Digital Commons Network^™

Quantifying Erosion Rates Of The Mission Hills Along The Calaveras, Mission, And Hayward Faults In Northern California To Better Understand The Role Of Fault Geometry On Surface Topography, Ian Duncan Lord

Master's Theses

The San Francisco Bay Area lacks publications on erosion rates and their relationship to restraining bend fault geometry. This thesis presents a detailed geochronologic study of erosion rates from the Mission Hills along the Calaveras, Mission, and Hayward faults located northeast of San Jose, California. The goals are to provide erosion rate values where none currently exist and to gain a better understanding of how fault geometry influences topography along restraining bends. To quantify the erosion rate of these faults, river sediments containing 10Be were collected from 14 catchments using well-established protocols. Of the successfully processed samples, the erosion rates …

The Lived Experiences Of Clinically Licensed Counselors During Covid-19, Deirdre F. Haynes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be an equal opportunity crisis. There is substantial research to better understand how individuals have reacted to crisis experiences like the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about the lived experiences of clinically licensed counselors during COVID-19. This gap in the literature is important because the increase in the number of individuals seeking counseling to deal with their fears and concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic may have put a strain on counselors that were also experiencing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis was to bridge the …

The Lesson Horse: A Guide For Traditional Horsemanship & Equine-Assisted Services Programs 2nd Edition, Sarah Andersen

Animal, Dairy & Veterinary Sciences Textbooks

This practical guide equips equine professionals with the tools to select, assess, and develop safe, capable horses for traditional horsemanship and equine-assisted services programs. It introduces structured assessment tools to evaluate horse suitability and performance, supports the creation of individualized training plans, and addresses long-term horse welfare through continued evaluation and thoughtful end-of-work planning.

Explorerit: An Interactive Timeline Of The History Of Rit, Melson Miranda

Theses

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has a rich architectural and cultural history spanning over 57 years and the Henrietta Campus has more than 75 buildings, yet there is no central, engaging platform for exploring this heritage. This thesis, exploreRIT, addresses that gap by designing an interactive timeline that showcases the evolution of the campus through detailed building stories, architectural milestones, and contextual events. Using a Microsoft Surface Studio as a kiosk and a custom interface, the project integrates micro-interactions inspired by Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines, visual storytelling, and clear information architecture to create a tactile, accessible experience. Through iterative prototyping, …

Transparent Display Design For Vending Machines, Quincey Williams

Theses

This thesis explores the innovative application of transparent display technology in vending machines, addressing the limitations of traditional vending interfaces in consumer engagement. By integrating comic book and manga-inspired aesthetics with cyberpunk visual effects, the project transforms vending machines into dynamic, interactive canvases. These designs incorporate transparent overlays, comic panel UI layouts, and glitch-inspired animations to enhance user interaction and visibility of products. This thesis critically evaluates the design process, methodologies, and outcomes while highlighting research findings that inform the integration of emerging display technologies with bold visual storytelling. The final solution presents a seamless fusion of futuristic visual elements …

Computational Modeling Of Magnetic Field Interaction With Superconductors Under High-Field And High-Dissipation Conditions: A Tdgl Approach Applied To Nb And Nb3sn, Aiden Victor Harbick

Theses and Dissertations

Superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavities are essential components in modern particle accelerators, enabling the efficient acceleration of charged particles for various applications in physics, medicine, materials science, and beyond. The performance of these cavities is significantly influenced by the properties of superconducting materials, such as niobium (Nb) and triniobium-tin (Nb3Sn), and the defects and surface features present within the material. This dissertation presents a computational study focused on understanding the behavior of SRF cavities, using a sample-specific time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) framework to simulate their performance under realistic material conditions. The research integrates experimental data and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to …

Mathematics Student Teachers' Curricular Reasoning During Planning, Erika Breann Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Teaching is a complex practice, in part because of all the decisions teachers make daily. This is especially true for student teachers who have little to no prior teaching experience to inform them about the decisions that need to be made in the classroom and how to reason through all those decisions as they plan and enact the lessons. Secondary mathematics student teachers were introduced to the Instructional Pyramid (Dingman et al., 2021) which organizes and maps teacher’s mathematical reasoning onto four elements of a classroom—teacher, student, mathematics, and curriculum—to examine which curricular reasoning aspects they use while planning mathematics …

