Digital Commons Network^™

Breaking Barriers: How Reusable Menstrual Products Can Enhance School Attendance And Education For Girls In Kenya, Talia Jacobson

Master's Theses

In Kenya, statistics show that at least one in ten girls who are of the age of puberty miss school during their menstruation hindering their ability to finish schooling, secure a stable employment, and live independently. This thesis aims to highlight the issue of girls missing school due to their menstrual cycle, a problem that persists globally despite being solvable. The primary focus is on how reusable sanitary products, such as reusable pads, can aid girls to stay in school longer by addressing affordability and accessibility issues associated with commercial products, while also offering environmental benefits. The question guiding my …

The Effects Of Sudden Telework On The Productivity And Engagement Of Hr Employees, Lisa Renee Schlichtig

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a change in how individuals perceived the way of conducting work in the United States. Human resources (HR) leaders need to understand this change because many employees lost their jobs without the means for sustainable work. Other employees maintained their jobs, suddenly shifting to telework, resulting in mixed productivity and work engagement levels. The purpose of this quantitative moderation analysis study was to examine whether there was a moderating effect of employer-provided psychological resources on perceived productivity and work engagement among HR employees after the sudden shift to telework. The conservation of resources theory and the …

Aerial Robotic Studies Of Volcanic Co2 Emissions, John Ericksen

Computer Science ETDs

Volcanic systems are inherently complex, involving dynamic interactions among magma flow, gas emissions, and atmospheric dispersion. This dissertation focuses on developing and analyzing autonomous UAS algorithms for efficiently surveying volcanic CO2 plumes, introducing several novel methods: the LoCUS algorithm, a swarm coordination and self-healing algorithm that supports gradient-based plume tracking, a transect-based technique that employs a 2D Gaussian fit to calculate CO2 plume flux, and the Sketch algorithm for rapid plume boundary tracing. By treating multiple UAS as a single scientific instrument, these methods leverage swarm algorithms to use in-situ data in ways impossible with individual drones. Validated through simulations …

Adolescents And Technology - The True Impact Of Tech, Paige A. Schaefer

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

With the rapid advancement and increasing accessibility of technology, research has begun to focus on the impacts technology use can have on adolescents. Many young people think they understand how to use technology, but they may not understand the impacts it can have on their life. By having an understanding of these implications, both positive and negative, they can adjust their technology habits to increase their quality of life and set themselves up for success in the future. This paper begins with a review of the literature about the relationship between adolescents and technology followed by a training made for …

Administrators’ And Teachers’ Perceived Importance Of The Holistic Framework For Professional Development Elements: Survey Research, Adrianna Cate

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study researched the six elements of the Holistic Framework for Professional Development (HFPD) to understand administrators’ and teachers’ perceived importance and how demographic variables impacted those perceptions. This was done to contribute to the current gap in the literature regarding how to design and carry out effective professional development. The quantitative survey research utilized exponential, non-discriminative snowball sampling to recruit participants. Fifteen administrators, 64 teachers, and six participants working in ‘other’ roles in their school participated. These participants were citizens of fifteen different countries and worked across eleven countries worldwide. Even given this diverse sample, the results of this …

Phenomenological Study Of Disabled Student Experiences Related To Inclusive Learning Environments In Public Higher Education, Kristin Burgess

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Students with disabilities represent the largest and most diverse minority group in higher education, facing numerous barriers to accessing their learning environments. Historically, societal views have marginalized individuals with disabilities, perpetuating exclusion and discrimination. This study explores the experiences of disabled students in higher education, examining various models of disability, including the moral, charity, medical, social, and human rights models. These models influence how students experience their learning environments.

Higher education has traditionally been exclusive, primarily serving privileged groups. However, as societal narratives evolve, disciplines like disability studies have emerged, challenging these dominant narratives. The researcher, a community faculty member …

Lived Experiences Of Role Identity And Perceived Stress In Fargo-Moorhead Area School Counselors, Mary Jo Andersen

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

School counselors are often assigned non-direct service duties, which leaves them feeling like they do not have enough time to devote to the mental health needs of their students. They get pulled in various directions by teachers, parents, students, and administration, and there is not enough time in the day to complete all their expectations. This conflict can lead to dissatisfaction, high stress, and ultimately, burnout, evidenced by the number of school counselors leaving the field and many schools unable to fill these positions. This phenomenological research explored the lived experience of school counselors in the Fargo-Moorhead area, how they …

Analyzing The Influence Of Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women And Girls (Mmiwg) Cases And Their Impact On Society, Ivy J. Anderson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This research paper analyzes the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) cases and how this issue is continuously impacting society. Through the process of thematic analysis, the social media platform Reddit was analyzed on how social media plays a role in spreading awareness on this topic.

