Digital Commons Network^™

Effect Of Endurance Exercise On The Combination Of Streptoxotocin Induced Diabetes And Doxorubicin, Stephanie Erin Greufe

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing In Conjoint Couples Therapy: A Grounded Theory Study, Elizabeth Legg

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of The Self-Handicapping Process In Collegiate Athletics, Kristina Lynne Moore

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Double Truncated Poisson Regression Model With Random Effects, Abdalhalim M. Ali Suaiee

Dissertations

Count data regression models are used for special cases where the response variable takes count values or only non-negative values. Poisson regression models are commonly used to analyze count data. A frequent problem with the use of these models is that the observed variation is greater than expected and mixed Poisson models are alternative models that provide a means of explaining the extra-Poisson variation. Mixed Poisson regression models have extensive research and literature studies, and have been commonly used in fields such as epidemiology, medicine, genetics, economics, engineering, marketing, and in the physical and social sciences. However, in many cases, …

Student Incivility: Nursing Faculty Lived Experience, Elizabeth Ann Sprunk

Dissertations

Incivility against nursing faculty by nursing students is recognized as an area of increased concern in nursing education. Academic incivility is any speech or behavior that negatively affects the well-being of students or faculty members, weakens professional relationships, and hinders the teaching–learning process. The negative experience that this may potentially have on nursing faculty is disturbing. Taking into consideration that these negative experiences may result in harm to the nursing faculty member’s health and well-being, it is important to understand the multifaceted tribulations that confront nursing faculty members who are subjected to student incivility. This investigation looked at the phenomenon …

Communication And Relationships Of Intercultural/Multilingual Couples: Cultural And Language Differences, Nai Chieh Tien

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and describe the cultural and language differences that intercultural/multilingual couples experience in their relationships and how these differences affect their relationships. Since the United States is more diverse than ever in terms of culture, race, and ethnicity, relationships between people of different races, ethnicities, and nationalities have become more and more common place. This study answered the questions: How do cultural and language differences impact intercultural/multilingual couples’ relationships and communication? Do they find their relationship unique compared to others? How can mental health professional provide effective treatment for them in the …

An In-Depth Exploration Of Successful Weight Loss Management, Stephanie M. Witwer

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to advance knowledge in the area of health behavior change maintenance, specifically weight loss maintenance, and develop a substantive theory of successful weight loss maintenance in adults. Using classical grounded theory methodology, the researcher conducted in-depth interviews with 12 adult men and women who lost at least 10% of their body weight and had maintained the weight loss for at least one year. Analysis of the interviews revealed a basic social process called Transforming Self, wherein participants described a process through which they designed and made significant lifestyle changes that resulted in weight loss …

Nurse Addiction -- An Unexpected Journey: A Phenomenological Study Of Nurses In Recovery, Karen Lee Burton

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Malaria Kinase Inhibition: A Tool For Antimalarial Drug Discovery And Elucidation Of Cell Cycle Protein Expression Patterns, Kristen M. Bullard

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Defining And Measuring Teacher Legitimacy, Douglass Martin Drake

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Assessing Sensitivity Of Early Head Start Study Findings To Manipulated Randomization Threats, Sheridan Green

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Including Students With Special Education Needs In Rocky Mountain Region Catholic Schools' Regular Education Programs, Jill Ann Perry Hall

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Examination Of The Pediatric Diabetes Routines Questionnaire In Adolescents: Development Of An Adolescent Self-Report Version And Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Jessica Sima Pierce

Dissertations

Previous literature suggests a positive relationship between general child routines and diabetes treatment adherence. However, research examining routines specific to the diabetes regimen is lacking. Recently, the Pediatric Diabetes Routines Questionnaire (PDRQ) was developed as a parent-report measure of diabetes-specific routines for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Though the PDRQ has provided a means to measure routines specific to the diabetes regimen, limitations exist in regard to its use with adolescents. Thus, the goals of this study were to develop and evaluate a parallel adolescent self-report version (PDRQ: Adolescent; PDRQ:A) of the PDRQ and to examine the psychometric …

Science Fair: Is It Worth The Work? A Qualitative Study On Deaf Students' Perceptions And Experiences Regarding Science Fair In Primary And Secondary School, Vivian Lee Smith

Dissertations

Science fairs have a long history in American education. They play an important role for establishing inquiry-based experiences in a science classroom. Students may be more motivated to learn science content when they are allowed to choose their own science fair topics. The purpose of this study was to examine Deaf college students’ perceptions and experiences regarding science fair participation during primary and/or secondary school and determine the influence of science fair involvement on the development of language skills, writing skills, and higher order thinking skills as well as its impact on choice of a STEM major.

