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Development Of A Layered Unsupervised Classifier Of Plasma Regions And A Bootstrap-Ensemble Neural Network Bow Shock Mode, James Andrew Edmond

Doctoral Dissertations

The use of supervised methods in space science have demonstrated powerful capability in classification tasks, but purely unsupervised methods have been less utilized for the classification of spacecraft observations. We use a combination of unsupervised methods, being principal component analysis, self-organizing maps, and hierarchical agglomerative clustering, to classify THEMIS and MMS observations as having occurred in the magnetosphere, magnetosheath, or the solar wind. The resulting classification are validated visually by analyzing the distribution of classifications and studying individual time series as well as by comparison to the labeled dataset of a previous model, against which ours has an accuracy of …

Innovative Approaches To Dna-Based Materials: Development Of Bottlebrush Polymers, Supramolecular Hydrogels, And Psoralen-Enhanced 3d Printing Of Dna Bioinks, Nicholas Pierini

Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis explores innovative approaches to enhancing the functionality and applications of DNA-based materials through the development of DNA bottlebrush polymers (BBPs), DNA-intercalating supramolecular hydrogels (DISHs), and psoralen-based 3D printing techniques. The first chapter presents the synthesis and characterization of linear and cyclic DNA BBPs using a grafting-to approach. Plasmid DNA (pDNA) is used as the polymeric backbone, grafted with polyethylene glycol (PEG) side chains of varying molecular weights (750 Da, 2000 Da, and 5000 Da) to improve stability and functionality. Achieving high graft densities, up to 24% for mPEG750-CEA, and purifying the PEG-DNA conjugates were significant challenges addressed through …

Oscillatory Boundary Layer And Sediment Dynamics Over And Within Mobile Rippled Beds, Savannah Devoe

Doctoral Dissertations

In nearshore environments, small-scale bedforms, or ripples, are important contributors to net morphologic change by means of bedload and suspended load sediment transport. In this dissertation, new characterizations of boundary layer and sediment dynamics are made using high-resolution observations of mobile, rippled beds subjected to oscillatory flow for the purpose of evaluating existing parameterizations of bedload transport. The spatiotemporal distribution of shear stress at and within a mobile, rippled bed is obtained via the derivation and application of a new Momentum Integral Method (“MIM”) expression for bed shear stress to data from a two-phase Large Eddy Simulation and Discrete Particle …

An Exploration Of Adult Children’S Attachment To Their Parents Across Two Cultural Groups: Indians In India And Indians Who Immigrated To The United States, Vilasini Meenakshi Arun

Doctoral Dissertations

Typically, attachment theory has been studied and explored with western populations. Individuals seeking mental health treatment within the United States include western and nonwestern cultural groups and research, theories and interventions that apply to diverse populations are necessary. Attachment relationships are often a part of, or reasons for clients to seek therapy either overtly or covertly, thus allowing research on attachment to better inform treatment plans and practice. An attachment relationship between a parent and child can be influenced by several factors and may change over the course of development, but little is known about this process among Indians …

Outcomes Of The Application Of Methods Of Subtyping Self-Injury Behavior To Stereotypy, Tiago De Man

Doctoral Dissertations

The general purpose of this study was to determine whether the subtyping methods developed to analyze automatically reinforced self-injury (SIB), described by Hagopian et al. (2015, 2017), apply to stereotypy. The Structured Visual Inspection Criteria were applied to FAs of stereotypy, and the levels of differentiation (LoD) between the alone/no interaction were calculated. Eleven students diagnosed with autism, between 3 and 18 years old, and who engaged in stereotypy, participated in the study. Five students were exposed to the following: Functional Analysis (FA); Augmented-Competing Stimulus Assessment (A-CSA); and Treatment Analysis consisting of two condition types: 1) access to alternative sources …

Sleeping Through The Fright: Examining The Role Of Posttraumatic Symptoms On The Relationship Between Sleep Quality, Well-Being, And Health, Matthew R. Mckenzie

