Digital Commons Network^™

Foundations And Scope Of Moral Standing, Vikas Beniwal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the foundational grounds of moral standing. I contend that sentience, while frequently cited as the primary criterion, lacks sufficient justification when asserted as a necessary condition. I propose an alternate feature as sufficient grounds of moral standing.

On The Importance Of Proportionality In Congressional Redistricting, Guélan Kossi Zaour

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Which party benefits the most from partisan gerrymandering? Extant literature attempting to measure this phenomenon is largely atheoretical, primarily focused on designing tools that could be used in court cases. I argue that measuring the partisan consequences of gerrymandering should require deeper conceptualization of the notion of fairness. I make the normative claim that proportionality, which I define as the alignment between a party’s share of the vote and its share of congressional districts in a given state, should be used as a standard of fairness. Using the redist R package, I measured the partisan consequences of gerrymandering by generating …

Study Of Dynamics Of Airflow And Aerosol Transport And Deposition In Human Upper Airways Using Large-Eddy Simulations, Jacob C. Pratt

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study employs a large-eddy simulation (LES) strategy to investigate airflow and aerosol dynamics in the human upper airways using a truncated SimInhale configuration. Inflow conditions include three steady inhalation flow rates (14.2, 53.2, and 71 L/min), representing quasi-laminar, moderate, and high turbulence conditions, and a realistic cyclic breathing scenario. Under steady flow, monodisperse (1–10 μm) and polydisperse aerosols are analyzed. The study shows that complex airflow dynamics directly influence aerosol transport and deposition, causing global deposition to increase nonlinearly with particle size and Reynolds number, with the larynx being a primary deposition location in turbulent cases. For the polydisperse …

Characteristics Of Flame-Turbulence Interactions In Freely Propagating Turbulent Premixed Flames Under Decaying And Forced Isotropic Turbulence Conditions, Robert Smith

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Turbulent premixed flames observed in energy conversion and propulsion applications are characterized by highly nonlinear, unsteady, and multi-scale processes. Previous numerical studies of freely propagating flames have utilized either forced or decaying background isotropic turbulence to provide detailed insights into the features of flame-turbulence interactions; however, none have made direct comparisons of cases where the turbulence decays or is sustained using a forcing strategy. This study compares the features of turbulent premixed flames via direct numerical simulations, where we consider both decaying and forced turbulence scenarios. Four turbulent premixed flames are simulated, corresponding to the thin reaction zone and broken/distributed …

The Impact Of An Adult-Focused First-Year Seminar On Tennessee Reconnect Students, Marci R. Reiter

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The state of Tennessee launched a promise program entitled Tennessee Reconnect (TnR) in the Fall of 2018, which was aimed at the state’s adult learner population and offered a solution for affordable education. With this introduction came pressure for institutions, specifically community colleges in the state, to increase the retention and completion rates of this population of students. One small, rural community college approached this challenge by offering both first-time and returning adult learners an adult-focused First-Year Seminar (FYS) course. The course, entitled Work-Based Learning Seminar (WBLS), looked to assist with not only the retention and completion issues of the …

Exploring Women’S Views On Intra-Gender Dynamics In The Workplace: A Study Of Impact And Change, Deidra L. Close

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine women’s intra-gender experiences in higher education workplaces and their perceived influence on future interactions and behaviors, as well as to explore potential relationships between relational aggression (RA) and the Queen Bee Phenomenon (QBP). Using the following research questions, the researcher examined how women perceive interactions with female supervisors, colleagues, and those exhibiting Queen Bee tendencies, as well as how such experiences influence their future workplace behaviors and interactions. RQ1: What have been the perceived experiences of women in higher education working with a female supervisor? RQ2: What have been the perceived …

Makerspaces And Academic Advancement In Hamilton County Secondary Schools, Caleb R. Bagby

