Digital Commons Network^™

An Examination Of Early Childhood Leadership In Public Elementary Schools: A Mixed Methods Study, Wesam Alshahrani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As state-funded Pre-K programs in elementary schools continue to grow, elementary principals are increasingly responsible for supporting, supervising, and leading these programs. Therefore, examining elementary principals' early childhood leadership competencies and the factors influencing them may help understand and improve their experiences as early childhood education (ECE) leaders. This explanatory sequential mixed methods study examined the ECE leadership of Tennessee public elementary school principals in two phases.

In the quantitative phase, statewide surveys were used to collect data from 67 principals. The survey comprised 51 items assessing nine ECE leadership competencies, synthesized from statements of leading ECE and elementary education …

Descriptions Of Interglacial Mastodons From Snowmass, Colorado, Connor White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Ziegler Reservoir fossil site (ZRFS) in Colorado contains over 4000 mastodon bones that date from 140,000 to 100,000 years ago. At an elevation of ~2705 meters above sea level, ZRFS represents an alpine ecosystem dated to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5. Formal descriptions of cheek teeth, mandibles, crania, and femora were completed. Statistical analyses of the upper and lower third molars, including a novel measurement of interloph(id) distances, indicate significant differences between ZRFS mastodons and Mammut pacificus, while falling within the ranges for Mammut americanum. This study agrees with the taxonomic assignment of ZRFS mastodons to Mammut …

The Lived Experience Of Nurses In Caring For Patients With Covid-19, Jessica Barre

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Limited research exists about the experiences of nurses’ caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic post hoc. To understand nurses’ realities of caring for patients with COVID-19, I aimed to understand the lived experience of nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 in the United States. A qualitative design with a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was used. Sixteen participants were recruited via purposive sampling, augmented with snowball sampling. Data were collected through unstructured interviews and were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Nurses’ experiences of caring for patients with COVID-19 in the U.S. were consolidated into four themes: “a living …

Groundswell, Ursula Gullow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The artist discusses the artwork of her Master of Fine Arts exhibition, Groundswell, held at Tipton Gallery in Johnson City, March 11 – 22, 2024. The exhibition includes wall pieces, sculpture, plaster, and ceramic objects that explore the traditional parameters of painting and its presentation.

Ideas discussed include the philosophy of history, and the origin of European art tropes such as odalisques, flowers, and birds. Framing devices, deconstructed paintings, fiber arts, ceramics, 18^th Century decorative art, plaster, the studio practice, Walter Benjamin, David Lowenthal, Gustave Courbet, Jean Honoré Fragonard, Titus Kaphar, Valerie Hegarty, and maximalism are also surveyed.

Radon Environmental Health Literacy In Northeast Tennessee, Kawther Al Ksir

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the multifaceted issue of radon exposure and its connection to lung cancer, focusing on knowledge gaps and proposing mitigation strategies. Despite extensive research, inconsistencies persist in understanding the health impacts, public awareness, and effective mitigation of radon, particularly in regions like Tennessee that are disproportionately burdened by high radon levels. This work addresses this gap by integrating findings from three distinct studies: a scoping review, a cross-sectional survey, and a policy analysis.

The review examined national literature about residential radon exposure, revealing variations in exposure levels and conflicting evidence regarding the risk of lung cancer. The cross-sectional …

From Tidewater To Tennessee: The Structuring Influences Of Virginia Schemata In The Settlement Of East Tennessee, Slade Nakoff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For over two hundred years, historians have debated the historical importance of early Tennessee migrants in shaping the state’s history. These discussions center around North Carolina's impact compared to Virginia's. By shifting discourse to the retention of migrant mentalities, the overwhelming influence of Virginia emerges through the continuity of privilege and commodification schemata. This study employs an interdisciplinary methodological approach combining schema theory, memory studies, and material culture analysis to outline the retention of mentalities from Tidewater, Virginia, to East Tennessee during the early settlement period. By utilizing the case study of John Carter of Watauga (1728-1781), the research illustrates …

