Digital Commons Network^™

Customized Boron And Magnesium-Based Reactive Materials Prepared By High Energy Mechanical Milling, Xinhang Liu

Dissertations

New reactive materials need to be developed having biocidal combustion products. When ignited, such material can add chemical biocidal effects to the common effects of high temperature and pressure. Biocidal combustion products are capable of deactivating harmful spores or bacteria, which can be released by targets containing biological weapons of mass destruction. Research showed that halogens, especially iodine, are effective as biocidal components of reactive material formulations. Recently, magnesium combustion product MgO is also found to have a biocidal effect. Thus, advanced formulations containing both magnesium and iodine are of interest; such formulations are prepared and investigated here.

Reactive materials …

Early Detection Of Fake News On Social Media, Yang Liu

Dissertations

The ever-increasing popularity and convenience of social media enable the rapid widespread of fake news, which can cause a series of negative impacts both on individuals and society. Early detection of fake news is essential to minimize its social harm. Existing machine learning approaches are incapable of detecting a fake news story soon after it starts to spread, because they require certain amounts of data to reach decent effectiveness which take time to accumulate. To solve this problem, this research first analyzes and finds that, on social media, the user characteristics of fake news spreaders distribute significantly differently from those …

Perivascular Waste Metabolites Clearance In Central Nervous System (Cns), Yiming Cheng

Dissertations

Efficient clearance of interstitial waste metabolites is essential for normal brain homeostasis. Such effective clearance is hampered by the lack of a lymphatic system in the brain, and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is unable to clear large size waste metabolites in the brain. Here, a novel idea that brain arterial endothelium and smooth muscle cells reactivity regulates the clearance of these water-insoluble large size waste metabolites through the perivascular dynamic exchange, and that low dose ethanol promotes this perivascular clearance is proposed.

In Aim 1, the biodistribution of a large size waste metabolite (Amyloid-β protein mimic) in rat perivascular space …

Investigation Of Small-Scale Energy Release And Transfer Processes In The Solar Atmosphere With High-Resolution Observations In Infrared, Xu Yang

Dissertations

Solar spectrum in the infrared (IR) contains abundant information of solar activities, however, it has not spectral lines in the solar IR spectrum provide different tools to probe the solar atmosphere in various heights. This radiation band in such relatively long wavelength includes various atom and molecule spectral lines that are generated by relatively small energy level transitions. The temperature-sensitive and highly dynamic spectral lines could reveal the energy transmission process more easily than those in the visible wavelength of solar emission. Moreover, the better magnetic sensitivities for the infrared lines resulting from their longer wavelength make them detect the …

Bio-Inspired Learning And Hardware Acceleration With Emerging Memories, Shruti R. Kulkarni

Dissertations

Machine Learning has permeated many aspects of engineering, ranging from the Internet of Things (IoT) applications to big data analytics. While computing resources available to implement these algorithms have become more powerful, both in terms of the complexity of problems that can be solved and the overall computing speed, the huge energy costs involved remains a significant challenge. The human brain, which has evolved over millions of years, is widely accepted as the most efficient control and cognitive processing platform. Neuro-biological studies have established that information processing in the human brain relies on impulse like signals emitted by neurons called …

Amyloid Proteins And Fibrils Stability, Farbod Mahmoudinobar

Dissertations

Compared to globular proteins that have a stable native structure, intrinsically disordered peptides (IDP) sample an ensemble of structures without folding into a native conformation.One example of IDP is the amyloid-beta(Abeta) protein which is the main constituent of senile plaques in the brain of Alzheimer's patients.Understanding the process by which IDPs undergo structural changes to form oligomers that eventually aggregate into senile plaques/amyloid fibrils may significantly advance the development of novel therapeutic methods to treat neurodegenerative diseases, for which there is no cure to date. This dissertation has two main objectives. The first one is to investigate and identify structural …

Mitochondria Imaging And Targeted Cancer Treatment, Tinghan Zhao

Dissertations

Mitochondria are essential organelles as the site of respiration in eukaryotic cells and are involved in many crucial functions in cell life. Dysfunction of mitochondrial metabolism and irregular morphology have been frequently found in human cancers. The capability of imaging mitochondria as well as regulating their microenvironment is important both scientifically and clinically. Mitochondria penetrating peptides (MPPs), certain peptides that are composed of cationic and hydrophobic amino acids, are good candidates for mitochondria targeting. Herein, a novel MPP, D-argine-phenylalanine-D-argine-phenylalanine-D-argine-phenylalanine-NH₂ (rFrFrF), is conjugated with a rhodamine-based fluorescent chromophore (TAMRA). The TAMRA-rFrFrF probe exhibits advantageous properties for long-term mitochondria tracking of …

Cerebro-Vascular Disruption Mediated Initiation And Propagation Of Traumatic Brain Injury In A Fluid Percussion Injury Model, Xiaotang Ma

Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health problem for over 3.17 million people in the US. There is no FDA-approved drug for the treatment because the injury mechanisms have not been clearly identified. The knowledge gap is addressed here by the lateral fluid percussion injury (FPI) rat model, through the understanding of layer-structured mechanisms from physical vascular rupture to acute necrosis, as well as biochemical changes in perivascular space as secondary events.

