Digital Commons Network^™

Black Girls Matter: The Impact Of Historical Representation On Contemporary Education, Carolyn Strong

Dissertations

A long history of misogynoir and negative stereotypes about Black
girls and women can be found throughout the literature and popular
culture of the United States. These stereotypes inform the lived
experience of Black girls and women, and in particular interfere with
African American girls’ ability to thrive in a school environment. An
autoethnographic research approach shows that various strategies, in
particular, Black girl-centric spaces, have proven to be helpful in
supporting Black girls who have to negotiate varying degrees of
hostility in general environments. These could be applied more broadly
to improve Black girls’ mental, psychological, physical, and
educational …

The Study Of Black American Male School Principals’ Life Experiences And How They Affect Black American Male Students In Their Schools To Close The Academic Achievement Gap, Linda Palija

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This qualitative study was conducted to inform the present educational system concerning what is known about Black American male former principals and district leaders and how they affected Black American male students in closing the academic achievement gap. The context of this inquiry was an examination of three Black American male former principals/district leaders in one region of the United States, and the study focused on how they used their life and professional experiences to help Black American male students in their schools to close the academic achievement gap. Three themes were acknowledged in this investigation: the impact of …

Transfer Learning: Bridging The Gap Between Deep Learning And Domain-Specific Text Mining, Chaoran Cheng

Dissertations

Inspired by the success of deep learning techniques in Natural Language Processing (NLP), this dissertation tackles the domain-specific text mining problems for which the generic deep learning approaches would fail. More specifically, the domain-specific problems are: (1) success prediction in crowdfunding, (2) variants identification in biomedical literature, and (3) text data augmentation for domains with low-resources.

In the first part, transfer learning in a multimodal perspective is utilized to facilitate solving the project success prediction on the crowdfunding application. Even though the information in a project profile can be of different modalities such as text, images, and metadata, most existing …

Brasilidade In Built Form: Tracing National Identity In Modernist Architecture In Brazil, 1922–1968, Angela Starita

Dissertations

The conceptual framework of Brazilian national identity in built form changed drastically between the 1930s and the 1960s, from the Baroque of colonial-era Brazil to the improvised constructions of the poor. The advocates of these architectural imaginaries were not suggesting that these styles be copied. Instead, they used them as a type of hermeneutic for explicating how Modernism should be deployed in order for it to be authentically Brazilian. The transition from the colonial model to an aesthetics of poverty was a result of a confluence of factors. These included the country’s relatively new struggle to define itself away from …

Calculating Elastic Properties Of Confined Simple Fluids, Christopher D. Dobrzanski

Dissertations

Confinement in nanoporous materials is known to affect many properties of the fluids confined within their pores. The elastic properties are no exception. This dissertation begins with an overview of the relevant literature on ways of obtaining elastic properties of confined fluids. It outlines some fundamental gaps in our understanding. The chapters following address some of these gaps in understanding elastic properties of the confined fluid, in particular, how the shape of the confining pore matters, how supercriticality effects the properties, how an equation of state designed for confined fluids can be used to calculate elastic properties, and if an …

Schwann Cells In Combination With Gag-Mimetic Scaffolds For Spinal Cord Repair, Sharareh Hashemi

Dissertations

Spinal cord injury (SCI) being a devastating neurological dysfunction can cause extensive irreversible neuronal loss and axonal damage. Fifty-four cases of spinal cord injury per million people occur annually in the United States. Due to the loss of glial cells and demyelination of axons, the neuronal function of surviving neurons is disrupted leading to permanent loss of sensory and motor functions. The glial scar formed by astrogliosis at the chronic stage protects undamaged tissues, but it is known to be a major barrier for axonal regeneration. The limited regeneration capacity of spinal cord makes it challenging to successfully treat the …

Particle Engineering Via Surface Modification: Model Based Analysis, Kai Zheng

Dissertations

Size reduction, an important step in particle engineering, leads to downstream processing problems because of fine powders are cohesive. This research aims to improve the fine particle properties through surface modification and develop better understanding of such processes by model-based analysis. Four case studies concerning surface modification are systematically investigated.

