Digital Commons Network^™

How Can A Cloud Computing It Framework Be Created And Applied Effectively In The Online Printing Industry?, Stefan Meissner

Dissertations

This research aims to design a cloud computing IT framework for the online printing industry based on a detailed literature review, the development of proof of concepts (PoC), and the conduction of a focus group. The framework can be adopted by the online printing industry or by vendors of print-specific applications to optimize their products for the online printing industry. The author has been working in the online printing process optimization and automation since 2007. During this time, he got deep insight into many industry-specific applications, their architectural design, and their challenges being used in the context of online printing. …

The Special Education Placement Of An African American Male Identified As Emotionally Disturbed: A Qualitative Single-Case Study, Wernsetta Session

Dissertations

This case study examined the school-based interventions used to determine a self contained special education placement for a fourth-grade African American male student with an emotional disturbance disability. The study aimed to answer four research questions, which included the academic and behavioral school-based interventions provided to the student before a referral to special education evaluation, the perception of the student by the special education teacher and diagnostician, the role of the campus administrator in determining placement, and the parent's perception of the referral process.

The study used a single case study research methodology and included four active participants. Data collection …

Nonlinear Dynamics Of Acoustic Fluctuations In One-Dimensional Ducts With And Without Unsteady Combustion, Swarnalatha Kathalagiri Vasantha Kumar

Dissertations

The overall objective of this research is to analyze the nonlinear dynamics of combustors in one dimensional Cartesian coordinate. This research was carried out in four parts, with each successive part building on the previous one. The first part begins with investigation of the coupled nonlinear evolution of acoustic modes in a quasi 1-D duct with axially inhomogeneous mean velocity and mean thermodynamic properties. A novel modification of the Krylov--Bogoliubov method of averaging (KBMA) is developed to analytically solve the modal-amplitude equations that are linearly and nonlinearly coupled with both quadratic and cubic nonlinearities. Approximate analytical solutions based on the …

Exploring The Leadership Competence Strategies And Assessment Procedures In Southern Baptist Churches In A Small County In The Southeastern United States: A Qualitative Research Case Study, Coleman F. Smoak Jr.

Dissertations

This dissertation explores the strategies of Southern Baptist churches which contribute to the competence of their lay leadership. It examines the procedures for evaluating lay leaders’ knowledge of church doctrine and goals, as well as their motivation for pursuit of successful ministry. The research assessed Southern Baptist churches in a small county in the Southeastern United States through a qualitative case study with the primary research instrument being one-on-one, semi-structured interviews of church staff. The researcher sought an understanding of these churches’ practices to ensure that lay leaders are equipped for their ministry positions with regard to their leadership approaches, …

Emotional Intelligence And Its Influence On Burnout From Surface Acting In A Seasonal Service Industry, Jeremy Fishman

Dissertations

In the world of customer service, it is commonly believed that the customer is always right, even when they may not be or may be. Roles that carry immediate interaction with the consumer have certain expectations that employees must fulfill, necessitating both surface acting and deep acting; tenets of emotional labor (Diefendorff et al., 2006). Previous research has revealed that relying solely on surface acting can lead to emotional exhaustion and burnout, impacting individuals and even spreading through emotional contagion (Mawritz et al., 2012; Totterdell & Holman, 2003). Leaders turn to emotional intelligence to address these challenges, which can potentially …

Developmental Pathways From Player To Coach For Volunteers In An American Football Organization In Germany, Gary Cramer

Dissertations

The leadership style of organizational leaders is a key factor affecting volunteer coach recruitment and retention; yet the examination of developmental pathways from player to coach is lacking in the literature, especially as viewed from the perspective of those who are followers. The study addressed the following research question: How do volunteer coaches in an American football organization in Germany, who once played for the same head coach in the organization they currently coach, describe their pathway of development from player to coach? The purpose of this phenomenological case study was to inductively investigate the developmental pathways of volunteer sport …

Exploring The Impact Of Ionizing Radiation On Security And Reliability In Modern Semiconductor Memories, Umeshwarnath Surendranathan