Doctoral Dissertations

About one-third of our lives is spent sleeping. While sleep can be delayed to accommodate one’s lifestyle, the effects of inadequate sleep can be significant. Insufficient sleep has been linked to chronic health conditions, such as heart attacks, coronary heart disease, strokes, asthma, COPD, cancer, arthritis, depression, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia and nightmares, are prevalent after a traumatic event (B. Caldwell & Redeker, 2005; Spoormaker & Montgomery, 2008) and are often seen as one of the defining characteristics of posttraumatic stress disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Maker …

What's Age Got To Do With It? A Re-Examination Of The Factor Structure Of The Revised Fraboni Scale Of Ageism, Reagan Elizabeth Girardot

Doctoral Dissertations

Individuals in the workforce increasingly achieve higher education, live longer, and remain in the workforce longer than previous generations. At the same time, ageist stereotypes and age discrimination persist, costing companies millions of dollars, generating negative PR, and contributing to harmful physical and mental effects on individuals. There have been calls for more research on ageism and its measurement tools to continuously evaluate the psychometric quality and construct validity of ageism scales. Therefore, the primary purpose of the current research was to replicate previous work related to the construct validity and factorial composition of the Fraboni Scale of Ageism, a …

Advancing Electrochemical Microsensors For Multiplexed Neurotransmitters And Environmental Toxins Detection, Sanjeev Billa

Doctoral Dissertations

Electrochemical sensors have emerged as a promising solution for monitoring neurotransmitters and heavy metals, which could ensure good health and safety in the environment. This dissertation focuses on advancement in the field of electrochemical microsensors by improving the electrode properties and sensor metrics such as rapid response time, multiplexing, high sensitivity, high selectivity, and accuracy for the real-time monitoring of neurotransmitters (glutamate and GABA) and heavy metals (cadmium and lead). In this dissertation, a novel silicon (Si) multifunctional biosensor probe with four platinum ultramicroelectrodes (UMEs) and an on-demand in situ calibration (ODIC) microfluidic channel was optimized for sub-second simultaneous real-time …

Micropatterning Of Biologically Derived Surfaces With Functional Clay Nanotubes, Nisha Lama

Doctoral Dissertations

In this study, we have generalized an assembly of 50 nm diameter clay nanotubes on larger 20-50 μm diameter biological microfibers such as human hair (protein), cotton (cellulose) and synthetic polyethylene terephthalate- PET. We developed a common set of parameters and nanoclay coating techniques on these naturally different microfibers. We exploited and optimized the electrostatic interaction of the components through strategic adjustments in the solvent pH, employing polycation treatment, as well as selectively modifying the halloysite nanotubes with silanes. For 5 mins, a 5 wt% aqueous dispersion of halloysite nanotubes were applied to get approximately 1-2 μm thick fiber coating …

The New Bully: Online Racism, Online Sexual Harassment, And Their Association With Aggression And Stress, Cody Allen Cloud

Doctoral Dissertations

There has been a great deal of study related to the impacts of traditional bullying and cyberbullying on mental health and similarities found between these variables have led researchers to question whether cyberbullying is a form of traditional bullying or its own distinct variable. By further analyzing the forms of cyberbullying, online racism and online sexual harassment, the present study aims to add to this discussion. Furthermore, there has been little research on these variables since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering changes in work and school lifestyles during the pandemic, analyzing the associations of online racism and online …

Long-Term Analysis Of Competing Stimuli In The Treatment Of Automatically Maintained Problem Behavior, Meline Pogosjana

Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

Competing stimulus assessments (CSAs) are used as pretreatment assessments to identify stimuli that, when made freely available, reduce problem behavior. Although CSAs have demonstrated broad utility across various topographies and classes of problem behavior, the extent to which improvements noted during the CSA persist over time is unknown. We conducted initial CSAs and long-term analyses for participants with automatically maintained problem behavior. High-competition stimuli were identified during the initial CSA for all participants. When the effects of leisure stimuli were evaluated over the course of 12 weeks, the outcomes remained relatively unchanged for four of the six participants. These …

Understanding Mental Health Provider's Experiences Of Burnout, Vicarious Trauma, And Vicarious Resilience From The Provider Perspective, Lauren Beheler-Romero

