Digital Commons Network^™

Statistical Clustering Of Networks With Additional Information, Paul Atandoh

Dissertations

As the online market grows rapidly, many companies and researchers are interested in analyzing product review dataset which includes ratings and text review data. In the first project, we mainly focus on analyzing the text review data. In the current literature, it is common to use only text analysis tools to analyze review dataset. But in our work, we propose a method that utilizes both a text analysis method such as topic modeling and a statistical network model to build network among individuals and find interesting communities. We introduce a promising framework that incorporates topic modeling technique to define the …

Development Of Modeling Tools To Determine The Effects Of Customer Diversification On Customer Lifetime Value Volatility In Higher Education, Oscar Neal

Dissertations

As societies become increasingly global the competition for customers continues to increase. In competitive markets, it is important to identify a process to acquire and retain the most profitable customers. To discriminate customers, it is important to understand the value different customers bring to an organization. Much research has been done modeling customer value using customer lifetime value, however, there is limited research on the effect current customer diversity has on future customer lifetime value of future customer portfolios.

In this dissertation, a Lifetime Value Model considering the interaction between customer diversity, revenue management, and customer lifetime value in an …

Design And Implementation Of An Efficient Priority Queue Data Structure, James A. Rhodes

Dissertations

Priority queues are one of the most useful data structures. Research to improve the efficiency of priority queues is on-going in the field of Computer Science. We have designed and implemented a priority queue based on buckets that improves the performance of applications that utilize min/max heaps. The data structure improves an application’s insertion time and deletion time, and thus its overall execution time. We demonstrate the performance improvements in a wide variety of applications. Every one of the applications that we implemented is well-known, and important in the Computer Science field. We also demonstrate that the performance gains over …

Implementation Of Team-Based Learning In The Pre-Clerkship Medical Curriculum: Investigating Essential Elements, Jade Woodcock

Dissertations

Team-based learning (TBL) has been used in undergraduate medical education over the past 20 years. Available evidence suggests that there is a problem with how the core design elements are implemented. It is also unclear the extent to which faculty and students believe TBL supports the goals of undergraduate medical education (UME). The purpose of this research is to identify the essential elements of TBL, how those elements have been used by medical educators over the past 10 years, and identify if faculty and student believe TBL supports the goals of undergraduate medical education at a single medical school where …

Analysis Of U.S. Housing Markets Using Advanced Econometric Models And Machine Learning Algorithms, Cody Kirby

Dissertations

The Great Recession is the most recent reminder in U.S. history of the important relationship that exists between monetary policy and housing market activity. Since World War II, eight U.S. recessions have followed downturns in housing. A decline in the housing market results in the balance sheet deterioration of homeowners, financial institutions, private organizations, central banks, governing bodies, and foreign countries. The ability to understand the relationship between monetary policy and housing market activity, and to better forecast housing prices, allows for better planning by all economic agents.

This study answers the following research questions. (1) How have monetary policy …

Student Experience And Learning In A Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience, Allison Witucki

Dissertations

Scientific research is advocated as an important experience for undergraduate STEM majors. Involving undergraduates in research early on in their educational careers can potentially prevent attrition and encourages students to pursue post-graduate education and careers within the field. However, research opportunities for undergraduates can be difficult to obtain. Many students may not realize that research opportunities exist, or there is limited availability for undergraduates to work in a faculty member’s research laboratory. Luckily, an educational model for involving scientific research in a course, also known as a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE), can provide more widespread opportunities for students to …

Impact Of Teaching Mathematics With Four Teaching Strategies On Fifth Grade Students’ Learning Of Fractions Addition And Subtraction, Nabil Riziq Al Farra

Dissertations

There are different tools, resources, and materials that mathematics teachers may use to enhance the teaching and learning processes under many types of teaching strategies such as technology (e.g., videos and virtual manipulatives), real objects (e.g., concrete manipulatives), and other teaching strategies are traditional (e.g., lectures). Some of the most important things that a teacher has to consider is the students’ learning needs and how to reach to their minds by different teaching strategies with a variety of resources and assess which are more effective in students’ learning anddevelopment in mathematics.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the …

Lax Integrability And Solution Methods For The Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation With External Potentials: Exact Solutions And Applications, Laila Yahya Al Sakkaf

Dissertations

The investigation of a nonlinear differential equation (NLDE) integrability is the foundation for understanding and predicting the behavior of systems that are governed by that NLDE. The existence of a Lax pair (LP) representation is a reliable indicator of the indicator of the integrability of an NLDE. If an NLDE admits an LP, it is considered integrable in the LP sense, and this has important implications for the behavior and solutions of the system. The LP plays a crucial role in many powerful analytical solution methods for solving NLDEs. One such method is the Darboux transformation (DT), which allows for …

