Digital Commons Network^™

An Analysis Of How Educators’ Attitudes Toward Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities Impact Assessment Scores Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Felicia Baty Goings

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed how educators’ attitudes toward individuals with intellectual disabilities impact summative assessment scores of students with learning disabilities. The research problem addressed in this study was the increase in the number of special education students receiving inclusive instruction who scored at Levels 3 or 4 on the Arkansas Teaching and Learning Assessment System (ATLAS) mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) summative assessment. The findings are relevant to educators and education stakeholders wanting to improve inclusion practices. The purpose of this correlational quantitative study was to determine whether there was a significant difference in students’ summative assessment scores and …

The Influence Of Leadership Styles On Teacher Motivation And School Climate In Urban Schools From Three South-Central Region States, Jennifer L. Thomas

Student Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored how leadership styles influenced teacher motivation and school climate across three Southern South-Central region states. Through an analysis of 15 interviews, the research explored teachers' lived experiences and interactions with administrators that shaped their motivation, work efficacy, sense of value, and emotional well-being. Three states served as the data pool for the study: Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee. Seven themes emerged related to motivation and school climate: Teacher Voice, Support, Empowerment, Relational Confidence, Feeling Valued, Emotional Safety, and Building Community. These themes illuminated how leadership behaviors can either strengthen or hinder teachers’ professional commitment, instructional effectiveness, and …

Impact Of Expanded Core Curriculum On College And Job Placement For The Blind And Visually Impaired, Susan Drake

Student Theses and Dissertations

Students who are blind or visually impaired face persistent barriers in postsecondary education and employment, despite access to academic instruction and legally mandated supports. Although academic accommodations are often provided, less is known about how instruction in nonacademic skill areas influences long-term outcomes. . This study addressed a critical gap by examining the perceived impact of Expanded Core Curriculum instruction on college readiness, employment attainment, and adult independence for blind or visually impaired high school graduates. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how former students described their access to, understanding of, and benefit from Expanded Core Curriculum …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Factors Influencing Novice Special Education Teachers’ Career Decisions, Angela L. Norris

Student Theses and Dissertations

The rising attrition rates of special education teachers, particularly within their first five years of teaching, are a growing concern. The early departure of these educators negatively impacts the academic achievement of students with disabilities, as well as the stability and longevity of these educators’ careers. Little research shows why these educators exit the profession in significant numbers. This qualitative phenomenological study utilized Billingsley’s model of factors influencing the career decisions of teachers as the conceptual framework. Research questions explored the perceptions of novice special education teachers regarding school leadership, professional development, and compensation and their influence on their career …

Through Their Eyes: Understanding And Enhancing Retention Among Special Education Teachers Of Color, Barry L. Fargo

Student Theses and Dissertations

Retaining special education teachers of color within public schools remains an ongoing challenge. Although research on teacher retention has expanded in recent years, less attention has focused on how relational and organizational conditions shape the lived experiences of these teachers. Guided by the Four-Capital Theoretical Model of Teacher Retention, this qualitative phenomenological study explored how social and structural capital shaped the retention experiences of special education teachers of color. Participants included 15 special education teachers of color currently serving in K–12 roles in U.S. public schools with at least two years of special education teaching experience. Data were collected through …

Strategies And Practices For Improving Enrollment And Persistence By Native American Students In An Oklahoma Post-Secondary Education Institution, Mickey Jack

Student Theses and Dissertations

The historical oppression of Native Americans created a distrust in the educational system in American which was based on European models and designed for the advancement of white settlers. This historical oppression transcends generations and stills exists in our educational system. As a result, Native American students represent less than 1% of the student population in post-secondary education systems nation-wide. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify what strategies and practices were most effective for improving enrollment and persistence among Native American students in Oklahoma post-secondary education based on a transformative framework and TribalCrit. Three Native American …

Heritage As Performative Sovereignty: Situated Agency And Environmental (In)Equity In The Arkansas Delta, Faisal Mohammed

