Digital Commons Network^™

An Examination Of Self-Identity, Sense Of Connection, And Membership Of Individuals With Native American Ancestry, Schyndel Tamara Van

Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory qualitative study examined individuals' self-identity and sense of belonging related to the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and the impacts of their tribal connection as enrolled tribal members. It was believed the greater the sense of belonging and connection, the stronger the identity and the greater the impact on the community as a whole. Eight individuals with Oneida ancestry were interviewed about their Native American ancestry and membership, participation in Oneida community, sense of connection and belonging to family and community, self-identity, and congruence with Oneida ancestry and tribal enrollment. Although participants generally did not participate in formal cultural …

Identifying Strategies Of Culturally Relevant And Developmentally Appropriate Instructional Practices For African American Prekindergarten Children Through Individualized Per-Service And In-Service Professional Development For Early Childhood Administrators And Educators, Melita Sutton Johnson-Ferguson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore how instructors became aware of culturally relevant teaching (CRT) and developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) that support African American students’ academic achievement. The Grounded Theory approach was used to uncover themes from the individual interviews of African American preschool directors, teachers, and assistant teachers of African American pre-kindergarten children in Los Angeles County. The interview questions identified the source of information for creating a culturally relevant and developmentally appropriate classroom environment and instructional practices. The literature review identified the benefits of a high-quality preschool experience for African American children. A high-quality …

Coping And Physical Well-Being Among First, 1.5, And Second-Generation Immigrants From Of Non-European Descent, Jacob R. Stein

Theses and Dissertations

This study brings attention to the growing body of literature examining the role of culture and context in the study of generation-status differences in cross-cultural coping and physical well-being among immigrants to the United States. Prior literature on the unique challenges, stressors, coping strategies, and health outcomes for immigrants provides a basis for hypothesized generation status differences on cross-cultural coping (collectivistic, avoidance, and engagement) and physical well-being (health, safety, and environmental). A sample of 118 male and female first, 1.5, and second-generation immigrants of non-European backgrounds, between the ages of 18 and 35, were recruited from the local community to …

Shake, Rattle, And Read: An Analysis Of An Adaptation Of A Multisensory Phonics Program’S Impact On The Reading Achievement Of Kindergarten Students, Heather Mascuch Holmes

Theses and Dissertations

This paper describes a problem of practice stemming from the disparity in reading achievement that exists among kindergarten students due to varying life and academic experiences. This action research study investigated the impact of a multisensory instructional program that attempts to improve students’ decoding skills, and therefore, overall reading ability by answering the following question: How does an adaptation of the Project Read Primary Phonics program affect the reading level of kindergarten students as measured by the DRA2+? This study employed an action research methodology, specifically Mertler’s (2014) action research cycle: planning, acting, developing, and reflecting. The planning stage was …

Fostering Resilience: Leader Strategies And Practices For Overcoming Adversity In Military Organizations, Eugene Coughlin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to identify leadership strategies and practices for overcoming adversity in military organizations. This entailed determining what challenges military leaders face in implementing practices aimed at fostering resilience in their organizations. Also examined was how military leaders measure success at fostering resilience in their organizations. Finally, this study considered what recommendations military leaders would make to aspiring leaders wanting to foster resilience in their own organizations in the future. The researcher used a phenomenological approach that incorporated interviews and content analysis. The population for this study was United States Marine Corps infantry officers who …

Student Achievement And Parental Involvement In A Private School: Grades K-8 Learning Outcomes, Darcy Brent Calvillo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) To determine whether there is a relationship between parental involvement and test scores in a K-8 school; and (b) What parental methods and strategies surveyed show an effect on test scores based on research and parental surveys? Approximately 300 parents participated in a parental methods survey. Parents were surveyed and provided English and Math performance data. Data from this researcher’s survey adapted from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE; APPENDIX B) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including the top 5 methods or strategies according to the parent survey that have an effect …

A Study Of The Perceived Value Of The National Association Of Schools Of Art And Design (Nasad) Accreditation By Fashion Students In Fashion Programs At Public And Private Colleges, Cynthia R. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

