Digital Commons Network^™

Enterprise Risk Management (Erm) At U.S. Colleges And Universities: Administration Processes Regarding The Adoption, Implementation, And Integration Of Erm, Anne E. Lundquist

Dissertations

The variety, type and volume of risks affecting higher education are numerous and the consequences for unmanaged risks and missed opportunities are more significant than ever before. In response, many institutions of higher education are adopting an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) approach. External factors, as well as institutional culture, play a role in the decision to adopt ERM, as well as the path of implementation. Because higher education has unique characteristics that differentiate it from other organizations, particularly a shared governance structure, the adoption and implementation decisions, and resulting ERM frameworks, have aspects that make them unique to the higher …

Exploring Unintended Pregnancy In The United States Military: A Phenomenological Approach, Mary Kathryn Phillips

Dissertations

Nearly half of the 6.7 million pregnancies in the United States each year are unintended. The U.S. unintended pregnancy rate is significantly higher than the rate in many other developed countries. By age 45, more than half of all American women will have experienced an unintended pregnancy, and three in ten will have had an abortion. Previous empirical research aimed to fix the rate of unintended pregnancy before it was adequately explored. The rationale for this study emanated from the belief that interventions intended to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy will be more successful if the essence of unintended …

Sleep Disordered Breathing And Pregnancy: Prevalence And Outcomes At Delivery, Ryan Lyle Nations

Dissertations

Introduction
Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) during pregnancy is associated with maternal and neonatal morbidity, and in-hospital mortality. A recent prevalence study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample reported an obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) prevalence of 7.3 per 10,000 in 2013, a rate of 24% per year over the last decade. The rise in prevalence mirrors the rise in obesity. Military Treatment Facilities (MTF) have seen an increase in obesity and related co-morbidities with an unknown prevalence of SDB. Most studies have been conducted in high-risk populations; the general prevalence of SDB and its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes in a military …

Deposition And Characterization Of Carbon Nanotubes (Cnts) Based Films For Sensing Applications, Amila C. Dissanayake

Dissertations

The advent of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has opened up lot of novel applications because of their unique electrical and mechanical properties. CNTs are well known material for its exceptional electrical, mechanical, optical, thermal and chemical properties. A single-wall nanotube (SWNT) can be either semiconducting, metallic or semi-metallic, based on its chirality and diameter. SWNTs can be used in transistor device as active channels due to high electron mobility (~10000 cm2/(V s), electrical interconnects, nano-scale circuits, field-emission displays, light-emitting devices and thermal heat sinks due to low resistivity, high current density (~109A cm-2) and high thermal conductivity (~3500 W m-1). Further, …

College Student Leadership Development Participation And Emotional Intelligence, Nicole Renae Portell Brown

Dissertations

Leadership development has been identified as a key college outcome (Komives, Dugan, Owen, Slack, & Wagner, 2011). Emotional intelligence as a leadership development framework has shown promise in many applications (Petrides, 2011). Able to be augmented through purposeful training and practice, high levels of emotional intelligence have been linked to job performance, healthy relationships, and emotional well-being (Joseph, Jin, Newman, & O’Boyle, 2014). This study focused on changes in emotional intelligence as a metric for personal and professional development through a state university’s leadership program. Students’ self-reported change in global and factor emotional intelligence were measured utilizing the Trait Emotional …

A Study Of The Regular Educators’ Preparedness To Educate Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tammy Rhodes

Dissertations

This study’s focus was on determining the level of knowledge K-5 educators have in one district regarding evidence-based practices that address the specific needs of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD]. The study also focused on determining what kind of inclusion task force had been established in the district, if any. Based on the findings of this study, all of the participating K-5 regular educators reported they have established a supportive culture/climate, have organized and defined work areas, use routines, regularly collect data, are flexible with curriculum, and group students based on needs. This study also revealed slightly over half …

Modeling Arbitrarily Interval-Censored Survival Data With External Time-Dependent Covariates, Wei Fang

