Digital Commons Network^™

Analysis Of Power Quality Constrained Consumer-Friendly Demand Response In Low Voltage Distributions Network, Chittesh Veni Chandran

Dissertations

Load management using demand response (DR) in a low voltage distribution network (LVDN) offers an economically profitable business platform with peak load management. However, the inconvenience caused to the consumer in depriving their devices and the low levels of associated incentive have contributed to lower consumer acceptance for DR programs in the community. However, with the increasing number of controllable consumer loads, a residential-level DR program is highly plausible in the short to medium term. Further, additional DR capabilities (including ancillary services) are likely to improve the remuneration potential for participants in DR. Considering the perspective of a distribution network …

Family, School And Community Educational Partnerships: Development Of A Comprehensive Program For The United Arab Emirates, Sherin M. Abu Shamon

Dissertations

Family, school and community educational partnerships (FSCEPs) contribute significantly to the development and growth of students. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), this has not received due consideration. This study aimed to evaluate current FSCEPs practices and develop a comprehensive, culturally appropriate program for the UAE. A three-phase mixed method design was used: exploratory sequential design phase, developmental phase using the Delphi Method, and a pilot to test the proposed model. Structured and semi-structured interviews, observation and case study surveys were used to investigate current FSCEPs implementation; barriers and opportunities influencing practices and partnerships, and recommendations from participants. Data was …

The Relationship Between Teacher Preparation And Attrition In The Teaching Field, Gerardo Trujillo

Dissertations

In this study, the researcher investigated the relationship between the preservice preparation and attrition in the field of teachers employed at Chicago Public Schools. The researcher administered a survey to teachers working in Chicago and its neighboring suburbs, and their responses revealed their perceptions about their preparation program and their real-world experiences in the classroom. The results indicated that new teachers need coursework in the areas of classroom management, social-emotional skill integration, and cultural competence. The expectation is that the findings will support the creation of a uniform policy for all universities to implement nationwide. Such a program could result …

Recovering Untold Stories: Everyday Lives Of Women In Republican Istanbul, 1930-1960, Zehra Betul Atasoy

Dissertations

This research explores the everyday lives of urban women from various social strata in Istanbul between 1930 and 1960. It designates the implications of the Republican reforms in urban spaces and concentrates on untold stories of women who belonged to varying social settings and professions. The everyday life of the city became more complex with the increase in participation of women during these decades. This research examines the myriad ways in which women asserted themselves in the urban fabric, following three threads. First, women's leisure and economic activities in the newly built public squares are investigated. Then, industrial workers and …

Molecular Mechanism Of Cyanobacteria Circadian Clock Oscillator And Effect Of Co Factors On Its Oscillation, Manpreet Kaur

Dissertations

The circadian rhythms arise as an adaptation to the environmental 24-hour day and night cycle due to Earth's rotation. These rhythms prepare organisms to align their internal biological activities and day to day behavior or events with the environmental change of the 24-hour day and night cycle. Circadian rhythms are found widely in all living kingdoms of life on Earth. Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes which first used to study these circadian rhythms. Among cyanobacterial species, Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (henceforth, S. Elongatus) is the simplest organism with a durable and sturdy circadian clock and is study as a model organism. …

Human-Robot Interaction For Assistive Robotics, Jiawei Li

Dissertations

This dissertation presents an in-depth study of human-robot interaction (HRI) withapplication to assistive robotics. In various studies, dexterous in-hand manipulation is included, assistive robots for Sit-To-stand (STS) assistance along with the human intention estimation. In Chapter 1, the background and issues of HRI are explicitly discussed. In Chapter 2, the literature review introduces the recent state-of-the-art research on HRI, such as physical Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), robot STS assistance, dexterous in hand manipulation and human intention estimation. In Chapter 3, various models and control algorithms are described in detail. Chapter 4 introduces the research equipment. Chapter 5 presents innovative theories and …

High-Speed Rail Safety Analysis Based On Dual-Weighted Complex Network, Liu Lv

Dissertations

This study uses a complex network model to analyze the causes of accidents in high-speed railway operations. By identifying the key factors that led to high-speed railway accidents, hidden safety hazards were discovered. This will help improve the operational safety of the U.S. high-speed rail line under construction.