When one thinks of the fashion industry, one might think of famous designers and celebrity fashion shows. Today, fashion is a $1.2 trillion global industry, employing 1.9 million people in the United States, creating a positive impact on regional economies across the country (JEC, 2015; US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017). Presently, 90% of apparel design and production has gone overseas or elsewhere in the world (Robinson, 2013). Manufacturing today requires “universal participation” (Bill, 2011); meaning garments designed in one country, made in fabric from a second country, assembled in a third country, then shipped back to …

Arts Education As A Pathway To College: A Case Study Of Title I Latino Students, Eva Lara Arrechiga

Theses and Dissertations

Latino high school graduates enroll into 4-year colleges at disproportionately lower rates compared to their White peers. The visual and performing arts have been documented for having a positive influence on academic achievement. The current study measured the influence of a visual and performing arts high school program and nine independent factors that might explain Latino 12th grade students' decision to apply to a 4-year college. A total of 160 Latino students from one visual and performing arts (VAPA) high school in an urban school district participated in this study. 40 students from each academy (dance, music, theater and visual …

Qualitative Analysis Of Emotion Regulation As Seen In Middle Eastern American Psychotherapy Clients, Jennifer Nehme

Theses and Dissertations

Middle Eastern individuals represent a heterogeneous group comprised of different nationalities, languages, and religious identifications. Yet, Middle Eastern Americans are widely underrepresented in the psychotherapy literature. Extant literature appears to focus on professional opinions about what psychotherapists should do when working with this population, including understanding cultural factors, such as incorporating family in treatment and acculturation status. Considering cultural communication patterns among this population, emotion in generally understood to be inhibited or suppressed, as disclosing personal problems and expressing emotion outside the family sphere can be viewed as disloyal and/or shaming. Thus, one of the many areas mental health clinicians …

Enhancing Personal And Professional Performance Within Boundaryless Work-Life Contexts, Bethany Jones

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined strategies that seven corporate leaders use to enhance their performance within boundaryless work contexts. Participants described their best and worst days as examples of interrole facilitation and conflict. The behaviors, values, and beliefs underlying interrole facilitation strategies were then deduced. Experiences of interrole facilitation were characterized by wellbeing, efficacy, and connection. Interrole conflict was experienced as the absence of these, combined with stress, pressure, feeling out of control, and having a sense of defeat. Various planning and executing behaviors as well as internal and external conditions were believed to impact interrole facilitation. Participants' values and beliefs emphasized …

Posttraumatic Stress As A Unique Contributor To Related Health Outcomes And Healthcare Utilization In Adult Survivors Of Childhood Cancer, Emily Kathleen Crochet

Theses and Dissertations

Despite its significance in medical populations, research on posttraumatic stress (PTSS) in this population is limited in existing studies by small sample sizes and lack of follow-up data. This manuscript provides review of literature on behavioral health outcomes, which include neurocognitive and psychosocial late effects of disease/treatment, engagement in health-promoting or risk behaviors, and healthcare utilization in the childhood cancer survivor population. The current study examined the impact of PTSS on these domains of functioning, using data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS), a multi-institutional sample. Results indicated 13.7% of survivors in our sample experienced PTSS. Survivors with PTSS …

Academic Achievement Gaps Of Students In Private School Settings As Compared To Their Counterparts In Regular Public Educational Settings, April Yelani Ferguson

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide the effectiveness of promoting change management through historical findings of closing reading comprehension (i.e., vocabulary) achievement gaps with black and white 9th and 10th grade students in a private school and 66 participants in this study. Achievement gaps in education refers to the disparity in academic performance between groups of students (Ansell, 2011). The achievement gap shows up in grades, standardized-test scores, course selection, dropout rates, and college-completion rates and among other success measures. Achievement gaps occur when one group of students such as, students grouped by race/ethnicity, gender outperforms another group and …

Impaired Cardiorespiratory Fitness Following Thoracic Radiotherapy, Justin M. Canada