Firstly, the cerebrovascular hemorrhage and related infarct volume are investigated as the primary events in moderate FPI, which is found to be increased with injury severity in …

Topics On High Dimensional Selective Inference, Yan Zhang

Dissertations

In such applications as identifying differentially expressed genes in micro-array experiments or assessing safety and efficacy of drugs in clinical trials, researchers often report confidence intervals (CIs) and p-values only for the selected parameters, which is called selective inference. While constructing multiple CIs for the selected parameters, it is common practice to ignore issue of selection and multiplicity. Although protection against the effect of selection is sufficient in some cases, simultaneous coverage should be also needed in real applications. For example, in clinical trials, multiple endpoints are considered to assess effects of a drug and the ultimate decision often depends …

Cancer Risk Prediction With Whole Exome Sequencing And Machine Learning, Abdulrhman Fahad M Aljouie

Dissertations

Accurate cancer risk and survival time prediction are important problems in personalized medicine, where disease diagnosis and prognosis are tuned to individuals based on their genetic material. Cancer risk prediction provides an informed decision about making regular screening that helps to detect disease at the early stage and therefore increases the probability of successful treatments. Cancer risk prediction is a challenging problem. Lifestyle, environment, family history, and genetic predisposition are some factors that influence the disease onset. Cancer risk prediction based on predisposing genetic variants has been studied extensively. Most studies have examined the predictive ability of variants in known …

Reduction In Salt Deposition On Carbon Nano-Tube Immobilized Membrane During Desalination Via Membrane Distillation, Madihah Saud Humoud

Dissertations

As water scarcity increases globally under the stresses of increasing demand, aquifer depletion, and climate change, the market for efficient desalination technologies has grown rapidly to fill the void. One such developing technology, membrane distillation (MD), has found much interest in the scientific community. MD has also been powered by solar energy and waste heat resources because it can be operated at relatively low temperatures. Recent studies indicate that MD could potentially achieve the efficiencies of state-of-the-art mature thermal desalination technologies, although additional engineering and scientific challenges must first be overcome.

MD can be used to treat high salinity water …

Identifying The Leadership Skills Needed To Develop The Competencies To Lead In A Postcrisis Organization: A Delphi Study, Paul Turgeon

Dissertations

Purpose: Organizational leaders play a pivotal role in postcrisis activities. There is abundant research in the actions of leaders in a crisis; however, there is limited research regarding the leadership competencies required postcrisis, and a gap remains in knowing which leadership skills are needed postcrisis. The purpose of this Delphi study was to identify the leadership skills needed to promote organizational resilience, to act with integrity, and to possess a learning orientation of organizational leaders in the postcrisis phase.

Methodology: This study used a 3-round Delphi technique to identify the leadership skills that support the possession of the competencies needed …

Strategies Exemplary Female Superintendents Use To Work With The Political Styles Of School Board Members, Leisa Winston

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this explanatory mixed-methods study was to identify the political styles of female superintendents and their school board members as perceived by superintendents. In addition, it was the purpose of this study to identify and explain the political strategies female superintendents use to work with the different political styles of board members.

Methodology: This study employed a sequential, explanatory mixed-methods design. The quantitative data were collected through surveys to identify the political styles of superintendents and their board members. The qualitative interview data explored the political strategies used by each superintendent with the different political styles of …

Political Styles And Strategies Used By Exemplary Suburban Unified District Superintendents With Board Members: A Mixed Methods Study, Tammy Blakely

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this thematic, explanatory sequential mixed methods study was to understand the political styles of superintendents and school board members as perceived by superintendents. In addition, it was the purpose of this study to identify and explain the political strategies superintendents use to work with the different political styles of board members.

