Digital Commons Network^™

Centered A Story Of Family And Compassion In The Face Of Parkinson's Disease, Savannah Hill

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Centered is a three-dimensional (3D) animated short film that explores the topic of parental illness and how families must respond with compassion and adaptability when loved ones face mental or physical challenges. The story is inspired by the director’s own experience with her father’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease when she was in high school. The main characters, a father and daughter, must navigate the father’s changing needs after his diagnosis by prioritizing their connection and adapting to his new physical challenges. In the film, they do this through the creation of pottery. The imperfect, handmade design style of the film …

Governing Harm: Three Essays On Anti-Lgbtq+ Legislation In The United States, Kathryn Hickey

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

In the United States, over 140 state bills were passed between 2014 and 2024 that directly targeted the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals. Drawing on administrative evil and the minority stress model, this dissertation demonstrates how policy environments that normalize discrimination through the passage of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation can lead to devastating consequences. Using a three-essay format, the first study conducts a qualitative content analysis of state level anti-LGBTQ+ laws passed between 2015 and 2024 to identify how administrative evil is woven into the language of the legislation. The results of this analysis show these laws systematically dehumanize LGBTQ+ individuals, restrict their …

If Your Muses Don't Hate You..., Hannah Howe

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

If Your Muses Don’t Hate You… interrogates a speaker who feels she lacks the tools needed to properly assess trauma and grief. This collection follows the speaker as she delves into obsessive analysis of self, often using metaphysical lenses as methods of comprehension. Each section explores a facet of the subject’s identity, and examines whether her heartache is self-inflicted, preordained, or both. Six of the seven sections provide the reader with imaginative interpretations of the speaker’s natal chart, allowing the reader the opportunity to analyze alongside the speaker. The first half of these sections present the speaker struggling to separate …

Two Essays On Geopolitical Risk And Investment Decisions, Jie Hu

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

My first essay studies how global institutional investors adjust cross-country equity allocations in response to rising geopolitical risk. Using quarterly equity holdings of institutional investors over 1997–2023, combined with news-based global and country-specific geopolitical risk indices, I find that following increases in geopolitical risk within a country, foreign institutions actively reduce their allocations in that country and the nearby region. Elevated global geopolitical uncertainty triggers both a flight-to-home response toward domestic equities and a flight-to-safety effect toward U.S. equities. Investor responses are heterogeneous: Institutions with higher geopolitical risk sensitivity respond more aggressively, whereas larger or better-performing hedge funds often maintain …

Exploring The Temporal Context Of Abusive Supervision, Alexandra Kandah

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This dissertation examined the temporal dynamics of abusive supervision and their implications for employee burnout and turnover intentions. Drawing from gestalt characteristics theory and uncertainty management theory, this research investigated whether the timing, frequency, variability, and change in abusive supervision influence employee outcomes beyond traditional cross-sectional conceptualizations. Study 1 used a qualitative design to explore how abusive supervision unfolds over time. Fourteen working adults reporting a past abusive supervisor participated in semi-structured interviews focused on the temporal dynamics of their experience with abusive supervision. Results indicated that abusive supervision often began early, recurred frequently, and was characterized by unpredictability and …

Computational Methods For Rna 3d Structure Classification And Structural Motif Discovery, Nabila Shahnaz Khan

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Non-coding RNAs perform diverse and essential cellular functions, and the study of RNA structures is expanding rapidly. The growing volume of RNA 3D structures highlights the need for efficient computational methods to identify recurring structural motifs, which are often conserved and critical to RNA function. However, the complexity and redundancy of RNA structures in existing databases pose significant challenges for motif discovery and structural analysis. To address these challenges, this dissertation presents three complementary computational approaches. First, a non-redundant RNA structural dataset, RNA-NRD, was developed to systematically reduce redundancy in RNA structural data and provide a reliable foundation for downstream …

Reliability Of Staged Maximal Aerobic Capacity Protocol Using A Combined Upper- And Lower-Body Air-Braked Ergometer, Jack J. Livingston