Dissertations

Arbitrarily interval-censored survival data refer to the situation where the exact time of the occurrence of an event of interest is only known to have occurred within some two consecutive examinations. External time-dependent covariates refer to those whose values change during the periodic follow-up, and whose value at a particular time does not require individuals to be under direct observation. Regression modeling of survival data usually either handles arbitrarily interval-censored data alone (Farrington, 1996) or external time-dependent covariates alone (Cox, 1972; Therneau & Grambsch, 2000). In the current research, an adjustment has been made to the data augmentation used in …

A Design For A National Music Examination Board In Thailand, With Particular Reference To Viola, Juckrit Charoensook

Dissertations

The research of “A Design for a National Music Examination Board in Thailand, with Particular Reference to Viola” aims to study the requirements of viola entrance examinations of the three selected colleges of music in Thailand: Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, and Silpakorn University; and the critical survey of syllabi of two selected international music examination boards: Trinity College London and Associated Board of the Royal School of Music. By combining the result from both studies, the design for a standard assessment of viola in Thailand is proposed. The standard assessment is divided into eight grade levels as a common practice. …

Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment: Co-Occurring Evidence-Based Practice Implementation, Alteration, And Fidelity Over Time, Jennifer Harrison

Dissertations

Individuals with co-occurring illnesses are at risk for poor outcomes related to criminal justice, hospitalization, housing, and employment. High fidelity evidence-based practice models, including Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT), are associated with significant improvements in outcomes. Although IDDT has been well-researched in small scale clinical trials, the implementation, alteration, and sustainability in real world applications over time has not been well-researched or understood. Initially, a descriptive analysis of a secondary dataset including the full population of 68 IDDT fidelity teams from 2006–2012 evaluated by the Michigan Fidelity and Assessment Team (MiFAST) in one state was completed. IDDT fidelity significantly improved …

Poisson Versus Negative Binomial Regression In The Analysis Of Count Data, Barbie Ann L. Bugna

Dissertations

Commonly used tests for treatment effect in kx2 frequency data are Poisson regression, negative binomial regression, and Cochran-Mantel-Haentzel. In practice, Poisson regression or CMH is used as default, and NB regression is used only when there is reason to believe the data has overdispersion beyond what is expected of Poisson counts.

We show that the Poisson regression is sensitive to the Poisson assumption, and does not maintain its size in the presence of overdispersion. In particular, it tends to interpret overdispersion as significant treatment effect. Thus there is a need for a reliable pretest for the Poisson assumption. A commonly …

Flow Experiences Among Individuals With Aphasia, Thomas W. Sather

Dissertations

Flow has been described as positive experiences of intense concentration, distorted time passage, and loss of self-consciousness. While flow has been reported for multiple populations in various settings, it has not been studied among individuals with aphasia. The purpose of this three paper dissertation is to examine flow experiences among individuals with mild aphasia, including environmental and personal factors associated with flow. Advocates of life participation approaches to aphasia stress the importance of interventions that support full engagement in life. Research on flow experiences and related environmental and personal factors may foster improved service delivery and outcomes for this population. …

The Relationship Between Counselor Trainees’ Personal Therapy Experiences And Client Outcome, Bonnie L. Vanderwal

Dissertations

Research on mental health professionals’ use of personal psychotherapy indicates that a majority of practitioners have participated in their own personal therapy for both personal and professional reasons (Bike, Norcross, & Schatz, 2009; Norcross & Connor, 2005). Psychotherapists typically suggest that engaging in their own personal therapy has aided in their professional development and clinical effectiveness in their work with clients (Orlinsky, Norcross, Ronnestad, & Wiseman, 2005); however, researchers have been unable to conclude that such evidence exists (Clark, 1986; Greenberg & Staller, 1981; Macaskill, 1988; Macran & Shapiro, 1998; Orlinsky, Norcross et al., 2005). Studies often included psychotherapists already …

Memory Deficits In Older Adults: Evaluating Spaced Retrieval With Multiple Probe Techniques, Christopher Walmsley