First, enhancement of dissolution behavior of griseofulvin is investigated via combination of amorphization and particle size reduction. The dissolution behavior is affected by the particle size and polymer loading. Finest size amorphous solid dispersions dissolve fast enough to negate the higher recrystallization rate and enhance drug loading by reducing the …

The Effects Of Art Therapy On Hypertension In Black American Women, Ellen Layton Mullarkey

Dissertations

70 million Americans have hypertension affecting one out of three Americans. Heart disease was the leading cause of death in America in 2015. The American Heart Association published an algorithm for implementing alternative approaches to treating hypertension. Creative art therapy was not included. Art therapy blends the therapeutic process of psychotherapy with the art of painting, drawing and sculpture to help express emotions and beliefs that are too difficult to convey in verbal and written communication. The health belief model is a framework that examines why people do not follow the recommendations of health care providers due to real and …

Life Balance In Nurse Educators: A Mixed Methods Study, Joan M. Owens

Dissertations

The topic of nurse educator life balance is significant to the nurse educator community, which is facing a national nurse faculty shortage, challenges in producing enough new nurses, and a continuing shortage of nurses. This compromises patient safety and the quality of care. Major factors identified as contributing to the shortage of nurse educators are educator dissatisfaction with workload and work life balance. Life balance is described as an enjoyable array of daily activities that is meaningful and contributes to the individual's health. Professional quality of life is described as the quality one feels in relation to one's work as …

Health Literacy Preparation Of Bsn Students: A Basic Qualitative Study, Robin E. Squellati

Dissertations

Understanding the complexity of multiple health conditions, treatment options, and medications requires a high level of health literacy. Yet, 88% of Americans have some deficiency in health literacy. The nursing literature is lacking in best practices for teaching nursing students how to address health literacy concepts with their patients. Therefore, this basic qualitative study explored Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) students' educational preparation to integrate health literacy in patient education. The primary research questions asked, How do BSN students describe their preparation to integrate health literacy in patient education?

Expanding And Improving High-Quality Early Care And Education In California: Is There Alignment Between Policymakers And The Public?, Heidi Schmidt Emberling

Dissertations

Although there is widespread agreement about the life-long benefits of high-quality childcare and preschool, access for all children in California is limited. The negative effects of this inadequate landscape are borne predominantly by children living in poverty, and middle-income families who do not qualify for subsidies and cannot afford full-fee care. This mixed-methods study examines specific factors that impede expansion and improvement of childcare/preschool in California, from the perspective of five diverse policymakers. Findings reveal a variety of policy solutions in the areas of funding, teacher workforce, quality of care, policy development, and public perception of the importance of high-quality …

Perceived Ease Of Use And Usefulness Of Podcasting In Nursing Skills Competence, Lisa Mesmer Barnes

Dissertations

This capstone project examined nursing students' technology acceptance of podcasting as a tool for nursing skill acquisition. Technology acceptance was determined by measuring the students' perceived competence of the skill along with the perceived usefulness and ease of use of the provided podcasts. A convenience sample of 49 first semester nursing students from an associate degree and practical nursing program participated in the project. Perceived competence of the three nursing skills: obtaining vital signs, inserting a Foley catheter, and performing a sterile dressing change was examined and compared from pre-podcast availability to post-podcast availability. The overall means of the nursing …

Distress After Preterm Birth: A Discourse Analysis Of Parents' Accounts And Photographs, Ira Kantrowitz-Gordon

Dissertations

Preterm birth is a distressing experience for parents. This distress may continue into early childhood, with negative consequences for parents' mental health and child development. The purpose of this study was to take an in-depth look at how parents formed their accounts of premature birth, postpartum distress, and lives as parents and partners. Discourse analysis of semi-structured interviews and photo-elicitation assignments were used to analyze the parents' experiences in the context of the couple relationship.

Development Of A Clinical Nurse Leadership Orientation Program, Sunita Waddell

Dissertations

Nurses are often promoted or hired into leadership positions without the benefit of a formal orientation to their new leadership positions. The challenge of navigating the various expectations of the role of clinical nurse leader (CNL) such as fiscal ownership, staffing patterns, payroll, and disciplinary action process can be overwhelming. The lack of a formalized orientation process and an identified nurse leader to function as a mentor can contribute to the novice CNL feeling unsupported and overwhelmed. The purpose of this project was to identify, develop, and evaluate a CNL orientation manual, outline, and program for newly appointed CNLs. The …

An Examination Of Gaming Environments In Dungeons And Dragons Groups, Joe Lasley

Dissertations

Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TRPG) like Dungeons & Dragons are unique phenomena within the topics of game-based learning and gamification of leadership development. Games in general are used for both game-based learning (learning from playing games) and as sources of inspiration for gamification: the application of game design elements in non-game contexts like business or education. Many potential benefits of playing TRPGs have been observed including transformative experiences linked to collective creativity. Knowing more about the transformative potential of TRPGs can inform facilitation of creative learning environments and guide the use of TRPGs for leadership development.

