MOLECULAR INVESTIGATION OF COMPOSITION AND FUNCTION OF THE SOIL MICROBIOME IN RESTORED FEDERAL WETLANDS FROM LANDSCAPE TO LAB

Microorganisms have contributed directly to the development of contemporary conditions that sustain life on Planet Earth, through the modification of oceanic redox states, control of organic carbon flux in aquatic and terrestrial environments, and the cycling of key nutrients such as Nitrogen (N). Anthropogenic disturbances to terrestrial ecosystems have both direct and indirect impacts on the balance of biogeochemical cycling through changes in land-use, land management practices, and land degradation. Historic trends in global fertilizer use have indicated steady increases in both demand and application that has led to the pollution of waterways in a process known as eutrophication. Conservation research has shown that the restoration of global wetlands can serve to reduce the impacts of eutrophication by sequestering runoff nutrients such as N and providing unique conditions for biogeochemical cycling. Building predictive models of biogeochemical cycling in restored wetlands is a major focus for ecosystem ecologists and microbial ecologists alike and will serve to inform conservation land-use and best management practices. The microorganisms that perform biogeochemical cycling in soils offer direct and unique insight into nutrient process rates and the potential to mitigate eutrophication on a global-scale. The overall objective of my work is to understand how the soil microbiome influences N cycling across the landscape and in the lab. Previous work has suggested that microorganisms may be used as bioindicators of biogeochemical processes rates, therefore, I am interested in understanding how taxonomic composition and functional gene presence can be used to predict N cycling in restored wetlands. To address these objectives, I sampled soil bacterial assemblages in restored federal wetlands in Kentucky and Tennessee and utilized DNA sequencing to characterize the soil microbiome compositionally and functionally across the landscape, and the soil microbiome response to NH4-N in the lab. Results indicate that both functional gene copy numbers and microbiome composition can be used to predict N-flux rates on the landscape using machine learning and deep learning techniques. Additionally, I tested for an effect of NH4-N concentration on microbiome community assembly and found that carbon source, rather than N concentration, had the greatest impact on stabilized communities.Ph.D

The Early Warning Signs of Hazing in College Fraternities and Sororities

College students in today’s fraternities and sororities do not fully understand where the line is between new member education and hazing, and the student affairs professionals who advise them do not have a common understanding of when and where they should intervene. While the Stop Campus Hazing Act helped with a federal definition of hazing, obstacles still remain. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to investigate the beliefs and attitudes of student affairs professionals who advise active fraternity and sorority members on college campuses. The study will focus on their understanding of hazing, as well as their identification of intervention strategies to enhance student safety. This study utilized a phenomenological research approach to explore how student affairs professionals described their definition of hazing. In this qualitative study, I reported lived experiences surrounding the phenomenon of hazing on college campuses. Nine student affairs professionals revealed common meaning in what they have experienced and how they experienced it through interviews. The research questions were: How do student affairs professionals describe their definition of hazing? How is hazing prevention and intervention addressed through practices, priorities, and policies? The findings include inconsistencies around hazing (definitions, activities, and stated values of the organizations versus actions), building trust and early intervention are critical in preventing hazing, there are funding and capacity issues within the Fraternity and Sorority Life office, there is a lack of data in the profession, a heavy emotional burden is being placed on Student Affairs professionals, and universities are circumventing the law by hiring external partners to resolve hazing cases that will be undocumented. The implications for institutional policy include building a greater awareness of the new federal laws, finding ways to encourage students to come forward with hazing reports, creating a hazing prevention task force with campus-wide representation, creating transparency in hazing reporting across universities and national organization, building a national database of Fraternity/Sorority members to advocate, investing more resources and staffing in the Fraternity and Sorority Life offices, and starting education on hazing prevention in K-12 schools.Ed.D

Gamification of Undergraduate French Courses: A Qualitative Study

In response to the need for enhanced engagement and motivation in language acquisition, this study examines the impact of gamification within undergraduate French courses at a public university located in southeastern United States. Gamification, which incorporates game-like components such as points, badges, and leaderboards, has been acknowledged for its capacity to enhance educational results by fostering motivation and participatory learning (Kapp, 2012). Using a phenomenological approach grounded in Self-Determination Theory, Transition Theory, and Choice Theory, the research intends to document student experiences with gamified learning in foreign language education, a field that requires ongoing engagement and complex skill development (Deci & Ryan, 2000; Glasser, 1998). Finding the advantages and possible disadvantages of using gamified content in language classes, as well as investigating students' motivational reactions, are significant goals for higher education faculty and staff. To provide a thorough understanding of how gamified features affect language learning results, qualitative data will be collected using surveys, interviews, and content analysis. This research contributes to a growing field by addressing the specific challenges of gamification in language acquisition and offering insights for educators aiming to implement gamification to enhance engagement and academic success in language learning (Hanus & Fox, 2015).Ed.D