Dissertations

Difficulties in recognizing and remembering the names of individuals are a common behavioral symptom of major neurocognitive disorder. A number of behavioral strategies have been proposed to improve memory deficits, including spaced retrieval, an intervention that emphasizes delayed recall of target information. Unfortunately, many of the studies that report beneficial effects of spaced retrieval use a very limited range of outcome measures, thus calling into question the magnitude and generality of any reported memory improvement. This study reports on the impact of spaced retrieval using four older adults with cognitive impairment living in an assisted living facility. All participants demonstrated …

Assessment And Comparison Of The Electronic Properties Of Group 10 Bimetallic Nanoparticles Relative To Their Monometallic Counterparts, Ali Bolandi

Dissertations

Group 10 transition metals with nanoscale dimensions offer significant advantages over their bulk counterparts. Significant work has been devoted toward studying the benefits of their catalytic efficiencies, however, less has been dedicated toward understanding their electronic properties and how such changes influence charge storage and sensor efficiency. The dissertation work focuses on designing metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles consisting of nanoscale Group 10 transition metals with welldefined structures, prepared using a facile synthetic procedure. The nanoparticles were characterized by electron microscopy, spectroscopic and x-ray techniques. The efficiency of monometallic and bimetallic nanoparticles toward electron storage was investigated electrochemically and by optical …

Outcomes Of Prediabetes And Diabetes Education Programs Tailored For Vulnerable Popuations, Diana Al Sayed Hassan

Dissertations

Diabetes is a debilitating disease and if not managed properly it can lead to multiple complications and even premature death. Diabetes continues to disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. The purpose of this three-paper method dissertation was to examine the implementation of a prediabetes and diabetes programs in a community setting to serve vulnerable populations in addition to understanding future diabetes-related educational needs.

The first paper is an evaluation of a shortened five-week diabetes prevention program for older adults with prediabetes or at a high risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Chang in nutrition knowledge, eating and physical activity behaviors, …

Implementation Of A Staff Management System To Increase Consumer Engagement In Group Homes, Jeana L. Koerber

Dissertations

A multi-component staff management system was implemented in three residential group homes for adults with disabilities to examine if it would increase consumer (resident) engagement in leisure activities. The design was a non-concurrent and concurrent multiple baseline design across homes. Participants included consumers who lived in the homes and the direct care staff (DCS) who worked with them: a total of 35 participants. Sessions were an hour in length and occurred twice a day, Monday through Friday. The study lasted approximately 17 weeks in each group home.

There were four phases: (phase A) baseline assessment of consumer engagement and affect, …

Defining Equity And Addressing The Social Determinants Of Equity In International Development Evaluation, Kelly N. Robertson

Dissertations

The purpose of equity-focused evaluation is to examine the relationship between the evaluand and (1) experiences of social groups with different levels of advantage/disadvantage, and (2) the social determinants of equity, which shape those experiences. Equity-focused evaluation has emerged within the field of international development evaluation because of an increased emphasis on equity in the achievement of international development goals. However, empirically based theoretical and practical guidance on equity-focused evaluation is limited. There has not been a detailed examination of how equity—the conceptual root of equity-focused evaluation—is defined and differentiated from similar concepts in the field, despite having important implications …

Effects Of Resistance Exercise Training On Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity, Keith B. Pfannenstiel

Dissertations

In recent decades cancer survivorship has steadily increased; however, the adverse side effects associated with chemotherapy treatment can diminish a patient’s overall quality of life. One of the most effective and widely used chemotherapeutic agents is doxorubicin (DOX). Though highly effective, its use is limited by a dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. While it is known that exercise preconditioning with endurance training models provide a cardioprotective effect to DOX treatment, little focus has been placed on the effects of a resistance training (RT) model on DOX-induced cardiac dysfunction. The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of a 12-week RT model …

Effects Of Exercise Training And Doxorubicin On Myogenic Regulatory Factors, Colin Joseph Quinn

