Digital Commons Network^™

Meeting Rhetorical And Relational Goals In Online Higher Education: Insights From A South African Case Study, Rentia Du Plessis, Diana Breshears, Luzelle Naudé Prof

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This qualitative study examines the degree to which synchronous and asynchronous online learning platforms both supported and constrained the achievement of rhetorical and relational goals in a resource-constrained South African higher education context. As online teaching practices persist in the post-COVID era, understanding how to design pedagogically sound online environments is increasingly important, particularly in the Global South where cost, access, and connectivity pose significant constraints. Drawing on the Rhetorical and Relational Goals Theory (RRGT; Mottet et al., 2006) and Kaufmann et al.’s (2016) online learning climate dimensions, the study analyzes undergraduate students’ perceptions of Blackboard Collaborate, PowerPoint voice-overs, WhatsApp, …

The Co-Educators Framework: An Illustrative Account Of Shared Pedagogical Practice And Inclusive Teaching In A Large-Enrollment Communication Course, Divya S, Man Luo, Jisha Jacob, Shahla Shahnaz Dyuti, Victoria Michelle Main

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Large-enrollment courses present structural challenges to inclusive and relational pedagogy, particularly when instructional labor is shared across teaching teams that include graduate teaching assistants (GTAs). This study examines inclusive teaching as a communicative and practical process enacted through co-education, the coordinated instructional work of faculty and GTAs. Using a diary-based reflexive design, four doctoral GTAs contributed teaching journals across one semester of an undergraduate Communication Theory course. Reflexive thematic analysis identified four themes: collaborative course design, communication as pedagogical infrastructure, equitable assessment, and reflexive care. The study offers the Co-Educators Framework as an illustrative account of how shared, communicative pedagogical …

Exploring Power In The Classroom Through The Lens Of Relational Power, Aubree A. Herman, Narissra Maria Punyanunt-Carter Phd

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This study explores how French and Raven’s relational power model shapes student communication in higher education. Through a survey of 530 undergraduates, the research investigates how TA age and gender, and student gender, impact student perceptions of power. Results indicate that TA gender and age impact student perceptions of referent power, but not expert power; however, expert and referent power emerged as the strongest predictors of course satisfaction and intention to take future courses, while coercive power negatively predicted both outcomes. These findings underscore the importance of expertise and interpersonal interaction in the TA–student relationship and suggest that French and …

Caveats For The Forensic Use Of The Pcl-R With Antisocial And Psychopathic Women, Carl B. Gacono, Ted B. Cunliffe, Jason M. Smith, Enna E. Taylor

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Special considerations are necessary when assessing antisocial and psychopathic women.  Evident throughout the evaluation process (Cunliffe et al., 2016; Gacono, 2016; Gacono & Meloy, 1994; Gacono & Smith, 2021; Smith et al., 2014, 2021; Taylor, 2015), gender differences suggest the need for modified approaches, shape the transference/countertransference between examinee and examiner, and affect the administration, scoring, and interpretation of psychological tests. In this article we summarize Rorschach findings that support the underlying dynamics in antisocial and psychopathic women, discuss the unique aspects of evaluating the female psychopath, and present eight PCL-R items in need of modification for assessing women.

Experimental Investigation On Nanocellulose And Aluminium-Oxide Hybrid Nanofluid As A New Coolant For Radiator, D. Ramasamy, Sivaraos Sivaraos, K. Kadirgama

The Nexus of Sustainability and Energy Technology Journal

Improved efficiency leads to more compact design of the radiator. The research is conducted to prove that addition of Aluminium Oxide and nanocellulose originating from plant base with varying concentration provides a better thermal efficiency compared to usage of distilled water as radiator coolant. The objective of the research is to improve a new radiator coolant based on combination of aluminium oxide and nanocellulose with readily available coolants which is Ethylene Glycol and to investigate the erosion of nanocellulose coolant on automotive radiator. The scope of the research are the nanocellulose dispersed in base fluid which is from 60:40, (EG:W). …

Effects Of Air Injection Styles And Burner Geometry On Blowoff In Premixed Swirl Flame, Haidar Ali Janna, Zaid Aldulaimi, Mohammed Alfahham