Community College Students’ Awareness Of Their Reading And Writing Proficiency, Martha Paulina Campusano Rojas

Dissertations

Student’s low reading and writing proficiency in higher education has been the subject of a large body of research (e.g., Bahr, 2011; Bailey, 2010; Carlino, 2005, 2010, 2012; Flink, 2017; Jaggars, 2014 Pacello, 2014; Perin, 2011; Perin et al., 2013).The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how students in a first-year developmental Spanish course at the Dominican community college think of the connection between their reading and writing abilities and their performance in both their current and future undergraduate courses. The study also explored how these students view the importance of the developmental course and how they understand …

The Association Between College Instructors’ Trait Emotional Intelligence And Instructorstudent Relationship In A Uae Higher Education Institution, Salwa Habib Husain

Dissertations

The relationship between instructors and students in higher education institutions (HEIs) is a contributing factor to the students’ motivation to learn, emotional development and stability, and academic performance. The instructor’s trait Emotional Intelligence (EI) has been a focus in developing such positive relationships inside and outside the classroom setting. The extent to which instructors’ trait EI can contribute to a supportive and developmental relationship with students has not received due attention in research in the UAE. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the association between instructors’ trait EI and the Instructor-Student Relationship at one HEI in the …

Approximate Computing Based Processing Of Mea Signals On Fpga, Mohammad Emad Hassan

Dissertations

The Microelectrode Array (MEA) is a collection of parallel electrodes that may measure the extracellular potential of nearby neurons. It is a crucial tool in neuroscience for researching the structure, operation, and behavior of neural networks. Using sophisticated signal processing techniques and architectural templates, the task of processing and evaluating the data streams obtained from MEAs is a computationally demanding one that needs time and parallel processing.
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/="/">This thesis proposes enhancing the capability of MEA signal processing systems by using approximate computing-based algorithms. These algorithms can be implemented in systems that process parallel MEA channels using the Field …

Single-Case Pilot Study For Longitudinal Analysis Of Referential Failures And Sentiment In Schizophrenic Speech From Client-Centered Psychotherapy Recordings, Travis A. Musich

Dissertations

Though computational linguistic analyses have revealed the presence of distinctly characteristic language features in schizophrenic disordered speech, the relative stability of these language features in longitudinal samples is still unknown. This longitudinal pilot study analyzed schizophrenic disordered speech data from the archival therapy audio recordings of one patient spanning 23 years. End-to-end Neural Coreference Resolution software was used to analyze transcribed speech data from three therapy sessions to identify ambiguous pronouns, referred to as referential failures, which were reviewed and confirmed by multiple raters. Speech samples were analyzed using Google Cloud Natural Language API software for sentiment variables (i.e., score, …

Effect Of Fandom On Sports Gambling, Drake Deitch

Dissertations

The goal in this study was to investigate the relationship between fandom and betting. The hypothesis was that sports fans who gambled on their favorite teams would be more likely to make irrational decisions based more closely on emotional attachment than logical thinking. A total of 191 fans of the Chicago Bears (n = 80), Green Bay Packers (n = 57), and Minnesota Vikings (n = 54) were recruited for the study. Participants completed a survey that assessed their knowledge of and love for the three teams. Results indicated fans were far more likely to bet on their team regardless …

The Dark Side Of Leadership: Mid-Level Managers And Their Experience With Hubristic Behaviors Of Executives, Leili Sadaghiani

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to identify the emotional reactions of mid-level managers to executives’ hubris behaviors in a corporate setting.

Methodology: This leadership study uses qualitative phenomenological methodology was executed to explore the lived experiences of mid-level managers with past executives who practiced hubristic behavior.

Findings: The findings of this research on the lived experiences of mid-level managers with hubristic behaviors of executives suggest that the lack of support lessens the mid-level manager’s confidence; with little support; the mid-level manager was either afraid to fight the executive or gave up trying; the mid-level manager faced stress even …

A Middle-Class Mother's Journey On Navigating The Educational System: The Impact Of Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, And Class In Schools, Amy A. Hunter

Dissertations

This is a qualitative autoethnographic study of a Black mother in the Midwest region as she navigates the educational system for her children. This is a research document that informs the reader of the impact of racism and the intersectional identity of race, gender, and motherhood. The importance of intersectionality is highlighted in this research, and so it is that the mother is middle-class to articulate that poverty, access to resources, or the educational attainment of the mother are not necessarily mitigating factors for the treatment she receives within the educational setting. Moreover, is serves as a guide for other …

