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Design And Synthesis Of Coke-Resistant Nickel-Based Catalysts For Efficient Methane Reforming And Hydrogen Production, Abdulmuizz Adamson

Dissertations

Ni-based catalysts are widely employed in methane reforming and cracking processes, however, their industrial application remains constrained by rapid deactivation caused by carbon deposition (coking). This thesis investigates the role of iron on the catalytic performance and coking resistance of the catalysts with focus on the mode of incorporation, oxidation state, reaction environment, and concentration of iron present as dopant.

The results show that doping the γ-Al₂O₃ support of Ni catalysts with well-dispersed iron ions in the support matrix significantly enhances catalyst stability during methane partial oxidation (POM) and combined dry reforming and partial oxidation (DR-POM). At 700°C, catalysts containing …

A Low-Noise And High-Gain Integrated Photoplethysmography Sensor For Continuous Vital Signs Monitoring, Neethu Mohan

Dissertations

Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensing is an important technology used for measuring health parameters like, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation, and blood pressure (BP). The PPG sensing is used for individuals who have to periodically monitor their health due to chronic health conditions. The basic requirements of a wearable PPG sensor include non-invasiveness, prolonged battery life, and being userfriendly. These type of sensors have great demand in the healthcare applications and there is a significant rise in the demand of these sensors. The basic objective of these PPG sensors is to make the continuous vital health monitoring easier without the …

Adapting The Alternative Program At Panther Community High School To Meet The Needs Of Its Students, Citlali J. Flores Hernandez

Dissertations

This study presents a comprehensive program evaluation of the PAGD alternative education program (a pseudonym) at Panther Community High School, a program that had not undergone formal revision since approximately 2015. The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of the PAGD program in addressing students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs, and to identify areas in need of improvement to support both student success and long-term program sustainability. The evaluation was guided by four primary research questions: To what extent is the PAGD program meeting students’ needs? To what extent are PAGD program teachers receiving the necessary support? …

“I Should’Ve Listened!”: Lived Experiences Of Postsecondary Transitions Among Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders From Non-Traditional High Schools, Kristen De Rose

Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of former students with EBD who attended a non-traditional high school. Eight semi-structured individual interviews were conducted to understand how students experienced emotional and academic supports during high school and throughout the transition into adulthood. Results revealed that participants appreciated attending a non-traditional school for its school connectedness, emotional and instructional supports, and school-based counseling. Additionally, findings suggest the school did not prepare them for the transition to post-secondary life. These findings suggest that emotional and academic support for students with EBD in non-traditional high school settings positively affected students’ sense of success …

Examining The Impact Of Restorative Practices On Student Behavior, Discipline, And Relationships In A K–5 Elementary School, Kathleen Tomaszewski

Dissertations

This study examined the implementation of restorative practices in a K–5 elementary school and their influence on student behavior, disciplinary actions, and teacher–student relationships. Restorative practices in schools focus on building a positive school climate and addressing student behavior through community and relationship-building rather than punitive measures. The rationale for the study was grounded in concerns regarding the use of exclusionary discipline practices and the need for proactive, student-centered approaches to improving school climate. Two main research questions guided the inquiry: To what extent do restorative practices impact student referrals and disciplinary actions in a K-5 elementary school? How do …

Black Men's Perception Of Mentorship In A Black Male Initiative Program, Caprice Butts

Dissertations

Black men in higher education often navigate systemic barriers, including underrepresentation, limited access to resources, and challenges related to belonging and identity within predominantly white institutions (PWIs). Mentorship programs, such as Black Male Initiative (BMI), have emerged as a key support mechanism; however, limited research explores how Black men experience these programs and how mentorship influences their personal and professional development. This study examined how Black men perceive the influence of a BMI mentorship program on their personal and professional development during and after their postsecondary journeys.