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) is widely recognized as the preeminent measure of aerobic capacity and is typically assessed using graded exercise testing (GXT). This study examined the test–retest reliability of VO₂peak and associated physiological responses during a staged GXT performed on a combined upper- and lower-body air-braked ergometer. Fifteen recreationally active adults (9 males, 6 females; age: 26.9 ± 7.2 years; body mass: 75.1 ± 11.0 kg) completed one familiarization session and two trials separated by ≥72 hours. Participants performed a staged GXT (40 RPM start, +3 RPM every 3 min to exhaustion) on a combined upper- and lower-body air-braked …

The Development Of An Experimental Chemical Reactor Network Facility For Power Generation And Aviation Gas Turbines, Kesly Lubin

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Gas turbines are the backbone of power generation globally; however, they are also one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gases and harmful emissions. Advanced combustion strategies, when applied to energy generation, can offer increased optimization of the combustion process with more complete and efficient combustion. With global efforts to reduce NOx formation in energy generation, combustion staging strategies like Rich Quench Lean (RQL), Lean-Premixed (LPM), and Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) have gained more attention in research. The major challenge that exists in the research sector is the ability to evaluate and further develop these techniques at a fundamental level. …

Behavioral Economic Factors Implicated In Young Adult Drinking In The Natural Environment: An Ema Study, Tatiana Magri

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Background: Young adult (YA) alcohol use remains a prominent public health concern. Despite research efforts aimed at mitigating harms related to drinking, rates of alcohol use and adverse outcomes related to use, remain high among YAs. Previous research has identified alcohol demand, craving, and delay discounting as risk factors for problematic drinking among YAs. However, few studies have concurrently examined these constructs using methodologies that maximize ecological and contextual validity. Method: YA individuals (N=104) completed an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) protocol assessing three demand indices (i.e., intensity, Omax, and breakpoint), delay discounting, craving, and alcohol use and problems. Participants received …

Angular And Geometric Dependence Of Single-Event Effects In Gallium Nitride Hemts, Patrick Maloney

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Gallium nitride (GaN) high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) have become popular in commercial and space applications due to their desirable material properties compared to silicon. However, their susceptibility to radiation-induced single-event effects (SEE) remains a critical reliability concern. This work investigates on permanent SEE in GaN-based power devices, including single-event leakage current (SELC) and single-event burnout (SEB). The dependence of SEE susceptibility on electric field, ion angle of incidence, current rating, and metallization layers is investigated and conclusions are presented. Heavy-ion irradiation experiments demonstrate that the worst-case condition occurs at near-normal incidence (0°–15°), where charge deposition most effectively overlaps high-field …

Characterization And Experimental Study Of Ammonia-Hydrogen Flames Inside A Toroidal Jet-Stirred Reactor At Atmospheric Conditions, Oli Marquez Valenzuela

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Due to rising concerns about global surface temperatures and carbon emissions, there has been an increased interest in studying alternative fuels. Ammonia and hydrogen are fuels with the potential to replace general biofuels, hydrocarbons, and sustainable aviation fuels, as they do not contain any carbon, eliminating carbon emissions. However, they are both difficult to work with. Hydrogen has great combustion characteristics such as low ignition energy, high flame speed and lower heating value. However, it is volatile and difficult to store, requiring it to be compressed to high pressure or cooled to incredibly low temperatures. Ammonia can be used as …

The Revelations, Lily Mckenna

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

The Revelations is a self-actualization in the form of a poetry collection. The speaker’s realization that reality is relative arrives through a Title IX case against an abusive boyfriend and former bandmate. Poems such as “Complainant / Respondent” use rigid legal structures to investigate the fluidity of truth and perception and how they can be manipulated. With her band on hiatus and the case propelling her into a new world, the speaker starts running DIY shows alongside a cast of characters with a shared love of music. She interrogates their realities in the character studies “On The Relative Reality Of…,” …

The Role Of Adolescent Attachment In The Relationship Between Trauma And Identity, Ellie Mitova

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Traumatic experiences have been shown to influence identity development during emerging adulthood, a complex developmental period. However, research examining how trauma interacts with adolescent attachment qualities to shape identity processes remains limited. Previous studies have primarily focused on infant attachment styles and their long-term developmental outcomes, leaving a gap in understanding how attachment qualities developed through relationships with parents and peers during adolescence may influence identity development in emerging adults. Additionally, while traumatic experiences have been associated with maladaptive identity processes such as rumination and identity distress, some research suggests that trauma may also contribute to deeper identity exploration and …

The Intersection Of Abuse, Child Welfare, And The Law For Intimate Partner Violence Survivors: Gender Violence As An Antagonistic Social Force, Julio Montanez

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Intimate partner violence (IPV)—as gender violence—pits children’s civil rights and women’s civil liberties against each other. To explore this phenomenon, the current work features five (5) studies that aim to understand the systemic consequences of IPV and child maltreatment for victims and survivors of both types of abuse.

