Digital Commons Network^™

Toward A Network Controlled Delivery Of Energy, Zhengqi Jiang

Dissertations

The next-generation power grid aims to integrate the recent technological advancements in the information and communications technology into energy distribution and management. Prior research works propose the concept of the digital grid (DG) as means to fulfill the requirements of the next-generation power grid. While there are several approaches to the DG, they all share the use of internet protocol (IP) addresses to identify lines and grid devices but lack of a full integration of core concepts of digital communications into the management on the delivery of energy.

This dissertation discusses the incorporation of the concept of controllable delivery of …

Systems For Free Parking Assignment, Abeer M. Hakeem

Dissertations

Finding a free, curbside parking spaces in metropolitan areas, especially during rush hours, is difficult for drivers. The difficulty arises from not knowing where the available spaces may be at that time; and, even if the spaces are known, many vehicles may pursue the same spaces, causing serious parking contention and traffic congestion. This dissertation presents three cost-effective and easily deployable free parking assignment systems that optimize the travel time of the drivers.

The first contribution is the Free Parking System (FPS), a centralized solution that solves the curbside parking problem. Unlike existing solutions, FPS is cost-effective, as it does …

Error Correction For Asynchronous Communication And Probabilistic Burst Deletion Channels, Chen Yi

Dissertations

Short-range wireless communication with low-power small-size sensors has been broadly applied in many areas such as in environmental observation, and biomedical and health care monitoring. However, such applications require a wireless sensor operating in "always-on" mode, which increases the power consumption of sensors significantly. Asynchronous communication is an emerging low-power approach for these applications because it provides a larger potential of significant power savings for recording sparse continuous-time signals, a smaller hardware footprint, and a lower circuit complexity compared to Nyquist-based synchronous signal processing.

In this dissertation, the classical Nyquist-based synchronous signal sampling is replaced by asynchronous sampling strategies, i.e., …

A Cost Analysis Of Two Academic-Based Nursing Centers, Deborah Vincent

Dissertations

A nursing center is an ambulatory care clinic in which nurses provide health care to clients and manage the operational and financial functions of the center. During the 1980s, academic based nursing centers proliferated largely due to the need for clinical teaching sites for undergraduate and graduate nursing students and the availability of funding for demonstration projects for undeserved populations. However, financial instability has led to the closure of many nursing centers and placed others at risk for closure. Employing gross costing, activities based costing techniques, and time studies, this study analyzed the operating costs of a financially troubled academic-based …

Parental Influences On Late Adolescents' Autonomous Motivation And Sexual Risk Knowledge And Behavior, Bettina Hornbuckle Riley

Dissertations

Adolescent risky sexual behavior is associated with unprotected sex, unplanned pregnancy, abortion, and contraction of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV/AIDS. During their time of transition to adulthood, late adolescents make decisions about their sexual health that may or may not be motivated by parental (mother and father) sexual risk communication and autonomy support. While the adolescent may be physically independent or semi-independent from his/her parents, parents continue to influence their adolescents through past and present endorsement of certain behaviors. This research examined how parent-sexual risk communication and parental autonomy support may individually and collectively …

A Case Study Of The Professionalization Of Mexican Nursing: 1980 To 2005, Allison Patricia Squires

Dissertations

This exploratory case study examined the professionalization of nursing in Mexico between 1980 and 2005 with the aim of improving understanding about Mexican nursing human resources. The twenty-five year period was selected because it represented a period of significant economic and political change in Mexico that would have impacted Mexican nurses both personally and professionally.

A Study To Determine The Relationship Between Classroom Teacher Attendance And Student Success, Meagan Stanley

Dissertations

Students that consistently have access to high-quality teachers and teaching strategies experience higher degrees of success (Frieberg, 2013). In the absence of high-quality, professional classroom teacher, students may not succeed at the rate they would otherwise. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between classroom teacher attendance and student success. Student success factors (attendance, behavior, and achievement) were examined in connection with classroom teacher attendance. The study included students in grades Kindergarten through Fifth grade who attended Kindergarten through Fifth grade buildings in a Midwestern school district. The literature reviewed for this study reiterated the importance of …

Increasing Provider Awareness To Detect, Treat, And Reduce Sexually Transmitted Infections In Male Service Members, Vincent E. Krause

Dissertations

The incidence of sexually transmitted infections within the military continues to rise at rates higher than that of the civilian population. The project was developed to improve provider perception related to the male patient's sexual history, practices, and attitudes and focus on adherence to the recommended guidelines related to screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), specifically Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Education was provided regarding recommended screening criteria, screening protocols, interview techniques, screening options available, and statistical data. The goal was to increase provider awareness and laboratory diagnosis of STI screenings among the male population, reducing chlamydia and gonorrhea infections …