Methodology: This explanatory sequential mixed methods study research design used data collected from a quantitative survey followed by qualitative data collected using semistructured face-to-face interviews. The data in this study were obtained from 5 exemplary suburban unified superintendents using the 9 political styles framework from …

Impact Of Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports In California High Schools Year Three And Beyond: A Semi-Replicated Mixed-Methods Study, Jolene Mcgarrah

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to determine what differences

existed between pre- and post-PBIS implementation on suspension rates in California high schools. A further purpose of the study was to determine how experienced high school administrators described the impact of PBIS on their school sites. Methodology: This mixed methods study identified 15 California public schools for data collection and five principals for interviews about their perceptions of the impact of PBIS on their campus. The schools and principals were chosen due to proximity to the researcher. The researcher collected quantitative data from the schools and qualitative data …

Educator Knowledge And Usage Of Evidence-Based Interventions For Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders In Special Education Programs Across California, Thelmisha Vincent

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the extent to which evidence-based interventions being utilized with students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) by general education teachers, special education teachers, and behavior interventionists working in K-12 special education programs on comprehensive public and non- public school campuses in California.

Methodology: This mixed method study identified commonly used instructional strategies for students with (EBD) in public and non-public school settings. Respondents were purposefully chosen from general education teachers, special education teachers, and behavior interventionists across California. The data from online survey and interviews were analyzed through factorial ANOVA, descriptive …

The Effects Of Health Beliefs, Acculturation, And A Culturally Appropriate Teaching Intervention On Parents' Knowledge Of And Compliance With Tuberculosis Treatment In A Mexican-American Population: A Preliminary Analysis, Renee P. Mcleod

Dissertations

The primary purpose of this research study, using a correlational and comparative descriptive design, was to examine the effects of health beliefs, acculturation, and a culturally appropriate Spanish-language audiotaped novena on knowledge of Tuberculosis (TB), and compliance with treatment and medications in Mexican-American parents' of a child with TB infection. Due to the limited number of subjects obtained (N = 31), the research data and analyses are presented as preliminary findings since meaningful hypothesis testing would be premature at this time.

Character And Ethical Behavior Of Nurses, Nelda S. Godfrey

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among personal normative characteristics, personal descriptive characteristics, and ethical behavior of nurses in practice. Little is known about the place of virtue theory in nursing practice and the factors that influence the nurse as moral agent. One hundred thirty-one registered nurses with at least six months' experience working in direct cam positions in one of three hospital practice settings—urban, suburban, and rural—participated in the study. Three instruments were used with the randomized sample: (a) Demographic Data Form, (b) The INSURE Survey™, an instrument used to measure attitudes of potential employees, and …

Exemplary Chief Nurse Executives Leading Through Storytelling, Tricia Kassab

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand and describe how exemplary human resources administrators use storytelling to lead organizations using Denning’s (2011) model. In addition, it was the purpose to understand how they use storytelling to create transformational change. Denning’s The Leader’s Guide to Storytelling highlights eight storytelling narrative patterns: to ignite action, to communicate who you are, to build your brand, to transmit values, to foster collaboration, to share knowledge, to tame the grapevine, and to share vision.

Methodology: This phenomenological qualitative study described the lived experiences of exemplary elementary chief nurse executives in California. The …

Leadership Storytelling: How Elementary School Principals Use Storytelling To Lead And Make Transformational Change, Nicholas Damico

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand and describe

how exemplary elementary school principals use storytelling to lead organizations

using Denning’s (2011) model. In addition, it was the purpose to understand how

exemplary elementary school principals use storytelling to create transformational

change in organizations. Denning’s The Leader’s Guide to Storytelling highlights eight storytelling narrative patterns:

• Storytelling to ignite action and implement new ideas
• Storytelling to build trust
• Storytelling to build brand
• Storytelling to transmit organizational values
• Storytelling to foster collaboration
• Storytelling to share knowledge
• Storytelling to neutralize rumor
• Storytelling to share your vision

Methodology: This …

Stress And Coping Of Caregivers To Individuals With Dementia, Karen Annette Jensen

Dissertations

Considerable literature exists on the presence of burden among caregivers, however, it has also been discovered that individuals psychologically adapt to situations in which they are involved. The purpose of this study is, utilizing an adaptation paradigm, to examine the interrelationship of factors in the caregiver's environment and the mediating role of coping mechanisms on appraisal of caregiving. The theoretical framework to guide this study was based on Roy's Adaptation model in conjunction with Lazarus and Folkman's cognitively-based theory of stress and coping.

Caregivers' Psychological Factors Underlying Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake Among Non-Hispanic Black Preschoolers, Julia A. Franson Tipton

Dissertations

Non-Hispanic black children consume greater amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and are at disproportionately high risk for obesity and other SSB-related health problems. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between caregivers' beliefs, attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, past behavior, and intention to serve SSBs to non- Hispanic black preschoolers. The researcher conducted a cross-sectional, correlational study using multiple regression with path analysis using the Expanded Theory of Planned Behavior as the theoretical framework.

