Digital Commons Network^™

Load Reduction Leadership: A Cognitive Load Theory-Based Framework Differentiating Performance Patterns In Nyc Schools, Kristopher C. Bertoglio

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation applies cognitive load theory to teacher working conditions in New York City. To connect small-scale cognitive processes with perennial organization-level effects, the theoretical components of this paper develop a novel framework. Load reduction leadership (LRL) illuminates how day-to-day school operations impact staff members’ cognition and school-level student performance. LRL extrapolates various cognitive load phenomena to schools’ complexities and time scales. Eight longitudinal case studies were found through New York State summative exam data. Schools were selected based on their abilities to over- and under-perform at improving their students’ proficiency, including schools that changed from under- to over-performance and …

Multi Base Station Energy Efficient Cluster-Aware Routing For Wireless Sensor Networks With Realtime Data Backup, Martinaa M

Theses and Dissertations

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is created, stemming from their applications in distinct areas. This research focuses on implementing an efficient clustering and routing protocols to maximize the lifespan of the WSN by proposing a novel method known as the Energy Efficient Cluster-aware Routing Protocol (EECR). The proposed method comprises of three steps: cluster formation, cluster head (CH) selection, and multi-hop data transmission. The factors needed are residual energy, the minimum distance to the base station (BS), and the minimum Load Count as given in the Energy and Distance CH selection algorithm. The shortest pathway is estimated by the Energy Route …

Remote Sensing Of Residential Landscape Irrigation In Weber County, Utah, Annelise Marie Capener

Theses and Dissertations

Irrigation of residential properties in urban settings is typified by small and irregular areas, many untrained water users, limited end-use metering, and differing groundcover in contrast to agricultural settings. This makes analyzing irrigation patterns to promote efficient water use challenging. Analysis of Irrigation by Remote Sensing (AIRS) combines multispectral aerial imagery, evapotranspiration data, and ground-truthed measurements to overcome these challenges. We demonstrate the application of AIRS on eight neighborhoods in West Haven, Utah, using 0.6 m National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) and 0.07 m drone imagery, reference evapotranspiration (ET), and water meter data from Weber Basin Water Conservancy District (WBWCD). …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Adolescents’ Sense Of Self Outcomes: The Moderating Role Of Student-Teacher Relationships, Meredith Spraggon

Theses and Dissertations

This study delves into the intricate interplay between adverse childhood experiences (ACES), sense of self outcomes, and student-teacher relationships (STR). Utilizing a sample of 271 undergraduate students from a Mid-Western state, the research investigates the associations between ACES, self-esteem, social self-efficacy, and the role of STR as potential buffers against adverse outcomes. The findings revealed a high prevalence of reported ACES among participants, emphasizing the urgency to understand mitigating factors such as teacher relationships. Consistent with existing literature, ACES exhibited negative correlations with both self-esteem and social self-efficacy, underlining their detrimental impact on psychological well-being. Additionally, the study unveils a …

Investigating Self-Regulation In Secondary And Higher Education Online Contexts, Karen T. Arnesen

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation uses a three-article dissertation, including a literature review and two research articles, related to the understanding and development of self-regulation (SR). Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), the literature review examined 22 articles researching a self-regulation intervention used in an online, higher education context. The articles included interventions specific to a unique context, interventions used in a specific context but could be easily adapted to other contexts, and generic interventions that could be applied in any context. Important themes revealed in the analysis include the importance of feedback in developing SR, the interaction …