The analysis uses the regional high-speed railway network in Guangzhou, China as a case study, including the railway (including high-speed railway) accidents that occurred in the company's jurisdiction from 2013 to 2017. With comparative analysis between general railways and high-speed railways, the changes of high-speed railway safety factors are explored. Data analysis …

The Aging And Impacts Of Atmospheric Soot: Closing The Gap Between Experiments And Models, Ogochukwu Yvonne Enekwizu

Dissertations

The main goal of this dissertation is to generate data and parameterizations to accurately represent soot aerosols in atmospheric models. Soot from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass burning is a major air pollutant and a significant contributor to climate warming. The environmental impacts of soot are strongly dependent on the particle morphology and mixing state, which evolve continuously during atmospheric transport via a process known as aging. To make predictions of soot impacts on the environment, most atmospheric models adopt simplifications of particle structure and mixing state, which lead to substantial uncertainties. Using an experimentally constrained modeling approach, …

A Longitudinal Investigation Of Functional Activity Changes From Vision Therapy: A Study Of Binocularly Normal Controls And Patients With Convergence Insufficiency, Cristian Morales Carrasco

Dissertations

Convergence insufficiency (CI) is a binocular vision dysfunction in which the person has difficulty maintaining a sustained fixation on an object in the near field of view. This condition is present in about 5% of the general population and with a greater prevalence in patients with traumatic brain injury or attentional deficit hyperactivity disorder. One therapeutic intervention for CI is Office-Based Vergence and Accommodative therapy (OBVAT) which is successful in about 75% of the pediatric and young adult population. The neural mechanism by which OBVAT leads to a sustained reduction in visual symptoms is not fully understood. Vergence eye movements …

Mental Health And The High-Performing Student: A Study Of Stressors And Effective Supports For High-Achieving High School Students, Jodi Boyle

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of high-achieving 11th- and 12th-grade high school students participating in International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), or Honors courses. An additional purpose of this study was to identify the academic and social stressors experienced by students and the coping strategies used to overcome them.

Methodology: This study used a phenomenological research design to describe the lived experiences, academic and social stressors, and coping strategies of high-achieving students. For this study, in-depth interviews were conducted to understand the academic and social experiences of students participating in …

A Grounded Theory Of Directors' Of Nursing Perceptions On Caring: Post-Francis Paradoxes, Maggie Ann Davies

Dissertations

This study explores the perceptions of Directors of Nursing from NHS acute Trusts in England, on caring practices. The aspiration of the NHS is to deliver good care to patients and their families. The NHS constitution states that the 'NHS is there to improve health and wellbeing, and it touches our lives at times of basic human need, when care and compassion are what matter most' (DH 2013:2). However, recent inquiries into poor care have created a searching debate regarding standards of nursing care, leadership, culture and practice. Directors of Nursing play a significant role in influencing care, as they …

Mental Health And Discipline In California Community Schools, Damien Phillips

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed method study was to determine if there is a difference in achievement, absenteeism, graduation rates and suspension for students enrolled in community schools that do and don’t have access to school-based mental health services. In addition, it was the purpose to identify and describe the practices most effective in improving attendance, reduction of suspension, achievement and graduation as perceived by community school employees.