An Assessment Of Basic Needs Insecurities In Grand Valley State University Residence Halls, Matthew Bristol

Masters Theses

Basic needs insecurity scholarship in higher education consistently highlights the need to provide more and better support to students. Little research has been done to address basic needs insecurity in residence halls, and this study is the first to use the #RealCollege survey to evaluate basic needs insecurity among residential students. I use the results of the survey tell the story of what it is like for Grand Valley State University students to face basic needs insecurity while living on campus, to assess what resources participants use to secure their basic needs and offer recommendations for improved support offerings to …

Role Of Perceived Social Support And Knowledge Of Postpartum Depression Among Women In Anambra State, Eastern Nigeria, Raphael Oluwasina Babatola Folorunsho

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Postpartum depression (PPD) is an increasingly pressing public health issue, particularly in low-resource settings like Nigeria, where maternal mental health tends to receive limited attention. This study explored the relationship between maternal awareness of PPD, perceived social support, and prevalence of depressive symptoms among postpartum women in the Nnewi North Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State. Grounded in the social support theory, health belief model, and socioecological model, the study used a descriptive cross-sectional research design. A total of 406 postpartum women attending primary healthcare centers were surveyed using validated instruments, including the PHQ-9 and MSPSS. Statistical analyses included …

Staff Education Program On Medication Reconciliation In Primary Care, Virginia Ann Bloomer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medication errors represent a persistent threat to patient safety, particularly during transitions of care in outpatient settings. Despite recognition of the problem, standardized medication reconciliation practices among primary care physicians and nurse practitioners (NPs) remain inconsistent, hindered by varied workflows, unclear responsibilities, and knowledge gaps. To address these issues, a staff education program focusing on medication reconciliation was introduced to seven NPs and three physicians in a primary care clinic. Pre- and post-intervention surveys measured participants’ knowledge and confidence in conducting medication reconciliation and documenting medications in electronic medical records. The average test score improved from 68% to 92%, demonstrating …

Cardiometabolic Outcomes In The Obese African American Population With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Cecilia Jillo Walan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disproportionately impacts African American adults, particularly those with obesity, due to overlapping cardiometabolic risks and health care disparities. The intersection of RA, obesity, and chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hypertension underscores the need for targeted public health interventions. This study investigated the association between RA and cardiometabolic outcomes among African American adults with obesity, aiming to identify significant predictors within this high-risk population. This quantitative study employed a cross-sectional design to analyze data from the 1999–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey undergirded by the social ecological change framework with N=23644 African American adults …

The Lived Experience Of Bariatric Patients During The Pre-Surgical Evaluation, Nathan Paul Wharton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients undergoing bariatric surgery have no standard of care for the pre-surgical evaluation process (PSE). Often, these patients look at the PSE as just another hurdle to jump through before reaching surgery. The PSE, however, offers an opportunity for mental health professionals to prepare the patient for the challenging lifestyle changes necessary for weight loss maintenance in the long term. The problem being studied is whether patients feel they are prepared for the unique mental health challenges, eating disorder challenges, and strict lifestyle changes during the PSE. The study followed a qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis approach to explore the lived …

Perspectives Of Black Male Administrators On Gaining Administrative Roles At Community And Technical Colleges, Marcusantonio Gunn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed in this study is that there is a low number of Black male administrators at community and technical colleges (CTCs) throughout the United States, despite widespread organizational practices of adopting diversity and equity policies, implementing mentoring programs, and providing professional development. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore Black male administrators’ perceptions of hiring barriers and their recommendations to improve the professional pathway to employment at CTCs. Guided by critical race theory in education, data were collected through semistructured interviews with eight Black male administrators who are serving or have served in …

Exploring The Perceptions Of Organizational Justice Issues On Job Satisfaction And Organizational Commitment Of State Prison Staff, Stefani Trajceski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High turnover among correctional staff is a persistent challenge faced by institutions across the United States. Previous research has identified various factors influencing staff turnover intentions, with perceptions of fairness in the workplace playing a key role. Organizational justice theory offers a valuable framework for understanding how these perceptions influence job satisfaction and organizational commitment—factors linked to lower absenteeism and turnover intentions, as well as improved job performance and work-life balance. However, limited qualitative research has explored how these dynamics shape correctional staff experiences within state correctional facilities. The purpose of this study was to examine how correctional staff in …

