Digital Commons Network^™

Quien Soy Sin Mi Idioma Nativo?: The Loss Of The Spanish Language And Its Effects On Identity, Wilzaid L. Santiago-Maldonado

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Language is a mechanism of cultural preservation. The history of language has two parts: 1. the technical aspects and 2. how it is diffused and/or becomes extinct. According to the U.S. Census Data, the Hispanic population has grown immensely over the past several decades, particularly from 1980-2020. Even so, there has been significant loss of the Spanish language. The researcher examined this phenomenon in two phases. First, 14 peer-reviewed articles published between 2008-2024 were assessed to determine emerging themes. Results showed that articles cited “the lack of knowledge/use” of Spanish and the “language/cultural dominance.” Second, the researcher conducted four focus …

The Moral Crisis Of Maternal Mortality In The Us, Jensen F. Ware

Honors Theses

This thesis argues that the US crisis of maternal mortality is not an unavoidable tragedy, but a moral and policy failure. I argue that maternal well‑being is one of the most important indicators of a society’s overall health. When mothers receive the care, respect, and support they need, it reflects the strength of healthcare systems, the culture, and our commitment to future generations. The continued loss of mothers from preventable deaths reveals a system that fails many women and their families, especially Black women, low‑income women, and those in rural communities. First, I introduce the issue of maternal mortality in …

Geographical Origin Discrimination Of Huangjincha Early Spring Green Tea By Mineral Element Fingerprinting, Zhong Ni, Zhao Xi, Yu Penghui, Huang Hao, Li Na, Zheng Hongfa

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To realize the geographical discrimination of early spring green tea of Huangjincha from major production areas in Hunan based on mineral element fingerprinting. [Methods] A total of 138 early spring green tea samples of Huangjincha from different regions in Hunan were quantitatively analyzed for 48 mineral elements using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).Classification models for different production areas were developed by integrating principal component analysis (PCA ), orthogonal partial least squares -discriminant analysis (OPLS -DA), and Fisher's linear discriminant analysis. [Results] The PCA score plots and OPLS -DA models effectively distinguished Huangjincha samples from various production areas in …

Enhancement Effect Of Self-Excited Thermoacoustic Oscillating Airflow On Hot Air Drying Process Of White Radish Slices, Zhang Han, Zhang Minyu, Zhao Huachao, Li Bing, Wu Zhonghua

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the enhancement effect of self -excited thermoacoustic oscillation on the drying process of solid foods. [Methods] A pulsating hot air drying device based on a Rijke tube resonator structure is designed.White radish slices are selected as the target material to study the effects of hot air temperature (100~140 ℃), airflow velocity (1~7 m/s), and layer thickness (4~12 mm ) on drying kinetics and product quality. [Results] The device can stably generate a self -excited pulsating airflow with a temperature of 140 ℃, frequency of 147 Hz, and sound pressure level of 94 dB, which significantly improves drying …

From Digital Distress To Wellness: Counseling Implications Of Social Media Use In Adolescents And Emerging Adults, Anna K. Owens, Arantxa Mascarenas

Faculty Articles

The pervasive use of social media among secondary and post-secondary students has raised significant concern regarding its impact on mental health and academic success. Excessive social media use (SMU) has been linked to anxiety, depression, social comparison, body image concerns, disrupted sleep, and diminished academic focus. These risks highlight the urgent need for counselors to integrate social media considerations into both clinical and educational practice. This article reviews evidence-based interventions that address the psychological and emotional consequences of SMU, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to challenge distorted beliefs, mindfulness strategies to improve emotional regulation, digital detox programs to recalibrate online …

Identify Academic Well-Being And Professional Identity In Nursing Perspectives, Angela G. Opsahl

Biennial Convention (CONV)

OBJECTIVES:

• Define Professional Identity in Nursing
• Discuss faculty and staff perspectives of well-being
• Discuss the connection between a civil work environment and well-being

Determining perspectives of current and future well-being among academic faculty and staff involves a multifaceted approach that considers both personal and professional dimensions. Faculty and staff well-being is influenced by factors such as work-life balance, job satisfaction, and institutional support. During this presentation the results of the faculty and staff survey feedback and open dialogue will be shared, offering insight to areas of concern and opportunities for improvement. Additionally, by integrating discussions of professional identity into faculty …

Developing Research Question And Writing Questionnaires Activities, Lauren B. Neal

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

Students draft a research question based on their own experience, then use a conversation with ChatGPT to refine and edit the question. Later in the semester, students develop questionnaire items to address this research question and use ChatGPT to improve the questionnaire items.