Doctoral Dissertations

The physical and psychological impacts on mental health providers as a result of burnout, vicarious trauma, and vicarious resilience have not been researched extensively. This study examined burnout and vicarious trauma among mental health providers in New Mexico given the high need population and low access to resources. This qualitative study, employed individual interviews, examined the lived experiences of seven mental health providers who are currently employed in the state of New Mexico in order to better understand the impact of burnout, vicarious trauma, and vicarious resilience. Inclusion criteria for participants included providing mental health services to children and families …

Psychosocial And Spiritual Predictors Of Mental Health Among Protestant Christian Latino Clergy, Ingrid M. Granados Ms

Doctoral Dissertations

Research relating to the experiences of Protestant Christian Latino clergy in the United States is scarce. This study sought to explore the role of religion and spirituality on depression, burnout, and suicidality in Protestant Christian Latino clergy using multiple regression analysis. The study consisted of 212 Protestant Christian Latino clergy participants who completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire online that included measures for religious commitment and spiritual well-being, burnout, depression, and suicidality. Participants also completed a measure of ethnic/cultural identity and self-reported gender that were used as moderators in this study. The study revealed that stronger spiritual well-being-Daily (CSWS-Daily) and lower …

Themes In Help-Seeking Of Female Military Sexual Assault Survivors, Priscilla Phan

Doctoral Dissertations

While large efforts have been made to address military sexual assault, there are still barriers in the help-seeking journey that need attention. This study aimed to examine barriers and facilitators to formal and informal help-seeking behaviors and to understand the role of stigma in survivors' help-seeking behaviors for female military sexual assault survivors. Through semi-structured interviews, the study explored the help-seeking experiences and mental health sequela of fourteen female military sexual assault survivors. This study focused on cis-gender women over the age of eighteen who experienced a military sexual assault, by another military service member, while on active-duty. Women shared …

Evaluating The Client Base And Housing Outcomes Of A Community Based Organization Serving Unhoused Adults, Emi Caprio

Doctoral Dissertations

There is a well-documented, bidirectional relationship between mental health and housing instability. When coupled with the complex historical, societal, and political factors contributing to houselessness, the result is a unique set of mental health needs within this community. Despite this, there is a low rate of mental health service utilization and a dearth of research on how to tailor services to meet the needs of unhoused individuals. Additionally, first-hand perspectives are often omitted, as this population is seen as “hard to reach”. The goal of this two-phase mixed-methods program evaluation was to better understand the demographic and mental health profiles …

The Transition From In Person Sessions To Telemental Health Sessions For College Counseling Center Counselors, Katherine L. Karimian

Doctoral Dissertations

This study was conducted by applying Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore the lived experiences of college counseling center (CCC) counselors during their rapid switch from in person to online services as a result of university and colleges moving to remote education during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic (~March 2020 - August 2021). Six participants from different regions of the United States were interviewed via Zoom and analyzed through IPA. There were five themes that emerged:Blurred work/home boundaries, interpersonal relationships within work setting, adapting to teletherapy, impact of teletherapy on services, and preferring remote work. Emergent subthemes were parenting, …

Emergent Themes In Identity Development For Transracial Adoptees: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Andrew G. Cecil

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine the identity development processes of transracial adoptees in college, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore the lived experiences of individuals from this community through in-depth interviewing. This study identified nine superordinate themes and eighteen sub-themes providing knowledge on the dynamic processes of multidimensional identity development of transracial adoptees in college. Despite variability and differences across participant experiences, these themes function as major paradigms illustrating participants’ understanding of their respective identity development and lived experiences. The results of this study may serve as a basis for further exploration of transracial adoptees’ identity …

Help Seeking Experiences Of Asian American Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Mellanie Kristelle Roxas De Guzman

Doctoral Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has become more widely understood and accepted by the general and professional populations. However, self and social stigma related to ASD persist and continue to negatively impact help-seeking behaviors. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews guided by an ecological systems model, to explore the lived experiences of 11 Asian American (AsAm) parents residing in the greater San Francisco Bay Area with a child with ASD. A thematic analysis framework was utilized. A total of six themes and six subthemes emerged from this study and included: (1) comparisons, (2) stigma, (3) resilience, (4) support for services, (5) …