Cognitive Dysfunction In Older Breast Cancer Survivors, Adele Crouch

Dissertations

Up to 75% of the more than 3.5 million breast cancer survivors (BCS) living in the United States report cognitive dysfunction. However, little is known about cognitive dysfunction among older BCS, who may be at greater risk. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to characterize cognitive dysfunction in older BCS. Specific aims included:

(1) synthesize the literature regarding cognitive dysfunction in older BCS

(2) examine the relationships between a) objective cognitive function (immediate memory, delayed memory, attention, executive function-working memory, verbal fluency) and subjective cognitive function (attention); b) demographic factors, medical factors, treatment factors, and cancer-related symptoms (depressive symptoms, …

Educational Intervention To Mitigate The Effects Of Bullying In The Student Nurse Population, Dawna E. Rutherford

Dissertations

Bullying behaviors are an unfortunate part of the nursing profession. Prominent organizations condemn behavior such as bullying, because of potential harm it could have upon nurses and healthcare. Researchers established the potential detriment of bullying to nurses and have investigated prevention interventions yet limited information regarding interventions for the student nurse population exists. Though complete eradication of bullying from the nursing profession is unlikely, nursing students need to have the appropriate skills to mitigate bullying behaviors.

The goals of the study were to: (1) analyze the state of the science regarding bullying interventions in the nursing profession, (2) evaluate the …

A Descriptive Study Examining The Correlation Of Emotional Intelligence And Leadership Styles To Conflict Management Styles Of Nursing School Administrators, Vicki A. Welch

Dissertations

The study aimed to identify whether a correlation existed among academic nurse administrators emotional intelligence, leadership styles, and conflict management styles. There has been extensive research on emotional intelligence and leadership style in business. However, little research has been conducted about academic nurse leaders. This quantitative, nonexperimental, correlational design utilized convenience sampling.

The Mediating Influence Of Organizational Trust On The Relationship Between Transformational Leadership And Job Satisfaction In The Virtual Workplace, Angela Daniels

Dissertations

Research has shown how leadership influences job satisfaction and organizational trust in the virtual workplace. With an increasing number of organizations shifting to these work environments, it is essential to study the effect of leadership on virtual workers. Prior studies suggest that leadership behaviors significantly impact job satisfaction (Hacker et al., 2019), and leadership plays a crucial role in inspiring employees to achieve the goals and objectives of the organization in a virtual workplace (Miller, 2020). Specifically, transformational leadership behaviors that shape the mindset and actions of employees are significant (Abelha et al., 2018). This study proposed a mediation model …

The K-5 Teacher Experience Of Distance Instruction During School Closures Due To Covid-19, Rose Jenkins

Dissertations

The worldwide health emergency agency due to COVID-19 caused confinement of people and, with it, the closure of schools and the transfer of face-to-face instruction to distance instruction. With a lack of guidance from school crisis management plans, teachers had to adapt to new methodological approaches in confinement at a rapid pace. This study aims to gain knowledge of the experiences of K-5 teachers adopting online instruction during COVID-19 to assist in crisis planning.

A quantitative research design was used to collect and analyze data anonymously through an online survey of K-5 teachers. After statistical data analysis, there was a …

The Influence Of Practice Experiences On Feelings Of Role Proficiency In Emergency Nurse Practitioners: A Phenomenological Study, Daniel Monk

Dissertations

The evolution of this research emerged from experiences in the researcher's clinical practice as a nurse practitioner in a variety of urgent care facilities, and the personal queries raised regarding the consistency of the level of practice and evidenced competency of clinical staff in emergency and unplanned care using the title ";practitioner";. These realities are apparent as at present in the UK no legislative requirement exists for nurse practitioners (NPs) to gain formal preparation or qualification. Guidance and direction have been seen in The Advanced Care Practice framework (HEE,2017), yet legislative protection remains absent. Such legislative protection is however seen …

Impact Of Food Distribution Sites In Rural Neighborhoods At Risk For Food Insecurity In San Bernardino County, Lydia Garcia-Usry

Dissertations

Food security is an important element in the lifespan of individuals, and access to healthy food is important to the quality of life in communities. The significance of food insecurity is reflective of a community that does not have the resources to provide a consistent and stable intake of healthy and nutritious meals. Food insecurity has been linked to chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and the level of poverty in a community. The United States of America reports that 50 million people suffer from food insecurity, and it is reported as an urgent public health problem. …

Improving Depression Screening In Rural Transitional Care Facility, Stephanie Macon-Moore

Dissertations

Mental health screening may facilitate possible identification of depression and referrals to mental health care. At the project site, depression screening were not standardized or implemented standardly. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to determine if the implementation of Pfizer's PHQ-2 depression screening tool would impact the identification of problem symptoms related to mental health disorders and referrals to mental health providers among adult patients in a transitional care facility in rural Idaho over four weeks.

