Geo-Spatial Modeling Of Carbon Sequestration Assessment In Date Palm, Abu Dhabi: An Integrated Approach Of Fieldwork, Remote Sensing, And Gis, Basam Saeed Dahy

Dissertations

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has undertaken huge efforts to green the desert and afforestation projects (planted mainly with date palms) hence, reducing its carbon footprint, which have never been accounted for, because of lack of implemented mechanisms and tools to assess the amount of biomass and carbon stock (CS) sequestered by plants in the country. The purpose of this dissertation is to implement a new approach towards assessing the carbon sequestered by date palm (DP) plantations in Abu Dhabi, in both their biomass compartment as well as the soils under beneath, using geospatial technologies (RS and GIS) assessed by …

Studying The Impact Of Grit In The Learning Of Young Children By Way Of Implementing A Student-Teacher Mentorship Program In Elementary Grades, Azra Naqvi

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Children are born with the potential to become successful in life, provided their developmental needs are met. One component is developing the foundational skills, behavior, and attitude that will remain essential ingredients for a successful life. While most children entering school are prepared to learn, there may be some who lack foundational skills that prevent them from learning. The change leadership model developed by Wagner, Kegan, Lahey, Lemons, Garnier, Helsing, and Ark (2006) was used to assess the culture, context, conditions, and competencies of a small, nonpublic Islamic school located in a suburban area. This study aimed to explore …

Life Satisfaction: Aging Female Informal Caregivers Of Persons With Dementia, Deborah Ann Monson

Dissertations

Purpose/Aims

The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between aging female informal caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) and care recipients’ PWD demographic factors, aging female informal caregivers of PWD social support factors, positive and negative feelings, a sense of flourishing, stress, and life satisfaction.

Background/Rationale

Older adults with dementia are living longer and the majority are receiving care by aging female informal caregivers. Dementia incrementally worsens over time impacting informal caregiver life satisfaction. Most studies have focused on negative aspects of informal caregiving. Therefore, this study investigated both positive and negative aspects of caregiving.

Conceptual Basis …

Bridging The Gap: A Closer Look At Educational Inequities And Strategies To Support African American Students, Terry Daily-Davis, Lachrisa Crenshaw, Gina M. Jenkins

Dissertations

This autoethnography shares our personal experiences, narratives, and counter-stories as we view the social justice issues of inequities in the education of African American students. Through our journey, we highlighted our personal views and real scenarios as seen through the eyes of a reading specialist, social worker, and college-level administrator. Critical Race Theory in Education (CRT) served as our primary guiding force allowing us to focus on the following tenets: counter-stories, permanence of racism, whiteness as property, interest convergence, and critique of liberalism (Dixson, Anderson & Donnor, 2017). Critical Race Theory (CRT) is the framework in Social Sciences that examines …

School-Based Wellness Programs: Educator Perceptions, Rocky C. Valentine

Dissertations

The utilization of workplace wellness programs in the field of education has become increasingly popular. Educators are receptive to school-based wellness programming to reduce stress, increase work engagement, and provide opportunities for health and wellness (Schultz et al., 2019). The purpose of this explanatory, sequential, mixedmethod study was to investigate certified educators’ perceptions of school-based wellness programs, wellness program components, and their impact on educator stress, burnout, and retention. An interpretivist theoretical framework was used to make sense of the meanings and understandings of the participants (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). Little research has been focused on the implementation and evaluation …

Home Economics And Food Literacy: An Investigation Into The Factors Influencing The Effective Delivery Of Food Literacy Curricula In Irish Post Primary Schools As Perceived By Key Stakeholders, Aisling Geraghty

Dissertations

In 2018 the new Junior Cycle specification for home economics was introduced. This year also saw the recommendation by the Irish State to make home economics compulsory for all Junior Cycle students. Home economics is a multifaceted, inter disciplinary subject that seeks to empower students with the skills to cultivate reflective, critical decision-making abilities they require to deal with practical perennial problems. Food literacy exists as a key contextual strand to home economics, and to this new Junior Cycle curriculum in particular. This study seeks to identify influences, both positive and negative, that impact on the effective delivery of food …