Cost Saving And Resource Limited Public Health Interventions In Southeast Asia, Amanda Blackwelder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Public health interventions are any activity with the objective of improving human health such as preventing or curing disease, reducing the severity or duration of a disease, or assisting in regaining function after a disease or injury. These interventions are known to be impactful; however, those living with the highest burden of disease such as individuals in low- and middle-income countries have limited money and resources to successfully implement these interventions. Southeast Asian countries are among some of the middle-income countries effected by the lack of affordable interventions. The aims of this study were to assess cost saving and …

Characterization Of The Role Of Tobacco Deacetylase Enzyme Sip-428 In Mediating Environmental Stress, Zahra Barati

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abiotic stress poses a significant threat to crop productivity and food security. In this study, we focused on understanding the role of SIP-428, a SABP2-interacting protein, in mediating plant responses to environmental stresses. Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing SIP-428 were subjected to salinity and drought stress. The overexpression of SIP-428 led to diminished growth under both stress conditions, indicating a negative impact on stress tolerance. Specifically, SIP-428 overexpression resulted in a reduction in catalase activity, while peroxidase activity remained unaffected. These findings suggest that SIP-428 plays a negative regulatory role on the catalase activity during abiotic stress, which may contribute to …

The Perceptions Of Black Teachers Regarding The Work Environment In Predominately White Schools P-12, Rhonda Lankford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study examined the experiences of Black teachers in predominately White P-12 schools, and focused on examining the external and internal challenges that Black teachers face who work in predominately White schools. Voices are sometimes ignored or muted in a society dominated by the majority White culture. This study will allow readers to experience the narratives of Black educators who work in these environments. The educators selected for this study were purposefully chosen from predominately White school districts. The researcher interviewed each subject in a semi-structured interview environment to gather data. Results of interviews lead to the emergence of …

The Beast In The Beauty: An Analysis Of Cultural Gender Biases And Stereotypes In The Classic Fairy Tale “Beauty And The Beast” And Implications In Modern Retellings, Lauren Lefler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis looks at the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast to examine the way that this tale has been used throughout history to address the concerns of young women, as well as reinforce the culturally accepted gender roles of the time of their publication. The first chapter defines the fairy tale genre and features some of the most common criticism on the genre, it will then define and offer critical perspectives on the monster bridegroom motif which Beauty and the Beast is a part of. The second chapter will look at the first two publications of the text, the …

Using Cultural Contextual Story-Based Lessons To Teach Emergent Literacy Skills, Elizabeth Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate and determine the effectiveness of teaching an English Language Learner (ELL) teacher to use a task analysis comprising story-based lessons with cultural contextual literature to promote emergent literacy skills for a middle school-aged Hispanic ELL student with an intellectual disability (ID). Using a single-case multiple probes across skill sets design, one student with an ID and an ELL teacher participated in this study. The student was taught by the ELL teacher using story-based lessons with cultural contextual literature to promote emergent literacy skills. Results indicated a functional relation between story-based lessons with …

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Perceptions Of How Providing Patient Care During The Covid-19 Pandemic Affected Their Own Mental Health, Linda Cabage

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Public health concerns were prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly regarding rising cases of anxiety and depression among adults. U.S. healthcare providers were especially affected by the unrelenting demands on their time and service. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) provided patient care during the pandemic to meet the increasing need for mental health services as people began experiencing mood disturbances such as anxiety, depression, and grief. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceived effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of PMHNPs. A qualitative design using the interpretive description method allows researchers to …

An Exploratory Study Of The Southern Subculture Of Honor In East Tennessee, Rachel Cohen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The culture of honor theory proposed by Nisbett and Cohen (1996) addresses the historically higher rates of violent crime in the Southern United States, as well as the disparities that can be observed in the laws, beliefs, and social expectations between the South and other regions. Previous research has reported significant differences between the beliefs of acceptable violence among Southerners compared to non-Southerners; however, no research has been conducted comparing different demographic groups of Southerners. The current study sought to evaluate whether there were observable differences between various demographic attributes such as gender, race, age, educational attainment, political affiliation, prior …