Applying Mathematical Modeling To The Study Of Family Systems, Dahlia Maxwell

Theses and Dissertations

Mathematical modeling provides a powerful framework for insight into current scientific theories as well as hypothesis generation for further research. Despite its undeniable potential to enrich scientific advancement, the application of mathematical modeling remains conspicuously scarce in the field of family science. The complexity inherent in family dynamics, coupled with the intricate interplay of emotions in the individual, underscores the necessity of a robust analytical approach. Addressing this critical gap in the literature, this thesis introduces a sophisticated mathematical model of family dynamics integrating essential elements from family systems theory, emotion dynamics, and appraisal theory. The model is implemented as …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Online Teaching And Faculty Preparedness: A Case Study Of Planning And Implementing Online Learning At An R2 Public Research University, Michele Renee Haynes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this single-site case study was to understand four distinct online learning aspects impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in a mid-sized, urban, four-year institution in the Southern United States: (1) the faculty experience with converting courses and teaching online, (2) the university-provided instructional supports available to faculty throughout the pandemic, (3) the online learning design utilized throughout the pandemic, and (4) the university's preparedness and response to the pandemic. Through an analysis of participant interviews, document analysis, and secondary analysis of an internal COVID-19 faculty and staff survey, the study findings illustrated five distinct areas that influenced teaching …

Key Behaviors And Expressions Of Secondary Administrators And Leadership Teams As Culturally Responsive School Leaders, Belinda Azela Talonia

Theses and Dissertations

Secondary administrative and leadership teams continuously search for practices that bolster cultural proficiency to address increasingly diverse student cohorts. This qualitative case study identifies the culturally responsive school leadership (CRSL) behaviors and expressions of 24 high school administrative and leadership team members in a suburban school district in Utah. Data reveals how each team demonstrates the behaviors and expressions of CRSL framework and how these behaviors and expressions position each school on the culturally proficient continuum. Superimposing the CRSL behaviors and expressions on the cultural proficiency continuum provides a current reality for administrative and leadership teams to assess their tipping …

Deliberate Practice With Motivational Interviewing: Basic Helping Skills Among Novice Helpers, Angel Laurencio Vega

Theses and Dissertations

We examined the effects of deliberate practice (DP) in teaching motivational interviewing (MI) helping skills to 45 upper-level undergraduate students in a semester-long course using an experimental crossover waitlist design. Students participated in a three-hour MI skills workshop focused on open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries (OARS) and engaged in ongoing practice throughout the semester. Students video-recorded four skill demonstrations involving real-life changes with a volunteer client, addressing behavioral change. Pre- and post-workshop video recordings were analyzed to evaluate changes in reflective listening skills and the overall consistency of using MI OARS skills. The results revealed significant increases in reflections-to-questions …

Advancing Single-Cell Proteomics Through Innovations In Liquid Chromatography And Mass Spectrometry, Kei Grant Isaac Webber

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional proteomics studies can measure many protein biomarkers simultaneously from a single patient-derived sample, promising the possibility of syndromic diagnoses of multiple diseases sharing common symptoms. However, precious cellular-level information is lost in conventional bulk-scale studies that measure tissues comprising many types of cells. As single cells are the building blocks of organisms and are easier to biopsy than traditional bulk samples, performing proteomics on a single-cell level would benefit clinicians and patients. Single-cell proteomics, combined with mass spectrometry imaging, can be used to analyze cells in their microenvironment, preserving spatial information. We have previously used laser-capture microdissection to isolate …

Mechanistic Empirical Design Of Flexible Pavements For Biopolymer Treated Soils, Vishweshwaran M

Theses and Dissertations

Cognizing the contamination effects of chemical soil modifiers on soil and groundwater, the assessment of the ability of biopolymers to improve the engineering properties of soils has gained attention in the last decade. As a soil additive, biopolymers have the potential to solve the trilemma of sustainability, price and soil suitability. Two polysaccharides and two protein biopolymers have been adopted in this study to enhance the geotechnical properties of fine-grained soils.

Design thickness catalogues were developed for a three-layered flexible pavement using 3D finite element analysis (FEA) and layered elastic analysis. The catalogue aims to provide structurally reliable thickness values …

A Community Centered Culturally Responsive Evaluation Of Our Behavioral Health Team Using Program Theory, Debra Ann Fritz-Fanning

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to conduct a culturally responsive evaluation of our behavioral health team using program theory. This team consists of both school-based employees and community partners. The goal of this project was to evaluate our current behavioral health team practices to determine if we are improving the mental health of students at our school by intentionally connecting them with services. Program theory was used to design the evaluation, and members of the team engaged in six focus groups to create and evaluate the program. The team evaluated three areas of our work: organizational structures, resources, and …

Civil War In Ancient Egypt? A Case Study Of The First Intermediate Period (Ca. 2120-1970 Bc), Marco Pinfari

Theses and Dissertations

The First Intermediate Period (FIP – ca. 2120-1970 BCE) is often described by Egyptologists as a period of “civil war.” In the Egyptological literature, however, little attention is paid to defining this notion (which was first introduced only in the Late Roman Republic, almost 2,000 years later) and to explaining how it could be applicable to ancient Egyptian history.

