Digital Commons Network^™

"My Longest Relationship Is With Food": Exploring Eating Related Behaviors Throughout The Gender Identity Journey Of Transgender Males, Angeles Polett Coss

Dissertations

This study sought to explore how transgender adult males have navigated the development of their eating behaviors throughout their gender identity trajectory. While recent research has focused on gender identity development and protective factors of the transgender community, this study explored and examined elements regarding the eating related behaviors of transgender males. Interviews were conducted with six participants within the United States during semi structured virtual sessions; the age range of participants was 19 to 35. Results of this research revealed identity management, Sociopolitical discourse, identity management and inter-relational identity affirmations as inter-multicultural segments that connected with eating related behaviors …

California School Psychologists’ Assessment Practices With Cld Students: A Phenomenological Study, Hector Manuel Teran Jr.

Dissertations

School psychologists are tasked with assessing students to qualify them for special education, typically using standardized tests. Standardized testing, like IQ testing, routinely used in the psycho-educational process, serves to justify prejudices, as they often mark people of color as intellectually inferior to White people. A closer look at school psychologists’ assessment practices with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students is necessary, as these students have historically been placed in special education at a higher percentage, likely due to misperceptions related to their race, ethnicity, or linguistic background. While IQ tests are regarded as tools that identify the needs of …

Phenolic Compounds In Date Fruits (Phoenix Dactylifera L.), Muneeba Zubair Alam

Dissertations

This study investigated the phenolic compounds in date fruits, mainly soluble and hydrolyzable compounds, and insoluble melanin. Soluble (27.5–54.0 mg/100 g FW) and hydrolyzable (24.0–78.5 mg/100g FW) phenolic compounds were determined in 18 cultivars using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Phenolic acids were predominant in both fractions while flavonoids were mainly present in the soluble phenolic fraction and the proanthocyanidin B1 and B2 were only present in the hydrolyzable fraction. Four total antioxidant activity assays (total phenolic content, ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH) gave different results for both the soluble and hydrolysable fractions of 26 date fruit cultivars, which …

Mapping The Invisible: Machine Learning And Geovisualization Methods For Groundwater Management, Khalid Galal Elhaj

Dissertations

Groundwater is a vital global resource, yet mapping and managing aquifers remains challenging due to costs and complexities. This doctoral dissertation pioneers novel data-driven methodologies harnessing machine learning and hydrogeology domain knowledge to sustainably characterize and monitor aquifer systems. The overarching hypothesis investigated is that time series clustering of historical well hydrographs can enable low-cost delineation of aquifer boundaries by detecting response similarities between wells sharing the same aquifer. To test this, three interconnected studies were conducted. First, a specialized time series clustering framework was developed incorporating a global temporal alignment index and custom dissimilarity metrics tuned for hydrogeology. The …

The Role Of Abu Dhabi's Nearshore Marine Environments In The Ecology Of Elasmobranch Fishes, Stephan Bruns

Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the role of inshore habitats in the ecology of elasmobranch fishes, with a specific focus on the wider Khor Fardiah Region on the eastern site of Abu Dhabi City. Once the vulnerability of these environments to anthropogenic pressure and climate change is recognised, it is clear that nearshore environments are susceptible to adverse outcomes. Hence, this dissertation aims to provide informative data that can help in devising effective conservation strategies. The study used a multi-survey technique approach, including stereo-BRUVS, acoustic telemetry, and satellite tracking, in combination with local ecological knowledge to explore the species diversity and habitat …

Valorization Of Date Palm Waste For The Isolation, Characterization, And Surface Chemistry Modification Of Nanocellulose, Mohsin Raza

Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the utilization of date palm waste, a lignocellulosic material, as a source for the extraction of nanocellulose (NC), a versatile biopolymer with applications in biodegradable composites, bioplastics, and food packaging. Conventional methods of NC production using mineral acids such as sulphuric and hydrochloric acid are reaching their limits of toxicity, so more environmentally friendly alternatives such as ionic liquids (ILs) are being explored. The research focuses on the characterization of different date palm wastes to evaluate their α−cellulose content, lignocellulosic character, and thermal stability. By comparing extraction methods with mineral acids and ILs, the study evaluates …