The Impact Of Compulsory Heterosexuality On The Sexual Identity Development Of Plurisexual Cisgender Women, Elizabeth Holden

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores the impact of compulsory heterosexuality on the sexual identity development of plurisexual cisgender women by examining socio-cultural factors such as heterosexism, monosexism, and misogyny. Furthermore, this study considers the process of unlearning compulsory heterosexuality as an ongoing and nonlinear experience of self-discovery, which is characterized by fluidity and a reclaiming of agency. This study centers stories of plurisexual women, an under-researched group who experience complexities in their development trajectories due to the intersection of their gender identity, their gender expression, and their plurisexuality. Four participants participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). …

Effects Of Single And Multiple Exemplar Training On Acquisition And Generalization Of Functional Skills, Mariana Guimaraes

Doctoral Dissertations

Previous research has shown that Multiple Exemplar Training (MET) produces greater generalization than Single Exemplar Training (SET). The current study directly compares the effects of SET and MET using a parallel-treatments design. In the MET condition, we used a simplified approach to general case instruction called an instructional matrix. The instructional matrix borrowed elements from matrix training, such as organizing the relevant stimuli into a table to determine combinations for teaching and subsequent probing for generalization; and, it borrowed from general case instruction, the programming of common stimuli. The training and generalization settings were set up in the same way …

Women Strength: Using Photovoice To Explore Female Chinese International Students’ Experiences, Yue Cai

Doctoral Dissertations

Female Chinese international students face discrimination and stereotypes in Western academia based on race and gender, yet they possess unique “Women Strength” characterized by agency, resilience, and self-advocacy. This study explores how these students navigate cultural differences and develop their strengths while studying in the U.S. Drawing upon “Women Strength” as a theoretical framework, including Community Cultural Wealth, Critical Feminist Theory- Chinese feminism, decolonial feminism, and transnational feminism, transformative agency, resilience theory, and self-advocacy theory, this research employs a qualitative approach, including Photovoice and autoethnography. Three research questions guide the study: 1) What cultural differences do female Chinese international students …

Parent Strategies For Antiracist Parenting In Families Of Multiracial And Asian Descent, Matlida Tavares

Doctoral Dissertations

The Pew Research Center’s analysis of United States census data depicts and increasing number of individuals identifying as more than one race. From 2010 to 2020, the population had nearly doubled to 13.5 million. This is particularly evident in states with large populations of Asian American communities such as California, where nearly two million people identify as multiracial and people identifying as both White and Asian making up the largest portion of the 61% increase the state saw since 2010 (Henderson, 2022). Despite claims that an increase in multiracial individuals signifies an end of racism, multiracial children, navigating complex ethnic …

Trauma-Informed Teaching With Adult English Language Learners: A Study In A Community-Based Organization, Elizabeth Eastman

Doctoral Dissertations

Often, immigrants in the United States have suffered traumatic experiences in their home country, on their journey to the U.S., and/or in their process of acculturation. In English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, symptoms of trauma can interfere with learning and acculturation. Trauma-Informed teaching can meet the needs of students who have been impacted by trauma but it is not often used in ESOL classes. This is due to a lack of teacher training, and a gap in the literature on the effects of the approach and studies that explore the perspectives of the students. Based in phenomenology …

Demands At Work: The Moderating Influence Of Motivation On The Relationship Between Challenge Demands And Employee Work Engagement, Lauren R. Dinnat

Doctoral Dissertations

Work engagement is a popular topic due to the positive outcomes linked to it. For example, engaged workers are shown to be more productive workers and better organizational citizens. The Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Theory has been the most widely accepted explanatory model for work engagement due to its flexibility to be applied to all work environments. While the JD-R does not argue that motivation is fixed, it does not account for moment-to-moment changes in motivation. A state theory of motivation that examines how motivation may impact the relationships between demands and work engagement has yet to be examined. This study …

