Digital Commons Network^™

A Dft Study Of Mg/Ti Fluorites-Structure Materials: Optoelectronic, Photocatalysis, And Hydrogen Storage Applications, Kingsley Etim, Favour Azogor N, Moses Edim, Edet A. Thompson

Polytechnic Journal

This study employs density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the fluorite-derived tetragonal hydride MgTiH₄, highlighting its multifunctionality for energy-related applications. Structural optimization reveals lattice constants of a = b = 3.15 Å and c = 4.70 Å, with a unit cell volume of 46.59 ų and a high bulk modulus of 114.21 GPa, indicating mechanical robustness. Compared to its MgTiH₄ and CaTiH₄ analogs, SrTiH₄ exhibits the highest phonon frequency (1355.19 cm^-1). Superior thermodynamic stability (formation enthalpy: –3.35 eV) is seen in MgTiH₄. Electronic band structure analysis reveals a narrow indirect …

The Impact Of Student Choice On Reading Engagement And Comprehension In First Grade, Gia Stella Nardi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to (a) examine the effect of student choice on first-grade students’ reading engagement and (b) determine how student choice impacted their reading comprehension during instruction. Throughout the study, students utilized a choice board following each read-aloud to express their understanding of what they perceived as important in the text. Findings indicated that students demonstrated high levels of engagement during the 12 read-alouds, which were intentionally selected based on their interests, as well as during the choice-based activities that followed. Additionally, students showed growth in their ability to apply key comprehension skills, including summarizing, identifying …

Seeing Through Similar Eyes: How Social Identity Shapes Reinterpretation Of Ambiguous Stimuli, Eli Bailit

Cognitive Science Senior Theses

Identical sensory input can lead to a variety of subjective experiences and interpretations. In the face of such ambiguity, we often turn to our social context. Does the identity of the person providing an alternative interpretation to an ambiguous stimulus impact someone’s likelihood to adopt it? This study examined whether perceived interpersonal similarity modulates reinterpretation of ambiguous visual stimuli. Thirty Dartmouth undergraduates completed a modified “MadLibs” paradigm in which they generated initial interpretations of ambiguous photographs, indicated their confidence in their interpretations, then decided how much to update those interpretations upon viewing an alternative sourced from an individual of varying …

Category Learning Under Verbal Interference, Yawen Xue

Cognitive Science Senior Theses

What happens to cognition when you disrupt language? What does language actually do as a representational medium for cognition? Much literature shows a facilitative role of language on categorical thinking. This work specifically examines the role of language in category learning using a verbal interference paradigm. I ran two experiments where participants learned to distinguish between two novel categories of bugs while under conditions of verbal or visuospatial interference. In Experiment 1, category membership was determined by an XOR rule; in Experiment 2, category membership was determined by an AND rule.

In Experiment 1, participants on average did not succeed …

Identifying Preferred Toothpaste And Improving Toothbrushing Participation In Autistic Individuals, Taylor Bakalar

Doctoral Dissertations - College of Arts and Sciences

Research that assessed the prevalence of oral health disorders among those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) found that behavior and environmental variables played a role in deteriorated dental hygiene in some patients with ASD. Behavior analytic interventions have been used to increase participation with dental exams and daily toothbrushing skills (Duhanyan et al., 2019). The current study seeks to extend Duhanyan et al. (2019) through the implementation of a modified single-stimulus preference assessment to identify a preferred toothpaste by evaluating increased percentage of participation with experimenter-implemented toothbrushing. For all participants, the SSPA identified at least one toothpaste flavor that increased …

Applying Signal Detection Theory Using Evofinder To A 10-Consecutively Manufactured Barrel Study That Included Damaged Bullets, Ruheen Firoz Charania

ETDs from 2020-2029

The science of firearm and tool mark identification is based on the premise that no two tools produce the same microscopic detail and the tool that made the marks can be distinguished from all others. Based on the AFTE Theory of Identification, firearms comparisons can be classified as Identification, Elimination, Inconclusive, or Unsuitable for examination, with inconclusive indicating insufficient individual characteristics to support identification or exclusion. Error rates in firearm examinations are typically calculated by counting how often examiners make false-positive and false-negative conclusions relative to known ground truth, but inconclusive decisions complicate these calculations because they neither support nor …

