Digital Commons Network^™

Mothers Who Homeschool: Experiences In Rural California, Kiah Combs

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of mothers who homeschool

their children in the rural location of Shasta County, California (CA). This research was

guided by three research questions: 1) In what ways is the act of homeschooling a form

of resistance to existing power structures for mothers in a rural region in CA? 2) How

does the process of providing a homeschooling education for their children influence

mothers’ perceptions of themselves as confident and capable? 3) In what ways does

homeschooling allow mothers to offer their children an educational experience which

meets their unique needs …

Lack Of Access To Education And Economic Opportunities As Root Causes Of Youth Migration From The Western Highlands Of Guatemala, Alvaro Quinteros Gonzalez

Master's Theses

This thesis examines how the relationship between limited access to education and economic opportunities contribute to the migration of young people out of this region. The qualitative research addresses two main questions: a) What challenges do young people in the Western Highlands of Guatemala face in accessing the education system and employment opportunities? And b) How does the lack of education and economic opportunities influence young people’s decision to migrate? Three focus groups were conducted with young individuals from the western highlands, and six semi-structured interviews were held with stakeholders and organizations working in this region.

The thesis concludes that …

Associations Between Social Comparison, Stress And Belonging For Students At A Hispanic Majority Institution, Jasmyne Thomas

Masters Theses (Archived)

Hispanic students at Hispanic Majority Institutions (HMIs) experience unique social comparison processes that shape their academic self-concept, belonging, and stress levels. While research has examined Hispanic students as minorities in predominantly White institutions, studies on their experiences at HMIs remain limited. This study explored whether stress mediated the relationship between social comparison orientation (SCO) and two dimensions of belonging—acceptance/rejection and school membership—among Hispanic undergraduates (N = 261). Participants completed an online survey with measures of SCO, academic self-concept, belonging, school membership, and stress. Results indicated that stress fully mediated the relationship between SCO and rejection/exclusion but not acceptance/inclusion or …

Secularism, Illiberalism, And Latino Voters In The 2024 Presidential Election, Jocelyn D. Lopez

Honors College Theses

This paper examines the intersection of secularism, illiberalism, and the shifting political alignment of Latino voters in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. It challenges assumptions that Latino voters naturally align with liberal democratic ideals, arguing instead that religious commitments, particularly among Christian Latinos, have increasingly aligned some with illiberal political movements. The analysis explores how conservative appeals to religious values resonate with voters who feel alienated by the perceived secularism of the Democratic Party. At the same time, these voters may overlook moral inconsistencies in candidates like Donald Trump if they believe he respects religious communities and challenges liberal norms …

Spoken Philippine English In Professional Contexts: Reflections On Research And The Need For A Targeted Corpus, Eric Friginal

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

This article reflects on nearly two decades of research into spoken communication using corpora, particularly within professional and workplace settings in the Philippines, such as call centers and related industries. Drawing on this extensive body of work, the article explores the potential of corpus-based approaches to enhance our understanding of spoken discourse. A framework for corpus-assisted spoken discourse analysis (Friginal, 2024a) is discussed as a foundation for examining professional communication. Building on these insights, the development of a targeted Spoken Philippine English Corpus (SPEC) is proposed, aiming to systematically document and analyze the unique features of spoken professional English in …

Empowering Patients With Health Insights: Development And Utilization Of Knowledge Graphs For Comprehensive Patient Medical Journey Mapping And Analytics, Hassan Saadeddine Al Khatib

Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare advancements require advanced solutions to process and understand complex patient data. This dissertation outlines a detailed framework for mapping patient journeys with knowledge graphs (KGs), which begins by analyzing existing Patient-Centric Knowledge Graphs (PCKGs) literature to identify current research gaps in the representation and analysis of patient journeys. Our research proposes solutions to these gaps through three main contributions. First, we introduce the Patient Journey Ontology (PJO), which enables systematic encoding of patient encounters, diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes into a semantic knowledge structure designed for interoperability. The construction of patient journey knowledge graphs (PJKGs) is based on this foundational …

