Digital Commons Network^™

2024 Annual Report, Tennessee. Department Of Human Services, Tennessee. Division Of Rehabilitation Services, State Rehabilitation Council Of Tennessee

State Rehabilitation Council Annual Reports

This report is a summary of the accomplishments made by the State Rehabilitation Council.

Annual Report, State Fiscal Year July 2023 - June 2024, Tennessee. Department Of Children's Services

Annual Reports

This annual report records the progress made by the Department of Children's Services during the fiscal year.

The State Of The Child In Tennessee 2024, Tennessee Commission On Children And Youth

Kids Count/State of the Child in Tennessee Reports

This report provides an overview of information on healthy infants, children and teens; child/teen well-being; education; economic security; and demographics.

Annual Statistical Report, For The Scholastic Year Ending June 30, 2024, Tennessee. Department Of Education

Annual Statistical Reports

This document contains the statistical summaries for the 2023-2024 school year.

Behavioral Responses To Chronic And Acute Stressors In Prairie Voles, Yessenia Chavez

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Social isolation has several psychological and physiological consequences including anxiety and depressive-like behaviors, rapid heart rate (HR), and elevated blood pressure. Social isolation also combines with acute environmental stress to influence emotions and behaviors. The present study evaluated behavioral responses to a combination of long-term social stress and acute stress in the prairie vole rodent model, and whether an environmental treatment could protect against anxiety-related consequences of acute and social stress. Prairie voles engage in social behaviors translational to humans, including monogamous relationships, and provide a valuable model for investigating the interactions of social stress and acute environmental stress. In …

Black Males’ Experiences Of Resilience: A Narrative Study On College Students Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Keshia R. Graham

Theses and Dissertations

Black men’s resilience has historically been discussed, interwoven, and disguised by deficit-based models rather than strength-based ones. The current study examined Black men's resilience using a strength-based model for Black male students in higher education institutions. Specifically, the experiences and resilience of Black men before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were explored. This study targeted Black male students from an urban institution, with the aim to find out what key elements supported their resilient behavior throughout the most challenging times in their college career. The African American Male Theory and Resiliency Theory used as the theoretical framework. A narrative methodology …

Spatial Relations Between Conscious And Unconscious Thought, John Shannon Hendrix

Architecture, Art, and Historic Preservation Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Rater Training And Mfrm On Rater Effects For Direct Behavior Ratings Over Time, Abigail Pruitt

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Measures of academic engagement and disruptive behavior in students are strong predictors of social, academic, and lifelong career outcomes. Educators need a measurement tool that is feasible, accurate, and cost-effective in order to identify students who may be in need of additional behavioral support. Direct Behavior Ratings (DBRs) offer a solution, but are prone to rater effects, threatening the psychometric properties of the tool. Two methods are proposed for the mitigation of such rater effects: rater training and statistical adjustment. Previous studies have demonstrated mixed results regarding the effectiveness of rater training on DBRs, and no studies have investigated the …

Tyrannical Hoas And How To Reign In Their Foreclosure Power And Further Protect Homeowners, Juliette Koves

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Hyperlocal Digital Content Profits: Strategizing Revenue Generation For New Vision Podcasts, Athman Raziah

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

This capstone project explores how traditional media houses can generate revenue from hyperlocal digital content, focusing specifically on podcasts. As consumer habits and advertising trends shift towards digital platforms; traditional media outlets face the challenge of reaching niche audiences and convincing advertisers to invest in digital advertising, particularly in the realm of podcasts. With the decline in physical newspaper readership, the digital wave has gained significant momentum, leading to a transition from traditional media to more accessible and fragmented platforms. This project aims to design a sustainable revenue-generating strategy for New Vision podcasts, addressing the unfamiliarity of producers, media executives, …

Challenges In Post Graduate General Surgery Training In Tanzania: A Trainee’S Perspective, Shabbir Adamjee

Master of Surgery

v>

General Surgery residency training is a complex vigorous program which includes long working hours and complex surgical cases, in order to develop and attain the knowledge and the skills the trainee needs by the end of the program. Worldwide, general surgery programs have high attrition rates and residents have identified challenges which may be work related, related to social wellbeing and/or the residency program structure. Tanzania has public and private institutions providing general surgery residency training and although most have a quality assessment program the data is not readily available. Each institution has its personalized curriculum with its unique …

Exploring The Integration Of Neuroeducation Principles In Teaching Mathematics In Selected Secondary Schools In Iringa Municipality, Tanzania., Emmanuel Kahise

Master of Education

This research explored the integration of neuroeducation principles in the mathematics curriculum of secondary educational institutions in Iringa Municipality, Tanzania, driven by the goal of enhancing learning outcomes and refining instructional strategies. Employing a qualitative case study methodology, the study examined teachers' perspectives, the actual implementation of neuroeducation concepts in classrooms, and the challenges encountered during integration. Through observations of form one and form three classes and interviews with three mathematics teachers, inconsistencies between claimed understanding and actual practices were identified. To address issues such as a lack of instructional resources, restricted technology access, and limited professional growth opportunities, specific …