This study examined …

The Published Choral Folk Songs Of Cyrillus Kreek, Estonian Nationalist, Jonathan Patrick Rodgers

Dissertations

This research will trace the development and productivity of Cyrillus Kreek (1889-1962) as a composer of choral folk songs and his influence on Estonian culture. The core of the study provides a chronological examination of Kreek’s published choral folk song arrangements. Kreek’s work is the summation of direct and indirect influences in his life, such as Estonian folk music and the Estonian national awakening that began in the late nineteenth century and flourished in the early decades of the twentieth century; conversely, his music, along with that of his contemporaries, impacted the process of defining what it meant to be …

The Effect Of Preschool On Reaching Achievement Among Kindergarten Students, Reisha Monique Mckinney

Dissertations

As early childhood education continues to move to the forefront of public policy debate, more attention is being paid to early literacy. Strickland and Riley-Ayers (2006) indicated that early literacy and early learning opportunities play a vital role in academic achievement. This study invested whether there were statistically significant relationships between preschool attendance based on the reading and language arts scores from the Georgia Kindergarten Inventory Developing Skills test.

The study also determined if there were differences in the reading and language arts for those who attended preschool and those who did not based on free/reduced and full paid lunch. …

Counseling Religious African Americans: Implications For A Social Justice Model Of Intervention, Rachelle Delorse Smith

Dissertations

Due to a complex history of unethical societal and medical practices towards African Americans from U.S. institutions such as the U.S. Public Health Services and Johns Hopkins Hospital, a consistent lack of collaborative relationships between the African American religious community and the professional counseling community has emerged. Thus, some religious African Americans who may have needed counseling services did not receive them, as Black churches commonly dismiss the relevancy and necessity of professional counseling. The purpose of this theory-building study was to examine the perceptions that lead to such dismissals and, inspired by action research approaches, derive the best methods …

Complex Trauma In Children And Adolescents, Rachel Ann Wamser

Dissertations

Complex trauma events, or chronic interpersonal traumas that begin early in life, are thought to result in profound disruptions, well beyond the symptoms of PTSD. Complex trauma events may be especially toxic for children and adolescents, whose regulatory systems are more vulnerable. This study provides empirical support for the previously unexamined hypothesis that complex trauma events result in broad systemic difficulties, not simply higher levels of PTSD symptoms. This study also offers evidence for a dimensional conceptualization of traumatic events, with acute noninterpersonal trauma residing on one end of the spectrum and complex trauma on the other. 346 treatment-seeking children …

Development And Validation Of A Measure Of Perceived Life Significance, Rachel Hibberd

Dissertations

Theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of meaning in bereavement suggest a distinction between meaning as sense-making, or the integration of the loss into a coherent and positive set of beliefs about world and self, and meaning as life significance, or the perception that some aspect of one's life experience “matters” in the wake of loss. Although several authors have pointed to the importance of life significance in grief recovery, currently no psychometrically valid measure exists. The present study examined the reliability and validity of a new measure: the Perceived Life Significance Scale (PLSS). The PLSS total score, as …

The Impact Of Computer Efficacy On The Success Of The Nontraditional Community College Student, Amy Renee Henson

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine the extent that computer-related factors affect the success of nontraditional college students. Since nontraditional students typically have fewer skills than traditionally-aged students, they may be less efficacious regarding their ability to use technology. Unfortunately, such reduced confidence may adversely affect the entire college experience for students, and ultimately, successful employment. The simple process of obtaining information on campus websites may be daunting enough; however, when students enter the classroom, they often find that course requirements include considerable amounts of computer use. Therefore, in addition to learning specific course content, nontraditional students must …

Physiological And Psychological Measurement Of Sleep Disturbance In Female Trauma Survivors With Ptsd And Major Depression, Kimberly Borkowski Werner

Dissertations

Sleep disturbance is often reported after a traumatic event and is included in the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Subjective reports from trauma survivors have consistently indicated difficulties in sleep onset, sleep maintenance, overall quality and quantity of sleep. However, objective physiological research has yielded inconsistent findings in PTSD-related sleep impairment. Studies investigating subjective and objective assessments concordantly support a theory of sleep state misperception – subjective over-estimation of sleep disturbance – in PTSD. The majority of these previous investigations have been limited to male, veteran cohorts and have not accounted for …

Condom Use Self-Efficacy And Relationship Factors In Sexual Risk-Taking Among Young Urban African American Women, Emily Ann Silverman

Dissertations

Young urban African American women are at disproportionately high risk for HIV/STIs and current interventions focusing on individual factors (e.g., condom use self-efficacy) have not been sufficient to address this risk. Recent research suggests that an ecological approach that takes into account broader social and relationship factors may be more effective in meeting the needs of this population. The present study examined several relationship-level factors, including relationship power, avoidance motives for sex, and relationship commitment, and their potential interaction with the individual-level factor of condom use self-efficacy in predicting sexual risk-taking behaviors in a community sample of African American women …

Psychometric Testing Of Cooper Parental Self-Efficacy Scale-Child Health Behavior, Johnnie Susan Wijewardane

Dissertations

Although numerous self-efficacy scales grounded in Bandura's theory of self-efficacy were available, no specific scale that measured the concept of parental self-efficacy to influence child health behavior existed. The researcher developed the Cooper Parental Self-Efficacy Scale-Child Health Behavior (CPSS-CHB) and previously conducted a content validation study. The aims of this study were to 1.) ensure that the 28-item CPSS-CHB was readable, 2.) to determine reliability of the scale, and 3.) to initiate the establishment of validity.

