Digital Commons Network^™

Microlearning As An Education Strategy In Perianesthesia, Kaelyn Burgett

2025 Swedish FISH (Fostering Interdisciplinary Solutions in Healthcare) Conference

No abstract provided.

Social-Emotional Learning (Sel) Support Through Social Work Case Management In K-12 Schools, Dina Michelle Garrett-Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Existing research revealed that K-12, school-based social work clinicians were utilized in various ways to support students' social-emotional learning (SEL) needs in public K-12 schools in the United States. However, there was a gap in knowledge about the unique approaches K-12 school-based social work clinicians employed to address the SEL needs of non-at-risk students. This basic qualitative study explored how K-12 school-based social work clinicians used empowerment case management practices to address the SEL needs of non-at-risk students. The theoretical framework grounding this study was empowerment theory. Using purposive sampling, semistructured interviews were conducted with five K-12 school-based social work …

From Lists To Infinite Scroll: A Comparative Analysis Of Youtube’S Two Recommendation Algorithms, Selimhan Dagtas

Theses and Dissertations

As social media platforms increasingly dominate information consumption, the role of recommendation algorithms in determining user experience has grown both in complexity and impact. This thesis investigates the behavioral patterns and algorithmic preferences embedded within YouTube’s recommendation systems, comparing long- form videos with the rapidly growing category of short-form content, YouTube Shorts. Through a combination of automated data collection, engagement metric analysis, emotional sentiment detection, and toxicity assessment, this study analyzes the evolution of content over successive recommendation depths. Using a controlled digital environment, the research explores how content recommendations change in response to user behavior, including varying watch times …

The Ecophysiology Of The Enigmatic Namib Succulent, Lithops Ruschiorum, Garrett Macleod Althausen

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

Water availability is the primary constraint for plant survival and reproduction in hyper-arid ecosystems. In such environments, plant fitness depends on an alignment between physiological traits and limited water resources. The Namib Desert of Namibia exemplifies this extreme selection pressure. Within the Namib Desert, Lithops ruschiorum, a succulent endemic to the gravel plains, exhibits habitat specificity and numerous physiological adaptations to cope with the hyper-aridity.

This research explores the intersection of two fitness strategies for L. ruschiorum: habitat selection and exploitation of alternative moisture sources. The first chapter explores the population dynamics and micro-site habitat conditions preferred by …

The Impact Of Teaching Practice On Student Self-Efficacy In Undergraduate Stem Classrooms, Gintarė Lübeck, Michael K. Seery, Barry J. Ryan

Irish Journal of Academic Practice

This quantitative study examined the impact of teaching practice on students’ self-efficacy at the outset of their undergraduate STEM programmes, considering prior academic performance and class setting. Data were collected through a self-efficacy survey (n = 483) and 15 non-participatory classroom observations at a large, modern university in Ireland. Observed classes included lectures, laboratories, and tutorials across physics (n = 3), computing and digital skills (n = 3), engineering (n = 2), biology (n = 3), chemistry (n = 2), and mathematics (n = 2). Statistically significant connections were identified between students’ past academic performance, the week of instruction, and …

Sire Evaluations: Boer, Kiko, And Spanish Kid Weaning Weights In The Southeast, Alicia D. Aldridge

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Sire Evaluations: Boer, Kiko, And Spanish Kid Weaning Weights in the Southeast Research was completed with weaning weight ratio (WWR) and expected progeny difference (EPD) efficiency values compared from pedigree data across six seasons (2003-2009). Four models: WWR, 90- day unadjusted, adjusted, and new adjusted WW models compared sire breed, dam breed, month of birth, dam age, sex, litter size at birth, litter size at 90 day weaning age, and birth year effects. Correction factors were re-adjusted when non-genetic effects (sex, dam age, and litter size at birth and weaning) remained significant (p<0.05) in the original 90-day adjusted WW models. The new correction factors eliminated non-genetic effects (p>0.05). Sire breed effects were not significant …

Sensory Evaluation Of Cowpeas And Consumer Science Preference At Two Universities In The United States, Zaira Adams