• Study 1 is a qualitative-deductive study featuring a directed content analysis of news media pertaining to a trial court case on lethal child maltreatment and IPV.
• Study 2 is a qualitative-inductive study featuring a feminist critical discourse analysis of trial court data on lethal child maltreatment and IPV.
• Study 3 is a …

An Investigation Into The Impact Of Open Educational Resources (Oer) On Postsecondary Student Outcomes, Amber Mullens

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Increasing higher education costs are a concern for policymakers and the American public. In 2024-25, undergraduate students paid on average $1,290 for books and supplies (College Board, 2024). These costs have led policymakers and educators to advocate for the use of open educational resources (OER). OER are teaching and learning materials that are in the public domain or licensed under copyright allowing no cost access, reuse, repurpose, adaptation, and redistribution (UNESCO, 2019, p. 5). While research has demonstrated OER use significantly reduces costs for students, less is known about OER's impact on student academic outcomes. Despite significant research on these …

Exploring The Role Of Hes4 During Retroviral Infection, Raphael Opoku

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection disrupts immune homeostasis and impairs antiviral defenses, partly by compromising natural killer (NK) cell activity, with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection in rhesus macaques serving as a valuable model to investigate these mechanisms. This research examines the regulatory role of HES4 and its isoforms in NK cell function during retroviral infection, with particular focus on how Notch signaling–dependent regulation of HES4 shapes NK effector responses. HES4, a downstream effector of the Notch signaling pathway, encodes transcriptional repressors central to immune cell differentiation, yet its contribution to NK cell biology remains poorly understood. Using molecular and …

Unsupervised Transfer Learning And Its Applications In Human Pose Estimation, Qucheng Peng

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This dissertation advances unsupervised transfer learning by addressing critical constraints in data privacy, intellectual property protection, and deployment in unseen environments. We propose novel frameworks for three progressively restrictive settings: Black-Box Domain Adaptation (BBDA), Source-Free Domain Adaptation (SFDA), Domain Generalization (DG), and Lifelong Domain Adaptation (LLDA) for 3D human pose estimation (HPE). To address BBDA, where only model outputs are accessible, we introduce RAIN (Regularization on Input and Network). This framework utilizes Phase MixUp for frequency-domain input regularization and Subnetwork Distillation to combat source overfitting.

Extending these privacy-preserving paradigms to spatial tasks, we present the first SFDA framework for HPE. …

Characterization And Antibacterial Assessment Of An Isoborneol-Loaded Nanoemulsion, Sharon M. Rodriguez Villacis

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

In the United States, about 35,000 fatalities occur annually due to antibiotic resistant infections. It is progressively becoming one of the largest challenges when treating hospital-acquired infections. This decline in effectiveness of commonly used antibiotics makes it essential to identify, synthesize, and formulate compounds that possess antimicrobial activity against these common pathogens. Isoborneol, a compound that is naturally occurring terpene that can be derived from the Camphor tree, Cinnamomum camphora, is known for its antimicrobial properties in traditional medicine and in prior literature. To assess this hypothesis, an oil-in-water (OW) nanoemulsion of isoborneol was synthesized, characterized, and assessed for …

Black Mothers' Experiences Of Birth Trauma: A Conceptual Analysis And Mixed-Methods Study To Advance Perinatal Mental Health Counseling, Lisa Rickman

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This dissertation study follows the manuscript model and consists of two manuscripts, one conceptual manuscript and one empirical study, both focusing on the experiences of Black mothers following psychologically and physically traumatic childbirth. The conceptual manuscript centers birth trauma within the social, historical, and cultural contexts of perinatal mental health disparities and obstetric racism. This framework guides clinicians in centering Black mothers’ needs utilizing Relational Cultural Theory to promote equitable perinatal mental health practice. The empirical study employs a phenomenological sequential mixed methods approach prioritizing interview data collected from Black mothers who experienced birth trauma. This study also explores their …

