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Embracing a Broader Conception of Poverty: Strategies for School-Level Leaders
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationWhile poverty is widely recognized as a significant challenge in education, research on the preparedness of school leaders to support impoverished students remains limited. Educators who lack a comprehensive understanding of the multidimensional nature of poverty may struggle to effectively address the diverse needs of these students. This study explored school leaders' conceptions of poverty, examined how their perspectives aligned with existing literature, and raised awareness of the academic, social, emotional, and physical challenges students face. Using a qualitative research approach, this study included a comprehensive literature review and interviews with school administrators. The literature review defined poverty and analyzed its impact on student learning, highlighting effective strategies used in high-poverty, high-achieving schools. Administrator interviews provided insight into how school leaders conceptualized poverty and the strategies they employed to mitigate its effects. This research aimed to bridge gaps in awareness by equipping school leaders with practical, evidence-based strategies to improve school climate, instruction, curriculum, social-emotional well-being, and support services. By fostering a deeper understanding of poverty's impact on education, this study contributed to ongoing efforts to create more equitable learning environments that empower all students to succeed
El paisaje lingüístico de Alabama: A preview of the Spanish linguistic landscape in Tuscaloosa
No full textAs Spanish speakers become established in communities in the United States, the linguistic landscape (LL) or el paisaje lingüístico has changed as a reflection of this growing demographic. The main goal of the present study is to address whether the presence of this population is observable in the Spanish linguistic landscape of Tuscaloosa County in Alabama. Focusing on the public use of Spanish in signage, we seek to determine which types of establishments use
Spanish in their signage or ‘texts’, how Spanish and English are displayed in bilingual texts, and how authors and audience are indexed by the content in the texts. The LL of Tuscaloosa County in Alabama is taken as a case study where the Hispanic or Latino community is a small percentage of the local population but still a visible one within the LL. This study on a small urban and semi-rural area complements existing research on larger and longer-standing communities in the United States.Accepted manuscrip
Cd3P2 Quantum Dots As Sources for Quantum Emission and Detection of Near-IR Radiation
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationIn recent years, research on quantum dots (QDs) has grown due to their tunable emission and absorbance over a wide range of radiation. However, literature has prioritized researching QDs with band gaps in the visible region as a result of both instrumentation and synthetic challenges. The near-IR region is of particular interest due to applications in medical imaging, communication systems, and military defense. Today, epitaxial InxGa1-xAs QDs are primarily used for the emission and detection of near-IR radiation, yet epitaxial syntheses suffer in terms of scalability, synthetic control, and precursor toxicity. Colloidal QDs (CQDs) appear as an attractive alternative as CQDs are volume scalable, possess greater synthetic control, and are capable of integration into more flexible environments. Lead chalcogenides (e.g., PbS, PbSe), mercury chalcogenides (e.g., HgSe, HgTe), and InAs are the primary near-IR capable CQDs researched, but these species suffer from setbacks such as long carrier lifetimes (>1 µs, PbS/PbSe), toxic precursors and products (HgSe/HgTe), and non-trivial syntheses due to precursor accessibility (InAs). Cd3P2 CQDs stand out as an overlooked competitor as these CQDs possess tunable emission from ~600 nm to 1600 nm, show promise of sub-101 ns lifetimes, and boast simple syntheses with relatively high quantum yields (QYs). The work in this thesis focuses on the characterization and improvement of near-IR capable Cd3P2 CQDs. We have employed a variety of spectroscopic methods to analyze the properties of bare Cd3P2 CQDs. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images and UV-visible absorbance spectra, we show the development of a sizing curve for Cd3P2 CQDs and how this sizing curve can be used to investigate the kinetics of QD syntheses. We have also investigated the effect of surface passivation techniques using CdSe and Zn3P2 on the spectroscopic properties of Cd3P2 CQDs. Our results demonstrate that surface passivation techniques are capable of accelerating radiative lifetimes in Cd3P2 CQDs while maintaining PL QYs and improving air stability. Lastly, as the QYs of CQDs are directly linked with TRPL spectra, we show how measured TRPL spectra of CQDs can be used to predict spectroscopic properties of CQDs, such as QYs and intrinsic radiative lifetimes, using machine learning
Managing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Outpatient Settings with Soft Belly Breathing Exercises to Reduce Hospital Readmissions
No full textDNP ProjectIntroduction/Purpose: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) poses significant challenges in healthcare due to its readmission rates and associated costs. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of implementing soft belly breathing exercises as a non-pharmacological intervention for managing COPD in an outpatient setting. The goal is to enhance pulmonary function, reduce dyspnea, and minimize hospital readmissions among COPD patients. Methods: The project was conducted over 12 weeks in an outpatient clinic in urban Florida.