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores the impact of makerspace integration on academic performance, attendance, and student engagement in Hamilton County secondary schools. Amid growing interest in experiential learning environments, the researcher sought to quantify the effects of makerspaces on ACT composite scores, graduation rates, attendance rates, and chronic absenteeism. By employing a mixed-methods research design, the researcher analyzed publicly available school-level data from the Tennessee Department of Education and qualitative interviews to compare educational outcomes before and after the implementation of makerspaces, as well as secondary schools with and without makerspaces. The quantitative findings reveal a significant reduction in chronic absenteeism following …

Dynamic Elements Of Synchronous And Asynchronous Learning In English As A Second Language Education: Self-Efficacy, Achievement, Persistence, And Satisfaction, Keith J. Brewer

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigated how instructional modality influences adult English as a Second Language (ESL) learners enrolled in a non-credit language program. Learners in this state-funded program were able to determine their own balance of synchronous, face-to-face instruction and asynchronous online learning based on personal needs and preferences. The study examined the relationships between instructional modality and learner self-efficacy, achievement, and course satisfaction among adult ESL students enrolled through a community college. A mixed-methods design was used to investigate learner outcomes across modalities. Engagement with asynchronous instruction was measured using data from the program’s learning management system (LMS), while attendance logs …

The Effectiveness Of Tablet-Based Education In Correctional Facilities Versus In-Person Education Post-Coronavirus Pandemic, Latoya M. Newson

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Education and workforce development programs, like vocational training programs, have been the cornerstone of programming for individuals in correctional facilities to reduce the likelihood of recidivism. During and after the coronavirus-19 pandemic, correctional facilities struggled to maintain their educational programs for justice-involved individuals. There is a need for a long-term solution to help incarcerated individuals in county jails to have equitable access to education and workforce development programs taught by highly qualified instructors. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of tablet-based educational programs versus traditional in-person instructional practices in correctional facilities. Since federal, state, and local …

An Evaluation Of The Onboarding Ambassador Program, How Sense Of Belonging Impacts Quit Intentions, Utamu Lackey

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the hospital’s onboarding ambassador program. The problem to be investigated was the rate of organizational members quitting within the first year of employment. The goal of learning from the program evaluation was to understand how the onboarding ambassador program and sense of belonging affected quit intentions among newcomers. Organizational socialization, also referred to as onboarding, is a crucial aspect of a newcomer’s experience as they acclimate to a new organization. The onboarding experience is a newcomer’s first impression of the organization (Cesário & Chambel, 2019). Effective onboarding provides role …

Decision Value Of Confidence Intervals Versus Significance Testing In Surgical Research: A Mixed Methods Study, Andrew Wilson

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The misuse and misinterpretations of statistical analyses in medical research have been discussed for several decades and many authors have suggested this has led to poor clinical decision-making. Significance testing, the conventional statistical approach in medical research, has been suggested to be the leading cause of the misunderstandings. Despite the extensive discussion in the literature, there is limited evidence on whether the problems in medical research are linked to the lack of usefulness of significance testing with clinicians’ decision-making process. The purpose of this study was to investigate what statistical information in published research articles surgeons found valuable for their …

Understanding The Effect Of Perceived Supervisor Unavailability On Job Satisfaction, Counterproductive Work Behaviors, And Intent To Quit, Paul-Augustin Wasner

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined the influence of supervisor unavailability on employee job satisfaction, counterproductive work behaviors (CWB), and intent to quit. We introduced perceived supervisor unavailability (PSU), as employee's perception that their supervisor is not present, reachable, or responsive when support is needed. Grounded in Job Demands-Resources and Social Exchange Theory, we looked at personal (role clarity) and organizational resources (perceived supervisor or PSS and organizational support or POS) as mediators of the PSU-work outcomes relationship. Data were collected from on-site and hybrid/remote employees. Perceived supervisor unavailability was significantly negatively associated with job satisfaction and positively associated with intent to quit, …

A Mixed Methods Study Of Sexual Harassment Attitudes Across Generational Cohorts And Gender And How These Variables Relate To Prevention And Intervention Efforts In The Workplace., Barbara A. Murray-Scales

