Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

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% …

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 …

Socioeconomic Influences On Parent Engagement From Birth To Age Five, Mercedes Ford-Miller

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how socioeconomic status influences the level and nature of parent engagement during the early learning years, defined as birth to age 5. Grounded in the Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) framework, it explored how income and education disparities shape opportunities, barriers, and perceptions of engagement among families enrolled in early learning programs in Middle Tennessee. Using a grounded theory approach, data were collected through demographic surveys, one-on-one interviews, and focus groups with parents representing diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Findings revealed that while all parents valued engagement as vital to their child’s development, socioeconomic conditions …

Building Our Own Curriculum: Black Women’S Stories Of Higher Education Leadership Development, Sabrina Louise Brown

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Despite increasing attention to gender equity in higher education leadership, Black women remain disproportionately underrepresented in senior administrative roles. Women's Leadership Development Programs (WLDPs) emerged to cultivate leadership talent, yet often reflect race-evasive, gender-centered frameworks that marginalize Black women's intersectional experiences. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of Black women who participated in a women-only higher education leadership development program in North Carolina. Guided by Black Feminist Thought and Endarkened Feminist Epistemology, this research centered Black women's knowledge systems and ways of knowing as legitimate sources of insight and resistance. Through interviews with eight Black women who completed the …

Impact Of Cover Crops On Soil Hydraulic Properties And Water Dynamics, Sabin Shrestha

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Cover cropping has emerged as a climate adaptation strategy in sustainable agriculture to enhance agroecosystem resilience against weather extremes such as floods, droughts, and erratic rainfall patterns. But how well cover crops (CCs) can buffer crop yields against weather variability depends on their ability to regulate improvements in soil hydrology. Through a global meta-analysis of 1007 pairwise observations from 146 studies spanning across 34 countries, we investigated the overall effects of CCs on six key soil hydraulic properties and further examined how environmental and management factors moderate these overall responses. Results showed that CCs significantly improved total porosity by 7.7%, …

A Fault Tolerant Honeybee Behaviour Load Balancing Algorithm, Charmaine Adegbite

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Cloud computing enables flexible, scalable access to virtualised infrastructure but remains challenged by maintaining performance in fault-prone environments. Faults such as virtual machine failures can degrade task allocation and system reliability. However, traditional load balancing algorithms and bio-inspired strategies, including the Honeybee Behaviour Load Balancing algorithm, assume fault-free conditions. This thesis introduces a Fault-Tolerant Honeybee Behaviour Load Balancing algorithm that enhances the original Honeybee Behaviour Load Balancing algorithm by integrating fault detection. The proposed algorithm monitors the health of VMs and dynamically reallocates workloads when faults are detected which improves stability and reliability. The proposed fault tolerant algorithm was implemented …

Perceived Value Of Radiologic Technology Degrees Among Community College Students In Tennessee, Tiffanie Harris

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Abstract This study explored how adult alumni perceive the value of earning an Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Technology from a northern Middle Tennessee community college. It examined four questions: (1) How do alumni perceive the financial return on investment (ROI)? (2) What non-financial benefits or challenges do they report? (3) How did the program influence their career readiness and workforce entry? and (4) How did institutional support or barriers affect their educational experience? Using a convergent mixed-methods design, 18 alumni from the 2021–2024 cohorts (85.7% response rate) completed a survey with Likert and open-ended items. Quantitative data were …

Macroscopic And In-Situ Atr-Ftir Spectroscopic Studies Of Metformin Adsorption On Soil, Maheen Mehnaz

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Emerging contaminants might pose serious threats to the soil and water environment. Metformin, an emerging micropollutant, is one of the most widely used drugs for type-2 diabetes treatment. However, its waste disposal through human excretion is causing environmental concern to the soil and water environment. Yet, knowledge about the interaction mechanism of metformin with soil remains very limited. In this study, we evaluated metformin adsorption mechanisms on model oxide minerals (gibbsite, hematite) and two Tennessee soils (Milan Loring soil and Cheatham County soil) and in the presence of soil micronutrient (molybdenum) using in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared …

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 …

Factors Influencing Rural Teachers To Stay In The Classroom: A Qualitative Study, Marti Elizabeth Lomax