A Frequency-Dependent Hydrodynamic Modeling Framework For Offshore Platforms With Optimization-Based Parameter Identification, Md. Rafid-Ul Haque Sakif

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Accurate prediction of hydrodynamic loads on offshore platforms requires drag coefficients that adequately capture their dependence on wave frequency. However, conventional implementations of Morison’s equation generally assume constant drag coefficients across the entire frequency spectrum, which can lead to inaccuracies in predicting platform responses under complex sea-state conditions. To address this limitation, this study proposes a frequency-dependent hydrodynamic modeling framework in which the platform response is decomposed into distinct frequency regions, specifically low-frequency and high-frequency components. Separate drag coefficients are assigned to each region to better represent the underlying flow physics. The decomposition is achieved using filtering techniques in the …

Bond Behavior Of Uhpc-Nsc Interfaces For Bridge Deck Repair Under Flexural Loading, Larissa Santiago La Banca

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

The use of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) has increased due to its superior mechanical properties and strong bond with normal-strength concrete (NSC). It is widely used as a repair material, particularly in bridge decks, where maintenance remains a challenge. However, the interface between UHPC and NSC is often the weakest region of the composite system and requires careful evaluation.

This study investigates the bond behavior between UHPC and NSC using different surface preparations, test setups, and UHPC materials. The experimental program included unreinforced beams with vertical interfaces tested under three- and four-point flexural loading, and reinforced slabs with horizontal interfaces …

Tl;Dr (Too Long; Didn't Read): Examining The Assessment And Causes Of Careless Responding Within Experimental Vignette Studies, David L. Sexton Jr.

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Careless responding occurs when participants answer survey items without considering their content and poses a serious threat to data quality. However, while past research has examined its deleterious effects on both survey and low-stakes cognitive ability measures, little research has focused on careless responding in experimental vignette methodology (EVM) research. EVM studies require participants to attend to one or more experimental vignettes, which are carefully crafted written scenarios designed to manipulate a focal variable across conditions. However, if participants are careless in attending to study vignettes, they may not be exposed to the researchers’ intended experimental manipulations, thereby precluding them …

Teoría Y Creatividad. La Literatura Como Herramienta Educativa En El Aprendizaje Moderno De Textos Clásicos En El Idioma Español, Isabel D. Simon

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

In the following master’s thesis, literature is studied as an educational tool in the modern learning of classical texts in the Spanish language from both theoretical and creative perspectives. The theoretical framework to be used is based on the hermeneutic theory of Jean Grondin. The study is divided into three chapters, each focusing on a different literary piece. First, the medieval period is examined through Poema de Mio Cid (Cantar de Mio Cid) of anonymous authorship. In the second chapter, the Golden Age is analyzed through Don Quijote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. In the closing …

The Middle Space: Redefining Collaborative Directing In Adaptive American Collegiate Theatre, Tyler J. Simons

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This thesis examines collaborative directing as an adaptive, relational practice that exists between rigid hierarchical authorship and fully collectivized creation. Challenging dominant binaries in directing discourse that frame leadership as either singular or egalitarian, this study argues for a “middle space” in which authority, authorship, and responsibility are continually negotiated in response to institutional structures, pedagogical contexts, and interpersonal dynamics. Directing is framed not as a fixed methodology or ideological position, but as a responsive practice shaped by context. Grounded in a practice-as-research (PaR) methodology, the thesis analyzes four productions: Rhinoceros (Theatre UCF, 2024), The Tricks of Scapin (Freedom High …

Code-Switching, Identity-Shifting, And Identity Distress Among Black Undergraduate Women Attending Predominantly White Institutions, Erin Smith

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Code-switching (altering language or speech) and identity-shifting (modifying appearance or behavior) are adaptive strategies often used by individuals from marginalized groups to navigate environments shaped by dominant cultural norms. Although these behaviors are commonly discussed in qualitative literature, relatively few quantitative studies have examined their psychological correlates among Black undergraduate women attending predominantly White institutions (PWIs). These behaviors may function as coping strategies in response to racialized and gendered expectations, yet the psychological implications of these strategies remain understudied. The present study examined the relationships among identity distress, code-switching, identity-shifting, and gendered racial identity centrality within a diverse sample of …