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examines how generational cohorts (Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z) and gender influence attitudes and responses to workplace sexual harassment (SH). Grounded in the bystander intervention model, moral responsibility theory, critical theory, and critical feminist theory, the study explores perceptions of verbal, visual, physical, and digital SH. Data were collected through a survey instrument administered to professionals in higher education and related fields, which included quantitative measures and open-ended questions to capture lived experiences. Quantitative analyses explored differences across generational cohorts and gender identities, while qualitative responses were analyzed thematically. Findings revealed varied experiences of harassment, significant …

The Role Of Fairness, Transparency, And Feedback In Driving Motivation And Performance Among Employees In Incentive-Based Roles, Wesley C. Gibbs

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Pay transparency legislation and heightened employee expectations have made fair, transparent reward systems a strategic priority. Guided by Equity Theory and Expectancy Theory, this study examined how perceived pay fairness, reward transparency, and feedback quality explained self-determined work motivation among incentive-based employees, and whether relationships varied by career stage. Data were collected from two independent samples in incentive-based roles: an internet-based pool (N = 295) and employees from a large southeastern U.S. manufacturing organization (N = 91). Hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses revealed perceived pay fairness was a significant positive predictor of motivation in both samples. Reward transparency predicted …

Anxiety Or Advantage?: Detecting Malingered Symptoms In College Students Seeking Academic Accommodations, Samantha N. Dean

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Academic accommodations support equitable access to education for students whose mental health conditions meaningfully impair academic performance. Concerns exist regarding the potential to exaggerate or fabricate anxiety symptoms. This study examined whether cognitive tasks can differentiate credible generalized anxiety from malingered anxiety among college students. Participants were classified into probable GAD, malingering anxiety, or low GA control groups using a structured diagnostic interview and self-report measure. Participants completed working memory tasks (1-back and 3-back), a modified emotional Stroop task, and symptom validity tests. Malingering and probable GAD groups reported comparable anxiety symptom endorsement and severity. Working memory accuracy did not …

Legal System Support Of Crime Survivors And Attitudes On Justice, Izabella Leblanc

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Researchers have demonstrated the impact of victimization on mental health, and survivor dissatisfaction with legal processes and services. Recent literature supports the efficacy of restorative justice programs that started in response to retributive justice and its inability to directly address survivor harm. Thus, the current study examined how crime survivors perceive legal system support and attitudes towards restorative justice, with an undergraduate sample recruited from UTC’s SONA system and an online cloud-survey sample. Participants completed a survey that asked about their victimization experience(s), and legal system and restorative justice attitudes. Analyses examined mean differences between non-victims and victims, and subjective …

Loneliness And Social Support In Shift Work Employees, Jacob Lamprecht

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Loneliness, a discrepancy between the desired quantity and quality of one’s relationships and their current relationships, has been connected to increases in mortality, as well as lower job performance, reduced job satisfaction, and increased burnout. However more recent studies indicate that the recipient may not always perceive the support as beneficial, resulting in “unhelpful social support. The present study examined how helpful and unhelpful social support relate to loneliness among healthcare shift workers, a population that may be prone to fatigue and health risks. I hypothesized that helpful support would be negatively related to loneliness and that unhelpful support would …

Changes In Avian Capture Rate And Migration Phenology Across 37 Years At A Coastal Barrier Island In Georgia, Ryan Davenport

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Migration is one of the riskiest periods in a bird’s yearly cycle, and monitoring migratory trends helps us understand how birds are impacted by the changing world. Here, I present an analysis of 37 years of fall bird banding data collected at the Jekyll Island Banding Station in Georgia. Capture rates of Neotropical migrants on Jekyll have declined 50-90% in many common species, and the mean ordinal passage date of Gray Catbird and Western Palm Warbler have shifted 8 days later. Landcover analysis of the island yielded non-significant results; therefore, human-caused habitat change on breeding and wintering grounds are likely …

Supervisor-Focused Impression Management And Social Undermining As Self-Enhancing Responses To Perceived Job Insecurity, J. Luke Wiley