Alexandre Etienne Declouet: A Study And Re-Examination Of Chauvinistic Heritage In Antebellum Louisiana 1812-1890, Connor Matthew Benoit

Masters Theses

This thesis analyzes the change in French Creole culture through the perspective of sugar planter and enslaver Alexandre Etienne DeClouet. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between all facets of DeClouet’s livelihood including, relationships with other wealthy French Creoles, his family, the Louisiana sugar industry, Political alliances, other cultural demographics in Louisiana, and his enslaved labor on his large St. Martin parish property. Within this study, several archival databases were used to attempt to create a clearer picture of the sugar planter with the help of newer primary source evidence. Using the Alexander DeClouet and Family …

Beyond Social Disconnection: The Unique Relationship Between Existential Loneliness And Depression, Lauren Beatrice Edwards

Masters Theses

Depression and loneliness are among the most pressing mental health concerns in the United States, yet their relationship remains incompletely understood. Research has extensively examined social-emotional, or general, loneliness. However, existential loneliness (EL), the felt sense of being fundamentally alone in one's existence, has remained on the theoretical periphery. This study examined EL as a meaningfully distinct dimension of loneliness and explored its unique relationship with depressive symptoms in a sample of 301 U.S. adults recruited via Prolific. A joint exploratory factor analysis confirmed that EL and general loneliness are empirically separable dimensions of loneliness. Regression analyses revealed that EL …

Micro-Hyperspectral Imaging Of Phytoplankton Enables Deconvolution Of Mixed Communities For Spaceborne Hyperspectral Remote Sensing, Chisom Okwuchi Emeghiebo

Masters Theses

Characterizing phytoplankton diversity is critical for large-scale biodiversity monitoring and harmful algal bloom (HAB) detection. Here, we present a micro hyperspectral imaging method to characterize reflectance signatures, for the first time across major phytoplankton groups. Spectral variability among taxa in laboratory cultures is interpreted using algal pigment and absorption analyses, demonstrating that pigment composition and absorption govern reflectance features. Chlorophytes and cryptophytes exhibit distinct spectral signatures and are readily distinguishable, whereas diatoms and dinoflagellates show greater spectral similarity, with differentiation relying on subtle reflectance features associated with chlorophyll c₁c₂ near ~463 nm and within 620–650 nm. We further applied this …

The Effect Of Perceived Support On Black College Students' Sense Of Belonging, Jamillia Domani Mckinley

Masters Theses

Black college students oftentimes navigate higher education environments while managing academic demands alongside racialized stressor that can weaken their sense of belonging. Existing literature and research examined peer relationships, faculty support, and institutional support separately; however, little to no studies considered how these forms of support operate together in shaping belonging. The current study addressed that gap by examining whether perceived peer support, teacher support, and institutional support predict Black students’ sense of belonging in college and university settings. Through the lens of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, belonging was viewed as a foundational need for confidence, connection, growth, and self …

Tinder Troubles: Testing The Motivation-Based Model Of Online Disinhibition In A Mobile Dating App Context, Zachary Schleter

Masters Theses

As individuals turn to dating apps to find romance, friendships, sex, and more, understanding the factors that shape user behavior on these platforms has become increasingly important. Guided by Wen and Miura’s (2023) motivation-based Model of Online Disinhibition, this study examined how individual factors and motives for using Tinder predict online disinhibition and subsequent disinhibited behaviors. Specifically, using an English translation of Wen & Miura’s Multi-dimensional Measure of Online Disinhibition (2024), the study tested whether gender and five Tinder use motives—sexual experience, entertainment, romance, socializing, and distraction—predicted levels of online disinhibition on Tinder and whether online disinhibition, in turn, predicted …

Disparities In The Identification Of Vulnerable Communities Due To Design Storm Methods: A Case Study In The Vermilion River Watershed, South Louisiana, Usa, Claire Orgeron