Dissertations

Radiation effects in semiconductor devices have gained great traction in recent years due to an exponential growth in space exploration. The harsh conditions of space, devoid of the atmosphere and Earth's magnetic field, pose considerable challenges to electronic systems due to ionizing radiation exposure. While radiation-hardened (rad-hard) components are continually under development, they often lag several technology generations compared to commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts. Notably, rad-hard memories, particularly in terms of capacity (megabytes vs. terabytes) and cost, fall short compared to regular COTS memories. This underscores the compelling need to evaluate the radiation tolerance of COTS memories. This dissertation focuses …

Transition-Aged Youth Perspectives On Social Media Use Behaviors And Mental Health: A Qualitative Study, Lauren L. Niles

Dissertations

Rates of mental health difficulties have risen drastically in recent years. Transition-aged youth (TAY) ages 18-24 years old represent a vulnerable population at risk for poor mental health outcomes, with depression and anxiety diagnoses increasing faster than any other age group. While the cause for this upsurge is multifaceted, these trends have occurred concurrently with the increasing popularity of social media (SM) platforms. Current evidence presents contradictory findings as to the impact of SM platforms on mental health, revealing a critical gap in knowledge. This study addresses this gap by exploring how TAY perceive their use of SM platforms and …

Leading From The Middle: Arts Administrators' Beliefs About The Impact Of Arts Education On High-Needs Students, Sofia Fojas

Dissertations

Research on arts education notes the positive impact of arts education on educational outcomes for students, particularly students of color, students in poverty, and students needing additional academic support. Students living in low-income communities receive different educational opportunities than those in high-wealth districts. This disparity is especially true for highly mobile and high-needs students of color. Arts education has made positive differences in student outcomes. This qualitative study examined the beliefs of county arts leads, leaders in the middle, situated between the California Department of Education and their local school districts, and how they can be empowered to be change …

Rocketship Education: An Exploratory Public Policy Case Study, Vladimir Gresham Ivanovic

Dissertations

This dissertation is an exploratory case study of the finances of the Rocketship charter school chain, especially those related to real estate. Rocketship is a not-for-profit charter management organization, one of the first in Santa Clara County, California. This study seeks to determine if the financial transactions related to Rocketship charter schools yield profits for investors, despite Rocketship itself being a non-profit entity, and if they do, how and where do they do so. In order to characterize fairly and completely the profits of Rocketship Education itself and Rocketship-related entities, this study uses publicly available documents to track money flowing …

In Their Words: Voices Of High School Graduates Who Were Labeled English Learners, Yolanda K. Jimenez

Dissertations

This research captures the experiences of high school graduates who were labeled English Learners while they were enrolled in a public high school in the greater Sacramento area of California. The study examined what these bilingual high school graduates report as beneficial and detrimental experiences faced while completing the course requirements for high school graduation. This study builds on research that includes secondary classroom teachers and their perceptions of English Learners, classroom teaching and learning, and experiences of emergent bilingual students. The study expands the body of research and informs praxis pertaining to supporting emergent bilingual students as they attempt …

How Can We Do Better? Understanding Student Experiences And Support Needs During And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kevina M. Brown

Dissertations

This dissertation study aimed to provide opportunities for students at San José State University (SJSU), to share about their experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic and to provide feedback and recommendations regarding resources and culturally engaging supports on campus. The research inquiry involved survey and interview methodology to gain insights into student experiences pertaining to financial and mental health challenges and academic disruption and social isolation during the beginning, middle and end of the pandemic, as well as their engagement with resources and supports provided on campus. Recruitment was done by flyer distribution throughout campus and via email distribution to students …

Queer A.F.: Queer Educators In Affinity Family Personal-Professional Development, James Egisto Aguirre