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Job insecurity has become a more prevalent and harmful issue across many advanced economies. The present study was designed to investigate two ways in which employees may respond to perceived job insecurity. We hypothesized that employees experiencing job insecurity engage in impression management tactics directed at their supervisor (SFIM) or social undermining tactics directed at their coworkers. We further hypothesized that these processes or effects were moderated by employees’ core self-evaluations (CSE). Data were gathered through targeted sampling to workers in the federal government (Sample 1, N = 91), as well as convenience sampling (Sample 2, N = 146). Results …

Personalized And Adaptive Therapeutic Music Generation From Biosignals Using Knowledge-Guided Multimodal Large Language Models, Amin Amiri

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Multimodal generative models are reshaping digital therapeutics by enabling real-time synthesis of personalized content aligned with a user’s physiological and affective state. However, existing systems remain fragmented across modalities and often lack a unified framework that can jointly represent biosignals, natural language intent, music, and video under long-context constraints. This dissertation presents an end-to-end multimodal large language model ecosystem for personalized therapeutic music generation that combines discrete tokenization, evidence-grounded reasoning, and stabilized preference alignment. At the representation layer, the dissertation develops a family of tokenizers that convert continuous biomedical and media signals into compact discrete sequences for transformer-based modeling. Harmonizer …

Attention After Adversity: Examining Temperament As A Protective And Risk Factor, Claire N. Beach

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Attentional control (AC) is an executive function referring to the ability to attend to pertinent information in the face of distractions. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are characterized by various forms of abuse and neglect experienced before the age of 18. Temperament is an early-appearing variation in attention-related self-regulation that is thought to be largely influenced by genetics. This study assessed the effect of ACEs on attentional control, the role of temperament as a protective/risk factor, and individual differences through eyetracking. Results showed no direct relationship between ACEs and attentional control, however, ACEs were consistently associated with higher negative affect and …

Thermodynamic Evaluation Of Cobalt-Ferrite Based Redox Reactions For Solar Thermochemical Conversion Of Co2 Into Fuels, Tavine S. Legore-Lewis

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The solar thermochemical conversion of carbon dioxide into synthetic fuels represents a promising pathway for mitigating anthropogenic CO₂ emissions while enabling the production of carbon neutral energy carriers. This study investigates the use of cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) as a redox-active metal oxide for two step solar thermochemical CO₂ splitting to produce carbon monoxide, a key component of syngas. Analysis showed that increasing εgg from 0.0 to 0.95, consistently strengthened heat recovery in the inert‑gas and oxygen cooling stages, which in turn sharply reduced the auxiliary heating loads for both Ar and CO₂. These reductions propagated through the system, lowering the …

Investigating The Pursuit Of Prosocial Goals Among Neurodivergent Adults: A Naturalistic Prospective Memory Study, Benjamin L. Hicks

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Neurodiversity refers to natural variations in neurological development and cognitive functioning. Individuals who diverge from typical developmental trajectories, commonly referred to as neurodivergent, often include those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Neurodivergent adults have received empirical spotlight, particularly in lab-based paradigms, in the field of prospective memory (PM), defined as the ability to remember and carry out intentions in the future. The current study (N = 62) employed a 2 (Group: Neurotypical vs. Neurodivergent) X 2 (Goal Type: Prosocial vs. Self-Interested) mixed factor design examining the impact of prosocial motivation on everyday prospective memory performance between …

Enhancing Development Through Occupational Therapy: Staff And Family Education For Overall Wellness, Hannah L. Whitehead

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Enhancing Development through Occupational Therapy: Staff and Family Education for Overall Wellness explored the integration of occupational therapy (OT) within Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) Early Childhood Programs, to support the developmental and mental health needs of young children, families, and educators. A needs assessment was conducted to understand the current supports available better and identify gaps related to family education, educator training, and early identification of developmental and behavioral concerns. Findings highlighted a need for increased staff knowledge regarding sensory processing, emotional regulation strategies, and family-centered supports that can be implemented within the classroom environment. In response, educational resources …

Occupy Your Life: Increasing Independence After Intimate Partner Violence, Jovianna E. Bagaglio

