Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of Trap-Neuter-Return Programs On Municipal Spending, Natalie Maria Hanna

Student Theses and Dissertations

Trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs are an effective way to reduce the number of free-roaming cats without relying on euthanasia by preventing further reproduction. Despite substantial research into the effectiveness of TNR, few studies explore the financial implications of implementing TNR at the municipal level. The purpose of this research was to identify if there is a relationship between the implementation of TNR and municipal spending on animal services by analyzing annual budgets and financial reports pre- and post- TNR implementation in a single municipality alongside shelter data in the same time period. Findings in this research suggest that implementing a TNR …

Exploring The Elements Contributed By School-Level Administrators That Influence Teacher Retention, Summer Craddock

Student Theses and Dissertations

Teacher shortages and high attrition rates challenge educational systems, impacting instructional quality, school culture, and student outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to examine how school-level administrators influenced teacher retention among K-5 public elementary teachers in a rural South Carolina school district. Guided by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory, the research explored how administrators meet teachers’ needs and how fulfilling these needs motivates them to stay. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was used, with semi-structured interviews conducted with eighteen certified K-5 teachers with at least five years of experience and actively employed in the district. The first research question examined teachers’ experiences …

Examining Teachers’ Perceived Effectiveness Of Marzano’S Teaching Strategies For Enhancing Student Engagement In Secondary Level Ela Classes, Casey Chantel Grinder

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured interview questions and a teacher questionnaire to explore 10 secondary ELA teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of Marzano’s strategies on student engagement. Participants included experienced teachers with a minimum of five years of classroom instruction—who had received formal training in the Marzano framework provided by their school district. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, the study examined five central themes: implementation of Marzano’s strategies, impact on student academic competence, student engagement and motivation, challenges and barriers, and support mechanisms used by educators. These themes provided a comprehensive lens to better understand how the Marzano …

Role Of Gut-Liver-Brain Axis In Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Of Parkinson’S Disease, Raveena Dhanani Ratnayake

Student Theses and Dissertations

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), such as depression, and anxiety, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often precede motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD), highlighting the need for early biomarkers and mechanistic insights. Gut-microbiome-related metabolites, including secondary bile acids, influence lipid homeostasis and mitochondrial function, impacting neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. This study examines metabolic alterations in PD, focusing on lipid metabolism, bile acids, acylcarnitine, and amino acids. Our findings showed significant changes in lipid metabolism, transsulfuration pathway, bile acids, acylcarnitine, and amino acids in PD severity and NPS. Specific lipid subclasses were linked to NPS, cognitive impairment, and motor impairment. Given the limited …

College And Career Readiness Of Students With Autism In The Dallas/Fort Worth Metropolitan Area, James Daniel Hobbs

Student Theses and Dissertations

Autism is a spectrum disorder involving individualized disabilities in social interactions, self-expression, and behavior control. Those diagnosed typically exhibit challenges in at least two of these areas. Many individuals with autism are identified through evaluations in public schools. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, public schools must provide disabled students with a free and appropriate public education through special education. In Texas, autism is one of 13 disabilities that qualify a student for special education services. Once in special education, students receive an individualized education plan, which includes goals for life after high school. The Texas Education Agency tracks …

Social Perception Of Bipolar Disorders On Employment Outcomes, Mary E. Henson

Student Theses and Dissertations

An important component to quality of life in those living with bipolar disorders is employment. Employment gives people an opportunity to provide for themselves and others, granting them the ability to live bountiful lives. For those with mental health diagnoses, it also provides them with economic access to affordable treatment. Literature agrees that many people with these diagnoses, specifically people with bipolar disorders, are less likely to be employed and maintain employment. It is likely that a lack of employment is due to stigma faced from employers and colleagues. Many studies have investigated internal stigma of bipolar disorders, but there …

Forcing Our Hand: Evaluating The Use Of Force In Responses To Wrongful Detentions Abroad, Tyler J. Marovitz

Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy Sidebar

Wrongful detentions are on the rise. Over the past ten years, U.S. nationals have increasingly found themselves detained abroad upon spurious allegations, facing trumped-up charges, and deprived of basic due process protections. Most of these detentions occur in countries hostile to the United States: Russia, Iran, North Korea, China, and Venezuela. The U.S. has opted to release rightfully detained foreigners to those nations in exchange for its wrongfully detained nationals. All of this perpetuates a “prisoner bazaar” that encourages unscrupulous nations to continue their bad-faith detentions of U.S. nationals. This Note investigates this emerging issue through a use of military …

Beyond Criminalization: A Call For Educational Restorative Justice In Response To Maryland’S 2024 Juvenile Crime Bill, Melissa B. Spirn

Maryland Law Review Online

No abstract provided.