The concept of a holding …

Exploring Intergenerational Value Changes Across Three Generations Of Emirati Women Using Focused Ethnography, Ebtesam Ali Alteneiji

Dissertations

Intergenerational value change, influenced by technological advancements, economic development, formal education, and urbanization, becomes especially complex when it occurs in times of rapid changes, as in the case of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Through the lens of social change and human development theory, heavily constructed in the Gemeinschaft/Gesellschaft paradigm, this focused ethnography explored the push and pull of traditional boundaries within a collectivist society and the necessary navigation of infused Westernized philosophies promoting individualism and autonomy. Participants in this study (N = 24) were members of 8 family triads of grandmothers, mothers, and daughters who represented 8 different …

Evidence Based Practice Improvement Project To Improve Influenza Vaccination Rate In Intercollegiate Athletes, Clifford W. Fawcett Iii

Dissertations

Influenza is a highly contagious, respiratory infection that affects between 19-26 million people in the United States annually and is associated with morbidity and mortality. Influenza spreads easily with rapid transmission especially in crowded areas. The Centers for Disease Control recommends the best prevention against influenza is the influenza vaccination. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends annual influenza vaccination for all individuals greater than six months who do not have contraindications. Strong evidence supports the safety and efficacy of the influenza vaccine, yet the uptake of the vaccine is low across many populations, especially college students. Healthy People 2020 …

The Effect Of Using Virtual Manipulatives On Students’ Ability To Mentally Compare Proper Fractions, William Wilson Mcneary Iii

Dissertations

This study proposes a method to analyze the effects of the use of virtual fraction models (circle/bar/number line) on students’ ability to mentally compare proper fractions. Since developing a sense of magnitude with both whole numbers and rational numbers is highly correlated with improved performance on standardized assessments and improved performance in later algebra classes, special attention is directed to the bar and number line as they are linear representations.

The study used an experimental pretest/posttest group design by randomly assigning subjects within class sections to a control group (physical fraction circles) and treatment groups with seven different methods of …

Perceptions Of Future And Advance Care Planning For Japanese Women With Early Stage Gynecological And Breast Cancer, Yuki Asakura

Dissertations

Advance care planning (ACP) is the process that allows individuals to choose a path of care in the event that they are unable to make a decision for themselves. The concept of advance care planning is much broader than merely putting wishes in writing; however, misconceptions exist. The purpose of this study was to gain understanding of perceptions of Japanese women with early stage cancer about ACP. A theoretical model for ACP was developed from review of current knowledge. This study was significant to developing culturally sensitive intervention in supporting ACP in this Asian population. This study utilized ethnography guided …

Qualitative Study: Understanding Mexican American Women's Experience In Intimate Partner Violence, Nora Montalvo-Liendo

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding of the experiences of Mexican American women living with intimate partner abuse relevant to the process of disclosure of abuse. Limited research exists on the experiences of women who are of Mexican descent living with intimate partner abuse and their disclosure of abuse. Factors that influence disclosure for other populations are well articulated in the literature however, these factors have not been adequately verified in persons of Mexican descent.

Using A Collaborative Center For Integrative Reviews And Evidence Summaries To Narrow The Education-Practice-Research Gap, Cecelia Lorayne Crawford

Dissertations

The overarching purpose of this dissertation project was to design a collaborative center for integrative reviews and evidence summaries (CCIRES) to advance the state of the art and science of nursing knowledge and narrow the education-practice-research gap. The CCIRES program was created as a web-based platform embedded in the Kaiser Permanente Southern California infrastructure. The specific purpose of this project was to implement CCIRES via that infrastructure, and evaluate the implementation, structures, processes, and usability of CCIRES.

Perceived Risk For Cardiovascular Disease Among Japanese Adults, Satomi Hayashi

Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) including coronary artery disease and stroke is a significant health problem in Japan regardless of well established health care and insurance system and various public campaigns and exhibitions in the contemporary Japanese society. Higher and increasing prevalence and incidence of well-known risk factor of CVD may contribute to increasing mortality and morbidity of CVD in the future. However, limited knowledge was available for understanding perceptions of risk for CVD among Japanese adults. This grounded theory study aimed to explore social psychological process in perception of risk for CVD among Japanese adults.

