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Reproducible Fluid Structure Interaction For Complex Flows In Engineered Systems, Allen Prasad Varghese

Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the application of numerical models to study Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) in the industrial context. The emphasis is on a series of case studies belonging to practical applications in design and manufacturing and that are solved by a synergistic use of theoretical and computational models. The first study looks into the hydrodynamic actions experienced by vibrating slender structures immersed in viscous fluids near the free surface. This study case is relevant to applications such as, for example, marine propulsion, micro-electro-mechanical systems, and atomic force microscopy. The hydrodynamic problem is governed by three parameters, namely the frequency, …

Development Of Super Hydrophobic Membranes And Their Applications, Sumona Paul

Dissertations

Effective liquid phase separation is vital across industries, especially in aviation, chemicals, fuels, and textiles. Membrane technology offers advantages over traditional methods like distillation, with low energy consumption and protection for heat-sensitive molecules. Membrane performance is assessed based on factors such as materials, surface modification, and interactions. This research targets superhydrophobic membranes for liquid-liquid filtration and antiwetting omniphobic membranes for membrane distillation, focusing on properties like contact angle and thermal resistance.

This study presents a highly hydrophobic membrane achieved by immobilizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) onto a PTFE microfiltration membrane. It's designed for dewatering organic-water mixtures with trace water content via …

Building Agency Through Sensemaking: The Transformational Journey And Identity Development Process Of Working Mother Leaders During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Lynn Levis

Dissertations

Working mothers in America have long juggled a multitude of responsibilities while navigating several systemic barriers in the very society that claims to support them. The COVID-19 pandemic had an outsized impact on mothers when children were sent home from daycares and schools to reduce the spread of the virus. This study sought to address an important gap in the literature by using a mixed methods constructivist grounded theory approach to examine how working mothers in leadership positions navigated their various roles and systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection consisted of a survey with 105 respondents, followed by individual, …

Evaluating The Health Literacy Practices Of A Primary Care Health System Serving A Diabetic Population At High Risk For Low Health Literacy, Alana D. Norris-Bermudez

Dissertations

Health literacy (HL) is a powerful determinant of patient health outcomes, yet a minority of the U.S. population possesses proficient health literacy. Healthy People 2030 positions HL prominently among the new overarching goals as follows, "Eliminate health disparities, achieve health equity, and attain health literacy to improve the health and well-being of all" (The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2023). HL comprises two interlinked components: personal HL and organizational HL, (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, n.d.). Implementing HL practices within healthcare system facilities such as hospitals, FQHCs, and/or primary care practices to support universal HL precautions …

Wellness Promotion Quality Improvement Project, Jacqueline K. Cantor

Dissertations

The purpose of this capstone project was to bring evidence-based wellness promotion through physical activity (PA) using the World Health Organization (WHO) (2020) guidelines to Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Nurses (PMH-APRNs) to improve mental health care and provider self-care. The guiding PICOT question was "For PMH-APRNs in community-based mental health practices, will the consistent implementation of the evidence-based intervention of a wellness prescription promoting physical activity based on WHO's (2020) PA Guidelines, compared to no consistent use in current practice, increase the promotion/prescription of PA to their mental health patients and increase the PMH-APRNs' own physical activity over eight …

A Non-Weight Centered Approach To Modifying Eating Attitudes In Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Jo'quishia A. Lethermon

Dissertations

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is an anovulatory disorder characterized by insulin resistance and endocrine dysfunction. Infertility and abnormal weight gain in women of childbearing age are often a result of PCOS, impacting quality of life and posing potential long-term health sequelae. Prescribing weight loss has been adopted by clinicians as an effective intervention to improve insulin resistance. For some patients, this practice has led to the negative effects of weight cycling and disordered eating attitudes which can result in long term adverse cardiometabolic outcomes. A quasi-experimental pre-and-post-test study was conducted to evaluate how a non-weight centered program influences eating attitudes …

Influence Of Social Media On Mothers' Decision-Making Regarding Vaccinations, Wendy M. Patterson

Dissertations

This study involved determining why mothers hesitate to vaccinate their children and where they get their information about vaccinations. This descriptive qualitative study guided by the health belief model explored the influence social media has on mothers' perceived barriers to vaccinating their children. A descriptive qualitative approach was used, and one-on-one audio interviews were conducted via Zoom or in person with 19 participants. Participants were mothers 19 or older, had children between zero and 18, made medical decisions for their children who resided in their household, and sought information about vaccinations via healthcare providers, social media platforms, friends, or family. …

Reducing Maternal Morbidity From Peripartum Hemorrhage In Cesarean Delivery, Jennie Lee