Instructional Coaching: Perceptions Of Midwest Building Principals And Instructional Coaches, Mary Jean Hall

Dissertations

Instructional coaching has gained popularity with school districts to improve teachers’ instructional strategies, and students’ academic performance. Current research supports the use of instructional coaching for schoolwide improvements; however, researchers suggest research is needed regarding the training and support of instructional coaches. Different coaching models are in use today and research into the best coaching framework for effective instructional coaching is needed. This study was conducted to investigate the perceptions of instructional coaches regarding their preparedness when entering the instructional coaching position, the professional development and support offered by school districts to coaches, and whether there is a need for …

Servant Leadership Behaviors That Positively Influence On-Time Delivery Of Committed Work By Agile Teams In A Scaled Agile Framework, Rob Barclay

Dissertations

This research found strong evidence that leaders who use Servant Leadership Behaviors (SLBs) positively influence on-time delivery of committed work by scrum teams in a Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). In organizations using a Scaled Agile Framework to manage large programs, Agile teams plan work called “stories” within an iteration, which can range from one to four weeks. The stories are ultimately intended to deliver functionality to the end-user and have enough information within them for business and technical people to understand the intent, develop, test, and demonstrate a vertical slice of system functionality.

Our research used Servant Leadership theory to …

The Masks We Wear In The Workplace Masquerade: An Examination Of Antecedents Of Facades Of Conformity And The Impact Of Abusive Supervision, Kevin Sansberry Ii

Dissertations

Years of research conducted into abusive supervision (Tepper, 2000) have provided a greater understanding of how abusive supervision impacts workers including various negative outcomes as well as employee coping mechanisms. One of the possible ways that an employee may respond to abusive supervision is feigning their agreement with organizational values. The literature is somewhat deficient, however, in examining the manifestation of these facades of conformity (Hewlin, 2003). In this study, the relationship between abusive supervision and facades of conformity was examined, as well as several moderators of this relationship. The results indicated that abusive supervision was positively and significantly related …

What Is The Research Standard For Tenure And Promotion At U.S. Accounting Research Institutions Outside Of The Top 200?, Rodney Carmack

Dissertations

Prior studies provide benchmarking data for faculty promoted at the Top 75 U.S. Accounting Research Institutions (e.g., Glover et al. 2006 and Glover et al. 2012). The data from these studies help the academic accounting market operate more effectively and efficiently. The data are valuable for less seasoned scholars as they set goals for their research output, and for professors as they evaluate candidates’ cases for tenure both at their schools and on behalf of other universities. This paper extends Glover et al. (2012) to consider programs outside of the Top 200 U.S. Accounting Research Institutions (Glover, Prawitt, & Wood, …

Talent Retention: An Empirical Examination Of A 21st Century United States Department Of Agriculture, James Ellis Jordan Jr

Dissertations

Federal organizations at all levels are experiencing difficulty retaining talented employees and must examine current strategies to retain talented high performing employees. Thirty-one percent of government-wide employees will be eligible to retire by 2022 (GAO, 2019). As a result, government organizations need to examine generational expectations and values related to talent retention, which may prove beneficial when developing strategies for the current workforce. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-five Generation X and millennial federal government employees to gain an in-depth understanding of their insights related to talent retention in the federal government context. Additionally, supplemental quantitative data were collected that …

Principal And Teacher Perceptions Of Classroom Walkthroughs In Middle School Settings, Ethel Shanklin

Dissertations

There is no question that education is paramount to student success. The goal of No Child Left Behind (NCLB, 2001), did not work. The last revision of this act, the Every Students Succeeds Act of 2016 is now being implemented, Educators are yet struggling for the panacea that is effective for all students’ competencies in the world. Students from low socio-economic areas are at a greater risk of their educational needs not being met for various reasons. There is the opportunity to reach students in schools in spite of their home situations. Instruction begins and ends with instructional leaders in …

Nursing Effects In Policy-Making, Alexis A. Wilson

Dissertations

Nursing effects in policy-making is a qualitative interview study about the effects of nursing as a professional entity in the policy-making process. The framework of the study included exploration of a perceived problem that nursing does not communicate effectively within the larger health care community. The research question asked was: What are the effects of the nursing profession in the policy-making process? The question was answered through in-depth interviews with eight influential nursing leaders, and two non-nurse health care leaders. Respondents were chosen because of demonstrated excellence or leadership positions, political positions, non-traditional nursing experiences, attachment to service ideals, and/or …

Factors Affecting The Relocation And Transition Of Internationally Educated Nurses Migrating To The United States Of America, Kristina S. Ibitayo