Adopting A Systematic Approach To Tasting Cider Within The Irish Craft Cider Industry, Richie Brady

Dissertations

Craft cider-makers produce less than 1% of Irish cider which is a significantly smaller percentage than craft producers in other beverage markets. This study contextualises Irish cider’s importance by exploring its rich history in Gaelic and Georgian Ireland. It then examines how that importance is not reflected in today’s market and posits that introducing a new systematic approach to tasting will enable cider to be viewed beyond what many see as a cheap, simple summer drink. A systematic approach to tasting is a structured and repeatable method of describing taste using a lexicon of agreed words. Unlike other drinks, such …

William Of Auxerre And Thomas Aquinas On Simultaneous Faith And Knowledge, Jacob Joseph Andrews

Dissertations

In this dissertation I will consider how two 13th century theologians, William of Auxerre (1156-1231) and St. Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274), explored the question, "Whether the same thing can be known (demonstratively) and (believed by faith)" (utrum idem sit scitum et creditum). Both denied that this was possible, but they differed in the relative epistemic priority of faith and knowledge. Aquinas thought that demonstrative knowledge has epistemic priority over faith: for example, if someone knows a proof for God's existence, then they know that God exists, and it is impossible for them to have faith that God exists. Aquinas is a …

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

Dissertations

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

Investigating The Roles Of Lipids In Staphylococcus Aureus Infection, Xi Chen

Dissertations

The Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is a major threat to public health and causes a multitude of infections, ranging from mild skin and soft infection, to more severe diseases including sepsis, osteomyelitis and infective endocarditis. As a successful pathogen, S. aureus employs various mechanisms to invade host tissues, evade immune responses, and survive in the host environment. One critical adaptive trait of S. aureus that promotes virulence and survival is the ability to maintain membrane homeostasis via flexible modifications to its lipid composition in response to the surrounding lipid environment. Phospholipids are the major component of the bacterial membrane and …

Feasibility Of Online Nutritional Counseling And/Or Remote Self Weighing In Pregnant Women With Obesity, Rebecca Mattson

Dissertations

Purpose

The purpose of this feasibility study is to determine the magnitude of effect using a combination of weekly weights and an online registered dietician to control excessive gestational weight gain in pregnant women with obesity using a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Specific Aims

There are three specific aims. Aim 1: Describe the study population in terms of sociodemographic influences (e.g., ethnicity, age, weight, and height) and obstetrical influences (i.e., parity and pregnancy weight). Aim 2: Measure participant satisfaction with the study interventions of weekly weighing and online nutrition counselling. Aim 3: (a) Explore the differences in gestational weight …

Involvement In Community Service And Spiritual Activities As Correlates Of Socially Responsible Leadership Among Undergraduate Students At Asia-Pacific International University, Thailand, Naltan Lampadan

Dissertations

Problem

Institutions of Higher Education invest considerable resources to provide students with leadership experiences through extracurricular activities, especially in community service and spiritual programming. The inter-relationship among these variables (socially responsible leadership, spiritual and community involvement) have not been investigated in faith-based institutions of higher education in Southeast Asia.

Purpose of the Study

This study had four purposes: (a) to examine the extent of student involvement in community service and spiritual activities; (b) to investigate the level of socially responsible leadership among undergraduate students; (c) to examine whether socially responsible leadership might be related to gender, nationality, class status, and …

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

Dissertations

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

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

Dissertations

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

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

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

Dissertations

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

Forming Institutional Values: An Exploratory Investigation Of The Interinstitutional Logics System And National Collegiate Athletic Association Embedded Agents, Jay Martyn

Dissertations

The institutional logics perspective is a metatheoretical framework utilized to examine the interrelationships between institutions, individuals, and organizations in a social system (Thornton et al., 2012). A developing thought in the institutional logics perspective is the concept of the interinstitutional system, which is a framework for understanding a levels metatheory of institutions. Undeniably, there has been a growing demand for literature in the sport management field pertaining to Institutional Theory and scholars have emphasized the necessity to examine institutional logics in the sport industry (Washington & Patterson, 2011). Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to evaluate the logics …

Trust In Leadership To Develop Collaborative School Culture And Effective Implementation Of Professional Learning Communities, Kara Mieszanek