Student Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the materiality of heritage as a proactive and strategic resource for ensuring survival and reshaping justice in rural places. Set in Phillips County, in the Arkansas Delta, a region where environmental neglect and economic marginalization are visibly apparent in the landscape, this research interrogates how a community responds to environmental crises in a contested landscape using locally driven, art-based initiatives. By centering the Water Story Project in Phillips County, funded by One Nation One Project, a national art-based initiative, I explore a ‘thin institutional ecology’ where the scarcity of regulatory oversight and intermediary civic support has …

The Impact Of Academic Advising Models On Undergraduate Student Performance: A Multiple Regression Analysis, Kayla Meaders

Student Theses and Dissertations

Institutions of higher education continue to seek effective strategies to improve student persistence, academic performance, and degree completion. Academic advising is widely recognized as a key institutional support that helps students navigate academic requirements and institutional expectations. However, universities organize advising services using different structural models, and limited empirical evidence exists regarding how these models influence measurable student outcomes. This study examined the predictive relationship between academic advising models and undergraduate student success outcomes at a public university in North Texas. The study investigated the extent to which advising models, centralized or decentralized, predict cumulative grade point average, first-to-second-year retention, …

Fear Of Negative Evaluation And Intrinsic Motivation In Resistance-Trained Individuals: A Comparison Of Novice And Experienced Lifters, Karter Bokker

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between fear of negative evaluation (FNE) and intrinsic motivation in resistance-trained individuals and compared FNE levels between novice and experienced lifters. Twenty-two male participants (n = 8 novices, n = 14 experienced) completed questionnaires assessing FNE and intrinsic motivation. A Pearson correlation and independent-samples t-test were conducted. Results indicated no significant relationship between FNE and intrinsic motivation (r = -.144, p = .523). However, novice lifters reported significantly higher FNE scores than experienced lifters, (t20) = 2.71, p = .014, with a large effect size (d = 1.20). These findings suggest that while FNE may …

Understanding Principal Perspectives On What Professional Learning Supports Sustained School Improvements: A Qualitative Case Study, Kristen Hope Fondren

Student Theses and Dissertations

Principals leading schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement face demands related to rapid improvement, instructional reform, and sustaining gains over time. Although districts provide professional learning, limited understanding exists regarding which supports principals perceive as most meaningful in turnaround contexts. This qualitative multiple case study explored how principals in the Florida Panhandle perceived professional learning supports that strengthened leadership capacity, supported exiting improvement status, and sustained school improvement. Guided by a constructivist framework, the study examined how principals constructed meaning from their professional learning experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six principals who successfully led schools out …

"Using A Sledgehammer To Crack A Nut" A Proposal To Re-Frame The Media Industry's Perspective On Generative Ai, Reace Barnett

Student Theses and Dissertations

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) continues to be a divisive topic in the media industry and there are concerns about technical challenges that may affect GenAI’s trustworthiness and reliability. As such, fears of degraded public trust in media products and services have arisen, and while we have a tendency to trust machines, it is clear that public attitudes toward automated decision-making are contentious. Previous research on machine cues found that they are associated with increased perceived objectivity and willingness to disclose information. Conversational GenAI may reduce political polarization, yet many people remain worried about risks such as bias, hallucinations, improper attribution, …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Wetland Reserve Easements As Habitat For Birds In The Mississippi Alluvial Valley Of Eastern Arkansas, Colin K. Dobson

Student Theses and Dissertations

Globally, wetland habitats suffered major declines during the 20th century. In the 1990s, the United States government created the Wetland Reserve Program (later consolidated into the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program), to combat the loss of wetlands. Despite success in attracting landowners, minimal monitoring of properties enrolled into the program (easements) has occurred. In this study, we monitored avian communities at easements, compared avian diversity at easements to agriculture and bottomland forests, and quantified microhabitat, site-specific, and surrounding landscape features at easements. We also studied the demographic rates of an indicator species of bottomland forests, the Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) at …

The Ecotoxicological Implications Of Switching From Fluorescent To Light Emitting Diode Lighting For Zooplankton Culturing And Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing, Orithea Z. Regn

Student Theses and Dissertations

In the global transition toward light emitting diode (LED) lighting, an understudied area is the impact on the culturing and testing of Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing organisms, more specifically, the zooplankton species. Without comparison to the current lighting used for culturing and testing, it is unknown if there will be an impact on performance, which could affect effluent, regulatory, and product safety decisions. This dissertation investigated if culturing and reference toxicity testing using sodium chloride for Ceriodaphnia dubia, Daphnia magna, and D. pulex under LED lighting was comparable to fluorescent. Comparisons were made between two laboratories and by season, …