Identity Development In Adolescent Females Through Mentorship, Kelly L. Jones

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The goal of this project is to examine how identity is developed in adolescent females and how mentorship can play a role in this phase of life with the aim to achieve positive outcomes with the participation in a mentorship program. There are many different factors that play into how one’s identity is developed but the aim of this project integrates a variety of areas that research has found to be crucial. Additionally, approaching female adolescent identity development through a multicultural lens is imperative for those in the counseling field. Therefore, the need for this type of program created with …

First Annual Advances In Business Education Conference 2025 Proceedings, Kelsey Metz, Joshua Ray

Advances in Business Education (ABE) Conference Proceedings

Conference Overview: The First Annual Advances in Business Education (ABE) Conference was held on May 16, 2025, at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. Hosted by the LMU School of Business, the ABE Conference was established to promote teaching excellence through innovation and collaboration in business education. With a focus on fostering meaningful dialogue among educators, researchers, and students, the conference welcomed participants from across disciplines and institutions. The event was structured around three key tracks:

Pedagogy & Teaching Excellence: Showcasing innovative teaching methods and strategies for enhancing student learning and engagement.

Business Research: Presenting research focused on advancing knowledge …

Pierce V. Society Of Sisters At 100: Reflections On Parental Rights In Transition, Charles J. Russo

University of Dayton Law Review

No abstract provided.

Pedaling Toward Justice: Exploring The Role Of Community Advocacy In Shaping Bicycle Policy In Oakland., Claire Farrell Lowe

Master's Projects and Capstones

The way people move through a city fundamentally shapes their access to jobs, essential services, and economic and social opportunities. While Oakland’s bicycle infrastructure has improved over the past decade, vehicle-centric planning has historically sidelined cycling, creating mobility inequities. This thesis examines the role of community advocacy in advancing equitable bicycle planning and prioritizing cycling infrastructure as a core element of urban development. This thesis project follows the question: what role do advocacy groups play in addressing the gaps between the Oakland Bicycle Plan and its implementation? Through policy analysis, community engagement, and interviews with key informants from Bike East …

Blowing Through The Barriers Of Offshore Wind: Leveraging States' Authority To Ensure Energy Justice In Offshore Wind Development, Indya Woodfolk

Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum

No abstract provided.

On Valuing Community Environmental Management: Revenues, Costs Avoided, Economic Impacts, And Amenities, William N. Ferris

Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum

No abstract provided.

Principals’ Perspectives On Supporting Novice Alternatively Certified Teachers, Temperance Truitt Tobe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nationwide teacher shortages have resulted in states utilizing alternative certification programs to recruit, attract, and retain teacher candidates. The problem was secondary principals are challenged to assist novice alternatively certified teachers (NACTs) in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore experienced secondary principals' perspectives on their successes and challenges to assist NACTs. Experiential learning theory served as the basis for the conceptual framework. For this basic qualitative design, I conducted semistructured interviews with 11 experienced secondary school principals who worked directly with NACTs. Braun and Clarke’s six step framework was used for thematic analysis of …

The Influence Of Social Media On Speech-Language Pathology Practices, Kira Y. Engebretson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

With social media’s presence growing beyond personal use, speech-language pathology as a professional field is affected by social media as well. This study examined how social media is influencing clinical practice trends and evidence-based decision-making in speech-language pathology (SLP). A mixed-methods study including a survey (98 participants) to assess social media’s impact on SLP practices in the tri-state area (Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota), as well as a focus group (five participants) was used.

Participants primarily used social media to build a community of practice, which included connecting with others, accessing materials and resources, and building educational knowledge. These …

A Correlational Study Of The Relationships Between The Big Five Aspects Of Personality And Career Interest: Practical Implications For Teachers In Guidance Counseling Roles, Mary J. Haberman

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Classroom teachers are often required to teach advisory courses that include career counseling and social emotional learning components. The author used a combination of personality and career assessments to guide students into careers that were a good fit, not only for their interests but their temperaments as well. This holistic approach to advising allowed the author to address a wide variety of personal issues (e.g., unmet needs) that students were having and help them to discover their own motivations for approaching these issues. While the study is focused on collecting information from working adults, the results of this study could …