A Qualitative Study Exploring The Influence Of Low-Income Parental Engagement On Academic Achievement, Deborah Cardin

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand and describe the strategies that low-income parents use to support their high school students’ high academic achievement.

Methodology: In this qualitative case study, interviews, artifacts, and researcher notes were used to understand and describe the parental engagement behaviors and strategies of low-income parents that contributed to the academic achievement of students from the participant’s perspective. Several themes were derived from the shared experiences of the participants through analysis of data.

Findings: Key findings included parental use of: verbal communication and their presence in the lives of their student, traditionally …

Exemplary Human Resources Administrators Leading Through Storytelling, Colleen Slattery

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand and describe how exemplary human resources administrators use storytelling to lead organizations using Denning’s (2011) model. In addition, it was the purpose to understand how they use storytelling to create transformational change. Denning’s The Leader’s Guide to Storytelling highlights eight storytelling narrative patterns: to ignite action and implement new ideas, build trust, build your organizations’ brand, transmit organizational values, foster collaboration, share knowledge, neutralize rumor, and create and share vision.

Methodology: This phenomenological qualitative study described the lived experiences of exemplary human resources administrators in Northern California. The researcher was …

Strategies Exemplary High School District Superintendents Use To Work With The Political Styles Of School Board Members, Jeffrey Tooker

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to understand the political styles of high school district superintendents and school board members as perceived by superintendents. In addition, it was the purpose of this study to identify the political strategies high school district superintendents use to work with the different political styles of board members. Methodology: Through an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study design, an electronic survey was utilized to collect quantitative data. Following quantitative data collection, in-depth qualitative data was collected through one-on-one interviews with exemplary high school district superintendents in California. The results of the quantitative survey data …

Pain And Postoperative Health-Related Quality Of Life In Inguinal Hernia Patients, Cheryl B. Rowder

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between selected variables (i.e., pain issues, hernia characteristics, and personal attributes) and postoperative health-related quality of life in inguinal hernia patients. This study identified preoperative variables predictive of lower postoperative health-related quality of life. The study entailed non-experimental retrospective analyses of variables generated during an ongoing longitudinal cooperative clinical study to examine patient outcomes after inguinal hernia repair. Fourteen Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in the continental United States participated in the study. Data were collected from eligible participants upon entry into the project and at 3 months post-surgery. The sample …

Nurses' Negotiation Processes In Facilitating Ethical Decision-Making In Patient Care, Teresa A. Savage

Dissertations

The literature on ethical decision-making by nurses presents both prescriptive and descriptive decision-making models. The processes nurses use to move through the step-wise models has not been described. An atheoretical approach was taken using naturalistic inquiry methodology to explore the processes further. Eighteen nurses working in a Midwest, urban academic medical center were interviewed. The major themes focused on the moral agency of nurses and the processes by which nurses accomplish their objectives for their patients. Physician-nurse relationships and their interactions were critical in the expression of moral agency of the nurses. The main finding in the study was that …

Marital Reciprocal Support In The Context Of Cancer, Lillian G. Douglass

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between mutual spouse support and the psychological status of spouses whose mates were being treated for cancer. The conceptual framework was developed from a literature review in which empirical studies and interpersonal theories suggested the importance of social support to health promotion and maintenance in stressful life situations. A descriptive cross-sectional correlational design was used.

The Challenges Navy And Marine Corps Veterans Face While Seeking Civilian Employment In San Diego County, California, Absalom Morris

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Navy and Marine Corps veterans who have transitioned to the civilian workforce in San Diego County, California since the 2011 draw-down of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom with respect to personal, mental health, cultural/societal, and organizational support and barriers.

Methodology: This phenomenological, qualitative study identified and interviewed six U.S. Navy veterans and six U.S. Marine Corps veterans who have transitioned from active duty military service to the civilian workforce. The participants were purposefully and conveniently selected based on specific criteria.

Findings: After the analyzing, …

Effects Of Self-Esteem, Threat Appraisal, And Coping Responses On The Somatic Components Of Illness: A Test Of A Proposed Causal Model With Professional Women, Linda Langley Moneyham

Dissertations

The study was designed to test a causal model of theoretical relationships among self-esteem, threat appraisal, coping responses, and the somatic components of illness with a population of professional women. The proposed causal model was derived from Lazarus's cognitively oriented theory of psychological stress and coping. Development of a valid model of interrelations among the variables of interest would assist in the formulation of nursing interventions aimed at decreasing vulnerability to stress and stress-related illness. A correlational field investigation was conducted to test the hypothesized causal model.