Towards Unleashing The Potential Of Ai In Education; Exploring Educators' Perceptions And Practices In Tanzania (The Case Study Of Two Districts In Coastal Region, Tanzania)., Luciana Marwa Hanson

Master of Education

As AI adoption in education progresses globally, understanding educators' viewpoints is crucial for effective integration in specific contexts like Tanzania. This study was an exploration of the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, focusing on the Tanzanian context. It aimed to understand educators' perceptions and practices regarding AI integration in education. The research objectives include exploring the potential benefits and challenges of AI integration, as well as understanding educators' attitudes and intentions toward AI adoption. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model, the study utilized a qualitative case study approach involving interviews, FGDS, and observations with 10 students, 10 educators …

Teachers’ Assessment Practices In An Inclusive Refugee Setting: An Exploration Of How It Influences The Learning Of Learners With Disabilities., Julius Odongo Mireri

Master of Education

Assessments play a pivotal role in determining learning outcomes and educational experiences for refugee learners with disabilities (RLWD). However, their circumstances present unique challenges to traditional assessment practices. This study explored how teachers' assessment approaches influence learning for RLWD enrolled in an inclusive refugee school in Kakuma Kenya. The objectives were to examine how assessments are adapted to meet diverse learner needs, investigate how the refugee context shapes assessment practices, determine how assessments influence learning, and identify challenges faced in assessment. A qualitative case study design was employed. Data collection methods included individual interviews with 8 teachers and the head …

Dr. Seitchik’S Ai Research And Writing Companion: A Student's Handbook For Leveraging Technology, Allison Seitchik

Psychology Faculty Publications

This guide is intended to be utilized by students to help them use AI to assist in research and to scaffold their writing. Instructors can use it, if they allow AI to be used in their classes, to assist students in their research and writing endeavors. Some screenshots have been redacted for copyright reasons. A paper using this guide is under review and a citation will be provided when available. The guide can assist anyone when writing, especially research papers, but it is geared toward a student population for use in or outside of the classroom.

"Where Happiness Inspires Hope": Service-Learning With Give Kids The World, Gabrielle M. Lucci

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

This project explores my experience volunteering with a nonprofit organization that I chose to work with for my LDR3215 course. I chose to work with Give Kids the World, an organization dedicated to providing all-expenses-paid dream vacations to critically ill children and their families. In class, we were tasked with exploring a modern social issue, and I chose disability inequity. Through my service, I improved my interpersonal skills, understood disability inequity's prevalence in society today, and made a positive impact on my community. I also learned about the importance of ally-based advocacy and greater numbers of supporters for increased productivity. …

Physical, Social, And Restrictive Accessibility Of Urban Green Space In Philadelphia, Amelia Thibault

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

No abstract provided.

A Review Of The Literature: The Greatest Predictor Of Success And Failure In Anorexia Nervosa Recovery In Adolescent Girls, Tess Palin

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

No abstract provided.

The G-Bdt (Good-Bad Drawings Test): Using Human Figure Drawings With Individuals Who Are Incarcerated, Institutionalized, And/Or In Special Education, George A. Giacobbe, John D. Dooley

Books and Book Chapters

The G-BDT (Good-Bad Drawings Test) is a variation of the psychological projective test known as the Draw-a-Person test (DAP). The DAP requests a drawer to make two drawings: one of a person, and when it is completed and removed, another drawing of a person who is the opposite sex of the person in the first drawing.

There are currently many variations of the DAP including requesting drawings of a person, a house and a tree, drawing a family, a mother and child, or even animals, such as drawing a dog.

The G-BDT requests the drawer draw a person who is …

Emma Vogel Honors Portfolio, Emma Vogel

Honors Capstone Portfolios

Emma Vogel's Honors Portfolio captured in August 2024.

Carly Kuhlman Honors Portfolio, Carly Kuhlman

Honors Capstone Portfolios

Carly Kuhlman's Honors Portfolio captured in December 2024.

Neural Population Dynamics Underlying Encoding Of Time In The Cortico-Striatal Circuit, Francisca Martínez Traub

Student Theses and Dissertations

Interval timing, the ability to accurately measure elapsed time between events, is critical for generating appropriate behavioral responses. Research conducted over the past decades has implicated the cortico-striatal-thalamic loop in time encoding,suggesting that the cortex utilizes high-dimensional dynamics to represent time. The dorsal lateral region of the striatum (d1St) is a key structure involved in interval timing,where neurons exhibit dynamic firing rate patterns that encode elapsed time, enabling animals to make perceptual judgments about time intervals. However, it is unlikely that this striatal activity is self-generated, pointing towards cortical afferent inputs as the driving force behind it. This thesis aims …

Cellular And Circuit Consequences Of A Genetic Locus For Attention, Zachary Gershon

Student Theses and Dissertations

Animals are constantly bombarded by any number of sensory inputs but have a limited capacity with which to process them. A mechanism for filtering, prioritizing, and directing mental assets is required to prevent sensory overload, enable meaningful comprehension, and allow for further action. Attention is the process of directing cognitive resources toward specific stimuli, which can be dispensed in a top-down manner to carry out higher-order cognitive functions. However, despite extensive and careful study at the molecular, cellular, and, circuit scales, unifying principles have been challenging to elicit. In this thesis, I aimed to provide a new perspective by taking …