Changes In Young Adults’ Perspective On Ageism After Participating In A Virtual Nutrition Education Program With Older Adults, Julianne Hensley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The growing older adult population has led to increased ageist tendencies among younger generations. Previous research suggests that ageism is associated with cognitive and physical decline among older adults. This mixed-methods research project examined changes in ageist perceptions among graduate student facilitators and undergraduate nutrition ambassadors after participating in a training that included information about healthy aging, addressing ageism, and communicating with older adults. Results from a secondary data analysis of pre-test/post-test data and thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with facilitators of Socially Nutritious, a virtual nutrition education program for older adults, indicate that ageist perceptions decreased after the …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Indole-Based Zinc Dipyrrin Photosensitizers, Jean-Pierre Sanza

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Metal complexes of dipyrromethene (dipyrrins) used as sensitizers in photocatalysis offer a way to harness solar energy in chemical bonds to create new fuels. This offers the dual role of reducing fossil fuel dependence and atmospheric CO₂ levels. Traditionally, metal dipyrrin complexes are synthesized using substituted pyrroles, aldehydes, and transition metals. Indoles have a more expanded pi-electron system and their dipyrrin-type complex may exhibit visible light absorption, suggesting that they can act as photosensitizers for CO₂ reduction processes. A novel indoledipyrromethene was synthesized using unsubstituted indole and mesitaldehyde. The complex exhibits visible light absorption at 422 nm. Its …

Ìlànà Òrí-Òkè Àtiyanrìn: T(H)Reading Sands And Mountains, Akintayo Akintobi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The artist presents his Master of Fine Arts exhibition, entitled Ìlànà Òrí-òkè Àtiyanrìn: T(h)reading Sands and Mountains. The exhibit was mounted in Tipton Gallery in downtown Johnson City, TN, from February 1 to February 9, 2024. The exhibition consisted of 13 artworks, including mixed media paintings, fibers, sculptures, and installations. In this thesis, Akintobi discusses his life experiences growing up in Nigeria and traveling to the United States for his MFA, and how these experiences have affected his art over the past three years.

Through the exhibition, the artist delves into the intersection and variances of cultural perspectives, exploring …

Exposure To 4,4′-Dde In Visceral Adipose Tissue And Weight Loss In Adolescents From The Teen-Labs Cohort, Brittney O Baumert, Hongxu Wang, Shudi Pan, Sarah Rock, Justin R Ryder, Todd Jenkins, Stephanie Sisley, Xiangping Lin, Scott Bartell, Thomas H Inge, Stavra Xanthakos, Brooklynn Mcneil, Anna R Robuck, Michele A La Merrill, Douglas I Walker, David V Conti, Rob Mcconnell, Sandrah P Eckel, Lida Chatzi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), an obesogen accumulating in adipose tissue, is released into circulation with weight loss, although its impact is underexplored among adolescents. We tested the association using an integrative translational approach of epidemiological analysis among adolescents with obesity and in vitro measures exploring the impact of DDE on adipogenesis via preadipocytes.

Methods: We included 63 participants from the Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) cohort. We assessed 4,4'-DDE in visceral adipose tissue at surgery and BMI and waist circumference at surgery and 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 years after. We conducted longitudinal analysis to estimate the interaction on weight …

Paranormal Beliefs And The Big Five: Extrinsic Optimism, Trust In People, And Fantasy Proneness, Caitlyn Ariel Irene Harvey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There are many inconsistent findings on the relationship between paranormal beliefs and The Big Five. This study aims to clarify the correlations by assessing extrinsic optimism, trust in people, and fantasy proneness. Extrinsic optimism is associated with neuroticism and extraversion. Trust is associated with agreeableness. Lastly, fantasy proneness is associated with openness to experience. It was predicted that paranormal beliefs would be positively correlated with extrinsic optimism, trust in people, and fantasy proneness. It was also predicted that paranormal beliefs would be positively correlated with extraversion, agreeableness, and openness. Correlational and regression analyses were run to test these predictions. Results …

The Role Of Impulsivity In Relation To The Co-Occurrence Of Binge Eating And Binge Drinking, Hannah Holst