Dissertations

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used anthracycline antibiotic used to treat a number of hematological and solid tumor cancers. Dosage; however, is limited due to its toxic effects in healthy tissues. Negative consequences include myotoxicity in skeletal muscle, which may limit mobility and activities of daily living. The capacity for skeletal muscular regeneration relies heavily of the activity of myogenic regulatory factor (MRF) proteins. In vitro experiments with DOX depress expression of MRFs but in vivo treatment may elicit different responses. Endurance exercise has been shown to elevate MRF expression, and may preserve MRFs following in vivo DOX-treatment. Purpose: To …

Students’ Development Of Geometric Reasoning About The Derivative Of Complex-Valued Functions, Jonathan David Troup

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of students’ reasoning about the derivative of a complex-valued function, and to study ways in which they developed this reasoning while working with Geometer’s Sketchpad (GSP). The participants in this study were four students from one undergraduate complex analysis class. The development of participants’ reasoning about the derivative of a complex-valued function was captured via video-recording and screen-capture software in a four-day interview sequence consisting of a two-hour-long interview each day. This reasoning was interpreted through the theoretical perspective of embodied cognition. The findings indicated that students manifested embodied reasoning …

Redefining Significance: Experiences Of Humanities Faculty Engaged In Undergraduate Research, Susan Mendoza

Dissertations

Programs that actively engage students in research and scholarship are the touchstone for integrating undergraduate education with authentic scholarly inquiry. Recent empirical studies demonstrate that undergraduate research experiences (URE) are related to increased student learning and development, increased levels of retention, increased enrollment in graduate school, and increased understanding of research as a vocation and profession. However, these seminal studies focus on URE in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines. Although there are some studies that explore undergraduate research in the social sciences and humanities, the accepted models and best practices of undergraduate research are entrenched in the …

Exploring Personal Attitudes Towards Parent Involvement As It Relates To Relational Aggression Acted Out Through Social Media, Karla M. Holland

Dissertations

Relational aggression acted out through social media or cyber bullying is an evergrowing limitedly researched issue that is impacting students and parents alike. A mixedmethod study was conducted using existing older and aspiring younger social workers and counselors to investigate attitudes (focus groups and text box comments) and relationships (surveys) between variables. The research questions asked how attitudes toward cyber bullying based on gender, type of social media, parent versus nonparent status, and involved parent versus not involved parent status. Hypotheses tested correlations between the same elements. Participants were 75 existing social workers and counselors working at a Midwestern school …

Closing The Loop: A Study Of How The National Survey Of Student Engagement (Nsse) Is Used For Decision-Making And Planning In Student Affairs, Jennifer Lee Mccaul

Dissertations

“Closing the loop” is a commonly used phrase in discussing cyclical processes, such as the area of outcomes assessment in higher education. Increased interest in accountability and a shift in accreditation focus have necessitated that higher education institutions are closing the assessment loop and creating a culture of evidence to demonstrate that programs and services are having the intended impact, and using resources effectively. That culture includes both academic and co-curricular elements of the student experience. This research examined if, and to what extent, student affairs administrators use the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)—one of the most prominent instruments …

Implementing Bring Your Own Device And The Paperless Classroom: A Change Leadership Project, Tamara K. Cornwell Dr

Dissertations

My journey through the implementation of an action plan for a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program is presented in this research document. The action plan incorporated the addition of industrial certification standards for technology integrated into the core curriculum at a public middle school (grades 6-8) during the 2014-2015 school year. Technology skills became a part of students’ daily learning opportunities. An eSTEAM Academy provided interested students and teachers with technology training and skills for classroom inclusion and blended model of face-to-face instruction enhanced with technology in a “paperless” classroom environment. This is an account of our successful journey …

Exploring Strategies For Effective Advocacy: The Lived Experience Of Leaders Of Pakistani Non-Governmental Organizations, Rubina F. Bhatti

Dissertations

Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) have increasingly been recognized as influential players in world politics and international development. Despite limited financial resources and having to rely on volunteers who often lack formal training, NGOs’ advocacy work has often been highly effective. Since the beginning of the 1990s, it has resulted in both the formulation of new policies and the cancellation or modification of existing ones.