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the past years, since the Covid pandemics, global inflation and food insecurity have been on a constant incline (What is Food Insecurity, World Food Bank). In this research study, we explore consumer preference for canned legumes (beans and peas) as an inexpensive nutritional intervention to decrease the number of households experiencing food insecurity. The solution is based on the food sensory analysis of cowpeas (Black-Eye Peas), crowder peas, black beans, and pinto beans. Our main geographical locations included studies at two Land Grant Universities in the United States (Pennsylvania State University and Tennessee State University). At Pennsylvania State, we …

Soybean Embryogenic Cell Culture Genetically Engineered, Gabriel Carrasquillo

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The inflation of population in the world has led to a high and consistent food demand which has reinvigorated worldwide interest to create high-yielding varieties of legumes. Soybean Glycine max (L.) Merrill, a member of this legume family has become one of the most essential food crops in the United States as well as in the world due its edible oil and protein content up to 20% and 54%, respectively. Because of its high importance as a food crop, major objectives in soybean breeding, improvement of protein and oil production need to be achieved. These objectives can be addressed using …

Examining Disproportionate Discipline Through Teacher Discipline Referrals: A Mixed Methods Analysis, Shivon A. Griffey

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impact of the racial composition of teachers on disciplinary practices within a school, specifically focusing on how the lack of demographic representation contributes to disciplinary disparities experienced by students from underrepresented groups. Employing a mixed methods approach, the research integrated qualitative data from focus group with quantitative analysis. Thematic analysis revealed key themes related to (a) perceptions of disciplinary fairness, (b) cultural competence, (c) representation (d) student-teacher relationships, (e) professional development, (f) and community and parental perspectives. Additionally, a chi squared test was conducted to assess if there was a statistically significant difference in the expected …

Navigating Sorghum Bicolor Microspores For Genetic Transformation Via Androgenic Pathway During Gametogenesis, Aron M. Felts

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This study delves into the use of the androgenesis pathway of microspores for genetic transformation and double haploid production in Sorghum bicolor. Focusing on the environmental and genetic factors that affect androgenesis, in vitro culture techniques were aimed to be refined for utilizing microspores towards callus induction more effectively. These efforts yielded promising approaches for agronomic traits enhancements. This research enhances the methodology for plant regeneration from microspores, facilitating the generation of homozygous lines with potentially improved traits. Although the current findings do not mark a radical departure from existing knowledge, they lay essential groundwork for future genetic studies in …

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis And Surface Characterization Of Graphene Oxide-Antimony Trioxide Nanocomposites For Ascorbic Acid Electrochemical Sensor, Samir Mallick

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The detection and monitoring of Ascorbic Acid (AA) concentration is of crucial importance. Abnormal AA levels in bodily fluids have been reported to cause cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Nanoparticles have played a critical role in developing affordable, sensitive, and selective sensors. This work reports on the electrochemical detection of AA using glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) modified with microwave-assisted graphene oxide-antimony trioxide nanocomposite and chitosan films. The developed sensor displayed enhanced electron transfer and a better electrocatalytic reaction towards AA compared to other fabricated electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used for electrochemical measurements. CV and Fourier …

Deep Imputation Of Missing Values Using Feature And Sample Attention, Ibna Kowsar

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The handling of missing values is a pervasive challenge in tabular data sets, particularly in electronic health records (EHR), where incomplete data can hinder predictive modeling. Data with missing values are unfit for machine learning, whereas the imputation of missing values affects data quality and data-driven outcomes. Traditional statistical and machine learning-based imputation techniques often struggle with high missing rates and complex missing patterns. This thesis investigates the deep learning of attention between features and between samples in missing value imputation. These two attention mechanisms jointly capture the row-column structure of tabular data. It presents a novel deep learning framework …

Privacy-Preserving Ai Framework Using He-Fl For Electric Utility Infrastructure Defect Detection, Tupac S. Moseley