Dissertations

Background/Purpose: Maternal hemorrhage is the second highest cause of direct maternal death and the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. This public health crisis is highlighted by the economic burden of over $30.8 million annually in the United States. The greatest tragedy in the review of maternal mortality is that 84% of pregnancy-related deaths were determined preventable. Identifying trends of factors that predispose women to hemorrhage can mitigate rates of severe maternal morbidity and mortality. This study describes relationships among demographic factors (maternal age, race, and ethnicity), clinical and physiologic factors, which include coexisting medical conditions …

Evaluating Effective Communication Of Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Christine N. Brockway

Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine how communication evaluation by clinical faculty compared in a clinical setting versus a simulation setting for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students. Fifty (50) BSN students from three different schools of nursing were scored using the Interprofessional Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation Nurse to Physician Rubric in both clinical and simulation settings by seven nursing faculty. Scoring for each student occurred in both settings during one semester. Following the evaluation, students and faculty were asked to participate in a focus group to discuss their experience. Results from this study showed …

The Effect Of Guideline Education On Anticoagulatin Management And Professional Collaboration In Ecmo Patients, Luis E. Farfan

Dissertations

This project aims to assist nurses and advanced practice nurses in preventing thrombosis and bleeding during ECMO treatment. It suggests following established anticoagulation guidelines, providing comprehensive education, and promoting teamwork among healthcare professionals. This approach can enhance patient outcomes by increasing knowledge and collaboration, ultimately leading to optimal administration of unfractionated heparin. Over approximately 20 weeks, the project was undertaken to enhance knowledge pertinent to anticoagulation management in patients undergoing Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). This initiative involved facilitating educational sessions tailored for nurses and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) and focused on improving collaborative processes between these healthcare professionals.

Exploring Moral Distress In Icu Nurse Practitioners: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study, Steven L. Bocchese

Dissertations

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) working in the intensive care environment experience clinical and operational anxiety, such as moral distress. Moral distress occurs when an individual knows the ethically correct action but cannot take it due to internal or external constraints or violation of their professional core values. Historically, nurses have experienced moral distress at higher levels than other healthcare professionals, especially those in intensive care units (ICUs). This phenomenological study aimed to describe the lived experience of moral distress in ICU NPs, specifically emphasizing its effect on their personal and professional lives. Research on moral distress has demonstrated that individuals who …

Concept-Based Debriefing And Concept Mastery: A Pilot Study Linking Debriefing To Nursing Concept Mastery, Crystel L. Farina

Dissertations

Increases in patient acuity and comorbidities in acute care settings require students to possess a greater depth and breadth of knowledge compared to decades ago. Additionally, there is an urgency to adapt nursing education to meet current healthcare trends. Simulation is a pedagogical strategy to enhance critical thinking and clinical decision-making in nursing education. Simulation scenarios are a psychologically safe environment where nursing students may practice patient care and learn from their mistakes (Rudolph et al., 2014). The debriefing following the simulation scenario provides opportunities for self-reflection on actions taken during the simulation scenario. Currently, five debriefing methods support students' …

Development And Evaluation Of A Teamstepps® Program Among Cardiac Procedural Unit Staff In A Mid-Atlantic Community Hospital To Improve Teamwork And Patient Safety, Dawn K. Mutchko

Dissertations

Communication and teamwork between members of the non-provider patient care team in the cardiac procedural unit were observed to be unbalanced and at times ineffective. Team members additionally expressed concerns regarding efficiency and accuracy in patient handoff, specifically between units. The goal of this study was to improve teamwork and communication among the staff of the cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology lab. Participation in this initial, single-unit phase would include the non-physician staff of that unit.

Black School Leader Truth: How Black School Leader Epistemology Influences Liberatory Mindset Development In Their Staff, Orpheus Williams

Dissertations

Black students in the United States have consistently been denied access to empowering, culturally affirming, and responsive learning experiences in the traditional public system. The epistemological and pedagogical beliefs embedded in a liberatory mindset can subvert this pattern of disempowerment (Shujaa, 1998). Black school leaders (BSLs) who understand the systemic and institutional pressures Black children may face and have to overcome, having undergone similarly racialized experiences in school, are uniquely placed to create liberatory spaces for Black students by recruiting and developing these liberatory mindsets in their staff. This instrumental case study used qualitative research methods of front-porch pedagogy (McTighe …

Intercultural Perspectives On Managing Organizational Change In Response To Government Policy Reform: A Case Study On The Leadership Of New Oriental Education, Yihe Yang

Dissertations

In 2021, a policy aimed at addressing educational inequality triggered a significant upheaval in the private tutoring sector of China by fundamentally transforming prevailing business models and financial viability within the industry. New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (New Oriental Education), one of the preeminent private tutoring enterprises in China, attracted considerable attention for its subsequent organizational change. This study explored the leadership dynamics and organizational change efforts implemented by New Oriental after the policy enactment.