Methodology: This mixed-method dissertation attempted to determine the difference between California county community schools for expelled students who have had access to school-based mental health and those who do not as …

The Experience Of Living With Hypertension: Lessons From A Cohort Of Older Men, Junjira Seesawang

Dissertations

Poor adherence to treatment and poorly controlled hypertension are common in older men, especially in rural areas. Knowledge about the experience of living with hypertension among older men is important for developing nursing practices to enhance treatment adherence. However, little is known about the personal experiences of older men with hypertension. This dissertation includes three papers that address the following: (1) the experiences of men with hypertension, based on a review of literature, (2) factors influencing the ability to self-manage hypertension among older adults in Asian countries, based on a review of qualitative studies, and (3) grounded theory study exploring …

An Educational Initiative To Prevent Unnecessary Hospitalization For Hospice Patients, Alkeisha H. Mims

Dissertations

Avoidable hospitalizations of hospice patients cost Medicare $3 billion a year. When hospice nurses are able to identify early signs and symptoms of acute illness and provide appropriate interventions to prevent such admissions, 20-60% of the hospitalizations are preventable. The practice problem addressed in this quality improvement doctor of nursing project was the 30% hospital admission rate of hospice patients as evidenced by chart review, admission data, and revocation data. The first purpose of the project was to identify evidence-based nursing care paths in the literature for the top 5 medical diagnoses related to avoidable hospital admissions. The second purpose …

Exploring The Relationships Between And Among Registered Nurses' Spiritual Well-Being, Spiritual Care Perspectives, And Their Provision Of Spiritual Care In Acute Care Settings, Barbara J. Kitchener

Dissertations

Despite acknowledgment that spiritual care is an essential aspect of holistic nursing care, nurses often feel ill-prepared for, uncomfortable with, and uncertain about providing spiritual care. Studies have indicated that nurses who have a strong sense of their own spiritual well-being and/or a positive perspective [attitude, value, belief] about spiritual care are more inclined to provide spiritual care to their patients. However there is a scarcity of such studies among acute care nurses. This descriptive correlational study aimed to explore relationships between and among acute care nurses' spiritual well-being (SWB), spiritual care perspectives (SCP), and their provision of spiritual care …

Leadership Behaviors Needed By Executive Directors Of Nonprofit Victim Support Organizations, Timothy Hunt

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine how nonprofit victim support organization leaders rate the impact of the 10 Transformational Leadership Skills Inventory (TLSi) domains on their effectiveness. In addition, it was the purpose to discover how nonprofit victim support organization leaders describe the impact of each TLSi domain on their effectiveness.

Methodology: The participants in this study were executive directors of private, nonprofit victim support organizations across the Pacific Northwest region of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. All participated in an online quantitative survey where they rated their agreement with statements about the impact of the …

Al-Baghdadi And The Art Of Terrorist Persuasion, Bandar Dawshi

Dissertations

This dissertation examines the rhetoric used by ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to persuade thousands of young Muslims around the world to join the organization and defend it until the end. The dissertation concerns the innovative methods used by the organization to reach thousands of young people around the world, and the role of misinterpretations of the Qur'an in supporting al-Baghdadi's rhetorical arguments. In order to provide a reasonable explanation for these speeches, the dissertation used Aristotle's rhetorical methodology, Gamal Abdel Nasser's rhetorical concept, Burke's concept of identity and social identity theory. The arguments focused on studying rhetoric within the …

Linking Police Attitude To Behavior In Interactions With Mentally Ill Consumers, Raymond Wooten

Dissertations

In this project, the author aimed to examine law enforcement officer attitude and behavior toward individuals with serious mental illness. There were two distinct sections of this project; one quantitative and one qualitative. For the quantitative portion, one hundred fifty four (N = 154) officers completed an online questionnaire providing information on their attitude toward individuals with serious mental illness in a variety of contexts. The questionnaire also generated information regarding officers’ general knowledge of mental illness, their level of contact with individuals with mental illness, and their desired social distance from individuals with mental illness. In the qualitative portion, …

A Library Of Low Molecular Weight Fluorescent Probes For The Detection Of Cu(Ii) And Fe(Iii) Ions, Ashley Johnson