This thesis contributes to this debate by analyzing the FIP through the lenses of contemporary approaches to civil war, drawn from political science and other cognate disciplines. It first discusses how if the events of the FIP comply with contemporary definitions …

The Study Of Biomass Based Polymers And Cyclic Polymers, Yishayah Bension

Theses and Dissertations

Plastics have become an integral part of everyday life, from household care to aerospace applications, polymers are involved in every industry. Most of these polymeric materials are derived from petroleum feedstocks which have deleterious effects on our environment. The production of petrochemicals has led to an increase in greenhouse gases and microplastic pollution which have accelerated climate change. My research focuses on utilizing existing biomasses to improve the plastic economy’s circularity. This work develops new materials from bio-based polymers such as lignin and soybean oil. Raw lignin suffers from inherently weak mechanical properties, poor solubility, processability, and molecular structure ambiguity. …

Robot Proficiency Self-Assessment Using Assumption-Alignment Tracking, Xuan Cao

Theses and Dissertations

A robot is proficient if its performance for its task(s) satisfies a specific standard. While the design of autonomous robots often emphasizes such proficiency, another important attribute of autonomous robot systems is their ability to evaluate their own proficiency. A robot should be able to conduct proficiency self-assessment (PSA), i.e. assess how well it can perform a task before, during, and after it has attempted the task. We propose the assumption-alignment tracking (AAT) method, which provides time-indexed assessments of the veracity of robot generators' assumptions, for designing autonomous robots that can effectively evaluate their own performance. AAT can be considered …

Association Between Direct Access Laws And Physical Therapy Use And The Effect Of Change In Physical Therapy Use On Subsequent Healthcare Spending, Utilization, And Opioid Use, Dakshu Jindal

Theses and Dissertations

Background

Physical therapy (PT) has been recommended as the first-line treatment for patients with incident musculoskeletal conditions without severe trauma. Initial or early use of PT may help address some of the nation’s most pressing health policy challenges, including escalating healthcare spending and an ongoing opioid epidemic, by encouraging the use of physical therapy as a substitute for expensive surgeries and the use of opioids. Yet, state scope of practice laws have historically restricted the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions to physicians. Traditionally, patients seeking care from a physical therapist had to obtain a referral from a physician first. …

O-Alkylated Carbinolamides: Mechanistic Imperatives For A Motif Lacking Labile Protons, Thomas Christopher Arndt

Theses and Dissertations

Synthesis and mechanistic studies of the breakdown of aromatic substituted N-(α-alkoxybenzyl)amide compounds as a function of pH will be performed to gain an understanding of the unique reactivity of the biologically important O-alkyl carbinolamide functionality.

Insights Derived In Silico On The Nature Of The Halogen · · · Halogen Bond At Ordered Surface Interfaces, Jarrod George Sage

Theses and Dissertations

Halogen· · · halogen (X· · ·X) bonds are a poorly understood, special class of non-covalent contact known to profoundly impact processes of molecular self-assembly, such as crystal formationand thin-layer epitaxy. The study of X· · ·X bonding on surfaces is well established, but it is unclear exactly to what extent a surface influences X· · ·X contacts or their dynamics. Simulations of X· · ·X bonding at ordered surfaces via plane-wave density functional theory (DFT) occasionally arise to compliment experimental results, but there is yet to be a comprehensive in silico exploration probing the nature of the X· · …

High Power Capacitive Wireless Power Transfer System For Future Transportation Electrification, Kodeeswaran S

Theses and Dissertations

Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) technologies, including Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) and Capacitive Power Transfer (CPT), offer promising solutions for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging applications. Compared to conventional IPT, a CPT method has no eddy current losses, lower electromagnetic interference (EMI), low system cost and weight, less misalignment problems, which gives the motivation to start this research work. The Proposed CPT method uses aluminum plates that generate electric fields by applying voltage on the plates to transfer the power from the transmitter (ground side) to the receiver (vehicle side).