In Search Of Educational Justice: Lived Experiences Of Community College Presidents And Their Authentic Critical Leadership, Juan Felipe Arzola

Theses and Dissertations

There are several gaps in research related to the fields of study of community college leadership and its influence on shared governance discussions and decision-making. The purpose of the current study is to address the gap in the study of community college leadership and its influence on shared governance discussions and decision-making through a critical, intersectional investigation of authentic critical leadership and its potential to influence shared governance group discussions and decision-making in distinctively different ways than those advocated by mainstream leadership theories. Participants participated in semi-structured interviews and were observed in a shared governance group meeting to identify evidence …

An Approach To Expanding The Industrial Training And Assessment Center To The Residential Sector, Cailee Addison Bush

Theses and Dissertations

The Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC) conducts no-cost energy audits for small and medium sized industrial and commercial buildings across the United States, with a goal to train students in energy optimization and cost reduction, while helping companies to reduce inefficiencies and waste. Expanding this program to the residential sector can reduce energy usage across the United States, largely due to this sector contributing to 15% of America’s energy usage. This research examines the development of a procedure to transition the ITAC into including the residential sector. To ensure a seamless introduction of this sector, the procedure must contain …

The Role Of Institutional Image In First-Generation Student Choice To Attend A Rural Southern Community College, Megan Caves Clark

Theses and Dissertations

As higher education continues to become more competitive with each passing year, research indicates that a favorable image perception of an institution can be achieved through strategic social media presence. With previous literature primarily discussing the impacts of institutional image at a university level, this dissertation explores the role of institutional image in first-generation student choice to attend a rural Southern community college. Using photo elicitation, this qualitative study sought to understand how a rural community college’s social media influences rural, first-generation student’s perception of the college. Results indicated that institutional image perception through social media may play a role …

Taking Flight: Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Systems To Sample Insects In Soybean, William "Covey" Lockhart

Theses and Dissertations

Insect scouting in soybean is a labor-intensive task but is needed throughout the season to minimize losses. When soybeans are tall, soils are wet, or soybeans are planted in narrow rows, walking through these fields can be difficult. To overcome these limitations of manual sampling, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sampling platform was developed that can collect insects in a sweep net attached to the bottom of a UAV. This system has been named the “Drone Insect Net Sampling System” (DINSS). Previous research with this system has shown positive correlations to traditional manual sampling methods. To improve this system, modifications …

Evaluation Of Soybean (Glycine Max (L.) Merr.) Yield Potential Following Simulated Population Loss And Replant Strategies, William Paul O'Neal

Theses and Dissertations

Soybean producers are often faced with challenges regarding stand loss situations that can be caused by many different things. Often, in a replant situation, producers must decide if it is best to keep the failed stand without replanting, keep the failed stand and replant at a lower rate, or terminate the failed stand and replant at a full rate. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to evaluate soybean yield potential following differing levels of simulated stand loss as well as to evaluate soybean yield potential following simulated stand loss with different levels of replant. Experiments were conducted in 2023 …

Costs And Challenges In The Mississippi Log Trucking Industry, James Tucker Shannon

Theses and Dissertations

Challenges impacting Mississippi log trucking businesses include escalating production costs, labor shortages, aging ownership, and rising liability insurance premiums. These concerns are transmitted back to loggers, landowners, and the entire forest products industry, reducing their contributions to the state’s economy. Lack of current knowledge concerning the adaptation of Mississippi log trucking companies under adverse business conditions necessitated a statewide mixed-mode survey to determine the industry’s structure, the nature of liability insurance premiums, and business owner perceptions about driver hiring and profitability. Mississippi log trucking business owners and drivers were predominantly middle-aged, with fewer individuals under the age of 40. Log …

An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Investigation Of Previous Sexual Health Communication Between Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Or Queer Young Adults And Their Parents, Haley Elizabeth Solace

Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests parent-child communication about sexual health can promote positive sexual health outcomes (e.g., Estrada-Martinez et al., 2020; Jayne et al., 2021); however, parent-child sexual health conversations are often infrequent and heteronormative (Estes, 2017). Few studies explore sexual health communication between LGBQ youth and their parents. This study explores previous experiences with parent-child sexual health communication between seven LGBQ young adults, aged 18 to 26, and four of their heterosexual mothers, to better understand parent-child sexual health communication and differences between parental-child reflections. Findings suggest LGBQ young adults and parents recall similar experiences, however, perceived discomfort and parental competency differently. …

“Here For Everyone” (?): How Intimate Partner Violence Service Organizations Address Community Needs And Transgender Inclusion In The Deep South, Brian Tesch

Theses and Dissertations

Transgender individuals face disproportionately high rates of intimate partner violence (also known as IPV) when compared to other sociodemographic groups. Despite this prevalence, IPV service organizations in the Deep South (e.g., Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina), a region of the U.S. encompassing several rural communities and characterized by traditional gender norms and conservative Christian religious values, may have difficulties meeting the unique needs of transgender IPV survivors. This dissertation explores two key areas: (1) the perceptions of IPV service organization staff members in the Deep South concerning how their agencies assist members of the transgender community, and (2) …

Shifting Sands: Moving From Reality To Unreality, Aaron Waterson

Theses and Dissertations

This is a series of stories that shifts from literary fiction to science fiction, each with their own inspiration and message. Inspirations include The Twilight Zone, Benjamin Percy, Da-Lin, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, The Sandman, and Endymion. Each of these stories is conversant with norms and traditions of storytelling and the connections between these and their inspirations are elaborated on in the Introduction that accompanies the collection as a whole.

Exploring Extension Agents' Understandings Of Local And Resilient Food Systems, Hannah Dankbar, Brooke Matusko

Journal of Extension

Currently, there is a focus on bolstering local food systems to support overall food system resilience. Local and resilient food systems, though related, are distinct concepts. Their use in food system development is complicated by varying interpretations. Data from a survey of North Carolina Extension agents, a group of food system practitioners, identified a range of definitions of these terms. The results underscore the complex landscape of local food system development and identify a need to build on conceptual understandings within the Extension community and establish shared understandings within food system development efforts.

Evaluation Of Plant Growth Regulators On Sweetpotato Slip Propagation, Kerington Lyn Bass

Theses and Dissertations

Sweetpotato production is often impacted by high mortality of slips during transplantation to the field, particularly with greenhouse-grown slips. These slips develop thinner stems, thus being more vulnerable to transplant shock, resulting in reduced establishment. To address this issue, the study evaluated the effects of four plant growth regulators on the morphological and anatomical characteristics of sweetpotato slips. In the first experiment, external growth parameters were recorded over four weeks, followed by post-harvest assessments of plant and root material. In the second experiment, the widths of various stem structures in stained cross-sections of slip stems were measured. Results showed that …

The Influence Of Nature On Design: A Focus On The Flora And Fauna Influence On 18th And 19th Century Decorative Arts, Rachel Ann Bozeman

Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to assist interior designers and preservationists in enhancing interior decoration by appreciating decorative arts in a historically accurate and visually appealing manner. It places a strong emphasis on the profound influence of nature on design. For centuries, creatives have drawn inspiration from nature, leading to the creation of unique design elements and decorative objects. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, naturalists produced floral and faunal prints that reflected this inspiration. Nature's impact on design extends beyond aesthetics; it also affects how individuals feel within a space. The environment one person inhabits influences his or her state of …

Atmospheric Turbulence Education Effects On Flight Anxiety, Megan A. Hanna

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the effect of turbulence education on flight anxiety. A pre-post methodology measured students’ anxiety levels before and after a study abroad flight, using an educational video during the pre-flight survey to change their feelings. The Flight Anxiety Situations (FAS) questionnaire assessed anxiety at three survey points: pre-video, post-video, and post-flight. Qualitative analysis using Friedman’s test and the Wilcoxon Signed-rank test, indicated that turbulence education effectively decreased generalized and anticipatory flight anxiety, particularly in non-phobic students. Text analysis of open-ended responses suggested increased scientific knowledge post-video helped students apply technical atmospheric processes to their feelings. Turbulence education was …