The theoretical framework synthesized organizational change theory, organizational culture, and transformative leadership approaches from both Western and Chinese perspectives. It elucidated effective practices …

Who We Are Is How We Lead: Storytelling As An Intervention In A Manager Development Program, Brittany Grieb

Dissertations

Leadership development programs (LDPs) have long been recognized as a means for organizations to develop their leaders, yet studies on their efficacy or use of creative interventions are limited. Despite the plethora of leadership studies that exist today, research is still seeking to answer the question: what is the best way to develop leaders? This qualitative study sought to investigate how storytelling can be used as an intervention for leadership development in a manager development program (MDP), an LDP for entry-level to midlevel managers at a biotechnology corporation. Using storytelling as an Indigenous model for knowledge cocreation as a framework, …

Ripple Of Hope: Understanding The Lived Experience And Academic Achievement Of Latinx Students At Arrupe College And Dougherty Family College: A Case Study, Richard P. Virgin

Dissertations

One of the most common and important entry points into higher education for Latinx and other underrepresented students is through community college. However, national completion rates for Latinx community college students have been trailing their white peers. This gap in academic achievement has prevailed since the 1990s. The trailing rates of degree completion for Latinx students can lead to lower lifetime salary earnings, lack of career advancement, greater risk of losing employment, and an increased chance of living in poverty. However, a successful community college model may be seen as a disruptor in the educational sector due to its much …

Borderland Voices: Exploring The Educational Journey Of Transfronterizx Students, Families, And Educators For Enhanced Engagement And Empowerment, Sobeida Velazquez

Dissertations

Transfronterizx students and their families cross the U.S.–Mexico border for academic, economic, social, cultural, and linguistic reasons. Socioeconomic disparities, deportation, and work have propelled some families to live in Mexico and enroll their U.S.-born children in U.S. schools to provide more socioeconomic opportunities in the United States. Educators of transfronterizx students are uniquely tasked to work with these nontraditional students. Moreover, transfronterizx students and their families have distinct needs in U.S. schools; as such, there is a need for further research on the transfronterizx experience in the U.S. K–12 system. This qualitative narrative inquiry study aimed to understand the experiences …

Movin’ On Up: The Lived Experience Of Women Of Color In Leadership And The Supports That Helped Them Make It To The Top, Rozina Kapadia

Dissertations

Purpose: The number of women of color in leadership continues to be significantly lower than the number of men. The lack of opportunity combined with the lack of support results in less women of color in leadership. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of women of color in their roles as leaders in corporate environments with respect to the support (personal supports, organizational supports, cultural supports, and stereotypical supports) received. Specifically, the research examined the stories of female leaders of color to understand how their experiences have supported or hindered their growth in leadership. …

A Phenomenological Study On The Perceived Impact Of Bass's Four I'S Of Transformational Leadership, Yarissa Marn

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe World of Warcraft game leaders’ perceptions of the impact on their guilds regarding Bass’s 4 I’s of transformational leadership.

Methodology: This qualitative study interviewed 13 World of Warcraft game leaders who have led their guild members for at least one year. The main source of data collection was semi-structured open-ended interview questions with other resources to include artifacts. The researcher coded and analyzed data for themes and patterns.

Findings: Several domains of Bass’s Four I’s Transformational Leadership framework were found to have an impact on World of Warcraft …

A Comparison Of Emotional Intelligence And Resilience Between Bachelor's Degree And Associate Degree Nursing Students, Natalie Board

Dissertations

Emotional intelligence and resilience are essential proficiencies critical for nurses to deliver safe and quality patient care. In the healthcare industry, nurses are exposed to numerous complex circumstances in demanding and high-stress environments. The quality of patient care a nurse can deliver depends on one's capacity to handle certain situations effectively. Emotional intelligence and resilience were potentially important variables in improving clinical practices and patient outcomes (Cleary et al., 2018). With the nursing shortage in the US, all nurses became necessary and required on the front lines of patient care during this time of dire need, regardless of their levels …

Addressing Barriers To Medication Adherence: An Evidence-Based Screening Instrument Validation Study, Donna Washburn

Dissertations

Adherence to a prescribed medication regimen is often critical to successful disease management. Cancer diagnoses often further complicate control of the comorbid diseases. Older cancer patients with multiple comorbidities receiving chemotherapy treatment are at increased risk for adverse health outcomes from uncontrolled disease when nonadherent to their medication regimen. The intent of this pilot study was to test the validity of an evidence-based screening instrument designed to identify patients at risk for medication nonadherence and uncontrolled illness. The W-BMA (Washburn-Barrier to Medication Adherence) screening criteria were applied to retrospective data of cancer patients with multiple co-morbidities. SPSS was used to …

