Digital Commons Network^™

Principals Staying In Concentrated Poverty School Districts: Voices From Within, Mark Wilke

Dissertations

School principals are facing an increase in demand and challenges from district, state, and federal agencies for improvements both behaviorally and academically. Each year, more school principals exit their positions for other professions. The concentrated poverty school districts have been hit the hardest by this exodus.

The purpose of this basic qualitative study is to examine why some principals within concentrated poverty school districts remain in their positions, especially when they are located near other districts with much lower poverty concentrations. The factors of interest are issues such as district leadership support for principals, compensation, climate and culture of the …

Warrior Voices: A Narrative Inquiry Into The Experiences Of Men Living With Multiple Sclerosis, James Petropulos

Dissertations

This narrative inquiry delves into the lives of six men, including the researcher, who have multiple sclerosis (MS). Through in-depth interviews, the researcher asks participants to describe their life before diagnosis, the diagnosis process, and the construction of a “new normal” after diagnosis. This research provides insights into how participants make sense of the disease, how they cope with the ongoing changes to their bodies, their relationships, their careers, and their perceptions of their masculinity. Analyzing the narratives provides insight into the variability of MS types and symptoms, and various coping mechanisms. It supports the idea that each participant should …

From Doctoral Student To Professor: The Professional Socialization And Career Development Of International Counselor Educators, Ayla Martine Ludwig

Dissertations

Becoming a counselor educator is a complex and rigorous process wherein students grow both personally and professionally (Dollarhide et al., 2013). Throughout this process, students develop in accordance with doctoral competency standards (CACREP, 2021) which help socialize them into the role of professor. For international learners, their education has historically included unique challenges such as language barriers (Behl et al., 2017; Hegarty, 2014; Jang et al., 2014; McDowell et al., 2012; Ng, 2012; Pollock et al., 2017; Sato & Hodge, 2015; Sherry et al., 2010), cultural adjustment (Jang et al., 2014; Kuo et al., 2018; Woo et al., 2015), and …

Establishing Practical Equivalence Of Factor Loadings In Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Christopher Edward Shank

Dissertations

This dissertation compares the performance of equivalence test (EQT) and null hypothesis test (NHT) procedures for identifying invariant and noninvariant factor loadings under a range of experimental manipulations. EQT is the statistically appropriate approach when the research goal is to find evidence of group similarity rather than group difference; despite this, the conventional approach to measurement invariance analysis relies upon NHT. EQT has proved effective for invariance detection using global model-data fit statistics in simulated and real-world data (Counsell et al., 2020) but its use in partial measurement invariance (PMI) analysis for evaluation of factor loading differences between groups has …

The Impact Of Household Preparedness And Work-Family Conflict On Medic-Firefighter Ability And Willingness To Respond For Duty In A Disaster, Joshua S. Simmons

Dissertations

There is a general assumption in disaster planning that emergency responders will respond for duty in any emergency or disaster. Role abandonment by medic-firefighters could impede an organization’s ability to effectively manage the impact of a disaster. This study investigated household preparedness and work-family conflict levels, identified as primary variables affecting ability and willingness to respond in the literature. The aim was to determine if these factors impacted the ability and willingness of medic-firefighters in a coastal Virginia fire department to respond during disaster scenarios. The results showed that emergency preparedness levels were low, and that there were moderate levels …

What Is Good For One Is Good For All: Using Co-Teaching As A Model To Service Students With Disabilities Within Inclusive General Education Classrooms, Michelle Robinson

Dissertations

Co-teaching is one of the most used service delivery models for students with disabilities within general education classrooms. In co-taught classrooms, a general education teacher and a special education teacher work together to provide instruction to both general education students and special education students. This allows students with disabilities to learn alongside their same-age peers, as they can access the general education curriculum while also receiving the supports and services of a special education teacher. The purpose of this study was to examine how co-teachers at Washington Junior High (WJH; a pseudonym) felt about co-teaching and the co-teaching program. Twelve …

Identity And Alterity In A Comedy Series From Santa Cruz, Bolivia, During The Presidency Of Evo Morales, Anita L. Zandstra,