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

In modern times, electric utility companies are utilizing on-ground and aerial drone imagery to identify physical defects on transmission and distribution infrastructure to plan for more effective maintenance. To deploy faster and more cost-efficient maintenance decisions, utility companies are considering developing automation tools powered by AI. However, for AI technology to be effectively trained for real-world implementation, there is a need for cross-collaboration among a vast number of utility companies to share their imagery and analysis to improve the global AI model. The primary challenge of this collaboration comes at the expense of requiring data cleaning, a manual process to …

Faculty Adoption And Awareness Of Online Education Technologies And 360° Video, Carrie Elizabeth Cook

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This study explored faculty perceptions of distance education and the potential integration of immersive 360° video technology in higher education. To understand how faculty use online learning and a specific form of immersive learning, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) served as the theoretical foundation for this study. This study employed a descriptive research design to assess faculty attitudes, and surveys conducted with a researcher adapted version of a proven instrument were conducted with Tennessee State University (TSU) faculty. The findings of this study revealed that faculty perceptions of distance education were influenced by concerns about engagement, technological barriers, and comparisons …

Isolating Novel Enzymes And Microorganisms For Use In Food Waste Fermentation, Shannon Marie Jeffries

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, upwards of 2 billion pounds of food waste are discarded yearly, an amount equivalent to $161 billion or 30-40% of all food production, making up the largest portion of landfill waste (Buzby, 2022). A small amount of food scraps are recycled through compost and re-purposed into animal feed, but these processes are costly, have minimal benefits, and have limitations (EPA, 2024). One of the most promising routes is converting food waste into value added products through microbial fermentation. Food waste is rich in carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and other trace minerals, making it the ideal environment …

Seed Careers App Impact On Nextgen Scholars At Tennessee State University, Jazmine Norwood

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The underrepresentation of minority groups in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANHS) careers remains a challenge, limiting diversity and growth within the industry. Agriculture degrees have been disproportionately awarded to White students, while Hispanic, Black, and Native American students receive significantly fewer degrees. Research suggests that financial assistance, experiential learning, and career outreach improve minority student retention and success in FANHS. To address these challenges, the USDA’s NextGen program awarded $18.1 million to Tennessee State University (TSU) to support underserved students through scholarships, internships, and career development initiatives, including the creation of the Students Exploring Employment and Development …

Harmful Algae In Nashville’S Urban Watersheds: Challenging Traditional Monitoring Programs, Devin Matthew Moore

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

As climate change intensifies, harmful algal blooms (HABs), specifically the species that produce microcystin-producing cyanobacteria, are becoming more frequent in urban environments. In the current state of HAB research, most monitoring and research is focused on agricultural areas. This study challenges traditional monitoring practices by evaluating the presence and abundance of microcystin in urban water bodies within Nashville, TN. Using field sampling, passive toxin tracking, ELISA testing, and GIS- based environmental and demographic analysis, data were collected at sites in densely populated areas. These sites were located at Tennessee State University, Ted Rhodes golf course and Shelby bottoms Park, and …

Ethical Leadership Of Universities Concerning Outreach Efforts During Covid-19, Sandra Bogard

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic proved challenging for Institutions of Higher Education. This study investigated the responses of higher education leadership to the pandemic as it related to their outreach efforts to assist their local community and healthcare system. The crisis leadership theory directed this research, focusing on the importance of leadership roles within institutions of higher education and how they responded to a crisis. This research concentrated on university leadership and whether they felt ethically obligated to assist their community during the pandemic, how they assisted, and whether they perceived their assistance as imperative for the community to overcome the …

Exploring Post-Pandemic School Leadership Through Experience, Teacher Perception, And Self-Efficacy, Nasheba Pritchett

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the educational landscape, creating unprecedented challenges for instructional leaders. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how middle school leaders in Tennessee navigated these challenges, particularly regarding excessive teacher absenteeism, mental and physical health concerns, teacher retention, and the design and provision of instructional support. By capturing the lived experiences of middle school leaders, this study examined their self-efficacy in addressing these post-pandemic issues and their preparedness to support teachers effectively. Utilizing a phenomenological approach, the study investigated the perceptions and strategies of middle school leaders who served in grades 5 through 8 before, during, and after …