Pain Interference In Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Examining A Resilience Model Of Dispositional Optimism, Coping Responses, And Mind-Body Practices, Trey Heffernan

Dissertations

Chronic musculoskeletal pain is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Pain interference, or the ways chronic pain negatively interferes with everyday life, is the biggest problem impacting individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Although previous research has targeted risk factors associated with poor health outcomes, the adaptive functioning of some patients with chronic pain highlights a need for research investigating resilience factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the direct and indirect relationships between resilience factors of optimism, coping responses, and mind-body practices on pain interference for individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Specifically, the resilience model …

Distance Caregiving A Parent With Advanced Cancer, Polly M. Mazenec

Dissertations

Distance caregiving, which is the experience of providing instrumental and/or emotional support to an ill loved one who lives a long distance from the caregiver, is a recent caregiving phenomenon. Although much is known about caregiving a family member with cancer, there has been almost no research describing the experience of caregiving from a distance and intervention studies are non-existent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of distance on caregiver reaction (benefit and burden) and to explore predictors of caregiver psychological well-being (depression, anxiety, and distress) in distance caregivers of parents with advanced cancer. A conceptual …

Psychosocial Determinants Of Suicidal Ideation Among Thai Women, Raya T. Albataineh

Dissertations

According to a Thai Public Health Ministry spokesman, more than 300 Thai individuals commit complete suicide per month, making Thailand the nation with the third-most suicides in the world. Despite the high rates of suicidal ideation in Thai adult women, the predictors associated with suicidal ideation rates are still unknown. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine those predictors, specifically the extent to which quality of life, intimate partner violence, social support, employment status, partnership status, and parenthood status predict suicidal ideation in this population.

Relationships Among Self-Care Behaviors And Professional Quality Of Life In Oncology Nurses, Susan M. Politsky

Dissertations

Oncology nurses distinguish themselves as providing strength and support for their patients who are receiving treatments to combat the diagnoses of cancer. Nurses are affected by the act of their honest caring and the compassion they provide to their patients. This caring and compassion can unintentionally lead to positive or negative outcomes for the nurse. Caring for oneself is often not a priority of oncology nurses. Introducing and incorporating self-care behaviors may have a direct impact on the well-being of oncology nurses. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among the components of self-care behaviors and the …

Expediting Stroke Transfers: Improving Door-In Door-Out Times In A Community Hospital Emergency Department, Susan E. Maynard

Dissertations

Patients with acute ischemic stroke are at high risk for death and disability without rapid treatment. Thrombectomy is a time-sensitive procedure that can restore blood flow to the brain.

A Correlational Study Of The Relationship Of Nurses' Pain Assessment And Patients' History Of Substance Abuse, Valerie A. Esposito Kubanick

Dissertations

Patients experience physical pain for a myriad of reasons. The patients' expression of pain is often difficult to quantify and treat based on individuality of the patients and the viewpoint of the nurses. Therefore, the treatment of pain can become discounted or marginalized, especially in patients who use alcohol or drugs. The use of opioids is the gold standard for pain management, but current administering trends are to use less, or to use non-opioid treatments for fear of patient dependency. There is also an opioid epidemic and patients are sometimes categorized into this unfortunate situation as a precaution. Nevertheless, pain …

Finding Focus: Authentic Inquiry And Composition In The Third Space, Noah Brewer

Dissertations

This research seeks to better understand the attitudes and dispositions of advanced-level English Language Arts students toward the activities of academic research and writing, and to explore the ways that critical pedagogies focused on authentic inquiry and composition interact with these attitudes. The project draws upon research in student motivation, sociocultural definitions of literacy, and theories of hybrid identity in order to discover the potential impact of engaging students in critical reflection on their own meaning-making practices, and of curricular and pedagogical choices aimed at making the lessons of the classroom more relevant to the demands of real-world literacy practices …

A Phenomenographical Study Of One School’S Efforts To Improve Student Reading Skills And Parent Literacy Support, Karey L. Williams

Dissertations

Providing early literacy training for children is a vital part of establishing the foundation for the learning they will do for the rest of their lives, so it is important that we do the right work from the start. Unfortunately, too many children are still reading below grade level by third grade, and instead of reading to learn new materials, they are still trying to learn to read. At Van Buren Elementary School, there are many challenges for students and teachers. The school’s Free and Reduced lunch rate is over 86%, the students receiving English to Speakers of Other Languages …