Dissertations

This dissertation reports the synthesis and photophysical properties of a family of rhodamine dyes (compounds 3.9-3.13 and 4.6). The rhodamine dyes are prepared in two steps, and fully characterized by ESI-MS (Low and High resolution), X-Ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The coordination environment of the low molecular weight fluorescent probes (LMFPs) was systematically changed to investigate the thermodynamic behavior between the LMFPs and an array of metal ions (Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Hg²⁺ ions) in protic and aprotic solvent systems. Upon coordinating to metal ions, the π-conjugation of the LMFPs changed, resulting in …

Diversity And Inclusion: Examining The Lived Experiences Of Lgbtq Students At Historically Black Colleges And Universities (Hbcus) In The Bible Belt, Steven Jones

Dissertations

Throughout the twentieth century, the Gay Rights Movement has gained momentum as LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) individuals have fought for civil equality and social acceptance. However, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been slow to adapt, implement, and effect change that improves the quality of education for LGBTQ students. Strong religious beliefs derived from the church; especially in the South, may be the connection to understanding why homosexuality isn’t vastly accepted or celebrated in the Black Community and at HBCUs; particularly, in the Bible Belt.

Thus, this phenomenological qualitative study, guided by the theory of care framework, …

Well-Being Indicators, Social Globalization, And Unaccompanied Child Migration From Central America, Lucia Farriss

Dissertations

This research investigates the effect of well-being indictors and social globalization on the migration of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) from Central America. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the surge in UAC that began in 2014 at the United States southern border is driven primarily by violence, or whether other factors are at play. Using data for the period 2008-2018, the apprehension of UAC serves as a proxy for measuring unaccompanied child migration to the United States. The four countries of focus are El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico as they contribute the largest numbers of child …

Editing The Double Bass Concerto Of Antonio Scontrino, Roberto Pineda

Dissertations

Antonio Scontrino (1850-1922) was an important Italian Romantic composer, virtuoso double bassist, and respected pedagogue who is relatively unknown outside of the Italian musical community. His compositional output is prolific and includes string quartets, operas, symphonies, concerti, solo pieces, songs, and religious works. Indeed, Scontrino was a compelling composer who deserves more attention from the international musical community. In addition to his compositional expertise, he was an artful double bass performer whose works for the instrument, while distinctly idiomatic, are compositions of high quality.

This dissertation provides a description of the composer’s life and the events that transpired around Scontrino …

Traits Of Character That Facilitate Formation Of Exemplary Nurses In Bachelor Of Science Nursing Programs, Jean Marks

Dissertations

Constructivist grounded theory methods were applied in this study to explore traits of character that facilitate the formation of exemplary nurses in Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) programs. Interest in this study was prompted by a desire to examine attributes beyond academics alone that contribute to the formation of excellent nurses. The intent was to promote clarity in describing these attributes for further scholarly discussion.

Framing this study was Aristotle’s doctrine of the golden mean (Aristotle, 350 B.C.E./1934). Operational definitions consistent with this doctrine were created for the concepts of character, character traits, and exemplary nursing practice. The concept …

A Focus Group Study Of Adult American Males On Hemodialysis As Captured Through Photovoice, Donna Sanders

Dissertations

Chronic diseases pose a significant burden on the United States (U.S.) healthcare system (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [CMS], 2019). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projects that chronic diseases will affect an estimated 164 million Americans by the year 2025, which accounts for approximately half of the nation’s population (CDC, 2017). Nearly 90% of the nation’s $3.5 trillion in annual healthcare expenditures are for individuals with chronic and mental health conditions (Buttorff et al., 2017; CMS, 2017).