The Nexus of Sustainability and Energy Technology Journal

Understanding the effect of air injection strategies and burner configuration on flame stability is essential for preventing blowoff in premixed swirl combustion systems. This experimental study investigates the blowoff limits of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) flames in tangential swirl burners with two different geometries,namely two-inlet and three-inlet designs, while maintaining the same geometric swirl number and swirl strength. Two air injection strategies were examined:axial air injection which introduced through the burner base plate,and an air curtain system supplied through the inner circumference of the burners nozzle. Blowoff limits were recorded over a wide range of operating conditions to quantify the …

Implementation Of 4-Ir In Scm Of Woven Apparel Industry – A Case Study In Bangladesh For Prosperity And Sustainability, Kaniz Farhana, Nazibah Nowreen Onadee, Farhana Mabia Mim, Fuzail Ahmed Khan Rajit, Md. Fahad Faruk Pavel, S.M. Farhana Iqbal, Abu Shadate Faisal Mahamude

The Nexus of Sustainability and Energy Technology Journal

The significance of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4-IR) for supply chain management (SCM) in the woven clothing industry is emphasized by this survey study. The implementation of cutting-edge technologies that can improve these aspects, like IoT, RFID, blockchain, big data analysis, cybersecurity, and automation, is examined from the viewpoints of woven clothing manufacturers. This investigation seeks to determine Bangladesh's key technological barriers as well as the primary motivator for the weaving RMG's adoption of cutting-edge technologies. Here, a combination of methods, including fieldwork and data collection, has been performed for thorough analysis. The research outlines the current state of affairs …

Evaluation Of Graphene Cathode And Aluminum Ion Ev Battery Performance: A State-Of-The-Art Analysis For Future, Abu Shadate Faisal Mahamude, Kaniz Farhana

The Nexus of Sustainability and Energy Technology Journal

Lithium-ion batteries may eventually be replaced with rechargeable aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs) due to their high energy density, increased safety, and plentiful supply of raw materials. The development of appropriate cathode materials for AIBs is a major priority these days. As a result of their better quality, graphene-based cathodes have a great chance of success. Graphene is a relatively new and promising material with a unique set of chemical and physical characteristics. Graphene's high electron conductivity and large specific surface area make it seem like one of the best electron-conducting additions, but there are several other ways to increase the cathode …

Atomistic Insights Into The Interfacial Properties And Thermal Transport Of Mxene–Copper Nanocomposites: A Molecular Dynamics Study, Navid Aslfattahi, Maryam Sadat Kiai, K. Kadirgama, L. Samylingam, Chee Kuang Kok, Mohd A.F. Rosli, Thong Leng Lim

The Nexus of Sustainability and Energy Technology Journal

Understanding the interfacial heat transport mechanisms in Ti₃C₂T_x–copper nanocomposites is essential for developing advanced Thermal Interface Materials (TIM) for electronic and energy systems. This study provides atomistic insights into how MXene surface terminations (–O, –OH, –F), copper crystallographic orientations ((111), (100), (110)), and MXene layer thickness influence thermal conductivity and interfacial thermal resistance. O-terminated MXene exhibited the strongest interfacial adhesion (∼0.45 J/m²) and the highest thermal conductivity (∼68 W/m· K), while F-terminated MXene showed the weakest interfacial bonding and poorest heat transfer (∼45 W/m· K). Increasing the MXene thickness introduced additional phonon …

Norman H. Cromwell, Unl Chemistry; Nu System Dean; Eppley Cancer Center Director, Norman H. Cromwell, Pete Boughn, Mark A. Griep

UNL ORCA Interview Series

This 1980 interview of Normal Cromwell was done by Pete Boughn at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He asked about Cromwell’s history but mostly about his time as director of the Eppley Cancer Center. The interview is reproduced with permission from the UNMC McGoogan Library.