Dissertations

DISSERTATION: TRUST IN LEADERSHIP TO DEVELOP COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL CULTURE AND EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES

Kara N. Mieszanek National Louis University

ABSTRACT

In education, we are constantly working toward increasing student achievement. Often, we pursue technical elements such as implementing programs, data analysis, utilizing assessment tools, embedding evaluation systems, etc. However, there is another critical element that may all too often get overlooked—the culture. The purpose of this study was to strip away all the layers required to achieve systemic change by observing what is at the core of it all: trust. Through qualitative and quantitative research, I took …

Does Socioeconomic Status Influence Students’ Postsecondary Plans?, Brian A. Young

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine whether or not socioeconomic status (SES) influenced high school students’ plans for continuing their learning after high school. This study collected data via an online survey and a sample size of 343 participants from three comprehensive public high schools. A hierarchical logistic regression was conducted and found to be statistically significant. The variables of gender, race, and SES were found not to be significant predictors of having a postsecondary plan, but grade point average (GPA) was a significant predictor. The results failed to reject the null hypothesis, meaning household SES was not …

Perceived Servant Leadership Behaviors And Employee Outcomes In National Collegiate Athletic Association Division Iii, Athletics Departments The Moderating Role Of Trust-In-Leader And Organizational Tenure, Sean Fletcher Daly

Dissertations

ESPN reported that in the 2016–2017 academic year, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) surpassed $1 billion in revenue (Rovell, 2018). Trends in revenue and business models have caused scholars, educators, and professionals to call for a reform of how collegiate sport organizations are led (Lapchick et al., 2013; Lopiano & Gurney, 2014). Some believe servant leadership (Greenleaf, 1977) is the answer (Burton & Peachey, 2013; Dodd et al., 2018). Research studies on servant leadership in the sporting context have found it has a positive impact on the development of an ethical climate (Achen et al., 2019; Burton et al., …

Educational Leaders’ Role In Sustaining Achievement In Successful, High- Poverty Title I Elementary Schools: A Case Study On Practices And Actions Leaders Take, Jennifer Ann Fodness

Dissertations

An education system where every student is successful has been a primary goal for the United States. Increasing student achievement for student populations identified as at risk for not meeting educational goals is imperative for students, school leaders and educators, policymakers, businesses, and taxpayers across the nation. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple-case study was to explore and describe practices and actions used by educational leaders in two successful high-poverty Title I schools who influenced sustained achievement. Three themes were identified in each school through thematic analysis of interviews, observations, and documents. For one school, the three themes were (a) …

Providing Head Start Services Amid A Global Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Explanatory Study Of Capacity, Resources, And Support, Kelly L. Vigants

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic altered education in dramatic ways including immediate building closures and the implementation of virtual instruction. In March of 2020, Michigan faced a statewide shutdown on all non-essential travel as Michiganders were ordered to “Stay Home. Stay Safe.” Head Start began to provide remote services to families and students. Head Start lead teachers were charged with using virtual methods to teach their students. With little direction in the beginning and many unknowns, Head Start lead teachers used innovative methods to promote family engagement.

This study used a mixed method, explanatory sequential design to evaluate the most effective methods …

The Effect Of Visual Disruption On Stability After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, Nathan John Robey

Dissertations

The overall purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the influence of visual disruption on measures of postural stability, specifically in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) individuals. Each of the two studies included in this dissertation evaluated postural stability, with the first study evaluating static postural stability and the second study evaluating dynamic postural stability. For the first study, 26 individuals (ACLR group n = 13; control group n =13) were asked to complete both double- and single-limb stances on embedded force platforms while visual information was disrupted using stroboscopic eyewear. Postural stability was assessed using traditional center of pressure …

Improvement In Primary Care Identification Of Trauma Symptoms Of Foster Care Children, Crystal Lucas

Dissertations

Introduction: Exposure to adverse childhood events (ACEs) is common in foster children. Primary care providers are ideally positioned to advocate for foster care children through early identification and treatment of trauma-related symptoms and diagnoses during routine well-child assessments.