Philosophies of Death in the Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway

At perhaps its most basic level, literature explores how to live, and philosophy, in part, examines what living means. Though seemingly paradoxical, the philosophers who deal extensively with and primarily study questions of existence are the philosophers who most often confront the matter of death. Three philosophers share commonalities among their framings of death: Horace (65 BC-8 BC), Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), and Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980). Common to each philosopher is the inclusion of death as part of the framework of life and human experience. While these philosophers pose intellectual answers to questions about existence in light of death, certain American authors provide possible answers through the stories they create in literature as they examine the human condition—the very nature of existing. Dubbed members of the Lost Generation, F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) and Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) wrestled with philosophical concerns in their fiction. World War I left Fitzgerald and Hemingway disillusioned and restless, with a desire to search, to wander, and to explore—desires which are reflected in the characters they created, characters who engage deeply in living. As these two authors work out the question of how to live, they somewhat obsessively include the fact of life’s finitude. The pervading topic of death peppers their narratives, and life seems to be dictated by death. Similarly, Horace, Kierkegaard, and Sartre see death as an informant to life and their philosophies reflect as much. For both the authors and philosophers, to understand how to view life, one must understand how to view death—an understanding which takes into consideration questions of how to exist, explorations of the human condition, and to what end meaning can be found. Their philosophies about death, which illuminates their philosophies of life, are distinguishable and evident in the works of both Fitzgerald and Hemingway.Ph.D

Effect of palmar digital analgesia (as a result of "nerving") on forelimb loading over varied surfaces at the walk and trot - a pilot study

Palmar digital neurectomy or “nerving” removes the sensation to the heel region of the hoof, while analgesia or “blocking” results in temporary loss of sensation. This pilot study examined the effect of loss of sensation in the forelimb heel (blocking). Three horses were fitted to hoof sensors on the front hooves. Horses completed the same randomized tests of walking and trotting on hard and soft ground pre and post-nerve blocking. Interaction of ground and blocking status was significant for area (P < 0.0001), with post-blocking having greater loaded area than pre while tracking on hard ground (P = 0.008). The same interaction was found significant for force (P <0.0001), with tracking over hard ground being greater post-blocking than pre (P = 0.008). Stride duration was longer pre-blocking than post (P = 0.0017). Findings from this pilot study show that temporary blocking impacts forelimb loading and that ground may be important in tracking for horses with removed sensation to the forelimb heel.M.S

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN READING ACHIEVEMENT AND SLD RISK RATIOS IN STATES IMPLEMENTING RTI

Students who display persistent reading deficits are sometimes diagnosed with a specific learning disability (SLD). Historically, eligibility for an SLD diagnosis has been made either through a discrepancy model, which utilizes IQ and reading achievement testing, or a response to intervention (RtI) model, which utilizes progress monitoring data through multiple tiers of support. Between 2014 and 2015 two neighboring states mandated that all districts begin implementing RtI models and use data from RtI to evaluate students for SLD rather than relying on IQ discrepancy models. The current study leveraged multiple public-use district-level datasets to analyze the relationship between SLD identification and reading achievement in these states both before and after RtI implementation. The study answers two key questions: 1) To what extent do district-level achievement gaps by gender and race/ethnicity explain the overrepresentation of male and minority students—as measured by district-level risk ratios—in states that adopted RtI requirements for SLD identification? 2) Does the relationship between district-level achievement gaps and district-level risk ratios observed in RQ1 differ between pre-RtI adoption (2011-2012) and post-RtI adoption (2017-2018) group? In this retrospective observational study, regression analyses showed that the relationship between male overrepresentation and male achievement gaps was not statistically significant pre-RtI adoption, while the same relationship for BHN students was statistically significant. Post-RtI adoption, male overrepresentation decreased, while BHN student overrepresentation increased. The relationship between overrepresentation and achievement gaps for male students remained statistically non-significant post-RtI, whereas the relationship between overrepresentation and achievement gaps for BHN students remained statistically significant and became stronger. The amount of variance in BHN student overrepresentation that was explained by achievement gaps in the post-RtI was more than double the amount of variance explained pre-RtI adoption.Ph.D

Evaluating the Effects of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors and Beta-Blockers on Verbal Memory in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors combined with beta-blockers on verbal memory in Alzheimer’s Disease patients. Participants consisted of 95 men and women with Alzheimer’s Disease who were seen at an outpatient neuropsychology clinic in middle Tennessee and underwent neuropsychological evaluation. Patients were given the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test – Revised and the Controlled Oral Word Associated Test as part of their evaluation. Information regarding the prescription of beta-blockers and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors was obtained from patients’ medical records. Participants were assigned to three separate groups: the No Treatment group, the AChEIs only group, and the Combined Treatment group. No difference between groups was observed during primary analyses. Patients who had been randomly removed during primary analyses were re-added in subsequent analyses, and a significant difference was observed between the AChEIs Only group and the No Treatment group on the HVLT-R delayed recall and retention.M.A