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The problem was teacher attrition was a pressing problem in the United States. The National Center for Education Statistics (2023) reported that 40% to 50% of teachers exited the profession within 5 years of commencing their careers which influenced the quality and consistency of education provided to rural students. The purpose was to explore how teachers felt about remaining on the job in rural classrooms in Southern Middle Tennessee. There was little research that investigated these teachers’ experiences regarding remaining in the profession. The study was guided by a basic qualitative design (Quick, 2024). The sample was six teachers selected …

Agronomic Management Practices For Cbd And Fiber Hemp In Southeastern United States, Anand Kumar

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The farm bill of 2014 and 2018 legalized hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) production for cannabidiol (CBD), grain, and fiber uses in the U.S. Agronomic management practices for floral hemp for CBD production were not well studied. To optimize the agronomic management practices for high CBD content and THC concentration below the compliance level of 0.3% on a dry weight basis requires specific management and adaptability. A two-year field study was conducted at the Tennessee State University Agricultural Research and Education Center (TSU AREC) in Nashville, Tennessee, to evaluate two production systems, the Non-Chemical System (NCS) and the Chemical-Based System (CBS), …

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 …

Tennessee’S Green Industry: An Economic Impact Assessment, Savannah R. Lewis

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This study estimates the economic contributions of the greenhouse and nursery industry, commonly known as the "green industry," in Tennessee for 2023. Utilizing data on employment, labor income, value added, and industry output, alongside economic multipliers generated from the Input-Output modeling software, IMPLAN (Impact Analysis for Planning), we provide a comprehensive analysis of the green industry's impact on the state's agricultural economy. The findings are presented in 2025 dollars, highlighting the industry's significance for informing future policy decisions. The primary objectives were to assess total contributions at the state, regional, and county levels. Direct employment across all sectors was estimated …

The Impact Of Teacher Effectiveness Factors On Student Achievement: A Case Study, Renita Joy Perkins

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative, correlational study examined the relationship between teacher, evaluation scores and student achievement using Tennessee's Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM) evaluation system at Spencer Elementary School in rural Van Buren County. The study analyzed data from nine teachers across grades 3-5 and 150 students, investigating correlations between TEAM evaluation scores, Level of Effectiveness (LOE) ratings, and student performance on Tennessee Ready assessments in mathematics, English Language Arts, and science. Key findings revealed a counterintuitive experience-performance paradox: while teacher years of experience positively correlated with evaluation scores (r=.422, p<.001) and LOE ratings (r=.132, p=.024), it negatively correlated with student English Language Arts achievement (r=- .174, p=.039). The study demonstrated strong internal consistency within the TEAM evaluation system, with significant correlations between LOE scores and teacher evaluation ratings (r=.375, p<.001). However, only weak correlations emerged between teacher evaluation scores and student achievement outcomes, with a slight positive relationship found only in English Language Arts (r=.165, p=.049). The research revealed robust cross-subject correlations in student achievement (r=.706, p<.001), suggesting that effective teaching impacts learning holistically rather than in subject specific ways. These findings challenge assumptions about the predictive validity of observation-based evaluation systems and highlight the complexity of measuring teaching effectiveness. Implications for educational leaders include reconsidering the relationship between teacher experience and effectiveness, implementing differentiated professional development based on evaluation data rather than years of service, and developing more nuanced approaches to using evaluation systems that integrate multiple measures of teacher impact on student learning outcomes.

Predicting First-Year Retention Rates Of First Generation College Students, Trena Barksdale

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

First-generation college students (FGCS) often encounter academic, financial, and social commitments that elevate their risk of attrition. Although academic preparation and engagement are recognized persistence factors, predictive research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) remains scarce. This quantitative study utilized binary logistic regression to identify key predictors of first-year retention among FGCS at a public HBCU. The analysis specifically tested the influence of high school GPA, Pell Grant status, and on-campus housing. Findings confirmed that both GPA and on-campus housing were strong, statistically significant predictors of retention, while Pell Grant status was not. These results underscore the vital role …

Design And Development Of Rechargeable Cement-Based Batteries For Energy Storage Within Infrastructure, Dandan Yin

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presented the design, fabrication, and evaluation of rechargeable cement-based batteries (CBB) for energy storage within infrastructure. The study aimed to integrate electrochemical energy storage directly into cementitious materials, enabling multifunctional and sustainable building systems. Nickel–iron electrodes and cement-based solid electrolytes to form durable, solid-state systems. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and galvanostatic charge–discharge tests，along with microscopic testing and mechanical testing analyses, were conducted to assess battery performance. The carbon fiber mesh CBB achieved stable cycling over 100 cycles with quasi-reversible redox behavior and a maximum areal energy density of 7.6 Wh m⁻². Nickel foam electrodes, with their …