The Efficacy Of Open Educational Resources On Achievement Outcomes In Higher Education Institutions, Charles Trevor Alder

Theses and Dissertations

Achievement gaps remain a concern in higher education, reflected in differences in academic performance, retention, and persistence. These gaps often affect students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and underserved populations. Open educational resources (OER) have been suggested to reduce financial barriers and support student success. This study examined whether student-level and institutional-level factors predict academic performance in a business management course using OER. Average quiz scores were collected from students across 12 higher education institutions and analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling. Colleges were included in the analysis to determine whether outcomes differed based on the proportion of minority and Pell-eligible students. …

Retirement At Risk: The Political Economy Of Public Pension Governance, Allen Mendenhall, Dan Sutter

Journal of New Finance

State public pension systems manage over $6 trillion in assets while facing approximately $1.3 trillion in unfunded liabilities, raising fundamental questions about governance effectiveness and fiduciary accountability. This Article examines these challenges through the analytical framework of governance, applying insights from public choice, principal-agent models, and corporate governance to argue that details in implementation significantly impact outcomes.  We offer Ohio’s State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) as a case study. Recent governance reforms in Ohio—including legislative restructuring of the STRS board and enactment of fiduciary standards legislation modeled on the American Legislative Exchange Council’s framework—suggest the potential for earlier governance problems. …

Leadership Strategies Healthcare Leaders Use To Improve Organizational Performance, Rushell Latoya Bryce

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Teacher Retention: Do Job Satisfaction, Support From Administrators, Professional Development Opportunities, Student Behavior, And School Culture Directly Affect Whether A Teacher Decides To Stay At A School Or Leave?, Robert Dawson Parrott

Education Theses and Dissertations

Teacher retention has reached crisis levels nationwide, with nearly 50% of beginning teachers leaving within five years. Teacher attrition increased to 27.3% in 2022–2023 in a large suburban school district in North Texas. This translated to over $1.1 million dollars in teacher salary expenditures alone. This Dissertation in Practice utilized mixed-methods research grounded in Improvement Science and Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles to explore five campus-level contributors to teacher retention that fell under the control of building-level administrators: job satisfaction, administrative support, professional development, campus culture, and student behavior supports. In Phase 1 a teacher intent survey (n = 63) and focus group …

Using United States Medicare Program Claims To Identify Reliable Measures Of Low Value Services Influenced By Primary Care Physician Decisions, Chris Fleming, Dmitriy Poznyak, Rhea E. Powell, Claire Erba, Eunhae Shin, Rui Wang, Claire Burkhart, Arkadipta Ghosh, Eugene C. Rich

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

BACKGROUND: Low-value services (LVS) are those that “… provide little to no benefit to patients….”¹ Among an existing set of 31 LVS are invasive procedures not typically performed by primary care physicians (PCPs), and other LVS that may be commonly provided by specialists. To facilitate research on the role of primary care physicians in low-value care, we sought to identify the reliability of two subsets of LVS measures that are more directly subject to PCPs’ decisions. We refer to these as primary care adjacent (“PCA”) LVS measures.

METHODS: Retrospective observational cohort study to identify which of a 31-item LVS …

Sirt1 And Ifi16 Cooperatively Regulate Hbv Replication Via Epigenetic Modulation And Innate Immune Activation, Zahra Zahid Piracha, Umar Saeed, Neelam Abid, Syed Shahan Gilani, Hafiz Ahmad Bilal Akhtar Chughtai, Areesha Wasti, Muhammad Waseem, Dilber Uzun Ozsahin, Andromeda M. Nauli, Surya M. Nauli

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) establishes persistent infection through the formation of a covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) minichromosome, which enables immune evasion and sustained viral replication. While SIRT1, IFI16, and STING are known to modulate antiviral pathways, their cooperative role in regulating HBV transcription and host immunity remains poorly defined.