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Binge eating and binge drinking often co-occur, but the role of impulsivity in accounting for this relationship is under-investigated. Existing research acknowledges shared risk factors, yet the specific impact of impulsivity is a critical gap. Impulsivity, characterized by impulsive decision-making, is known in addictive behaviors. This research with a sample of college and community participants assessed binge eating, binge drinking, and impulsivity. Overall, binge eating and binge drinking were uncorrelated, contrary to previous research. However, impulsivity was associated with both binge eating and binge drinking. Gender differences were also noted, along with differences between the community and college samples. The …

Evaluating Imr Defined Recovery Outcomes In Clients Receiving Act Team Services, Ella Crimmings

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate recovery outcomes defined by the Illness Management and Recovery Model (IMR) for the ongoing Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team, which operates under the Betty Hardwick Center in Abilene, Texas. The ACT Team is designed to be a community-based model of care for individuals experiencing psychosis and serious mental illness (SMI). IMR is a structured, evidence-based psychosocial intervention designed to help individuals with SMI understand and manage their symptoms, achieve personal recovery goals, improve their quality of life, and gain a sense of empowerment and self-efficacy. The IMR model is an integrated, curriculum …

Cabinet-Level School Administrators Intragroup And Intergroup Identity And Positive Leader-Member Exchange Dynamics: A Single Case Study, Larry R. Berger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the challenges faced by the cabinet-level administration of a South Texas K-12 public school district in navigating intragroup and intergroup identity dynamics, impacting leader-member exchange, follower obligation, organizational behavior, and citizenship. Poor integration led to silo mentalities due to a lack of communication skills and social identity awareness among leadership. The study explored the influence of leaders’ attitudes and behaviors on intergroup and intragroup identities by examining how positive leader-member exchange practices affected collective organizational behaviors. Employing the framework of social identity theory, this study contributed to understanding specific leadership domains and the effective motivation …

Using Standardized Assessments To Forecast Success Or Failure On The Nclex, Zelia Souza Mcgaha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The national shortage of nurses has worsened in the United States and is a cause for concern for the health care industry and society. The decreased number of nurses graduating and passing the national boards worsens the quality of patient care, contributing to the decline in treating the sick and leading to negative outcomes. Nursing students must demonstrate competency to care for patients before receiving their licensure as registered nurses by passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). A nursing school in East Texas uses preadmissions science grade point average (SGPA) and the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) …

Psychological Mediation Of Minority Stress And Health: Exploration Of Risk Factors In Lgbq College Students, Kyndal Grammer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Decades of research have documented pervasive physical and mental health disparities among individuals holding a marginalized identity, including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer (LGBQ). Heterosexism in the forms of harassment, rejection, and discrimination likely increases minority stress, which is theorized to contribute to documented health disparities. One group that may be particularly vulnerable to effects of heterosexist discrimination, harassment, and rejection is LGBQ college students, especially those who identify as first-generation and were raised in rural environments. The current study aimed to evaluate relationships between LGBQ discrimination, depression, and physical health outcomes at the bivariate level, …

Impact Of Baseline Emotional Distress On Long-Term Quality Of Life In Head And Neck Cancer Patients, Kimberly Oslin, Eric Adjei Boakye, Samantha Tam, Courtney Rose, Kyle Leonard, Veronica Bernacchi, Steven S. Chang, Suhael Momin, Farzan Siddiqui, Vivian F. Wu, Amy Williams

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Introduction: Psychosocial symptoms (e.g., emotional distress, anxiety, and depression) are under-recognized and undertreated in patients diagnosed with cancer. Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients are particularly vulnerable to poor psychosocial health due to the often disfiguring and permanently life-altering nature of HNC treatment. Prior research suggests that psychosocial symptoms contribute to poor quality of life in HNC patients. However, the association between precancer treatment anxiety and depression on quality of life after HNC treatment is unknown. This study examined the associations between pre-treatment anxiety and depression and long-term quality of life among patients with HNC. Methods: This is a retrospective …

Predictors Of Icu Admission Following Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery, Brandon Prentice, Max Dehaan, Adam Folbe