Counselors’ Competency Development In Suicidal Ideation Assessments Of Black American Adolescents, Salita Mcclelland Wynn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black American adolescents have increased rates of suicidal ideation above what is noted in the general U.S. youth and adolescent population. An in-depth literature supports the notion that many counselors and mental health clinicians, post-graduation from their training programs, feel ill-equipped to assess suicidal ideation in Black American adolescents. The purpose of this qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences and competence of counselors who have clinical experience working with Black American adolescents who have suicidal ideation. Prior to the inception of this research, no other documented study addressed counselor competence with assessing suicidal ideation in Black …

Implementing Nurse-Led Late Life Depression Screening In An Acute Care Setting, Kate A. Barba, Shannon Mahoney

General Submissions: Clinical Settings Materials

Aims of the study were: (a) examine the effectiveness of a geriatric-specific depression screening and referral protocol in identifying depression in hospitalized older adults; (b) assess outcomes when a patient screens positive for depression and is referred to a social worker; and (c) evaluate nurses’ perceptions of the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the GDS-5 in an acute care setting.

Dalbavancin For Treatment Of Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia: The Dots Randomized Clinical Trial, Nicholas A Turner, Toshimitsu Hamasaki, Sarah B Doernberg, Thomas P Lodise, Heather A King, Varduhi Ghazaryan, Sara E Cosgrove, Timothy C Jenkins, Catherine Liu, Shrabani Sharma, Smitha Zaharoff, Lana Wahid, Valerie J Renard, Paul Cook, Issam Raad, Ray Hachem, Anne-Marie Chaftari, Matthew Sims, Carmen Demarco, Loren G Miller, Matthew W Mccarthy, Caryn G Morse, Chris Lucasti, Graeme N Forrest, Kartikeya Cherabuddi, Christopher Polk, Tasaduq Fazili, Mark E Rupp, George R Thompson, Kami Kim, Luke Strnad, Amanda E Schnee, James A Mckinnell, Mayur Ramesh, Fernanda P Silveira, Todd P Mccarty, Todd C Lee, Emily G Mcdonald, Kristopher Paolino, Katie Wiegand, Alison Wall, Todd Riccobene, Rinal Patel, Urania Rappo, Scott Evans, Henry F Chambers, Vance G Fowler, Thomas L Holland

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Dalbavancin is a long-acting intravenous lipoglycopeptide that may be effective for treatment of complicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia without requiring long-term intravenous access.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dalbavancin vs standard therapy for completion of treatment of complicated S aureus bacteremia.

Design, setting, and participants: Open-label, assessor-masked, randomized clinical trial conducted from April 2021 to December 2023 at 23 medical centers in the US (n = 22) and Canada (n = 1). Participant follow-up lasted 70 days (180 days for participants with osteomyelitis); date of final follow-up was December 1, 2023. Hospitalized adults with complicated S aureus …

The Effects Of Moderate-Intensity Physical Exercise And Yoga Interventions On Stress In Hispanic College Students: A Pilot Study, Hongxing Lu, Florentino Saenz, Preethi Raju, Ednia Gutierrez, Sue Anne Chew, Saraswathy Nair

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Hispanic college students face high stress, which may increase their risk for chronic stress-related health issues. Effective and accessible stress management strategies for this population remain limited. Objective: This pilot study filled a gap by studying the effects of psychological stress on diet and physical activity habits and evaluating the impact of moderate-intensity physical exercise (MIPE) and yoga interventions on chronic psychological stress and acute stress responses among Hispanic college students. Methods: A total of 18 Hispanic college students participated in a 6-week intervention consisting of either MIPE or yoga, conducted twice weekly. Anthropometric measurements and lifestyle data were …

Re: Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling And Investigation Plan (Fsp) For Ur-19 – Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway From Montana Street To South Arizona Avenue – Montana Street Adjacent Parcel, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Light Wavelength On Broiler Performance, Blood Cell Profiles, Stress Levels, And Tibiotarsi Morphology, Angela Perretti, Victor J. Oyeniran, Jaelen M. Cherry, Rosemarry H. Whittle, Zachary Grider, Alexander H. Nelson, Seong W. Kang, Gisela F. Erf, Shawna L. Wiemer