Methods

We investigated the functional interplay between SIRT1, IFI16, and STING using confocal microscopy, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), gene silencing, and quantitative PCR in HBV-replicating cell models. Interactions with HBV cccDNA and effects on viral transcription and interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression were analyzed. Northern blotting and RT-qPCR were used to …

Across Borders, Across Cultures: A Quest For Health And Well-Being Portfolio, Carrington Connor

UN SDG Open Pedagogy Faculty Fellowship: Renewable Assignments

No abstract provided.

The Transitional Liver Clinic: Study Protocol For A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial, Lindsay Yoder, Elliot B. Tapper, Richard S. Kalman, Mary Rinella, Nicole Bendin, Manisha Verma, Francis Pike, Naga Chalasani, Neha Nalumasu, Eric S. Orman

Einstein Health Papers

BACKGROUND: Patients with complications of advanced liver disease experience high rates of hospital readmission after discharge. Transitional care models have improved outcomes in other chronic conditions, but their efficacy in liver disease care remains uncertain. This randomized trial evaluates the effectiveness of a tailored transitional care model-the Transitional Liver Clinic (TLC)-in reducing readmissions, improving quality of life, and enhancing patient satisfaction for patients with advanced liver disease.

METHODS: This is a 45-month, stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial enrolling up to 1000 patients with advanced liver disease across 4 academic medical centers. Each site transitions from usual care to the TLC intervention …

Research Networks As Social Infrastructure For Researcher Wellbeing And Inclusion In A Post-Merger Technological University, Shane Francis Conway Phd, James Britton Phd, Alan Naughton

Irish Journal of Academic Practice

As a recently established technological university, Atlantic Technological University continues to evolve its research structures across a distributed, multi-campus environment. As is common in post-merger contexts, there are opportunities to further strengthen cross-campus engagement, collegiality and inclusion. This paper presents a practice-based, research-informed analysis of Research Network formation at ATU, developed under the RISE@ATU programme. It demonstrates how such networks can serve as social infrastructure to support researcher wellbeing, connection and collaboration within a post-merger technological university, with particular relevance to other regionally distributed higher education institutions. The analysis is informed by institutional experience, including a university-wide researcher engagement campaign …

Neddylation Maintains Oocyte Quality By Stabilizing Mitochondrial Transcription, Avery A Ahmed, Tessa E Steenwinkel, Bethany K Patton, Peixin Jiang, Matthew D Meyer, Jaspreet K Rishi, Mei Leng, Alexander B Saltzman, Elizabeth S Anaya, Momal Sharif, Laurie J Mckenzie, Laura Detti, Anna Malovannaya, Sean M Hartig, Stephanie A Pangas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Age-related decline in oocyte quality increases the risk of infertility, miscarriage, and birth defects. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key contributor to this decline. Here, we report that oocyte-specific deletion of Uba3, which encodes the catalytic subunit of the E1 NEDDylation-activating complex, causes sterility in mice. Fully grown, germinal vesicle–stage Uba3 conditional knockout oocytes exhibit mitochondrial dysfunction, including elevated reactive oxygen species, impaired oxidative phosphorylation, and depletion of mitochondrially encoded RNA transcripts. Proteomic analysis identified alterations in mitochondrial-associated proteins, including enrichment of mitochondrial matrix and respiratory chain components and reduced abundance of electron transport chain complexes. These defects were associated …

The Impact Of Madden-Julian Oscillation On Rainfall Variability In South Sulawesi And Its Implications For Science Education, Misbahuddin Mansur, Pariabti Palloan, Agus Susanto

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study examined the relationship between the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) and rainfall variability in South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, using daily rainfall observations from 24 stations during 1990–2020. A quantitative observational design based on long-term climatological time-series analysis was employed. MJO activity was identified using the Real-time Multivariate MJO (RMM) index, while rainfall variability was analyzed through rainfall anomalies, rainfall frequency, and spatial patterns across Seasonal Zones (ZOM). The results indicate that active MJO phases were generally associated with wetter conditions and higher rainfall frequency, whereas suppressed phases corresponded to drier conditions. Rainfall responses varied considerably among regions, with coastal areas …