Masters Theses

Accurately identifying socially vulnerable populations at-risk of flooding is critical for equitable disaster mitigation and planning. This study investigates how the selection of design storm method, which is fundamental to developing flood risk maps used for this identification, influences which socially vulnerable populations are recognized as being at elevated flood risk. The most widely used design storm approach relies on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Atlas 14 point-based rainfall frequency estimates. These estimates are typically applied spatially using areal reduction factors, thereby disregarding rainfall spatial variability in real storms. Stochastic Storm Transposition (SST), an alternative design storm approach that …

One-On-One Vs. Group Health Coaching: Impact On Weight, Knowledge And Well-Being., Julie Nelson

Nursing Capstones

This DNP scholarly project completed a retrospective review, comparing the effectiveness of one-on-one versus group-based health and wellness coaching in improving outcomes related to weight loss, health knowledge, and participant perceptions of well-being. The project reviewed existing, de-identified data from adults who previously completed a coaching program focused on healthy behavior change. Coaching was delivered in either a group or one-on-one format, and outcome measures included changes in weight, knowledge of healthy behaviors, and participant reported impressions of overall health and wellness. The aim of the project was to determine if the delivery method of coaching impacts outcomes, thus informing …

A Strategy For Standardizing Stimulant And Benzodiazepine Management For Advanced Nursing Practice And Drug Safety, Michael Iheukwu Agugo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Nursing Students Applying Active Teaching And Learning To Develop Clinical Judgment Skills, Charlene Lindsay Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Middle School Teachers' Perceptions Of Assistive Technology Implementation For Students With Learning Disabilities, Delphine N. Amorow Aalbilly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Emotional Intelligence Of Veterans Within A Rapid Rehousing Program, Damon Omar Colbert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Instructors’ Perspectives On Workplace Readiness Skills Integration In Workforce Development Programs At A Midwestern Community College System, Asha Philip Esterline

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Exploration Of Maryland African American Veterans’ Experiences Utilizing Information On Federal Benefits And Services, Shontrea Bazemore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Law Enforcement Officers' Perception Of Human Trafficking And The Efficacy Of The Training They Receive, Christian Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education On Low Health Literacy In African American Males With Hypertension, Karan L. Staggers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Renoprotective Effects Of Eta Receptor Blockade And Aminophylline In Neonatal Rat Model Of Hypoxic Kidney Injury, Neha Kapasi-Gregor, Preetha Prazad, Gospodin Stefanov, Seema Brijal

Advocate GME

No abstract provided.

Stories From The Pantanal: Documentary Filmmaking And Conservation In A Changing Wetland Landscape, Tobin Yates

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

This thesis pairs a short documentary film, Umbigo do Pantanal, with a written component examining conservation in Brazil's Pantanal wetland. Six days of fieldwork in Mato Grosso in September 2025 centered on Sandro Sebastião Godofredo, a multi-generational Pantaneiro rancher whose 130,000-hectare property is transitioning from intensive cattle operations toward ecosystem-based conservation and ecotourism. Sandro's account, drawn from interviews recorded on his ranch and along the São Lourenço River, anchors a broader argument about the limits of single-species conservation models in the Pantanal. The dominant jaguar-focused approach concentrates ecotourism revenue in a small portion of the wetland while pushing the costs …

Evaluating Outcomes Of Alternative Pathologic Terminology In High-Grade Dysplastic Colorectal Lesions, Shaman Dalal, Aakash Desai, Nahel Tunio, Jacqueline Khalil, Devereaux Sellers, Marc Landsman

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

Background Pathologists occasionally classify colorectal adenomas with dysplastic mucosal invasion as intramucosal carcinoma (IMC), or carcinoma in situ (CIS), instead of high-grade dysplasia (HGD), potentially leading to earlier surveillance colonoscopies and inappropriate surgical referrals. We aimed to analyze differences in the management of patients with these diagnoses, and examined the factors that may lead to inappropriate early interval (IEI) follow-up recommendations for surveillance.