Baudelaire And Manet Remake, Barry J. Mauer

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

Use AI to remake either a painting from Manet or a poem from Baudelaire (or both!) in any medium: experimental writing, video, poster, song, etc.; the creativity is in your prompt. In addition, write an essay of 4-5 pages explaining and justifying your remake, describing the process and interpreting the results.

From Textbook To Classroom: Gaps In Mathematical Representation And Translation In Nepali Education, Deepak Basyal

Mathematics and Statistics

Translating real-world problem contexts into mathematical symbols is a key skill in curricula worldwide. This study examines Nepali students’ abilities to translate words into symbols and how Nepali textbooks from earlier grades support the development of these skills. To investigate this phenomenon, a sequential explanatory study was conducted with a test for 10th graders and an analysis of Grades 6—9 textbooks. Results show that students struggle to convert real-world contexts into mathematical symbols, while textbooks provide limited opportunities for practice. In particular, students have difficulty translating symbols back into real-world situations, suggesting a link between textbook opportunities and achievement. These …

Effects Of Maternal Knowledge And Attitudes On The Incidence Of Pneumonia In Fully Immunized Toddlers, Ayik Mirayanti Mandagi, Ahmad Yuda Prayogi, Vidia Nuria Rahman, Nahdhiah Khoirun Nisa, Melati Octavia Febriana, Uyun Loveni Parenti

Preventia: The Indonesian Journal of Public Health

In toddlers, pneumonia still a leading cause of illness and death. It may be affected by maternal and environmental factors, for instance maternal knowledge and attitude towards family members who smoke. This study examined the correlated of mothers’ knowledge and attitudes regarding family members’ smoking with pneumonia in toddlers who had received complete immunization. A cross-sectional design was applied in June 2023 at three community health centers in Banyuwangi Regency. The respondents were 71 mothers of children aged ≥9 months with a history of or currently experiencing pneumonia and who had completed basic immunizations. The chi-square test was applied to …

Self-Connection As A Mediator Between Exercise And Well-Being, Lauren Esmay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Scientists and health professionals have established the connection among physical activity and overall wellbeing. In more recent years, scholars have also researched the correlation among increased self-connection with increased overall well-being. Nevertheless, insignificant data has been gathered to investigate the impact of predictor variables upon the connection between exercise and wellbeing. This research study examined the mediating effect of self-connection among the relationship between exercise and wellbeing. The current study’s purpose was to gain better insights on how self-connection predicts a person’s physical activity, contributing to comprehensive insights how exercise habits may predict a person’s wellbeing by using a cross-sectional …

From Trauma To Triumph: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Posttraumatic Growth In Children’S Animated Films, Crystal Victoria Tasker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children’s animated films have often been analyzed for problematic depictions of gender and cultural stereotypes, but far less attention has been given to how these narratives may portray psychological adversity and transformation. This study addressed this gap by examining how posttraumatic growth (PTG) is symbolized through the narrative arcs of ten Disney films released between 2013 and 2023. The purpose of this research was to explore how these films illustrate themes of emotional transformation, utilizing a theoretical foundation based on Tedeschi and Calhoun’s PTG model, which emphasizes five domains of growth following adversity: appreciation of life, enhanced relationships, personal strength, …