The data was collected from the electronic medical records of the patients and the Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning (SAIL) report. The study compared 30-day hospital readmission rates between two groups of patients: the group before the implementation of belly breathing exercises and the group after the exercises. The team access information from the Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW). 30-day readmission (yes or no) data was collected for a comparison group of patients for 30 days before the implementation. The data was analyzed using a chi-square analysis. A pre/post survey was also conducted to assess changes in pulmonary function and dyspnea. Results: The chi-square test showed a statically significant/insignificant difference [ X2 (1, N = X, XXX) = X. XX, p =.XXX] between the 30-day hospital readmission rates of comparative and implementation patients. Discussion: Clinical significance is shown by the increase or decrease in 30-day hospital admission rates. Based on the project findings, the implementation of soft belly breathing exercises improved the quality of life for COPD patients
Characterizing the Relationship Among the Social Competence Elements in Autistic Adolescents
No full textAuthor Accepted ManuscriptIndividuals with autism spectrum disorder have significant difficulties in social competence. This
study provided empirical evaluation of the theoretical model by Kennedy and Adolphs (2012)
positing that social competence relies on an interconnected network of four components: social
brain, cognition, behavior and functioning. Data from 243 youth (69 female, 174 male), age
10–17 years, were used to test the hypothesized mediation effect of social cognition (Theory
of Mind) from social brain (event-related potential markers of face perception and memory)
to social behavior (Contextual Assessment of Social Skills) and functioning (Child Behavior
Checklist). An additional analysis evaluated whether the structure of the social competence
model varied based on the biological sex of the autistic participants. The findings support the
conceptual model of social competence where the social brain’s contributions to social behavior
and functioning are mediated by social cognition, with an additional direct path between the
brain and behavior. The relationship among the four components of social competence is not
significantly different for autistic males and females. Social competence is best represented
as a network of direct and indirect connections among the neural, cognitive, and behavioral
components. Thus, focusing on any single element is not sufficient for effective design of novel
assessment and treatment approaches in autism. The findings also highlight the importance of
self-initiated active engagement with social cues as a contributor to successful social behavior and
functioning in autism.This study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH114906 PI: Corbett) with core support from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (CTSA UL1TR000445) and Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P50HD103537—Vanderbilt Kennedy Center). Funders had no role in the conduct of the research or preparation of the article
Financial Well-Being Among U.S. Adults: Exploring the Role of Gender and Marital Status
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationThis study examines the relationship between gender, marital status, and financial well-being among U.S. adults, drawing on data from the 2021 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS). Financial well-being was assessed using both a single-item measure and a five-item scale developed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analyses were used to explore the individual and interaction effects of gender and marital status, controlling for socio-economic factors such as income, education, employment status, home ownership, health insurance coverage, dependent children, and financial knowledge. Further analyses were conducted using six composite variables that combined gender and marital status to investigate financial well-being further. The findings underscore disparities in financial well-being associated with both gender and marital status. Women, particularly those experiencing marital disruptions (being separated, divorced, or widowed), consistently reported lower financial well-being across both financial well-being measures. Notably, including an interaction term of gender and marital status in the analyses revealed compounded disadvantages for women who were single or were separated, divorced, or widowed. On the contrary, single men demonstrated higher levels of financial well-being when evaluated using the CFPB five-item financial well-being measurement. The results highlight the importance of economic empowerment initiatives and targeted financial interventions and policies that specifically address the vulnerabilities faced by women facing marital disruptions. The study contributes to the existing literature by providing nuanced insights into how demographic identities shape financial well-being. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for improved financial education programs and policy reforms to bridge identified gaps and promote financial well-being and empowerment
Flexible by Design: A Framework-Based Approach to Redesigning Library Tutorials for Equity and Engagement
No full textAuthor Accepted ManuscriptThis article presents a case study on the redesign of an academic library’s tutorial suite using an integrated framework grounded in the ADDIE model, Universal Design for Learning, and Universal Design for Instruction. The project resulted in a series of accessible, multimodal tutorials that support both stand-alone and supplemental instruction. Emphasizing learner choice, engagement, and accessibility, the tutorials were developed through collaborative workflows and iterative assessment. Early data show increased faculty adoption and student engagement. This replicable framework offers academic librarians a practical model for designing inclusive, sustainable digital learning materials aligned with evidence-based instructional design and student-centered pedagogy
Proximate and Ultimate Mechanisms That Drive Outcrossing in a Mixed Mating Mangrove Fish