The Relationship Between Undergraduate Student Leadership Potential And Selfperceived Employability And The Moderating Role Of Student Engagement, Aizhan Shomotova

Dissertations

The employability of university graduates is increasingly crucial for economic development, particularly in the Arab region, where youth unemployment is escalating. This thesis examines the Self-Perceived Employability (SPE) among undergraduate students in the UAE, exploring its relationship with Leadership Potential (LP) and Higher Education Student Engagement (HESE). Previous studies underscore the importance of aligning higher education outcomes with labour market demands. Research in student leadership and student engagement emphasizes that proactive engagement and leadership development are pivotal in enhancing employability. This thesis builds on these findings, focusing on the unique context of the UAE. A quantitative methodology was used to …

Sharp Injuries And Splash Exposures Among Healthcare Workers In The United Arab Emirates, Ibtisam Aref Karkaz

Dissertations

Brief introduction: Occupational injuries, including sharps injuries and splash exposures, pose significant risks to healthcare workers worldwide. These incidents can lead to the transmission of bloodborne infections, resulting in substantial healthcare costs and workforce challenges. Aims: The present study aimed at investigating sharps injuries and splash exposures among healthcare workers in Abu Dhabi government hospitals. To achieve the aim, the study planned to determine the frequency of sharps injuries and splash exposures, and to identify their risk factors, applied preventive measures, and consequent occupational infections. Method: Secondary data from the available records of all sharp injuries and splash exposures reported …

Genetic, In Vitro Phenotypic, And Clinical Characterization Of Atypical Enteropathogenic E. Coli Infection And Pathogenesis, Sarah E. Kralicek

Dissertations

Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) are enteric pathogens that are non-invasive, lack Shiga toxin, and use a type 3 secretion system encoded on the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) pathogenicity island to translocate bacterial effector proteins into host intestinal epithelial cells leading to diarrhea. Atypical EPEC (aEPEC), in contrast to typical EPEC (tEPEC), lack bundle-forming pili, likely altering adherence and pathogenicity. Detection of aEPEC with co-infecting pathogens and in some asymptomatic individuals leads to questions regarding aEPEC virulence, especially in adults. I aimed to characterize the clinical manifestations of aEPEC infection and the genetic and in vitro phenotypic factors that contribute …

Elucidating The Underlying Mechanisms Polyamines Play On Coxsackievirus B3 Infection, Mason Richard Firpo

Dissertations

Polyamines are a class of metabolites consisting of small carbon chains that contain amine groups and are positively charged at cellular pH. They play many important roles within the cell and are necessary for cell growth, membrane function, transcription, and translation. They are also required by a myriad of viruses for a productive infection. This includes the non-polio enterovirus Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3). CVB3 is a cardiotropic virus that can readily infect the heart and cause irreversible damage which can eventually lead to dilated cardiomyopathy and the need for a heart transplant. Unfortunately, there are no approved antivirals or vaccines that …

Investigating The Role Of Diet In Modulating Neuroinflammation In Health And Disease, Rasa Valiauga

Dissertations

An estimated 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, with the prevalence expected to drastically increase in the coming years as the population ages. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and the substantial burden associated with AD has been recognized as a growing public health issue. Despite significant advancements in uncovering the mechanisms which play a role in disease pathology, there is currently no cure or effective treatments. AD is highly complex and multifactorial, with accumulation of misfolded protein, oxidative stress, and inflammation among the numerous etiological processes implicated in disease pathogenesis. While genetic risk factors …

The Role Of Extracellular Vesicles And Their Cargo In Intercellular Communication, Chongyu Zhang

Dissertations

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membranous vesicles secreted by most cells. They contain lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, including microRNAs (miRNA), and function in intercellular communication by endocytosis into other cells. EVs in diseased states carry miRNAs and proteins reflective of the changed state of cells and can be endocytosed into other cells to exert regulatory effects. Thus, EVs represent a form of paracrine genetic regulation in health and disease. Myocardial infarction (MI) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are leading causes of cardiovascular deaths worldwide. It is important to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that could lead to medical advances. Circulating …