Examining Job Demands And Resource Factors Impacting Job Satisfaction Amongst School Social Workers, Charmagne Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between job demands and resources and job satisfaction among school social workers in North Carolina. School social workers are vital members of the school ecosystem, supporting the development and well-being of students, families, and communities. Grounded in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theoretical framework, the impact of years of experience, caseload size, role ambiguity, burnout, and job autonomy on job satisfaction among school social workers was examined. The current study included 92 school social workers from twelve counties in the Sandhills and Research Triangle regions of North Carolina who completed …

Brain–Computer Interface Integration In Mental Health: Clinician Perspectives On Diagnostic Efficacy And Ethical Implications, Serena D. Sanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the integration of brain–computer interface (BCI) technology into mental health care, focusing on clinicians' perceptions, ethical concerns, and the practical challenges associated with its adoption. As technological advancements in healthcare continue to reshape clinical practices, understanding how emerging technologies like BCI can be incorporated into therapeutic settings is essential. The purpose of this research was to examine clinician perspectives on the potential benefits of and barriers to BCI and to explore the ethical implications of its use in therapy. Guided by the technology acceptance model and the ethical decision-making framework, this qualitative study utilized semi structured interviews …

Validating The Use Of Natural Language Processing And Text Mining For Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs And Criminal Justice Articles, Cyril S. Ku, Katheryne Pugliese, Jared R. Dmello, Morgan R. Peltier, Robert Green, Sheetal Ranjan

Department of Justice Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) are a form of community violence intervention designed to address trauma resulting from violent injuries. This public health approach has been implemented across the United States since the 1990s, with numerous qualitative and quantitative studies evaluating its effectiveness. Manual systematic reviews by domain experts have helped identify major themes and research gaps. While these reviews are valuable for synthesizing the existing literature, thisprocess can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, given the vast amount of research in public health and criminal justice. To meet the urgent need for accessible insights into the violence-related literature, more efficient methods …

The Effects Of Applying Self-Regulated Learning Prompts On Academic Achievement In A Public Middle-School Science Classroom, Andrew Barham

Doctoral Dissertations

Student success in science courses is a critical focus for K–12 educators, particularly during the transition period of middle-school, where students face increasing academic and social demands. Self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies have been shown to enhance academic outcomes by fostering independent learning and metacognitive awareness. However, research on the implementation and effectiveness of SRL interventions in middle school science classrooms, particularly within the constraints of public school settings, remains limited.

This study investigated the effects of an SRL intervention on the academic achievement of eighth-grade students during a six-week astronomy unit. Students from a public middle school in the San …

Acceptability, Appropriateness, Willingness To Use, And Perceptions Towards Hiv Self-Testing Among Adolescent Girls And Young Women In Rural Northern Uganda: A Baseline Formative Cross-Sectional Study, Ronald Olum, Morrish Obol Okello, Freddy Eric Kitutu, Elvin H Geng, Philippa Musoke

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Uganda are at higher risk for and bear a significant HIV burden, accounting for 25% of new infections. Despite improved HIV testing services, AGYW in rural areas face barriers to facility-based testing due to stigma, physical access barriers, and confidentiality concerns. This study assessed the acceptability, appropriateness, willingness to use, and perceptions of HIVST among AGYW in Northern Uganda.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was part of a baseline assessment for a quasi-experimental trial evaluating community-led HIVST among AGYW aged 15-24 years in 5 sub-counties in Omoro District. Data were collected using systematic …

Reel Me In: An Analysis Of Self-Presentation On Linkedin And Instagram, Katie Vanhouten

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine how Communication and Digital Studies (CDS) seniors tailor how they self-present on social media on a social app compared to a professional one. As seniors are transitioning from student life to professional life, it is significant to understand how that meaningful shift influences how they present themselves online. This study employs a qualitative content analysis of Instagram and LinkedIn profiles, including two posts from each platform, belonging to four CDS seniors at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The findings suggest three themes in self-presentation, which are personality, communication style, …

The Impact Of High-Fidelity Simulation On Graduate Nursing Students’ Knowledge And Confidence In Septic Shock Management, Shaden Mustafa

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) Doctorate of Nursing (DNP) project was to create and evaluate the impact of high-fidelity simulation-based training (SBT) on graduate nursing students’ knowledge and confidence in diagnosing and treating septic shock. Outcomes were measured with pre- and post-simulation tests featuring competency questions and Likert-scale confidence ratings.