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Lighting influences broiler production, health, and behavior. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of three light wavelengths (White [350-780 nm], Blue [450 nm], and Green [560 nm]) on broiler production, activity, fear, stress, blood cell profiles, and tibiotarsi (tibia) morphology. Day-of-hatch male broiler chicks (N = 600) were housed in pens (N = 12) with one lighting treatment for 42 days. Body weight and feed consumption were recorded on day (D) 0, 14, 28, and 42, and the feed conversion ratio was calculated. The Tonic Immobility test was used to assess the latency (seconds) to right …

China Maritime Report #49: The Plan Corruption Paradox: Insights From The 1st Destroyer Flotilla, Ryan D. Martinson

CMSI China Maritime Reports

Main Findings

• Like all organizations led by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the People Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) suffers from endemic corruption, defined as the personal abuse of power for selfish ends.
• Corruption occurs when PLAN leaders use their power to: 1) influence personnel decisions in exchange for money and/or favor; and 2) extract kickbacks for influencing decisions in the contracting/procurement process for equipment and materiel, construction projects, and other service requirements.
• Despite widespread corruption in the PLAN, the service has continued to grow and modernize at an astonishing rate. One explanation for this paradox is that the PLAN has …

The Impact Of Family Violence On Bullying Behaviour Among Secondary School Students In Ilorin Metropolis, Oyedotun Dolapo Ilori, Patrick O. Akerele, Ifeoluwa Blessing Michael

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

Family violence remains a significant social issue with far-reaching consequences for adolescents, particularly in shaping their behavioural tendencies, including bullying. This study examines the impact of family violence on bullying behaviour among secondary school students in Ilorin Metropolis, which comprises three Local Government Areas (Ilorin South, Ilorin West, and Ilorin East). The study adopts a descriptive survey research design to assess the extent to which exposure to family violence influences students' bullying behaviours, while also considering the role of peer influence. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 417 students from both public and private secondary schools in Ilorin …

Rethinking Cognitive Load: Validating A Two-Factor Framework Of Cognitive Load Across Problem-Solving Formats With Differing Levels Of Guidance, Camden Noelle Patterson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Cognitive Load Theory has recently been revised to exclude germane load as a distinct construct, prompting a re-evaluation of intrinsic and extraneous load measures. This study tested the psychometric validity and predictive utility of a two-factor cognitive load model during algebra problem-solving with worked examples or independent practice. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses supported the structural validity of two established instruments (Leppink et al., 2013; Krieglstein et al., 2023) when germane load items were removed. Regression analyses indicated no significant differences in cognitive load or learning outcomes between instructional groups. However, pre-test performance strongly predicted post-test scores, and intrinsic and …

The Relation Between Systems Of Support And Self-Regulated Learning On Academic Achievement In Middle Schoolers, Emma Claire Gunnett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The purpose of this study was to examine the closest and most important systems of support available to middle school students, their parents and teachers, and to better understand how specific aspects of parenting (support for autonomy and involvement) and teaching (support for autonomy, and emotional and academic support) may contribute to the student’s self-regulated learning and achievement in mathematics. Previous research has focused primarily on evaluating students as individuals or looking at only one relationship, whereas this study sought to expand on the current literature by evaluating the relationships between students and teachers as well as students and their …

Quantitative Geomorphic Analyses Of Neotectonic Activity In The Central U.S. And Implications For Current Increased Seismicity, Samia Noor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This regional reconnaissance compares vector and scalar geomorphic indicators (transverse drainage basin asymmetry (TI), hypsometric integral (HI), and stream sinuosity index (SI)) in Kansas and Oklahoma to assess neotectonic geomorphology and explore the spatial association between geomorphic indices and basement structure. The study is motivated by both an observed increase in seismicity in the area between 2009 and 2019 and the gap in studies of deformation in this region. In Kansas and Oklahoma, 1,697 and 950 4th-order basins, respectively, were analyzed by TI to generate mean vectors, each representing average local TI direction and magnitude. Geographic ‘domains’ of preferred azimuthal …

Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final Reclamation Improvement Sites Field Sampling And Investigation Plan (Fsp): Bres No. 18 – Walkerville Ballfield, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Identification Of Alkynyl Nicotinamide Hsn748 As A Ret Solvent-Front Mutant Inhibitor With Intracranial Efficacy, Ujjwol Khatri, Neetu Dayal, Kofi B Owusu, Mandeep Kaur Hunjan, Shriya Pandey, Haley Anne Harper, Carli Mcmahan, Bennett D Elzey, Tao Shen, Xueqing Hu, Kurt W Evans, Ahmed El-Sheikh, Seong Jun Jo, Frederick W Holtsberg, M Javad Aman, Funda Meric-Bernstam, Sukyung Woo, Herman O Sintim, Jie Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

RET solvent-front G810C/R/S mutations confer resistance to the currently approved RET protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) selpercatinib and pralsetinib. Moreover, RET fusion-positive lung adenocarcinoma frequently metastasizes to the brain. To address these challenges, it is imperative to develop a RET TKI that is effective against solvent-front mutations and exhibits intracranial activity. We synthesized alkynyl nicotinamide-based RET TKIs and tested their efficacy in cell cultures in inhibiting selpercatinib/pralsetinib-resistant RET solvent-front mutants G810C/R/S found in cancer patients, and in BaF3/KIF5B-RET(G810C) cell-derived subcutaneous and intracranial tumors in vivo. We also evaluated alkynyl nicotinamide RET TKIs in KIF5B-RET-induced lung tumors in immune competent …

Reduced Computed Tomography Scan Speed Improves Alignment Errors For Patients Undergoing Thoracic Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, Ramaswamy Sadagopan, Rachael M Martin-Paulpeter, Christopher R Peeler, Xiaochun Wang, Paige Nitsch, Julianne M Pollard-Larkin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: We investigated the performance of a slow computed tomography (CT) protocol to reduce alignment errors arising from motion when using CT-on-rail (CTOR) for image guidance for patients receiving thoracic stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

Methods: A Quasar lung phantom with a moving tumor was programmed with three breathing rates and three motion amplitudes. MIP and average 4DCT images were used for contouring and alignment, respectively. Ten CTOR images were obtained for each of the breathing rates and amplitudes, under both CT protocols. We used in-house CAT software for image guidance, centering the tumor in the lung window …

Defining Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression: Recommendations From The Isbd Task Force, Eduard Vieta, Roger S Mcintyre, Trisha Suppes, Tamsyn E Van Rheenen, Balwinder Singh, Kamilla Woznica Miskowiak, Allan H Young, Lakshmi N Yatham, Kyooseob Ha, Michael Berk, Holly A Swartz, Chantal Henry, Maja Pantovic Stefanovic, Gerard Anmella Diaz, Aysegul Ozerdem, Wiesław J Cubała, Diego Hidalgo-Mazzei, Mauricio Tohen, Isabella Pacchiarotti, Paula Villela Nunes, Carlos Lopez-Jaramillo, Ana Gonzalez-Pinto, Paolo Brambilla, Robert Post, Jair C Soares, Michael Bauer, Ana C Andreazza, Xavier Justes Fradera, Montserrat Cosials-Lopez, Giovanna Fico

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Despite the availability of approved treatments, a substantial proportion of patients with bipolar disorder experience treatment-resistant bipolar depression (TRBD), characterized by persistent depressive symptoms unresponsive to standard therapies. However, a universally accepted definition of TRBD is lacking. This consensus document, developed by the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) Task Force on TRBD, aims to provide a standardized definition of TRBD to facilitate clinical trials, research, and treatment strategies.

Methods: The Task Force employed a literature review, clinical trials analysis, and expert consensus meetings to define TRBD.

Results: TRBD was defined as the failure to achieve a significant and …

The Impact Of Tuition Assistance On Employee Retention: Cybersecurity Employee Perceptions Of National Security Agency’S College Tuition Assistance Program, Marta I. Benitez-Guzman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S. employers spend considerable sums on employee skill development, including investments in college tuition assistance programs (CTAP). Based on a review of recent literature, measuring employer return on investment can be difficult. The literature contained varying results on the effectiveness of employer-provided incentives on retention decisions and provided insufficient empirical or evaluative data on employee perceptions and the influence on retention. The purpose of this qualitative evaluative case study was to examine how cybersecurity employees at the National Security Agency (NSA) who participated in CTAP (2019–2023) perceived the program's effect on their career development and retention decisions. The theoretical framework …