.64 for IN718-PLA and −0.55 to +0.81 for Cu-PLA), and causes surrogate model failure (cross-regime R² = −4.6). These findings establish bead morphology as a sharp morphology-driven threshold requiring regime-aware, material-specific digital twin. At the transition, weld-strength increases while cooling-rate decreases, indicating improved bonding uniformity and reduced residual-stress heterogeneity.

Distal Adding-On As A Complication Of Posterior Spinal Fusion In Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Scoping Review Of Contemporary Evidence, Hussein Hashem, Hassan Abou Adma, Joseph Hayek, Ali Rezazadeh Shirazi, Karim Gaber, Waleed Kishta

Western Journal of Orthopaedics

Distal adding-on (DAO) is a complication of spinal fusion characterized by postoperative deformity progression distal to the fusion construct. DAO after posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is variably defined and inconsistently managed. This scoping review synthesizes evidence on DAO detection, management, and outcomes. A PRISMA-ScR–guided search identified relevant studies. Thirty-one studies (2,998 patients; median follow-up, 30 months) met inclusion criteria. Reported DAO incidence ranged from 3.5% to 62.5%, reflecting heterogeneity in definitions, patient factors, surgical constructs, and follow-up duration. Revision surgery was infrequent and typically delayed. When performed, it was most often prompted by progressive coronal decompensation …

Increased Mortality And Reduced Survival In Nonagenarians With Hip Fractures: Implications For Geriatric Care, Roman Austin, Julio Avila, Audrey Wassef, Kate Parker, Katherine Gavin

Western Journal of Orthopaedics

Background: Hip fractures in nonagenarians (patients aged ≥ 90 years) are becoming increasingly common as the population ages, yet outcomes in this group remain poorly characterized. This study compared in-hospital mortality and survivorship at three months, six months, and one year after hip fracture surgery in nonagenarians with a younger elderly cohort aged 65 years to 89 years. Secondary outcomes included fracture characteristics, surgical management, and discharge disposition. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients who underwent hip fracture surgery at a single Level I Trauma Center from August 2019 to December 2021. Patients were grouped into nonagenarians …

Use Of Ai In Expert Testimony: Understanding The Attorney Perspective, Emma S. Puntin

Program in Community Action (PICA)

Artificial Intelligence is becoming increasingly incorporated into different aspects of society, including our legal system. AI has potential to enter into legal proceedings through the introduction of its evidence in case and expert witness testimony. Expert witnesses are called to offer knowledge on matters relevant to a case and can vary in specialization. This study aimed to explore how attorneys view experts who use AI and how they would approach this in a courtroom setting. Structured interviews were conducted with ten attorneys from various jurisdictions. During these interviews, attorneys were asked what they have encountered during their work in the …

Risk, Reward, And Renewable Collateral: Can Ip Sustain Financing In Green Energy?, Nigel Blake

Marquette Intellectual Property & Innovation Law Review

As the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy accelerates, intellectual property has become one of the most valuable assets held by emerging green technology companies. Patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets often comprise a greater share of these companies' value than tangible assets, making intellectual property an increasingly important source of collateral for commercial financing. At the same time, the renewable energy industry presents unique valuation challenges. Rapid technological innovation, shifting government policies, evolving consumer preferences, and uncertain market demand can significantly affect the value of intellectual property, creating substantial risks for both borrowers and lenders.

This Comment examines …

The Impact Of A Kentucky Nutrition Education Program Social Marketing Campaign On Resident Health, Trinity Elizabeth Foster

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

Poor diet quality and physical inactivity are common health issues in the United States. To remedy these issues among low-income households, the United States Department of Agriculture created the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education Program (SNAP-Ed), which promoted healthy eating and physically active lifestyles through multiple avenues. The social marketing approach of SNAP-Ed uses marketing strategies to relay information to the public. In Kentucky, a statewide billboard campaign was launched in 2018 encouraging residents to focus on nutrition and physical activity. This study investigates the impact of that campaign on health outcomes in counties throughout the state. Using billboard location …

A Golden Opportunity For New York: Caveat Emptor And Revised Mckinney's 465, Grady Miller

NYLS Law Review

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For centuries, the doctrine of caveat emptor has governed New York residential real estate transactions, rewarding sellers who do not disclose material defects affecting the property, and punishing unsuspecting buyers who fail to exercise due diligence. To alleviate the doctrine’s inherent unfairness to buyers, the New York …

Emden V. Museum Of Fine Arts, Houston, Beau Van Der Meulen

NYLS Law Review

No abstract provided.

People V. Riche, Timothy Mccormick

NYLS Law Review

No abstract provided.

Understanding Motor Competence In Autism And Developmental Coordination Disorder: From Everyday Performance To Underlying Postural Control Mechanisms, Crystal E. Alvarez

Kinesiology Dissertations

Motor competence plays a foundational role in children’s participation, physical activity, adaptive behavior, and overall quality of life. Although motor difficulties are highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (autism) and developmental coordination disorder (DCD), these challenges are frequently under-identified and insufficiently characterized, particularly in autistic populations. Existing research demonstrates substantial overlap in motor challenges across autism and DCD; however, relatively little work has integrated caregiver perceptions, standardized motor assessment, and mechanistic postural control measures within the same investigation. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to examine motor competence and postural control in autistic children, children with DCD, and neurotypical …

Nuclear Deterrence And Nuclear Modernization: A Strategic Analysis Of Global Nuclear Threats And U.S. Policy, Abraham Morland

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The nuclear imperative comes from the idea that all three legs of the Triad must be retained to ensure a viable deterrent posture, provide flexibility in a response, and give decision makers options to create uncertainty in an adversary’s decision calculus. The nuclear imperative is the need to fund suggested shortfalls in the nuclear enterprise and modernize the U.S. Triad, not just one or two legs, but all three, due to the ever-increasing nuclear risk. To understand the current state in which the United States finds itself and the need for the nuclear modernization program, this thesis will review nuclear …

Applied Machine Learning In Mineral Prospectivity Mapping In The South Pass-Granite Mountains Of Wyoming, Carl D. York

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The South Pass-Granite Mountains, comprised of Archean to Tertiary rocks embedded with an Archean greenstone belt in Central Wyoming, have historically been mined for gold, iron, steel, and silver. Rare earth elements have been of increasing interest in the region and thus, several datasets have become available. Knowledge driven and data driven models are used in mineral prospectivity mapping with input data including geological mapping, geochemical data, geophysical (USGS Critical Mineral magnetic and gravity data), radiometric (U, Th, K) data and multispectral remote sensing data. Mineral prospectivity has seen a rapid improvement in recent years using advancements in machine learning …