How Elementary School Principals Successfully Led Through The Turbulence Of The Covid-19 Crisis, Juan Chavez

Dissertations

Purpose: This phenomenological study aimed to discover and describe behaviors elementary school principals practiced while leading their schools through the turbulent times of COVID-19 using the leadership attributes of personal temperament, concern for collective interest, resilience, and moral purpose, as perceived by elementary school teachers. Methodology: This qualitative study used a phenomenological research design. Data were collected from interviews 12 with elementary school teachers in Monterey County to discover and describe behaviors their principals practiced in leading their schools through the turbulent times of COVID-19. Findings: The study revealed 16 themes related to behaviors elementary school principals used related to …

Adaptive Leadership: Nurse Executives Building Organizational Adaptive Capacity During Times Of Crisis, Challenge, And Change, Kristian Poitier

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this exploratory phenomenological study was to identify and describe the strategies used by nurse executives in acute care hospitals to build an adaptive capacity based on the five key characteristics of adaptive leadership identified by Heifetz et al. (2009).

Methodology: This qualitative phenomenological study identified and described the perceived impact of adaptive leadership on building an organization’s adaptive capacity as perceived by nurse executives in acute care hospitals, for-profit and not-for-profit, with the title of chief nursing officer (CNO) or chief nurse executive (CNE) in Southeast, West, and North Florida. The researcher was part of a …

Millennial Latina Non-Profit Leaders: Exploring Self-Sabotaging Behaviors And Their Journey To Reclaiming Their Power, Tatiana Mendoza-Larreynaga

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed method study was to identify and describe self-sabotaging behaviors experienced by Millennial Latina nonprofit C-Suite leaders and explore the impact of these behaviors on their career development. A secondary purpose of this study was to identify strategies employed by Millennial Latina nonprofit leaders to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors.

Methodology: Employing a mixed method sequential explanatory design, the research involved eight Millennial Latina nonprofit leaders, utilizing convenience and snowball sampling. Data collection included electronic Likert scales to quantify self-sabotaging behaviors and interviews to explore lived experiences. Analysis sought to identify prevalent behaviors and strategies for overcoming …

Mathematical Modeling For Dental Decay Prevention In Children And Adolescents, Mahdiyeh Soltaninejad

Dissertations

The high prevalence of dental caries among children and adolescents, especially those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, is a significant nationwide health concern. Early prevention, such as dental sealants and fluoride varnish (FV), is essential, but access to this care remains limited and disparate. In this research, a national dataset is utilized to assess sealants' reach and effectiveness in preventing tooth decay, particularly focusing on 2nd molars that emerge during early adolescence, a current gap in the knowledge base. FV is recommended to be delivered during medical well-child visits to children who are not seeing a dentist. Challenges and facilitators in …

Exemplary Elementary School Principals’ Use Of Emotional Intelligence As They Lead Their Organizations In Rural Areas, William Cook

Dissertations

The roles of school leaders have evolved from a more conventional focus, one encompassing independent leadership, to a relational leadership approach that is more open and personable (Hoyle et al., 2005). The purpose of this qualitative multicase study was to describe the emotional intelligence strategies that exemplary elementary principals in rural areas use as they respond to leadership challenges in their school organizations based on Goleman’s (2006) four domains of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management). A secondary purpose of the study was for exemplary elementary principals in rural demographics to explain how their use of emotional …

Returning To School After A Pandemic And The Lived Experiences Of Rural High School Mathematics Teachers On Student Success, Joshua Saúl Silva

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological methodology investigation was to examine and describe rural mathematics teachers’ lived experiences on the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic on freshman students returning to school after being online for 2 years through the lens of Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy and serves as part of a thematic dissertation with each researcher focusing on different educators in the K-12 school system.

