Digital Commons Network^™

Knowledge, Physician Communication, And Psychological Predictors Of Willingness To Engage In Dementia Risk Reduction Across The Lifespan, Thomas Fisher

Dissertations

Dementia represents a growing global public health concern, with increasing evidence suggesting that a substantial portion of dementia risk may be attributable to modifiable lifestyle and health-related factors. However, relatively little is known about public knowledge of these risk factors, willingness to engage in dementia risk reducing behaviors, and psychological factors that may be associated with willingness. The present study examines these factors among adults living in the United States across the lifespan. Participants (N = 308) completed an anonymous online survey assessing dementia risk-factor knowledge, willingness to engage in dementia risk reducing behaviors, primary care provider communication regarding dementia …

The Weight We Carry: An Arts-Based Narrative Screenplay Of Academically Successful African American Male Students, Freddie Mcgee

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine, understand, and creatively represent the stories of African American male college students from low-income backgrounds who were raised by single parents and were academically successful. Guided by the overarching research question — What are the stories of academically successful African American male college students from lowincome homes who single parents raised? — The study sought to understand how participants navigated institutional racism and systemic barriers while achieving academic success, and how they resisted deficit-based stereotypes and expectations in higher education.

This study employed a critical, arts-based, qualitative narrative inquiry approach grounded in …

Black Adolescents' Understanding Of Racial Trauma: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, Winifred Wilson

Dissertations

Over the past two decades, scholars have increasingly recognized that chronic stress from racism can cause racial trauma in Black individuals. However, research on the impact of racial trauma on Black adolescents remains limited. Understanding the language and experiences of Black adolescents is essential for identifying and addressing the biopsychosocial effects of racial trauma. This study used interpretive phenomenological analysis to examine how 12 Black adolescents (9 boys, 3 girls, aged 14-17) from the Midwest conceptualize, experience, and cope with racial trauma. Participants completed two interviews: an initial session exploring their understanding and experiences, and a member-checking interview (completed by …

Analysis Of A Process-Based Approach To Case Formulation And Treatment With Acceptance And Commitment Therapy, Callum Smith

Dissertations

Process-Based Therapy (PBT) is a novel approach to clinical research and practice. PBT is proposed as an alternative model to classic diagnostic frameworks. It emphasizes conceptualizing psychological problems through adaptive and maladaptive processes of change. The aim of current PBT research is to develop reliable methods of organizing change processes into network models. In network models, change processes are presented in nodes connected by lines and arrows to represent the interacting relationships between those processes for a given individual. The present project aims to evaluate the inter-rater reliability and predictive validity of a novel semi-structured interview method to aid in …

Decidability Of The Orbit Problem Over Q(X), Joshua Holden, Alexa Renner

Mathematical Sciences Technical Reports (MSTR)

The orbit problem is the problem of whether, given x, y ∈ Qn and an n × n matrix A, there exists an i ∈ N such that Aix = y. In 1980, Kannan and Lipton proved that the orbit problem is decidable. We show that a generalization of the orbit problem, where the field is Q(X) for X a countable set of transcendentals, is also decidable. We define the orbit power problem for an arbitrary group G to be the problem of when, given x, y ∈ G, there exists an n ∈ Z such that xn = y. …

Validated Crispr/Cas9 Guide Rnas Targeting Neurodevelopmental Genes In The Tunicate Ciona Robusta, Sydney Popsuj, Tenzin Kalsang, Eduardo D. Gigante

Faculty Articles

The tunicate Ciona robusta provides a powerful and simplified model for dissecting the genetic control of developmental and cell biology. With a larval CNS composed of just over 200 neurons and sensory cells, it has also emerged as a model organism for neurobiology and the development of the nervous system. Although CRISPR/ Cas9-mediated mutagenesis is now routinely used in Ciona as an important technique used to interrogate gene function in diverse biological processes, validated single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) have yet to be validated for several key neural genes. Here, we report the design and experimental validation of 25 novel sgRNAs targeting …

Tales Of A Traveler - Scholarly Program Notes, Esther Tang

Research Papers

This research paper serves as scholarly program notes to the graduate recital held on December 6, 2025, at the Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall. All song selections relate to travel and the discovery of love or loss along the journey. They were performed in the order reflected in this paper. Each chapter contains information about the relationship between text and music, the relationship between voice and piano, and significant features of the songs. The recital program included the following songs:

Gabriel Fauré: “Les Matelots,” “Après un rêve,” “Ici-Bas!”