Emergency Medicine Residency Website Wellness Pages: A Content Analysis, Alexandra Sappington, Brian Milman

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the way medical students seek residency positions. In 2020, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education advocated for virtual interviews. Most emergency medicine (EM) interviews in 2023 remained virtual, and this format will persist for the foreseeable future. Since students are not evaluating programs in person in most cases, residency websites are crucial for prospective residents. Resident wellness is critical for resident training and important to prospective residents; it follows that programs must be transparent about resident wellness on websites. In this study we aimed to quantify the number of EM programs with wellness pages …

“That's Our Junior College”: Black Leadership And The Expansion And Integration Of Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College, Kristy Wittman Howell

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College (MGCJC), was a single-campus institution until the early 1960s, when it began plans to create two new White-enrolling, segregated campuses: the Jefferson Davis Campus in Harrison County, and the Jackson County Campus to its east. Plans for a third, Black-enrolling, segregated campus were abandoned, and when the two new campuses opened, the first students to register for classes were Black. Through the leadership of Black residents active in labor and civil rights organizations, the Black community of George, Harrison, Jackson, and Stone Counties successfully demanded expanded, integrated educational access in the deep south, some five …

Exploring Sustainable Biopolyesters: Synthesis From 1,4-Butanediol And Aliphatic Diacids, Vinashkumar Jayantibhai Chaudhari

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis, we applied 1,4-butanediol, which is an emerging biobased and low-cost monomer, was synthesized with a series of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, namely succinic acid, adipic acid, and sebacic acid using melt polycondensation to Biobased polyesters. The resulting polymers poly(butylene succinate) (PPeS), poly(butylene adipate) (PPeA), and poly(butylene sebacate) (PPeSe) chemical structures were analysis through Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) revealed the elimination of side reactions in the obtained polyesters. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was employed to analyze physical properties, and the impact of dicarboxylate chain length and long short diol on crystalline structure and …

Transition Metal Disulphide (Co, Ni, Fe) As Electrocatalyst For Overall Water Splitting, Urvashi Gondaliya

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Increasing energy demands and environmental awareness have promoted extensive research on the development of alternative energy conversion and storage technologies that are both highly efficient and environmentally friendly. Among them, water splitting is very appealing, and it is considered as a good renewable and sustainable approach for the generation of green H₂ energy, however its implementation at industrial level is hindered due to the requirement of highly active and durable electrode material. Therefore, developing efficient electrocatalysts is of significant importance for high-performance water splitting. In the past few years, much effort has been devoted to the development of alternative …

Fe/Co/Ni-Doped Mos2 An Electrocatalyst For Overall Water Splitting, Himanshi Lnu

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Electrochemical water splitting is a promising method for sustainable hydrogen production, addressing global energy challenges. However, its practical application is limited by the need for efficient and durable electrocatalysts for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this study, MoS₂ was doped with Co, Ni, and Fe at varying concentrations (5:0.5, 5:1, and 5:1.5) using a hydrothermal synthesis method to evaluate their potential as electrocatalysts for water splitting. Characterization revealed that metal doping significantly altered the electronic and morphological properties of MoS₂, enhancing its catalytic performance. Electrochemical evaluations in alkaline media demonstrated that Co-doped MoS₂ …

Soybean Oil-Derived Acrylate/Methacrylate Ether For High Resolution Additive Manufacturing (3d Printing) Technology, Tanuj Patel

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Additive Manufacturing is one of the rapidly developing techniques, as industries continue to explore new ways to create prototypes and end-use parts, one of the significant challenges that remains is the reliance on petroleum-based plastics for 3D printing, especially in the production of photocurable resins. that may be used to prototype complex structures and sophisticated geometries that are typically challenging to produce with conventional methods. Thus, replacing petroleum-based plastics with renewable resources is increasingly important for additive manufacturing (3D printing) of photocurable resins. The use of bio-based renewable resources in AM is a feasible alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics. Henceforth, …

Vocal Stereotypy Interventions Using Response Interruption And Redirection, Haley Tallent

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Vocal stereotypy is the repetitive, nonfunctional, and/or noncontextual vocalizations that are specifically maintained through internal reinforcement (Shawler, et al., 2020). Vocal stereotypy is commonly displayed in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, it may also occur in individuals with or without disabilities. When individuals engage in vocal stereotypy, they may lose learning opportunities, struggle to engage in daily tasks, and may even become stigmatized by their peers. One intervention used to reduce the frequency of vocal stereotypy in individuals with ASD is Response Interruption and Redirection (RIRD). RIRD was first evaluated for effectiveness in 2007 by Ahearn and colleagues. …