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of Black men who participated …

The Vital Role Of Communication In Elementary Education: Strategies For Bridging Language, Cultural, And Diversity Gaps To Strengthen Family-School Partnerships, Daniel H. Rack

Dissertations

This study examines how communication systems in elementary schools influence equitable family engagement within a linguistically and culturally diverse, Title I context. The purpose of this research is to evaluate how communication practices support or limit access, participation, and partnership between schools and families. The overarching research question guiding this study is: How do current communication systems support or constrain equitable family engagement? A convergent mixed-methods design was utilized to collect and analyze both quantitative and qualitative data. Data sources included educator surveys, family surveys, and focus group interviews, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of communication practices from multiple stakeholder …

Hybrid Neural Network Model Defenses, Eric Yocam

Dissertations

Hybrid neural networks (HNNs), which integrate classical convolutional neural networks with quantum circuit components, are highly vulnerable to white-box targeted compound (WTC) adversarial attacks. Previous research has primarily evaluated defenses against single-method attacks, leaving a critical gap in understanding defense effectiveness against compound attacks that combine multiple perturbation strategies. This research study systematically evaluates defense mechanisms against WTC adversarial attacks on HNN models across 120 experimental conditions. Three defense categories are investigated: test-time defenses (input transformation and randomization, applied during inference without retraining) and training-time defense (adversarial training, requiring model retraining). Evaluation uses four datasets (MNIST, EMNIST "Digits", TinyImageNet, TrafficSigns) …

Braiding Epistemologies: A Testimonio Of A Woman Of Color Coach Creating Space In California Community College Athletics, Erika Marie Vargas

Dissertations

This qualitative ethnographic study examined the experiences of one woman of color intercollegiate coach navigating her path to a head coaching position within the California Community College (CCC) system using testimonio. Drawing on interviews with the head coach, her mentor, assistant coach, and a former athlete supported by ethnographic fieldnotes, the study analyzed her experiences through Critical Race Theory, Black Feminist Epistemology, Chicana Feminist Epistemology, and a newly articulated Indigenous Feminist Epistemology centered on relational accountability, embodied knowledge, ancestral grounding, and community responsibility. Findings show that her coaching developed within institutional structures not designed for women of color. She navigated …

Emotional Tides In The Sea Of Automation: The Interplay Of Emotions And Trust On Automation Reliance, Lei Shirase

Dissertations

The present study examined the interplay between emotions and trust in the context of automation reliance. The study investigated whether specific emotions (happiness, interest, anger, sadness, and fear) systematically impacted users’ trust in an x-ray screening decision aid, their reliance on the aid, as well as their resilience to any errors made by the aid. Despite successfully inducing certain emotional states, there was no significant relationship between emotions and trust in / reliance on the automated aid. Supplemental analyses revealed that stable individual difference traits (i.e. propensity to trust) to be a strong predictor of initial trust levels in the …

Quantum Safe Encryption (Qse) Within The Internet Of Medical Things (Iomt) Environment Using Zero Trust Architecture (Zta), Michael Grant Williams

Dissertations

This research will use a Design Science Research (DSR) methodology and show that the results would be feasible, since there will not be any actual validating or testing occurring within or on this research project because this model is a theoretical model. In addition, this proposed theoretical model is based on extensive use of NIST standards and frameworks. This theoretical model will focused on the use of Quantum-Safe Encryption (QSE) within the Vivalink Electrocardiogram (ECG) Patch Monitor Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) device in a Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA). The advancement of quantum computing (QC) is expected to …

Resting-State Eeg Spectral Activity In Children And Adolescents With Asd: Potential Correlations With Interoceptive Neocortical Areas, Stephanie J. Morris

Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition marked by impairments in social interaction, communication, repetitive behaviors, and differences in cognitive and emotional functioning. These challenges can significantly affect daily living, relationships, and long-term independence, often requiring lifelong support. Emerging research suggests that deficits in interoceptive processing—the ability to perceive internal bodily states—may contribute to ASD symptoms and represent a potential target for intervention.