Claude Debussy: Ariettes oubliées

Robert Schumann: Selections from Liederkreis, Op. 39 …

Finding Harmony In Chaos: A Perspective On Contemporary Percussion Literature, Skylar Etherington

Research Papers

The purpose of this research paper is to present information about the percussion pieces selected for this concert program. Information includes the composer background, the genesis of the work, technical and musical considerations of the piece, and the performance rigors one might encounter while preparing these works. This program covers many areas of percussion including snare drum, marimba, vibraphone, timpani, and multi percussion instruments. The following works were selected for this presentation: Evil Ernie by Casey Cangelosi, Cello Suite II in D Minor, BWV 1008: Prelude by J. S. Bach, Stutter by Keaton Jones, William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini, …

Love’S Dialects: Proposed Additions In Emotionally Focused Therapy For Intercultural Couples, Nicola Heurich

Dissertations

Intercultural romantic relationships have become an increasingly prominent feature of contemporary society due to globalization, migration, and cross-cultural exchange (Livingston & Brown, 2017). However, these partnerships are also associated with elevated levels of relational distress and higher rates of conflict, separation, and divorce, underscoring the need for culturally responsive approaches in couple therapy (Bustamante et al., 2011; Genç & Su, 2021).

Research on intercultural couples remains limited both within and beyond Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and despite increased recognition of cultural factors, there is still insufficient guidance on navigating differing cultural contexts within a dyad (Linhof & Allan, 2018).

The …

Visible Light Kinetics Of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes As Additives For Native Chemical Ligation, Hannah M. Werle, Kaitlyn S. Marley, John P. Morgan

SURF Posters 2026

Spectroscopic data have been obtained demonstrating that N-heterocyclic carbenes are effective catalysts for linking shorter peptides to form longer ones, a reaction known as “native chemical ligation” (NCL).  This reaction is key to the preparation of GLP-1 agonists, such as Zepbound®, Ozempic®, and Wegovy®, which are currently undergoing an explosion in popularity due to their treatment of diabetes, obesity, and cardiac issues.  To assess which catalysts are faster, the kinetics model developed by Raines et al., involving the reaction of N-acetylphenylalanine p-nitrophenylthioester and L-cysteine, is being utilized. This published model allows for easy monitoring of the rate of reaction for …

A Replication Study - Mental Health And Suicide Risk Among High School Students And Protective Factors — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2023, Hannah Baiyor

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The original study (Verlenden et al., 2024) aims to analyze how various protective factors may buffer poor mental health and suicide risk outcomes among US students in grades 9-12, an important public health topic as suicide is one of the leading causes of death among US teens (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024a). Through studying these associations, this study aims to uncover pathways to positive mental health outcomes and reduced suicide risk. The study utilizes the 2023 YRBS dataset, a nationally representative sample of US public and private school students in grades 9-12, to estimate prevalence of four mental …

Empowering Voices: Latino Family Engagement In Bilingual Early Literacy Library Programs, Jovayra Cabrera

Education Doctoral

Latino children often enter kindergarten with uneven access to early literacy experiences, and families play a central role in their early learning. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Latino families who participated in bilingual early literacy library programs with their young children (ages 0–5) in a public library system in a major metropolitan area in a northeastern state. Eight Latino parents and caregivers completed semi-structured interviews, conducted in English or Spanish, that were analyzed through bracketing, horizontalization, and the development of textural and structural descriptions and a synthesized essence. Analysis produced six …

Quality Versus Qualified: Head Start Program Leaders’ Perceptions Of The Characteristics And Traits Of High-Quality Early Childhood Educators In New York State, Tracy L. Persaud

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this study was to examine how leaders in New York State Head Start programs perceive the interpersonal traits and characteristics that define a high-quality, early childhood educator working with children from ages 3 to 5 years old. While formal qualifications, such as degrees and certifications, remain as requirements for employment, leaders may rely on interpersonal and dispositional qualities to distinguish effective early childhood educators in practice. Guided by credentialism theory, this study explored how leaders define teacher quality beyond credentials and how these perceptions shape hiring, evaluation, and professional support decisions. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews …

Effective Leadership Practices For Administrators In High-Poverty Rural Elementary Schools, Rhonda Underhill

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this study was to examine potential solutions for high-needs rural elementary school leaders to improve academic outcomes for students from low-income families. Students from low-income families in rural elementary schools continue to underperform academically compared to their non-economically disadvantaged peers. Students should not reach adulthood with the same income inequalities they had when they entered school. Solutions are needed to find ways for school administrators to reverse this trend. The study used the New York State Education Department (2018) Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CR-S) Framework to examine effective leadership practices from the perspectives of school leaders in high-achieving, …

Paraeducator Perceptions Of Teacher-Supervisory Behaviors And Their Effects On Paraeducator Retention, Alexis M. Graham

Education Doctoral

Paraeducators are leaving their positions at alarming levels, leaving teachers, students, and schools vulnerable. The exploratory, cross-sectional, correlational survey study examines the relationship between paraeducator perceptions of teacher-supervisor leadership behaviors and retention, as well as the factors contributing to turnover. Full range leadership theory (FRLT) and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) are used to describe leadership behaviors. The study used a survey design advertised to a paraeducator Facebook group, which included the MLQ rating scale, a closed-response item on intent to leave, and an open ended question on intent to leave. Data was analyzed using statistical and correlational analyses, as …

Critical Constructivism And Alaana Interpreter Identity: A Narrative Analysis Qualitative Study, Kamil Gerald

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this study was to explore and illuminate the lived experiences of African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American (ALAANA) sign language interpreters (SLIs) within interpreter education programs (IEPs) and the interpreting field. American Sign Language (ASL), the dominant sign language taught in IEPs across the United States, has been shown to overshadow Indigenous Sign Languages (ISLs), a phenomenon often referred to as “ASL colonialism.” Critical constructivism served as the foundational framework in this narrative analysis qualitative study to examine how ALAANA SLIs navigated, resisted, and reimagined their professional identities amid limited exposure to ISLs. Semi-structured interviews were …

Investigating Factors Contributing To A Decrease In Throughput For A Finger Lakes Ny Emergency Department: A Quantitative Descriptive Approach, Edward Charles Englerth Iii

Education Doctoral

Emergency Departments (ED) serve as both the front door to hospitals and as safety nets within their communities. This dissertation examines ED visits from 2018 to 2024 at a single community hospital to assess trends across three critical time periods related to the coronavirus disease Pre-COVID, COVID-19 (pandemic), and post-COVID-19. The study identified shifts in patient volume and operational performance in the ED. Specifically the study showed a statistically significant decrease during the COVID-19 period compared to the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 periods. The mean daily pre-COVID-19 census (M = 125.43) decreased significantly during the pandemic (M = 107.57) and in …

Perceived Professional Investment Differences And Learning Modality Preferences Between Generation X And Millennial Managers In Nonprofit Organizations, Raul Antonio Pereles Jr.

Education Doctoral

This study examines generational differences between Generation X and Millennial nonprofit managers in perceived employer investment in professional development and preferred learning delivery modality. Grounded in Knowles' (1980) theory of andragogy, the study addresses two research questions using a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design. A sample of 66 nonprofit managers (35 Generation X, 31 Millennial) from a major northeastern U.S. metropolitan area completed an online survey using the Professional Development Short Scale (PDSS; Mourão et al., 2014) and a ranked-preference measure of learning modality (in-person, hybrid, virtual). Results indicated no statistically significant difference between Generation X (M = 5.85, SD = …

Bridging The Theory-Practice Gap: A Delphi Study Of Faculty Composition In New York State Superintendent Preparation Programs, Michael A. Tromblee

Education Doctoral

The 2021 closure of the Indian Point nuclear power plant eliminated approximately one third of a New York State school district’s revenue, producing a fiscal crisis that exposed a gap between what superintendent preparation programs teach and what the role demands. Grounded in Situated Learning Theory, this study examined whether the faculty composition of superintendent preparation programs, specifically the balance between practitioner faculty and academic faculty, was associated with graduates' perceived readiness, job satisfaction, and career longevity.