Our Hbcus Matter: Factors Influencing Hbcus’ Graduation Rates, Brandon Markelle Graham

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative comparative multi case study examined how institutional practices, leadership philosophies, and academic support systems affect Pell Grant recipients' student success at Atlantic A&M University (AAMU) and Heritage State University (HSU). Based on Swail's Geometric Model of Student Persistence and Achievement, the study examined cognitive, institutional, and social factors of student success using institutional data, NCES datasets, and two former HBCU presidents' perspectives. Semi-structured interviews with former tenured HBCU presidents illuminated how financial constraints, performance-based accountability metrics, and admissions standards shaped campus strategies from 2012 to 2021. The study examined first-time, first-year Pell Grant recipients' graduation outcomes, standardized test …

Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Of Tennessee State University Agriculture Students, Jeiel Ballard

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this research was Tennessee State University (TSU) Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (DAES) undergraduate students’ interest in a career in agriculture and their belief in their ability to make career decisions. It is important to develop an understanding of the types of TSU students who choose to major in agricultural sciences and choose a career in the same, and to identify their Career Decision-making Self-efficacy (CDSE) so that current and future students can be best guided in job and career choice, preparation, and transitions. The Betz and Taylor (1983) Career Decision Making Self Efficacy Theory and …

Evaluating Safety Assurance Of Ai Classifiers Trained On Systematically Generated Sar Imagery, Branndon Jones

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The collection and curation of high-quality data is crucial for developing robust and trustworthy deep learning (DL) models. Due to the costly and time-consuming nature of gathering well-annotated data, researchers have shifted to supplementing network training with synthetic data. However, when solely training AI classifiers with synthetic data, the network performance when exposed to data from real environments may not be satisfactory. To mitigate this shortcoming, a Gen-AI model was developed to systematically generate annotated, context-controlled synthetic imagery datasets using real SAR imagery. Through this process, SAR images of targets of interests are initially semantically segmented and introduced onto the …

Application Of High-Pressure Processing And Real-Time Pcr For Preventing Foodborne Bacterial Diseases, Ranju Kafle

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Foodborne pathogens pose significant risks to public health and food safety, necessitating innovative control strategies. High-pressure processing (HPP) was evaluated as an intervention against Listeria monocytogenes in cold-smoked rainbow trout, with treatments at 500 MPa and 4.4 °C and 60.0 °C achieving up to a 5.03 log CFU/g reduction. The efficacy of nisin in suppressing Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua during refrigerated storage was also examined, demonstrating significant microbial inhibition, particularly in the early storage phase, supporting its application as a hurdle technology. Additionally, the synergistic effects of HPP (400 MPa, 4 °C) and natural bioactive compounds, including lactic acid, …

Mutation Of Smarca4 Induces Cancer Cell-Intrinsic Defects In The Enhancer Landscape And Resistance To Immunotherapy, Yawen Wang, Ismail M Meraz, Md Qudratullah, Sasikumar Kotagiri, Yanyan Han, Yuanxin Xi, Jing Wang, Kadir C Akdemir, Jack A Roth, Yonathan Lissanu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer genomic studies have identified frequent alterations in genes encoding components of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, including SMARCA4 and ARID1A. Importantly, clinical reports indicate that SMARCA4-mutant lung cancers respond poorly to immunotherapy and have dismal prognosis. In this study, we corroborated the clinical findings by using immune-humanized, syngeneic, and genetically engineered mouse models of lung cancer harboring SMARCA4 deficiency. Specifically, models with SMARCA4 loss showed decreased response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy associated with significantly reduced infiltration of dendritic cells and CD4+ T cells into the tumor microenvironment. SMARCA4 loss in tumor cells led to profound downregulation of STING1, IL1β, and …

Rule-Mediated Connectivity In Social-Ecological-Technological Systems: A Comparative Network Analysis Of Reservoir Operation Rules In Coyote Valley Dam (United States) And Ameghino Dam (Argentina), Tomás Olivier, Hoon C. Shin, David J. Yu, Margaret Garcia

Center for Policy Design and Governance

This brief summarizes "Rule-mediated connectivity in social-ecological-technological systems: A comparative network analysis of reservoir operation rules in Coyote Valley Dam (United States) and Ameghino Dam (Argentina)," co-authored by Tomás Olivier, Hoon C. Shin, David J. Yu, and Margaret Garcia in the Journal of Environmental Management.