This study aims to compare resting-state EEG (QEEG) activity between children and adolescents with ASD and neurotypical (TD) peers, and to explore the relationship between interoceptive processing and ASD diagnosis. Archival QEEG data from individuals aged …

A Capability Maturity Model For Artificial Intelligence Integration In Supply Chain Management, Lordt Becklines

Dissertations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming Supply Chain Management (SCM), yet many organizations struggle to assess their readiness for AI adoption and to understand how AI capabilities develop across maturity stages. This dissertation addresses this gap by developing a Capability Maturity Model (CMM) for AI integration in SCM, grounded in Organizational Information Processing Theory (OIPT), the Resource-Based View, and related capability frameworks. The model provides a structured approach for evaluating an organization's information-processing requirements, resource configurations, and alignment needed for effective AI-enabled supply chain operations.

Using a design science research approach, the AI-SCM CMM and its associated assessment instrument were derived …

How Principals Who Use Artificial Intelligence For Innovation Create Cognitive Equity While Principals Who Use Ai For Efficiency Create Cognitive Debt, Jethro Jones

Dissertations

This dissertation in practice examined whether a targeted professional learning   intervention could shift school leaders’ use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) from efficiency-oriented tasks toward innovation-oriented strategic problem solving. AI is typically adopted to accelerate existing routines, which can deepen “cognitive debt” by reinforcing ineffective practices rather than improving systems. This study advanced a “cognitive equity” frame, positioning AI as a tool that can expand principals’ cognitive capacity to address complex problems and lead adaptive change. Using a quasi-experimental, single-group design, the study evaluated a free, full-day AI for Innovation workshop, which emphasized foundational understanding of how AI tools work …

The Heart Of An Educator An Autoethnographic Study Of Homeschool Practices That Reflect Core Udl Principles, Kimberly Clinton

Dissertations

The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework was at the heart of this study, which served as a critical lens for examining the instructional design practices embedded in the homeschool environment. Specifically, I examined how the three core tenets of UDL: representation, action and expression, and engagement were reflected within the Clinton Homeschool Instructional Learning Design (CHILD). The aim was to identify how homeschool instruction, as implemented by the researcher, parallels UDL principles in its responsiveness to learner variability, its emphasis on flexible instructional delivery, and its commitment to student-centered engagement. In contrast to the dominant educational paradigm, which often …

Optical Fiber Sensors Using Vernier Effect In Cascaded Fiber Interferometers, Zhouchen Wang

Dissertations

The optical Vernier effect has emerged as a powerful tool to enhance the sensitivity of optical fiber interferometer-based sensors, opening new opportunities for developing highly sensitive fiber sensing systems. Optical fiber interferometric sensors based on the Vernier effect are widely used for various applications due to their ultra-compact size, high sensitivity, immunity to electromagnetic interference, electrical isolation, resistance to harsh environments, flexibility, multiplexing capability, and remote operation. The aim of this doctoral thesis was to gain a deeper fundamental understanding of the Vernier effect in optical fiber structures and to develop and investigate a series of novel Vernier effect optical …

The Effects Of A Viniyoga-Based Practice On Mental Health Clinicians' Perceived Stress, Burnout, And Quality Of Life, Julie Pate

Dissertations

Psychotherapists often experience stress when treating distressed or emotionally troubled patients due to the emotionally taxing nature of their work, which can lead to burnout and other negative consequences (Bell et al., 2023; Maslach & Leiter, 2016; Simionato & Simpson, 2018) Therapists find it challenging to maintain regular self-care routines (Driscoll, 2023; Baker & Gabriel, 2021; Posluns & Gall, 2020). With the constant demand for counselors (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2024), there is a critical need for effective stress management strategies to mitigate burnout risks (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2022; Sibitz, Pils, …

The Voices Of Educators And Elders: Examining A Supplemental Educational Program Through A Culturally Responsive Lens In Gullah Geechee And African American Communities, Kelly D. Shelton