Russia In The Mena Region: Why Do States Draft Defense Cooperation Agreements With Non-Contiguous States?, Laurel Jayes

Theses and Dissertations

This paper investigates the reasons behind the disparity in the signing of Defense Cooperation Agreements (DCAs) among MENA countries. Western sanctions and financial dependence on Russia are the two primary factors used in the research to evaluate scenarios using a Boolean method and a Most Similar Systems Design (MSSD). While states that depend on Russian energy exports may align more closely with Moscow for strategic and economic gains, the paper examines how states under Western sanctions frequently look to Russia for alternative security relationships. Case studies that illustrate the circumstances under which MENA states seek formal defense connections with Russia …

Apatite Entrapment Of Iodine For Nuclear Waste Disposal Applications, William E. Laird

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to provide baseline knowledge of iodine incorporation into calcium phosphate minerals, specifically apatite. Iodine-129 is a fission product in Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) that can administer significant amounts of radiation in small quantities. Apatite (Ca10(PO4)6 (OH, F, Cl)) has been studied for the use of radionuclide confinement. Experimental design was set up to mimic temperatures expected in geologic repositories from 40 to 250℃. Experiments are broken into 2 groups based on iodine species being examined. The first group focuses on iodate (IO3-) which is prevalent under oxidized conditions, and the second handles iodide (I-) …

Just Do Something: Framing A Movement To Fight Fascism, Heather-Ann Layth

Theses and Dissertations

This study seeks to better understand antifascist activism, in part to add sociological perspectives to the antifascist movement and better understand a group publicly maligned by negative portrayals by politicians and the media. This study is important because fascism is already doing real damage to marginalized Americans and represents a real threat of further identitarian and authoritarian oppression. Yet, the movement against growing fascism has been painted as a boogeyman in the public eye. Efforts to stop neo-Nazis and white supremacists from gathering are not discussed in terms of fighting fascism but rather in terms which criminalize and demonize antifascists. …

Cyber Security Threat Recognition And Preparedness Of Undergraduate Students, Litany Hope Lineberry

Theses and Dissertations

Cybersecurity awareness and preparedness are critical competencies for individuals across academic disciplines and professional sectors. However, undergraduate students often lack sufficient knowledge and skills to recognize and mitigate cybersecurity threats. This dissertation examines cybersecurity threat recognition and preparedness among undergraduate students through a three-phase research approach. Study 1 explores faculty perspectives on students' cybersecurity awareness, identifying gaps in knowledge and preparedness across various fields of study. Study 2 investigates industry professionals' perceptions of new hires’ cybersecurity readiness, assessing the alignment between academic training and industry expectations. Study 3 evaluates the effectiveness of an online intervention designed to enhance students' cybersecurity …

Establishing A Baseline For Detecting Lotl Attacks In Windows Operating Systems, Ashlyn Martin Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

There has been an increasing realization of the rise in living off the land (LOTL) attacks where adversaries misuse legitimate system tools, particularly with state-sponsored actors targeting critical infrastructure in the United States. These attacks are difficult to detect because they allow attackers to remain present in a system without the user’s knowledge for an extended period. This thesis establishes an initial baseline specifically for Windows operating systems to measure normal system activity, focusing on CPU usage, memory utilization, and process activity. It particularly examines the use of PowerShell alongside other applications. The findings from this baseline are used to …

Faculty Perceptions And Use Of Open Educational Resources In Postsecondary Stem Classrooms, Gabriel Posadas