The Impact Of Irrational Beliefs On Dysfunctional Decision-Making In B2b Salespeople, Barron W. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations

The complexity of the contemporary business-to-business (B2B) sales landscape requires salespeople to respond faster, be more knowledgeable, and add more value to buyer interactions than ever before. As such, B2B salespeople must carefully consider the impact of their decisions since they have the potential to directly impact organizational revenue and bottom-line outcomes. The present research utilizes rational-emotive behavior theory to examine judgment and decision-making in B2B salespeople. Research questions are presented and tested with a sample of 306 B2B salespeople using structural equation modeling. The results of the analysis reveal that irrational beliefs lead to dysfunctional emotions, and in turn, …

Phase Interface Dynamics And Heat Transfer Mechanisms In Evaporating Droplet And Pool Boiling Processes, Md Tanbin Hasan Mondal

Doctoral Dissertations

Despite the significant importance and widespread use of phase-change cooling techniques, there are still fundamental questions about the microscopic processes that govern the heat transfer mechanisms. In order to gain a better understanding of the underlying physics involved, it is essential to have information at the microscale regarding the surface temperature distribution with time as well as the location and speed of the moving contact line (MCL). A comprehensive understanding of heat transfer mechanisms and phase-interface behavior during phase-change cooling is crucial for improving heat transfer models, optimizing surface engineering, and maximizing overall effectiveness. Firstly, this dissertation presents a capacitance-based …

Empowering Continuation High School Latinx Students, Ron Campana

Doctoral Dissertations

Empowering Continuation High School Latinx Students

Peninsula High School (PHS), a continuation school in the San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD), has seen an increase in Latinx student enrollment and a reduction in the number of them graduating and transitioning to college and trade schools. Despite efforts to better serve Latinx students and their guardians, PHS staff need help collaborating and finding strategies to help youth academically perform better. PHS Latinx students were empowered to lead Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR), which conducted student-driven research between August through November of the 2023-2024 school year. In expanding their learning as …

Creating Whole Inclusive Worlds: The Impact Of Social Media Usage On Black Gender Expansive Millennials’ Experiences Of Social Support And Identity Development Processes, Meredith J. Holmes

Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the processes of finding community and developing one’s own intersectional racial and gender identity through the social media (SM) experiences of 8 Black gender expansive (GE) adults located around the United States. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology and an intersectional theoretical framework, the research questions guiding the study were: “What is the relationship between Black gender expansive people, social media, and community?” and “What is the relationship between Black gender expansive people, social media, and identity development?” The researcher’s findings from in-depth interviews with participants included three major themes: A) Positive Resilience-Supporting Experiences on SM, …

Resilient Af: Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Women Of Color Psychologists In Forensic Mental Health Settings, Carisse A. Cronquist

Doctoral Dissertations

This study explored the lived experiences of women of color psychologists who identify as ethnic-racial minorities. This qualitative study used interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to understand the narrative experience of the participants from their perspective. A total of four participants took part in this study. All participants identified as cisgender women psychologists currently working in a forensic mental health setting and identified as an ethnic-racial minority. In the lived experiences of the participants, three themes, and several subthemes, emerged: challenges, self-preservation, and strengths / resilience. The results showed that women of color psychologists working within forensic mental health settings face …

The Association Between Uncertainty, Reproductive Distress, And Avoidance In Assigned Female At Birth Adolescent And Young Adult (Aya-F) Cancer Survivors, Devon Ann Pons

Doctoral Dissertations

Family building and fertility is a complex component of survivorship for assigned female at birth Adolescent and Young Adult’s (AYA-F’s), often accompanied by a mix of cognitive uncertainty, emotional uncertainty, reproductive distress, and avoidance. These psychological components present in survivorship for AYA-F’s can impact coping, identity development, and individualized care plans throughout survivorship. This novel examination of data from a cross sectional study shed light on the associations between reproductive distress, uncertainty, and avoidance and how they are experienced differently by various subgroups within the sample.

Results demonstrate that reproductive distress fully mediated the association between emotional uncertainty and avoidance, …