Assessing Rural Homelessness: A Mixed-Methods Case Study, Matthew J. Lyons

Faculty Articles

Rural homelessness represents a significant public health and human rights challenge, but research on homelessness in the United States has predominantly focused on urban settings. This case study describes a mixed-methods assessment of the prevalence, causes, and consequences of homelessness in a rural county. Through both surveys and interviews with stakeholders from multiple sectors (including both service providers and those experiencing homelessness), we built a rich picture of the scale and experiential dimensions of homelessness within the county. Here, we present our research methods, the main findings of each primary data collection arm, and the actionable conclusions drawn from the …

Dealing With Generation Z (Gen Z) Library Users In Information Services Provision: The Challenges Before Nigerian Public University Libraries, Inemesit Udom Udoh

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Generation Z are today’s bubbling population in various organizational settings, including students in the institutions of higher learning, with diverse information needs and expectations. This study examined the challenges of dealing with Generation Z (Gen Z) library users in information services provision in Nigerian public university libraries. It adopted a mixed methods research design of quantitative and qualitative types, with a population of four hundred and one (401) professional librarians from 8 public university libraries. A sample size of 205 professional librarians was selected using proportionate stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected with structured questionnaire, semi-structured interview and observation …

Integration Of Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies In High School Science Classes, Pamela Chanell Williams

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigated the integration of culturally responsive teaching strategies in high school science classes. The problem addressed in this study is that teachers are underprepared to employ culturally responsive teaching strategies to facilitate academic success in science courses for culturally and linguistically diverse students. By investigating the integration of culturally responsive teaching strategies during instruction, improvements can be made to the effectiveness of professional development centered on culturally responsive teaching strategies found in the Ready for Rigor framework. The conceptual framework that served as the foundation for this study was Hammond’s (2015) Ready for Rigor framework. Questionnaires, …

The Chemotherapy Use And Adverse Effects Of Patients With Lung Cancer At Regional General Hospital In Surabaya, Indonesia, Rika Yulia, Aguslina Kirtishanti, Heru Wijono, Eko Setiawan, Bobby Presley, Tjie Kok Go, Ni Putu Irma Mayani, Anna Febriani, Halim Priyahau Jaya, Fauna Herawati

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

In Indonesia, lung cancer is the leading cause of death related to cancer, according to Global Cancer Observatory. Chemotherapy is the most common treatment since it works systemically and can prevent cancer cells from spreading to other organs. Cytotoxicity of chemotherapy can also put patients at high risk of experiencing adverse effects. This study aimed to evaluate the congruity of chemotherapy use with treatment recommendations and the profile of adverse effects, not only acute but also delayed adverse drug reactions. This prospective observational study involved 41 adult patients with lung cancer who received chemotherapy. Data is collected through patients’ medical …

Adherence Trajectories To Antipsychotic Medications Among South Carolina Medicaid Beneficiaries With Schizophrenia Or Schizoaffective Disorder, Maggie Gu, Chao Cai, Chandana Chidrala, Lauren Wier, Qi Wang, Robert Bank

Posters

Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that requires lifelong treatment. Medication nonadherence contributes to poor medical outcomes; the ability to predict a patient‚Äôs adherence trajectory cannot be understated in forestalling negative effects of nonadherence. This study aims to identify antipsychotic adherence latent classes among patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and evaluate predictors of adherence latent classes. Healthcare utilization, including hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visits, by latent class were also evaluated.   Methods: This study utilized South Carolina Medicaid claims for beneficiaries diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder from 2012 to 2020. Eligible patients were observed with baseline …

Evaluating The Impact Of Opioid Use In Functional Limitation And Healthcare Utilization Of Arthritic Patients Using Methotrexate In The United States, Oluwafeyisayo Obadimu

Podiums

Introduction: Arthritis remains a leading cause of chronic pain, disability, and healthcare expenditure in the United States, affecting over 53-million adults and contributing to economic burden exceeding $580 billion/annum. Despite widespread use, evidence on the impact of chronic opioid therapy on functional outcomes and healthcare utilization is limited. This study evaluates impact of opioid use on functional status and healthcare utilization among arthritis patients using methotrexate. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using 2018 - 2022 data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Adults (18 years) with arthritis using methotrexate were categorized into opioid users and non-opioid users. Functional …