Grit And Leadership: How Exemplary Middle School Principals Use The Principles Of Grit To Accomplish Extraordinary Results, Gabriela Aldana

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify and describe how exemplary middle school principals use the five principles associated with grit (courage, conscientiousness, long-term goals, resilience, and excellence versus perfection) to accomplish extraordinary results in their organization.

Methodology: This phenomenological study described the lived experiences of exemplary middle school principals in Los Angeles and Orange County. The participants were selected through nonprobability purposeful sampling and met the criteria for exemplary middle school principals. As a member of a thematic research team of nine peer researchers and three faculty advisors, we developed a semistructured interview protocol for data …

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, Increasing Surveillance In Newborns, Lindsey N. Clark

Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to improve nursing staff's knowledge of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, identifiable risk factors, how to screen for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, and how to report positive findings from the Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome screen. The goal for implementation of this intervention was to improve the rates of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome screening in the newborn nursery.

Improving Recognition Of Depression Among The Older Adult Population, Keirstin E. Uomoto

Dissertations

Depression is a common mental health disorder faced by older adults that can go undetected and untreated. It was determined that the project site was not using a screening tool for depression among their patient population to identify or treat possible depression. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to determine if the implementation of Yesavage's Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) would impact the identification of risk factors for depression and the initiation of pharmacological treatment, follow-up, and referral to a mental health specialist among adults 65 and older.

Characterization Of Tick And Host-Associated Factors Linked To Induction Of Alpha-Gal Syndrome., Surendra Raj Sharma, Surendra Raj Sharma

Dissertations

Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) is a delayed allergic reaction caused by specific IgE antibodies to the oligosaccharide galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) present in red meat. AGS is a growing concern globally, with over 34,000 confirmed cases in the United States alone. Studies have linked AGS to tick bites, which sensitizes hosts against α-gal antigens and elevates α-gal specific IgE. This dissertation investigates the role of tick and host-associated factors in AGS development. Microbiome analysis of Am. americanum ticks revealed a comprehensive core microbiome profile and showed that new Fransiella-like endosymbionts dominate and outcompete conventional tick Coxiella endosymbionts. Ticks subjected to tetracycline treatment showed …

Design And Fabrication Of Single-Chain Nanoparticles, Vitrimers, Bottlebrush And Comb Polymers, Logan Dugas

Dissertations

The introduction of novel dynamic exchange chemistries into polymer chains and networks has shown great potential of giving next generation polymeric materials. Within the scope of this thesis, dynamic chemistry is employed to realize single-chain nanoparticles, vitrimer networks, bottlebrush and comb polymers. CHAPTER I provides a broad introduction to the topics at hand, focusing upon the techniques utilized to achieve such materials with relevant literature and understanding of the techniques and architectures explored. CHAPTER II focuses upon the synthesis of single-chain nanoparticles via a copolymerization of polyisobutylene macromonomers with norbornene monomers equipped with pendant anthracene moieties. Through this work, the …

The Synthesis, Characterization, And Utilization Of Functionally Diverse Romp-Based Bottlebrushes, Cheyenne Liu

Dissertations

Bottlebrush polymers have garnered interest in many disciplines for their unique structure-property characteristics and potential applications. These polymers typically exhibit extended rodlike conformations as a result of sterically crowded side-chains. Further, extensive work has focused on expanding the synthetic toolbox for these systems, resulting in excellent molecular weight control, diverse functional group utility and corresponding stimuli-responsive behaviors. This dissertation examines both synthetic and stimuli-responsive tools in the context of bottlebrush systems.

A broad overview of bottlebrush characteristics, synthesis, and applications is discussed in CHAPTER I. CHAPTER II focuses on the use of a chain-transfer agent in the ring-opening metathesis polymerization …

Exploring Prelicensure Undergraduate Nursing Students' Lived Experience Of Engagement In Synchronous Online Learning, Heidi A. Little

Dissertations

The continued uncertainty of nursing education pedagogy during a worldwide pandemic has brought heightened awareness and preparation to synchronous online teaching strategies that bolster student success and engagement. The identification of barriers to effective teaching strategies and techniques that foster student engagement is needed in synchronous online learning. Furthermore, building on past synchronous online learning teaching strategies will improve nursing students' overall success and engagement.