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer (CA) is the second leading cause of death in the United States preceded only by cardiovascular disease (CVD). Over the past 30 years, the 5-year survival rate for all cancers combined has increased by more than 20%. This improved survival rate is due to early diagnosis and advances in treatment involving a multimodality treatment approach that includes radiotherapy [RT] with about half of all CA patients receiving some type of RT sometime during the course of their treatment. Cardiotoxicity is one of the most important adverse reactions of RT and leads to a meaningful risk of CVD-related morbidity and …

The Intersection Of Economic Disadvantage And Race And The Expanded Role Of Parent-Led School-Supporting Nonprofit Organizations In K-12 Public Schools In The Richmond, Virginia, Metropolitan Area: A Mixed Methods Approach, Rachel A. Levy

Theses and Dissertations

Nongovernmental actors have long been involved in the funding of U.S. K-12 public schools. With recent cuts to state funding to public education, however, groups called school-supporting nonprofits (Nelson & Gazley, 2014) have taken on a much larger role in school funding. Nonacademic, volunteer, parent-led groups such as parent teacher associations (PTAs), parent teacher organizations (PTOs), and booster clubs, especially, have grown in number and in amount of revenues raised, and are funding core school needs and functions. This situation confuses obligations of public institutions, undermines equity, and complicates the role of educational leaders. This mixed-methods study explores the influence …

Periodontal Therapy Improves Oral And Gut Microbiota And Reduces Systemic Inflammation And Endotoxemia In Patients With Cirrhosis, Payam Matin

Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: The aim of this pilot study was to compare the changes in oral and gut microbiota, endotoxemia, and systemic and local inflammatory markers following oral interventions in subjects with and without cirrhosis.

Methods: Study subjects displaying gingivitis or mild/moderate periodontitis were placed into two groups: with cirrhosis (n= 24) and without cirrhosis (n=21). Each subject received nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Serum, stool and saliva samples were collected prior to and 30 days post-therapy and analyzed for stool/saliva microbiome, MELD score, endotoxin and IL-6 levels.

Results: There was no difference in age, gender and the periodontal disease status between groups. At …

A World Without You, Brian C. Patterson

Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis is adapted from screenplay format. The

document from which it derives serves as a shooting script

for a film/video called A World Without You . The shooting

script contains explicit scene description, camera set-ups

that include angle and lens choices, dialog, and

transitions - all the relevant instruction needed for

anyone to reproduce the film with explicit similarity to

its original. The thesis reflects a series of short videos

I completed as research. In their finished state, the

series of videos coalesce to a single film/video with a

sixty-two-minute running time. That conglomeration emerged

as a “shadow” …

Orientia Tsutsugamushi Modulates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress To Benefit Its Intracellular Growth And Targets Nlrc5 To Inhibit Major Histocompatibility Complex I Expression, Kyle G. Rodino

Theses and Dissertations

Scrub typhus, caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, afflicts one million people annually. Despite being a global health threat, little is known about O. tsutsugamushi pathogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that O. tsutsugamushi modulates the ER and ER-associated processes as mechanisms of nutritional virulence and immune evasion. To obtain amino acids to fuel replication, O. tsutsugamushi simultaneously induces ER stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) while inhibiting ER-associated degradation (ERAD) during early infection time points. During exponential growth, the bacterium releases the ER bottleneck, resulting in generation of ERAD-derived amino acids that it parasitized for replication. …

Metabolic Engineering Of Serratia Marcescens, Qiang Yan

Theses and Dissertations

The potential value of the chitin biomass (e.g. food waste) is recently considered being ignored by landfill. Chitin can be a potential cheap carbon source for converting into value-added chemicals by microorganisms. Serratia marcescens is a chitinolytic bacterium that harbors endogenous chitinase systems. With goals of characterzing S. marcescens chitinolytic capabilities and applying S. marcescens to chemical production from chitin, my dissertation main content includes five chapters: 1) Chapter 1 highlights background information of chitin source, S. marcescens and potential metabolic engineering targets using chitin as a substrate; 2) Chapter 2 demonstrates that ChiR is a key regulator in regulating …