The Interaction Between Academic Self-Efficacy And Social Support: Exploring Moderation Effects On Academic Performance And Emotional Well-Being During The Transition To Secondary School, Luis Josué Ortiz Martes

Theses and Dissertations

The transition to secondary school can intensify academic demands and emotional strain, making it a critical context for examining students’ psychological and social resources. This applied dissertation examined whether perceived social support (SS) moderates the association among academic self-efficacy (ASE), academic performance (AP) and emotional well-being (EWB) among seventh-grade students at a private, multilingual school in Puerto Rico. Using a time-lagged, nonexperimental correlational design, 14 students completed the academic subscale of the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (SEQ-C) and the Social Support Appraisals Scale (SS-A) at the start of the academic year; EWB was assessed at midyear with the Negative and …

La Relación De La Estructura Organizacional Del Programa De Transición En La Efectividad De Los Servicios De La Secretaría Asociada De Educación Especial En Puerto Rico, Janet López De Jesús

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada examinó la relación entre la estructura organizacional del Programa de Transición y la efectividad de los servicios ofrecidos por la Secretaría Asociada de Educación Especial (SAEE) del Departamento de Educación de Puerto Rico. El estudio surgió ante la necesidad de comprender cómo los elementos estructurales del sistema educativo influían en la prestación de servicios dirigidos a estudiantes con discapacidades durante su proceso de transición hacia la vida adulta, particularmente en áreas como el empleo, la educación postsecundaria y la vida independiente. La investigación se desarrolló mediante un enfoque cuantitativo, con un diseño descriptivo correlacional. Los datos se …

Relación Entre El Liderazgo Situacional En Directores Escolares Y Nivel De Competencias Digitales Integrando Los Estándares Iste-El En Escuelas Ore Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Mayra Enid Rodríguez Romero

Theses and Dissertations

Esta investigación examinó la relación entre el liderazgo situacional en directores escolares y el nivel de competencias digitales, integrando los Estándares ISTE para Líderes Educativos (ISTE-EL) y la Teoría de Liderazgo Situacional, en escuelas del sistema público pertenecientes a la Oficina Regional Educativa de Arecibo, Puerto Rico, durante la pandemia del COVID-19. El estudio surgió ante la necesidad de comprender cómo los directores escolares respondieron a la transición abrupta de un modelo educativo presencial a uno virtual en un contexto caracterizado por limitaciones estructurales, tecnológicas y organizacionales. Se empleó un diseño cuantitativo de alcance descriptivo-correlacional, con una muestra de 30 …

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: Its Role In Maximizing Students’ Performance On Standardized Tests, Keisha Ricketts-Martin

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to highlight the importance of pedagogy for cultural responsiveness, and to explore the relationship between such pedagogy and middle school students’ performance on state or standardized tests. Therefore, this study explores the educational or academic values that students will gain from being engaged in a learning environment that recognizes their culture and uses it as a tool to maximizing their educational outcomes.

This research employed convergent parallel mixed method design. Therefore, it implemented the qualitative and quantitative approach at the same time and placed equivalent worth to the information collected by each approach. Therefore, the …

La Enseñanza En Línea Para Superar La Deficiencia En El Aprendizaje De La Biología En Estudiantes Del Primer Año De Una Universidad En Puerto Rico, Sergio Medina Ríos

Theses and Dissertations

Esta investigación aplicada se desarrolló a partir de una preocupación concreta observada por el investigador en su trayectoria como educador universitario en Puerto Rico: la dificultad persistente de los estudiantes de primer año para comprender conceptos fundamentales en biología. Muchos de estos jóvenes ingresan a la universidad con lagunas formativas que limitan su aprovechamiento académico, especialmente en disciplinas científicas que demandan razonamiento crítico y conceptualización abstracta.

Frente a esta realidad, el estudio propuso la implementación de estrategias de enseñanza en línea como respuesta pedagógica a dicha deficiencia. Con base en la experiencia adquirida en la impartición de cursos virtuales, se …