Self-Efficacy Of Kindergarten, First, And Second Grade Educators Teaching Students With Behavioral Issues In South Carolina Public Schools, Kathryn Sommer-Gough

Student Theses and Dissertations

Teaching students with behavioral challenges can impact elementary school teachers’ self-efficacy. This study examined the perceived lack of preparation among educators in managing such students. Guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, this qualitative phenomenological study explored the experiences of kindergarten through second-grade general education teachers. Ten South Carolina teachers participated in three Zoom interviews each, discussing their self-efficacy and administrative support. Analysis revealed five key themes: self-efficacy, training, effects of students with behavioral issues, support, and frustrations. Teachers reported increased confidence after developing classroom management strategies, though these techniques were largely self-taught rather than formally provided. Future research should examine the …

Examining Black Teachers’ Experiences And Perspectives Of Community Cultural Wealth Within Their Hbcu Teacher Preparation Programs, Deajanae K. Mclain

Student Theses and Dissertations

The success of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the state of Mississippi in preparing Black educators is a topic that needed more up-to-date research. With media and research often highlighting institutional challenges at HBCUs rather than achievements, this study takes a different turn and highlights how HBCUs in the state of Mississippi successfully prepare Black teachers for the profession. This phenomenological study investigated how novice, Black teachers experienced Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) during their teacher preparation programs (TPPs) at public HBCUs in Mississippi. While HBCUs produce half of all Black teachers nationally, limited research examines how cultural assets …

Revising And Consolidating The Dsm-5 And Icd-11 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders Into A Dimensional Spectrum-Based Disorder: A Literature Review, Samuel Milton Shatsky

University Honors Theses

This thesis investigates the clinical, cultural, and theoretical implications of replacing the current DSM-5 and ICD-11 categorical diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) with a unified dimensional framework: trauma spectrum disorder (TSD). The proposed TSD model addresses ongoing concerns around diagnostic inflation, treatment misalignment, and clinical confusion stemming from binary trauma categorizations. This thesis explores whether adopting a dimensional diagnostic model to replace DSM-5 and ICD-11's current PTSD and CPTSD designations could lead to improved treatment outcomes and diagnostic clarity.

Methodology consisted of an extensive literature review of the field's current research. Using the …

Let's Talk About Sex, Baby! Gender Roles In Parent-Child Sexual Communication, Alexandra Henrici

Dissertations and Theses

Parent-child sexual communication remains a fruitful avenue to increase safe sex behaviors, which are currently in decline by today's adolescents. Historically, mothers have reported engaging in parent-child sexual communication more than fathers do. Previous scholarship suggests this difference could be due to traditional gender role beliefs or conflicts with traditionally masculine attributes. Using social cognitive theory and social role theory, this study conducted a cross-sectional survey on parents of children aged 9 through 16. Positive relationships existed between outcome expectations, self-efficacy, and level of detail in sexual and reproductive health conversations between parents and children. Though no statistical difference was …

Transmodal Family Literacies: Familial Cariño Practices Sustaining Children's Bilingualism And Biliteracy Development Heather L. Reichmuth And Lucía Cárdenas Curiel, Heather Reichmuth

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This chapter explores the transmodal family literacy practices of two bilingual families (Korean and Mexican) residing in the US. The chapter opens with a vignette on the role-playing support that the Korean mother started to help her son's English development. The literature review focuses on multimodal texts and family literacies, while the theoretical framework highlights translanguaging, transmodal, and biliteracy practices. Findings from this study suggest that through transmodality and familial care, the mothers supported their children's bilingual and biliteracy development in the home by using role-play, non-fiction books, and visual artistic expressions. This study suggests that teachers can draw on …

As Good As It Gets? Comparing Clients’ And Treatment Providers’ Perceptions Of Engagement Barriers And Facilitators For Exposure And Response Prevention Ocd Treatment, Samuel Mutschler-Aldine

University Honors Theses

This mixed-methods study compared clients' and providers' sentiments toward research-based themes on barriers and facilitators of client engagement in treatment. For individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), engagement in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy is a crucial ingredient of successful treatment and symptom remission. Therefore, it is imperative to thoroughly understand the perspectives on engagement barriers and facilitators of people with field experience: ERP patients and therapists.