Measuring Emotional Intelligence With The Msceit 2: Theory, Rationale, And Initial Findings, John D. Mayer, David R. Caruso, Peter Salovey, Iris Y. Lin, Braden J. Hansma, Joanna Solomon, Gill Sitarenios, Manolo Romero Escobar

UNH Personality Lab

Introduction: The model of emotional intelligence as an ability has evolved since its introduction 35 years ago. The revised model includes that emotional intelligence (EI) is a broad intelligence within the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model of intelligence, and that more areas of problem solving are involved than originally detailed. An argument is made here that veridical scoring of EI test responses is a sound procedure relative to scoring keys based on expert consensus or a single emotion theory. To the degree that EI fits present-day theories of intelligence (i.e., the CHC model), any subsidiary factors of EI reasoning should correlate highly …

Social Exclusion And Mental Health Of Youths Affected By Parental Hiv/Aids In China: Based On A Serial Mediating Model, Jiaojiao Wan, Lili Ji, Zheqian Wang, Junfeng Zhao, Xiaoming Li

Faculty Publications

The mental health of youth living with patients with HIV needs focused attention. The primary source of psychological distress they experience may stem from social exclusion. Therefore, the current study was designed to explore the relationship between social exclusion and mental health among youths affected by parental HIV/AIDS in rural China.

Methods

297 youths affected by parental HIV/AIDS were recruited to completed questionnaires of social exclusion, perceived stress, future orientation and mental health. The bootstrap method was used to examine the mediation effects.

Results

It showed that: (1) the social exclusion (M = 32.48, SD = 15.25) significantly and …

2025 Conference Schedule, Georgia Southern University

Southeast Conference on School Climate

N/A

Detection Modelling Of Four Major Organic Acids In The Base Wine Of Fuyuxiangxing Crude Baijiu Based On Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, Zhang Yunxia, Yu Ji, Li Yuntong, Yu Bing, Jin Xiqing, Yao Maojun

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To rapidly quantify four major organic acids in 47 base wines of Fuyuxiangxing crude Baijiu using near -infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and chemometrics.［Methods］ The study used the Kennard -Stone (K-S) algorithm to divide the samples,combined with preprocessing strategies such as normalization,standard normal variate transformation (SNV ),and Savitzky -Golay smoothing.Model parameters were optimized through cross -validation,and the effects of the number of principal components and band selection on the performance of the principal component regression (PCR ) and partial least squares regression (PLSR ) models were evaluated.［Results］］ The validation results showed that the prediction correlation coefficients (R2c) of the PCR models …

Effect Of Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose Coating Treatment On Oil Absorption In Vacuum-Fried Taro Crisp Strips, Li Xiaoyun, Xie Ronghua, Chen Sheng, Han Chunyang, Chen Junliang, Ren Aiqing, Duan Zhenhua

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ Fresh taro was used as the raw material to investigate the effect of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC -Na) coating combined with blanching,freezing,and osmotic pretreatment on oil absorption in vacuum -fried taro crisp strips.［Methods］ The treatments included blanching (CK),blanching +freezing (BF),blanching +freezing +coating (BFC ),blanching +osmotic (BO),and blanching +osmotic +coating (BOC ).The study analyzed their effect on the drying characteristics,hardness,and color of vacuum -fried taro crisp strips,and used low -field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR ),magnetic resonance imaging (MRI ),and scanning electron microscopy (SEM ) to investigate the oil distribution and microstructure of the taro crisp strips.［Results］］ BF treatment increased the …