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the lived experiences of adult African American males on hemodialysis …

Childbirth And Control Behind Bars: A Descriptive Qualitative Analysis Of The Maternal Perception Of Control In Women Who Have Given Birth While Incarcerated, Lorin Raines

Dissertations

The perception of control during childbirth has been widely studied in various setting and groups. Many factors have been found to aid or impede the perception of control for birthing women. Significance of that perception of control during childbirth has also been measured in past studies. This descriptive qualitative study advances the knowledge of the perception of control during childbirth and examines a population that has thus far been excluded. Four previously incarcerated women participated in semi-structured interviews about their experience of giving birth while incarcerated and their perception of control during that time. The women were from diverse backgrounds …

Hemodynamic Response During Sedentary Behavior In Black/African American And White Males, Raymond Jones

Dissertations

Emerging evidence suggests that uninterrupted sitting has a deleterious impact on hemodynamics, namely a reduction in blood-flow induced shear stress in peripheral vessels, which leads to vascular dysfunction and increased arterial stiffness. Few studies have examined the cerebrovascular response, and no studies have discerned potential racial differences on the hemodynamic response to uninterrupted sitting. Purpose: To examine racial differences in the hemodynamic response during an acute period (1-hour) of uninterrupted sitting between Black/African American and White males. Methods: Twenty-four adult males (50% Black/African American) between the ages of 18 and 35 years and relatively healthy (i.e., free of …

Transformers: The Relationship Between Instructor And Course Persistence Among Community College Students, Jairus L. Johnson

Dissertations

U.S. community colleges play a unique role in providing higher education opportunities for members of society and are often viewed as the gateway to a post-secondary education (Savi, 2011). Two-year colleges foster a robust mission that is supported by a variety of curricular functions that tailor to a diverse student population. Furthermore, through an open-door policy, admittance only requires a high school diploma or equivalent. The aforementioned factors have created inherent challenges associated with student persistence, institutional retention, program completion, and graduation rates among community colleges. As compared to universities, community colleges have lower graduation and retention rates.

Researchers suggest …

An Examination Of The Influence Of Multi-Scale Processes And Connectivity On The Population And Assemblage Dynamics Of Headwater Fishes, Josh P. Hubbell

Dissertations

Typified by their branching pattern, headwaters are numerically abundant as the density of these habitats increases with increasing distance from the base of a dendritic river system. Connectivity among headwaters is complex, resulting in the spatial isolation of populations. Headwater specialists have evolved a suite of traits that permit these species to permanently reside within these habitats. The spatial configuration and connectivity of headwaters has repercussions for metapopulations and meta-assemblages. I investigated how multi-scale processes and connectivity influenced the patch occupancy, coexistence, movement ecology, population structure, and gene flow of headwater specialists. In chapter two, I used occupancy modeling to …

The Haitian Diaspora As Human Capital And Agents Of Change: Perceptions And Attitudes Of The Haitian Diaspora As An International Development Actor, Alain Pompilus

Dissertations

For decades, Paul Romer’s endogenous growth theory has enriched the discussion regarding human capital in development. Romer posits that human capital is a vital resource and critical component of macroeconomic growth. With emigration identified as the leading cause of human capital loss for developing countries, Romer recommends growth policies focus on accessing knowledge in more developed parts of the world. As a way to achieve sustained development, institutions like the United Nations have proposed strategies similarly aligned with Romer’s theory. These institutions suggest the diaspora, as a source of human capital, can go beyond remittances and serve as integral actors …

Public Relations Education In Mississippi Today: Perceptions And Realities, Gail Brown

Dissertations

This two-component study assessed public relations educators’ (n=18) and public relations practitioners’ (n=53) perceptions and realities of public relations education in Mississippi today. A Qualtrics-designed survey ascertained the quantitative data for Study I (N=71). The researcher used telephone and email interviews to gather qualitative data from a convenience sample (N=10) of five public relations practitioners and five public relations educators for Study II. The dual study used education recommendations from the Commission on Public Relations Education (CPRE) 2017 Report, Fast Forward: Foundations and Future State. Educators and Practitioners, as assessment variables.

The survey was distributed to the Public Relations Association …