Posters

• Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery (EESBS) encompasses a wide range of surgeries; pituitary adenoma resection is the most common of these.
• Patients routinely are admitted to the ICU post-operatively for monitoring of serious complications such as intracerebral hemorrhage and meningitis.
• Some complications such as diabetes insipidus, however, do not require a stay within the ICU and can be managed as an out-patient.
• Besides adding stress and discomfort to the patient, stays in the ICU are costly with one study reporting a cost of $2,902 per day.
• Previous studies identified preoperative hypertension and large tumor volume (>4500 mm3) as risk …

Assessing Barriers To Upward Mobility In The Cape Fear Region, Sabrina T. Cherry, Christopher R. Prentice

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Researchers explore upward mobility to better understand how economic and employment factors drive or undermine social justice and equity in the United States. This scholarship can inform activists and researchers seeking to design solutions that help overcome systemic challenges to upward mobility. Therefore, as an interdisciplinary team of scholars in a public university, we collaborated with community partners to conduct a case study in which we assessed the barriers to—and the drivers of—upward mobility in a medium-sized city in Southeastern North Carolina. We conducted key informant interviews and focus groups with a cross-section of local residents to learn about their …

You’Re Testing My Patients: Clinicians’ Preferences For Structured Reporting And Measurement Data, Davit Melik, Adela Pouzar, Allan Brazier, Sayf Al-Katib

Posters

Radiological reports are a crucial part of patient care and management. Radiologists play a major role in patient care by interpreting imaging studies and making recommendations to referring physicians. 1,2,3 Although some physicians may prefer to initially interpret the imaging studies by themselves, radiologists’ reports have been shown to be significantly more accurate and detailed, which ultimately results in better patient care. 1,4,5,3 Thus it is important for radiology reports to be timely and as accurate as possible to improve overall patient care. The clarity of communication between radiologists and referring physicians in these reports remains an important factor in …

Study Of Morphology, Structure, And Magnetic Properties Of High Entropy Alloy Systems, Matthew G. Guerrero

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Abstract:This thesis presents an investigation into the magnetic properties of high entropy alloy (HEA) samples, focusing primarily on compositions within the FeNiCoMn system and their gallium/chemically doped derivatives. High entropy alloys represent a promising class of materials with unique properties resulting from their complex composition and structural arrangements. The behavior of these alloys, particularly in their magnetic properties, remains an area of significant interest due to their potential applications in magnetic storage, sensing, and other technological domains. The study encompasses an examination of seven distinct HEA samples: FeNiCo, FeNiCoMn0.2, FeNiCoMn0.4, FeNiCoMn0.6, FeNiCoMn0.2Ga0.1, FeNiCoGa0.2, FeNiCoMn0.2Ga0.3. Furthermore, three samples of FeNiCoMn0.2 and …

The Effects Of Police Culture And Procedural Justice On Citizens' Perceptions Of Police Legitimacy And Trustworthiness, Kityara U'Nae James

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Police departments have often cited “a few bad apples” when discussing incidents of officer misconduct or improper use of force. However, police reform organizations often posit that when the tree is bad, all fruit it bears will be rotten. Police culture serves as the root of the tree in this analogy; the basis of the characteristics and behaviors of police rely on the specifics of police culture that has been imprinted during the police academy and maintained through everyday police work. Police culture determines how police officers interact with citizens and behave on the job. Those interactions can influence how …

Mechanical Stability Of Body-Centered Cubic Iron In Born-Von Kármán Parameter Space Using Evolutionary Algorithms, Amir Husen

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study aims to assess the mechanical stability of body-centered cubic (BCC) structure, focusing on pure iron as a representative case. The primary approach involves utilizing phonon dispersion curves analysis to gain insights into the vibrational properties and overall stability of the crystal lattice through a multi-faceted computational approach. The goal of the study is to find the regions (pockets) in Born-von Kármán (BvK) parameter space where the crystal is stable for certain temperature and pressure.

This involves setting up the crystal parameters, creating a body-centered cubic (BCC) crystal with specific lattice parameters (2.86 for iron) establishing force constants, and …