Cromwell was born in 1913 in Terre Haute, Indiana. In 1935, he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in his hometown. In 1939, three things happened: he earned a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Minnesota, he got married, and he was hired …

Molecular Interactions Of The Gas–Solid Interface: Svocs On Swelling Clays And San Joaquin Soil Surfaces, Liesl T. Jensen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soil-derived mineral dust plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry by acting as a reactive interface for gas–particle interactions that influence the fate and transport of organic contaminants. Among soil components, clay minerals dominate surface reactivity due to their high surface area, structural complexity, and the presence of chemically active sites arising from cation exchange capacity and surface acidity. Environmental conditions, particularly relative humidity, further regulate these interactions by altering surface accessibility and competitive adsorption processes.

Despite the recognized importance of mineral dust, gas-phase interactions between organic compounds and clay minerals remain insufficiently understood, particularly under atmospherically relevant conditions. This …

The Development And Validation Of Gains-Id, A Guidebook For Adapting Intervention Sessions For Students With Intellectual Disability, Kayla Mccreadie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Targeted interventions can equip students with intellectual disabilities (ID) with essential academic skills that support positive post-secondary outcomes. However, the lack of interventions specifically designed for this population creates barriers to equitable education. Until more interventions are developed, educators may benefit from resources that help adapt evidence-based practices to meet the needs of students with IDD.

The first manuscript introduces GAINS-ID (Guide for Adapting INtervention Sessions for Intellectual Disabilities). Based on best practices and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), the guide offers examples of adaptations to various intervention components—such as time, materials, environment, …

Family Systems And Cultural Adaptation In Psychosocial Cancer Interventions For Latinx Families: A Critical Review, Nicole M. Vélez Agosto, Gladys Stephanie Hernandez, Sarah Chavez Chacon, Danielle Moreno, Cecilia Montiel-Nava

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Cancer creates significant distress to Latinx family dynamics. Research on family interventions has omitted critical aspects that could significantly improve mental health outcomes in this vulnerable population, including the development of interventions with a robust theoretical framework that are simultaneously culturally aligned with deeply rooted Latinx values. This critical review addressed existing psychosocial interventions for families with a cancer patient, their strengths, and limitations. It expanded on three major themes relevant to designing cancer psychosocial interventions for Latinx, while also reviewing nine intervention studies that consider system-family components in intervention design and research, two of them with the additional integration …

Msw Portfolio, Natalie Lynn Pitkin

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio reflects my development as a social work professional throughout the Master of Social Work program at the University of Montana. My experiences in child welfare, family support, and inpatient behavioral health have shaped my understanding of social work as a profession that requires both meaningful relationships with individuals and a commitment to addressing the systems that influence their lives. Through academic learning, University of Montana's core competencies, field education, and professional experiences, I have strengthened my ability to apply an intersectional, trauma-informed, and empowerment-focused lens to practice.

Msw Final Portfolio, Teresa M. Asbury

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Msw Portfolio: Development Of A Social Work Practitioner, Loren Fitzpatrick

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio details my experiences and professional journey throughout the University of Montana's Master of Social Work program. It provides significant reflection of core social work elements and competencies while highlighting an understanding of trauma informed care, development of theoretical orientation, and the importance of culturally responsive practice. Examples of competency are displayed through provided coursework assignments, group projects, and research papers.

Ensuring Safety In Battery Management Systems: A Control Barrier Function Approach, Magdalena Kossek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Safe and efficient operation of batteries is paramount to extending their lifespan and ensuring reliability in battery management systems. This work presents a new approach for maximizing safety and performance of lithium-ion batteries in a variety of applications with a view towards efficiency in computation. The aim is to maximize a battery’s output (its power, speed of charging, and overall efficiency) while preserving its longevity and ensuring operational safety. This challenge is tackled by developing a novel control algorithm for advanced lithium-ion battery management leveraging control barrier functions (CBFs) to ensure safe and efficient operation during fast charging and discharging. …

Pushing Forward: The Dialectical Experiences Of Apida Psychologists In Predominantly White Counseling Settings, Shaun A. Fossett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans (APIDAs) are the fastest growing racial group in the United States, yet they remain significantly underrepresented in the field of psychology and notably absent from research examining the professional experiences of racial and ethnic minority clinicians. Existing scholarship has documented the prevalence of racialized organizational structures, microaggressions, and the enduring “model minority” stereotype that both obscures and exacerbates APIDA challenges in professional environments. However, no known published studies have investigated the non–client-facing experiences of APIDA psychologists working in predominantly White counseling settings. The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was to explore how …