Advocacy work by NGOs is especially important in countries like Pakistan because deep-rooted injustices and discrimination are unlikely to change without pressure from NGOs. This study investigated the strategies used by five NGO leaders for effective advocacy …

A Partnership Between A Midwest Community College And The Highly Regulated Power Production Industry: A Case Study Regarding The Development Of An Energy Production Technology Program, Kenneth W. Flowers

Dissertations

With nearly every industry predicting severe employee shortages, the available worker pipeline, including the employed, may need to upgrade their skills. In addition, the number of jobs available will soon exceed the number of available workers, even if all the workers were skilled. This study investigated the perceptions held by key individuals within the energy industry regarding an Energy Production Technology degree program developed at one Midwest community college to help address worker pipeline issues in the energy industry.

This study discovered a void within present literature discussing the interaction between community colleges and the nuclear energy industry concerning the …

Effects Of Resistance Training And Creatine Monohydrate On Doxorubicin-Induced Muscle Dysfunction, Eric Christopher Bredahl

Dissertations

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a powerful chemotherapy agent that is associated with a number of deleterious side effects, including skeletal muscle dysfunction. The exact mechanisms behind the observed skeletal muscle dysfunction have yet to be fully understood. Nonetheless, the observed myotoxicity is believed to be the result of an increased oxidative stress. Resistance training (RT) has been shown to preserve skeletal muscle function in DOX treated muscles. Conversely, creatine (Cr) has been shown to improve skeletal muscle function. Yet, there has been no investigation into the effect of combined RT and Cr on DOX-induced muscle dysfunction. Thus, the possibility exists that …

Exploring Male Counselors’ Experiences With Vulnerability In The Counseling Relationship, Hannah Edith Davis Kreider

Dissertations

While existing literature clearly indicates that the relationship between counselor and client is important and crucial for therapeutic progress (e.g., Norcross & Wampold, 2011), little research has been done on the experiences of counselors within the therapeutic relationship. Vulnerability has been noted as an important component of growth-fostering relationships (e.g., Jordan, 2008), however research is lacking on how counselors experience vulnerability with their clients. Within the field of counseling, men are underrepresented (Michel, Hall, Hays, & Runyan, 2013) and little research exists exploring their unique experiences as counselors. Additionally, due to gender role socialization, men are likely to struggle with …

Physical Education Teacher Education Teacher Candidates’ Perceptions About And Implementation Of Caring, Tanjian Liang

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine physical education teacher education (PETE) teacher candidates’ perceptions about and implementation of caring during eight-week student teaching experiences. The specific research questions were: (a) How do caring teacher candidates perceive and define caring? and (b) How do caring teacher candidates implement caring behaviors throughout their eight-week student teaching assignments? In line with the research questions, a qualitative case study approach was used. Participants were two PETE caring physical education teacher candidates from the same program. Data sources included semi-structured interviews, informational conversational interviews, field notes, documents, and research journals. Data were analyzed …

The Effectiveness, Usability, And Motivational Characteristics Of Using Animated Role- Playing Situational Simulation Programs For Air War College Distance Learning Curriculum, Dennis Michael Armstrong

Dissertations

This study examined perceived effectiveness, usability, and motivational characteristics of using animated role playing situational simulations for Air War College distance learning (AWC/DL). The AWC/DL curriculum provides education to senior military officers who are geographically dispersed around the world with varying degrees of internet connectivity, creating specific limitations as to what methods of instruction are viable. An additional challenge is the very high student-to-teacher ratio (620:1). Traditionally, the AWC/DL program relied on text-based readings and tests to teach and evaluate students. Simulations might provide a realistic and valuable augmentation to the curriculum. The key potential advantages of adding simulations are …