Dissertations

This dissertation explores the construction of social identity and social difference in and through Neo/Los Mismos, a Bolivian comedy series produced during the presidency of Evo Morales (2006-2019), the country’s first president to claim an Indigenous identity. These years were characterized by profound divisions between the Bolivian highlands, home to Morales’s base of support, and the opposition based in the lowlands department of Santa Cruz. This qualitative study takes an interdisciplinary approach to social identity and social difference during the Morales era, drawing on concepts from linguistic anthropology, literary criticism, and humor studies, and tracing connections between Neo/Los Mismos and …

Restorative Practices Effect On The Culture And Climate Of A School Or District, Stephanie Daly

Dissertations

Restorative practices have emerged as a transformative approach within various domains, particularly education, aiming to nurture constructive relationships, address conflicts, and foster community. This research delves into the multifaceted world of restorative practices in educational settings, exploring their impact on school climate, conflict resolution, social and emotional learning, and broader implications for equity and justice in the classroom. This study looks to see if restorative practices affect the culture and climate of a school or district. It looks at how students describe a classroom that uses these practices. The feelings and reactions of students participating in these practices were also …

Examining The Influence Of Professional Learning Communities On Grit And Social-Emotional Skill Development In Students And Collective Teacher Efficacy Within A Middle School, Sam Kurtz

Dissertations

There has been a change in student behavior and social-emotional competence following the isolation, independence, and disjointed nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless of our efforts to engage students in learning, many are not emotionally available to participate in or avail themselves of the learning process. Through this study, I connected the potential development of collective teacher efficacy through utilizing a professional learning community (PLC) model, which focused on addressing students' lagging social-emotional skills in the middle school setting. This research aimed to determine if collective efficay and PLCs with a central focus on social-emotional learning could yield growth in …

A Design Based Mixed-Methods Study On Library Marketing And Communication Practices And Stakeholder Perceptions At A Midwestern University, Elizabeth Macdonald

Dissertations

The dissertation in practice was an effort to understand the relationship between communication and marketing strategies and students, faculty, and staff at a university library. The problem of practice reflected messaging challenges facing academic libraries over decades of change with rapidly changing technologies and changing stakeholder perceptions about libraries in an academic setting. The mixed-methods approach was guided by the user-centered design thinking process and endeavored to discover how a formalized marketing effort could positively shift longstanding stakeholder perceptions and increase engagement with university library resources and services. The methodology used by the scholar practitioner combined quantitative surveys, usage data, …

An Evaluation Of The Equitable Practices For Stem Education To Prepare All Students For The 21st Century, Elizabeth Simpson

Dissertations

We are almost a quarter of the way through the 21st Century, yet most education institutions do not provide STEM education for all students. Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) have been a special focus of both industry and federal education initiatives in recent years. STEM is a proven way of building student skills needed for the workforce of tomorrow. The purpose of this study is to determine why education decision-makers resist implementing STEM programs equitably for all students. The context of this inquiry is district and school-based leaders throughout the United States, from elementary to high school, who have …

An Evaluation Of The Elements Needed In A New Teacher Induction Program To Prepare And Retain Second Career Educators, Bianka Newkirk

Dissertations

According to García and Weiss (2019), the United States faces a critical teacher shortage. There are not enough students majoring in or graduating with degrees in education. A solution to the teacher shortage is to fill the vacancies by recruiting and training secondcareer educators. If teachers are trained and mentored during the early stages of their careers, students will reap the benefits. Teachers who participate in a comprehensive new teacher induction program remain in the teaching profession longer and have tremendous success in terms of student achievement. Through my study, I aimed to research the elements needed in a new …

A Case Study Of The Organizational System Of Articulation At A Midwestern Regional Public University, Katherine J. Giardello

Dissertations

Quantitative research has long shown lagging community college transfer student completion rates, in addition to excess credits earned and lengthened time-to-degree for transfer students that do earn a bachelor’s degree (Horn & Skomsvold, 2011; Jenkins & Fink, 2016; Simone, 2014; U.S. GAO, 2017). Scant qualitative studies exist related to student transfer, particularly the academic enterprise of articulation and the university perspective on transfer.