Teachers' And Administrators' Perspectives On Discipline, Prison Pipeline, And African American Males., Latonya Shonette Bridges-Davis

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to examine the perceptions and experiences of high school teachers and administrators, regarding the impact of disciplinary policies on African American males within an urban Middle Tennessee high school. The study focused on systemic, institutional, and cultural factors influencing how educators interpret their roles in either reinforcing or challenging the school-to-prison pipeline. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and document review. Findings revealed six major themes: Disproportionate Discipline, Importance of Relationships, Cultural Competency and Bias, Restorative Practices, Resource Gaps, and Need for Policy Reform. These findings demonstrated that disproportionate discipline, …

Exploring The Autofermented Cyanobacterial Crude Extract As Antimicrobial Animal Feed Additives., Mohana Krishnan Neelakrishnan

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Overexploitation of antibiotics in the animal industry has driven the need for reduced usage, but this reduction has intensified the challenge posed by Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter jejuni to livestock systems and public health. This situation underlines the need for sustainable antimicrobial alternatives. Although cyanobacteria are promising in this respect, since they may produce a variety of bioactive metabolites, the amounts of these metabolites in their natural state are insufficient to elicit potent antibacterial action. In this study, autofermentation was investigated as a means of enhancing antibacterial efficacy in Fischerella ambigua and Nostoc muscorum by promoting the synthesis of organic …

Power Resilience In Utah's Water Sector: A Survey Of Stakeholder Practices, Preferences And Potential, Tyler Christopher Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

Drinking water and wastewater services are vulnerable to disruptions because they rely heavily on the electric grid. As a result, power outages can lead to water outages, creating cascading failures that compromise sanitation, firefighting, healthcare, and daily routines. Although an important topic, there are little to no studies of water and wastewater power resilience at a geographic or state level. In this study we investigate the extent of existing backup power and renewable energy integration as well as the motivations and barriers around their power resilience. We collect our data through semi-structured interviews with staff at 19 urban and rural …

The Impact Of Social Factors On Vagally Mediated Parasympathetic Activity, Andrew Scot Proctor

Theses and Dissertations

Loneliness and social disconnection are recognized risk factors for morbidity and mortality, yet the psychophysiological pathways remain contested. This dissertation examines how social factors relate to vagally mediated parasympathetic activity indexed by heart rate variability (HRV) and tests whether conversational interventions with a human or a large-language-model (LLM)-based companion can acutely reduce loneliness and enhance connection. Across two university sites (BYU, UCSD), N=297 participants (18-27 years) were randomized to (a) a reciprocal self-disclosure conversation with a trained human confederate, (b) a parallel, vocalized LLM chatbot conversation, or (c) a non-social, vocal reading control. Resting HRV (RMSSD, SDNN, HF-HRV) was recorded …

Zotpri Llc V. Burton

All Decisions

In this nonpayment proceeding, the tenant, after retaining counsel, moved to amend their pro se answer to assert affirmative defenses of payment, laches, and breach of the warranty of habitability, along with counterclaims. The landlord opposed, arguing untimeliness and insufficient pleading of laches. The court granted the tenant's motion, allowing the amended answer with the payment and warranty of habitability defenses and counterclaims. However, the laches defense was stricken for insufficient pleading, as it failed to demonstrate lack of notice or prejudice to the tenant, beyond mere delay, which are essential elements for an equitable laches claim.

Implementation And Evaluation Of A Wellness Program In A First-Year Medical Student Anatomy Course, Gina R. Lepore, Gavin Turner, Benjamin Abramoff, Daniel Depietro, Nicole Robinson

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Cadaveric dissection is a central component to anatomy education. However, for many students, dissection can be emotionally taxing, highlighting a potential area for increased support. This project evaluated the implementation of a wellness program within a dissection-based anatomy course.