Dissertations

Scholarship shows that affinity groups are spaces of support, learning, and healthy career development that are responsive to the needs of a particular marginalized community. The concept of heteroprofessionalism– the implicit or explicit pressure/s queer educators feel to fit within the proverbial cisgender/heterosexual (cishet) box–is but one of a myriad issues and pressures affect queer educators across the nation. This study brings queer educators from one school district together to unpack their experiences through the lens of heteroprofessionalism. Via queer theory, qualitative, written response data was collected and subsequently analyzed in three, half-day sessions offered in spring 2024. Thirty participants …

Spiritual Experiences Of Young People With Cognitive Impairments Within Christian Communities Of Faith, Lea Danihelova

Dissertations

This study was initiated with the primary objective of delving deep into the spiritual experiences of individuals living with cognitive impairments. The research was centered on seven young adults with cognitive impairment who were members of the Christian communities of faith and resided in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. The study focused on giving voice to these young people since there were no studies about the spirituality of people with cognitive impairment done in central Europe. The hermeneutic phenomenological approach was chosen as the research method due to its capacity for facilitating personal interactions, thus enabling a comprehensive understanding of …

Understanding Emerging Adult Mental Health And Attachment: The Roles Of Parental Factors In Childhood, Trauma, And Gender, Christiana A. Howell

Dissertations

Problem

The experience of the parental environment growing up, parental psychopathology in childhood, exposure to trauma throughout the lifespan, insecure adult attachment, and social support have been established as factors that influence mental health in adulthood. These factors have not yet been studied together as a complex model of emerging adult mental health and attachment. The purpose of this study was to develop a theoretically and empirically supported model of these factors to understand how these factors interact to influence mental health in emerging adulthood. Additionally, the purpose was to understand if these factors interact differently based on gender.

Method …

Reporting And Addressing Sexual Harassment At Four Institutions Of Higher Learning In Zambia: A Quantitative Study Of Related Attitudes And Perceptions, Earlymay Chibende

Dissertations

Problem

Sexual harassment is a social ill that exists across nations, socio-economic backgrounds, races, nationality, ethnicity, age groups, and sex. Although both male and female members of society experience sexual harassment, research shows that a greater percentage of sexual harassment victims are women (Whitley & Page, 2015; CharterJee, 2018). A comparison of the prevalence of sexual harassment at workplaces and educational institutions shows that sexual harassment is more widespread at institutions of learning than at workplaces. Research on the prevalence of attitudes and or perceptions toward sexual harassment in institutions of higher learning shows that between 10%- 68% of female …

Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, Exercise Dependence, Injury Prevalence, And Fueling Habits In Female Crossfit® Participants, Alyssum Reno-Smith

Dissertations

Disordered eating (DE) is primarily observed in endurance athletes and sports with aesthetics emphases. The prevalence of DE in resistance trained individuals, particularly CrossFit^®, is not well understood. CrossFit® promotes a culture encouraging strong, athletic, or muscular bodies, and both CrossFit® and endurance athletes aim to achieve a low body fat percentage to improve performance. This may lead to body dissatisfaction, exercise dependence (EXD), and/or DE behaviors, which may contribute to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). This cross-sectional study investigated DE prevalence and relationship with EXD risk, body dissatisfaction, and fueling habits in female CrossFit® only (CO) …

Enhancing Organisational Performance Through Patient-Focused Learning Excellence In The Biopharmaceutical Industry, Lori Richter

Dissertations

Drug shortages, quality defects and challenges regarding innovation within the biopharmaceutical industry pose significant risks to patient safety and organisational performance. These problems persist despite the many scientific, technological and economic advances over the past several years in a well-funded, high-revenue industry operated by highly qualified personnel. Evidence suggests that the industry has yet to fully realise the potential for building organisational capabilities to enable learning from mistakes to enhance performance outcomes. This research study explored how biopharmaceutical companies can learn from their mistakes and embrace a culture of learning in order to reduce quality defects and drug shortages by …

“A Real Man . . .”: Deconstructing Machismo Heteronormative Standards With K–12 Latino Male Educators Through Dialogic Spaces, Mario Echeverria