The study used a two-round modified Delphi design with an expert panel of 12 sitting New York State superintendents, 10 of whom completed …

Quality Improvement Initiative To Improve Adherence To Ob Hemorrhage Policy And Standardize Pitocin Administration During Cesarean Sections To Reduce Postpartum Hemorrhage Risk, Lauren R. Litz, Monica Blauser

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Postpartum hemorrhage remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, and Pitocin administration is an important component of hemorrhage prevention and management during cesarean delivery. Variation in Pitocin timing, dosing, method of administration, and adherence to evidence-based recommendations may compromise patient safety and create barriers to standardized obstetric anesthesia care. The purpose of this Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice quality improvement project was to evaluate current anesthesia provider practices for Pitocin administration during cesarean delivery, compare observed practices with the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative hemorrhage toolkit and Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology Enhanced Recovery After Cesarean recommendations, …

Enhancing Patient Outcomes In Obstetric Neuraxial Anesthesia: Evaluation Of A Structured Documentation Tool For Post-Dural Puncture Headache Tracking (Pdph), Jacqueline Saldana Tovar, Ahmad Hasaan

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project is to evaluate the incidence, management, and practice variation of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) in an obstetric population using retrospective data from standardized follow-up tools. The project aims to identify inconsistencies in procedural techniques, documentation practices, and adherence to evidence-based guidelines across anesthesia provider levels. By analyzing key clinical variables and patient outcomes, this project seeks to identify gaps in current practice, improve data reliability, and support the development of standardized protocols for PDPH assessment and management. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance quality of care, promote evidence-based decision-making, and …

Enhancing Sbar Documentation And Telecommunication Between Nursing And Anesthesia Teams In The Obstetric And Labor And Delivery Unit, Apollonia C. Anderson, Celeste Meda

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Effective communication during obstetric handoffs is essential for promoting maternal and neonatal safety, yet communication failures remain a significant contributor to adverse events due to inconsistent and unstructured handoff practices. This Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) quality improvement project was developed following the recommendations of the 2025 DNAP project, which implemented the OB/L&D-specific SBAR tool. This project evaluated the use of this communication tool in areas of OB interdisciplinary team communication accuracy, efficiency, and collaboration, particularly during obstetric epidural requests within a community-based labor and delivery unit. Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2020). Utilized …

Dnp Final Report: Improving Diabetes Self-Efficacy Through Nutrition Education: A Quality Improvement Project, Lakimberely S. Wooten

DNP Final Reports

Diabetes affects 12.7% of residents in Northeast Texas and is the 7th leading cause of death. Internal evidence indicates low health literacy and a heavy disease burden in the service area, underscoring the need for a standardized, low-cost, and feasible approach to nutrition education. This quality improvement project evaluated the feasibility of implementing an instructor-led nutrition education session. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Framework and the ADKAR behavioral change model, adult participants with Type 2 diabetes received instruction on the Plate Method. Participants enrolled in a 4-week, instructor-led diabetes education class completed a 1-hour, nutrition education session using …

Ultraviolet Imaging Of Sr 12 C With Hst/Wfc3: Accretion And Variability Of A Giant Planet At The End Stages Of Growth, Claire O. Finley, Brendan P. Bowler, Ya-Lin Wu, Adam L. Kraus, Yifan Zhou, Yuhiko Aoyama, William Best, Ian Czekala, Catherine C. Espaillat, Katherine B. Follette, Gregory J. Herczeg, Raquel A. Martinez, Connor E. Robinson, Quang H. Tran, K. Ward-Duong

Astronomy: Faculty Publications

Many details of the gas accretion phase during giant planet formation remain untested. We present new 0.2–0.7 μm UV-through-red optical imaging of the young, wide-orbit planetary-mass companion SR 12 c from the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) instrument on board the Hubble Space Telescope. SR 12 c exhibits strong accretion-related continuum excess blueward of∼5000 Å and clear signs of the Balmer jump at 3646 Å. We derive a total accretion luminosity of1.65 ±0.19× 10⁻⁵L_⊙and a mass accretion rate of 8 ±2 × 10⁻¹² M_⊙yr⁻¹. Based on its mass and age,SR12 c …