Novel Insights Into The Contribution Of Cellular Senescence To Cancer Therapy: Reversibility, Dormancy And Senolysis., Tareq Saleh

Theses and Dissertations

Cellular senescence a specialized form of growth arrest that contributes to the pathogenesis of several aging-related disorders including cancer. While by definition tumor cells are considered immortalized, they can undergo senescence when exposed to conventional and targeted cancer therapy. Therapy-Induced Senescence (TIS) represents a fundamental response to therapy and impacts its outcomes. However, TIS has been considered a positive therapeutic goal since senescent tumor cells are expected to enter a state of permanent growth abrogation. In this work we examined the hypothesis that a subpopulation of senescent cells can re-acquire proliferative potential after a state of senescent dormancy, indicating that …

Regulation Of Prostaglandin D2 And Angiogenesis-Related Factors From Human Skin Mast Cells By Interleukin-6 And Resveratrol, Cody Cody Mchale

Theses and Dissertations

Mast cells are classically recognized as the effector cells of Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity reactions (i.e. allergic reactions). Mast cells also play an important role in the innate immune response to parasitic helminth infection. Allergic disease including allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and anaphylaxis, is a major health concern in the United States with greater than 60 million Americans suffering from allergy and asthma. In addition, mast cells have more recently been implicated in non-allergic disease including various human cancers, which will affect approximately 39.6% of U.S. men and women. Therefore, understanding the immunological and molecular mechanisms that regulate mast …

Efficiency Of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Vs. 5-Day Serial Monitoring In A Military Treatment Facility, Kadijatu Kakay

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this process improvement project is to determine efficiency of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) vs. 5-day blood pressure checks in a military treatment facility. The sample consists of male and female active duty soldiers ages 18 to 54 years without a previous diagnosis of hypertension (HTN). The soldiers were assigned to a unit that is physically and mentally challenging, has demanding training opportunities and duty requirements, and are rapidly deployable in support of peacekeeping, humanitarian and combat missions.

The data collection method included a retrospective chart review of 128 charts randomly selected between June 2016 and May …

New Insight For Activity Intensity Relativity: Metabolic Expenditure During Object Projection Skill Performance, Ryan S. Sacko

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consist of four studies that examine energy expenditure (EE) during object projection skill performance (OPSP). These four studies have the potential to inform physical education (PE) curricula and physical activity (PA) interventions by providing an understanding the acute EE associated with performing OPSP in developmentally appropriate activities. If OPSP is associated with high EE, then promoting their development during physical activity interventions and physical education (PE) will have both an acute and long-term health-enhancing benefit. Thus, the purposes of these four studies was to examine adult and children’s EE associated with the performance of object projection skills at …

Normative Data For Four Neuropsychological Tests In A Sample Of Adults Who Are Illiterate And From Latin America, Alejandra Morlett Paredes

Theses and Dissertations

Neuropsychological tests are standardized tasks used to measure psychological functioning that is associated with a particular brain structure. These tests often are used in diagnosing a cognitive deficiency resulting from brain injuries. Currently, there are a limited number of studies that have focused on standardization of neuropsychological tests in Latin America. Therefore, the vast majority of cognitive tests used in the evaluation of patients with brain damage have no normative parameters adjusted to the cultural characteristics of Latinos and Latinas. As a result, neuropsychological diagnoses among this population may be inadequate, and evaluation of rehabilitation program effectiveness limited. The importance …

Validation Of Activity Trackers In A Laboratory Setting With Young Adults, Brandon Leslie Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Objectively tracking sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) is becoming increasingly important as research continues to show the negative effects with increasing SB and decreasing PA. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate three commercial activity trackers with young adults regarding how they accurately measure SB and PA behaviors in a laboratory setting. Methods: 50 college-aged participants wore three wrist-based activity trackers (Fitbit Surge, Apple Watch, and Basis Peak) and two ActiGraph accelerometer devices during a series of SB and PA behaviors for five-minute intervals in a laboratory setting. The activity trackers were evaluated against direct …