The Message 2.0: Perceptions Of Success From Members Of The Founding Class Of Mc Squared Stem High School, Jeffrey D. Mcclellan

Dissertations

This dissertation examines the methods of learning from the student’s perspective in order to understand what made the first graduating class of MC Squared successful. The conceptual model of student success composed of non-academic factors of motivation, social connectedness, and self-management was used for the lens from which to understand the six students in depth. Through the research, it was uncovered that diversified learning environments, a mastery based assessment system, and an unwavering acceptance of students within a challenging and supportive environment are essential to the success achieved at MC Squared STEM High School. Lastly, the seminal contribution of this …

A Prospective Examination Of Mindfulness Training On The Mitigation Of Postraumatic Stress Symptoms, Abby E. Blankenship

Dissertations

The current study investigated the ability of a one-session computerized mindfulness intervention to mitigate posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms in response to a trauma analogue. Ninety-two participants were randomly assigned to either mindfulness training or no treatment. Participants assigned to the mindfulness training completed a 1-hour computerized mindfulness training and practiced their skills for 1 week. All participants were exposed to an analogue for real-life trauma and were assessed at 1- and 2-week follow-up. Participants assigned to the mindfulness condition exhibited significantly lower levels of PTSD-like symptoms at 2-week follow-up in comparison to the no treatment condition. In addition, participants …

Impact Of Participating In A Short-Term Intervention Model Of Sports Education Camps For Children With Visual Impairments, John Michael Mcmahon

Dissertations

This three-paper format dissertation explores three topics relevant to participating in a short-term model Sports Education Camp for youth with vision impairments. The three papers are independent studies, yet build upon each other by first measuring physical performance in certain skills, then exploring their levels of self-perception, body mass index, and level of physical activity in their local communities, and finally describing the population of participants at various points over a 25-year period. Papers one and two examined differences in pre- and post-camp measures for first-time and repeat participants, with the first paper focusing on physical performance, and the second …

Motivational Interviewing Assessment And Behavior Therapy As A Stepped-Care Approach To The Treatment Of Adolescent Depression, Tanya N. Douleh

Dissertations

Depression is a significant public health concern with a lifetime prevalence of 24.01 for adolescents in grades 9-12 (Lewinsohn, Hops, Roberts, Seeley, & Andrews, 1993) and a point prevalence of 4-6% (Kessler, Avenevoli, & Ries, 2001). The risks associated with adolescent onset depression include comorbidity, depressive episodes continuing into adulthood, and suicidality. These risks make it imperative to develop effective treatments to address adolescent depression. Stepped care is an approach to treatment which involves treatment of illness using the least invasive measures first and moving toward more invasive treatment as indicated by ongoing assessment. Through a single-participant design, the current …

An Examination Of Executive Function, Mild Cognitive Impairment And Fall Risk In Community Dwelling Older Adults, Jennifer A. Blackwood

Dissertations

The aim of this three-paper dissertation was to examine the relationship between fall risk, executive function (EF) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in community dwelling older adults. Papers one and two describe how mild changes in cognition influence performance on four measures of fall risk, the Five Times Sit to Stand Test (FTSTS), usual gait speed, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and the Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) in a group of community dwelling older adults. The third paper describes if participation in a progressively challenging domain specific computerized cognitive training intervention influenced performance on measures of …

Organic Solar Cells Based On High Dielectric Constant Materials: An Approach To Increase Efficiency, Khalil Jumah Tawfiq Hamam

Dissertations

The efficiency of organic solar cells still lags behind inorganic solar cells due to their low dielectric constant which results in a weakly screened columbic attraction between the photogenerated electron-hole system, therefore the probability of charge separating is low. Having an organic material with a high dielectric constant could be the solution to get separated charges or at least weakly bounded electron-hole pairs. Therefore, high dielectric constant materials have been investigated and studied by measuring modified metal-phthalocyanine (MePc) and polyaniline in pellets and thin films. The dielectric constant was investigated as a function of temperature and frequency in the range …

Discovery And Characterization Of A Tanapoxvirus Encoded Human Neuregulin Mimetic, David Jeng

Dissertations

Studies on large dsDNA viruses such as poxviruses have been helpful in identifying a number of viral and cellular growth factors that contribute to our broad understanding of virus-host interaction. Orthopoxviruses and leporipoxviruses are among the most studied viruses in this aspect. However, tanapoxvirus (TPV) a member of the genus Yatapoxvirus, still remains largely unexplored, as the only known hosts for this virus are humans and monkeys. Here, we describe the initial characterization of an EGF-like growth factor mimicking human neuregulin from TPV, expressed by the TPV-15L gene. Assays using a baculovirus expressed and tagged TPV-15L protein demonstrated the ability …