Nocturnal Insect Diversity Within Myakka Headwaters Preserve (And Its Implications For Local Bat Populations), Devin Brannon

Theses & ETDs

Insects and bats act as potential bioindicators for environmental health in a given area due to their sensitivity to ecological change, alterations, and placement within the food chain. This study works to establish a baseline framework for the assessing of habitat quality in Big Waters Land Trust Myakka Headwaters Preserve (MHP) within Manatee County, Florida. This was done through the combined use of passive acoustic bat monitoring alongside insect light-trapping. Insect sampling was conducted at 8 sites/habitat types across MHP between September and November 2025. The use of a modified UV light trap design resulted in the collection of a …

An Analysis Of The Restaurant Industry: A Structure-Conduct-Performance Approach, Richard Corcoran

Theses & ETDs

The restaurant industry is a very large and integral part of the economy in the United States. It aids in employing more than 15 million Americans and brings close to 1 trillion dollars in annual revenue to the United States. Despite the size of the industry, many people take for granted the forces that drive and structure it. In this thesis, we will use the Structure, conduct, and performance model (SCP) to demonstrate and analyze how the restaurant industry is organized, how various business in it compete, and what kinds of outcomes for restaurant owners, employees, and consumers stem from …

Business Management & Airbnb, Fernando Espinal

Theses & ETDs

This thesis looks at property management in the short-term rental industry, with a focus on Airbnb properties in Sarasota, Florida. The information in this paper comes from my internship which for privacy reasons I simply refer to it as The Company, where I helped manage Airbnb rental properties. During my internship, I worked with rental pricing, compared local properties, organized expenses using QuickBooks and Excel, and reviewed how properties performed in the market. The purpose of this thesis is to explain how pricing, location, competition, and seasonal changes can affect the success of an Airbnb property. Through the internship experience, …

The Author Has Granted New College Of Florida The Nonexclusive Right To Archive, Make Accessible, And Distribute For Educational Purposes This Work In Whole Or In Part In All Forms Of Media, Now Or Hereafter Known. The Copyright Of This Work Remains With The Author., Alexandra Diliberti

Theses & ETDs

Indigenous women in Guatemala face disproportionate rates of maternal mortality, malnutrition, and reproductive health disparities compared to non-indigenous women. These disparities persist, even after the signing of the 1996 Peace Accords formally committed the government to indigenous rights and improved healthcare. This thesis argues that this is the result of coloniality, neoliberal privatization, and the epistemological exclusion of Maya health knowledge from the official health system. The theoretical framework is based on coloniality of power and knowledge (Quijano 2000), abyssal thinking and ecology of knowledges (Santos 2014), coloniality of gender (Lugones 2008), structural violence (Farmer 1996), and decolonizing methodologies (Tuhiwai …

Narrative And Video Games: How Mediums Can Expand Our Stories, Erin Hagy

Theses & ETDs

The objective of this paper is to examine the extent to which video games can be conceived as a narrative format, with specific regards to its consideration in the educational and social spheres. The paper outlines a variety of popular games for consideration, as well as some influencing technological factors, in arguments for the growing importance and inclusion of narrative within the field of gaming. It also exhibits a variety of case studies towards this point and concludes that while video games hold great potential in terms of narrative, the notable variation across the medium can make it difficult to …

Perceived Effectiveness Of Cigar Warnings Among Young People In The U.S., Leah M. Ranney, Rime Jebai, Michael Jetsupphasuk, Sonia A. Clark, Kristen L. Jarman, Sarah D. Kowitt, Jim Thrasher Ph.D., Ma, Ms, Adam O. Goldstein, Jennifer Cornacchione Ross

Faculty Publications

Introduction: The effectiveness of warning size and format on cigar packaging in influencing youth and young adult smoking behaviors is not well understood. This study tested these cigar warning characteristics among youth and young adults who use or are susceptible to using little cigars or cigarillos.

Methods: The study recruited 506 U.S. youth and young adults, aged 15−20 years, between April and June 2023. Participants reported ever or past 30-day use of little cigars or cigarillos or were susceptible to using little cigars or cigarillos. A 2 £ 2 between-subjects online experiment was conducted where youth and young adults were …