Dissertations

In a K–12 educational landscape where 75% of educators are white women, recruitment of Latino male educators is crucial for diversification, yet these educators represent just 2% of the teaching workforce in the United States (NCES, 2020). These educators grapple with a layered sense of identity as they navigate expectations of hegemonic masculinity and machismo norms that dictate their roles as disciplinarians and saviors, especially for young boys of color (Brockenbrough, 2018; Lara & Fránquiz, 2015; Martino & Kehler, 2006; Mills et al., 2004; Singh, 2021). Unfortunately, Latino male educators leave the profession at twice the rate of their Latina …

The Impact Of Hybrid Working On Employee Way Of Life And The Need To Reshape The Employee Value Proposition, Kanishka Chandanamali Athalage

Dissertations

This dissertation details a post-pandemic qualitative investigation conducted to understand the impact of hybrid working solutions on reshaping the employee value proposition (EVP) in the health insurance industry of the UAE. The research aims to evaluate how the introduction of modern hybrid working solutions impacts employees in a post-pandemic environment and, in turn, whether this creates a demand for human resources to refocus drivers of the EVP. Traditionally, EVP is referred to as the overall give-and-get in an employment deal; however, the pandemic was an eye-opener for organizations to redefine what it entails. Since hybrid working has become the new …

The Role Of Semaphorins In Response To Injury In C. Elegans Neurons, Maria Belen Harreguy Alfonso

Dissertations

When neural tissue is injured by trauma, delicate neuronal processes such as axons and dendrites are prone to lesion damage and often disconnect. The molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms that underlie the regrowth and reconnection of these processes and the recovery of behavior are major challenges in the fields of neuroscience, regeneration, and resilience. At the molecular and cellular levels, signaling pathways that mediate neuronal growth cone guidance during development can play a role in neuronal regeneration and recovery from injury. One family of signaling proteins involved in this process comprises the highly conserved semaphorins and their receptors, the plexins. …

Novel Photobase Generators For Photoinduced Polymerization And Ph Regulation, Shupei Yu

Dissertations

Photochemistry encompasses the investigation of chemical processes instigated by light absorption. As important branches of photochemistry, photosensitive and optical materials have attracted extensive research interests in both academia and industry. Photosensitive and optical materials are composed of polymers / small molecules with photo-responsive properties. These materials not only can absorb light in the desired energy spectrum, but also exhibit chemical / physical reactions, which can be applied to different fields such as photoredox, photo-heat, phototherapy, solar cells, diodes, etc. Among them, photobase generators (PBGs) are a series of photosensitive compounds, which absorb the incident light, then release the basic species …

Assessing The Feasibility And Mechanism Of Destructive Removal Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) From Water, Kaushik Vinaykumar Londhe

Dissertations

One of the most pertinent challenges faced by the drinking water community is the widespread contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These anthropogenic chemicals have been ubiquitously used in everyday products such as carpets, stain repellents, dyes, shampoos, non-stick cookware as well as in aqueous firefighting foams. PFAS are linked with adverse health effects in humans such as thyroid disease, obesity, immunological and reproductive disorders and linked to cancer in adults and low birth weight and developmental defects in infants.

Conventional water treatment technologies have proven to be largely ineffective in PFAS remediation, due to their extreme stability and …

Value And Impact Of Nurse Innovators Working In Academic, Industry, And Government Settings: A Qualitative Study, Olivia A. Lemberger

Dissertations

This dissertation explores the value and impact of nurse innovators working in academic, industry, and government settings. A qualitative descriptive study was chosen to understand the contributions of nurse innovators and the outcomes associated with their innovative endeavors. The purpose of this study is to better understand the contributions of nurse innovators by answering the following research questions: 1) How do nurses perceive that nursing innovation adds value to and/or impacts patients or the United States health care system? 2) What metrics/outcome measures do nurse innovators identify as relevant or useful to evaluate innovation success? And 3) What methods/resources do …