Accordingly, the two research questions guiding this project were: (1) How effective is high-fidelity simulation training in improving students’ knowledge and competence in managing septic shock? (2) How effective is high-fidelity simulation training in enhancing students’ confidence when caring for patients with septic shock?

Septic shock was selected …

Spiritual Booster, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

Are you experiencing spiritual stagnation amidst the noise of a busy life?

This Spiritual Booster is not just knowledge—it’s a practical, high-performance toolkit designed to switch your spiritual journey from "idle" to maximum momentum.

Inside, you will find four core methodologies distilled for high impact:

1. Zoom Out to God's Perspective: The "Zoom-Out Technique" to shift instantly from anxiety to an eternal viewpoint.

2. Habits of Revelation: Use the "Revelation Notebook" and "Retrospective Analysis" to consistently hear the Lord’s voice.

3. Strategic Defense: Apply Chief Moroni's "Anti-Temptation Strategy" and routines to keep the "fire" of your covenants burning.

4. The Art of Focus: Practical …

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Challenges And Succession Planning Among Beginning, Young, And Minority Farmers In Tennessee, Christian Alexander Smith

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Tennessee has over 77,300 farms covering 10.8 million acres that counts for about forty-one percent of the state’s 26.4 million land acres (DeLong et al., 2023). However, access to land for young, beginning, or minority farmers who need farmland and starting their farm enterprise journey can be challenging. The challenges identified by farmers in general in the U.S. range from factors of production such as financial resources, labor, management, and physical resources. Land prices and insecure leasing terms have also been identified as factors that affect farm land ownership (Horst & Gwin, 2018). This study highlights and discusses the challenges …

Toxic Behaviors In Higher Education Institutions: Examining Demographic Factors Affecting Faculty Perceptions, Patrice C. Elder

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined the relationship between demographic factors and faculty perceptions of organizational toxicity at four-year higher education institutions. Using the Perceived Organizational Toxicity Scale (POTS), data were collected from 131 faculty members across Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The study investigated four dimensions of toxic behaviors: narcissistic, aggressive, unethical, and rigid behaviors. Key findings revealed that unethical behaviors were the most prevalent form of organizational toxicity (M=2.59, SD=1.05), followed by narcissistic behaviors (M=2.32, SD=.93). Significant demographic differences emerged across academic rank and seniority. Assistant and associate professors reported significantly higher levels of …

Barriers And Challenges Faced By Minority Women Faculty Being Promoted At Hbcus, Denise Lorriane Young

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined the barriers and challenges faced by minority women faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in their pursuit of academic promotion and career advancement. Grounded in Black Feminist Theory, the research employed an explanatory sequential design with 56 survey participants and three in-depth interviews across six HBCUs in the southern United States. The study addressed three research questions examining systemic barriers, intersecting identities, and cultural perceptions affecting promotional opportunities. Quantitative findings revealed significant barriers across career-related (M = 3.21) and educational-related (M = 2.47) dimensions, with notable differences between academic disciplines. Qualitative analysis identified five …

Causal Structure Discovery For Explaining Important Features In Machine Learning, Yina Hou

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Understanding causal relationships between input variables and outcomes is critical for scientific advancement. The famous adage in medicine, "correlation does not imply causation," holds profound significance for understanding disease etiology. Although explainable machine learning (ML) has shown major advances in predictive modeling, it remains unclear how ML-derived important variables relate to causal variables. This thesis investigates the association between causal variables and those identified as correlated and important for ML-based prediction to bridge a critical knowledge gap in data science. Specifically, the thesis explores two research questions: when and to what extent (1) statistically correlated variables are also causal? and …

Monitoring The Response Of Herpetofauna And Ophidiomyces Ophidiicola To Longleaf Pine Restoration, Samuel Mccabe Robinson