Synergistic Reinforcement Of Lignin–Chitosan Hydrogels Using Vanillin As A Sustainable Green Crosslinker, Moses Ayitey-Adjin Jr., Mohammad Jahid Hasan, Jeremy Erb, Kishore Chand, Garry S. Crosson, Kenya Crosson, Esteban Ureña-Benavides, Erick Salvador Vasquez-Guardado

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

While bio-based hydrogels derived from lignin and chitosan are promising sustainable adsorbents, their practical application is hindered by poor mechanical stability. This study addresses this limitation by synthesizing lignin-chitosan hydrogels using vanillin as a green, bio-derived crosslinker via a facile solution-casting method. The formation of imine (Schiff base) linkages between the aldehyde groups of vanillin and the primary amines of chitosan was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy (C = N stretching at ~ 1602 cm^− 1). SEM and TGA results demonstrated a reduction in the pore size of the crosslinked hydrogel and an enhanced residual thermal mass. Rheological and …

Growth In Discomfort, Kayla Marker

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio captures the transformation into an advanced social work practitioner, emphasizing self-reflection, social justice, and the integration of theory into practice. Through personal narrative and practical examples, the document demonstrates growth in ethical behavior, advocacy for marginalized groups, trauma-informed care, and cultural humility, particularly in rural and Indigenous contexts. This portfolio details the application of systems, social learning, and empowerment theories, and highlights the importance of bridging micro and macro practice, engaging in research and policy analysis, and assuming leadership roles. The work showcases adaptability, collaboration, and evidence-based approaches, culminating in a commitment to lifelong learning and justice-oriented leadership …

Exploring The Association Between Hypertension And Sleep Disturbances Among Adults, Diana-Lyn Baptiste, Ruth-Alma Turkson-Ocran, Binu Koirala, Brenda Owusu, Oluwabunmi Ogungbe, Stephanie Meng Yuan, Sabianca Delva, Marion Botchway, Deandra Romain, Serina Gbaba, Faith Elise Metlock, Yvonne Commodore-Mensah, Cheryl Himmelfarb

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States (US), contributing to one in three deaths. It is estimated that more than 120 million Americans are living with at least one form of CVD, which include hypertension (HTN). HTN accounts for the highest prevalence, impacting over 50% of individuals aged ≥20 years old in the US. Suboptimal sleep also represents a notable CVD risk factor and has been identified as a contributor to various CVD-related issues. The inclusion of sleep health as one of the Life’s Essential 8 measures in 2022 reinforces its importance for …

Field-Like- And Self-Spin-Orbit Torques In Magnetic Multilayer Films, Kyle Jeffrey Peterson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spin-orbit torques (SOTs) have been realized as an energy efficient mechanism to manipulate and drive magnetization dynamics in magnetic multilayer films. Their damping-like and field-like components provide distinct pathways for controlling the magnetization, enabling switching, sustaining magneto-oscillations, and driving domain-wall motion with potential applications in nonvolatile memory, spin-based logic, and microwave signal generation. However, the accurate quantification and interpretation of these torques remains complicated by experimental sensitivity, the co-symmetry of the Oersted field and the effective field due to the field-like torque, and assumptions regarding the material layers from which the torques originate. The body of work set forth in …

Exploring Foundations Of Animal Host-Microbe Interactions In A Freshwater Sponge, Jacob S. Pawley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The most ancient eukaryotic immune defense mechanisms evolved in unicellular species. Multicellular eukaryotes, however, expanded these mechanisms to meet challenges unique to multicellular life, including barrier formation, long-distance cell signaling, and coordinated responses that eliminate microbial threats while minimizing damage to the host. As such, animal immune signaling pathways are exceptionally intricate and diverse. Though, most of what is understood about animal host–microbe interactions stems from a small handful of model systems. Here, I evaluate host–microbe interactions and innate immunity in sponges using the highly tractable freshwater sponge, Ephydatia muelleri. I report the discovery of an external host-derived matrix …

Protest, Police, Peace, And Violence: Understanding Variation In Police Violence At Protests, Louis Pascarella

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Why do police engage in violence at some protests but not others? Existing research highlights the importance of protest characteristics, political context, police culture, organizational incentives, and interactions between protesters and law enforcement. While these factors help explain patterns of repression, they provide limited insight into why police responses can shift rapidly from restraint to widespread violence during the course of a protest event.