This qualitative study takes up the cause, using organizational and systems theories (Birnbaum, 1988; Clark, 1983; Cohen & March, 1974; Morgan, 2006; Senge, 1990; von Bertalanffy, 1972; Weick, 1976) to frame a single site case study with …

Cybersecurity Education And Continuous Learning Towards Uae Ncsp Fulfilment, Saleh Hamad Aldaajeh

Dissertations

This dissertation delves into enhancing cybersecurity education by aligning academic curricula with national cybersecurity strategic plan (NCSP) objectives, emphasizing the crucial role of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in developing a skilled cybersecurity workforce. Analyzing ten NCSPs, it identifies strategic themes and gaps between national goals and HEI offerings. The study reviews NCSP guidelines, international cybersecurity indices, and literature, including the NICE-NIST framework, to develop a framework that bridges the educational gap, improving learning outcomes and arming students with vital skills, knowledge, and competencies. Furthermore, it introduces a platform for continuous cybersecurity learning, employing micro-credentials, blockchain technology, and AI-driven systems. Based …

An Intelligent Framework Towards Fully Autonomous Driving Fueled By Smart Roads, Muhammad Jalal Khan

Dissertations

Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) are transforming next-generation autonomous mobility. These vehicles promise to increase road safety, improve traffic efficiency, reduce vehicle emissions, and enhance overall mobility. They achieve higher levels of Autonomous Driving (AD) by integrating sensors, communication technologies, computation, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Apart from these advancements, significant gaps remain in integrating heterogeneous technologies and disciplines essential for optimizing AD. Therefore, the current solution approaches lack the capability to exploit intelligent road infrastructures and effectively orchestrate perceptual services for complex driving scenarios. The main objective of this dissertation is to address these challenges by proposing a novel end-to-end intelligent framework …

Friction Stir Welding Of Tube-To-Tubesheet And Spot Joints For Virgin And Recycled Thermoplastic Materials, Syed Haris Iftikhar

Dissertations

Thermoplastic materials are becoming popular, due to their chemically inert and anti-fouling properties, for use in industrial heat exchanger applications involving heating/cooling of highly reactive fluids like acids. A novel non-conventional joining framework, based on the Friction Stir Welding (FSW) technique, is developed to create high-quality thermoplastic Tube-to-Tubesheet Joints (TTJs). The proposed technique has applications in the thermoplastic shell-and-tube heat exchanger and piping industries (as flange-to-pipe joints). The primary objective is to study the feasibility of the FSW technique for developing thermoplastic TTJs, followed by optimization of the process parameters and detailed material characterizations. This work used workpieces (tube, tubesheet) …

Graphene 2d Heterostructures For Thz Applications, Omnia Samy Shaaban

Dissertations

THz technology is a promising field that has various applications in communication, medical imaging and diseases’ detection, scanning, and the food industry. Since THz technology is still in its early stages, there is a lot of work to be done to obtain devices that work efficiently in the THz range. One of these devices is THz absorbers that are the basic building blocks for the next generation THz systems whether in communication systems, imaging or shielding. THz absorbers are structures that can absorb electromagnetic waves in the THz range (0.1-10 THz). THz absorbers can be wideband (absorb a wide range …

Working Logic Parameter Types And Philosophical Assumptions Of Selected Evaluation Approaches—A Descriptive Qualitative Analysis, Thomas J. Lyzenga

Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to enhance the selection and use of selected contemporary evaluation approaches through the development of a descriptive profile that combines the parameters of their working logics and their philosophical assumptions. The profile provides a unique structure to understand, identify, select, and apply evaluation approaches. I catalogued 86 evaluation approaches described in 13 sources that discuss multiple evaluation approaches and applied citation analysis to identify the most used or most quickly growing approaches. For 11 of the commonly used evaluation approaches, I identified the seven features of the feature profiles through a qualitative content analysis …

Impact Of Collaborative Communities On Collective Teacher Effectiveness And Agency, Leila Barber

Dissertations

In an ever-increasing world in which change, and diversity are commonplace, leaders are often faced with the unique challenge of building Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) with unique skill sets. Building collaborative teams of educators is one way building leaders tackle this absolute task. The methods by which leaders construct teams vary widely and at times with limited direction. Teacher teams are then at the mercy of those who they are teamed with, and either reap positive rewards of collaboration, or negative discord. Teacher experiences shape the way PLCs function and how they engage with shared work with their teammates. Throughout …