Methods: Throughout a 12-week first-year medical student anatomy course, two teaching assistants (TAs) served as “Wellness TAs” and implemented a structured wellness program that included weekly office hours, supportive emails to students that addressed emotionally challenging coursework, and scheduled “wellness breakfasts/snack breaks.” An anonymous survey was distributed following the course. The survey assessed demographics, perceptions of the anatomical …

Climate-Driven Flood Risk Mapping And Adaptive Strategy Modelling For Coastal Tamil Nadu, Sakthi Kiran Dr Mr

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Tamil Nadu’s coastal corridor (Cuddalore–Sirkazhi; ~2,740 km²) experiences recurring floods driven by climate change, rapid urban expansion, and inadequate drainage across low-lying deltaic terrain. Existing flood assessments remain largely reactive and rely on static methods that fail to incorporate future climate projections, demographic growth, and evolving urban patterns.

Methods: This research develops a dynamic, climate-resilient flood risk framework integrating (i) long-term hydroclimatic trend analysis (1984–2023), (ii) satellite-based flood hazard mapping using multi-temporal Sentinel-1A and RISAT-1A SAR, (iii) CORDEX REMO2015 (RCP 4.5)–driven HEC-RAS 2D hydrodynamic modelling, (iv) machine-learning-based susceptibility modelling (RF, DT, SVM), and (v) scenario-based evaluation of structural mitigation …

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 10 - December 11, 2025

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 10 - December 11, 2025. 24 pages.

Mechanical Quality Of Hemp Fiber As Influenced By Tillage, Cover Crop, And Nitrogen Management In Regenerative Organic Systems, Parinaz Heydar, Alyssa Pierce, Gabriella Fioravanti, Ronald Kander

School of Design and Engineering Papers

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an emerging crop for renewable fiber materials. For farmers, finding a balance between agronomic performance and economic return is crucial, especially when targeting specific markets like the textile industry, which values not just fiber quantity, but overall quality. This field study, conducted at the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, assessed the effects of tillage (till vs. no till), cover crop (with cover vs. no cover), and nitrogen (N) rate (0, 50, 100, 150 kg ha⁻¹) on hemp fiber yield, N concentrations in leaf and stalk, and mechanical performance under regenerative organic conditions. Fiber mechanical …

Editorial: Advancing Understanding Of Neonatal Bacterial Infections., Susana Chavez-Bueno, Shelley M. Lawrence

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Experiences Of White Passing And White-Assumed Latine College Students, Emanuel Magaña

Dissertations and Theses

Between 2009 and 2019 Latine college enrollment has increased, yet retention and graduation rates lag those of their white peers. While barriers for Latine students are well-documented, the influence of colorism, particularly among lighter-skinned or white passing students, remains understudied. This study utilized a qualitative case-study approach grounded in CRT and LatCrit and based on a Street Race Praxis framework. This study explored the experiences of twelve white passing and/or white-assumed Latine students at an emerging HSI in the Pacific Northwest. Using Testimonio informed approach and Counterstory, I drew from interviews, pláticas, site observations, and document analysis to create four …

Dental Care Utilization And Expenditures Among Individuals With Asthma, Shillpa Naaval, Vaibhavi Mone

Health Services and Informatics Research

Objectives To examine dental care utilization and health and dental care expenditures among individuals with asthma.

Methods Data from the 2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) (n = 21,405) were used to examine dental care utilization (any dental, preventive dental, and treatment dental visit) among individuals ≥ 1 year with and without asthma, and mean expenditures were summarized.

Results Overall, the asthma diagnosis was 13.2%, 14.7% in working-age adults compared to 9.5% in children. The percentage of treatment dental visits was higher overall (17.0% vs. 14.5%, p <  0.05) among the asthma group compared to the non-asthma group. Among individuals with asthma, those who had preventive dental visits had lower dental expenditures compared to those who had treatment dental visits for all age groups.

Conclusion Individuals with asthma had a higher prevalence of using dental treatment services. …

Research On Punitive Damages System In Criminal Incidental Civil Public Interest Litigation In Food Field, Wang Dan

Food and Machinery

Civil Code, Law of the People 's Republic of China on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests, and Food Safety Law of the People 's Republic of China have all made specific provisions for the punitive damages system in criminal incidental civil public interest litigation in the food field.However, there are still difficulties such as unclear calculation bases for punitive damages, a lack of sufficient rationality in the amount of punitive damages, a poor connection between punitive damages, criminal fines, and administrative fines, and certain deficiencies in the management and use mechanism of punitive damages.In this regard, we can …