The Utilization And Effectiveness Of The Hesi E (Square) Exit Exam As A Graduation Requirement Toward Increasing Nclex-Rn® Pass Rates In Baccalaureate Nursing Programs, Debra Henline Sullivan

Dissertations

The purpose of the study was threefold. The first purpose compared the NCLEX-RN® first-time pass rates of BSN students in nursing programs that use the HESI E2 exit exam with other computerized exit exams, and those using no exit exam. NCLEX-RN® first-time pass rates for students taking HESI E2 did not show a statistically significant increase compared to students that took no exit exam. A second purpose, compared NCLEX-RN® first-time pass rates of BSN students in nursing programs utilizing the E2 that require a minimum benchmark score as a graduation requirement with those BSN students that use HESI E2 but …

The Lived Experience Of Adolescent Females With Diabetes: A Phenomenological Approach, Jane K. Dickinson

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of what it means for adolescent females to live with type 1 diabetes. The following research question was investigated: What is it like for adolescent females to live with type 1 diabetes?

Older Adult Caregiving In An Amish Community, Helen Mavis Farrar

Dissertations

The focus of this study is Amish experiences of older adult caregiving. As an ethnic and religious minority group, the population of Amish in North America is doubling every 18 to 20 years, increasing from an estimated 235,000 in 2008, to 282,000 in 2013 (Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, 2013). Cultural values of the Amish include separation from mainstream society, avoidance of modern technology and an adherence to a rural, agrarian lifestyle according to scripture (Hurst & McConnell, 2010). In spite of sequestration from mainstream society, there is growing evidence that the Amish communities are increasingly seeking healthcare …

Impulsivity As A Trait Predictor In Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Jennifer Bertucci

Dissertations

Impulsive personality traits have been linked to pathological decision making in individuals who possess the trait. Impulsive pathological decision making may include acts of aggression, divergence, risky behavior, lack of self-care, etc. The purpose of this study was to examine impulsive personality traits among nursing students. Traditional students are defined by the following characteristics: earns a high school diploma, enrolls full time immediately after finishing high school, are financially dependent on parents, and either do not work during the school year or works part-time (the exception to the rule) (Choy, 2002). A non-traditional nursing student is defined as students who …

Chemoenzymatic Study Of Coa-Linked Rna In Bacteria, Krishna Sapkota

Dissertations

The ability of RNA to store genetic information and to catalyze biochemical transformations led to the speculation of the existence of RNA world before the evolution of contemporary ribonucleoprotein (RNP) world. Recent discovery of RNA molecules containing metabolic cofactors including coenzyme A and its various thioesters at their 5’ end further supported the RNA world hypothesis as these CoA-linked RNA molecules could be the molecular fossils with very ancient origin. As both RNA and Coenzyme A are believed to have co-existed since last universal common ancestor (LUCA) or even before, the CoA-RNA conjugates in current biology may reveal fundamental molecular …

Framing Death And Suffering: An Examination Of Photographs Of Dead And Dying During The U. S. Civil War, World War Ii, And The Vietnam War, Richard Anthony Lewis

Dissertations

The dissertation analyzes photographic images of dead bodies that appeared in news settings related to warfare in the United States in three distinct eras – the 1860s, the 1940s, and the 1960s. The primary subject of the analysis are photographs of corpses created in the context of the American Civil War (1861-1865), World War II including the immediate aftermath of the Holocaust (1939-1946), and conflict and war in Vietnam (1950-1975). While the sample represents a partial catalogue of images of the dead in the context of warfare since photography emerged in the 1840s as a medium for disseminating news, the …

Political Public Relations Agenda-Building: A Content Analysis Of The Us 2016 Presidential Campaign Speeches, Tweets And News Stories, Emmanuel Nwachukwu

Dissertations

This study investigated the role of political agenda building of political speech and tweet in the 2016 US presidential elections and the relationships between the campaign messages and the news cycle during the election campaign period. It also used functional theory of political campaign discourse to evaluate the speech and tweets of the presidential candidates. The study utilized content analysis and analyzed 5303 units of speech, tweets, TV (CNN, FOX and NBC news) clips and news stories from New York Times and Washington Post to derive its conclusions.

The result of the study showed how tweets shaped the media agenda …

The Influence Of Emotional Intelligence Training On College Student Employee Workforce Readiness, Wynde Jones

Dissertations

Working while enrolled in college has become routine for the Millennial college student (Riggert, Boyle, Petrosko, Ash, & Rude-Parkins, 2006). Approximately 14 million students in the United States work and attend college simultaneously (Carnevale, Smith, Melton, & Price, 2015). Millennials graduate and infiltrate the workforce, now composing half of the U. S. labor market (Calk & Patrick, 2017). Yet, a mismatch between employer and new graduate’s competencies occurs in the workplace. While Millennials view themselves as workforce ready, employers see them as unprepared and lacking the necessary skills for success in the workplace (Jaschik, 2015). Many Millennial college graduates do …