مدى كفاية ضمانات الاستثمار الأجنبي المباشر وفقًا لأحكام القانون الاتحادي رقم (32) لسنة 2021: دراسة تحليلية, Mohammed Ibrahim Almemari

Dissertations

The Adequacy of Foreign Direct Investment Guarantees: Analytical Study in Accordance with the Provisions of Federal Law No. (32) of 2021

The great economic competition between countries, and their endeavor to strengthen their economy through various fields; Make them compete with each other in attracting foreign direct investments to their territories; However, these investments cannot move from their home country to another country without having economic advantages and incentives that encourage them to invest in a country other than the home country. Likewise, these investments cannot carry out their work in any country without having The investor has many guarantees …

The Impact Of Changing The Admission Policy On Students’ Educational Opportunities In Abu Dhabi Higher Educational Institutions, Maha Khalifa Al Mansoori

Dissertations

This dissertation is concerned with the intricate dynamics of educational change in the UAE, particularly focusing on the impact of admission policy changes on students’ educational opportunities on higher educational institutions. The main objective of this dissertation is to critically evaluate the effectiveness of educational changes, specifically through the lens of revised admission policy, in enhancing the standards of higher education in the United Arab Emirates.
/="/">A quantitative research methodology using questionnaire was utilized in this research paper and PLS-SEM method with SmartPLS software was used for data analysis. The study investigates the effect of changing the admission policy …

School Leadership For The Practice Of Inclusive Education In Elementary Schools In The United Arab Emirates, Aysha Saeed Al Nuaimi

Dissertations

The number of students with disabilities in regular classrooms is increasing. In 2020, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) introduced a new policy with the goal of promoting inclusive education in all public schools. Although the UAE government is committed to the education of children with disabilities, the role of school leaders is vital to the successful implementation of inclusive education in schools. While school leaders have been found to be the main agents in steering inclusive practices, their contribution to practices in schools in the UAE context remains empirically unresearched. The objective of this study was to explore elementary school …

Transforming Fermentation Residues From Date Fruit Pomace For The Synthesis Of Bioadsorbent Material In An Integrated Biorefinery Framework, Sabeera Haris

Dissertations

In the pursuit of enhanced waste management solutions, this comprehensive research delves into the untapped potential of Date Fruit Pomace (DFP), an abundant byproduct from the date syrup industry that is currently underutilized, leading to environmental concerns. The study emphasizes the need for proper waste management and valorization strategies to mitigate the environmental impact of DFP and promote sustainability within the date processing industry. The initial phase involves characterizing DFP from Emirati varieties, highlighting its compositional and functional properties. The analysis reveals that DFP is rich in total dietary fiber (45.5%), residual sugars (35.3%), protein (10.6%), ash (4.1%), and fat …

Developmental Programming Of Normal Versus Metabolically Altered Pancreas In Rat: Effect Of Gestational Diabetes, Sanabil Ali Ahmed

Dissertations

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic condition characterised by pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and consistently elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia), either due to the inability of the body to produce any or adequate amounts of insulin or the inability of the body to effectively utilise the produced insulin (i.e., insulin resistance). DM can be classified into 3 main types: Type 1 DM (T1DM), Type 2 DM (T2DM), and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). GDM is defined as “hyperglycaemia that is first diagnosed during pregnancy with glucose levels below those considered diagnostic of overt diabetes outside of pregnancy”.