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an ongoing public health crisis that significantly disrupts survivors' physical health, mental well-being, and participation in everyday occupations. This project, Occupy Your Life, developed and implemented a six-week, individualized telehealth occupational therapy program for IPV survivors in collaboration with Inner Balance Psychotherapy in Rhode Island. Grounded in trauma-informed care and Social Cognitive Theory, the program aimed to increase participants' self-efficacy, independence, and occupational participation through tailored virtual sessions addressing coping strategies, emotional regulation, problem-solving, and daily functioning. A mixed-methods design incorporating the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) and open- and closed-ended survey questions was used to …

Connecting Minds: A Stroke Survivor Support Group To Promote Mental Health And Improve Quality Of Life, Anna Collier, Alexis M.F. Morin

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

To meet an individual’s needs in healthcare, all aspects of their challenges and strengths must be considered. This project titled Connecting Minds: A Stroke Survivor Support Group to Promote Mental Health and Quality of Life, will discuss the outcomes of a 6-week educational support group. The American Stroke Association (2024), states that 30% of stroke survivors develop post-stroke depression. If left untreated, it can affect quality of life, intervene with recovery, and can be underdiagnosed if not detected early on. Stroke survivors receive minimal support and consideration for mental health post-stroke. When an individual experiences a stroke, an interruption …

Flowing Forward: Adaptive Aquatic Recreation Program Empowering Individuals Living With Neurodegenerative Conditions, Katharine Buchanan, Alexis M.F. Morin, Jenna Digirolamo

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Neurodegenerative conditions are characterized by progressive dysfunction and degeneration of the nervous system, often resulting in a combination of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial challenges that significantly impact quality of life. Common examples include Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s Disease (PD), both of which present with complex and variable symptom profiles. Despite advances in pharmacological management, there remains a critical gap in interventions that address mental health, social participation, and overall well-being for individuals living with these conditions. This capstone project, Flowing Forward, was developed as a community-based adaptive aquatic recreation program aimed at addressing these gaps through participation in meaningful, …

Preventing And Reducing Substance Use Disorders In The Foster Youth Population: An Educational Program For Residential Staff, Allyson E. Ferraro, Alexis M.F. Morin

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Foster youth encounter various challenges such as adverse childhood experiences (ACES), which increase their prevalence of developing substance use disorders (SUDs). The importance of implementing trauma-informed care techniques and harm reduction approaches in residential settings for foster youth will be highlighted. The literature emphasizes a clear need for residential staff and care partners to understand and apply trauma-informed strategies and harm reduction approaches. Implementing these evidence-based strategies while also enhancing foster youth’s protective factors can strengthen resiliency among foster youth, ultimately improving their overall well-being and life outcomes. Additionally, the impact of stress and burnout among residential staff and care …

The Emerging Practice Of Canine Assisted Therapy (Cat) Benefiting Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd), Amanda Chaves

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

This project explores the impact of Canine-Assisted Therapy (CAT) on meaningful occupational participation of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In previous literature, CAT has been found to support the development of social and communication skills, emotional regulation, behavioral management, and self-care abilities, promoting growth in critical developmental areas. By integrating CAT into occupational therapy (OT), this study highlighted the potential of personalized, engaging interventions to empower children with ASD, promoting greater independence, community engagement, and an improved quality of life for both children and their families. Done through a qualitative case study consisting of interviews and observations, the research …

Breaking The Silence: Examining Sociocultural Barriers And Comfort With Sexual Health And Intimacy In Adolescents, Marcos D. Pena Veras, Kimberly Gross

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Over the past three decades, adolescent pregnancy rates in the United States (U.S.) have decreased across all ethnic groups (Livingston & Thomas, 2019). However, in the United States, rates among the Hispanic population remain higher than those of other major ethnic groups. Review of the existing literature describes cultural barriers that prevent Hispanic young adults and their parents from engaging in sexual health and intimacy education. These barriers include gender roles, educational attainment and healthcare access, and lack of parental communication (Alzate et al., 2018; Langellier et al., 2021; Durante et al., 2023).

This study utilized a mixed-methods approach and …