Assessing the Impact of Certificate of Need Laws on Organ Transplantation Outcomes

This dissertation examines how institutional regulations and regional dynamics influence the availability and quality of organ transplantation services in the United States. The first chapter assesses the average effect of certificate-of-need (CON) regulations on transplant outcomes across five organs—heart, kidney, liver, lung, and pancreas—using center-level data from 2010 to 2023. Although CON regulations generally enhance availability, they are associated with lower average quality, particularly for heart and liver transplants, possibly due to expanded access for higher-risk patients. The second chapter employs a synthetic difference-in-differences approach to evaluate the effects of repealing and reinstating CON laws on kidney transplants in two states: New Hampshire and Indiana. The findings indicate significant changes in market share, while the changes in availability and quality are either modest or not statistically significant after policy changes. This suggests that the impact of CON regulations may be influenced by regional factors and the initial market conditions of each state. The third chapter investigates knowledge spillovers in heart transplantation using an instrumental variable approach. It finds that centers in regions with higher transplant activity benefit from shared expertise, improving patient selection and procedural efficiency. However, increased transplant rates may also coincide with lower average survival outcomes, likely due to the inclusion of more clinically complex patients. Collectively, these chapters contribute to the literature on healthcare regulation by providing empirical evidence on how policy design and regional specialization influence outcomes in high-stakes medical services. The findings highlight the importance of interpreting average outcome metrics in light of patient heterogeneity and institutional context and suggest that regulatory and regional collaboration strategies can play a critical role in improving transplant care.Ph.D

The Dark Tetrad, Perceived Stress, Coping, and Depression

Occupational stress has a significant negative influence on the physical health, psychological wellbeing, and performance of employees. The purpose of these two studies was to test a serial mediation pathway in which occupational stressors influence perceived stress, which influences emotion-focused coping, which influences risk of depression. Additionally, the studies tested a moderating influence of the Dark Tetrad personalities on the stress appraisal process. Participants were recruited from two populations of nurses and were asked to respond to a series of questionnaires. Support for the serial mediation pathway was found in Study 1 but not Study 2. Additionally, a moderating effect of grandiose narcissism was found in Study 2 but not Study 1, such that those high in grandiose narcissism were less likely to appraise stressors as stressful. No other findings were significant, suggesting that the Dark Tetrad does not influence stress appraisal. However, future research should use a larger sample size and longer timeframe to further explore these findings.M.A

Beyond Grades: Evaluating the Robustness of High School GPA as an Indicator of Success in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT As a result of the mitigating measures implemented to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in 2020, standardized testing practices were changed with little warning across the nation. The sudden shift which caused students to not have access to standardized tests created an issue in the admissions processes for colleges and universities as students would not be able to report standardized test scores on their admissions applications as normally requested or required. Post-secondary institutions had to quickly change their admissions requirements to compensate for the absence of standardized test scores. Many institutions dropped the requirements for standardized test scores in favor of using high school grade point average (GPA) as the primary quantitative measure of future student success in the admissions requirements. Since standardized testing has become available to prospective students again, the question as to whether to return to requiring standardized testing scores has come up for discussion in the higher education community. One approach to address this question would be to see if there was an association between high school GPAs and student success before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, so the faculty and staff at colleges and universities can make more informed decisions about whether to bring back the standardized test score requirements in the admissions process. This study was created to help understand if any associations exist between high school GPAs and student success, specifically as measured by first-time, first-year retention. An extensive literature review was conducted to understand how academic and non-academic factors might impact high school GPA and student retention rates, which could provide insight to associations that might be found as a result of this study. This ex post facto study was conducted with pre-existing data from a local, public, four-year, university in Tennessee. Chi-square analyses were conducted to determine if there were associations between pre- and post-pandemic high school GPAs and successful student retention with additional analyses conducted to account for the confounding variables of biological sex (female or male) and student status at the time of enrollment whether traditional students (ages 18-24) or adult learners (ages 25 and older). The findings indicate there is a significant moderate association between the independent variables of high school GPA and first-time, first-year retention both pre- and post-pandemic for the entire sample studied. For both the pre- and post-pandemic cohorts, female and male students had a moderately strong association for the independent variables as well. The results for pre- and post-pandemic traditional students (ages 18-24) showed a moderate association between independent variables. Adult learners showed a moderate association between high school GPA and student retention for the pre-pandemic cohort. However, there were not enough samples to complete a valid chi-square analysis on the post-pandemic cohort of adult learners. The overall findings from this study suggest that there is a moderate association between high school GPA and successful first-time, first-year retention, which provides support for the continued inclusion of high school GPA in admissions considerations for post-secondary institutions.Ed.D