This research introduces novel advancements in CPT systems to enhance power transfer …

Marriage And Family Therapists' Perspectives Of Working With Couples Impacted By Aphasia: General Perceptions And Response To Relationship-Centered Communication Partner Training, Madison Rae Christensen

Theses and Dissertations

The psychosocial needs of couples impacted by aphasia are often unmet. Sixty-one marriage and family therapists' (MFTs) experiences, perceived knowledge, confidence, comfort, and barriers in working with couples impacted by aphasia, and their interactions with speech-language pathologists (SLPs) were investigated using survey methodology. All MFTs were licensed, practicing in the US, and had at least 3 years of experience. Participants completed the following in order: (a) a pre-intervention survey, (b) one of two intervention conditions, and (c) a post-intervention survey. Twenty-eight respondents were randomly assigned to an education-alone intervention and 33 respondents were assigned to an education plus Relationship-Centered Communication …

Development Of Novel Algorithms For The Investigation Of Small Displacement Optical Flow For Opto Kinetic Nystagmus (Okn) Detection And Large Displacement Optical Flow For Surveillance, Jaiseeli C

Theses and Dissertations

Motion is a significant component of the modern visual experience, aiding with oculomotor control, object recognition, scene interpretation, perceptual organization and the acquisition of 3D shapes. Identifying motion vectors that characterize two-dimensional image transitions, usually from video frames, is necessary to estimate motion.

Optical flow is a motion-tracking technique that estimates the trajectory and velocity of a moving object in a video by shifting each pixel between frames using displacement vectors. This work has two objectives based on small and large displacement optical flow and computes optical flow using Lucas-Kanade and Brox flow, which seem to be superior to other …

Trade Liberalization With Brics: A Cge Model Of Egypt, Kareem Ashraf

Theses and Dissertations

This paper presents an ex-ante impact assessment of a hypothetical FTA between Egypt and the BRICS from an Egyptian economy-wide and sectorial perspectives, with a granular look into manufacturing. The chosen methodology is a static SAM-based Computable General Equilibrium model calibrated to Egypt’s 2018-2019 Social Accounting Matrix (SAM). With respect to existing literature, the paper uniquely stands in considering an Egypt-BRICS FTA with a granular assessment of manufacturing subsectors and in running a simulation of Egypt’s trade liberalization with the wider BRICS alliance, including the accession of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ethiopia, and Iran, which joined the bloc along with Egypt …

Rfi Mitigation And Discrete Digital Signal Processing Rfsoc Algorithm Implementations For Radio Astronomy And Wideband Communication Systems, Devon Christopher Ward

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the massive increase of active transmitters broadcasting over wideband frequencies, such as 5G wireless systems, LEO/MEO satellites, satellite constellations, and the increase of IoT devices in the average home, the radio frequency spectrum is becoming more and more congested by interference. Passive receivers face additional challenges due to the growing use of wideband frequency transmissions aimed at boosting communication system throughput. As a result, passive receivers must adopt more robust and intricate techniques to mitigate radio frequency interference. A proposed RFI removal system, known as the true time delay Hadamard projection algorithm, has been introduced in previous work …

Drug Modification Of Synaptic Plasticity At The Inhibitory Synapses Involving Gaba Neurons In The Ventral Tegmental Area, Jie Wu

Theses and Dissertations

The neurobiological underpinnings of substance use disorders (SUDs) involve complex alterations in synaptic plasticity within the mesolimbic dopamine system, particularly within the ventral tegmental area (VTA). While dopamine neurons in the VTA are extensively studied in addiction research, less attention has been given to the plasticity exhibited by VTA GABAergic neurons, despite their established regulatory role in modulating dopamine cell activity. Building upon the ground-breaking work of Bocklisch et al. (2013), we investigated the plasticity at the GABAergic to VTA GABA neuron (VTA GABA-to-GABA) synapse utilizing whole-cell electrophysiology in GAD67 GFP knock-in mice. Our findings revealed an exceptionally rare duo-plasticity …