Dissertations

A paucity of research studies and systematic reviews have been conducted on IEN nurse migration experiences in the US. The number of IENs in the US RN workforce is projected to continue growing. Therefore, studies on nurse migration and IEN relocation and transition experiences are essential. This exploratory descriptive study on the transition conditions and professional satisfaction of nurses migrating to the US provides information on the complex pull and push factors affecting nurse migration. This study described the push factors, pull factors, personal characteristics, motivation to migrate, transition conditions, family/social environment, work environment, and professional satisfaction of IENs in …

Compassion Fatigue Among U.S. Military Rns Post Overseas Deployment, Dawn Marie Goldstein

Dissertations

Describe the meaning of compassion fatigue (CF) as experienced by the U.S. military registered nurse (RN) post-deployment from Iraq and Afghanistan. Background: CF is characterized by deep emotional and physical exhaustion, and may resemble posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Often this causes a shift in confidence and clouds RN perceptions. Symptoms include difficulty concentrating, intrusive imagery, hopelessness, exhaustion, and irritability leading to profound alterations in one's view of the world, patients, family, and friends. Outcomes include depersonalizing patients, poor coping mechanisms, lowered standards, clinical errors, and blurring boundaries, all can contribute to a toxic work environment and RNs leaving the profession.

An Investigation Of The Learning Perspectives Of Non-Native English Speakers In An Esl / Epp Writing Program, Susan L. Lundry Ph.D.

Dissertations

Understanding the needs of international learners seeking English writing skills has been an ongoing challenge for educators working in the field as support systems to this group of learners (Carlson, 2005; Hayes & Lin, 1994). In addition, the research (Halic, Greenberg, & Paulus, 2009; Hayes & Lin, 1994) reveals that when international learners move to another country, for the first time to learn, they may initially experience a profound sense of loss. Therefore, providing a sense of support and balance for this group of learners is an important part of the educational process. This qualitative study looked at nine undergraduate …

The Impact Of Direct Instruction At English Learner Instructional Sites Compared To Indirect Instruction At English Learner Support Sites, Lauren Shim

Dissertations

Approximately one in every ten public school students in the United States is considered an English learner (Sanchez, 2017). It has also been determined that the English learner population is one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States (Gibson, 2016). This study focused on a school district in the Midwest region of the United States, where approximately 4% of the student population was classified as English learners, and the population had been steadily growing since 2014 (School District Manual, 2019). This Midwestern school district offered a unique English learner program by transporting students to specific Instructional Sites for English …

Qualitative Study Investigating Elementary And Middle School Comprehensive School Counseling Programs And Secondary Schooling In Privately Funded And Publicly Funded Schools In Missouri, Natalie Rohlfing

Dissertations

The purpose of this proposed qualitative study was to explore whether the absence of Comprehensive School Counseling Programs (CSCP) in privately-funded elementary and middle school impacts student personal, social-emotional, and academic growth in secondary school. This researcher used surveys and focus groups to gather data. The information resulting from this study will provide private and public schools reliable data to be used to implement and/or improve school counseling programs in elementary and middle school. A Comprehensive School Counseling Program is able to address the needs of students by facilitating their academic, career, and social-emotional development as well as helping create …

Perceptions Of Elementary School Support Staff Of Their Role In Supporting The School Mission Statement, Matthew Dean

Dissertations

School district mission statements are intended to be unifying declarations that set a tone and direction for organizations and provide a unifying motivator for the individuals who serve those organizations (Rey, 2017). School district mission statements should be created and articulated in a manner that can be understood and followed by certified administrators and teachers, as well as classified personnel such as district support staff (Lynch, 2016). Without adequate articulation, school district mission statements can fall short of providing guidance and motivation to every employee in the district (Rey, 2017). This qualitative study was initiated to gain the perceptions of …

Disparities In Health Care For The Transgender Population, Shannon Crowe

Dissertations

Individuals identifying as transgender, gender nonconforming, or those born with differences of sex development from societal norms have specific healthcare needs. These individuals experience disparities in healthcare treatment as a result of a lack of cultural competence, stereotypes, and personal bias among healthcare professionals. Despite being inclusive of all patients and acceptance of cultural beliefs, many organizations fall short of being inclusive when caring for transgender or gender nonconforming patients. Front line healthcare workers can have a positive impact on the psychological and physical care delivered to transgender patients; thus, setting the stage for a patient of a minority having …

A Study Of Information Bots And Knowledge Bots, Amartya Hatua

Dissertations

In this dissertation, a study of different aspects of information bots and knowledge bots is done. The research contributes to a better understanding of the various characteristics of information bots as well as the different patterns and factors responsible for the information diffusion in a social network. This research also shows how these factors can be used to predict information diffusion for a particular topic in a social network. The second part of the research is focused on strategies for improving the knowledge base of knowledge bots, where two different approaches are studied. In the first approach, knowledge is transferred …