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The combination of habitat loss and disease has dramatically reduced wildlife populations globally. Given this, widespread habitat restoration and monitoring is needed to conserve vulnerable populations. In recent decades, there have been efforts to restore longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests across its historic range. Simultaneously, a fungal pathogen known to infect snakes, Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo), has been detected throughout the eastern United States. In this study, I investigated how herpetofauna in the William B. Bankhead National Forest responded to longleaf pine restoration while monitoring for the presence of Oo across a gradient of habitat types, species, and individual characteristics. From …

Long-Term Calibration And Validation Of Stability Of The Auger Engineering Radio Array Using The Diffuse Galactic Radio Emission, A. Abdul Halim, P. Abreu, M. Aglietta, I. Allekotte, K. Almeida Cheminant, R. Aloisio, B. Fick, Et Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

The Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) measures radio emission from high-energy extensive air showers. Consisting of 153 autonomous radio-detector stations spread over 17 km^2, it detects radio waves in the frequency range of 30 to 80 MHz. Accurate characterization of the detector response is crucial for proper interpretation of the collected data. Previously, this was achieved through laboratory measurements of the analog chain and simulations and measurements of the antenna's directional response. In this paper, we perform an absolute calibration using the continuously monitored sidereal modulation of the diffuse Galactic radio emission. Calibration is done by comparing the average frequency …

Developing Four-In-One Genetic Engineering System To Improve Production Of Bioenergy In Sorghum, Oluchukwu Jecinta Onyemaobi

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a C4 crop of significant agricultural and industrial importance, known for its high biomass yield, drought tolerance, and adaptability to marginal lands. However, the high lignocellulosic biomass content of sorghum, particularly its lignin component, poses a significant challenge for efficient biomass conversion. Genetic engineering offers a powerful approach to achieve such improvements by targeting the modification of lignin biosynthetic pathways. However, progress in sorghum genetic improvement has been hindered by the crop’s recalcitrance to genetic manipulation, transformation, and regeneration. To overcome these limitations, we developed a four-in-one genetic engineering technology for sorghum by establishing an …

Interactive Effects Of Warming And Nitrogen Fertilization On Soil Respiration And Microbial Community Function, Aviyan Pandey

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the effects of multiple global change drivers, e.g., warming (W) and nitrogen (N) fertilization, is critical for accurately predicting ecosystem responses to climate change. This study investigates the main and interactive effects of soil warming and N fertilization on soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), microbial biomass, extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs), and soil respiration (Rs) in a switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) cropland located in Middle Tennessee, U.S. The field experiment employed a split-plot design with two levels of warming (ambient and heated) and two levels of N fertilization (zero and 168 kg N ha-1yr-1). Hourly measurements of Rs, soil …

Genetics Of Aluminum Tolerance And Diversity In United States Vigna Unguiculata Germplasm, Max Carl Miller

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is an annual legume of immense importance across the world. However, knowledge of its ability to tolerate aluminum (Al) at toxic levels is not as comprehensive. This stress is an issue globally and especially in the southeastern United States, which has many Al-toxic soils. Here we determined multiple cultivars both tolerant and susceptible to Al toxicity. This was expounded upon by employing RNA sequencing on two cultivars from the United States with significantly different tolerance levels to characterize genes and pathways associated with Al toxicity and response. Multiple well-established gene orthologs like STOP, STAR, and …

Counseling And College Access Programs Impact On College-Going Rates In Rural Tennessee, Dustin Lee Rawls

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative comparative case study examined the sharp decline in Tennessee's college-going rates (CGR), which fell from a high of 64.4% in 2015 to a low of 52.8% in 2021, creating significant concern for the state's workforce and economic future. Despite state initiatives and the presence of school counselors and grant-funded college access programs, substantial disparities in post-secondary enrollment persist, especially across the state's rural counties. Using the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA, 2003) National Model as a theoretical framework, this research examined the processes and perspectives of school counselors and college access professionals in the top and bottom 10% …