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationBiparental reproduction is an evolutionary conundrum because it produces half of the offspring that can be produced through uniparental reproduction and does not provide reproductive assurance. Despite these costs, biparental reproduction can provide novel gene combinations that allow populations to co-evolve with parasites. I used mangrove rivulus fish (Kryptolebias marmoratus) to explore host-parasite interactions, the Red Queen Hypothesis (RQH), and sex-biased parasitism. We first sampled rivulus near Tampa in 2023 to characterize the parasite component community and returned in 2024 to investigate temporal variation. We also sampled three populations with historically high (Belize) and three with historically low male percentages (Florida Keys) and surveyed both external and internal macroparasites. We observed higher percentages of males and higher parasite species diversity and richness in Belize versus the Florida Keys. We rarely observed sex-biased parasitism across six populations, but hermaphrodites had higher parasite species richness and were more parasitized by acanthocephalans both broadly and in Papa Gabriel's, while males were only more parasitized by Ascocotyle sp. digenean trematode metacercariae in Long Caye. We found mixed evidence for a Red Queen Dynamic between rivulus hosts and their macroparasites, and our findings suggest that rivulus may be using both resistance and tolerance strategies to mitigate the costs of parasites. Populations in which selection favors outcrossing may use specific cues to better select biparental partners that maximize the potential for higher quality offspring. I also investigated how individuals use cues to gain information about conspecifics and potential mates. Animals use multiple cues from different sensory modalities (multimodal signaling) to detect conspecifics, glean information about them, and make decisions. I investigated whether the sexes respond differently to visual, chemical, and multimodal cues using 3D printed models and live chemical cue providers. We found that behavior was dependent upon sex of the cue provider, that visual and chemical cues are used make decisions but seem to prefer visual cues, and that males elicited the most aggression from focal animals, regardless of their sex
The Impact of a Licensed Practical Nurse Residency: A Program Evaluation
No full textDNP ProjectIntroduction/Purpose: Nurse residency programs (NRPs) are popular initiatives for new graduate registered nurses (RN) to transition into hospital practice. Currently, NRPs primarily focus on RN transition and not Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN). This DNP project completes a program evaluation to determine if an LPN-specific residency program improves the transition to practice, as this has not previously been studied in the literature.
Methods: Data was reviewed from the 11 LPNs who completed the first cohort of the LPN Residency Program from November 2023 to July 2024. The Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey as well as staff retention rates were collected at the start of the intervention, the three-month mark, and the end of the intervention. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis of these measures.
Results: The overall mean of the Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Retention Survey increased from 2.85 from the initial survey to 3.15 at the three-month survey, and then to 3.16 at the six-month survey. This increase in overall mean demonstrated an increase in overall confidence rates, the intended effect of the intervention. There was 18% attrition, resulting in nine participants fully completing the program.
Discussion: This program evaluation suggests that a residency program specific to LPNs improves rates of stress, support, communication, and satisfaction. However, the small sample size and attrition throughout the program remained a limitation. At the conclusion of the program, there was an 81.8% retention rate, which is above the national average of 63.8% further supporting this intervention
Efficacy of the Emotion Awareness and Skills Enhancement (EASE) Program in Autism: A Randomized Controlled Trial
No full textAuthor Accepted ManuscriptAutistic adolescents and adults often struggle with emotion dysregulation, and advocates consistently encourage more research on mental
health. This study aimed to establish efficacy for psychotherapeutic intervention for emotion dysregulation for autistic adolescents and young adults.
In this multisite randomized controlled trial, a primarily mindfulness-based intervention called the Emotion Awareness and Skills
Enhancement (EASE) Program, developed to improve emotion dysregulation in autistic adolescents and young adults, was compared to a rigorous
active control condition (ACC) that allowed for personalized and evidence-based intervention as long as it did not include EASE core elements. It was
hypothesized that the EASE group would demonstrate a steeper decline in emotion dysregulation, as well as decreased mental health problems,
compared to those in ACC. A total of 109 participants were randomized, 102 began treatment, 89 participants completed all treatment sessions.
intent-to-treat (ITT; n = 109) analyses were conducted, with supplemental per protocol analyses (PP; n = 76).
Primary outcomes included emotion dysregulation severity and its interference with daily functioning, whereas secondary outcomes assessed
mental health symptoms. Condition-naive interviews, which gauged impairment related to dysregulation, showed that the EASE group had more
treatment responders (63%) compared to ACC (44%) (p = .052, odds ratio = 2.85), but this difference was not statistically significant. EASE
participants demonstrated greater declines in emotion dysregulation than those in ACC (Reactivity, b = − 0.168, p = .017; Dysphoria, b = − 0.182,
p = .010) at endpoint. EASE participants demonstrated improvement in internalizing and externalizing symptoms, relative to baseline, based on self and caregiver-report, whereas ACC participants showed improvement only in caregiver-reported externalizing symptoms. All effects were stronger in
PP analyses, suggesting the possible importance of treatment dosage. Findings suggest that EASE improves emotion dysregulation for autistic adolescents and young adults.Funding for this study was provided from W81XWH-18-1-0284 (Mazefsky) from the U.S. Department of Defense