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how faculty in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) or STEM-related fields perceive and utilize open educational resources (OER) in their classrooms and how faculty characteristics (e.g., age, teaching experience, OER experience) influence their adoption. A quantitative survey was administered to 48 STEM faculty across 8 colleges at a large, southeastern university. Findings revealed that faculty generally acknowledged OER’s benefits, particularly its cost-saving potential, and all faculty without prior OER experience and 86.5% of faculty with OER experience expressed neutral to positive perceptions regarding OER’s ability to reduce financial burdens. Faculty with OER experience also recognized its …

Removal Of Harmful Algal Bloom Toxin, Microcystin-Lr Via Graphene Coated Polymers, Justin Douglas Puhnaty

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates a novel 3D-printed graphene-coated polymer (GCP) for the removal of Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), a harmful cyanotoxin produced during harmful algal blooms (HABs). While graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) exhibit high adsorption capacity, their powdered form limits practical application. To address this, GnPs were coated onto 3D-printed poly(lactic acid) (PLA) substrates, enabling enhanced handling for field deployment. Surface characterization using laser confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis confirmed GnP distribution and coating uniformity. Batch adsorption experiments revealed pseudo-second-order kinetics, a maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of 596 μg/g, and adsorption behavior best described by the Langmuir isotherm. Statistical analysis and comparison …

Investigations Into Fluorescence Of Fluorene Dimers: Linker Impacts And Tuning Potential Through Substituent Addition, Abigail R. Ressler

Theses and Dissertations

Fluorene-based fluorescing conjugated polymers are being used to develop sensors that show great sensitivity and selectivity, however, important questions about the photophysics of these systems remain unanswered. For example, a fluorescence intensity difference was observed between fluorene dimers linked with either an acetylene (diFA) or phenyl (diFP). The polymers diFA and diFP have similar structures and extinction coefficients, yet diFA yielded a five times higher fluorescence intensity than diFP. In project one, Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent DFT (TD-DFT) were used to calculate the ground and excited states of diFA and diFP. A python code was developed to solve …

Projected Future Reservoir Impairment In The Conterminous United States Following Three Climate Change Scenarios, Darren James Shoemaker

Theses and Dissertations

Anthropogenic climate change has been associated with reservoir aging and reduced ecosystem function. Communities throughout the world depend on reservoirs for services such as hydropower, drinking water, flood mitigation, and recreational opportunities. Though reservoirs were typically constructed to meet human needs, they are now also acknowledged as supporting biodiverse aquatic communities. Reservoir managers are expected to maintain services and biodiversity demanded by diverse users despite high uncertainty surrounding how climate will influence reservoirs through time. Additionally, data describing reservoir function at broad spatial extents are often either unavailable, incompatible between agencies, or prohibitively resource-intensive to obtain. Expert opinion surveys are …

The Teaching Experiences Of Black Women Faculty In Educator Preparation Providers Licensure Programs At Predominantly White Institutions, Tiffiney M. Atterberry

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the experiences that Black women faculty encounter in instructional spaces of Educator Preparation Providers licensure programs (hereafter referred to as EPPs) at predominantly White institutions are important for institutional change and reform to occur. In spaces of EPPs, Black women faculty are forced to cope and deal with racialized issues such as feelings of social isolation, a lack of inclusion, acts of microaggression from students, disrespectful acts, and students challenging their knowledge and credentials. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how Black women faculty narrate their teaching experiences in EPPs at PWIs. The use of Collins’ …

Developing An Optimized Site Selection Model For Eastern Cottonwood In The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Quentin Boccaleri

Theses and Dissertations

Demand for bioenergy has renewed interest and opportunities for short rotation woody crop (SRWC) systems. In the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV), specific attention is on the conversion of marginal agricultural sites using eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides).Therefore, analysis is needed to determine the feasibility of afforestation within the region. This study identifies marginal agricultural lands using random forest regression methods and uses process-based Physiological Processes Predicting Growth (3PG) model to determine biomass productivity of these marginal sites. This thesis discusses the following findings: 1. A review of marginal land identified along with key identification features 2. the results of eight …