Purpose: This quality improvement project sought to institute a standardized trauma assessment instrument, the Childhood Behavioral Checklist (CBCL), to determine if there was an increase in the identification of trauma-related symptoms and diagnoses along with an increase in the rate of referral to mental health care (MHC).

Method: This quality improvement project used a descriptive, observational design to complete retrospective and prospective …

A Mixed-Methods Investigation Of Recidivism Among Ex-Offenders In Missouri, Norman James Vick

Dissertations

Ex-offenders return home to family and friends every day in the United States of America; seeking to reintegrate with family and society. Ex-offenders recidivate as well due to numerous reasons and fail at reintegration with family and society. The purpose of the investigation was to learn if substance abuse treatment and obtaining an education in the form of a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) would help the ex-offender avoid further recidivating The investigator was also interested in learning if trust played a vital role in gaining a GED and completion of substance abuse treatment with reintegration of the family for the …

Diet Behaviors, Physical Activity, And Sociodemographic Factors In A Sample Of Racially Diverse Adults: A Secondary Analysis Of Nhanes (2017-2018) Data, Fatemeh Choupani

Dissertations

Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing among adults in the United States and is related to a high risk to health. Obesity has been linked to lifestyle behaviors such as diet behaviors and physical activity.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine if an association exits between foods prepared outside of the home, walking or biking, vigorous/moderate recreational activities, sociodemographic factors and the outcomes, body mass index, percentage of body fat, and waist circumference.

Method: A secondary analysis was conducted using data from 3942 adults from the U.S. aged 20 years, as recorded in the National Health …

Nutritional Management Of The Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant: An Evidence Based Clinical Practice Guideline, Dana Lunde

Dissertations

Premature birth has risen steadily over the last decade resulting in an increased number of infants needing neonatal intensive care. The demand for neonatal intensive care has lead to many improvements in the delivery of such care with an increase in the survival of the smallest and most premature infants. However, most of these infants are being discharged from neonatal intensive care units (NICU) with severe extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR). Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants born at 23-27 weeks gestation and who have a weight of less than 1,000 grams are at the highest risk for EUGR because of …

Development And Validation Of A Food Frequency Questionnaire For The Adult Emirati Population For Use In Epidemiological Studies, Najoua El Mesmoudi

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Chronicling Resident And Staff Outcomes Throughout The Implementation Of A Professional Nursing Practice Model In One Midwest Continuing Care Retirement Community: A Longitudinal Analysis, Kimberly Michele Bergen-Jackson

Dissertations

This research used a case study approach to chronicle the process of seeking the American Nurse Credentialing Center's Pathway to Excellence in Long-Term Care designation in one Midwest community. The PTE-LTC practice standards framework guided the implementation of professional nursing practice which focused on a positive practice environment, shared decision-making, accountability for resident care, and the leadership development of nursing staff. These practice standards are outlined in the study and incorporated the major components necessary to implement Professional Nursing Practice and Shared Governance in long-term care. The components of the designation process over a five-year period were documented and compared …

Bedside Nurse Recognition Of Delirium In The Medical-Surgical Setting, Bridget Ann Denzik

Dissertations

Delirium in adults aged 65 and older is a common occurrence in the acute care setting and is often unrecognized by bedside nurses. Delirium can trigger a negative cascade of events resulting in an increase in morbidity and mortality, functional decline, longer length of stay, and high rates of post hospital institutionalization and has a significant socioeconomic impact. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to establish a solid foundation using scholarly literature to support the development of a delirium prevention, recognition, and treatment program in the medical-surgical acute care setting applying the program logic framework. The goal was …

Getting Ahead Of The Game: A Preventative Assessment Plan For Intercollegiate Athletics, Kristiana Marie Feeser

Dissertations

While we know much about the psychology of sport, little gets translated onto the playing field. Typically, there is only consultation when a problem arises or when performance falls short. The purpose of this study was mainly exploratory in order to gather data on three factors of mental health, find any associations between those factors, and to predict any risk factors using demographic variables. Three validated measurement tools were used to measure burnout (Athlete Burnout Questionnaire; Raedeke & Smith, 2004), depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II; Beck et al., 1996), and transition readiness (British Athletes Lifestyle Assessment Needs in Career and Education; …