This dissertation examines variation in police violence during the 2020 George Floyd Uprising through a comparative analysis of protest events in Denver, Colorado and Seattle, Washington. Drawing on original event reconstructions based on livestreams, helicopter footage, …

A Policy Analysis Of Higher Education Support For Foster Youth In The Colorado Child Welfare System, Krystal Robles

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This policy analysis examines how two Colorado laws, House Bill 22-1374 (Foster Care Success Act), and Senate Bill 22-008 (Higher Education Support for Foster Youth), aim to improve educational outcomes and long-term stability for youth who age out of the foster care system. Critical Policy Analysis (CPA) and Resilience Theory are used in this paper to examine how these policies address systemic inequities, promote resilience, and offer protective factors that support educational attainment. Using policy review, state policy comparison, stakeholder interviews, and community perspectives, I evaluated how the implementation, effectiveness, and limitations of these bills shape real-world impact. The findings …

Disrupted Family Ecosystems: Intergenerational Estrangement, Nonnormative Events, And Perceptions Of Established Adults – A Case Study, Seth Wyncott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The issue of intergenerational family estrangement has gained increased exposure in research and popular literature; however, significant gaps remain in understanding the lived experience of adult-children who maintain separation from their parents. Complicating matters, the family is not a solitary unit but is intertangled within a macrolevel sociocultural ecosystem. This ecosystem includes normative and nonnormative stressors which are subject to diverse interpretations depending on the historic and evolving character of the family and its members. As such, it is important to examine the dynamic character of estrangement in familial and sociocultural context.

Utilizing a case study method with semi-structured phenomenological …

Well-Being Beyond The Binary In Perinatal Healthcare: An Application Of Reproductive Justice, Orphea D. Wright

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gender diverse birthing individuals face several systemic barriers to accessing affirming and empowering perinatal healthcare. The present study utilizes the term gender diverse and the abbreviation TGE to describe those who self-identify as broadly non-cisgender, an umbrella term for people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. Gender identities that may be included in this definition include transgender/trans, gender expansive, non-binary, gender fluid, gender nonconforming, gender variant, gender queer/queer, and/or agender. Gender diverse individuals face unique barriers in perinatal healthcare due to the pervasiveness of cisnormativity in perinatal healthcare spaces. Research has documented the harm caused to …

An Investigation Of Pelvic Kinematics And Implications For Total Hip Arthroplasty, Kathryn Holland Colone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most commonly performed orthopaedic procedures, with approximately 500,000 surgeries performed annually in the United States alone. Although THA is widely regarded as highly successful, postoperative complications persist, highlighting the multifactorial nature of THA outcomes. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of implant positioning and soft tissue mechanics, yet challenges remain in optimizing surgical decisions on a patient-specific basis. Recent advances in surgical planning tools have shifted the focus of preoperative planning toward optimizing patient-specific outcomes, highlighting the need to better understand how patient anatomy, surgical technique, and joint mechanics interact to influence …

And There Was Battle In Heaven: Angels, Demons And Depictions Of Good And Evil In The Avesta And 1 Enoch, Christopher Brent Ghan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Zoroastrian texts of the Avesta and the Second Temple era apocalyptic text of 1 Enoch represent two of the world’s most enduring and influential articulations of the concepts of good and evil forces in monotheistic religious contexts. This dissertation applies Bruce Lincoln’s theory of weak comparison to compare the depictions of good and evil intermediate beings – angels, fallen angels and Nephilim in 1 Enoch and yazatas and daevas in the Avesta – to explore how both of these corpuses use these beings to address questions of evil while maintaining their monotheistic natures, and to define and explore their …

Msw Portfolio, Aunnika K. Woods

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

A professional portfolio displaying a collection of experiences and development throughout my time in the MSW program, documenting growth, challenges, and values.