Methodology: Through qualitative methodology utilizing one-on-one interviews of nine rural high school freshman mathematics teachers with 5 or more years of experience before, during, and after the COVID-19 global pandemic, data was analyzed …

Autoethnographies Exploring The Cultural Spirit Murdering And Nurturing Of Three Minority Educators In K-12, Sara Z. Beg, Maritza Caldera, Denise Ross

Dissertations

This autoethnography sought to understand how our experiences during our K-12 journey as three minority students shaped our identities as students and our teaching style today. An autoethnography allowed us to analyze our experiences through the lens of Cultural Spirit Nurturing and Cultural Spirit Murdering. Cultural Spirit Nurturing, as we defined it, is the acceptance, respect, and inclusion of different cultures, ethnicities, nationalities, races, languages, and religions in society. We dissected our lived moments as Pakistani Muslim American, African American, and Mexican American students turned educators, defined them as Cultural Spirit Nurturing or Murdering, and bridged them with the concepts …

A Classic Delphi Study: To Identify And Describe How Elementary School Teacher Leaders Create And Foster A School Culture That Supports Social-Emotional Learning, Nicole Lindemuth

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this Delphi study was to identify the strategies that elementary teacher leaders use to create and foster a school culture that supports the five Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) competencies (self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, self-management, and responsible decision making). An additional purpose was to identify what teacher leaders perceive to be the most effective strategies for creating and fostering a school culture that supports these social and emotional learning (SEL) competencies.

Methodology: This study used the Delphi method to collect data from elementary teacher leaders serving Grades TK–6 to identify their strategies …

A Multi-Site Qualitative Analysis Of The Juvenile Justice And Child Welfare Systems: Implications For Dual System Youth, Lauren Morgan

Dissertations

Researchers have been studying juveniles who experience both child maltreatment and delinquency for decades. These studies document the prevalence, outcomes, and demographics of youth who navigate child welfare and juvenile justice systems, also known as dual system youth. However, there is a lack of investigation into the complex processes occurring at the intersection of these two systems. This dissertation aims to fill that gap by building on previous research, organizational theory, and the growing area of punishment literature in criminal justice. The goal is to better understand how juvenile justice and child welfare systems organizationally manage dual system youth. Specifically, …

Self-Sabotaging Behaviors Of Female Chief Executive Officers Of Behavioral Health Organizations And Power Tactics Used To Leadhership, Jennifer Salgado

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this sequential, explanatory mixed-methods study was to identify and describe personal power tactics that female Chief Executive Officers of behavioral health nonprofit organizations employ to overcome four identified self-sabotaging behaviors from the Self-Sabotaging Framework adapted from Lerner (2012) and Ryder and Briles (2003).

Methodology: This sequential mixed methods research study deployed a phenomenological approach to identify and describe the lived experiences of six female Chief Executive Officers of behavioral health nonprofit organizations in California. Data collection included interviews consisting of eight semistructured questions and 28 survey questions. Interviews were recorded and transcribed to support data analysis …

Finding Combinatorial Patterns In Real Valued Omics Data, Kenneth Smith

Dissertations

Precision medicine is a healthcare approach which tailors disease prevention and treatment to an individual, based on their genetics, environment, lifestyle, and physiological state. These factors interact to produce biological changes that can be measured to produce data called omics, and include genomics, lipidomics, and proteomics. Despite the abundance of omics data and analysis techniques, researchers still struggle to identify biological findings that replicate across data sets and translate into clinical applications. In this dissertation, we employ combinatorial optimization techniques to improve upon three steps in the precision medicine analysis pipeline: 1) data cleaning, 2) community detection, and 3) feature …

In What Ways Do Perceptions By Faculty, Students, And Advisors In An Urban University Contribute To Undergraduate Student Success?, Carla Jordan

Dissertations

This study employs a mixed-methods approach to explore perceptions of academic advising among faculty, advisors, and undergraduate students at an urban university in the Midwest, focusing on its implications for student success. Utilizing Creswell’s research design framework, the research integrates quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to understand the relationship between academic advising and student outcomes.