The Epistemological Politics Of"False Memory Syndrome", Michele Blatzheim

Theses and Dissertations

In the 1990s the psy-disciplines found themselves embroiled in one of the most acrimonious conflicts these fields have ever experienced. Often called the “Memory Wars”, this conflict emerged from the growing number of people, overwhelmingly women, alleging that a parent, overwhelmingly fathers, had sexually abused them in childhood based on previously inaccessible memories. The conflict was roughly split between clinicians who saw such delayed recall as relatively common among trauma survivors and a group of experimental psychologists who were skeptical of the veracity of such memories. The latter group would eventually ally themselves to an advocacy organization, the False Memory …

Examining The Perception Of Fresh Produce Growers On Agricultural Sustainability And Diversification, Randy Ackah

Theses and Dissertations

To meet the increasing food demand of a growing population, adopting sustainable practices should be considered a need rather than a preference. Despite the economic benefits of agricultural production, some activities performed have been identified to have detrimental effects, especially on the environment. Most of the environmental impact of agriculture usually stems from the management practices and input materials used. One way of ensuring sustainable agriculture has been identified to be agricultural diversification. Available evidence indicates that horticultural crops such as fruits and vegetables play an important role in agricultural diversification. For the fruit and vegetable industry to achieve its …

Two Sides Of The Same Coin Or Two Different Coins? The Differential Predictors Of Casual And Committed Sex, Carson R. Dover

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this paper is to analyze potential predictors of accumulating casual vs. committed sexual partners in emerging adulthood. Using a large, national sample of emerging adults in the United States, I examined how alcohol use and attachment orientation differentially predicted accumulating casual and committed sexual partners. I found that higher anxious attachment positively predicted the number of committed sexual partners, while higher avoidant attachment negatively predicted the number of casual sexual partners. I also found that alcohol use positively predicted both the number of casual and committed sexual partners emerging adults accumulated. Further, I tested the strength of …

Development Of 3d Printed Anatomically Equivalent Thermoplastic Polyurethane Conduits For Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, Allen Zennifer M

Theses and Dissertations

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging tool for creating patient-specific tissue constructs analogous to the native tissue microarchitecture. In this study, anatomically equivalent 3D nerve conduits were developed using thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) by combining reverse engineering and material extrusion (i.e., fused deposition modelling) technique.

Printing parameters were optimized to fabricate nerve-equivalent TPU constructs. The TPU constructs printed with different infill densities supported the adhesion, proliferation, and gene expression of neuronal cells. Subcutaneous implantation of the TPU constructs for three months in rats showed neovascularization with negligible local tissue inflammatory reactions and was classified as a non-irritant biomaterial as per ISO …

Post-High School Trajectories Of Filipino American Students: The Role Of Communication, Kathryn Anne Mayer

Theses and Dissertations

This study actively explores the intricate influences shaping the educational and career trajectories of Filipino American students post-high school. Through qualitative interviews and thematic analysis, it unveils the intricate web of familial expectations, financial constraints, personal values, and external pressures shaping their educational and career pathways. By actively addressing research questions concerning the factors informing choices and the process of weighing competing messages, this research offers nuanced insights. It illuminates the dynamic decision-making processes within the Filipino American community, emphasizing the necessity for tailored interventions and support mechanisms. By actively engaging with these findings, this study contributes to enhancing the …

Factorization In Cybersecurity: A Dual Role Of Defense And Vulnerability In The Age Of Quantum Computing, Himateja Arukala

Theses and Dissertations

One of the most critical components of modern cryptography and thus cybersecurity is the ability to factor large integers quickly and efficiently. RSA encryption, one of the most used types, is based largely on the assumption that factoring for large numbers is computationally infeasible for humans and computers alike. However, with quantum computers, people can use an algorithm like Shor’s algorithm to perform the same task exponentially faster than any normal device ever could. This investigation will go into the strength and vulnerability of RSA encryption using the power of factorization in an age of quantum computers.We start by looking …