Methods We reviewed 870 colonoscopy and pathology reports from 2015-2022, excluding cases of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and lesions not amenable to endoscopic resection. Surveillance appropriateness was defined in accordance with the 2020 US Multi Society …

Activated Dorsomedial Hypothalamic Astrocytes Regulate Feeding Behavior, Bella M. Lisenby

Honors Projects

The dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) region of the brain has been shown to be important for anticipatory feeding activity and play a role in restricting excessive food intake. In obese animals that overconsume calories, astrocytes within the DMH exhibit intracellular signaling changes indicative of cellular activation. Because astrocytes are known to influence neuronal function, we hypothesize that activated astrocytes regulate behavior. In the current study, we use chemogenetics combined with stereotaxic surgery to assess the contribution of astrocyte activity in the DMH towards metabolic behaviors.

Effects Of Divided Attention On Linguistic Tasks And Speech In Healthy Young Adults, Allison Coca

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of divided attention on concurrent speech and linguistic tasks by investigating performance on three linguistic computer tasks (phonological, syntactic, and semantic) and speech kinematics. Thirty-seven healthy young adults (19 male, 18 female) ages 19-30 were recorded performing a sentence repetition task using electromagnetic articulography. Each participant completed the sentence repetition once in isolation and once concurrently with each of the three linguistic computer tasks. Participants also completed computer tasks in isolation. Significant dual-task effects were observed on total number of correct responses in the phonological and syntactic linguistic tasks. No …

Hemlock, Ephraim Esson, Ambrose Vellequette, Geno Meschi

Computer Science and Engineering Senior Theses

Hemlock is a tool designed to protect musicians from having their work used to train generative AI models without their consent. It works by adding carefully crafted inaudible noise to audio files that disrupts the ability of AI models to learn from them — a technique known as adversarial perturbation. Our system targets three different types of AI model simultaneously: a Music Information Retrieval (MIR) classifier, a sequential audio generation model (Mel-LSTM), and Meta’s AudioCraft, a transformer-based music generator. Testing in twenty songs showed an average 15% reduction in the MIR model’s classification confidence, a 59% increase in Mel- LSTM …

From Awareness To Action: Developing Protocols For Tardive Dyskinesia Aims Screening Among Mental Health Clinicians, Annette Pratt

Nursing Capstones

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is an often-irreversible movement disorder linked to prolonged antipsychotic treatment. It is under-recognized in mental health settings due to inconsistent or absent screening. Early identification with validated tools such as the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) is advised but not routinely performed, resulting in delayed diagnosis and poor management. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aims to improve TD detection by implementing a standardized AIMS screening protocol using a quasi-experimental, pre- and post-test design. Project components include prescriber education and demonstration using the AIMS tool. Participants are mental health prescribers managing antipsychotic medications. Expected outcomes include …

Ai Insurance Chatbots And Phygital Service Engagement: The Triadic Impact Of Trust-Anxiety-Complexity- On Aging Consumers, Rajat Subhra Chatterjee, Bindu Singh, Ranjan Chaudhuri, Sheshadri Chatterjee, Demetris Vrontis, Pantea Foroudi

Plymouth Business School

This study examines elderly consumers’ perceptions of the design of AI insurance chatbot services in a phygital context. Drawing on the extended reality technology (ERT) framework and the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) model, it explores the cognitive–affective dynamics shaping chatbot adoption in a sensitive service setting. Data were collected from 396 elderly consumers of major insurance companies in Malaysia and analysed using structural equation modelling to assess mediating and moderating effects. Findings show that perceived trust critically mediates the relationship between cognitive factors and chatbot adoption. Technology anxiety and perceived complexity strongly moderate the trust–usage relationship, confirming a triadic interaction. The study …

Self-Care: A Beneficial Intervention For Nursing Faculty, Paige Baade

Nursing Capstones

Burnout among nursing faculty is a growing concern that impacts job satisfaction, well-being, and the ability to effectively educate future nurses. The purpose of this project was to investigate the impact of self-care on nursing faculty stress and burnout levels, overall well-being, and job satisfaction by comparing pre-test and post-test results after regular self-care implementation. This quasi-experimental project was conducted in a Midwest undergraduate nursing program and the sample included full-time nursing faculty who voluntarily participated. Data was collected through a survey to measure perceived stress, well-being, and job satisfaction, and degrees of burnout. Results indicated modest improvements in perceived …