Informed by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, the study examines how beliefs, behaviors, and environmental factors shape academic experiences and success. It employs the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) from George Kuh’s student engagement framework as a quantitative tool to measure student engagement and …

Why We Stay - Considering The Past, Contemplating The Present, And Suggestions For The Future, Joelle Mcintosh, Erika S. Johnson

Dissertations

This dissertation examines the complex teaching landscape through historical and contemporary lenses, exploring the various societal changes and challenges that have shaped teacher motivations over the decades. The researchers use autoethnography and duoethnography methodologies to explore two educators' personal and professional lives, highlighting their resilience and adaptability amid evolving educational demands and societal pressures. These educators' narrative journeys and dialog reveal the deeply personal and contextual nature of teaching, underscoring the importance of identity, cultural background, and the ability to find joy and fulfillment despite challenges. This research sets the stage for a reflective and insightful exploration of the teaching …

Relations Between Prior Racial Microaggressions, Expat Motivation, And Life Satisfaction Among African American Expat Women In Mexico, Patricia Keller

Dissertations

Microaggressions refer to subtle forms of racism that occur in everyday interactions, often conveying hostile or demeaning messages. These experiences can have a negative impact on the psychological well-being and life satisfaction of African Americans. However, there is a lack of research that explores the relationship between microaggressions and the life satisfaction of African American women who have relocated abroad. Additionally, little is known of the contemporary motivations for expatriation of African American women. A review of African American historical migration, study abroad participation, and tourism lays the framework for examining recent expatriation. The purpose of this study was to …

Confronting Whiteness: When Critical Whites Studies And Racial Trauma Collide: An Autoethnography, Tracy Barron

Dissertations

This autoethnographic dissertation research explores Critical White Studies (CWS) and racial trauma and their impact on Students of Color in a higher education setting. This study aims to challenge the deficit thinking of white educators who perpetuate racism in higher education. The relationship is examined to dismantle the white ideology of white educators who believe they have the same experiences of their Students of Color regardless of their own similar experiences. Through personal narratives the author will share the complexity of CWS and Racial Trauma. The findings suggest white educators need to examine their white identity and become culturally responsive …

Aren't Only Girls Secretaries…?”: Leadership Lessons From Women U.S. Secretaries Of State, Lindsay Allen

Dissertations

American political systems, predominantly steered by White males, often conform to masculine leadership paradigms derived from traditionally male-dominated domains like the U.S. government. Thus, it is vital to explore women’s roles in political leadership to foster a more comprehensive understanding of effective leadership.

The purpose of this study was to examine how women who have served as U.S. secretary of state exhibited leadership. Of the 71 people to have served as secretary of state, just three have been women: Madeleine Albright, Condoleezza Rice, and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Due to the complexity of gendered experiences, and the challenges of having direct …

A Holistic And Collaborative Behavioral Health Detection Framework Using Sensitive Police Narratives, Martin Keagan Wynne Brown

Dissertations

Identifying behavioral health is paramount for law enforcement officers to provide appropriate follow-up community care. In the current practice, law enforcement offices manually identify these behavioral health cases to allow the designation of the relevant follow-up resources. Police reports generated by officers' response to 911 calls remain an untapped resource for identifying such incidents. Therefore, we advocate for the incorporation of manual annotations from experts, natural language processing (NLP), active learning, advanced machine learning, and ensemble techniques to detect behavioral health cases within police reports. In this dissertation, we develop tools and frameworks to automatically detect behavioral health cases from …

"There Is Power In Being Out": A Three Article Approach Celebrating The Experiences Of Queer University Leaders, Andrew R. E. Lorenzana

Dissertations

Institutions of higher education were historically built to serve a wealthy, White, straight male student population and the leaders of these institutions still largely reflect these demographics. This project specifically aims to celebrate and amplify the life and career of university administrators who identify within the LGBTQ community. Mainly through the use of a portraiture methodology, this three-article study attempts to examine the ways in which LGBTQ identity and career influence one another.

Worldmaking and narrative will be used as a theoretical frame to help analyze the ways in which the telling of a queer individual’s story makes the world …