Quantifying Non-Muscle Myosin 2 Filament Dynamics, Melissa Ann Quintanilla

Dissertations

Non-muscle myosin 2 is a motor protein that, when assembled into filaments, works on the actin cytoskeleton to produce contractile forces within cells. This type of myosin dynamically assembles within cells to exert forces necessary for a wide variety of functions including cell division, migration, and multicellular movement. The ability to dynamically assemble contractile networks, and the ability to control the assembly and placement of these myosin filaments in both space and time, is therefore required throughout cell physiology. We used a suite of dynamic, quantitative imaging approaches to identify deterministic factors that drive myosin filament appearance and amplification as …

Arturo Rodriguez: A Mexican Mosaic. A Discussion Of His Life And Selected Works, Jorge Gonzalez

Dissertations

Arturo Rodríguez (b. 1976) is a Mexican composer living in Los Angeles, California. His music has gained tremendous popularity in México within the last ten years and is being performed regularly by some of the most prestigious professional orchestras in México and abroad. One of the most interesting aspects of his career is that he writes music for both the concert hall and motion pictures. His compositional output is abundant and covers a variety of genres including music for symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, chamber music, and piano. Rodríguez has focused on the art of symphonic composition for the past fifteen …

Timeseries Forecasting Of U.S. Housing Price Index Using Machine Learning And Deep Learning Models, Krishna Chaitanya Nunna

Dissertations

Time series forecasting is a promising technique for various applications which predicts future values or patterns by taking historical data as base. Forecasting future trends is very beneficial for different industries to make valuable decisions and strategies. One such industry is housing market; it has biggest influence on U.S. economy. Housing price index (HPI) is a one of the crucial economic indices published by various government funded and private agency to benefit several industries and individuals for better analysis of future trends of housing market.

Several factors influence the HPI, economical, geographical, and demographic features. Development of traditional time series …

Heterotypic Interaction Of Α-Synuclein And Tdp-43 In Neurodegenerative Diseases, Shailendra Dhakal

Dissertations

Amyloid aggregates of specific proteins form important pathological hallmarks in many neurodegenerative diseases, defining neuronal degeneration and disease onset. Recently, increasing numbers of patients show co-morbidities and exhibit clinical and pathological overlaps between multiple neurodegenerative diseases including α-synucleinopathies and TDP-43 proteinopathies. These overlaps are often accompanied by co-localization of α-synuclein (αS) and TDP-43 enhancing the possibility of direct interactions to generate heterotypic amyloids with distinct cellular consequences. To understand this, we investigate the interaction of α-synuclein (αS) and prion-like domain of TDP-43 (TDP-43 PrLD) in both homogenous and inhomogeneous phases. Firstly, we show that monomeric TDP-43 PrLD and αS interact …

Coach-Athlete Conflict And Well-Being Outcomes For Division I Athletes, Alisha M. Hilliard

Dissertations

The purpose of the research was: to qualitatively explore and further understand NCAA Division I (DI) athletes’ experiences with coach conflict and the impact of that conflict on well-being. To serve the purpose of this research, the primary researcher used a purposive sample of DI student-athletes by contacting them directly or sharing the study with faculty, graduate students, and athletic department personnel who work with student-athletes. An interpretive phenomenological approach was utilized while engaging in qualitative inquiry to pursue richer answers to the research question, because these approaches “seek to explore, describe, and analyze the meaning of individual lived experience” …

Engagement In Mental Health Research: The Role Of Mental Health Awareness And Perceived Intervention Stigma In Clinical Research Engagement Among African American Faith Communities, Camelia Harb

Dissertations

The dearth of participation in clinical research by marginalized racial and ethnic groups is a commonly cited limitation of research studies. To better understand research engagement among marginalized groups, this study proposed a mixed methods design examining the roles of mental health awareness and perceived intervention stigma on the capacity to engage in clinical research among a sample of African American faith community members. The primary aims were to: 1) examine the associations between and predictive roles of mental health awareness and perceived intervention stigma on clinical research engagement; 2) evaluate the moderating role of perceived intervention stigma; and 3) …