The mature pancreas is a …

On The Projections And Unitary Groups Of Unital C*-Algebras, Fouzia Shaheen

Dissertations

H. Dye proved that the unitary group in a factor determines the algebraic type of that factor. Al-Rawashdeh, Booth and Giordano established that, for a large class of simple unital C*-algebras, an isomorphism between the unitary groups induces an isomorphism between their K₀-ordered group and 1-groups. Then using the results of Dadarlat-Elliot-Gong and Kirchberg-Phillips, the C*-algebras are isomorphic. Dye introduced special projections P_i,j (a) of the matrix algebra M_n(A), and he used it as a main tool to establish his results in the case of von Neumann factors. Precisely, in case of von Neumann algebra, …

اﻷﻣﺒﻮدﺳﻤﺎن ﻛﺂﻟﯿﺔ ﻧﺤﻮ ﺗﻌﺰﯾﺰ ﺛﻘﺔ اﻟﻤﺘﻌﺎﻣﻠﯿﻦ بجهة اﻹدارة ﻓﻲ دوﻟﺔ اﻹﻣﺎرات اﻟﻌﺮﺑﯿﺔ اﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪة, ﻋﺒﺪاﻟﺤﻤﯿﺪ أﺣﻤﺪ اﻟﻮاﺣﺪي

Dissertations

The Ombudsman Serves as a Mechanism to Enhance Trust in Administrative Entities in the United Arab Emirates

In the midst of governments’ trend towards re-evaluating the relationship with customers by building a partnership relationship between them to achieve common and diverse interests at the legal, administrative, social and economic levels, the researcher sought to find mechanisms that would enhance trust between the government and customers to find alternative solutions to address customer’s complaints and disputes arising from administrative work.

Therefore, the choice fell on the experience of the State of Sweden in establishing the Ombudsman system, which aims to protect …

Enzymatic Production Of Cyclodextrin Using Cyclodextrin Glycosyltransferase Immobilized In Metal Organic Frameworks (Mofs), Babatunde Azeez Ogunbadejo

Dissertations

Cyclodextrins (CDs) and their derivatives have attracted significant attention in the pharmaceutical, food, and textile industries, which has led to an increased demand for their production. CDs are typically produced by the action of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) on starch. Owing to the relatively high cost of enzymes, the economic feasibility of the entire process strongly depends on the effective retention and recycling of CGTase in the reaction system, while maintaining the enzyme’s activity and stability. Previous supports used for this purpose such as silica and hydrogels, have numerous drawbacks, including enzyme leaching, activity loss and significant mass transfer limitations. The …

Enhancement Of Rainfall Prediction And Satellite Precipitation Estimates: A Machine Learning Approach For United Arab Emirates, Faisal Baig

Dissertations

The accurate estimation of rainfall in arid regions presents a significant challenge due to sparse ground observations and complex atmospheric dynamics. This dissertation investigates various aspects of rainfall estimation and prediction in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), employing Satellite Precipitation Products (SPPs) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques. The research is structured around four key articles, each addressing different facets of the overarching theme. The first publication examines rainfall variability, consistency, and concentration in the UAE by comparing satellite precipitation products with rain gauge observations, highlighting the discrepancies between the two data sources. The second publication evaluates the performance of precipitation …

Valorization Of The Polymeric Constituents In Plastic Wastes Through Thermo-Chemical Processes By Using Viable Metal Oxides Additives, Labeeb Hamad Ali

Dissertations

The rapid accumulation of different types of plastic waste necessitates the development of effective and economically viable waste management operations. Such a process should ideally not only mitigate associated environmental burdens but also recycle and recover value-added products. Through incineration or pyrolysis, thermal processing has emerged as a mainstream approach to waste management of the ever-increasing loads of different categorized plastic wastes. Throughout the work of the thesis, we have utilized a multitude of complementary techniques spanning material characterizations, catalysis, kinetic modelling, and density functional theory (DFT) to comprehend the complex chemistry that underpins catalytic chemical recycling of plastic wastes. …

Experimental Investigation Of Various Hydrogen Knock Limit Extension Strategies On A Hydrogen-Gasoline Dual Fuel Spark Ignition Engine, Sanad Thurakkal Puthan

Dissertations

Hydrogen is a clean and carbon free substitute with the ability to significantly cut down the harmful emissions while enhancing the energy efficiency of internal combustion engines (ICE) typically powered by conventional fossil fuels. Hydrogen is the most abundant elements which can be easily obtained from sources like water and biomass. The wide flammability range and high laminar flame velocity outstands hydrogen from other fuels. However, hydrogen fueled engines are more prone to abnormal combustion like knock and backfire due to its low ignition energy and high adiabatic flame temperature. To avoid backfire, several well developed approaches have been reported. …