Dissertations

African American students in South Carolina experience historical educational suppression (Anderson, 1988; Bowers et al., 2018; Fabel, 2019). This qualitative case study investigated how the use of African Diaspora and Gullah Geechee culture in supplemental education programs supported the academic success of youth. Using a culturally and historically responsive literacy and critical race theoretical framing (Gay, 2013; Hammond, 2015; Ladson-Billings, 2014; Ladson-Billings & Tate, 1997; Mills, 1997; Muhammad, 2020), this study captured the voices and insights of community elders and program directors of The Village Group, that makes use of Gullah Geechee cultural, academic, and vocational practices to engage and …

Migrant Domestic Workers As Disposable Kin In Global Capitalism's Care Economy, Miguel Ceron Becerra

Dissertations

This dissertation examines the economic, emotional, and relational harms suffered by migrant domestic workers under global capitalism. These harms are systemic, stemming from labor and migration regimes designed to sustain capital accumulation in the care economy. Affluent regions benefit from the labor of migrant domestic workers at the expense of damage to their fundamental relationships. The result is the erosion of workers' kinship ties, rendering them "disposable kin" in the eyes of those who profit economically and emotionally from their work. The study is organized into four chapters. The first explores how global care chains are structured through labor and …

Vital Environs: Ecologies Of Modernism And The Nature Tradition, Danielle Nasenbeny

Dissertations

Vital Environs: Ecologies of Modernism and the Nature Tradition is an investigation of late nineteenth and early twentieth century British literature that explores the space between the individual and the external world. The project begins by exploring the “mind-body problem,” which is a topic in philosophy that recognizes the difficulty in understanding how the mind emerges from physical matter. While this topic has been in discussion since at least Descartes, science is still making crucial discoveries that challenge our understanding of this connection. I argue that the environmental crisis we find ourselves in today is a mind-body problem of global …

Built On Dignity, Backed By Love: A Mixed Methods Study And Curriculum Grounded In Black Caregivers’ Racial Socialization To Cultivate Youth Agency, Heather Watson

Dissertations

This dissertation explores how low-income Black youth and their caregivers experience, interpret, and respond to racial discrimination, with a focus on the development of youths’ dignity as a culturally grounded resilience process. Using a mixed-methods, community-based participatory research (CBPR) design, the study addresses three central aims: (1) to identify the forms of discrimination youth and caregivers encounter and their relationship to racial stress and resilience; (2) to define dignity from the perspectives of youth and caregivers; and (3) to identify caregiver-youth conversations that cultivate dignity and inform the development of the Dignity Development Curriculum (DDC). Data were collected through semi-structured …

Changing Lanes, Crossing Industry Lines From Higher Education To Business Leaders: A Narrative Inquiry To Understanding The Challenges Faced By Residence Life Professionals Who Had To Change Career Paths Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Tatianna Geneva Ingram

Dissertations

This narrative inquiry examined how higher education residence life and housing professionals navigated career transitions into business leadership roles following the COVID-19 pandemic. Using human capital theory as a framework, the study explored the transferable skills cultivated in residence life positions and how these skills supported adaptation across industries. Participants’ narratives illuminated motivations for transition, including job market volatility, compensation concerns, and work-life balance, while also highlighting challenges encountered in reskilling and navigating identity shifts outside of higher education. The findings reveal the enduring value of competencies such as leadership, crisis management, diversity and inclusion expertise, and operational strategy in …

Understanding Early Childhood Community Collaborations (Ecccs) In Relation To Systems Change, Rebecca Waterstone Halperin

Dissertations

The early childhood system in the United States is piecemeal and fragmented (Adams et al., 2017; Gomez & Rendon, 2019; Kagan & Kauerz, 2012; State Capacity Building Center, 2022). The result is that families have unequal access to care, education, and other early childhood services for their young children. There have been various approaches to building, impacting, and changing the early childhood system to move toward equity, and many of these approaches call for collaborative efforts. The state of Illinois is engaged in comprehensive early childhood systems work, and one of the vehicles driving this change has been the work …

Revisiting Collective Efficacy: Insights From Cognitive Interviews And Experimental Surveys, Tori Kay Olson