The researcher administered two Qualtrics surveys to thirty current providers and six current or former clients of ERP for OCD. Each survey contained five-point, Likert-style scales to measure the level each participant agreed …

Multimodal Person Evaluation: First Impressions From Faces, Voices, And Names, Mila Mileva

School of Psychology

We form a first impression every time we meet someone unfamiliar to us. When this happens, we often have access to information about this person’s appearance, voice and the first thing we learn about them is usually their name. Despite this, much of what we know about social evaluation processes has been almost exclusively based on facial information. Here, approximately 45,000 spontaneous first impression descriptors were sampled to identify the most common judgements we make when presented with information about someone’s face, voice, and name at the same time as well as when presented with information about their voice or …

Preoperative Clinical Practice Guidelines For Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery, Marjorie Badong Yumul

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University College of Nursing This is to certify that the doctoral study by Marjorie B. Yumul has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Patricia Schweickert, Committee Chairperson, Nursing Faculty Dr. Diane Whitehead, Committee Member, Nursing Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2025 Executive Summary: Clinical Practice Guideline Preoperative Clinical Practice Guidelines for Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery by Marjorie B. Yumul MS, University of the Philippines Manila, 2003 BS, La Concordia, …

Efficacy Of New Jersey's Child Protection Policy Among Local Superior Courts, Nerissa G. Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the existence of New Jersey Department of Children and Family (NJDCF) policy guidelines, it remained unclear whether New Jersey superior courts consistently applied these principles and guidelines in Department of Child Protection and Permanency (CP&P) child abuse cases. Limited research had been conducted to examine how courts interpreted and adhered to these policies in legal rulings, leaving a gap in understanding how NJDCF principles influenced judicial decision-making. This gap in the literature made it difficult to assess whether policy guidelines effectively shaped court outcomes in ways that supported child protection and welfare. Child protective advocate attitudes and opinions concerning …

Examining The Relationship Between Employee Engagement, Job Satisfaction, And Turnover Intention In Healthcare Organizations, Nadiel Arocho-Saez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Turnover intention among healthcare staff adversely affects the delivery of high-quality patient care and compromises healthcare organizations' financial sustainability. Effectively managing factors influencing turnover intention is critical for healthcare leaders to reduce turnover. Grounded in the Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of the quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between employee engagement, job satisfaction, and turnover intention in healthcare organizations. Primary data were collected from 74 nurses employed at a large multi-hospital healthcare organization in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, who completed an anonymous online survey using existing questionnaires. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression. …

Challenges K-12 School Administrators Encounter Supporting The Cultural And Academic Needs Of African American Male Students, Geneda L. Kearney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research shows that students with educational support aligned to their cultural and academic needs have better outcomes. K-12 school administrators were challenged to support African American male students’ cultural and academic needs. Guided by cultural mismatch theory and critical race theory, this basic qualitative study aimed to explore the perceptions of K-12 administrators concerning the cultural and academic needs to support African American male students. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with eight K-12 school administrators having at least 2 years of experience in administration in a southeastern public school district in the United States. Thematic analysis of interview data …

Into The Language Barrier: Analysis Of The Debates Of Charles Taylor And Jürgen Habermas With Concentration On The Importance Of Philosophy Of Language, Tom Crosby

Dissertations

Jürgen Habermas (b. 1929) and Charles Taylor (b. 1931) are two of the most important philosophers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Throughout their lengthy bodies of work, spanning from the 1960s and continuing today, they were frequent interlocutors, and often responded to one another’s theories and arguments. They also engaged in direct debates in edited volumes to which they both contributed, including Communicative Action: Essays on Jürgen Habermas's The Theory of Communicative Action (1991), Multiculturalism (1994), and The Power of Religion in the Public Square (2011). The goal of this dissertation is to catalogue and analyze Habermas …

The Impact Of Child And Parent Trauma Exposure On A School-Based Trauma-Focused Child Intervention, Andrea Donis

Master's Theses

National statistics demonstrate that vast majority of Latine youth living in low-income neighborhoods in the United States experience on-going trauma exposure throughout their life. However, most trauma-focused therapies were designed without considering the impact that experiencing new trauma exposure during treatment may have on treatment effectiveness, limiting our understanding of the potential attenuation caused by new traumatic experiences. In addition, most youth research has focused on the impact of child trauma exposure, with little attention given to the impact of parental trauma exposure on child treatment outcomes despite the salient role that parents play in child development. In particular, little …

Two Leading Female Figures Of The Anti-Colonial Struggle In Africa, Marie-Ange Anezi Djie

Master's Theses

The Eurocentric and male narrative of the anti-colonial struggle in Africa during the twentieth century marginalized women’s contributions and presented them as passive victims of colonialism. Therefore, this study offers a more comprehensive historical account of women's leadership in Africa and a more inclusive and liberated narrative of the anti-colonial movement. Achieving this goal involves delving into the roles and contributions of two prominent female figures in the anti-colonial resistance in Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa during the twentieth century: Huda Shaarawi from Egypt and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti from Nigeria. Furthermore, this study aims to demonstrate that the actions and strategies of …