Zn–Assisted Synthesis Of M (Mn/Fe/Co/Ni)-N-C Catalysts For Multifunctional Electrochemical Activity, Kemila A. Chaudhary

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

The design and development of atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts (metal (M) supported on an nitrogen-carbon (NC) matrix with high multifunctional electrocatalytic performance is desirable but proved to be very challenging. Herein, we synthesized M-N-C catalysts (M = Fe, Co, Mn, and Ni) using Zn-assisted high temperature treatment and characterized using various techniques. The prepared catalysts were tested for their electrocatalytic performance towards oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction (OER and HER) as well as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media. The results indicated that Mn-N-C catalyst showed higher performance towards both the ORR (E_1/2 = 0.90 V) and …

Barriers Faced By College Sexual Violence Survivors Who Identify As A Racial And Gender Minority, Brittany A. Gordon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual violence is a significant issue in the US, and specifically on college campuses. Students who identify as a racial and gender minority have been found to be at increased risk. While research has examined the barriers to disclosure, reporting, or help-seeking among survivors within higher education who identify as a racial minority and those who identify as a gender minority, no qualitative studies have looked at the barriers faced by student survivors who identify as both a racial and gender minority. The purpose of this study was to understand the barriers faced by students who identify as a racial …

Teachers And Students As Funambulists: Tightrope Walking Complex Esol Contexts And Utilizing The Potential Of A Humanizing Pedagogy As A Balancing Pole, Steffi Kaiser

Master's Projects and Capstones

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers and students in community college (CC) and community-based organization (CBO) classrooms perform an ongoing tightrope walk, navigating complex social, cultural, and linguistic contexts. ESOL as a field must create conditions that acknowledge the realities of its complicated legacies and their embodiment in the classroom, because research and field experience reveal negative impacts of existing practices on both students and teachers. To act on this cognizance and respond to these intricate dynamics, teachers need training and ongoing professional development. This capstone project, Teachers and Students as Funambulists: Tightrope Walking Complex ESOL Contexts and …

Analyzing Ballast Water Treatments, Invasive Species, And Pathogens, And A Decade-Long Analysis On The San Francisco And Baltimore Ports, Jasmin Ibarra-Cortes

Master's Projects and Capstones

Installation of advanced technologies to treat ballast water on ships is necessary to meet current ballast water management standards and reduce the secondary spread of invasive species during intracoastal voyages. This research includes a literature review on non-native aquatic species, particularly diapausing eggs, and available treatment methods for installation. A comparative analysis from 2014 - 2024 on bulker, tanker, and container vessels arriving coastwise to the ports of San Francisco and Baltimore was performed to evaluate treatment installation trends, traffic patterns, and the effectiveness of treatment(s) on targeting diapausing eggs. Use of ultraviolet (UV) radiation combined with filtration has increased …

Effect Of Magnesium Supplements On Improving Glucose Control, Blood Pressure And Lipid Profile In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Nasiba Al Maqrashi, Salim Al Busaidi, Sara Al-Rasbi, Abdullah M. Al Alawi, Juhaina S. Al-Maqbali

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

This study evaluated the effects of magnesium (Mg) supplementation on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus through a meta-analysis of 23 randomised controlled trials involving 1,345 participants. Mg supplementation significantly increased serum Mg levels (weighted mean difference [WMD] = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.32 to 1.06) and reduced fasting blood glucose levels (WMD = -0.58, 95% CI: -0.87 to -0.28). However, the impact on glycated haemoglobin was minimal (WMD = -0.16, 95% CI: -0.32 to 0.00). Subgroup analysis showed a greater reduction in glycated haemoglobin among participants aged ≥65 years and those receiving longer durations of supplementation. Additionally, Mg supplementation …

Translanguaging 101 For Adult Esol Teachers, Shae Green

Master's Projects and Capstones

Although translanguaging has gained recognition in K–12 education and research over the past decade, it remains largely underutilized in adult ESOL classrooms. This presentation introduces the concept of translanguaging and offers practical strategies for its implementation with adult learners, addressing a gap in both research and practice. Grounded in the theoretical framework of Community Cultural Wealth, this conference presentation challenges deficit narratives by affirming students’ linguistic and cultural knowledge as valuable classroom resources. Drawing on research that highlights the benefits of utilizing students' home languages for language acquisition and identity affirmation, this presentation equips educators with tools to foster more …