A Qualitative Study Measuring The Success Rates Of African American Males At Passages: An Academic And Support Services Program At Los Angeles Area Community College, Nyree Berry

Theses and Dissertations

According to national statistics, the number of Black women college graduates is 44.8% while for Black men, the national college graduate rate stand on 33.1%. The overall graduation rate of the Black population remains 57.3%. Further as the per statistics, out of 7.9% of the total Black male population in America in the age group of 18 to 24 years, only 2.8% of Black men were undergraduates at public flagship colleges and universities (NCES, 2012). It is argued that while this troubling trend is most prevalent in all groups among Black men, young Black men are generally the most vulnerable …

Plants As Biofactories To Produce Mammalian Tumor Suppressor Micrornas, John Lachlan Macarthur

Theses and Dissertations

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding single stranded RNAs that are considered master regulators of gene expression. They are also an emerging class of therapeutic agents with significant potential for the prevention and treatment of many diseases, including cancer. Many different forms of cancer are associated with loss or reduced accumulation of one or more miRNAs that function as tumor suppressors. In animal models, restoration of missing tumor suppressor miRNAs prevents the initiation, progression and/or spread of the disease. However, the current absence of an efficient method for delivery of therapeutic miRNAs is a critical barrier to their use. The research …

Comparison Of The Performance Of Simple Linear Regression And Quantile Regression With Non-Normal Data: A Simulation Study, Marjorie Howard

Theses and Dissertations

Linear regression is a widely used method for analysis that is well understood across a wide variety of disciplines. In order to use linear regression, a number of assumptions must be met. These assumptions, specifically normality and homoscedasticity of the error distribution can at best be met only approximately with real data. Quantile regression requires fewer assumptions, which offers a potential advantage over linear regression. In this simulation study, we compare the performance of linear (least squares) regression to quantile regression when these assumptions are violated, in order to investigate under what conditions quantile regression becomes the more advantageous method …

Family And School Impact On Psychological Functioning From Childhood To Late Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study Of Rural Chinese Youth, Yang Yue

Theses and Dissertations

The transition from childhood to adolescence can be a significant stressor for youth, leading to increases in internalizing problems for those who are vulnerable. Compared to the mounting research conducted on U.S. youth, children and adolescents in China have received less attention on their psychological adjustment. As Chinese youth constitute roughly 15% of the world’s population (World Health Organization, 2010), and the disproportionate quantity of longitudinal investigation on Chinese youth psychological functioning, understanding the influence of risk and protective factors, and their interactive effects on internalizing problems among Chinese youth is critical.

According to Life Course Theory, Ecological Systems Theory, …

Interactive Effects Of Domoic Acid Allelopathy, Salinity, And Eutrophication On Estuarine Phytoplankton Community Structure, Elise Van Meerssche

Theses and Dissertations

Coastal regions and estuaries are particularly sensitive to the increase in nutrient loading and river runoff, threatening the ecosystems with possible spreads in harmful algal blooms (HABs). As an example, blooms of toxic Pseudo-nitzschia species can release acute concentrations of the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA) in the water column. When ingested at concentrations higher than 20 ppm, DA can cause the death of marine birds, marine mammals and even humans. The main objectives of my research were to determine the drivers of Pseudo-nitzschia abundance and toxicity and to assess how these drivers influenced the phytoplankton community structure and DA allelopathy. …

Understanding The Mechanisms Linking Gendered Intrahousehold Bargaining Power And Child Nutrition In Rural Nepal, Shibani Kulkarni

Theses and Dissertations

Child undernutrition is a serious issue in Nepal as 36% of children below five years of age are chronically undernourished. Reducing child undernutrition is an important priority to prevent adverse effects through the life course that perpetuate the cycle of undernutrition and poverty.

Women’s intra-household bargaining power is an important determinant of child nutrition. Intra-household bargaining power is an individual’s relative social and economic position within the household to access and control resources, and influence decision-making. In our research, we use women’s intra-household bargaining power as a resource for care, which enables women to be exposed to nutrition information, gain …