Anterior Cingulate Function Across Multiple-Time Scales Shapes Learning And Memory, Josue Manuel Regalado

Student Theses and Dissertations

We are constantly learning from our everyday experiences about the people we are with, the things we do,where we are, and how we feel. If deemed significant enough,we may choose to remember what we learn for the rest of our lives.For my doctoral work, I studied how a part of the neocortex, the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC),has critical functions across multiple time-scales,from minutes to days-long learning,to weeks-long memory consolidation.The prefrontal cortex, and particularly the ACC portion, is known to be important for goal-directed learning, especially as the relationship between our actions (including effort) and their outcomes (including value) has to …

Towards A Better Understanding Of Facial Movements: Computational Models For Perception, Characterization, And Neural Production, Yanis Tazi

Student Theses and Dissertations

Facial movements are the primary medium for non-verbal communication and involve a complex orchestration of muscles controlled by the brain. The ability to interpret and produce these movements enables the expression of a wide range of emotions and social cues, all essential for social interactions. Despite their significance, the neural mechanisms governing facial movements remain poorly understood, hindered by the complexity of muscle coordination and the limitations of traditional, subjective, and labor-intensive analysis methods. To objectively understand facial motor control, this research adopts a three-pronged approach: 1) Developing and interpreting computational models within a novel multi-task training framework to simultaneously …

Age-Related Microaggressions: A Semi-Replication, Stephanie Patt

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The aim of this study was to expand the literature on age-related microaggressions by replicating a previous study on this topic. Participants (n = 303) were asked for examples of daily interactions where they were treated differently because of their age. Participants described experiences of age-related microaggressions and were prompted through a series of questions via an online survey to determine the topography of the age-related microaggressions, emotional and behavioral reactions to being victimized, which aspects of the interaction were most bothersome, perpetrators and settings of the attacks, and perceived intent. A thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) was conducted …

Changes In Values And Perception Of Life: Natural Disaster Devastates A Mountain Community, Sharifullah Baig, Abida Begum

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

The mountain communities of Karakorum and the Himalayas in Pakistan are frequently experiencing climate change-induced natural disasters, which are inflicting irreparable losses to their generation's old value system and socio-economic life. Focusing on the value system, this small-scale study explored the change in values and perceptions of a disaster-affected mountain community about natural hazards and its implications for their future lives. Twenty participants from the affected community, including local political activists, religious leaders, teachers, and youth activists, were thoroughly interviewed. The study explored significant deviations from their traditional values of connectedness to each other and with their ancestors' land. The …

A Comparative Analysis Of Costs Associated With Assisted Reproductive Technology; Invitro Fertilization Of Singleton, Twin, And Multiple Gestations Compared To Non-Invitro Fertilization Singleton Gestations, Ruth Arthur-Asmah

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

This study examines IVF and non-IVF costs associated with prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care using claims data from Merative MarketScan Commercial and Encounter data from 2018-2020 to understand the costs associated with respective IVF singleton, twin, and multiple gestations, as compared to non-IVF singleton gestations. These patients identified as females at birth, were continuously enrolled in private insurance, and have not experienced termination of pregnancy. The Student T-test was performed on continuous variables, and logistic regression was performed on binary variables with the overall outcome variables being cost, IVF, and non-IVF, controlling for age. The cost data was gamma log …

Preparation For Implementation Of Evidence-Based Practices In Urban Schools: A Shared Process With Implementing Partners., Ricardo Eiraldi, Rachel Comly, Courtney Benjamin Wolk, Quinn Rabenau-Mcdonnell, Barry Mccurdy, Muniya S Khanna, Abbas F Jawad, Jayme Banks, Stacina Clark, Kristina M Popkin, Tara Wilson, Kathryn Henson

PCOM Scholarly Works

BACKGROUND: Shifting organizational priorities can negatively affect the sustainment of innovations in community settings. Shifting priorities can present barriers to conducting clinical research in schools if a misalignment occurs between school district priorities and the aims of the study. Often this misalignment occurs due to a shift during the period between when the study is submitted for funding and when research activities begin. Participatory research approaches can be employed to restore alignment between study processes and school district priorities. The purpose of the study is to describe data from a shared process with district partners. The shared process resulted in …

Integrating Higher Order Fear-Based Psychopathology And Rdoc’S Acute Threat Subconstruct, Travis Cole

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Fear-based psychopathology consistently pushes the categorical boundaries established by current diagnostic systems such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition text revision. While classified by their differing phenotypic symptoms, physiological processes such as fear potentiated startle (FPS) and fear load are common, well-established underlying mechanisms of fear-based psychopathology and represent a prominent target for intervention. The shared mechanisms and symptom overlap among fear-based disorders lend evidence to the examination of symptoms based on a dimensional classification system. One such system, the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) is a quantitative, bottom-up approach to mental illness classification that …