Microcelebrity Endorsement Of Public Relations Campaigns For Nonprofit Organizations: A Study Of Snapchat In Saudi Arabia, Sami Altuwayjiri

Dissertations

This research investigates the influence of Snapchat microcelebrity endorsement for nonprofit organizations’ PR campaigns through testing the self-disclosure model, source attractiveness model, and congruence or fit model in relation to individuals’ donation intentions and attitudes toward the endorsement. This paper has highlighted the effectiveness of the three models through testing each model three times via three endorsements featuring three different microcelebrities. The result of the survey suggests that self-disclosure practiced by the endorsing microcelebrity has a weak influence on peoples’ donation intention and attitude towards the endorsement. However, physical attractiveness of the endorsing microcelebrity has an influence on people’s donation …

Merging Two Scales: A Comprehensive Measure Of Physical Appearance-Related Social Anxieties, Kimberly Smith

Dissertations

Physical appearance-related social anxieties have been identified as feelings individuals experience in general and in different social situations based on their outward appearance. Two instruments have been used to assess the construct of social anxiety, the social physique anxiety scale (SPAS) and the social appearance anxiety scale (SAAS). This cross-sectional study implemented a non-experimental design with randomization of the total sample (n=1214) into three equal groups. Participants were recruited using a crowdsource sampling platform, MTurk. This study was broken into three Phases: confirming the factor models for the SPAS and SAAS, using an exploratory technique to determine the factor structure …

Empirical Studies Of Deep Learning On Information Diffusion On Social Networks And Collective Task Learning For Swarm Robotics, Trung T. Nguyen

Dissertations

Researchers in multiple disciplines have recently adopted deep learning because of its ability of high accuracy representation learning from big and complex data. My research goal in this thesis is developing deep learning models for information diffusion analysis on social networks and collective tasks learning in swarm robotics. Firstly, the information diffusion on social networks is modeled as a multivariate time series in three dimensions with ten features. Then, we applied time-series clustering algorithms with Dynamic Time Warping to discover different patterns of our models. Then, we build a prediction model based on LSTM, which outperforms traditional time-series prediction methods. …

Core Subject Integration In The K-6 Music Classroom, Rose Bowe

Dissertations

Federal legislation through No Child Left Behind (NCLB) (2002) and Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (2015) held schools accountable for improved test scores and academic achievement. The heightened scrutiny in performance and expectations placed enormous pressure on students, teachers, and administrators to reach the lofty goals of the accountability model and put emphasis on state-mandated tests for several subjects. Non-tested subjects often encountered a shift in funds and their programs became diminished or even eliminated. Subjects that were not tested, such as music education, were considered non-essential. Nonetheless, the value of music used for instruction to stimulate knowledge retention was …

Watching Disability: A Discourse Analysis Of Representations Of Disabled Characters In Scripted Television Programs, Wilbur Martin

Dissertations

This dissertation is a discourse analysis of three television series, Speechless, Atypical, and Breaking Bad. A close reading of those series was performed to analyze the representations of disability in those television series and whether those representations enforced classic stereotypes or differed from those classic stereotypes for disabilities. The representations were also analyzed to see if those representations enforced the medical or social model of disability.

All three series had instances of stereotypical representations as well as representations that were not stereotypical. All three series representations identified with the medical and social model of disabilities. Series that …

The Principal And Teacher Evaluation: A Study Of Influencing Pressures, Andy Brock

Dissertations

This quantitative study focused on determining the amount of influencing pressure principals encountered during summative teacher evaluations, determining if there was a relationship between the pressures a principal experienced while completing a summative teacher evaluation and the summative evaluation score teachers received, and determining if there was a relationship between teacher evaluation scores and district accountability levels. A survey instrument was created containing 23 possible influencing pressures derived from a literature review along with 14 items for the purpose of collecting demographic data from each participant. The survey instrument used a horizontal numeric scale to measure the amount of influencing …

Teacher Beliefs And The Intent And Current Use Of Movement As It Influences Students With And Without Adhd, Kimberly Mcquagge

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to add to the knowledge base regarding utilizing movement in the classroom as it influences reading and mathematics achievement for students with and without Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Mississippi public school teachers (n= 379) responded to an online questionnaire that gathered demographic data and collected ratings based on teacher beliefs and both their current use of movement and intent to use movement in the classroom based on a 5-point Likert scale.

In order to predict if a relationship existed between teacher beliefs of utilizing movement in the classroom and both their current use of movement …