Who Seeks Help? A Sociodemographic Analysis Of Cannabis Use Disorder Treatment In New York, Ayodele Atolagbe, Ekenedilichukwu Theresa Emembolu, Stanley Nkemjika

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

Introduction: Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is being increasingly diagnosed in the United States, but access to treatment remains unequal, particularly in New York. Identifying the factors that contribute to disparities in receiving treatment for CUD among different population groups is essential for ensuring effective and targeted interventions. This study explores the sociodemographic factors influencing treatment utilization for CUD in New York.

Methods: Data for this study were retrieved from the 2018 Treatment Episode Data Set—Discharges (TEDS-D) of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Sample size for the study is 422,319 people with CUD. Logistic regression analysis …

The Relative Strength Of Help-Seeker Stereotype, Help-Seeking Self-Stigma, And Self-Esteem In Predicting Attitudes Toward Seeking Mental Health Help, Souad Torjani Azim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increasing prevalence of mental health issues among college students is a critical concern. Disorders such as depression and anxiety are becoming more common, with depression notably a major risk factor for suicide—the second leading cause of death in this age group. Despite this troubling trend, significant barriers to accessing mental health services remain. While research has explored various factors contributing to students’ reluctance, such as stigma, distrust in the mental health system, lack of social support, and mental health literacy, none to date has examined the relative strength of help-seeker stereotype, help-seeking self-stigma, and self-esteem in predicting attitudes toward …

Bias In Media Portrayals Of Filicide Cases Involving African American Women, Channing Lelar Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was conducted to examine racial disparities in media portrayals of filicide cases involving African American and Caucasian women, exploring how systemic biases and societal narratives influenced public perception, policy, and the child welfare and legal systems. Using a qualitative content analysis of 42 cases involving African American women and 20 involving Caucasian women, framing techniques, language, and imagery were analyzed. The research addressed three questions were (a) What narratives and framing were used?, (b) How did these differ across racial lines?, and (c) What are the broader societal and systemic implications? Results showed that media coverage of African …

Older Adults' Experiences Of Telephone-Delivered Behavioral Activation With Mental Imagery As A Treatment For Depression During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study, Johnny Pellas, Mattias Damberg, Fritz Renner, Julie L Ji, Marie Kivi

School of Psychology

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the use of telehealth interventions for treating depression in older adults. We conducted a pilot study of a telephone-based brief psychological intervention, Behavioral Activation with Mental Imagery (BA-MI), for the treatment of depression in isolated older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. We achieved promising results regarding a reduction in depressive symptoms. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the participants' experiences of the intervention and provide insight into how the intervention could be improved. Fourteen participants aged 67-85 years that completed the BA-MI intervention were purposively selected and interviewed. The interviews were analyzed using …

News Clipping, Priest-Lawyer

Eartha M. M. White Textual Material

Newsclipping: The Admission to the Florida Bar of Father Thomas J. Brophy, priest at St. Pius Colored Mission. Undated.

The Effect Of Functional Training On Dynamic Knee Valgus Of Youth Soccer Players. A Pilot Study, Ole Tovar, Dóra Molnár, Badis Soussi, Ádám Uhlár, Tamás Horváth, Mira Ambrus

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(7): 561-574, 2025. Knee injuries are very common in soccer players. High loads on the knee during landing or changes of direction can lead to a valgus shift of the knee, known as Dynamic Knee Valgus (DKV). Many studies have shown that a large shift in DKV is a predisposing factor for knee injuries and disease, such as anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL), patellofemoral pain syndrome or osteoarthritis. Functional training could be a great tool to reduce DKV. Thus, in this pilot study, nine male youth soccer players (mean age: 16.4 ± 0.2 years) took …

(Me)Mory : (His)Tory, Isabella Frederick

Fragments

No abstract provided.

Retracted: Navigating The Complexities And Artificial Intelligence Of Internet Of Things Security Claims, Tamara Saad Mohamed, Saad Mohammed Khalifah

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

The term ``Internet of Things'' (IoT) describes a system that allows everyday objects to communicate with one another and with controlled systems, servers, and other linked devices through a variety of connectivity constructions by means of embedded software, sensor technology, electronics, and connections. Data from the Internet of Things (IoT) will be sent to the servers over the internet from a variety of sensors, nods, and collectors. Governments, medical facilities, consumers, and corporations all make use of IoT devices. approximately, More than 65 billion Internet of Things devices are expected to be in operation by 2024. The proliferation of IoT …