Dissertations

This three-part study revisits the collective efficacy scale developed by Sampson and colleagues in the 1990s to see if the scale needs updating. Defined as community cohesion and social control, collective efficacy is often used in community research to explain crime rates. The first phase uses cognitive interviews to understand how survey respondents interpret the original collective efficacy survey. The interview data then helps create new versions of the ten questions in the second phase. In the third phase, ChatGPT generates a revised version of the collective efficacy scale. The study employs a split-ballot experimental survey to test whether the …

In Search Of Resilience: A Case Study Of Leadership In Challenging Times In An International School Setting, Bradylee W. Mcgeough

Dissertations

This study investigated the leadership of a long-serving head of an international school during six periods of significant crisis affecting the school. The study was conducted at a private school in Islamabad, Pakistan, often referred to locally as The American School.

The study paid particular attention to the development of resilience in the leader and in the follower group during and after periods of crisis. Initially designed as a heuristic inquiry, in practice the study emerged more as a collection of oral histories, although heuristic inquiry methods were employed throughout the study. Polkinghorne’s conception of narrative analysis also …

Exploring Practices Leaders Of Teleworkers Use To Foster Employee Engagement: A Phenomenological Approach, Ronald Eric Snipes

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe the leadership practices used to foster employee engagement among teleworkers in the Veterans Health Administration’s Workforce Management and Consulting division and to examine why leaders believe those practices are important to sustaining employee engagement. The study was guided by the job demands–resources (JD-R) model, which proposes that employee engagement is strengthened when job resources buffer job demands and support motivational processes. As telework continues to expand across organizations, understanding how leadership practices influence engagement in remote environments has become increasingly important.

Methodology: A qualitative phenomenological research design was …

Thermal Analysis Of The Fiber Fuse Effect, John Seekins

Dissertations

The fiber fuse effect is a self-sustaining damage propagation mechanism that can occur in the core of optical fibers. Under sufficient levels of applied power, laser light is absorbed as heat in the fiber. This phenomenon is characterized by a brightly glowing spot in the fiber that propagates towards the source of laser light at about 1 𝑚/𝑠. A numerical simulation of the fiber fuse effect is developed that solves the transient heat equation with source terms in cylindrical coordinates utilizing an explicit finite difference discretization. For the first time in a simulation of this type, a radiation transport equation …

Rocket Injector Flowfield Characterization Through Local, Instantaneous Gas Composition Tracing Using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, Michaela Renee Hemming

Dissertations

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was developed for applications in the characterization of rocket engine injectors to evaluate the instantaneous, local gas concentration, or local mixture ratio of the injector flowfield. In this work, LIBS was tested in steady flows of premixed methane and air to create the correlation of the LIBS spectral species ratios H/O ratio, followed by a steady non-premixed flow to extract the localized mixing and shape of the flow field, then a transient study was performed to measure the development of the flow of the reactants in a pentad impingement injector previously used in RDE tests. …

How Exemplary Elementary School Principals Embed The Infinite Mindset Practice To Inspire The Achievement Of Extraordinary Results, Amna Osman

Dissertations

Purpose: This phenomenological study explored how exemplary elementary school principals perceive and embed Sinek’s (2019) infinite mindset framework within their organizations to achieve extraordinary results. A secondary purpose was to examine how perceived organizational supports and barriers influence the development of an infinite mindset among these principals.Methodology: This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of exemplary elementary school principals and their perspectives on implementing the five Infinite Mindset practices in their schools. The study focused on public elementary school principals in Monterey County, California. From 49 principals across six districts, 10 were purposefully selected based on established criteria for exemplary …

The Role Of Department Chairs In Supporting Student Learning Outcomes, Tommy C. Molden Jr

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine high school department chairs’ perceptions of their role in relation to teacher leadership in achieving student learning outcomes.  The study adds significant implications for department chair training in the context of teacher leadership and the achievement of student learning outcomes.  Further, the study extends the literature on the importance of department chairs’ perceptions of their proficiency for adapting to and institutionalizing the role as teacher leader to increase student achievement.  Additionally, the study identified training strategies and resources that enhance department chair competence in teacher leadership for student achievement of learning …